Steven Sarafian
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Having read "The Prisoner of Limnos" several times, I was startled when a friend from the U.P. mentioned yesterday a cruel local practice among youth there of tossing food to seagulls, which they caught on the fly, and then tossing an Alka Seltzer tablet, which MADE THE GULL EXPLODE. (I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this story--it may be so or it may be rural myth.) Had you heard of this?
Lois McMaster Bujold
I had not heard this urban (or rural) myth, no. (I've no doubt that some people would do such a thing, were it possible; much less sure of the chemistry involved.) In my story, it was an extension of the ill-fate of the rat encountered on Pen and Des's escape from the bottle dungeon back in "Penric's Mission", and a hint that this chaos magic could be truly dangerous if out of control, as potentially lethal as gravity. Or even dangerous when under control.
Ta, L.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Dave
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello Lois, I hope you are doing well. I am a big fan of the Vorkosigan series. I started Curse of Chalion, but did not finish it (this was many years ago). However, loved the 2 Penric novellas. So, which one of earlier books is most like Penric, so I can try again? Also, I think it is great idea to do novellas--it really is a short novel. Any more Penric novellas coming? Will you collect them in a real paper edition?
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