Roger
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
IMHO, Mirror Dance is a modern masterpiece of fiction. Are you ever concerned that some may choose not to read the book, because it is in the middle of such a long series?
Lois McMaster Bujold
A lot of people choose not to read my books, for a lot of reasons. Whether, when, or how any given reader may come to find or to process one's works is beyond the writer's control, and always will be. Still moreso after the writer dies. I mean, really, could any of the many older writers I read have even begun to imagine me, or where their words would fall, and how? The 11th C. Byzantine biographer, for example. Through his book, I could imagine him; the reverse is very much not true.
The one thing I can do that I can control is to try to make each book work as a stand-alone, as well as being part of a larger series structure. I do the best I can, where I am, with what I have, each year. After that, my words are necessarily cast loose on their own, sink or swim.
That said, I am very pleased when my books do work well for someone, as evidently in your case.
Ta, L.
A lot of people choose not to read my books, for a lot of reasons. Whether, when, or how any given reader may come to find or to process one's works is beyond the writer's control, and always will be. Still moreso after the writer dies. I mean, really, could any of the many older writers I read have even begun to imagine me, or where their words would fall, and how? The 11th C. Byzantine biographer, for example. Through his book, I could imagine him; the reverse is very much not true.
The one thing I can do that I can control is to try to make each book work as a stand-alone, as well as being part of a larger series structure. I do the best I can, where I am, with what I have, each year. After that, my words are necessarily cast loose on their own, sink or swim.
That said, I am very pleased when my books do work well for someone, as evidently in your case.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Robert Phillips
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Does "Knife Children" put a wrap on the Sharing Knife series? I hope not. I was sad when the Vorkosigan series ended, but as much as I enjoyed it, it is the Sharing Knife series I turn to when the days get short and a cozy chair (with a blanket) is most appealing. Then I need my comfort books. I pull volume 1 off the shelf and read again how Fawn sparks new life in world-weary Dag. Such a great story.
Kate Davenport
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
The question about the demon's different personalities disagreeing made me wonder. Does a well developed demon like Desdemona have any thoughts that are separate than the previous hosts? Besides the urge to chaos. Penric refers to Desdemona as all of them collectively, but there also seems to be some sort of unity of thought when he isn't calling on a specific personality.
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