Kate Davenport
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Des is keeping Penric young(ish) but I'm assuming that while she might be able to slow his aging and keep him healthy, she would not be able to extend him past the assumed human maximum of 125. In the end it still feels like it would be hard on him to outlive everyone important in his life except Des. How do you imagine she will handle his feelings of loss and possible depression? And how will she handle losing him?
Lois McMaster Bujold
Fortunately, I don't have to imagine it yet...
I do not posit Des will be able to create physical immortality; Pen will continue to age, but very slowly. How long, well, it's magic. I can decide as I wish. And yes, the "outliving" problem will be real. Puts me in mind of Illyan and his memory chip, how what seems an enviable miracle when young can become an unbearable burden with time.
Harder for me is to come up with new, magical or magic-adjacent adventures for Pen that are different from, at present, 13 others. That's more likely to, though not kill him, bring him to an end. Though Conan Doyle managed 54 stories and 4 novels for his fellow, so, there's precedent.
I'm in no rush to get through Pen's life; I've only just got him up to about the age I first envisioned him. I'm pretty sure he'll outlive me -- but so, I hope, will all the rest of my creations.
Ta, L.
Fortunately, I don't have to imagine it yet...
I do not posit Des will be able to create physical immortality; Pen will continue to age, but very slowly. How long, well, it's magic. I can decide as I wish. And yes, the "outliving" problem will be real. Puts me in mind of Illyan and his memory chip, how what seems an enviable miracle when young can become an unbearable burden with time.
Harder for me is to come up with new, magical or magic-adjacent adventures for Pen that are different from, at present, 13 others. That's more likely to, though not kill him, bring him to an end. Though Conan Doyle managed 54 stories and 4 novels for his fellow, so, there's precedent.
I'm in no rush to get through Pen's life; I've only just got him up to about the age I first envisioned him. I'm pretty sure he'll outlive me -- but so, I hope, will all the rest of my creations.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Alexandra
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello, I hope my question isn't offensive. But I was talking to another person who also read your books (I don't think she counts as a fan), and she complained that Miles thought about sex too much -- she was referring to the Borders of Infinity scene, I think. Do you think she's just underestimating how much the average guy thinks about it, since they supposedly think about it every few seconds?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more
Mar 01, 2025 06:31PM · flag