[LMB] SciFi vs Fantasy

[Elvi Dalgaard]

Elizabeth Holden wrote:
> Hard to put my finger on it, but the thing I most love
> about Bujold's SF is not present in her fantasies. The
> sense of unfolding surprise, perhaps?
>   
That's a good way of putting it, to my mind. Or that sense of adventure 
in a vast world where almost anything can happen. And danger from all 
sides, with countless split-second decisions to be made.

I don't have textev on hand to back this up, but another thing that I 
think is different between Miles and other characters (in the fantasy 
books, frex) is that we REALLY get to know Miles inside out. We hear 
about all of his doubts and triumphs, the things he doesn't want to let 
anybody else know about, the things he overcomes - maybe it's just 
because we don't have as many books from any other single character's 
POV, but I don't think I know anybody else as well as I know Miles, in 
the canon.

Maybe that doesn't explain why I started liking him, but it is a factor 
in my continued fascination. I think I started on either BiA or MD, 
which was what my local library had, so Miles was my first Bujold 
character. Interestingly (well, to me at least), it was the now defunct 
Alexandria Library site that recommended Bujold to me based on my other 
likes and dislikes. And I introduced my father and several other family 
members. Good old Alex!

Elvi