Jonathan Palfrey asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Rather belatedly, I find myself wondering whether “Penric’s Fox” was at all inspired by the use of foxes in the Rivers of London series. Of course, there may be no connection at all (and the fox has made no second appearance). Would you care to comment?

Lois McMaster Bujold
The foxes in "Penric's Fox" were directly observed and inspired by the family of foxes who took up residence under my garden shed for two wonderful springs, to the great benefit of all my garden plants suddenly not being chewed down to the roots by rabbits. Six or eight fuzzy fox cubs tumbling over one another playing out beside the shed were a dose of cuteness (I will not say overdose) that had even the neighbors stopping to watch. I wish the foxes would come back, and the rabbits be their lunches... Alas, only those two years.

Something else is under there this year but I haven't seen what. Suspect it's raccoons, but, despite also being fun to watch if you catch them in daylight, can carry distemper or rabies, and leave problematic droppings.

So, no connection to the Rivers of London, fun reading though that series is.

Ta, L.

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