The book is dedicated as follows:
For Jane, Charlotte, Georgette and Dorothy - long may they rule.
Bujold is referring to Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Georgette Heyer and Dorothy L. Sayers. The style, plot and characterisation of A Civil Campaign contain a number of oblique references to this set of authors, including the title itself (One of Georgette Heyer's most famous books is A Civil Contract)