Lois McMaster Bujold's Blog, page 47
March 27, 2016
a book about, well, me
Or, still better, my work. By British scholar Edward James, who has also done a lot of other writing about SF writing, and about history, which you can see on the link.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
It occurs to me, belatedly, that I have failed to mention this book. It occurs even more belatedly that it would be eligible for a Hugo nomination this year in, iirc, the "Best Related Works" category, if anyone is interested in such.
Ta, L.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
It occurs to me, belatedly, that I have failed to mention this book. It occurs even more belatedly that it would be eligible for a Hugo nomination this year in, iirc, the "Best Related Works" category, if anyone is interested in such.
Ta, L.
March 25, 2016
WA 30th anniversary due out May 3
Aha --
My box of author's copies arrived in my front entryway this morning, straight from the printing plant; the reprint is in print. It will be released in bookstores the first week of May.
This is a Baen trade paperback reprint of my second novel written, and published, which first appeared back in June of 1986, continuing the trade reprint series started last fall with Shards of Honor and Barrayar. I have supplied a new introduction by way of retrospective.
The usual Bujold reading-order confusion continues, which I address here: https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/...
(I believe the next one in the queue, later this fall, will be Borders of Infinity, back in print as a freestanding book/collection/fixup, with frame story restored.)
More well-painted cover art by Paul Youll, if rather Star-Wars-ish; probably good marketing.
The back cover copy, which I did not write, manages to summarize pretty much the whole plot, which for a 30-year-old book may not matter much.
Ta, L.
My box of author's copies arrived in my front entryway this morning, straight from the printing plant; the reprint is in print. It will be released in bookstores the first week of May.
This is a Baen trade paperback reprint of my second novel written, and published, which first appeared back in June of 1986, continuing the trade reprint series started last fall with Shards of Honor and Barrayar. I have supplied a new introduction by way of retrospective.
The usual Bujold reading-order confusion continues, which I address here: https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/...
(I believe the next one in the queue, later this fall, will be Borders of Infinity, back in print as a freestanding book/collection/fixup, with frame story restored.)
More well-painted cover art by Paul Youll, if rather Star-Wars-ish; probably good marketing.
The back cover copy, which I did not write, manages to summarize pretty much the whole plot, which for a 30-year-old book may not matter much.
Ta, L.
March 13, 2016
thoughtful podcast
More Antipodian attention this week... A long, thoughtful podcast all about Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, by a couple of readers who get it...
http://galactisuburbia.podbean.com/e/...
Full of spoilers, however, so don't go there yet if you've not yet read the book and that is a concern for you.
But clearly, I should have put in a line pointing up the fact that Aral was a civilian when he was prime minister, instead of just assuming that was patently and inherently obvious. An amazing number of even otherwise attentive readers seem to miss that. (This is not a book that repays speed reading, I fear.)
On the flip side, I think the really interesting legal question was just how Aral maneuvered himself into the operational C-in-C position of the Hegen Hub Alliance Fleet. He could have ordered the Prince Serg out of Komarr space dock as prime minister, on the grounds of its needing to ferry him on that diplomatic mission to Pol that was the first move; there must have been some mighty behind-the-scenes pragmatic and very determined tap dancing between that point and the point where Miles next sees him. (Though indeed, Aral was never in command of the Barrayaran ship, which had its own highly competent if alarmed captain; only of the allied fleet, which was a whole other legal-political bag. Many PhD theses must have grappled with this, later...) In other words, Miles's admiral's rank and Aral's might have had more in common that one would think, at that point.
Ta, L.
http://galactisuburbia.podbean.com/e/...
Full of spoilers, however, so don't go there yet if you've not yet read the book and that is a concern for you.
But clearly, I should have put in a line pointing up the fact that Aral was a civilian when he was prime minister, instead of just assuming that was patently and inherently obvious. An amazing number of even otherwise attentive readers seem to miss that. (This is not a book that repays speed reading, I fear.)
On the flip side, I think the really interesting legal question was just how Aral maneuvered himself into the operational C-in-C position of the Hegen Hub Alliance Fleet. He could have ordered the Prince Serg out of Komarr space dock as prime minister, on the grounds of its needing to ferry him on that diplomatic mission to Pol that was the first move; there must have been some mighty behind-the-scenes pragmatic and very determined tap dancing between that point and the point where Miles next sees him. (Though indeed, Aral was never in command of the Barrayaran ship, which had its own highly competent if alarmed captain; only of the allied fleet, which was a whole other legal-political bag. Many PhD theses must have grappled with this, later...) In other words, Miles's admiral's rank and Aral's might have had more in common that one would think, at that point.
Ta, L.
March 9, 2016
NZ Bujold interview in full
A bit ago I posted the link to an article by New Zealand freelance arts journalist David Larsen,
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainme...
which was boiled down from a much longer e-mail interview. David now has the full text up on his blog here:
https://leaflemming.wordpress.com/201...
Ta, L.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainme...
which was boiled down from a much longer e-mail interview. David now has the full text up on his blog here:
https://leaflemming.wordpress.com/201...
Ta, L.
March 4, 2016
DVDs for sore eyes
Aha. In my search for DVDs that would rest my eyes without rotting my brain, I found my public library has most of this series:
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/
I'd seen The Great Courses around in ads for years, but always at heart-stopping prices that daunted my curiosity. I wonder how many other library systems have them, too?
I'm partway through one on Geological Wonders, one on Ancient Greece, and one on English word origins. (Focus, governor...)
It's sort of like having your own private professor/s in a box. So far, just about PBS Special level, nothing too hard.
The lecture format doesn't have quite the information-density of something with more pictures, like a PBS show. Having just read a book on the rise of medieval universities, it gives me much to think about the continuity of pedagogical culture -- and how it may be on the verge of being blown away by modern data systems. Meanwhile, though, it's so soothing... and, of course, free.
Ta, L.
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/
I'd seen The Great Courses around in ads for years, but always at heart-stopping prices that daunted my curiosity. I wonder how many other library systems have them, too?
I'm partway through one on Geological Wonders, one on Ancient Greece, and one on English word origins. (Focus, governor...)
It's sort of like having your own private professor/s in a box. So far, just about PBS Special level, nothing too hard.
The lecture format doesn't have quite the information-density of something with more pictures, like a PBS show. Having just read a book on the rise of medieval universities, it gives me much to think about the continuity of pedagogical culture -- and how it may be on the verge of being blown away by modern data systems. Meanwhile, though, it's so soothing... and, of course, free.
Ta, L.
March 2, 2016
NZ article/interview
Aha... this is an article boiled down from a much longer e-mail interview I did back when Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen first came out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainme...
I'll have to see about posting the long version, if the journalist doesn't get it up somewhere I can link.
Ta, L.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainme...
I'll have to see about posting the long version, if the journalist doesn't get it up somewhere I can link.
Ta, L.
March 1, 2016
Aurora Public Library interview
I did this short interview back in January for a Minnesota library...
https://www.facebook.com/168237919992...
A longer version is on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
If these are too hard to read/access, I'll see about posting it here, later on.
Ta, L.
https://www.facebook.com/168237919992...
A longer version is on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
If these are too hard to read/access, I'll see about posting it here, later on.
Ta, L.
February 29, 2016
Subterranean Press does Penric's Demon
The official announcement at last -- the real, authorized paper (hardcover) edition of the novella is due to be published in May.
http://subterraneanpress.com/store/pr...
Cover art by Lauren St. Onge:
Ta, L.
http://subterraneanpress.com/store/pr...
Cover art by Lauren St. Onge:
Ta, L.
February 24, 2016
pirated Penric
Well, here's a new one for me -- a shoddy pirated print-on-demand edition of "Penric's Demon" popped up on Amazon a few days ago, for which the scammers are charging $8.99. No, I do not know who the perpetrators are. My agent is pursuing the matter, which I have no doubt will be resolved as soon as she can catch up with someone who's awake over at Amazon.
There will be a legitimate, licensed paper edition of the novella later this year from Subterranean Press, which I expect to have very high production values indeed. In the meantime, folks, don't give these thieves your money!
Ta, L.
Later note: I would also suggest, if you have already been taken in by the pirate print-on-demand edition, that you return it to Amazon and recover your money.
Note carefully, the KINDLE e-book edition and the Blackstone-Audible audio edition are both legit.
Later still, 3/2: Aha! Looks like Amazon/CreateSpace finally managed to get the pirate edition down today. Good on 'em.
It does suggest a caution for writers who have backlist (or frontlist, for that matter) e-books up on Amazon: check your books' sales pages now and then and make sure none of these scummers have slipped in to suck your blood while your back is turned. (More than mosquitoes, less than vampires; "leeches" might be about the right descriptor, or perhaps "ticks"... not fatal but decidedly disgusting.)
Ta, L.
There will be a legitimate, licensed paper edition of the novella later this year from Subterranean Press, which I expect to have very high production values indeed. In the meantime, folks, don't give these thieves your money!
Ta, L.
Later note: I would also suggest, if you have already been taken in by the pirate print-on-demand edition, that you return it to Amazon and recover your money.
Note carefully, the KINDLE e-book edition and the Blackstone-Audible audio edition are both legit.
Later still, 3/2: Aha! Looks like Amazon/CreateSpace finally managed to get the pirate edition down today. Good on 'em.
It does suggest a caution for writers who have backlist (or frontlist, for that matter) e-books up on Amazon: check your books' sales pages now and then and make sure none of these scummers have slipped in to suck your blood while your back is turned. (More than mosquitoes, less than vampires; "leeches" might be about the right descriptor, or perhaps "ticks"... not fatal but decidedly disgusting.)
Ta, L.
February 23, 2016
e-Beguilement on sale for 99 cents
HarperCollins US presently has the first volume of the The Sharing Knife tetralogy, Beguilement, on sale for 99 cents, in all the e-book stores where they distribute. (Not the UK & World e-market, sorry.)
E.g., http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...
Great chance to stock up, or give the series a whirl if you haven't tried it. Note that this series is one story arc split in four volumes; the first and second really need to be read as one, in my opinion, but that's a decision the reader can arrive at later.
Ta, L.
E.g., http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...
Great chance to stock up, or give the series a whirl if you haven't tried it. Note that this series is one story arc split in four volumes; the first and second really need to be read as one, in my opinion, but that's a decision the reader can arrive at later.
Ta, L.
