Talli Ruksas

Talli Ruksas asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Is Aral's middle name Selig, making it actually little Selig's middle name? If so, what is his first name? Or is it Grandpa Sasha's middle name? Or did they not go with tradition? I know it's certainly a name in Vorkosigan history. You use a lot of British idioms in the V books - is that to give them a certain "not from around here" flavor, or just phrases you yourself use, or?

Lois McMaster Bujold I believe I finally decided Aral's middle name was Xav.

The naming convention cited is a custom, not a law; it's common but not invariable. Despite Miles's self-interested pitch to Mark that time. (Miles in hot pursuit of an agenda is not a reliable source.)

The Britishisms are a combo of "not from around here", a nod to Barrayar's founder population and history, and an effect of me reading so much Brit lit.

More Answered Questions

Steve

Steve asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Once again I am late to wish you a happy natal day. So again - a Very Happy Birthday, Lois! I do hope it was a happy one for you. Mais où sont les neiges d'antan? I thought I'd try to attach the question mark to something classy this year... Steve from Zanesville

TrixM

TrixM asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I just found my account was hacked, so that might explain some of the garbage appearing randomly under reviews (assuming my account is not the only one to be hacked). Some of the other "questions" are patently there to get people to click on their profile names even if no links are embedded. Goodreads' security options are lacking - e.g. we don't have to approve "friends". And authors have no ability to approve Qs?

J C

J C asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Thank you for answering all these questions! I especially appreciate that, as a reader, I can't tell that you "build [the story] backwards, starting with the characters and their story and building the world around them". Question time! Re-read Mirror Dance; what theory of mind did you draw from to describe Mark?

All answers from Lois McMaster Bujold…

Lois McMaster Bujold

39,072 followers

To ask Lois McMaster Bujold a question, please sign up.

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