David Samuels

David Samuels asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Do you have a favorite historical mystery series? I really like how Penric #2&3 reminded me of the atmosphere of the above genre. Penric's Fox especially made me realize how cool of a combo fantasy and mystery can be. Same with the Bastard cult mystery in the beginning of Cazaril's story. Happy Holidays, Elto

Lois McMaster Bujold I've dipped into several such. Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series sticks in my mind. Sherlock Holmes and Peter Wimsey are only historical by default, these days. There are actually rather a lot of fantasy-mystery crossovers out there, since one must give one's characters something to do, and Great War for the Fate of the World stories are getting really old.

For an older but still splendid entry in the genre, I expect the Lord Darcy stories by Randall Garrett still hold up.

The trick with a fantasy mystery, I think, is that there be a fantasy element both integral and fair in the mystery part.

Ta, L.

More Answered Questions

Catherine Nemeth

Catherine Nemeth asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Miles is famously allergic to fastpenta. In 'Shards of Honor' Cordelia seems to have a similar if milder reaction to the airborne sedative in the therapists office. Is that a genetic trait that got passed on to Miles? Any any relation to the haute ladies genetically engineered resistance to truth drugs?

Jonathan Palfrey

Jonathan Palfrey asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Near the end of “The Prisoner of Limnos”, Penric mentioned to Nikys that “I might still like to take you to visit Adria sometime.” I wonder whether that thought remained with him? If so, there are two ways that we might see Lodi again: with or without flashback. I’m not obsessed with Lodi, it's just that our first visit was brief, and it’s been on my mind recently. I once visited Venice briefly…

Nathan

Nathan asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I know you've probably gotten this question before a million times, but would you ever consider writing another mainline book in the World of Five Gods series? I am devouring the Penric books at the moment, but I'd love another novel-length, meaty story :)

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Lois McMaster Bujold

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