MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 22 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Reading order by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 2) Related topics by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 3) I'm new at this!! by "Sandy Haas" 4) Re: I'm new at this!! by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 5) Re: I'm new at this!! by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 6) Re: Reading order by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 7) Re: I'm new at this!! by "David Ian RAMSDEN" 8) Re: I'm new at this!! by Sea Witch 9) Re: VFC by John Dow 10) hmmm. by Catherine Osborne 11) Re: ISBN numbers and Reading lists by "Otavia M. Propper" 12) Re: Books by "Otavia M. Propper" 13) Herald whites, and how to desubscribe... by Elise Packee 14) Re: I'm new at this!! by "Otavia M. Propper" 15) Re: Yfandes by "Lisa" 16) new discovery by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 17) Re: Reading order by TSRadon-+AT+-aol.com 18) Re: Reading order by TSRadon-+AT+-aol.com 19) Ghatti's Tale by GILLIHAN-+AT+-ups.edu 20) Re: Books by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 21) Re: VFC by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 22) Re: new discovery by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 23) Review: White Griffin by TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com 24) Re: Books by Anne Cross 25) Re: Favorite authors by TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com 26) Re: I'm new at this!! by "Lisa" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 6:26:57 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Reading order Message-ID: <950522062657.2261523e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> My opinion is that the books should be read in the following order: The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy The Oath Duology The Arrows Trilogy By the Sword Winds Trilogy Storm Trilogy (or whatever parts are out) then the Gryphon Trilogy (or whatever parts are out) In other words, I think you get a lot more out of them reading them in internally consistent order, except that it is best to read the Gryphon books last, even though they are chronologically first. I think you might get lost if you read the Gryphon books first. As far as her other books, I'm not the best person to recommend a reading list. Except that the Serrated Edge books can and probably should be read in publishing order. Iris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 6:29:00 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Related topics Message-ID: <950522062900.2261523e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> I think that on the "what else to read if you like this author" list, we should have the Paksenarrion books for "if you like the By the Sword book, particularly the military aspect, i.e. how to join a medieval army and love it!" Iris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 10:09:39 EDT From: "Sandy Haas" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: <3ECD390473-+AT+-rackham.umich.edu> I am feeling really old right now! I am only 30 and this internet, web, msg group things totally baffles me, so if I screw this up, please forgive. I LOVE Misty but I don't understand some of the 'basics' which I am sure most of you have talked about until you are sick of it. SO..If anyone isn't too bored.... What the heck are Companions REALLY??? --I want one by the way, anyone know where I can hook up with one?? Whats the difference betwee Valdemar and Velgrath (sp?)?? I know I have got more questions, but cant think of them right now. She is getting as complex with her world as Tolkein did with Lord of the Rings. Also, I see that a lot of people also like the vampire, Anne Rice stuff. I'm half way through 'Interview with a Vampire' and am tempted to put it down. Maybe I just don't 'GET' it, but I don't get it!! Any guidence for a new-bee?? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:15:15 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: <9505221415.AA13856-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> > I am feeling really old right now! I am only 30 and this internet, > web, msg group things totally baffles me, so if I screw this up, > please forgive. > *grin* Your 27-year-old listmistress can understand this, since she is slowly teaching her family the wonders of the Internet. > I LOVE Misty but I don't understand some of the 'basics' which I am > sure most of you have talked about until you are sick of it. SO..If > anyone isn't too bored.... > > What the heck are Companions REALLY??? > --I want one by the way, anyone know where I can hook up with one?? > To summarise previous discussions: most people (here, anyway) seem to think that they're reincarnated Heralds. Except for the Grove-born Companions; I don't think we've reached any consensus on them. > Whats the difference betwee Valdemar and Velgrath (sp?)?? > Valdemar is a country, Velgarth is the wider world; Karse, Rethwellan etc. are all parts of Velgarth, as is Valdemar. > Also, I see that a lot of people also like the vampire, Anne Rice > stuff. I'm half way through 'Interview with a Vampire' and am > tempted to put it down. Maybe I just don't 'GET' it, but I don't get > it!! > I found the book "Interview with the Vampire" to be _really_ slow going, although the film was a lot better. > Any guidence for a new-bee?? > *grin* hang in there - it gets easier :) Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 14:54:16 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: <9505221454.AA10510-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> > What the heck are Companions REALLY??? *BACKGROUND SPOILER FOLLOWS - DOESN"T AFFECT ANY BOOK IN PARTICULAR* There's quite a few hints scattered through various books - including some statements that are hard to interpret in any other way - that at least some companions are reincarnated heralds. (Yes, some characters have stated this as fact, but they *didn't know for certain*; they're just guessing or extrapolating (and almost certainly correct). However, I don't recall anyone who *knows for certain* coming out and saying 'they come back as companions'; one says 'they come back' and another says '[Companions] are like [other people who come back]'; But Misty could still (if she wanted to) come up with another explanation without contradicting what's already been written (For example: ex-heralds come back as something else (Vrondi?); Companions are semi-supernatural helpers; between themselves they take the names of former heralds; people who thought they were reincarnations were mistaken). In all probability though, it's virtually certain that [some or most of them] are reincarnated heralds. Some [the grove born ones] definately *aren't*. > Whats the difference betwee Valdemar and Velgrath (sp?)?? Valdemar is the country; Velgarth is the world. > Also, I see that a lot of people also like the vampire, Anne Rice > stuff. I'm half way through 'Interview with a Vampire' and am > tempted to put it down. Maybe I just don't 'GET' it, but I don't get > it!! You could try _The Vampire Lestat_ first; I found that easier to get into. -- _|_ / | Jerry Cullingford jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Work) \_|_ jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk (Home) \__/ Hemel Hempstead, UK jerry-+AT+-shell.portal.com (alternate) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:02:01 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Reading order Message-ID: <9505221502.AA10925-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> > > My opinion is that the books should be read in the following order: > The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy > The Oath Duology > The Arrows Trilogy > By the Sword > Winds Trilogy > Storm Trilogy (or whatever parts are out) > > then the Gryphon Trilogy (or whatever parts are out) > I'd recommend reading them in publication order : Arrows LHM or (Oath, then BTS) Winds Black Gryphon Storm Warning - Arrows starts of with a character that knows very little about the general setup; as such, it probably works better if the reader doesn't either. BG has useful background for SW; LHM has useful background for the Winds books. Arrows before winds before storms, since they've common characters. Oaths before BTS, and BTS before winds (background, common characters) -- _|_ / | Jerry Cullingford jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Work) \_|_ jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk (Home) \__/ Hemel Hempstead, UK jerry-+AT+-shell.portal.com (alternate) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 16:25:50 GMT From: "David Ian RAMSDEN" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: > Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:33:04 +0100 > Reply-to: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk > From: Melanie Dymond Harper > To: ph93122-+AT+-sci1.sci.port.ac.uk > Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! > > What the heck are Companions REALLY??? > > --I want one by the way, anyone know where I can hook up with one?? > > > > To summarise previous discussions: most people (here, anyway) seem to > think that they're reincarnated Heralds. Except for the Grove-born > Companions; I don't think we've reached any consensus on them. > OK so what theories are there kicking around as to what the Grove-born are Also in Valdemar there is no one true way, but what ways are there. And what do we know about them. The ones I can remember are the people of the one around the lake to the south (forgot it's name), Some split group of Karses sun god, Vanyel often refers to the Bright Lady (Any links with the stary-eyed) and also there are the gods of the border folk. I'm curious as to what all these different groups philosophies are and how they interact with eachother. Finally if Companions are reincarnated Heralds do we know anything about what Yfandes was like when she was a heral? ******************************************************************** David Ramsden Pharmacology Student School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Portsmouth University E-Mail: ph93122-+AT+-sci1.scii.port.ac.uk ramsdend-+AT+-rooster.sci.port.ac.uk URL:http://rooster.sci.port.ac.uk/personal/ramsdend/index.html ******************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 11:44:44 -0400 (EDT) From: Sea Witch To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: On Mon, 22 May 1995, Sandy Haas wrote: > What the heck are Companions REALLY??? > --I want one by the way, anyone know where I can hook up with one?? Companions have been said to be Guardian Spirits by those who can see with Mage Sight (though why the Herald-Mages, who have Mage Sight don't figure this out, I'm not sure). There has been debate as to whether some of them are Heralds reborn as Companions (Savil becoming Sayvil for example). I personally lean toward this theory. > Whats the difference betwee Valdemar and Velgrath (sp?)?? Velgrath is the name of the world that the stories take place on. Valdemar is only one kingdom within that world. As are Iftel, Hardorn and Karse. > Any guidence for a new-bee?? Read and enjoy! And if you find a way to hook up with a Companion, share it with us! I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would gladly put up with the backtalk they give out to their Heralds occasionally! ;-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | Melyssa Childs | | FDC Slimearound Ursula **** VP Bad Guys Coalition | | First Chair Clarinet - FDC Orchestra **** Lyric Soprano - FDC Chorus | | mlchilds-+AT+-orion.naz.edu | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | RAD Host(ess): If you have any questions just e-mail me! :-) | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 12:42:13 -0400 (EDT) From: John Dow To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: VFC Message-ID: <199505221642.MAA17694-+AT+-speedy.cs.pitt.edu> > > Heyla all! > > Can anybody tell me whatever happened to the Vanyel Fan Club? Haven't heard > anything in quite some time. > Hallo. Your friendly neighborhood VFC organizer here. Life just got really really hectic on me, so I haven't been able to keep up with things much. Things seem to be settling down now, though, so, unless someone else wants to offer to take over the T-shirt part, things should be back on track and going smoothly by the end of the summer. -Kristine (Who's really sorry about dissapearing like that on everyone.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 12:53:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine Osborne To: mercedes lackey list Subject: hmmm. Message-ID: First, I finished reading _Born to Run_ over the weekend and am working on _Chrome Circle_ (thanks Anne Cross, my bottomless well of Lackey-fiction.) :) My feelings are, to say the least, mixed. I thought the writing in _Born to Run_ really bad, except for a few words and phrases where I thought I could identify the Misty who wrote LHM and BTS. I get the feeling Larry Dixon wrote most of it; also thought the plotline a bit silly and _way_ too easily resolved. Tannim's penchant for GBH has been noted already, I believe... He really does get a lot of it, doesn't he? So far the writing in _Chrome Circle_ is better... Second, for all you pagans out there; I'm setting up a WWW site which will have, eventually, ritual scripts, recipes, chants, songs, links etc. But I need submissions! If you or someone else you know has something that ought to go on, email me privately about it before June 9. (After then it may take a while to respond, tho I'll still get the mail.) Pass this on to appropriate friends, but please don't spam unsuspecting newsgroups, etc; I'm only one person and I hate being flamed. I\/ Catherine Osborne "I will not go down to I\/ Sundancer posterity talking bad I cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu grammar." I http://www.sidwell.edu/~cosborne/ --Disraeli ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 14:59:04 -0400 (EDT) From: "Otavia M. Propper" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ISBN numbers and Reading lists Message-ID: I had the distinct feeling that the Ghatti's Tale was part of a trilogy too... Otavia ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:00:16 -0400 (EDT) From: "Otavia M. Propper" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Books Message-ID: About the order...(I can't get my mailer to quote stuff without totally messing up my post :-( I think chronological order is fine, if you exclude the gryphon books-meaning Last Herald Mage, then up through Winds, then Gryphon, but that's the order I read them in, so I'm partial...:-) Otavia ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 12:06:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Elise Packee To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Herald whites, and how to desubscribe... Message-ID: I recently asked if other people designed their own whites. I did not get an answer. This momentarily discouraged me, however, I am back and asking for the designs again. This time however I am sending a description f my own design. The most recent (ie. the only one I typed onto e-mail) If this inspires anyone, please do not hesitate to describe...or whatever... Btw, as of this saturday I will no longer be at school, and Mel, I need to know how to unsubscribe (I accidently cleaned otu all my saved files.) okay my White's designs... they vary every time I draw them. i would probably be much easier to send copies of the renderings snail-mail, but I will do my best. They tunic is a basic variation of the Renissance blouses. It has a open neck, down to the under breast. It has to be laced up, so it will not fall open. Beneath the breast the fabric is fitted, by use of four darts, it is its tightest right below the rib-cage. It then loses the fittedness, and flares out into a semi-skirt, but not. It is not flamboyant to be one. DO you get the basic idea. The sleeves are long and flowing, with miles of extra fabric, but are cuffed at the risk, so they won't get in the way. I am thinking about modifiying that so they instea lace up, just cause I like laces. There is embroderied ivy leaves on the collar lapels, and the hem of the shirt is a simple whip stitch. Depending on what the occasion for use the embrodiery and hem-stiching is either white or gold. That is the shirt. The pants are realativly baggy, sort of like loose fitting jeans, but made of linen. If folds and bunches rather creativly. They are hooked at the waist by either a series of bone-like hooks or a series of modern hook and eye. (I don't want to go with the latter once I finally get around to making them. My best discription of the pants are basically baggy chinos. They are cuffed at the end, but are meant to be tucked artistically into soft boots. (I WANT A BLACK PAIR OF HALF_BOOTS!!! ARRGH!) They have really no decoration on them either. I haven't designed a front-piece for them quite yet. I want to (model it after the oneVan wears on thecover of Magic's Promise). There is alos a white strip of fabric that ties around the hair like a martial arts head band, but is meant to be purely ornamental. This is heavily embrodiered with gold, the same ivy pattern entwined with stylized companions, lutes, and my idea of what the healer's beryl looks like. So those are my designs.. Described the best way know how... gotta fly. Elise ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:05:27 -0400 (EDT) From: "Otavia M. Propper" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: In reference to Companions, I thought Vanyel said he was given a choice as reincarnating as a Companion, but I could be wrong, :) Also in the Winds books-I think it was Winds? When Elspeth and Darkwind etc. are in the forest talking to Vanyel, doesn't he mention something about excusing Elspeth's Companion because she was never human? It's been a while since I reread them so...I may be mixing the books up in my head. :) Otavia ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:36:09 EST From: "Lisa" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Yfandes Message-ID: <1BAED908F6-+AT+-estuary.amrl.odu.edu> David, > Finally if Companions are reincarnated Heralds do we know anything > about what Yfandes was like when she was a herald? In one of the Last Herald Mage Books (I can't remember if it was the 2nd or 3rd), near the beginning, Van has just returned from a mission and he is exhausted. He looks at Yfandes and doesn't see her as a Companion. For a brief moment, he sees her as a somewhat petite woman. There is a good description of her. That is all that is ever said or shown about it. Lisa For nothing worthy proving can be proven Nor yet disproven: wherefore thou be wise, Cleave ever to the sunnier side of doubt -The Ancient Sage by Tennyson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lisa M. Ramirez ~ ramirez-+AT+-estuary.amrl.odu.edu Applied Marine Research Laboratory ~ Lab: (804) 683-3498 1034 W. 45th St. ~ FAX: (804) 683-5293 Norfolk, VA 23529 ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 13:42:20 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: new discovery Message-ID: <950522134220.2260b216-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> I was at Best Buy (electronics store) this weekend, casually glancing at all kinds of so-called new age CDs I couldn't afford when I stumbled across: "Quest of the Dream Warrior" "Kyla's Journey" by David Arkenstone Story by Mercedes Lackey and David Arkenstone Wow! There's a booklet with the CD that has the story. So I'm eating really cheap lunches for a week since, or course, I couldn't resist buying it. And then I didn't have time to read it! But sometime this week I will find a few minutes and read this short story, by David Arkenstone but written by Misty. Anyone else see this before? A new Misty story (sort of). Just what I needed! Iris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 17:38:21 -0400 From: TSRadon-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Reading order Message-ID: <950522173820_127932383-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-22, RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com wrote: >In other words, I think you get a lot more out of them reading >them in internally consistent order, except that it is best >to read the Gryphon books last, even though they are chronologically >first. I think you might get lost if you read the Gryphon books >first. I strongly suggest you read _The Mage Wars_ before reading the Storms Trilogy. There is a lot of "stuff" that is discussed about the great mage wars recurring, and about the mage storms that occured after the wars in the Storms trilogy. It might help a bit if you had some background info. on the wars and the storms and events that ocurred afterwards. Woah...a little hard to comprehend, but the gist is there.... :-} --<<>>-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 17:38:23 -0400 From: TSRadon-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Reading order Message-ID: <950522173822_127932400-+AT+-aol.com> Darn it!!!!! I missed again. I always reply to messages after someone else already has said what I basically intended to say.... Don't mind me, and don't read my previous message.... TSRadon-+AT+-aol.com P.S. I won't do this again....for those of you who must pay "by the message" Sorry!!! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 15:18:39 -0700 (PDT) From: GILLIHAN-+AT+-ups.edu To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Ghatti's Tale Message-ID: <950522151839.2086a-+AT+-ups.edu> There is a third book in Gayle Greeno's Ghatti's tale series. I have it right here in front of me. Its called "Exiles' Return", IBSN #: 0-88677-655-4. Its a pretty good book. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Amanda Gillihan gillihan-+AT+-ups.edu "You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 19:59:48 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Books Message-ID: <950522195947_128334351-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-22 05:15:13 EDT, Mel wrote: >I think that almost made sense -- but be nice to me, I haven't had my first >cup of coffee yet ... > >Mel. > Wow you do more without your first cup of coffee than I do! I am impressed. High Flight Matt J ****************************************************************************** ************************* So many books so little time--unknown ****************************************************************************** ************************* ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 20:00:02 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: VFC Message-ID: <950522195959_128334510-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-22 13:03:01 EDT, Kristine wrote: > Hallo. Your friendly neighborhood VFC organizer here. Life just >got really really hectic on me, so I haven't been able to keep up with >things much. Things seem to be settling down now, though, so, unless >someone else wants to offer to take over the T-shirt part, things should >be back on track and going smoothly by the end of the summer. > >-Kristine > (Who's really sorry about dissapearing like that on everyone.) > > Ok, well just don't let it happen again! -grin- ;-) Matt J ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 20:02:42 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: new discovery Message-ID: <950522200241_128334569-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-22 18:46:47 EDT, Iris wrote: >And then I didn't have time to read it! But sometime this week I will >find a few minutes and read this short story, by David Arkenstone but >written by Misty. Anyone else see this before? > >A new Misty story (sort of). Just what I needed! > >Iris > > > Please let all of us know how it turns out, read etc.! Clear Skies Matt J ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 21:51:50 -0400 From: TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Review: White Griffin Message-ID: <950522215026_127697821-+AT+-aol.com> >Only Misty books for here, I think. There are undoubtedly other places who >would want other author reviews, but let's stick to Misty for now ... (or >her collaborations) Well in that case. I jsut finished White Griffin.... hated it. Well should say got seriously bored during it. What happened? Skan became a human with wings and claws. There was absolutely nothing alien to him. To many characters without enough detail to them or actions. Very slow moving story. Definitely filler for the third book in the series, but why bore us with this drek. If this is the stuff that occurs when she churns out so many books during the year, I'll be happy to wait. I expect much more from Misty. Tensen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 21:54:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Anne Cross To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Books Message-ID: On Mon, 22 May 1995, Kristin A. Ruhle wrote: > _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.) Yes. Exactly. Which is why I like Vanyel, and _Oathbreakers_ and _By the Sword_ and _the Black Gryphon_ the best of Misty's books. They deal with the realities of just how messy War really is. You see it from the perspective of someone who's a combatant or a Healer, not some Mage who stands in the background and throws magic lightning and has a nice clean fight. You get mud. I like fantasy like that, because there is still a mostly happy ending, but the pain is much easier to empathize with. It's also a lot more realistic because people do die. Anne Cross across-+AT+-sidwell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 22:07:04 -0400 From: TENSEN2-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Favorite authors Message-ID: <950522220657_128009079-+AT+-aol.com> >From: SSHERMAN-+AT+-VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU >Subject: Re: Favorite authors (was Re: Dead list revival... > I don't know if anyone has brought up David Eddings yet, but he >is one of my favorite fantasy authors (after Misty of course 8*) ). Right >now I'm re-reading The Elenium and it's got amusing parts. And it's a >pleasant twist on the knight who goes on a quest to save is princess/queen. The main character is anything but a knight in >shining armor... Sue, Just remember, a knight is shining armor is probably one of the most bungling kind of knights around. Shining armor denotes someone that has yet to get into any combat, or probbaly even do more than parade around in their armor (hence the armor is still nice and shiny. Doesn't take must to dent or scratch armor. And warriors tend to be the grimiest folks around). Eddings however has lots of fun making the church have a good hard look at itself. Having the defenders of the church being able to protect the church by learning magic. Magic which they can only get by praying to another God(dess). Surprisingly enough Eddings is one of the few fantasy authors that my Library Director will actually purchase for the adult fiction (I don't have to crawl into the children's section to read the books.Kinda an added advantage that would make me willing to recommend him even if Eddings wasn't so good ) Tensen ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 1995 07:38:17 EST From: "Lisa" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm new at this!! Message-ID: <2BB87B642E-+AT+-estuary.amrl.odu.edu> Otavia wrote: > In reference to Companions, I thought Vanyel said he was given a choice as > reincarnating as a Companion, but I could be wrong, :) Also in the Winds > books-I think it was Winds? When Elspeth and Darkwind etc. are in the > forest talking to Vanyel, doesn't he mention something about excusing > Elspeth's Companion because she was never human? Vanyel was given a choice about going to The Havens or staying and guarding the forest border. It was never mentioned whether he would become a Companion. All he says about Gwena is that she not much old than Elspeth and doesn't have much experience. He NEVER says that Gwena was never human. Lisa For nothing worthy proving can be proven Nor yet disproven: wherefore thou be wise, Cleave ever to the sunnier side of doubt -The Ancient Sage by Tennyson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lisa M. Ramirez ~ ramirez-+AT+-estuary.amrl.odu.edu Applied Marine Research Laboratory ~ Lab: (804) 683-3498 1034 W. 45th St. ~ FAX: (804) 683-5293 Norfolk, VA 23529 ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 22 ********************************