There's a joke that really happened about when the Pope visits America and people ask him if he's Republican or Democrat. I think that's the mistake you're making here when you call Barrayar Pro-Life. Pro-Life is the slogan and name of a 21st century American political movement, which means it's much smaller than Bujold's work and the philosophy behind it. I think one of the reasons Bujold's middle-career work stands so tall is that she held out against real-world political fashion and wrote about what good people would do in such a situation.
I don't think so - I am only commenting on the treatment of preborn children in the novel.
Similarly, if I call Stranger in a Strange Land pro-polyamory, I don't think anyone would confuse me for saying that Heinlein embraced modern poly culture. Context is key.
At that point in time, there were daring women of SF who realized they could write edgy stories simply by incorporating old school American values. They were wildly popular.
Sadly, as of now I think they've all repented of their borrowed virtue. Their stories are more milquetoast these days.
Interesting! I first heard of LMB bck in the early 90s, when a pre-internet fanzine called Radio Free Thurcandra mentioned her work as having a number of "Christian Values."
I've looked, but never seen her discuss what her political or religious views are, but this intrigues me!
The difference between the publication and chronological order is very interesting. The first book Bujold wrote was about how Aral and Cordelia met. The second was about how their teenaged son starts his military career. There were three more Miles books and two books without Miles before Bujold went back and wrote Barrayar about his mother's pregnancy. You can see what parts of his character were part of Cordelia's plan (a cripple in a culture that values physical fitness) and what were serendipity (his name).
There's a joke that really happened about when the Pope visits America and people ask him if he's Republican or Democrat. I think that's the mistake you're making here when you call Barrayar Pro-Life. Pro-Life is the slogan and name of a 21st century American political movement, which means it's much smaller than Bujold's work and the philosophy behind it. I think one of the reasons Bujold's middle-career work stands so tall is that she held out against real-world political fashion and wrote about what good people would do in such a situation.
I don't think so - I am only commenting on the treatment of preborn children in the novel.
Similarly, if I call Stranger in a Strange Land pro-polyamory, I don't think anyone would confuse me for saying that Heinlein embraced modern poly culture. Context is key.
At that point in time, there were daring women of SF who realized they could write edgy stories simply by incorporating old school American values. They were wildly popular.
Sadly, as of now I think they've all repented of their borrowed virtue. Their stories are more milquetoast these days.
Interesting! I first heard of LMB bck in the early 90s, when a pre-internet fanzine called Radio Free Thurcandra mentioned her work as having a number of "Christian Values."
I've looked, but never seen her discuss what her political or religious views are, but this intrigues me!
Are Aral and Cornelia the parents of Miles Vorkosigan, or does he come along later in the saga?
They are. He's the baby, and the consequences of the treatment are life-long
The difference between the publication and chronological order is very interesting. The first book Bujold wrote was about how Aral and Cordelia met. The second was about how their teenaged son starts his military career. There were three more Miles books and two books without Miles before Bujold went back and wrote Barrayar about his mother's pregnancy. You can see what parts of his character were part of Cordelia's plan (a cripple in a culture that values physical fitness) and what were serendipity (his name).