Prometheus Award
2 appearances
-
Edition 175 (2014, held 3 times in year) Hall of Fame
Lois McMaster Bujold
ロイス・マクマスター・ビュジョルド
Roisu Makumasutā Byujorudo
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1949-11-02 （Columbus, Ohio, U.S.）
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Columbus, Ohio, U.S. (early life) → Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. (current residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Science fiction and fantasy writer
- Active Years
- 1985-
- Memberships
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA)
- Influenced By
- Robert Charles McMaster (father), Dorothy L. Sayers, Georgette Heyer
- Influenced
- Contemporary SF and fantasy authors influenced by her long-form, character-driven series work
- Nominations
- John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer — Nominated (1987)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University | — | — | — | 1968–1972 | United States |
Ohio State University
Period:
1968–1972
Year of Graduation:
1972
Country:
United States
Did not major in English; preferred creative writing over literary criticism.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Hugo Award (Best Novel) | Barrayar | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 1995 | Hugo Award (Best Novel) | Mirror Dance | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 2004 | Hugo Award (Best Novel) | Paladin of Souls | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 1991 | Hugo Award (Best Novella) | The Mountains of Mourning | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 1991 | Nebula Award (Best Novella) | The Mountains of Mourning | — | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America | Won |
| 2004 | Nebula Award (Best Novel) | Paladin of Souls | — | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America | Won |
| 2002 | Mythopoeic Award (Adult Literature) | The Curse of Chalion | — | Mythopoeic Society | Won |
| 1987 | John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer | — | — | Astounding/John W. Campbell Award organization | Nominated |
| 2013 | Forry Award (Lifetime Achievement) | — | — | Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society | Won |
| 2014 | Prometheus Hall of Fame Award (Best Classic Fiction) | Falling Free | — | Libertarian Futurist Society | Won |
| 2011 | Skylark Award (Edward E. Smith Memorial Award) | — | — | New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) | Won |
| 2017 | Hugo Award (Best Series) | Vorkosigan Saga | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 2018 | Hugo Award (Best Series) | World of the Five Gods | — | World Science Fiction Society | Won |
| 2020 | SFWA Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award | — | — | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) | Won |
| 1999 | Minnesota Book Award | Komarr | — | Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library | Won |
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
1992
Work:
Barrayar
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
1995
Work:
Mirror Dance
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
2004
Work:
Paladin of Souls
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
Hugo Award (Best Novella)
1991
Work:
The Mountains of Mourning
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
Nebula Award (Best Novella)
1991
Work:
The Mountains of Mourning
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Result:
Won
Nebula Award (Best Novel)
2004
Work:
Paladin of Souls
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Result:
Won
Mythopoeic Award (Adult Literature)
2002
Work:
The Curse of Chalion
Organization:
Mythopoeic Society
Result:
Won
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
1987
Organization:
Astounding/John W. Campbell Award organization
Result:
Nominated
Forry Award (Lifetime Achievement)
2013
Organization:
Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
Result:
Won
Prometheus Hall of Fame Award (Best Classic Fiction)
2014
Work:
Falling Free
Organization:
Libertarian Futurist Society
Result:
Won
Skylark Award (Edward E. Smith Memorial Award)
2011
Organization:
New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA)
Result:
Won
Hugo Award (Best Series)
2017
Work:
Vorkosigan Saga
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
Hugo Award (Best Series)
2018
Work:
World of the Five Gods
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
Won
SFWA Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award
2020
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA)
Result:
Won
Minnesota Book Award
1999
Work:
Komarr
Organization:
Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
Result:
Won
Awards & Nominations
Hugo Award
2 appearances
-
Edition 38 (1991) Winner
-
Edition 39 (1992) Winner
Mythopoeic Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 32 (2002) Winner
Works
Major Works
Falling Free
1988 Science fictionA science-fiction novella/novel dealing with genetic modification and personal freedom, with technical detail and social commentary.
freedombodily modificationsocial systems
Translations
- Falling Free (has translations)
Barrayar
1991 Space opera / Science fictionA Vorkosigan Saga novel focusing on war, politics, and family; chronicles character development and societal conflicts.
familypoliticshonor and responsibility
Translations
- Barrayar (translated into multiple languages)
Mirror Dance
1994 Science fictionA Vorkosigan Saga novel dealing with cloning, identity, and action-driven plot.
identityself vs otherviolence and redemption
The Curse of Chalion
2001 FantasyA fantasy novel inspired by medieval Spain; explores religion, politics, and personal redemption.
religionatonementpolitical intrigue
Paladin of Souls
2003 FantasyA follow-up in the Chalion setting, focusing on personal recovery and divine intervention with strong religious overtones.
renewalfaithpersonal growth
The Mountains of Mourning
1990 Novella (SF)A Vorkosigan Saga novella combining mystery elements with themes of justice, customs, and human rights; highly acclaimed.
justicesocial customshumanity
Bibliography
- Falling Free
- Shards of Honor
- The Warrior's Apprentice
- Ethan of Athos
- Barrayar
- Mirror Dance
- The Curse of Chalion
- Paladin of Souls
Translations of Works
- Barrayar (Japanese translation exists)
- The Curse of Chalion (Japanese translation exists)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- character-driven narrativeswitty, dialogue-rich prosecross-genre writing between science fiction and fantasy
- Recurring Motifs
- family and legacyidentity and personal renewalpolitics and ethics
Legacy
Lois McMaster Bujold is an internationally acclaimed author best known for the Vorkosigan Saga and other series; a multiple Hugo and Nebula winner whose series-based storytelling and character work influenced later writers and earned her SFWA Grand Master recognition.
Academic Societies
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA)
In Popular Culture
- Her works have a large fanfiction presence; Bujold has historically been supportive of fan works though she no longer reads fanfiction about her own universes.
Quotes
-
Good readers are the 'unsung collaborators' who actually make the story work; books don't exist until they enter the reader's head.
Source: Sidelines: Talks and Essays (essay) (2013)
Trivia
- Was involved in the fanzine 'StarDate' in youth and transitioned from fandom to professional writing.
- Her daughter Anne Bujold is/was a metal artist and has served as an artist-in-residence at the Appalachian Center for Craft.
- Though historically supportive of fan fiction, she no longer reads fan fiction about her own characters due to legal/financial concerns.