Roger
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
IMHO, Mirror Dance is a modern masterpiece of fiction. Are you ever concerned that some may choose not to read the book, because it is in the middle of such a long series?
Lois McMaster Bujold
A lot of people choose not to read my books, for a lot of reasons. Whether, when, or how any given reader may come to find or to process one's works is beyond the writer's control, and always will be. Still moreso after the writer dies. I mean, really, could any of the many older writers I read have even begun to imagine me, or where their words would fall, and how? The 11th C. Byzantine biographer, for example. Through his book, I could imagine him; the reverse is very much not true.
The one thing I can do that I can control is to try to make each book work as a stand-alone, as well as being part of a larger series structure. I do the best I can, where I am, with what I have, each year. After that, my words are necessarily cast loose on their own, sink or swim.
That said, I am very pleased when my books do work well for someone, as evidently in your case.
Ta, L.
A lot of people choose not to read my books, for a lot of reasons. Whether, when, or how any given reader may come to find or to process one's works is beyond the writer's control, and always will be. Still moreso after the writer dies. I mean, really, could any of the many older writers I read have even begun to imagine me, or where their words would fall, and how? The 11th C. Byzantine biographer, for example. Through his book, I could imagine him; the reverse is very much not true.
The one thing I can do that I can control is to try to make each book work as a stand-alone, as well as being part of a larger series structure. I do the best I can, where I am, with what I have, each year. After that, my words are necessarily cast loose on their own, sink or swim.
That said, I am very pleased when my books do work well for someone, as evidently in your case.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Sheryl Hill
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
"Ethan of Athos" is one of my favorites and, perhaps, one of the most socially significant stories you've written because it demonstrates the power of encounters with the "hated other" to transform bigotry into respect. It's lack of popularity grieves me. I have wondered if a story about a planet made up of women who are equally suspicious of men (but for non-religious reasons) might be better received. Thoughts?
Bob
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
You've mentioned dealing with insomnia, do you ever write during that time? If so, have any memorable scenes or ideas come together as a result of your sleeplessness? Or is the causality the other way around? Can you not sleep sometimes because your mind is too busy trying to solve things to sleep? I'm betting on the latter because Miles.
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