Ethan of Athos

Dr. Ethan Urquhart, chief biologist from the all-male planet of Athos, embarks on a desperate mission to secure viable new genetic material to sustain his colony's reproduction, as their current supply of ovarian tissue is failing. His journey takes him into the wider galaxy, a universe startlingly different from his secluded world, where he encounters women—a species he has only ever studied in theory. This cultural collision is not his only challenge; Ethan soon finds himself entangled in dangerous political machinations, hunted by ruthless Cetagandan ghem lords, and unexpectedly aided by the resourceful Dendarii officer Elli Quinn, a familiar face from the wider Vorkosigan universe. What begins as a vital scientific quest quickly transforms into a thrilling chase across star systems, forcing Ethan to confront his preconceptions and fight for the future of his world.