The Vorkosigan Companion - Lillian Stewart Carl [42]
Did Lois have a clear idea of what she wanted to accomplish with the Miles novels at the time, or did the series evolve in scope as the books were written?
That one you'll have to ask Lois directly, but I do know there was some give-and-take between Jim and Lois about the nature and direction of the series. Jim, of course, wanted more like The Warrior's Apprentice, with the military concerns that were so close to his interests—and pocketbook. It was the clear front-runner for sales for a long time.
Please describe the typical editorial process with one of Lois's books.
She writes, I read. It seems to me Lois really doesn't require a lot of editorial input. There have been occasions, as with any writer, that a particular point will need talking out, and I'm happy to be able to provide an interested ear for that process. Sometimes a stray comment, like mentioning I thought A Civil Campaign needed more of a science fictional feel, will be answered in odd ways, like, say, butter bugs.
How has Lois's writing changed over the years that you've been working with her?
She's always been an accomplished, smooth writer.
Do you feel there are any publishing decisions that you made that have helped Lois's books achieve their success? If so, what?
I think Jim's stubbornness and obstinacy helped build the audience for the books. Baen from the very beginning has been good about keeping backlist titles of series in print, and that was essential to the Vorkosigan Saga, especially since they weren't written in chronological order.
Jim also went against the common wisdom and published those first three books within the space of a year, and I think that jump-started the series and the awareness of Bujold within the SF community. It might have cost Lois a Campbell Award, since she didn't have the traditional career path of a Campbell winner and it looked liked she'd been writing for a long time!
On a more minor note, I think putting the Vorkosigan Saga Timeline in the back of the books has been helpful—I'd asked my colleague Hank Davis to put it together for me originally just so I could keep the books straight in my own mind, but I think it's helped a lot of readers sort the series out.
What are your favorite books in the Miles series, and why?
My favorites are the Shards of Honor and Barrayar combo published under one roof as Cordelia's Honor. One of my favorite scenes is in Barrayar, when Cordelia comes back from "shopping" in the city and rolls the head of the pretender onto the conference table in the midst of military men. In fact, I have a shopping bag from Siegling's (from Steve Salaba's authorized line of Vorkosigan memorabilia) in honor of that scene; I use it as my range bag and carry my ammo and ear protection in it!
Who are your favorite characters, and why?
I have a soft spot for Ivan, but don't tell anyone. . . . I like Cordelia, obviously. And I like Taura, the werewolf girl. As for why—I guess because they are all honorable people doing the best they can in situations that are not "normal" for them.
What do you think readers see in the Miles series that keeps bringing them back to the series?
There's the charm, the wit, the nice touch of invention. The intricate plotting, the real characters—and the reality is, at bottom, the key. Lois creates real people, behaving in ways you can believe in—intelligent people act intelligently, venal people are venal, and the Cetagandans have loooong plans. It all feels right. Lois has talked about the writer/reader collaboration—for that to click, there has to be enough meat for the reader to chew on. Lois gives filet mignon.
What do you look for each time a new Miles novel lands on your desk?
A free evening to read and a comfy chair! I admit, it's hard to complain