MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2520 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Alberich & Mandatory Retirement Laws (was: Re: hello??) by "Layla Voll" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 20:08:26 From: "Layla Voll" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Alberich & Mandatory Retirement Laws (was: Re: hello??) Message-ID: Someone recently posted (to a different list) a recommended reading list that she had created for a panel entitled "Oh, God/dess! The Role of Deities, Sects, and Spiritual Experience in Speculative Fiction" at a recent science fiction/fantasy convention called Capricon. I just wanted to bring it up because one of the books was: The Oathbound: Vows and Honor by Mercedes Lackey. DAW, 1988. Fantasy. "Tarma and Kethry serve the same Goddess in different ways – Tarma as a Swordsworn warrior-priestess, and Kethry as a mage. Together they work to right the wrongs of the world and restore Tarma’s murdered clan, Tale’sedrin, to the Plains. The Goddess comes across as tough yet loving – and just wait until you see what the Law of Returns does to the demon Thalhkarsh." Anyway, I thought it was interesting: the Goddess and religion/spirituality is obviously very important in the Tarma and Kethry books (less so in Arrows, By the Sword, or most of the others), but it hadn't really occurred to me to single out Oathbound as a book that dealt especially well with spirituality. On the other hand, Tarma does have a fairly complex and real relationshop with the Star-Eyed, which I've always found interesting. * * * * * * other selections from the Recommended Reading List from Hypatia’s Hoard for “Oh, God/dess! Religion in Speculative Fiction” Panel, including some some-time Lackey collaborators: Archangel by Sharon Shinn. Ace, 1996. Science fantasy. Welcome to Samaria, where colonists worship the starship Jehovah as the god Jovah – except for the quirky and irrepressible Edori, who still remember the transcendent Yovah. Jovah has angels to watch over his flocks: magnificent winged humanoids who take care of the more fragile humans. And the next Archangel needs an angelica, a human bride … who is nowhere to be found. The Last of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert. DAW, 1992. Fantasy. The first in a fascinating trilogy, this book concerns the Renshai people, whom everyone hates because they dismember their slain enemies – which everyone thinks will prevent those souls from reaching Valhalla, although this turns out to be untrue. Genocide based on a point of inaccurate theology, wow. Much entertainment also ensues over the battle between Law and Chaos, and the wrangling of the gods and goddesses. Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon. Baen, 1988. Fantasy. Here is the story of how Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter came to be a paladin of St. Gird. The spirituality presented herein is eclectic yet with a distinctly natural feel, and the subtle magic that burbles up for the informally chosen Paks has a charm that all the whiz-bang spells in the world can’t match. The Silver Branch by Patricia Kennealy. Signet, 1988. Science fantasy. The first of the Keltiad novels, this one introduces the Kelts and their fascinating Queen Aeron. Among other things, she is a very gifted priestess of the Goddess, and her Litany in chapter 14 stands out in my memory as one of the most lyrical invocations I’ve ever seen – my favorite of the Goddess titles used therein is “Wind out of Betelgeuse.” Sympathy for the Devil by Holly Lisle. Baen, 1996. Urban fantasy. You pick a bone with God, arguing that Hell is unfair. God answers your prayer by releasing thousands of Hell’s denizens into your home state, where they promptly tell all your neighbors who made this possible. It gets more exciting from there, and the portrayal of God is brilliant and ultimately satisfying. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2520 **********************************