Catherine Nemeth
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Are there any plans to release “Penric and the Demonic Ox” as a traditional paper book? I understand the current economics of paper books and the publishing industry and the increasing unwillingness not to invest in books that aren’t likely to be mega sellers. Thanks for writing all these wonderful stories and for answering all my questions.
Lois McMaster Bujold
"Penric and the Demonic Ox" has been offered to Subterranean for their usual limited edition hardcover; I'll make a blog post if/when we get a contract. (As of this moment, August 2025, Blackstone Audio already has it in their production pipeline, release planned for October.)
I'm presently considering whether to put the remaining Pen & Des stories into my own print-on-demand collections. Much will depend on how the upcoming _Two Tales_, the little collection of stray Vorkosiverse novellas, does when we finally get it out via the Ingram's program, through which we've already done "Knife Children" and _The Spirit Ring_.
There are doubtless publishers who would take the remaining potential collections, but apart from the sales volume problem, they all want e-rights, which I'd be an economic idiot to give up. I do like the flexibility of the ala carte e-publication, that make dropping in prequel tales much less of an issue.
Ta, L.
"Penric and the Demonic Ox" has been offered to Subterranean for their usual limited edition hardcover; I'll make a blog post if/when we get a contract. (As of this moment, August 2025, Blackstone Audio already has it in their production pipeline, release planned for October.)
I'm presently considering whether to put the remaining Pen & Des stories into my own print-on-demand collections. Much will depend on how the upcoming _Two Tales_, the little collection of stray Vorkosiverse novellas, does when we finally get it out via the Ingram's program, through which we've already done "Knife Children" and _The Spirit Ring_.
There are doubtless publishers who would take the remaining potential collections, but apart from the sales volume problem, they all want e-rights, which I'd be an economic idiot to give up. I do like the flexibility of the ala carte e-publication, that make dropping in prequel tales much less of an issue.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Shane
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
My Dad and I started reading your books in the late 1980s. His favorite character was Ivan Vorpatril. My Dad would have love Captain Vorpatril's Alliance. Have you considered writing a book where Ivan is the ambassador to Jackson Hole? Thank you for all your books over the years. I actually read Cryoburn to my Dad at his hospital bedside. I still cry when I read the dribbles at the end. Good memories.
Tilia
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
In the Vorkosigan Saga, all the (lead) characters end up in happy, heterosexual, harmonious... satisfying relationships. Even Bel, whom Miles thought of as more man than woman, ends up with a quadi woman. In a world that is otherwise so believable, it makes it all feel less realistic, untrue to imperfect human nature. What prompted you to write them this way? How much did you consider this aspect of the stories?
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I'm only still mulling about this idea yet, it's not a live project. (For one thing, I want to see _Two Tales_ results first, and it's ...more
Aug 18, 2025 01:33PM · flag
When re-reading, I sometimes want different experiences; physical goes best with a cup o ...more
Aug 23, 2025 09:14AM · flag