MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 31 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Black Gryphon by Anne Cross 2) Forwarded: by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 3) Forest House by Rosario Holsen-Baker 4) Re: Forest House by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 5) Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers by JGOODHAR-+AT+-VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU 6) Re: Black Gryphon by Rosario Holsen-Baker 7) Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 8) happy endings by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 9) Vrondi by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 10) Re: Cherryh and Misty by Bruce Hart Tamra Hart 11) Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 12) Re: REVIEW: "Reap the Whirlwind" by nomib-+AT+-chem.psu.edu (Naomi) 13) Re: Cherryh and Misty by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 14) Re: Vrondi by "David Ian RAMSDEN" 15) Re: Vrondi by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 16) Other authors by Jean Morrill 17) Re: other books by "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" 18) Re: Various things in Digest 27 by Vivian Choh 19) Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers by PTJ-+AT+-badger.demon.co.uk (Philip Johnson) 20) ATTENTION ALL LACKEY JUNKIES!!!!!! by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 21) Re: Vrondi by Anne Cross 22) Re: Other books by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 23) Re: other books by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 24) Re: Other authors by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 25) Black Gryphon by J Hulley-Miller 26) Authors/Movies by J Hulley-Miller ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 11:18:08 -0400 (EDT) From: Anne Cross To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Black Gryphon Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 1995 Scya-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > I was just recently reading books again for research info and I believe the > description of the hertasi is in the Last Herald-Mage series - which book I > forget but it is a Bird-like human. The one I distinctly remember was a > woman that Vanyel met when young and just learning from the Tayledras. Hope > this helps. Those are Tervardi. The kyree are the wolf-type people, and the hertasi are the lizard-like people. There are several descriptions of them in WoC and WoFury. And the last of them are the dyheli, the deer-like people. Anne Cross across-+AT+-sidwell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 16:32:20 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey Cc: cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu Subject: Forwarded: Message-ID: <9505301532.AA01719-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Catherine's message of farewell (temporary) arrived after her unsubscribe message, so I'll forward it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm losing access for the summer; I'll be back in the fall. I will still be reading my email every two weeks or so (until June 9, every day, I hope), so you can mail me privately if you feel so moved (cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu) about whatever, particularly submissions for the Pagan Homepage (I'm *working* on it, okay? :) (P.S.) what's *done* of that page is at http://www.sidwell.edu/~cosborne/pagan.html if you want to check it out. Maybe if I get this job coding HTML pages over the summer, I'll be able to work on it, too. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the entertaining mailbox this year and I'll miss you all over the summer. Blessed be, 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: Tue, 30 May 1995 11:41:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Forest House Message-ID: Whoa, I haven't posted to this list in a long time... Has anyone read Marion Zimmer Bradley's new book, _Forest House_? I got it over the weekend, and I haven't been to a bookstore in ages (withdrawl pangs...argh), so I don't know how new it is. All I really know so far is that it's a prequel to _Mists of Avalon_. What I've read of it so far has been pretty good, but I have exams now, so I haven't much time for reading:-(. Commentary? --Jaguar-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 16:46:09 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Forest House Message-ID: <9505301546.AA02813-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> > Whoa, I haven't posted to this list in a long time... > Has anyone read Marion Zimmer Bradley's new book, _Forest House_? > I got it over the weekend, and I haven't been to a bookstore in ages > (withdrawl pangs...argh), so I don't know how new it is. All I really > know so far is that it's a prequel to _Mists of Avalon_. What I've read > of it so far has been pretty good, but I have exams now, so I haven't > much time for reading:-(. Commentary? > --Jaguar-- > It is fairly new, I think (I was given it last month). I enjoyed it; it's much like Mists of Avalon, but less overtly Arthurian (set while the Romans still ruled Britain). If you enjoyed MoA you will probably enjoy it, and vice versa. Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 11:49:09 -0500 (EST) From: JGOODHAR-+AT+-VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers Message-ID: <01HR42OG4U1UBOSH93-+AT+-VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU> Possible spoilers about _Storm Warning_ Jenneke writes: >Another aspect that intrigues me is Misty's treatment of deities. Can >anyone tell me if the nausea Karal feels upon watching An'desha build a >Gate is something felt by all the God-Touched? Or is this specific to >Vkandis's true Priests? Specifically, is there ever any mention of how >the Kaled'a'in shaman feel about Gates? Actually, I was under the impression that it was the Gate energies itself that was making Karal naseaus (sp?). It seems that no one particularly likes Gates. This doesn't exactly surprise me considering that space is being warped. That's not exactly natural. >Finally, does anyone else desparately hope that the similarity between >"Kalanel" (Vkandis's consort) and "Kal'enel" (the Warrior) *doesn't* >mean that Misty intends to resolve the 'conflict' of having more than >one True God by making the two related? What's wrong with that? Well, pardon me while I go back to lurking :) *Allura nee Gwendolyn nee Veren* aka Joanna Goodhartz aka jgoodhar-+AT+-vaxc.stevens-tech.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 12:11:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Black Gryphon Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 1995 Scya-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > I was just recently reading books again for research info and I believe the > description of the hertasi is in the Last Herald-Mage series - which book I > forget but it is a Bird-like human. The one I distinctly remember was a > woman that Vanyel met when young and just learning from the Tayledras. Hope > this helps. > > Scya-+AT+-aol.com > Ummmmmmmmmm, nnooo. The tevardi are the bird-like humans. The hertasi are the really big humanoid lizards who are almost compuslivly "hive-minded" and serve the Tayledras. Then the dyheli are the deer-like ones and the kyree are the wolf-grasscat-ish people, very vocal...I'm babbling, aren't I? --Jaguar-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 17:18:50 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers Message-ID: <9505301618.AA04471-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> > >Finally, does anyone else desparately hope that the similarity between > >"Kalanel" (Vkandis's consort) and "Kal'enel" (the Warrior) *doesn't* > >mean that Misty intends to resolve the 'conflict' of having more than > >one True God by making the two related? > > What's wrong with that? > [slight digression] Well, it's always annoyed me when authors suddenly pull a rabbit out of their hat to reveal that all of their work is actually interconnected. About the only one, I feel, who has managed to do that successfully is Heinlein, and that was only because he managed to start doing so comparatively early in his writing career. [end digression] In this case, I suspect that we may find that Kalanel and Kal'enel are related, at least mythologically. There's no particular reason why two cultures couldn't have similar names for the same concept -- in this case, a god -- although I'd want to see closer ties between the two cultures than we have seen so far for this to be "reasonable". It really depends how mutable religion is within Velgarth. We have seen several religions and beliefs, but we haven't seen any of them over a long enough period of time to see how they might change. Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 9:57:53 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: happy endings Message-ID: <950530095753.21c00a3e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> I have to agree with Tricia - I like happy endings. I read for enjoyment. When a book or series leaves me as depressed as the Thomas Covenant books I feel I've wasted my money, in a sense. Happy endings aren't essential to enjoyment, but like Tricia said, some hope for the future is. I don't mind the characters not living happily ever after, but the possibility should be there for some contentment, some happiness. As far as my Asimov comment, that was my whole point. There are no characters in there. Yes, Asimov has amazing insights into the human condition, but I didn't buy the Asimov Treatise on the Human Race I bought a series of Science Fiction books. Note the word Fiction. I bought (okay, actually bought some, borrowed the rest) these books to be entertained, instead I got a textbook. That's not what I wanted. I have no doubt that what Asimov has to say is highly interesting, but I wish he wouldn't try to disguise it as fiction when its a sermon. Narnia: Good stuff, though impossible to read now at 27. At 17 I could still get something from it. It was far better a series before I read the author's notes and found out that Aslan was another name for Jesus. Not being Christian that really put a dent in my enjoyment for a while. Excellent children's Fantasy. A few of the books were less successful than others, but particularly "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", and "The Magician's Nephew", and "Last Battle" were awesome. Iris ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 10:06:53 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Vrondi Message-ID: <950530100653.21c00a3e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> BTW, I was just listening to the ShadowStalker CD, specifically the Vrondi song "Vrondi's Eyes". This describes the Vrondi's as "Wide, unblinking eyes, as blue as the sky". Hmmm. Notice anything? Blue eyes? Like the Companions eyes? Anyone notice a description in the books of exactly what color blue the Companions eyes are? Another obvious link between spirit creatures and Companions. Iris ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 10:23:19 -0700 From: Bruce Hart Tamra Hart To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Cherryh and Misty Message-ID: <199505301723.KAA26829-+AT+-shell1.best.com> Regarding Mel's review of the Sword of Knowledge, I had the pleasure of meeting C.J. Cherryh earlier this year and got to listen in on a long conversation about the Sword books. Basically, Carolyn is still at her publisher because they put her name on the books as a major contributor. It turns out that Carolyn designed the world and its history, but didn't write any of the text in any of the three books. She did however design detailed maps and a very detailed history, and was quite irritated that none of her work (the maps and such) made it into any of the books! She was also very unhappy that fans might pick up one of the books because of her name, and not realize that she had nothing to do with the actual writing of the book. She was very outspoken about this. She felt it was unfair to fans for the publisher to make the marketing decision to put her name on the covers as though the books were co-written. Anyway, that's why the books are so seemless -- they aren't co-written. So, folks, go get that Sword book if you're wasting away from lack of Misty books! BTW, Carolyn is supposed to come to a signing in the Bay Area (CA, US) August 11 at Future Fantasy books. Check out the Future Fantasy home page for details. --Tamra H. 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: Tue, 30 May 1995 13:33:18 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers Message-ID: <199505301733.NAA16199-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> Joanna wrote: >Possible spoilers about _Storm Warning_ >Jenneke writes: >>Another aspect that intrigues me is Misty's treatment of deities. Can >>anyone tell me if the nausea Karal feels upon watching An'desha build a >>Gate is something felt by all the God-Touched? Or is this specific to >>Vkandis's true Priests? Specifically, is there ever any mention of how >>the Kaled'a'in shaman feel about Gates? >Actually, I was under the impression that it was the Gate energies itself >that >was making Karal naseaus (sp?). It seems that no one particularly likes >Gates. This doesn't exactly surprise me considering that space is being >warped. That's not exactly natural. I thought I remembered Karal being horrified by the fact that he saw the Gate pulling An'desha's soul from him, which is a bit more certain than anything I remember being mentioned before. (Savil says it feels like bits of her soul were spinning off into the void, but that's a feeling, not the certainty of watching it happen...) It's also completely unlike other descriptions from watchers, who might possibly see tendrils of light, but nothing more exciting than that. >>Finally, does anyone else desparately hope that the similarity between >>"Kalanel" (Vkandis's consort) and "Kal'enel" (the Warrior) *doesn't* >>mean that Misty intends to resolve the 'conflict' of having more than >>one True God by making the two related? >What's wrong with that? Well, I *like* the idea of there being multiple True Deities. If Misty were to say, well, they're really two halves of the same deity-pair, but the Warrior-aspect decided to concentrate on the Kaled'a'in, while the Sun-aspect decided to concentrate on the Karsites, I'd feel a bit cheated. Kal'enel and Vkandis are the only two True Deities we hear about, even though we hear about many more religions, especially in the Tarma&Kethry stories. Making the two part of the same whole would greatly lessen the wonderful diversity in Velgarth. It would also take away the possibility for a realization process such as we see somewhat in Karal in _Storm Warning_: maybe my God isn't the Only True God and what does that mean for me as a worshipper, as a Priest, as a scholar, etc. In my context of the US's fanatical religious right's insistence that there's only One True Way and One True God and it's theirs, Misty's There Is No One True Way is very refreshing. It would spoil it a bit for me if she reduced the number of True Deities... -jenneke PS. Does anyone know the name of the Kaled'a'in God? We know there is one from that song at the end of one of the _Vows & Honor_ books, but I don't think his name is mentioned there... I *am* family. How could I not have family values? Only Boys Accepting Feminism Get Kissed Meaningfully -- Geoff Marcy The only unnatural sexual act is that which you cannot perform. -Alfred Kinsey broekman-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu | http://www-astro.phast.umass.edu/gs/jenn.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 13:43:24 -0400 From: nomib-+AT+-chem.psu.edu (Naomi) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: REVIEW: "Reap the Whirlwind" Message-ID: <199505301743.NAA17775-+AT+-portal.chem.psu.edu> >I found this one (along with a mint-condition copy of "Children of the Night" >to replace my copy, which looks as though the cat ate it) at a charity stall >this weekend, so I thought I'd do a review to encourage y'all. :) -- M. > I found the first two books at the library, and am presently looking for the third (library dosen't have it). How are the first two, and is _Reap the Whirlwind_ stand-alone? Naomi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 18:44:27 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Cherryh and Misty Message-ID: <9505301744.AA07867-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> [Tamra's explanation snipped for space] Yes, that ties in _exactly_ with what I thought when I read the book. The other co-authored books have read differently to those where Misty is the sole author; I would be hard pressed to define exactly where the difference lies, but it's certainly there. It's an interesting background, though, and I didn't feel it made any difference that I hadn't read the other two books. I could have wished it were longer, though, to fill in some of the characterisation I thought was missing. Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 19:32:27 GMT From: "David Ian RAMSDEN" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Vrondi Message-ID: <2F98161932-+AT+-sci1.sci.port.ac.uk> > BTW, I was just listening to the ShadowStalker CD, specifically > the Vrondi song "Vrondi's Eyes". This describes the Vrondi's > as "Wide, unblinking eyes, as blue as the sky". Hmmm. Notice > anything? Blue eyes? Like the Companions eyes? Anyone notice > a description in the books of exactly what color blue the Companions > eyes are? > > Another obvious link between spirit creatures and Companions. > > Iris I thought the companion's had blue eyes due to the bleaching effect of of the nodes. In one of the winds books (I forget which) when someone (I assume it's Darkwind, but I can't remember this either) tells Elspeth about the bleaching effect of the nodes we learn that the companions are white with blue eyes as they draw on the nodes for extra speed, fast healing, etc ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 12:24:48 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Vrondi Message-ID: <950530122448.21c00a3e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> >> BTW, I was just listening to the ShadowStalker CD, specifically >> the Vrondi song "Vrondi's Eyes". This describes the Vrondi's >> as "Wide, unblinking eyes, as blue as the sky". Hmmm. Notice >> anything? Blue eyes? Like the Companions eyes? Anyone notice >> a description in the books of exactly what color blue the Companions >> eyes are? >> >> Another obvious link between spirit creatures and Companions. >> >> Iris >I thought the companion's had blue eyes due to the bleaching effect of >of the nodes. In one of the winds books (I forget which) when someone >(I assume it's Darkwind, but I can't remember this either) >tells Elspeth about the bleaching effect of the nodes we learn that >the companions are white with blue eyes as they draw on the nodes for >extra speed, fast healing, etc Nope. As I recall they are WHITE because of the bleaching effect. I remember there's a conversation between Darkwind and Elspeth where they talk about the bleaching effect, and Elspeth says something like, "so that's why Companions can't be dyed." And Gwena looks at her and says "Sorry". Something like that. That doesn't explain the blue eyes, though. Otherwise all Tayledras would be white-haired and blue eyed. They all have white hair but I thought Darkwind for example has dark eyes? Anyone confirm/deny this? Iris ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 13:27:14 -0700 From: Jean Morrill To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Other authors Message-ID: <199505302027.NAA27520-+AT+-flood.hwr.arizona.edu> Is someone keeping a master-list of recommendations? For people who like children/young adult books, I would suggest: Joan Aiken Diana Wynne Jones C.S. Lewis Tamora Pierce Nancy Springer (I read her books as a pre-teen and teenager, and liked them then; I haven't read her newer stuff, which may or may not be more "adult") Other authors I like: David Brin Steven Brust Pamela Dean Phyllis Eisenstein (I liked "Sorcerer's Son". It's sequel "Crystal Palace" was pretty good. Her Alaric series "Born to Exile", "In the Red Lord's Reach", and "Beyond the Red Lord's Reach" is pretty depressing. Alaric has a more depressing and lonely life than Vanyel...don't read these if you want happy ever after.) Simon Hawke (as long as you don't mind unrealistic fantasy and major liberties with the King Arthur legend) Mary Herbert (magic-lovers and horse people should like her series. More serious fantasy). Ellen Kushner (Vanyel fans might like the protaganist in "Swordspoint") Jacqueline Lichtenberg's "Molt Brothers" Jane Lindskold Holly Lisle Anne McCaffrey (most of her books, anyway) Josepha Sherman Christopher Stasheff (although his stuff is heavily Catholic and Christianity is the only religion in his books) And although I know some people will disagree, I liked Piers Anthony's Mode series and the early Xanth books and "Split Infinity". __________________________________________________________________________ Borrowed books I have sitting on my shelf and am wondering whether or not I should read (has anyone read them?) First two books of the Green Lion Trilogy by Teresa Edgerton Lynn Abbey's "Wooden Sword" and "Beneth the Web" a string of related books by M.J. Bennett ___________________________________________________________________________ Sorry for the length of this post Jean Morrill ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 17:06:54 -0400 (EDT) From: "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: other books Message-ID: Kurtz and the Deryni: In her book of criticism, *Language of the Night* Ursula LeGuin gave it as her opinion that a writer of fantasy who has a lot of political stuff in it is not writing *real* fantasy. That is her opinion, and as a person who doesn't much like political stuff, I am sometimes surprised at how much I like Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books. The Camber books predate (chronologically) the Kelson/Deryni books. The first trilogy of Deryni books came out first, then some (or all, I forget) of the Camber books, then the trilogy about Kelson, then the post-Camberian ones up to the last one, about young Rhys Michael. I point this out because Kurtz had a family tree, complete with birth and death dates and dates of monarchs' reigns right from the first published book. She kind of got trapped into this dark period where the young princes don't last long on the throne because of the initial, established framework. And as for the death of Rhys, the physician, well, accidental deaths DO happen; it's part of what makes her books more believable. Not that I have much of anything published myself (although I just had an article, "Tha Mi Seannachie" published in a chapbook-- grab my ankle and pull me down to eyelevel, if you want to talk to me!), I do know that sometimes characters can do and say completely unexpected things. I had that happen, with one of my favorite ones, who I certainly had not planned to die. But he did. No matter how I tried, I could not convincingly resurrect him. Besides, callous as it sounds, Rhys' death makes it necessary later for his small child to function earlier than expected as a healer. And at least he did not die as horribly as some characters in fantasy have. McCaffrey and Pern: Love her books! Prefer anything with Robinton and Menolly in them, although no one has so far mentioned *Restoree* or *Get off the Unicorn*. I could not, no matter how I tried, get into her *Crystal Singer* books, or the *Raven* ones. C.S. Lewis: He is very special to me because of the Tolkien connection and because his apologetics--I don't agree with all his beliefs, but his discussion of them at least helped me figure out mine. If you liked the Narnia books, try the Ransome trilogy (*Out of the Silent Planet*, *Perelandra* [possibly the most poetic novel in English, IMHO], and *That Hideous Strength* [the only 20th Century British dystopia I know of which has both a utopian and dystopian socieies in it, not just one or the other]). Nobody's mentioned another friend of Lewis and Tolkien: Charles Williams. Has anyone tried any of his "supernatural thrillers"? The quality is better than Stephen King--although I'm not a King fan (mad dash for the flameproof suit!) Or his Arthurian poetry, partly completed by Lewis. Eddings: I enjoyed the two series about Belgarion and Polgara, et al. The repetition of the basic plot interested me in the variations/similarities he worked out in them. (After all, how many writers do you know who could top the end of the first series, where Garion fights and kills a god?) I earnestly hope that the new Belgareth book has a section on Vo Wacune, I think it is, that Polgara could not forget, and which sounds to me like a version of Camelot in the allusions to it. Couldn't get into the Ruby Knight ones at all. Jordan: Would someone PLEASE explain to me about this Sniff thing you say you dislike so much? WHAT sniff? What am I missing? (I am rereading these for the fourth time.) Do you mean that they are feeling sorry for themselves (and yet I hear very little on this list about how much Van whines, and that put me off much more than Rand's "But I never wanted to channel!") Next to wanting a DWIM button [Do What I Meant], I want some button that will instantly provide me with more books by my favorite authors, right away, without the agony of waiting! I like all these various complex threads weaving in and out of the plot. It fascinates me to see a mention of a character in one novel, and two volumes later (s)he crops up again. Anybody else think that he must have a gigantic wall covered with character names and little arrows pointing to help him keep it all straight? Some books are worth reading in a leisurely way, more than once. For me, his fit into that category (not many do). I like trying to imagine how he'll resolve all of it or even most of it, and I hope he finishes it in this century! Anyone else like the Mrim in C.I. Chyrriah's trilogy (I know that I'm misspelling that; sorry)? Or the "braided" format in her Merovingian series with other authors, including ML? (Speaking of frustration, I am missing one of them!) Paks and Elizabeth Moon: I too cast a vote in her favor! What happens to Paks in the last book of the *Deed* is pretty horrific--and yet there is such a spiritual overtone to that entire book that I keep rereading it...and I am a pacifist. I wish she'd write more about Paks and Kieri and Luap. Two weeks ago today, thanks to a free pass from my harp teacher, I took a friend to see *Braveheart*. Sat. I took John, who teased me on the way home that I can never again convincingly say to him that I don't want to see something because it looks too violent (specifically, all the *Aliens* movies, which he loves). I retorted that I do "selective viewing", concentrating on the main characters, so that battle scenes don't bother me too much, they go rolling along if the director isn't in love with slow motion, and you EXPECT a battle to be violent. I have a harder time with a situation that looks ordinary and idyllic and isn't or some gruesome creepy-crawly that may snake out a tentacle from hiding and grab...that grosses me out. Having a character I like harmed (torture is far worse than falling and bashing one's head on a step) hurts me, and is a source of grief which few other people in my family can understand ("How can you cry over someone who isn't real?" my father asked, really puzzled, as I sobbed over Beth's death in *Little Women* for the umpteenth time as a teenager). And well, while it's painful to watch a favorite character agonize through unhappy relationships, still (s)he having an idyllic one, without a hitch, is a bit hard to swallow. Idyllic relationships are also damned hard to write about convincingly and in an interesting way. I like characters who are developing and changing. Static, flat ones do not keep my interest. Gwena is probably one of the most interesting Companions just because she isn't as knowing as she thinks she is and wanted Elspeth to think she was. To bring this back to the list topic! Anyone else having a Monday on a Tuesday? At least Friday will be here sooner! And when will we start guess-casting an Arrows movie? Who should be Talia? --Barra P.S. Just got the Firebird catalogue, must sooner than I expected to. Wow! The hard part now is deciding what to get first....8^) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 18:54:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Vivian Choh To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Various things in Digest 27 Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 1995 p.m.lynch.bra0125-+AT+-oasis.icl.co.uk wrote: > I do enjoy Tolkein - if you want to try again, The Hobbit is an easier starting point than Lord of the Rings itself. Actually, I found the inverse to be true...I tried to read the Hobbit more than 10 years ago (YIKES! I AM getting old) but just couldn't get through it and usually, no matter how bad book is, I'll read it 'til the end (the only other book that I started but did not finish is Doctor Zhivago; each time, halfway through, I'll find some better books (fantasy or sci-fi and even mysteries) so that I drop DZ like a hot potato). In fact, the Hobbit was the reason why it took me so long to finally read the Lord of the Rings (first read it 2 years ago when a Tolkien fanatic insisted that I would like it, and that it wasn't like The Hobbit) I meant to comment on Anne's (was it Anne's?) list but I erased it by accident. I just wanted to agree with the only non-fantasy selection that she had there, the Amelia Peabody novels. They are absolutely HILARIOUS. Those novels are the type that make you start guffawing and giggling helplessly on moving public transportation such that everyone else looks at you strangely.... (Yup, was reading the latest on the plane and sure enough......BAH! HA! HA! HA! :) ) 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: Tue, 30 May 1995 22:24:19 GMT From: PTJ-+AT+-badger.demon.co.uk (Philip Johnson) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: What I like about Misty's writing, questions, possible spoilers Message-ID: <25210-+AT+-badger.demon.co.uk> In message <199505300139.VAA15807-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk writes: > > Finally, does anyone else desparately hope that the similarity between > "Kalanel" (Vkandis's consort) and "Kal'enel" (the Warrior) *doesn't* > mean that Misty intends to resolve the 'conflict' of having more than > one True God by making the two related? > Since she frequently harps on the theme of 'There is _no_ One True Way', I see no reasson for there to be One True God. I think Dion Fortune's dictum applies:- 'All gods are one God, all goddesses are One Goddess, and there is one Initiator'. Which I interpret to mean that though there ma be one Initiator (Supreme Being, God, insert worshipful phrase of your choice) we are incapable (obviously) of comprehending its reality/totality. Therefore, the gods and goddesses we construct are not so much wrong (although they may be) as incomplete. So Kalanal and Kel'enel are two aspects/facets of one incomprehensible reality. My two pen'orth. -- Philip Johnson 'Never do for yourself what you can con an expert into doing for you' Naismith 'On War' ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 21:51:18 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: ATTENTION ALL LACKEY JUNKIES!!!!!! Message-ID: <950530215116_18255981-+AT+-aol.com> Well, now that I have your attention, sorry for shouting the subject. Anyway, _Elvenblood_ is now out and available in harback at $22.95. I now return you to your regularly scheduled mail. High Flight Matt j ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 22:25:59 -0400 (EDT) From: Anne Cross To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Vrondi Message-ID: On Tue, 30 May 1995 RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com wrote: > Nope. As I recall they are WHITE because of the bleaching effect. > I remember there's a conversation between Darkwind and Elspeth where > they talk about the bleaching effect, and Elspeth says something > like, "so that's why Companions can't be dyed." And Gwena looks > at her and says "Sorry". Something like that. > > That doesn't explain the blue eyes, though. Otherwise all Tayledras > would be white-haired and blue eyed. They all have white hair but > I thought Darkwind for example has dark eyes? Anyone confirm/deny > this? "He [Darkwind] tugged at his own hair, and she noticed that white roots were starting to show and that the color had faded to a dull tan. "Use of node-energy gradually bleaches a mage; the color-making dies in skin, hair, and eyes, and the color that is already there is leeched away. I do not lie when I say that magery changes a preson. So -- your Companions use node-energy, and thus are blue-eyed, silver-coated, gray-hooved." pp. 145, _Winds of Change_, Mercedes Lackey Later, in _Storm Warning_, I believe Karal notes that Elspeth has blue eyes and white hair, but my room is a mess and I can't find my copy right now to check. Anne Cross across-+AT+-sidwell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 22:57:14 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Other books Message-ID: <950530225711_17837885-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-30 12:45:50 EDT, Donna wrote: > I hope, I hope, I hope they never do one. I've never been anything but >disappointed in fantasy movies (with the possible light-hearted exceptions of >Willow and the Princess Bride). Jenneke mentioned getting respect from >filmmakers, but I think it's more than that. We all have our own ideas >about what these amazing worlds and characters should be like, and nobody's >film is going to capture the details that make them so incredible. >:) I think that I am a little undecided on the making of a film. If you all remember there was quite a stir over _Interview With the Vampire_. Only because no one thought that Tom Cruise would be able to play the main charachter. Well, guess what? He did. And speaking of films, I just saw _Johnny Mnemonic_ over the weekend. Movie is based on a short story by William Gibson. Go see it. That's all that I will say no spoilers from me! But I think that I wouldn't mind seeing a movie, but I would hope that Misty would keep tight control on the way things develop. Like she has the time for that...... Have a great week! Clear Skies Matt J ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hate is not a Family Value! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am not gay but my boyfriend is! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 22:57:16 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: other books Message-ID: <950530225715_17837906-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-05-30 18:47:53 EDT, Barra wrote: > Anyone else having a Monday on a Tuesday? At least Friday will be >here sooner! And when will we start guess-casting an Arrows movie? Who >should be Talia? > > --Barra > >P.S. Just got the Firebird catalogue, must sooner than I expected to. >Wow! The hard part now is deciding what to get first....8^) > Yes, That is why I hate short weeks, they seem just as long as a regular week! I want a my Firebird Catalouge, I am on the mailing list! Don't know who could play Talia, what about Van? Clear Skies Matt J `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````````````````````````` How dare you pressume that I am heterosexual! `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````````````````````````` ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 22:57:30 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Other authors Message-ID: <950530225727_17838063-+AT+-aol.com> Heyla all!, Has anybody read Mealnie Rawn or Tad Williams? Just thought the covers looked good and might pick them up. wondering if anybody had any thought on these two. Toodles Matt J -+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+- Love your hair hope it wins! -+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+--+AT+- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 23:05:33 +0000 From: J Hulley-Miller To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Black Gryphon Message-ID: <199505310321.XAA28349-+AT+-cnj.digex.net> Greetings, Scya-+AT+-aol.com wrote: >S> the description of the hertasi is in the Last Herald-Mage series - which >S> book I forget but it is a Bird-like human. The bird-like species are 'tervadi' (sp?), the hertasi are reptilian. jhm -- J Hulley-Miller ____ <1:107/330-+AT+-fidonet.org> \/\/ "Human nature is never so weak as in a bookstore" - unknown ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 1995 23:11:07 +0000 From: J Hulley-Miller To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Authors/Movies Message-ID: <199505310321.XAA28351-+AT+-cnj.digex.net> Greetings, RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com wrote: >R> Also, Dan Callander is good, especially if you are tired of >R> truly evil villains, and want some pure mindcandy. The >R> only good word for the Callander books (Pyromancer, Aquamancer, >R> Geomancer) is cute. They are incredibly relaxing because >R> you don't have to worry about the characters. But for some >R> reason they are still worth reading. Anyone else read >R> his stuff, someone with a better idea of why they are good? Don Callander. He has also written 'Dragon Companion'. Do you happen to know if we can expect an 'Aeromancer' ? jhm -- J Hulley-Miller ____ <1:107/330-+AT+-fidonet.org> \/\/ "Human nature is never so weak as in a bookstore" - unknown ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 31 ********************************