MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2369 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: this and that by winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com 2) Re: Forgot this! by winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com 3) off by Mar243-+AT+-aol.com 4) Re: Forgot this! by Kenneth Allen Hyde 5) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 2367 by CmdrDTroi-+AT+-aol.com 6) Re: this and that by CmdrDTroi-+AT+-aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 10:15:24 -0600 From: winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: this and that Message-ID: <20000731.134109.-92901.5.Winged_Wolf-+AT+-juno.com> On Mon, 24 Jul 2000 22:24:31 +0100 (BST) Laura Rossier writes: > I can't read any of > the newer Xanth novels, I try but can't get through them. It's a > shame b/c I really enjoyed > his writing. I know what you mean--it seems like he's gotten sick of them, but feels compelled to write them anyhow--and it's really starting to affect the way he writes them. He's mocking himself in them, now, and mocking his characters. It's really rather horrible. --Winged Wolf http://www.crosswinds.net/~wingedwolf/index.html "Pardon me while I burst into flames...I've had enough of the world and its' peoples' mindless games. So pardon me while I burn, and rise above the flame, pardon me, pardon me...don't ever be the same..." --Incubus ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 10:33:26 -0600 From: winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Forgot this! Message-ID: <20000731.134109.-92901.7.Winged_Wolf-+AT+-juno.com> On Mon, 24 Jul 2000 23:19:44 +0100 (BST) Sara Peek writes: > > Anyway, the main character in Wiccan and persecuted > because of it until these people from another world > come through a Gate into her backyard, and there is > quite a description of Wiccan magic. But... It's not > much like the magic in Misty's Valdemar... Does that > mean it's not authentic? Don't get me wrong--the magic in Misty's Valdemar is not Wiccan magic. It's only that it is based on many of the same principles, and uses many of the same methods. Someone else noted that other fiction works exist that use the same system--that is true, and it still remains a Wiccan system--fiction based on reality. Rather than being simply "the logical way to do it", in reality there are many alternative systems that seldom appear in fiction--these authors specifically researched, asked people, or read other books that described the Wiccan-style magickal system, and then modified and incorporated it. Specifically, "grounding and centering" reference to and use of ley lines and nexes as energy sources, and the kinds of shields that are described (usually spherical or bubble-shields). --Winged Wolf http://www.crosswinds.net/~wingedwolf/index.html "Pardon me while I burst into flames...I've had enough of the world and its' peoples' mindless games. So pardon me while I burn, and rise above the flame, pardon me, pardon me...don't ever be the same..." --Incubus ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 18:21:04 EDT From: Mar243-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: off Message-ID: <99.8572957.26b755d0-+AT+-aol.com> Sorry to post a one liner and all...but how do i get off this list? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 23:36:30 -0400 (EDT) From: Kenneth Allen Hyde To: Misty Lackey List Subject: Re: Forgot this! Message-ID: On Mon, 31 Jul 2000 winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com wrote: > Someone else noted that other fiction works exist that use the same > system--that is true, and it still remains a Wiccan system--fiction > based on reality. Rather than being simply "the logical way to do > it", in reality there are many alternative systems that seldom appear > in fiction--these authors specifically researched, asked people, or > read other books that described the Wiccan-style magickal system, and > then modified and incorporated it. Actually, I think that I made the quite clear (I'm pretty sure I'm the someone you are referring to *grin*) claim that the magic system in Misty's work was probably not specifically intended to be a faithful derivative of Wicca. Most of the things that she mentions (including grounding, ley lines, shielding, etc.) are generic fantasy fiction magic and are probably derived from general folk traditions about magic along with a healthy dose of classical ideas from medieval ritual magic and the like, as well as some admixtures from various non-Western traditions. I'm not saying that these things do not also feature in Wicca, but rather that they are by no means exclusive to it, and some of them definitely predate it. Although, for what it's worth, aspects of some of the Di Tregarde series seems to be pretty clear evidence that Misty does not actually do a lot of in-depth research on non-Western magic. Her "gaki," for example, has a lot more to do with Westernized movie monsters and less to do with traditional Japanese folklore (Japanese supernatural creatures are not evil, in traditional beliefs--that seems to be a peculiarly human characteristic...ghosts, for the most part). There were also some weirdnesses in Burning Mirror, but I'd have to read it again to pick out the specific things. May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit, Cennydd Councilor of Mist Kenneth Allen Hyde | No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife Univ. of Delaware | between the shoulder blades will seriously Dept. of Linguistics | cramp his style -- Old Jhereg proverb kenny-+AT+-Udel.Edu | A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me //www.ling.udel.edu/hyde/prof/ken.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2000 00:06:22 EDT From: CmdrDTroi-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 2367 Message-ID: In a message dated 7/30/00 10:09:53 AM Central Daylight Time, ladyember-+AT+-email.com writes: << And a little annoyance that I have noticed. Have any of the rest of you come to the conclusion like I have that whoever writes the blurb on the back covers of Misty's books did not even read the book itself? Because they have nothing to do with the story!!! Sorry I flared... >> Yes, I've noticed that....well, actually, it seems they'veread the first few chapters and wrote the back cover based on that. I've also noticed that whoever the idiot is who edits and proofs her galleys can't spell and barely passed High School English (when you live with TWO english teachers, and have dealt with subhuman editors with the literary consciousness of tree sloths, these things really grate your nerves). But I digress TAZ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2000 00:14:38 EDT From: CmdrDTroi-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: this and that Message-ID: In a message dated 7/31/00 3:20:54 PM Central Daylight Time, winged_wolf-+AT+-juno.com writes: << I know what you mean--it seems like he's gotten sick of them, but feels compelled to write them anyhow--and it's really starting to affect the way he writes them. He's mocking himself in them, now, and mocking his characters. It's really rather horrible. >> I hafta throw my vote in here, the earlier the Xanth novels, the better they are, and it really is about like he's writing them because he feels like he has to. And it is sad, because his early books were not only punny, but really well written and well developed. It's too bad, really, but that's how it goes sometimes, I guess. TAZ ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2369 **********************************