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Lois Mcmaster Bujold




Bujold is best known for her series of novels featuring (as acknowledged in the dedication). It centers on a catastrophic dinner party, with misunderstandings and dialogue justifying the subtitle "A Comedy of Biology and Manners". Her psychological insights and creation of complex characters are particularly appreciated by many readers.

There is considerable debate among readers as the best order to read the Vorkosigan series. Some favor reading in publication order, some in order of internal chronology, and some other orders. This illustrates the widely held view that this series consists of a set of independent works which none the less gain from their inter-relations. The author has stated that her Miles Naismith Vorkosigan series structure is modeled after the Horatio Hornblower books documenting the life of a single person. In themes and echoes, they also reflect Dorothy L. Sayers ' mystery character Lord Peter Wimsey . Bujold has also said that part of the
challenge of writing a series is that many readers will encounter the stories
in "utterly random order," so she must provide sufficient background in each
of them without being excessively repetitious. Most recent printings of her
Vorksosigan tales do include an appendix at the end summarizing the internal
chronology of the series.

Bujold is a highly successful writer, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, a record matched only by Robert A. Heinlein . She has also won the Nebula Award for best novel twice, and her novella "The Mountains of Mourning" won both prizes. In the fantasy sphere, ''The Curse of Chalion'' won the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature and was nominated for the 2002 World Fantasy Award for best novel, and her fourth Hugo for a novel was for ''Paladin of Souls''.

Lois is the daughter of Robert Charles McMaster and attributes her early interest in SF to his influence. He was editor of the monumental "Nondestructive Testing Handbook" generally refered to as McMaster on Materials.

Bujold currently lives in Minnesota . She is divorced and has two children.


MAJOR WRITINGS


The Vorkosigan Saga


Listed in series order:

  • "Dreamweaver's Dilemma" in the Vorkosigan universe long before the rest of the series (1995) (included in collection ''Dreamweaver's Dilemma'') NESFA Press

  • ''Falling Free'' approximately 200 years before the birth of Miles Vorkosigan (1988) -- Nebula Award

  • ''Shards of Honor'' approximately 1 year before the birth of Miles Vorkosigan (1986)

  • ''Barrayar'' (1991) -- Hugo Award

  • ''The Warrior's Apprentice'' (1986)

  • "The Mountains of Mourning" (1989) (included in ''Borders of Infinity'') -- Hugo Award, Nebula Award. First published in Analog magazine. Available online via the Baen Free Library

  • ''The Vor Game'' (1990) -- Hugo Award

  • ''Cetaganda'' (1995)

  • '' Ethan Of Athos '' Vorkosigan is referred to, but does not actually appear, in this novel (1986)

  • "Labyrinth" (1989) (included in ''Borders of Infinity'')--First published in Analog magazine.

  • ''Borders of Infinity'' (1989) (Collection of three short stories/novellas tied together with an original frame story interspliced between them. Also the title of one of the three short stories.)

  • "The Borders of Infinity" (1987) (included in ''Borders of Infinity'') -- First published in Freelancers

  • ''Brothers in Arms'' (1989)

  • ''Mirror Dance'' (1994) -- Hugo Award

  • ''Memory'' (1996)

  • ''Komarr'' (1998)

  • ''A Civil Campaign'' (2000)

  • "Winterfair Gifts" (2003 in Croatian and Russian, 2004 in English) -- First published in Irresistible Forces, a Science Fiction/Romance genre crossover anthology edited by Catherine Asaro. The Winterfair Gifts shortstory/novella is also available as a standalone ebook from Fictionwise.

  • ''Diplomatic Immunity'' (2002)


Omnibus Volumes:
  • ''Cordelia's Honor'' (contains ''Shards of Honor'', ''Barrayar'')

  • ''Young Miles'' (contains ''The Warrior's Apprentice'', "The Mountains of Mourning", ''The Vor Game'')

  • ''Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem'' (contains ''Cetaganda'', ''Ethan of Athos'', "Labyrinth")

  • ''Miles Errant'' ("The Borders of Infinity", ''Brothers in Arms'', ''Mirror Dance'')


Audiobooks:
"Books-on-tape/cd" versions of Falling Free, Shards of Honor, Barrayar, The Warrior's Apprentice, The Vor Game, Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos, Borders of Infinity, and Brothers in Arms are produced by The Reader's Chair.


Fantasy Novels



SEE ALSO


The Fivefold Pathway Of The Soul , one of the (fictional) primary religious texts for the southern cultures in '' The Curse Of Chalion '' and '' Paladin Of Souls ''


EXTERNAL LINKS