Re: Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold
Falling Free isn't just good and entertaining. IMHO it's an utterly brilliant near- to middle-term SF book that deals with several critical issues that the development of new science and technology are bringing our way. It's on my (conceptual) list of "must read SF" for those new to the field. I consider it one of the two or three best things she's ever written, and she's one of my favorite SF authors.
Falling Free received the 1988 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and was nominated for a Hugo in 1989, so I'm apparently not alone in my opinion about it.