Books: LMB interviews MVK

Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosiverse novels are among my favorites, so I was quite pleased to hear that, after a multi-year hiatus in the series, a new one was slated for publication in October. As part of the publicity for it, Bujold was persuaded to write an "interview" with series protagonist Miles Vorkosigan:

Miles: So, ah . . . what are you doing here?

LMB: I'm here to interview you.

Miles (growing wary): Why? I thought you didn't like breaking the literary frame. Remember how you bounced off that weird production of Goldini's The Venetian Twins at the Guthrie Theater?

LMB: Yeah, well. Things move along. Speaking of which, how have you been since that adventure with the mad ba?

Miles (getting even more cautious): Busy. Very busy. Much too busy for you. All boring stuff, y'know? Committee meetings at the Council of Counts, domestic scenes, developing the Vorkosigan's District -- well, I've mostly been dumping that on Ekaterin -- all that. Nothing to interest you, I'm sure. I'm not the droid you're looking for. Move along . . .

LMB: Nice try. How're the kids?

Miles (springing to his feet, white about the lips): You stay the hell away from my kids!

LMB: Easy, there! They are still too young to get into much trouble on their own. Except in fanfiction, I suppose. Nothing to support a commercial novel.

Heh, heh, heh. It helps to know that Bujold subscribes to the "What's the worst thing I can do to this character that s/he can survive?" school of plot development. (Also that she got her start writing Sherlock Holmes and Star Trek pastiche in the 'zine era.) More here. Share and enjoy!