Anne
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Good morning! Just wanted to say hello, and mention something a friend and I were discussing. As we've grown older, fiction has begin to become less interesting, and the real world has become more and more fantastical. I'm unsure if this is an effect of age, or if reality has simply reached a bizarre enough state of technological advancement that we from the previous state are having trouble processing it. Thoughts?
Lois McMaster Bujold
Well, we are living in the 21st century now, which was always The Future. (Granted, it's not the future we ordered or expected.)
I think the real world has always been pretty fantastical, but in the Old Days (tm), people could only access a small slice of it. Due to the internet and other communications technologies, people are being exposed to way more of it than had even been possible before, and indeed way more than most of us can process.
And, yes, they keep making more. This has changed the problem from that of accessing knowledge that is scant and rare and valuable, a perpetual state of local famine, to triaging an avalanche of knowledge. I've likened it to being taken into a huge modern supermarket, and told one has to eat all the food on the shelves. Obviously, the old system of trying to know everything about everything can't work in this new environment. I'm not sure we've figured out yet what will.
Ta, L.
I think the real world has always been pretty fantastical, but in the Old Days (tm), people could only access a small slice of it. Due to the internet and other communications technologies, people are being exposed to way more of it than had even been possible before, and indeed way more than most of us can process.
And, yes, they keep making more. This has changed the problem from that of accessing knowledge that is scant and rare and valuable, a perpetual state of local famine, to triaging an avalanche of knowledge. I've likened it to being taken into a huge modern supermarket, and told one has to eat all the food on the shelves. Obviously, the old system of trying to know everything about everything can't work in this new environment. I'm not sure we've figured out yet what will.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Stjepan Cobets
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
First I would like to thank you for your character Miles Vorkasigen inspiring me to start writing my books. Miles decided to succeed despite all obstacles. I am an indie author from Croatia and my biggest problem is editing books in English because I can't afford it. My question relates to just that little detail. Do you know someone who could help me with pro bono editing? With all due respect, S. V. Cobets
Adam White
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I know it's just over a 12 hour flight, but ever thought of coming to New Zealand to give a reading? You could go to Australia too. Although it is hot and has many snakes, actually if memory serves 7 or 8 of the top killers in the world. Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud, and the only thing you have to worry about is sheep.
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