Alex
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! I loved the Sharing Knife and Chalion series, but Sharing Knife really resonated with me. It's such a unique world and I've never read one like it. While I'm sure you get these questions all the time, will you explore the Sharing Knife universe further? Perhaps maybe a 50 years into the future or something. I'd love to see how Dag and Fawn, and their children, change their world. Thanks!
Lois McMaster Bujold
I have nothing new going on with The Sharing Knife universe at this time. I don't rule anything out, because I've discovered my backbrain can ambush me unexpectedly, but certainly nothing soon.
Dag and Fawn's tale feels told to me (and at great length, too.) In general what I need to start a story, and what I want to explore during the course of it, is not a setting or an idea, but a character or characters. Once I have the characters, well, the question of "what ideas can challenge this person?" brings things into line nicely.
This is rather the opposite of some classic SF tropes, where the characters are got up to display the ideas. The clearest example being where some random Redshirt is sacrificed to demonstrate the capabilities of the alien weapon; what's most important about the scene is the weapon, not the person. This is also done on a much larger scale and less obviously not just with alien weapons, but with all sorts of things up to and including political ideas. My brain does not seem to work that way. So what I need to start a new project is not an idea, but a person (one who, for whatever reason, matters to me) to whom that idea will matter.
Ta, L.
I have nothing new going on with The Sharing Knife universe at this time. I don't rule anything out, because I've discovered my backbrain can ambush me unexpectedly, but certainly nothing soon.
Dag and Fawn's tale feels told to me (and at great length, too.) In general what I need to start a story, and what I want to explore during the course of it, is not a setting or an idea, but a character or characters. Once I have the characters, well, the question of "what ideas can challenge this person?" brings things into line nicely.
This is rather the opposite of some classic SF tropes, where the characters are got up to display the ideas. The clearest example being where some random Redshirt is sacrificed to demonstrate the capabilities of the alien weapon; what's most important about the scene is the weapon, not the person. This is also done on a much larger scale and less obviously not just with alien weapons, but with all sorts of things up to and including political ideas. My brain does not seem to work that way. So what I need to start a new project is not an idea, but a person (one who, for whatever reason, matters to me) to whom that idea will matter.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Marie
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
What Earth societies are your Vorkosiverse planets derived from? Some are made pretty clear: Escobar is Spanish / Central / South American, Kibou-Daini is Japanese with some Chinese, Barrayar is Russian / French / English / Greek. Cetaganda strikes me as slightly Chinese (imperial) but the names don't match; Komarr seemed French but one character shares a name with a town in Croatia, so.....
Sarah Pacetti
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! I've just started Shards of Honor and I'm absolutely entranced. Your writing is so visual and captivating. I'm hooked! For many many years you've been one of my sister's absolute favorite authors and I was wondering if you have any signings or appearances planned, so we might try to make a point to come out and see you some time and nerd out about science fiction? Thank you!
Madison Gardner
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I love your books! Who is your inspiration when it comes to writing?
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