Kate Davenport
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Just finished rereading “Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance” and was wondering about your thoughts on Byerly’s future? It seems like he has the chance to reinvent himself, and from the little that came out about his past and Rish’s assessments if him, it seems like he could benefit from as much therapy as Mark ended up getting.
Lois McMaster Bujold
I doubt Byerly will be getting much therapy on Jackson's Whole, but he is getting a challenging and extremely varied new job, or several, which may be just as good. Any complaints about getting stale (and he was) back in the dodgier parts of the Vorbarr Sultana high-Vor scene will be right out the airlock.
No, I haven't worked out any canonical thoughts in detail, but as Our Man On Jackson's Whole, he ends up doing an excellent, if suitably Byerly-ish, job. He'll likely be stuck out there for a lot longer due to his competence than due to putative exile for that unfortunate little architectural incident back home.
Good question whether he does come back home, or when. Rish won't be leaving the Jewels for a very long time, if ever. And the Barrayar Byerly eventually comes back to will be much changed, granted mostly for the better. He could end up feeling alien on both ends. Which suggests he might need to reinvent himself for a third time, at age 60-something. Well, he has Simon Illyan's example...
(Which leads to the question of what Simon and Alys will be doing, after their year-long galactic-holiday/informal exile creates a sharp break with both their former jobs and scenes. No, I have no clue, but something part time and occasional, absorbing but not demanding, seems suitable to their then-ages. Alys is about 5 years younger than Simon, just fyi. Sergyar has been the all-purpose answer of where to park excessively powerful retirees, but I'm not sure it would suit this pair.)
Ta, L.
I doubt Byerly will be getting much therapy on Jackson's Whole, but he is getting a challenging and extremely varied new job, or several, which may be just as good. Any complaints about getting stale (and he was) back in the dodgier parts of the Vorbarr Sultana high-Vor scene will be right out the airlock.
No, I haven't worked out any canonical thoughts in detail, but as Our Man On Jackson's Whole, he ends up doing an excellent, if suitably Byerly-ish, job. He'll likely be stuck out there for a lot longer due to his competence than due to putative exile for that unfortunate little architectural incident back home.
Good question whether he does come back home, or when. Rish won't be leaving the Jewels for a very long time, if ever. And the Barrayar Byerly eventually comes back to will be much changed, granted mostly for the better. He could end up feeling alien on both ends. Which suggests he might need to reinvent himself for a third time, at age 60-something. Well, he has Simon Illyan's example...
(Which leads to the question of what Simon and Alys will be doing, after their year-long galactic-holiday/informal exile creates a sharp break with both their former jobs and scenes. No, I have no clue, but something part time and occasional, absorbing but not demanding, seems suitable to their then-ages. Alys is about 5 years younger than Simon, just fyi. Sergyar has been the all-purpose answer of where to park excessively powerful retirees, but I'm not sure it would suit this pair.)
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Catherine Nemeth
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
In Wot5G as the Gods are real but not material, how much are theology/religious beliefs from divine inspiration vs man-made? Could someone create a new theology (aside from Quadrene)? Start a weird sex cult? Claim to be a priest from a distant land with different gods that can intervene directly/cure disease/bestow good fortune,etc (for donations)? Would they eventually get stopped by a real divine/saint/sorcerer/god?
Kevin Reitz
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I’ve been thinking that the Sharing Knife books are your strongest and have the most profound emotional punch. My theory is that the settings come directly from your home culture and resonate especially well with readers from the same historical atmosphere. There’s endless presumed knowledge you can draw on and—no small thing—a rich vernacular to exploit. I wonder if it feels that way from the author’s perspective?
Katrine Cady
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi Lois, How do you know when a novel is “finished?” Do you find yourself tweaking things for weeks after you first think you are done with a story, or are you more of a “once and done” kind of author? When I paint, once I’ve signed my work, I never touch it with a brush again. I was wondering if writing was the same.
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