Lois McMaster Bujold
Correct, Joen's demon is not Des. But an interesting compare-and-contrast about how much can go wrong with a demon too long in the world under corrupt and corrupting and/or ignorant masters.
Desdemona was much luckier in her riders, not least because she fell into shrewd and nurturing Temple hands soon enough.
Best Temple vs. Worst Hedge is kind of cherry-picking the moral gradient; there can be hedge sorcerers who do well, due to their personal integrity, and Temple sorcerers who do badly due to their lack of same -- we saw an example in Tronio. But the Temple's oversight, or, more correctly, the oversight of the better folks in the Temple, do try to improve the odds.
A demon's underlying nature is chaotic-destructive; that never goes away. Even a demon as "good" as Des could be spoiled if it fell into the hands of a bad enough rider. Whether a demon as smart as Des could get herself out of that trap, ah, more promptly than natural is another interesting knock-on question. With its own consequences...
Ta, L.
Correct, Joen's demon is not Des. But an interesting compare-and-contrast about how much can go wrong with a demon too long in the world under corrupt and corrupting and/or ignorant masters.
Desdemona was much luckier in her riders, not least because she fell into shrewd and nurturing Temple hands soon enough.
Best Temple vs. Worst Hedge is kind of cherry-picking the moral gradient; there can be hedge sorcerers who do well, due to their personal integrity, and Temple sorcerers who do badly due to their lack of same -- we saw an example in Tronio. But the Temple's oversight, or, more correctly, the oversight of the better folks in the Temple, do try to improve the odds.
A demon's underlying nature is chaotic-destructive; that never goes away. Even a demon as "good" as Des could be spoiled if it fell into the hands of a bad enough rider. Whether a demon as smart as Des could get herself out of that trap, ah, more promptly than natural is another interesting knock-on question. With its own consequences...
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Matthew Dick
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
When asked "what is your favorite series," I do have ones within genres, but none overall because it's apples and oranges to me. That said, "Vorkosigan Saga" is my favorite Sci-Fi series, and if pressed on a favorite author, your name is the one I give. I simply love your flavor of storytelling. Obligatory fanboying out of the way, do you have any advice on writing stories for us who are woefully inexperienced?
Christi Bell
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi. As so many I am very grateful for your books. Cordelia was something of a role model for me. Her pragmatism about government, about God, about life, and about parenting helped shape the way I view many of those things. I believe I am a better mother, a better social worker and even a better government employee because of how you wrote her. I hope there are more Vorkosigan/Barrayar stories to come?
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