Sarah
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Two questions. 1. Why did you decide against sentient alien species in your Vorkosiverse? 2. I don't remember any mention of indigenous animal life on Barrayar. I'm assuming there was some? Thanks.
Lois McMaster Bujold
1) Somewhere about the middle of the first draft of Shards of Honor, and 2) yes, the misnamed "bugs", horned hoppers, some unnamed sea life on the shore of Kyril Island, other bits along the way. Alas, nothing big and exciting like Barrayaran were-tigers or anything. The vegetation gets described repeatedly.
At one point, very early on in the story development, I'd toyed with the idea of an alien contact/invasion to keep my two protagonists working together but apart for the second half of the book, but the Barrayaran war idea worked much better, more intrinsically. I was also interested in exploring the bioengineered-future all-the-aliens-were-us trope. The Barrayar stories give a snapshot of that very long-range project just begining.
Ta, L.
At one point, very early on in the story development, I'd toyed with the idea of an alien contact/invasion to keep my two protagonists working together but apart for the second half of the book, but the Barrayaran war idea worked much better, more intrinsically. I was also interested in exploring the bioengineered-future all-the-aliens-were-us trope. The Barrayar stories give a snapshot of that very long-range project just begining.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Sarah
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I have been reading and really enjoying the Penric novellas. What, if any, of earth's cultures and religious faiths did you use for ideas to flesh out the 5 God beliefs and rituals? I'm thinking especially of using special animals at a funeral to signal that the person's spirit had been taken up by his or her God, and which God.
A Goodreads user
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
No question. Just wanted to say that in this very dark year, finding and burning through the Vorkosigan saga was a real bright spot. I find myself recommending it to friends constantly, and they all fall in love as I did. Many many thanks for your work, and please know that it's bringing some light to dark places. {insert ?, since the autofill screen demands it!]
Selena Winters
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Have you considered coming to Australia for the Supanova conventions?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more