Robin Seina
Robin Seina asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I love Ivan character and even more loved his book (Captain Vorpatril's Alliance). Though I enjoyed the most the scene of Cockroach central sinking and reaction of several characters to it. Simon's, Gregor's and Miles' come to mind particularly... Where did idea come from? Also, have you heard this song?: https://brookeabbey.com/track/ivan-you-idiot I love it. Only shame it ends with Civil Campaign.

Lois McMaster Bujold
Besides reading such classic nonfiction books as Why Buildings Fall Down

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

and a good deal of other nonfiction on engineering over the years, one of the oldest roots, oddly, was from a climactic scene from the old British comedy The Horse's Mouth, in which... is it spoilers for a film almost as old as I am? -- a bunch of justifiably distrait people unwittingly cross a rug that has been hastily thrown over the floor to conceal a large hole, and... slowly.. sink... out... of... sight...

I'll have to check out the Ivan song.

Ta, L.

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