Falling Free

Summary

Set in Bujold's Vortex universe, this novel follows engineer Leo Graf, who arrives at a space habitat to train a population of genetically engineered humans called quaddies, people designed with four arms and no legs to thrive in zero gravity. When the company that created them decides the quaddies are obsolete and disposable, Leo confronts the ethics of treating engineered people as property. The book examines bioengineering, corporate exploitation, and human dignity, and it stands as an early entry in Bujold's broader Vorkosigan saga timeline.