Ghem (Cetaganda)

The Ghem are the lower aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's science-fiction series, the Vorkosigan Saga

The Ghem are the military caste and the lower aristocracy of Cetaganda. The main way for Ghem males to gain prestige and recognition is to serve with distinction in the military forces of the Empire (though not all Ghem males are in the army). For Ghem females, it is to perform genetic engineering on species other than humans with success (manipulation of human genetics is reserved for the ladies of the Haut).

A distinguishing feature of the Ghem is their use of face-paint. The exact usage depends on the individual's clan, status, and the activity they are pursuing. In particular, there are painting patterns associated with military missions.

In the novel Cetaganda, it is revealed that among the younger generation of Ghem, fashion dictates that the face paint is reduced to a painted patch on one cheek.

Novels	Shards of Honor (1986) The Warrior's Apprentice (1986) Ethan of Athos (1986) Falling Free (1988) Brothers in Arms (1989) The Vor Game (1990) Barrayar (1991) Mirror Dance (1994) Cetaganda (1995) Memory (1996) Komarr (1998) A Civil Campaign (1999) Diplomatic Immunity (2002) Cryoburn (2010) Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (2012) Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (2016)

Novellas	"The Borders of Infinity" (1987) "The Mountains of Mourning" (1989) "Labyrinth" (1989) "Weatherman" (1990) "Dreamweaver's Dilemma" (1995) "Winterfair Gifts" (2004)

Characters

Vorkosigan family	Aral Vorkosigan Mark Vorkosigan Miles Vorkosigan Piotr Vorkosigan Cordelia Naismith Ekaterin Vorsoisson

Other Vor of Barrayar	Ezar Vorbarra Gregor Vorbarra Vorbarra family Ivan Vorpatril

Others	Konstantin Bothari Simon Illyan Koudelka family Dendarii Mercenaries

Barrayaran
Empire

Planets	Barrayar Komarr Sergyar

Governance	Imperial Military Service Imperial Auditors District Counts

History	Time of Isolation Vordarian's Pretendership

Other worlds

Fantasy

Works

Standalone	The Spirit Ring (1992)

World of the Five Gods	The Curse of Chalion (2001) Paladin of Souls (2003) The Hallowed Hunt (2005) "Penric's Demon" (2015) "Penric and the Shaman" (2016) "Penric's Mission" (2016)

The Sharing Knife	Beguilement (2006) Legacy (2007) Passage (2008) Horizon (2009)

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Ghem (Cetaganda)

See also