Sheryl Hill
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
"Ethan of Athos" is one of my favorites and, perhaps, one of the most socially significant stories you've written because it demonstrates the power of encounters with the "hated other" to transform bigotry into respect. It's lack of popularity grieves me. I have wondered if a story about a planet made up of women who are equally suspicious of men (but for non-religious reasons) might be better received. Thoughts?
Lois McMaster Bujold
A lot of the latter had already been written (mostly in the 60s and 70s, by both men and women) at the time I wrote Ethan of Athos, and in fact Ethan was in part a riposte to those. The fact that you'd never heard of them may answer your question?
Ethan has done pretty well to survive 31 years still in print/ebook and available, I think. Readers can still find it. As a general rule, only new books get booted up onto bestseller lists, but selling quietly for a long time can add up, too. Word-of-mouth has been the lifeblood of my career.
Ta, L.
Ethan has done pretty well to survive 31 years still in print/ebook and available, I think. Readers can still find it. As a general rule, only new books get booted up onto bestseller lists, but selling quietly for a long time can add up, too. Word-of-mouth has been the lifeblood of my career.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
J C
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
One of my favorite things about Barrayar (the book) is how Aral maintains personal moral integrity in a situation where there is no "good", just "really bad" and "slightly less bad". I am interested in Aral's time as Regent during the Komarr Revolt, and how he maintains his own moral center through a nihilist conflict; also, since I'm wishing, one day I hope you can finish the sequel to Falling Free?
Ruth Tomandl
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! Thank you for the Vorkosigan books; I just finished Captain Vorpatril's alliance and I love what good, kind people the characters are and how much they're able to help each other; it's an optimistic lens for the real world. I appreciated your thoughts in this interview: https://nautil.us/does-science-fiction-shape-the-future-543468/ did any of the other authors' answers surprise you or make you think?
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