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osprey_archer just starting posting a fic of The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I had never heard of the book, but I am a fan of osprey_archer, so I read the first chapter. It seemed relevant to my interests, and I've enjoyed books by Frances Hodgson Burnett before. Plus, public domain, free and easy to read, I thought I might as well check it out.
It's justifiably not one of her better-known books; it's not by any reasonable measure good. (Also, given how FHB is best known as an author for and about girls, it's interesting to note that when the first female character showed up, more than a third of the way through, my reaction was, "Wait, there are women in this universe?" followed almost immediately by, "Oh, I see, she's an evil spy.")
But I do have to wonder if Lois McMaster Bujold ever read The Lost Prince and if the Rat is a literary ancestor of Miles Vorkosigan. Not only does he have a hunchback and not the full use of his legs, yet is obsessed with all things military and is a precociously brilliant strategist, not only does he have enough force of personality to have gathered a gang of older and more physically fit street kids who regard him as their leader, but check out his physical description when he's first introduced:
Miles' face is described as being lined with pain, not anger, but you know, close enough. I read this passage and went, "Oh, hi, Miles!"
The nail-biting habit went to Elli Quinn, though.
It's justifiably not one of her better-known books; it's not by any reasonable measure good. (Also, given how FHB is best known as an author for and about girls, it's interesting to note that when the first female character showed up, more than a third of the way through, my reaction was, "Wait, there are women in this universe?" followed almost immediately by, "Oh, I see, she's an evil spy.")
But I do have to wonder if Lois McMaster Bujold ever read The Lost Prince and if the Rat is a literary ancestor of Miles Vorkosigan. Not only does he have a hunchback and not the full use of his legs, yet is obsessed with all things military and is a precociously brilliant strategist, not only does he have enough force of personality to have gathered a gang of older and more physically fit street kids who regard him as their leader, but check out his physical description when he's first introduced:
He was a strange little creature with a big forehead, and deep eyes which were curiously sharp. But this was not all. He had a hunch back, his legs seemed small
and crooked. He sat with them crossed before him on a rough wooden platform set on low wheels, on which he evidently pushed himself about. Near him were a number of sticks stacked together as if they were rifles. One of the first things that Marco noticed was that he had a savage little face marked with lines as if he had been angry all his life.
Miles' face is described as being lined with pain, not anger, but you know, close enough. I read this passage and went, "Oh, hi, Miles!"
The nail-biting habit went to Elli Quinn, though.
