MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 17 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Dead list revival... by Anne Cross 2) Re: Dead list revival... by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 3) Re: Dead list revival... by Michael Richards 4) Re: Dead list revival... by Rosario Holsen-Baker 5) Re: New topic: SPOILER for Blood Price by Tanya Huff by Vivian Choh 6) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 14 by "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" 7) Gossamer Axe & other books by Bruce Hart Tamra Hart 8) Re: Talia and Skif by MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com 9) Re:Reviews. by MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com 10) Re: proposed review by TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com 11) plagarism by TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com 12) Re: Proposed review section by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 09:25:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Anne Cross To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Dead list revival... Message-ID: On Wed, 17 May 1995 URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > One last thing. (I promise!) Two good gay/lesbian books I have read are > "Gossamer Axe" by Gael Baudino, and "Venus Envy" by Rita Mae Brown (I think). > "Venus Envy" is mostly just regular fiction, but it does have fantasy > overtones. You just triggered me off! I think Gael Baudino is a fantastic writer. _Gossamer Axe_ is very, very good. (If you liked Vanyel, I don't think there's any chance you won't like Christa.) Anne Cross across-+AT+-sidwell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 6:31:32 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Dead list revival... Message-ID: <950517063132.22613405-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> >Let's hope that they are only in control of Congress for 4 years. It will >be 4 years to long for my taste. Let's not degenerate into politics, otherwise I'd have to tell you that the Democrats are at least as bad as the Republicans. And that it's definitely time for a third party that believes in both *personal* freedom AND economic freedom. But we're not talking politics, so I won't mention that. On a much more important note, I started reading Robin McKinley on the recommendation of this list. She's good! I've finished _The Blue Sword_ and am now working on _The Hero And the Crown_. I also found, _Into the Hedge_ or _Through The Hedge_ or something like that, and _A Knot in The Grain_. All buried in the childrens section of the library. It's bad enough that all the good fantasy and some of the SF is buried in the Juveniles, so I (age 27) have to compete with a bunch of 13 year olds looking for the latest Sweet Valley High book to get my fix of fantasy, but now I find that a lot of good stuff is stuck in the back room, in the childrens section. This is worse. Now I have to wade through a bunch of 4 year olds, and their moms, who are looking at me wondering what I'm doing back there without my kid. AAARRRGGGHHH. Who decided that this stuff was for kids? Last year I wanted to find a trilogy that I remembered reading when I was in High School. By Sylvia Engdahl. Great stuff. Not only were there only 2 books in the Juveniles, the rest were archived! She wrote some super fantasy, and yet it's virtually unavailable. Is this what library sciences have come to? (I know that the reason things get archived is that no one has checked them out in a long time, I'm just venting). Aaaaaahhh (relaxed sigh). I feel better now. Anyone else have these experiences? Iris (who's up way to early on a Wednesday to find politics invading my favorite list) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 17:31:41 +0100 (BST) From: Michael Richards To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Dead list revival... Message-ID: On Wed, 17 May 1995, Anne Cross wrote: > You just triggered me off! I think Gael Baudino is a fantastic writer. > _Gossamer Axe_ is very, very good. (If you liked Vanyel, I don't think > there's any chance you won't like Christa.) I agree; I'd read one of the Dragonsword books by her and thought it ok, but GA is excellent. I would love to watch/listen to the magic duel - from a safe distance, of course! Are her other books as good? Mike ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 11:54:30 -0400 (EDT) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Dead list revival... Message-ID: On Wed, 17 May 1995, Anne Cross wrote: > On Wed, 17 May 1995 URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > > > One last thing. (I promise!) Two good gay/lesbian books I have read are > > "Gossamer Axe" by Gael Baudino, and "Venus Envy" by Rita Mae Brown (I think). > > "Venus Envy" is mostly just regular fiction, but it does have fantasy > > overtones. > > You just triggered me off! I think Gael Baudino is a fantastic writer. > _Gossamer Axe_ is very, very good. (If you liked Vanyel, I don't think > there's any chance you won't like Christa.) > Anne Cross > across-+AT+-sidwell.edu Hey, what about the _Strands of Starlight_ series!? That was very good, and _Strands of Starlight_ is good all by itself! --Jaguar-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 1995 19:07:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Vivian Choh To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: New topic: SPOILER for Blood Price by Tanya Huff Message-ID: On Tue, 16 May 1995, Michael Richards wrote: > This list has been far too quiet of late... > > Has anyone else read "Blood Price" by Tanya Huff (it's advertised in the > Firebird catalog) and noted the similarities with the Di Tregarde books? YYEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!! FINALLY!! SOMEONE ELSE HAS READ TANYA HUFF!!!!! Sorry, I've only been trying (without success) to get people to read her books! I have read all of Huff's vampire books (as well as coupla her other fantasy stuff) and even though I was hooked onto ML's stuff before Huff, I have to say that I like Huff's vampire stuff better. I agree with you that the first books are very similar, but the rest of the series differ, especially since ML wrote some of her books "out of order" (either that or I read them out of order). I think what really draws me to Huff's stuff is the humour and major, dripping sarcasm. Have you read the rest of the series Mike? You really should try to (there I go again, promote, promote, promote...Maybe i only like the books because the author is a canuck???). I like the last one the best, but like ML's books, I would recommend reading them in order.... Huff/Lackey associations... 1) In one of her fantasy books, Huff admits to "borrowing" ML's Shin'a'in goddess and 2) in book number three of the vampire series (the one with the mummy) a police chief states something like (not exact) "Go and help Lackey and Dixon with the Griffon case"!!! I mentioned this on a newsgroup once and someone wrote back saying that ML and Huff are good friends! Vivian Choh "I am all that I claim to be. bi189-+AT+-freenet.toronto.on.ca I simply have not claimed all that I am" - M. Lackey, "Oathbreakers" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 12:49:24 -0400 (EDT) From: "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 14 Message-ID: Melyssa, You asked, Also, does anyone know just how old Skif is? First he has a thing for Talia, then he has a thing for Elspeth...What is the age difference there? I mean, he keeps calling Talia "little sister". Is that just because she is smaler than him? Or is she younger? So how much older than Elspeth does that make him? I just started rereading the Arrows trilogy yesterday (after rereading the Winds one). Skif is described as a short, slim boy near Talia's age (at the time she's thirteen), with dark hair and eyebrows, and a narrow, impish face. So he could be fourteen or fifteen, I guess. When Talia meets Elspeth, she is described as "a little of about seven", which makes her 6 yrs. younger than Talia and so 7 or 8 yrs. younger than Skif. On the other hand, having grown up as a thief in the slums of Haven, Skif's experiences I think tend to make him seem older than Talia, and Elspeth when they are younger, and as they all get older, his experiences on the borders with Hardorn also make him seem older and wearier. I seem to recall that after their futile efforts to have a romance, Talia and Skif swear "blood brotherhood", and after all, neither have any other family that will admit to them. Hence the "little sister" references. The only relatives of Skif's who are mentioned are his uncle and mother, both dead, and Talia's family states, "Sens Holding has no daughter Talia." --Barra ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 12:12:00 -0700 From: Bruce Hart Tamra Hart To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Gossamer Axe & other books Message-ID: <199505171912.MAA18619-+AT+-shell1.best.com> Two comments and a question today.... Wow, talk about synchronicity (sp?) -- I just finished "Gossamer Axe" two nights ago, and now somebody brings it up on the list. It's really a good book, probably a nice one to read just before or just after (re)reading the LHM trilogy. Now that I've read about using an electric guitar to work magic, I'm starting to look forward to some of those inventions the Blues are bringing into Valdemar. I can't picture Talia playing an electrified My Lady, but I think Firesong would make a *fine* lead singer in a rock and roll band.... Also, for those of you who'd like a different viewpoint of magical and semi-magical animals, check out "The Magic and the Healing" by Nick O'Donohoe. No Companions, but unicorns and centaurs are only a few of the more unusual patients a young veternarian student has to deal with. The main character (B.J.) reminds me a bit of Talia somehow...I haven't quite figured out in what way. Maybe the vulnerability, maybe the fact that she worries a lot. Finally, does anyone know if Misty has a story in the forthcoming "Sword and Sorceress" volume from MZB? I'm hoping it's time for another Tarma and Kethry story. I think the book is due out at the end of the summer. Wind to thy wings, brothers and sisters! --Tamra Heathershaw-Hart ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 18:24:17 -0400 From: MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Talia and Skif Message-ID: <950517182335_122337198-+AT+-aol.com> Melyssa asked about the age difference, here;s my take on it. I'll throw in my 2 cents on this, as I just replaced my copy of Arrows after a couple years without it... Talia arrives at 13, Elspeth is about 7. Skif has been there more than a year, 'cause he refers to "his first year" as something past. He gets his whites at the end of the book, after Talia had been there 3 years (beginning of Chapter 11 narration refers to the three years she had been at the Collegium) Since Sherrill suggests most get Chosen at about 13, and earn Whites about 18, I think Skif is about 2 years older than Talia. (He also has a long internship, almost 2 years, because he doesn't return till after Talia earns her Whites with the rest of her year-mates...) So, if Talia is 6 years older than Elspeth, Skif is about 8 years older than she is, and starts to be attracted only because she has "grown up" in his eyes. --melissa P.S. yes, I've moved... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 18:25:20 -0400 From: MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re:Reviews. Message-ID: <950517182519_122339320-+AT+-aol.com> Not being a student, I have my internet account all year 'round. Currently not working, (hunting, but no luck yet!) 'cause we just moved from Seattle to San Jose, but I'll write a review. (Maybe Arrows, since I have it handy...) --melissa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 20:00:14 -0400 From: TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: proposed review Message-ID: <950517200011_122457545-+AT+-aol.com> >From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) >To: mercedes-lackey >Subject: Proposed review section >Message-ID: <9505151639.AA05217-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> >Now I know all the (US) college people among you are off home -- or indeed >have gone home -- for the summer. Does anyone fancy doing something medium- >constructive with their time and writing me some Lackey book reviews? I >think they'd look neat on the list's Web pages (don't worry, Ian, I'm >not usurping your job :)). Of course, they'd all be credited properly/ >appropriately. What do you all think? >Cheers >Mel. Don't forget, the non-students lurking where they belong... Well what do you propose to review? Only Misty books.. Or only Fantasy... or no restriction of any kind.. I read jdozens of books a week if I have time (I definitely hjave them in hand to do so. as long as I can talk my boss into buying more fantasy and sci-fiction books for the library. I hate cataloging all the biographies.) Tensen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 20:05:08 -0400 From: TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: plagarism Message-ID: <950517200507_122467804-+AT+-aol.com> >Maybe if I'd read Huff ahead of the Di Tregarde novels I would feel that she >was more original. It's not that I'm accusing her of plagiarism, nor of >being consistently derivative, but that I can look at her books and say "oh >yes, that's like X" rather than "wow, this is original and brilliant". Which >is something of a shame, really. I recall hearing someplace that those two are friends.. Probably brainstormed the ideas together then went off on their own merry ways. After all, both must have ended up with good stories for both to have been published.. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 22:00:35 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Proposed review section Message-ID: <950515184532_119672394-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-15 13:41:05 EDT, Mel wrote: >Now I know all the (US) college people among you are off home -- or >indeed >have gone home -- for the summer. Does anyone fancy doing something >medium- >constructive with their time and writing me some Lackey book reviews? >I >think they'd look neat on the list's Web pages (don't worry, Ian, I'm >not usurping your job :)). Of course, they'd all be credited >properly/ >appropriately. What do you all think? > >Cheers > >Mel. > > ACK! Even though I have to work during the summer, you want me to think?!?!!? --grin-- I will consider it. High Flight Matt J ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 17 ********************************