Raff Kingsbury
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi Lois. I've been wondering about nonromantic relationships in your writing. It seems to me your intense friendships pretty much all have complex power dynamics -- you don't do simple strong friendship without either romance, or guardianship and authority and different sorts of control? Am I wrong about that, and if not are there conscious reasons for it? (I really enjoy the way you do handle power dynamics, btw.)
Lois McMaster Bujold
I don't think you are right, but perhaps you are not thinking over a wide enough array of my characters. Other commenters might find this an interesting enough question to chime in with their takes below. Miles and Ivan? Claire and Silver? Barr and Remo? Cordelia and Alys? Penric, Inglis, and Oswyl? None would seem to fall into the range of what I take you to be thinking. (I'm not actually sure just what, or who, you're thinking about, here, actually. For one thing almost no one who talks about power ever stops to define the term, always dangerous in a debate.)
A lot of the stories do include characters who have to step up to larger responsibilities than had fallen to their lots heretofore. That's usually called "character development", though.
Ta, L.
I don't think you are right, but perhaps you are not thinking over a wide enough array of my characters. Other commenters might find this an interesting enough question to chime in with their takes below. Miles and Ivan? Claire and Silver? Barr and Remo? Cordelia and Alys? Penric, Inglis, and Oswyl? None would seem to fall into the range of what I take you to be thinking. (I'm not actually sure just what, or who, you're thinking about, here, actually. For one thing almost no one who talks about power ever stops to define the term, always dangerous in a debate.)
A lot of the stories do include characters who have to step up to larger responsibilities than had fallen to their lots heretofore. That's usually called "character development", though.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Marie
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
What actors would you fantasy-cast as your characters if someone were to make movies of your books? Ignoring current ages: Peter Dinklage seems obvious as Miles (I'd love to see him doing the manic parts). Robert Pattinson (pre-vampire!!) as Ivan. Cordelia: for some reason, Meryl Streep comes to mind.
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