Stephen

Stephen asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

"Ivar Ragnusson, better known as Ivar the Boneless. He was born, so it is said, with ‘only gristle where his bones should have been’. Ivar almost certainly suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta. He would have been very short, unable to walk without aid and with badly deformed limbs and spine. " (Sykes, Blood of the Isles). He led a Danish attack on Britain in 865! Another Miles?

Lois McMaster Bujold
Ivar is new to me, but you have to figure, every medical condition that exists now existed in the past, if with different names and explanations. (Except the ones that used to kill at birth or early on.) Thankfully many old killers have been rendered more rare by sanitation, immunizations, sterile technique (ferex tetanus used to take out a lot of infants from dirty cuts of the umbilical cord) and better understanding of nutrition. Grant you, osteogenesis imperfecta isn't one of those "easy" fixes.

Ta, L.

More Answered Questions

Catherine Nemeth

Catherine Nemeth asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Dying Ezar took comfort in atheism. In Wot5G someone like Ezar could choose sundering for fear of the unknown or judgement. How judgmental are the gods? The Bastard’s Hell is mentioned, is that where souls taken in the death miracle go? Anyone else? The Bastard takes those the other gods won’t, thieves, prostitutes, etc, but Des said there are those too vile like the psychopathic bandit chief. How many are too vile?

Jacqueline

Jacqueline asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I saw a question below about a book about Miles' children - I second the notion. I'd love to read it. But have you considered "going back in time" and writing another book about a younger Miles? Such as his time as an Imperial Auditor? I love your books but Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen seemed so final.

Mary Bertke

Mary Bertke asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

How many years did Ista live in Valenda between her husband's death and her flight to pilgrimage?

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Lois McMaster Bujold

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