Lois’s answer to “Do you have favorite characters in each of your series? If so, what about those characters makes t…” > Likes and Comments
10 likes · Like
I like Penric in particular because he's cheerful and good company. He can afford to be cheerful: he's had a relatively easy life, compared with other Bujold protagonists. The others have been given hard lives to make them interesting, it seems, but Penric has his demon to make him interesting.
I am deeply fond of Ivan, both as a character who is deeply fun to read in his own right, as a person with an excellent character arc, and as Miles' foil (or possibly target).
I love Miles & Ivan; their scenes together are great!
Then there are the minor characters who seem to come and go too soon. The Learned Hallana; the Richelon family and Chio; Lunet the fox lady; Liss the courier; the Xarre family (but we may yet see them again).
Just realised ... it's initiative for me, or rather characters acting with their own initiative. Nothing shows intentions and one's true merit better than one's actions. Or in other words, the famous forward momentum is what makes a character appealing to me. Not just reacting to or giving in to one's fate and circumstances, and not just making the best out of a situation, but actively, messily pursuing one's path in life. We grew apart with Miles, with time. At one point it felt too organic a connection. Doubtless so for many other readers. So give me an active character any time, a villain, a fool, an ungly wretch, and I will find a way to connect with the story. Give me a stale figure, a prop in the story, hide all motivation and impulse, and this story is beyond redemption. Not an error Lois would ever allow, after all, it is Lois who is famous for writing characters. And the reason why there are t-shirts with "forward momentum" printed on them. Sigh. One question I will someday ask Lois is how does she stay sane, coherent, logical and efficient in this world. Suspect the simple answer will be "superiority of the mind and discipline". Sigh.
"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose—
What made you so awfully clever?"
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"
Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"
🙂
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Jonathan
(new)
May 05, 2021 12:48AM
I like Penric in particular because he's cheerful and good company. He can afford to be cheerful: he's had a relatively easy life, compared with other Bujold protagonists. The others have been given hard lives to make them interesting, it seems, but Penric has his demon to make him interesting.
reply
|
flag
I am deeply fond of Ivan, both as a character who is deeply fun to read in his own right, as a person with an excellent character arc, and as Miles' foil (or possibly target).
I love Miles & Ivan; their scenes together are great!
Then there are the minor characters who seem to come and go too soon. The Learned Hallana; the Richelon family and Chio; Lunet the fox lady; Liss the courier; the Xarre family (but we may yet see them again).
Just realised ... it's initiative for me, or rather characters acting with their own initiative. Nothing shows intentions and one's true merit better than one's actions. Or in other words, the famous forward momentum is what makes a character appealing to me. Not just reacting to or giving in to one's fate and circumstances, and not just making the best out of a situation, but actively, messily pursuing one's path in life. We grew apart with Miles, with time. At one point it felt too organic a connection. Doubtless so for many other readers. So give me an active character any time, a villain, a fool, an ungly wretch, and I will find a way to connect with the story. Give me a stale figure, a prop in the story, hide all motivation and impulse, and this story is beyond redemption. Not an error Lois would ever allow, after all, it is Lois who is famous for writing characters. And the reason why there are t-shirts with "forward momentum" printed on them. Sigh. One question I will someday ask Lois is how does she stay sane, coherent, logical and efficient in this world. Suspect the simple answer will be "superiority of the mind and discipline". Sigh.
"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly supposeThat your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose—
What made you so awfully clever?"
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"
Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"
🙂
