Lois McMaster Bujold, Science Fiction Legend

For both her science fiction and fantasy writing, Lois McMaster Bujold has won a shelf full of awards. Author of more than 30 novels and novellas as well as numerous short stories, her books have been translated into 21 languages.

Where did she first begin writing for publication? Marion, Ohio.

Born in Columbus, Lois picked up her interest in science fiction from her father, an engineering professor at Ohio State University. She and her husband, John, a chef who worked in Columbus, lived in Marion from 1980 to 1995.

Lois decided to give writing a try after her friend and writing partner from Columbus, Lillian Stewart Carl, made her first sale. She started by handwriting chapters early in the morning, when John was home to watch the children. She’d also work on her manuscript at the Marion Public Library. She then transcribed the handwritten chapters onto a word processor. Her first professional sale was to Twilight Zone magazine

Her first three novels, Shards of Honor, The Warrior's Apprentice, and Ethan of Athos, were written between 1983 and 1985 and submitted to publishers. All three were published in paperback editions by Baen Books, an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy.

Her fourth novel, Falling Free, ran as a serial in Analog Magazine in the late winter of 1987, and garnered Lois a Nebula award, given for the best novel, novella, novelette, and short story eligible for that year’s award. She’s also won several Hugo awards, an award for excellence in the fields of science fiction and fantasy.

Earlier this year, she received the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award (2020), a lifetime achievement award. Previous awardees are Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Ursula K. Le Guin.

Lois McMaster Bujold’s latest book, The Physicians of Vilnoc, was released on July 22, 2020.

Sources: denarii.com; The Marion Star