[LMB] (chat) Miles, Mutants and Microbes...

[Lois McMaster Bujold]

... arrived today, direct from the printer.  Official release date is 
August 7th.

    Very nice cover art and design.  A new artist to me, Alan Pollack.  
Amazon will give you a peek at the cover -- it doesn't seem to have a 
direct link to the "larger image" thingie --

http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Mutants-Microbes-Vorkosigan/dp/1416521410/ref=sr_1_14/102-9145823-4784946?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184630241&sr=1-14

    This is a Baen omnibus hardcover reprint, comprised of _Falling 
Free_, "Labyrinth", and _Diplomatic Immunity_, plus an introduction by 
yours truly.  I see they managed to make the $18 bargain price work out 
in part by making it a glued not sewn spine, like the Science Fiction 
Book Club editions.  Nice readable print size, adequate gutters, 
surprisingly comfortable to hold, despite the full contents.  582 pages 
plus the timeline, so it's not overly thick paper.

    I see the Baen website has a number of sample chapters of _Falling 
Free_ up with it, and also has posted the preface.  Ch. 1 seems to be 
labeled Ch. 12, for some strange reason.

    It should be something a new reader can pick up and just plunge 
into, I would think; we'll find out, I suppose.  It'll be interesting to 
see what such readers make of it.

    Ta, L.