I think you may be right. Bujold doesn't seem to want to let ongoing tensions continue to "on-go." But tension is what gives so many stories and characters their edge ... hmm. >thinks< It's like she's eaten some elaborate gourmet dish that she found tasty but over-seasoned, so she makes her own version of the recipe, leaves out the second spoonful of lemon juice, all the cumin, and most of the black pepper, and the ultimate result is fairly complex, more or less satisfying, and certainly not revolting, but you wouldn't bother to take a second helping, because it lacks a certain spark.
Did that make any sense, or did I just go off on a completely pointless culinary comparison?
Also, I have a feeling that her characters' inner processes are just too damn efficient. I guess that's more of the same business you said in your original remarks - that they're too well-adjusted. Real people tend to obsess uselessly over at least some of their mistakes. Ista seems to have got over hers too quickly, yes? She doesn't have enough regret, and doesn't question herself enough.
Although I have done at least one re-read of this and may eventually do another one or more, this certainly doesn't fall into the category of books I re-read obsessively when I want to get lost in a book. You know, I think I like the setting almost more than the characters - it makes me want to run a roleplaying campaign again.
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Mon, Apr. 9th, 2007 02:40 pm (UTC)I think you may be right. Bujold doesn't seem to want to let ongoing tensions continue to "on-go." But tension is what gives so many stories and characters their edge ... hmm. >thinks< It's like she's eaten some elaborate gourmet dish that she found tasty but over-seasoned, so she makes her own version of the recipe, leaves out the second spoonful of lemon juice, all the cumin, and most of the black pepper, and the ultimate result is fairly complex, more or less satisfying, and certainly not revolting, but you wouldn't bother to take a second helping, because it lacks a certain spark.
Did that make any sense, or did I just go off on a completely pointless culinary comparison?
Also, I have a feeling that her characters' inner processes are just too damn efficient. I guess that's more of the same business you said in your original remarks - that they're too well-adjusted. Real people tend to obsess uselessly over at least some of their mistakes. Ista seems to have got over hers too quickly, yes? She doesn't have enough regret, and doesn't question herself enough.
Although I have done at least one re-read of this and may eventually do another one or more, this certainly doesn't fall into the category of books I re-read obsessively when I want to get lost in a book. You know, I think I like the setting almost more than the characters - it makes me want to run a roleplaying campaign again.