Joseph

Joseph asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Regarding Barrayar's Time Of Isolation, if I've got the timeline about right: 0-90 years, still had a dwindling tech base; 100-400, Bloody Centuries, regression to Agricultural Age; 400-450, Unification under the Emperor and canonization of the Vor caste; 450-600, Golden Age of the Vor; ~600 years, End of the ToI; ~625, Cetagandan Invasion; ~645, Aral born, ~650, Barrayar freed. Roughly on target?

Lois McMaster Bujold I've never worked out the timeline in detail (and if I ever had, the paper I'd have written it on would be long gone by now anyway.) But, sure, roughly right. I put the Ceta invasion ~15 years after the end of the ToI, and it lasted ~ 20 years. I'd put Dorca's unification later, since he survived right up to and through most of the Occupation; although he might have been merely the emperor to finish, rather than start and finish, that political process. I've never established when Aral was born in relation to the end of the Cetas, but, if not before, soon after. Have no idea what you mean by "canonization of the Vor caste", although equipping them with and/or shooting them from cannons would occur toward the middle-to-end of the ToI.

Ta, L.

More Answered Questions

Kalen Delaney

Kalen Delaney asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

After reading Masquerade in Lodi, I am now rereading all the Penric books, as there were references in the new one that didn't quite ring a bell. And just this morning, a memory popped up. There is a real town called Lodi, in the central valley of California. Were you aware of it? Credence Clearwater even wrote a song about it, with the chorus: Oh Lord, I'm Stuck in Lodi Again. Oh, and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Marie

Marie asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

For you - and for your readers: recommendations for books / series that are readable and rereadable and rereadable? Your books (all 3 major universes) are my go-to comfort reading; I'm certain I've read everything at least 3 times, some a dozen or more.

John Kirk

John Kirk asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

As an author, how do you feel about content/trigger warnings? Some of your books have unpleasant things happening to characters (e.g. Elena Visconti). I really like those books, but I've recently been adding my own warnings while recommending them to friends. Would you be happy for an editor/publisher to add official warnings at the start of a book, or would that be treading on your toes?

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Lois McMaster Bujold

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