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.
Lois McMaster Bujold
It's fluid, but it does appear that the personalities blend around the edges over time, with the older ones less distinct than the newer. The memories mostly remain distinct, but the presenting persona becomes more of a consensus.
There is some interesting recent research in neurobiology that suggests the the parts of a brain actually cooperate in something of a consensus fashion in generating awareness.
Ta, L.
It's fluid, but it does appear that the personalities blend around the edges over time, with the older ones less distinct than the newer. The memories mostly remain distinct, but the presenting persona becomes more of a consensus.
There is some interesting recent research in neurobiology that suggests the the parts of a brain actually cooperate in something of a consensus fashion in generating awareness.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Kate Davenport
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just finished reading "Penric and the Shaman." Thank you. I enjoy both Pen and Des very much. I did notice something that interests me though. Nowhere in either Penric story or "Hallowed Hunt" Is Chalion mentioned (that I can find), although some other countries like Ibra and Darthica are. Is this because Chalion was too obscure back then, or did Chalion actually not exist that much earlier than Cazaril's time?
Laer Carroll
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Recently I read parts of my first book, published 11 years and books ago, to get details for a sequel. I was surprised at the skill of that alien time-lost author. Have you ever experienced anything similar? By the way, as I do every few years, I'm re-reading the Vorkosigan stories starting with Cordelia's books. I'm buying the ebook versions despite having the print books. Eyesight changes make ebooks easier to read.
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