Jerri
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I have been re-reading Penric's Demon and just noticed this sentence: "Sorcerer had certainly not been on Pen's former list of scholarly ambitions, but then, neither had theologian, divine, physician, teacher, lawyer or any other high trade . . ." Then I noticed that with the possible exception of lawyer, Pen has now studied/become all of the above. Did you realize this when you first invented Penric and Des?
Lois McMaster Bujold
Not consciously. But I was pleased by the serendipity, when I noticed it.
Divine and therefore theologian does follow in lockstep to becoming a trained Temple sorcerer. Physician was a less-standard bonus. Pen will likely duck lawyering.
The original term "doctor", which dates back to the medieval university system, actually means "teacher", not "physician". (No one will have noticed that I never use the term doctor for 5GU medicos.) A doctorate was actually a license to teach in any Church-accredited institution throughout Europe. An oath-sworn Temple divine has something of the same status, someone to be trusted with teaching.
Ta, L.
Not consciously. But I was pleased by the serendipity, when I noticed it.
Divine and therefore theologian does follow in lockstep to becoming a trained Temple sorcerer. Physician was a less-standard bonus. Pen will likely duck lawyering.
The original term "doctor", which dates back to the medieval university system, actually means "teacher", not "physician". (No one will have noticed that I never use the term doctor for 5GU medicos.) A doctorate was actually a license to teach in any Church-accredited institution throughout Europe. An oath-sworn Temple divine has something of the same status, someone to be trusted with teaching.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Norine Luker
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Happy Holidays, Lois. I am rereading Penric's novellas, and I was struck at how much Penric changed between the first novella and the second. What experiences did he go through that gave him so much self-confidence? (If you would prefer, feel free to write another novella talking about those years :) )
Kevin Reitz
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
On the subject of who could possibly play Miles in a Golden-Age TV adaptation, I've been struck by Alex Høgh Andersen's portrayal of "Ivar the Boneless" in Vikings, from mid-season 4 forward. He's born without the use of legs but becomes one of the most powerful figures in Vikings history. Unlike Miles, Ivar is a truly awful person--but charismatic and supremely determined. Maybe file this away in case HBO calls?
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