Raff Kingsbury
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi Lois. I've been wondering about nonromantic relationships in your writing. It seems to me your intense friendships pretty much all have complex power dynamics -- you don't do simple strong friendship without either romance, or guardianship and authority and different sorts of control? Am I wrong about that, and if not are there conscious reasons for it? (I really enjoy the way you do handle power dynamics, btw.)
Lois McMaster Bujold
I don't think you are right, but perhaps you are not thinking over a wide enough array of my characters. Other commenters might find this an interesting enough question to chime in with their takes below. Miles and Ivan? Claire and Silver? Barr and Remo? Cordelia and Alys? Penric, Inglis, and Oswyl? None would seem to fall into the range of what I take you to be thinking. (I'm not actually sure just what, or who, you're thinking about, here, actually. For one thing almost no one who talks about power ever stops to define the term, always dangerous in a debate.)
A lot of the stories do include characters who have to step up to larger responsibilities than had fallen to their lots heretofore. That's usually called "character development", though.
Ta, L.
I don't think you are right, but perhaps you are not thinking over a wide enough array of my characters. Other commenters might find this an interesting enough question to chime in with their takes below. Miles and Ivan? Claire and Silver? Barr and Remo? Cordelia and Alys? Penric, Inglis, and Oswyl? None would seem to fall into the range of what I take you to be thinking. (I'm not actually sure just what, or who, you're thinking about, here, actually. For one thing almost no one who talks about power ever stops to define the term, always dangerous in a debate.)
A lot of the stories do include characters who have to step up to larger responsibilities than had fallen to their lots heretofore. That's usually called "character development", though.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Peggy B
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Not a question, but I just got my hardback copy of Knot of Shadows from Subterranean Press. I really would like to attach a picture of the cover to show others how wonderful it is. That really is how I see Pen as a young mature man. The quality of the book itself is great, too. Thank you? (To get the ? )
Kate Davenport
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Thank you for Demon Daughter. I had wondered how you would tell if a new demon (infested?) a young child. I forgot about the fires. LOL. My question is: Do you think Penric is known/remembered as a person in Cazaril's time? Or is he just an author on useful books in the chapter libraries?
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Aug 09, 2018 08:10AM · flag
Aug 14, 2018 07:51AM · flag