There was a gratifying new bumper crop of stories set in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosiverse, this Yuletide. I've been enjoying a lot of it, and may post more recs later. But for now, I wanted to flag the first parts of longer story that was simply outstanding: some of the best fanfic I've read for this canon, ever.
Title: Tide of Stars I and Tide of Stars: Intermission
Author: unknown, until the Yuletide reveals go up
Rating: none given. Gen, and I'd give it a PG rating at most, so far.
Warnings: none
Summary: To say it hasn't all been happily ever after for Miles Vorkosigan would be a severe understatement. After an astonishing series of personal cataclysms, he is once more on the run - with no authority, no friends, and no back-up.
This is billed as the first two parts of a story that will be completed in the New Year, and boy, do I hope that comes soon. "Gripping" is an overused word, but there's no better way to describe this. Miles is thrown back some years in time, to the period covered in Mirror Dance, and must deal with his own younger self, Mark, and the Imperium (which sees him as an interloper, of course). Characterization for all three of the principals is perfect, and this older Miles has clearly got a heartbreaking backhistory that I can't wait to see explored further. The plot is as fast-paced, complex, and compelling as any seen in canon, and I was on the edge of my seat by the end of the first segment willing Miles to succeed; this makes you hold your breath and race ahead in your reading. Wonderful stuff. Leave comments, and urge the author to post the rest soon. I can't wait to see how this finishes.