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
Celtic
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I've been reading Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London books, partly due to your enthusiastic recommendations. Thank you - I'm enjoying them a lot. However, I wonder if you've read the short, between book, pieces Ben calls moments? starting with 'Nightingale: London 1966' http://temporarilysignificant.blogspot.com/2016/08/moments-one.html?m=1 I imagine you'd enjoy them. Maybe you have some Moments of your own to share?
John Campbell
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I am a new author. On the self-publishing journey, but don't really have a burning ?. Just saw your name and wanted to say "Thank you!" I love your writing in general and your Vorkosigan series sits next to Sherlock Holmes and Harry Dresden on my most beloved reads shelf. Actually, since my eyes aren't what they used to be, I will add that I am very pleased you found such a good narrator in Grover!
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