Lois’s answer to “Are you planning to do any more with Admiral Quinn or the Dendaari Mercenaries? I just finished th…” > Likes and Comments
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It may be worth adding that Cazaril in "The Curse of Chalion" is a somewhat damaged military veteran, whereas Penric in the novellas has no military connection at all.
The Sharing Knife series is also very good. Ms. Bujold is an excellent writer!
I read The Spirit Ring at a much younger age, it seemed darker then. Paradoxically, Penric's adventures are arduous enough to me, I wouldn't wish more distasters upon him. As to reading recommendations, well, what would you expect: read them all, but don't rush. They will be as good as ever in 50 years. Buy in bulks: people will pilfer your library for them.
Penric and Desdemona's adventures are told in a series of stand-alone novellas, which makes them a good introduction to those new to the genre. Penric does go through some very dark times, but the series time skips over them, so the reader experiences them as backstory/flashbacks at a point where he is recovering. The Sharing Knife stories, in contrast, are really two very long novels broken into four books. Totally immersive experience dealing with issues of family and acceptance with some amazing world building. I'd also recommend the Paladin of Souls, which follows Curse of Chalion but can be read alone (although there are spoilers for Curse of Chalion). Paladin is actually my favorite Bujold fantasy because it shows middle-age women can run off and have adventures too :)
greenlady: Ista, the heroine of "Paladin of Souls", is 40 years old—an age at which I think most people these days are not yet ready to think of themselves as middle-aged. Try describing 40-year-old women of your acquaintance as middle-aged, in their hearing, and see how it affects your life expectancy. :)
Admittedly, things may perhaps be different in Chalion, but I don't think you were writing from the viewpoint of a native of Chalion.
Mind you, you're correct in a way. I suppose she might have been 60 years old and still survived the adventures she went through, if reasonably strong and healthy. I'm 66 myself, and I don't feel doddery yet.
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It may be worth adding that Cazaril in "The Curse of Chalion" is a somewhat damaged military veteran, whereas Penric in the novellas has no military connection at all.
The Sharing Knife series is also very good. Ms. Bujold is an excellent writer!
I read The Spirit Ring at a much younger age, it seemed darker then. Paradoxically, Penric's adventures are arduous enough to me, I wouldn't wish more distasters upon him. As to reading recommendations, well, what would you expect: read them all, but don't rush. They will be as good as ever in 50 years. Buy in bulks: people will pilfer your library for them.
Penric and Desdemona's adventures are told in a series of stand-alone novellas, which makes them a good introduction to those new to the genre. Penric does go through some very dark times, but the series time skips over them, so the reader experiences them as backstory/flashbacks at a point where he is recovering. The Sharing Knife stories, in contrast, are really two very long novels broken into four books. Totally immersive experience dealing with issues of family and acceptance with some amazing world building. I'd also recommend the Paladin of Souls, which follows Curse of Chalion but can be read alone (although there are spoilers for Curse of Chalion). Paladin is actually my favorite Bujold fantasy because it shows middle-age women can run off and have adventures too :)
greenlady: Ista, the heroine of "Paladin of Souls", is 40 years old—an age at which I think most people these days are not yet ready to think of themselves as middle-aged. Try describing 40-year-old women of your acquaintance as middle-aged, in their hearing, and see how it affects your life expectancy. :)Admittedly, things may perhaps be different in Chalion, but I don't think you were writing from the viewpoint of a native of Chalion.
Mind you, you're correct in a way. I suppose she might have been 60 years old and still survived the adventures she went through, if reasonably strong and healthy. I'm 66 myself, and I don't feel doddery yet.
Remaining within the field of sf, I'd suggest that you consider the author Vernor Vinge; but anyone you consult will have his or her own favourites.