Shane Castle
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
The first of your stories set in the world of the five gods that your public has seen is The Curse of Chalion. Was that the first one written? And, can you (briefly) outline your thoughts behind this world? I know that a lot of energy can go into backstories that the public never sees, but I would love to hear about some of them.
Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Chalion was the first Chalion tale written, optionally as a stand-alone, not that this lasted.
No, I cannot briefly outline my thoughts that went into its world-building, not least because it was 18 years ago. And would be as long as the novel itself. But you might be able to find some things in the interviews I did around that time period, early 2000s.
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
Also in Sidelines: Talks and Essays, maybe.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
It started by looking at 15th C. Spanish history, and wondering why no one was stealing its lurid events the way they mine the Wars of the Roses. But it didn't end there. Lots of long-brewing thoughts about how religion is treated in fantasy got folded in underneath.
There might also be something among the already-answered questions in this column, if you scroll back through. It is alas not searchable.
Ta, L.
The Curse of Chalion was the first Chalion tale written, optionally as a stand-alone, not that this lasted.
No, I cannot briefly outline my thoughts that went into its world-building, not least because it was 18 years ago. And would be as long as the novel itself. But you might be able to find some things in the interviews I did around that time period, early 2000s.
http://vorkosigan.wikia.com/wiki/Auth...
Also in Sidelines: Talks and Essays, maybe.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
It started by looking at 15th C. Spanish history, and wondering why no one was stealing its lurid events the way they mine the Wars of the Roses. But it didn't end there. Lots of long-brewing thoughts about how religion is treated in fantasy got folded in underneath.
There might also be something among the already-answered questions in this column, if you scroll back through. It is alas not searchable.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Richard Boothe
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Dear Lois: As of June 2022, are you contemplating any new novellas set in universes besides the World of Five Gods, featuring Penric and Desdemona? Speaking of the latter, any idea how long it'll be before I need to dust off my 2nd-generation Kindle tablet? Have not read earlier Q&As yet, so you may have answered already.
Jonathan Palfrey
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I'm rereading the Penric stories yet again, enjoyment undiminished, and it seems to me that Nikys has become a bit of an author's problem. Would you agree? Up to "The prisoner of Limnos" she was a full part of the story, but then her status changed, and the problem is what to do with her now. Although there's still plenty of room for more stories about Penric before he met her.
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