Marti Dolata
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just read a speech of yours from 2008 where you say to ask you later about your metaphor of genres as dog breeds. Could you give a reference for that, or repeat it here?
Lois McMaster Bujold
Hm, I think that was my 2008 Denvention Worldcon speech. Alas, after ten years, I know longer remember how I was going to develop that metaphor.
It probably had something to do with the notion about how show breeds are over-bred to the point where they are no longer functional as dogs, parallel to how genre stories get over-selected during popular trends till they are no longer functional as stories. But the speech was already plenty long, and trends die on their own, like algae blooms, if, it sometimes seems, not soon enough. (Dystopias, *cough*.)
Ta, L.
It probably had something to do with the notion about how show breeds are over-bred to the point where they are no longer functional as dogs, parallel to how genre stories get over-selected during popular trends till they are no longer functional as stories. But the speech was already plenty long, and trends die on their own, like algae blooms, if, it sometimes seems, not soon enough. (Dystopias, *cough*.)
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Catherine Nemeth
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Are Kou and Drou’s four daughters the luck of the draw or a deliberate choice? Would knowing how dire the sex ratio had become outweigh the cultural pressure of wanting a son to carry on the family name? Or did they not want to subject a commoner son, no matter how close to the Regent, to having to compete with Vor sons for the available women, given pressure to marry “up”?
Catherine Nemeth
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
RE gene cleaning as the best birthday gift. There are steps between removing deleterious genes, choosing the best genes in the sperm sample, looking for rare existing variations (better than 20/20 vision, lactic acid breakdown), and going full haute boutique genome. Given their history with the Cetagandans and their militaristic inclination, would the Barrayarans be tempted into their own eugenic project?
Seantheaussie
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
“A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind.” Count Aral Vorkosigan. I have loved this insightful quote for decades, is it completely your creation or have you paraphrased from somewhere? I am betting on either, "Did I write that?" or, "Way too long ago to remember."
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