Evan Peterson
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
My apologies if this is too personal a question.. I have read a majority of your books and just finished reading Penric's hardcover editions and re-reading the rest of the World of Five Gods series...and I notice a recurring theme of older/younger romances. Betriz/Cazaril Fawn/Dag even Penric and Desdemona. Drawing from personal experience or drawn to that dymamic for purely the tension it adds?
Lois McMaster Bujold
It's merely a variant. There are only two choices of age-spreads for romantic partners; dead-even ages, or some degree of uneven ages. You are just noticing the more uneven ones preferentially. (Although indeed it can add a dramatic element, depending, like any other disjoint cultural aspect that must be worked through by one's characters.) There are lots of even or nearly even pairs as well, that pass by unremarked. Miles and Ekaterin, ferex. Ingrey and Ijada are pretty close, as are Fiametta and Thur, Ista and Illvin, Simon and Alys... the list goes on, but no one makes breathless comments about the near-age-pairs; invisible, I guess.
Ta, L.
It's merely a variant. There are only two choices of age-spreads for romantic partners; dead-even ages, or some degree of uneven ages. You are just noticing the more uneven ones preferentially. (Although indeed it can add a dramatic element, depending, like any other disjoint cultural aspect that must be worked through by one's characters.) There are lots of even or nearly even pairs as well, that pass by unremarked. Miles and Ekaterin, ferex. Ingrey and Ijada are pretty close, as are Fiametta and Thur, Ista and Illvin, Simon and Alys... the list goes on, but no one makes breathless comments about the near-age-pairs; invisible, I guess.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Steven Sarafian
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Dear Ms Bujold: I just had the pleasure of re-reading The Flowers of Vashnoi and noticed that for a run of three pages the character elsewhere named Ingi is referred to as Ingisi. Is Ingisi the full name and Ingi a diminutive, or might this be a typo? In any event, thank you for much great reading and re-reading.
Eric Taysom
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
What are the different symbols/sigils of the gods in the World of Five Gods? I know a symbol of the bastard is the two hands with thumbs point up and down. Apologies if this has already been answered. I looked but didn't find it among the questions. Ever since first reading 'The Curse of Chalion' I have wondered what was the sigil of the Lady of Spring on the riders that passed Cazaril.
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