MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 21

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Re: Gossamer Axe & other books
	by "Otavia M. Propper" <opropper-+AT+-CapAccess.org>
  2) Re: death
	by Anne Cross <across-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
  3) Books
	by pjb6-+AT+-ukc.ac.uk
  4) Re: Books
	by Vivian Choh <bi189-+AT+-freenet.toronto.on.ca>
  5) very rough cut of "other reading" list
	by Bruce Hart Tamra Hart <hart-+AT+-best.com>
  6) Re: Favorite authors (was Re: Dead list revival...
	by jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk  (Jerry Cullingford)
  7) Re: Books
	by "Kristin A. Ruhle" <kristin-+AT+-rahul.net>
  8) Favorite authors (was Re: Dead list revival...
	by J Hulley-Miller <jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>
  9) ISBN numbers and Reading lists
	by J Hulley-Miller <jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>
 10) Re: ISBN numbers and Reading lists
	by Janene Hourigan <janene-+AT+-mpx.com.au>
 11) Re: Books
	by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper)
 12) Re: Nick O'Donohue book
	by Rosario Holsen-Baker <rholsen-+AT+-sidwell.edu>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 10:47:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Otavia M. Propper" <opropper-+AT+-CapAccess.org>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gossamer Axe & other books
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9505211059.A12935-7100000-+AT+-cap1.capaccess.org>

For the list I think MZB should definitely be on it, as of course, Robin
McKinley.  
	Otavia





------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 11:00:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: Anne Cross <across-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: death
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.950521105901.14831A-100000-+AT+-gateway.us.sidwell.edu>

On Sun, 21 May 1995, Jones Tina SrA WEM81 wrote:

> >Although, I think the _almost dead_ scenario does get played out in
> >Misty's books a lot.  Talia, Vanyel, Kethry, Tannim, and Di, although Di
> >not quite so much because she's too smart to be almost dead.  More "very
> >in pain" than almost dead.
> 
> Ok....Ok.... I missed something, somewhere!!!!   When did Kethry almost get 
> killed?

In _Oathbreakers_, Kethry gets into a Mage-duel and the other guy 
cheats.  He uses a construct, and it almost kills her, until Tarma calls 
on the Star-Eyed for help.

     Anne Cross
   across-+AT+-sidwell.edu


------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 95 16:49:28 +0100
From: pjb6-+AT+-ukc.ac.uk
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Books
Message-ID: <9505211556.AA00384-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>

<time to delurk!>

I was just reading the list and someone made a really good idea about making a
list of all the other recommended authors.  One other suggestion I'd like to make is a list of Misty's books in a recommended reading order.

I have only read a few of Misty's books and short stories (and loved them 
immensly) so I am always keeping an evey out for more to read.  The problem I
have is that when I find some there is always more then one, even with the Valdemar books I have problems.  It seems (might be wrong though) that the order theses books were written in don't follow a chronological order for the world.  So
is it better to read them in the order they were written, to see how Misty 
developed as an author, or in a chronolgical order of Valdemar.  I for one could
do with some advice from all the Lackey experts out there!! *GRIN*

Looks like I'll have to return to lurkning!

Phil pjb6-+AT+-ukc.ac.uk

( sorry if this has already come up, my second attempt at sending it!!  But its the first time I've tried.)

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 14:40:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: Vivian Choh <bi189-+AT+-freenet.toronto.on.ca>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Books
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9505211409.B17753-0100000-+AT+-bloor>

On Sun, 21 May 1995 pjb6-+AT+-ukc.ac.uk wrote:

> <time to delurk!>
> 
> I was just reading the list and someone made a really good idea about making a
> list of all the other recommended authors.  One other suggestion I'd like to make is a list of Misty's books in a recommended reading order.
> 
> I have only read a few of Misty's books and short stories (and loved them 
> immensly) so I am always keeping an evey out for more to read.  The problem I
> have is that when I find some there is always more then one, even with the  
> Valdemar books I have problems.  It seems (might be wrong though) that 
> the order theses books were written in don't follow a chronological 
> order for the world.  So
> is it better to read them in the order they were written, to see how Misty 
> developed as an author, or in a chronolgical order of Valdemar.
> I for one could
> do with some advice from all the Lackey experts out there!! *GRIN*
> 

I think that the best way to read a whole slew of books is to read them in
the order that they were written.  It is just amazing to see the author's
writing develop concurrently with the characters'!!  I also think this
because the if one reads an author's work and becomes used to the
well-written stuff, then one may not give the not-so-well-written books a 
chance (i.e. may not read them) in which case one loses a lot of details 
and other background information that just adds to the whole "story"!!

For example, I don't think that "Oathbound" was ML's best written novel,
but I think that it is a VERY good starting point for the whole Velgarth
world (of course I could be biased since I read this book first -- well,
actually, I read the short story first (MZB's S&S III) and then the Vows
and Honours trilogy) and am VERY glad that I did!  I think I would have
read these two books even if I had read her later (and better-written in
my opinion) books first, but I think that the Shin'a'in/plains people
would have had less of an impact on me (They remain my favourite people in
the Velgarth world)

I think however that I have gotten the order wrong in reading the books. 
(So much for my theory, eh?  -- Maybe I should change that to reading
books that were written about the same time, give or take a
trilogy/duology or two??  :) ) Does anyone out there have the order in
which the books were written? 

Actually, I do have a better example (has to do with my having read the 
Black Gryphon and now most recently, Storm Warning)  but I might ruin it 
for you if you have not yet read any of the novels so I shan't give it. 
(my wondrous, self-explaining, perfectly clear example  (heheheh) (evil 
grin) )


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: Sun, 21 May 1995 13:55:01 -0700
From: Bruce Hart Tamra Hart <hart-+AT+-best.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: very rough cut of "other reading" list
Message-ID: <199505212055.NAA22822-+AT+-shell1.best.com>


OK, I have a rough first cut at the "Other Reading" list up as a web 
page. I know that there were a few more names mentioned in the past 
week or so, but I've forgotten them already (sigh....brain fog 
strikes again). Those of you with Web access take a look and see who 
I've got and who I've missed. http://www.best.com/~hart/lackey/

I made it a web page assuming we'll eventually schlep the file over 
to Mel to be hooked into the official Lackey pages. Who wants to be 
next to take a cut at the page? Let me know and I'll send you the 
.html file. 

--Tamra Heathershaw-Hart

hart-+AT+-best.com    http://www.best.com/~hart/
Hart Consulting: World Wide Web Design Services
                 Technical Writing and Editing
Mtn. View, CA    415-966-8924



------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 22:51:57 +0200 (BST)
From: jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk  (Jerry Cullingford)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Favorite authors (was Re: Dead list revival...
Message-ID: <m0sDIuj-00005xC-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk>

> >there was a UK collection called _The Complete People Collection_ or
> 
> Do you happen to have an ISBN # for this collection?  I would greatly
> appreciate it.  I have a Waterstone's bookstore down the street that
> probably would be able to order it from their UK stores for me.

Well, I've got a copy *somewhere* - but not somewhere obvious, I'm afraid.
I remember from talk on rec.arts.sf.written that it never came out in the
states; it was.. hmmm... a few years back now, so it may have gone out
of print. What I can do when Saturday rolls round again, is check at
my local bookstore and see if they've got it listed in their books in print
database - remind me later on this week :-).

Jerry (jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk/jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk)



------------------------------

Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 18:37:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Kristin A. Ruhle" <kristin-+AT+-rahul.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Books
Message-ID: <199505220137.AA16091-+AT+-bolero.rahul.net>

> 
> On Sun, 21 May 1995 pjb6-+AT+-ukc.ac.uk wrote:
> 
> 
> I think that the best way to read a whole slew of books is to read them in
> the order that they were written.  It is just amazing to see the author's
> writing develop concurrently with the characters'!!  I also think this
> because the if one reads an author's work and becomes used to the
> well-written stuff, then one may not give the not-so-well-written books a 
> chance (i.e. may not read them) in which case one loses a lot of details 
> and other background information that just adds to the whole "story"!!

 I think Misty's maturity as a writer first became evident with _Arrow's 
Fall_ and the Vanyel books. Some of her later ones aren't quite as well 
written (quantity interfering with quality?) but you can see the 
youthful/sentimental tone in the first _Arrows_ books. (Talia *gets* 
Chosen in the middle of daydreaming about it! How's that?) One close 
parallel is Marion Zimmer Bradley - read her early books, eg. _Sword of 
Aldones_, the very first Darkover book, and compare them to the ones she 
hs written more recently. Bradley's _Sharra's Exile_ retells the _Sword 
of Aldones_ story but by MZB's own admission takes advantage of the fact 
her writing skills has matured.

 > 
> For example, I don't think that "Oathbound" was ML's best written novel,
> but I think that it is a VERY good starting point for the whole Velgarth
> world (of course I could be biased since I read this book first -- well,
> actually, I read the short story first (MZB's S&S III) and then the Vows
> and Honours trilogy) and am VERY glad that I did!  I think I would have
> read these two books even if I had read her later (and better-written in
> my opinion) books first, but I think that the Shin'a'in/plains people
> would have had less of an impact on me (They remain my favourite people in
> the Velgarth world)

_Oathbound_ is stitched together from short stories, with some "linking" 
material added to fill it out. The seams show a little bit. 
_Oathbreakers_ is much better, since it was written as a novel. _By the 
Sword_ is a change of pace for Misty; it deals more with the gritty 
details of military life than with your standard oh-ohing 
teenager-gets-Chosen bit. (Not to mention Tarma's lecture to the teenaged 
Kero and Daren on infatuation vs. love. When *real* love happens, Kero 
knows better.)

my us$0.02
delurking for the moment,

Kristin


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 00:12:28 +0000
From: J Hulley-Miller <jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Favorite authors (was Re: Dead list revival...
Message-ID: <199505220425.AA02270-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>

Greetings,

SSHERMAN-+AT+-vaxc.stevens-tech.edu wrote:

>S>  I don't know if anyone has brought up David Eddings yet, but he

In that case, you may be happy to know that a book titled 'Belgarath the
Sorcerer' (by Edding) is due in stores in August. Hardcover :(

jhm

--
J Hulley-Miller                                         jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net
     "Human nature is never so weak as in a bookstore" - unknown

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 00:13:57 +0000
From: J Hulley-Miller <jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk (Janene Hourigan)
Subject: ISBN numbers and Reading lists
Message-ID: <199505220425.AA02278-+AT+-cnj.digex.net>

Greetings,

Janene Hourigan <janene-+AT+-mpx.com.au> wrote:

>JH> _The Ghatti's Tale_ by Gayle Greeno. A duology, book 1 called

Are you sure its a duology ? I seem to recall seeing a third book in that
series at the bookshop a few days ago.

jhm

--
J Hulley-Miller                                         jhm-+AT+-cnj.digex.net
     "Human nature is never so weak as in a bookstore" - unknown

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:59:20 +1000 (EST)
From: Janene Hourigan <janene-+AT+-mpx.com.au>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: ISBN numbers and Reading lists
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950522154527.9567A-100000-+AT+-jolt>

On Mon, 22 May 1995, J Hulley-Miller wrote:
> Janene Hourigan <janene-+AT+-mpx.com.au> wrote:
> >JH> _The Ghatti's Tale_ by Gayle Greeno. A duology, book 1 called
> 
> Are you sure its a duology ? I seem to recall seeing a third book in that
> series at the bookshop a few days ago.

	No, I'm not sure. I've only seen two in the series here though 
and was guessing that the series had ended based on the ending of the 
second book. I've been wrong before, and no doubt will again. :)

Regards

Janene

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 09:46:34 +0100
From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Books
Message-ID: <9505220846.AA09472-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>



Phil said:

> is it better to read them in the order they were written, to see how Misty 
> developed as an author, or in a chronolgical order of Valdemar.  I for one could
> do with some advice from all the Lackey experts out there!! *GRIN*
> 

Hmm. I'd _strongly_ suggest not reading them in (internal) chronological 
order. Reading them in the order they were written isn't a bad idea. In
any case, read the _Arrows_ books and the _Last Herald-Mage_ books before the 
_Winds_ books. Read _Storm Warning_ last. _Black Gryphon_ (& _White Gryphon_) 
stand more or less alone but are better for having read some of the background.
_By The Sword_ runs better after _Oathbound/Oathbreakers_ than with the
Valdemar books. 

I think that almost made sense -- but be nice to me, I haven't had my first
cup of coffee yet ...

Mel.
 

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 07:34:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Rosario Holsen-Baker <rholsen-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Nick O'Donohue book
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.950522073334.3919A-100000-+AT+-gateway.us.sidwell.edu>

On Sat, 20 May 1995 URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 95-05-19 12:08:19 EDT, Tamra wrote:
> 
> << Anyone else on this list watching the *X-Files* season finale 
> tonight? (U.S. season finale, at least.)  >>
> 
> 
> AAAGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!   You mean that I have to wait till the fall to find out
> what happens?!?!
> 
> Impossible!!!!!!!!   WOW, What a story.
> 
> sorry for the shouting!  
> not to mention no lackey content
> 
> hight flight
> Matt J
	All right, you Philes (X-Philes, in case you were wondering), if 
you're not already on, GET ON THE X-FILES LIST! You're confusing me, I 
keep finding X-references on my lackey list, and then sending them to my 
lackey folder. If you want details, e-m me privately.
	--Jaguar-- 

------------------------------

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 21
********************************