LMB Quote Game

[sarsaparilla]

Let's keep this show rolling.
I assume that all planets, ships and spacestations in the Nexus use standard Earth time units to measure time.
Questions:

• How many hours and minutes are there in one day on Barrayar?
  For what event does Lois McMaster Bujold specify that information?

I can't think of multiple correct answers, but if there are, then the first correct one will earn the sherlock point.
I won't quibble about the difference between the duration of 1 day relative to Barrayar's primary (1 solar day) or relative to a distant fixed star (1 sidereal day).

Hint 1 (I could have written 01, but I'm sure single-digit numbered hints will be sufficient ):

Miles had to attend many meetings, conferences, briefings and whatnot. These usually required all participants to be present at a pre-arranged hour (the Dendarii, ImpSec, the Count's Council, Simon and Aral, Gregor and his Auditors, Alys and her wedding planners, the Vorkosigan Household, and many others on- or off-world).
There is one particular gathering I have in mind.

Hint 2
At the start of the conference, they were 1 station chair short.
Of course the second question becomes: what was the conference about?

Ok. So the meeting you're referring to is in Memory. It's a meeting about the prokaryote that destroyed Illyan's chip, and Miles got the news that the doctors were ready for such a meeting while he was at Vorkosigan Surleau. Because the news was so important, however, he came back to Vorbarr Sultana that day and they had the meeting late into the night - at 2600 hours, to be precise.
The extra chair, by the way, was for Illyan - no one expected Miles to bring him along.

So there are at least 26 hours in a day. However, there's a quote in Barrayar that's more precise. Piotr and Cordelia are discussing what to do about Miles, after the soltoxin attack.

"Time...isn't what I'm worried about losing." A meaningless concept, now she thought of it. She lost 26.7 hours every Barrayaran day.

From which we learn that one day on Barrayar is equal to 26 hours and 42 minutes.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

... one day on Barrayar is equal to 26 hours and 42 minutes.

Bravo. Your solution is more precise than mine.

The Inquisitor's Circle is yours.

[sarsaparilla]

The Inquisitor's Circle is yours.

Thank you!

So, I'm pretty sure LMB didn't actually make this up, but nevertheless.

What book mentions a "smoke test," and what is it?
("It" being a smoke test, not a book. )

[sarsaparilla]

So I'm going out of town for a few days... if anyone gets it and I'm not around, just ... you know... carry on.

[JKCade]

What book mentions a "smoke test," and what is it?
("It" being a smoke test, not a book. )

I'm going to say it is in Memory when Miles is in ImpSec HQ, spraying the solution on the air vent filters, trying to identify if there is a large concentration of the prokaryote that destroyed Illyan's chip. If he can identify the room where these things were released in Simon's area, then Miles will know who released them.

James

[sarsaparilla]

What book mentions a "smoke test," and what is it?
("It" being a smoke test, not a book. )

I'm going to say it is in Memory when Miles is in ImpSec HQ, spraying the solution on the air vent filters, trying to identify if there is a large concentration of the prokaryote that destroyed Illyan's chip. If he can identify the room where these things were released in Simon's area, then Miles will know who released them.

James

Nope.

[Caroline Tredez]

Leo Graf in "Falling Free", when in the final stage of remaking the vortex mirror. The smoke test is described as something like : "You switch it on and see if it smokes. If not, congrats, you're good."

[sarsaparilla]

Leo Graf in "Falling Free", when in the final stage of remaking the vortex mirror. The smoke test is described as something like : "You switch it on and see if it smokes. If not, congrats, you're good."

That's right! Your turn, Caroline.

[Caroline Tredez]

Ok, so :

"Look on the bright side. Nothing you can do ever after will top this. The effect might even be retroactive."

What is "this" ?

Bonus for a half-point : something extremely similar is said somewhere else in another 'verse. Where ?

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

"Look on the bright side. Nothing you can do ever after will top this. The effect might even be retroactive."

What is "this" ?
Bonus for a half-point : something extremely similar is said somewhere else in another 'verse. Where ?

Nice questions, Caroline.

I think I know. Both anwers.
But I'll try to check first.
If it does check out, I'll be back ...

[voralfred]

Ok, so :

"Look on the bright side. Nothing you can do ever after will top this. The effect might even be retroactive."

What is "this" ?

Bonus for a half-point : something extremely similar is said somewhere else in another 'verse. Where ?

Hi!
I am back!
Correcting four translations in two months! Just sent Barrayar and Falling Free to the editor, after Shards and Cryoburn (the latter for a first edition the other three for a reedition, an Omnibus)
I spent every minute of my spare time for two months.
Now I feel like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

Anyway, I don't remember the main quote, but I would say that what Drou whispers to Kou when Cordelia, Bothari, and herself "kidnap" him en route for Vorbarr Sultana is the bonus.
Something about looking at the bright side of having a chance for real fighting.
I've been immersed in Barrayr for so long, I have almost no merit....

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

"Look on the bright side. Nothing you can do ever after will top this. The effect might even be retroactive."

What is "this" ?
Bonus for a half-point : something extremely similar is said somewhere else in another 'verse. Where ?

I'm thinking of Ingrey's feat when he subdued the big polar bear.

For the bonus:
Aral said this about the rumor that Miles allegedly murdered Etienne Vorsoisson, clearing the way to court Ekaterin.

[Caroline Tredez]

Right for the bonus... but not for the main quote I'll post your half-point when the other point is answered, if you don't mind.

[voralfred]

By memory:
In TSK3 "Passage" some idiot young Lakewalker whose name I forgot managed to break a Sharing Knife in a brawl with some farmers. Most probably Dag is the speaker.

[Caroline Tredez]

Another half-point for the speaker, but still not the occasion...

[voralfred]

Another half-point for the speaker, but still not the occasion...

At least now we know what Universe it is in...

[voralfred]

Another half-point for the speaker, but still not the occasion...

What about a little hint?
Four books to look in, and the speaker hardly makes himself scarce ...

[Caroline Tredez]

... Ok, how 'bout that ? Hint : the same hint as my last quote in that universe ^^

[voralfred]

... Ok, how 'bout that ? Hint : the same hint as my last quote in that universe ^^

Both characters in the same falily, then. And we know Dag is one of them...

[SPetty]

Found it:

Book: Legacy
Dag tells Omba that nothing she will do will top the outrage that Dag's family is going to feel about Dag marrying a farmer (Fawn).
She agrees.

I did think for a minute, that it might have been Dag talking to Whit in Passage, but Legacy was at hand, so I checked there first. Well, second. I checked Dag and Sumac first.

[Caroline Tredez]

Well, Dag and Sumac were already my last quote in the wide green world, if I remember correctly. You're correct, I'll go post the Sherlocks. And I'll shortly go to holiday without the Internet, so I won't come for a month See you,

[SPetty]

Enjoy your vacation, Caroline!

Next quote:

"One thing is certain, an opportunity like this will never come again."

Book?
Speaker?
What kind of opportunity?

[SPetty]

"One thing is certain, an opportunity like this will never come again."

Book?
Speaker?
What kind of opportunity?

First hint: It's not the main character speaking (ie, not Miles, Dag, Fawn, Cazeril, Ista, or Ingrey).

[voralfred]

Ivan, in Civil Campaign, about the failed attempt to reverse Dono's Betan surgery, as a way to detach several key conservative Counts from Richards's side? Just trying...

[SPetty]

Nope, not Ivan, and not A Civil Campaign. At least I know someone's out there.