Bee
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! You address so many cool things in society and talk about so many different cultures and how they work! Is there any chance of polyamory/polygamy being addressed on any planets in future books?
Lois McMaster Bujold
That goes all the way back to The Warrior's Apprentice in 1986, when (admittedly mentioned in passing by Tav Calhoun) Beta Colony's arrangements are indicated to be highly flexible. And there was that poly family in The Sharing Knife. Athos... is in a class by itself. Lots of variety in the Vorkosiverse, although mercenary fleets, naturally, are not much about family formation. Jackson's Whole, anything can happen and does. And then there are the Cetagandans, the ghem indicated to practice polygamy sometimes, the haut deeply mysterious, no idea what their ordinary citizens get up to, and so on and on.
A lot of the stories touch on an exploration of what might happen when sexuality and reproduction are truly technologically separated. Sexuality becomes optional and malleable, and much less fraught, but somebody still has to change the babies' diapers, or they will die. Not everyone needs to have children, but all characters need to have parents -- or some SFnal equivalent, and no cheating by having people raised to adulthood in vats and anyway, who would run the vats? So.
No new books are in process at the moment, so I can't predict what I may like to explore next.
Ta, L.
That goes all the way back to The Warrior's Apprentice in 1986, when (admittedly mentioned in passing by Tav Calhoun) Beta Colony's arrangements are indicated to be highly flexible. And there was that poly family in The Sharing Knife. Athos... is in a class by itself. Lots of variety in the Vorkosiverse, although mercenary fleets, naturally, are not much about family formation. Jackson's Whole, anything can happen and does. And then there are the Cetagandans, the ghem indicated to practice polygamy sometimes, the haut deeply mysterious, no idea what their ordinary citizens get up to, and so on and on.
A lot of the stories touch on an exploration of what might happen when sexuality and reproduction are truly technologically separated. Sexuality becomes optional and malleable, and much less fraught, but somebody still has to change the babies' diapers, or they will die. Not everyone needs to have children, but all characters need to have parents -- or some SFnal equivalent, and no cheating by having people raised to adulthood in vats and anyway, who would run the vats? So.
No new books are in process at the moment, so I can't predict what I may like to explore next.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Allison Strandberg
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just finished Andrew Roberts' excellent biography of Napoleon. I kept thinking, "This guy sure reminds me of Miles Vorkosigan." I was tickled by one detail: Miles' opinion that a shower is as good as three hours' sleep (from Cryoburn, I think?) is shared by Napoleon, although his quote is about a bath and four hours. I'm curious about the extent to which biographical details about Napoleon inspired Miles.
Laura
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I love libraries and book stores. However, when I browse rows upon rows of books I often doubt if my own writing will contribute or amount to much, especially when weighed against the great investment required of my very finite time. Did you ever face similar doubts? If so, how did you reason/wrestle with them?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more