MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 39 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Companions choosing new Heralds by AnneS3832-+AT+-aol.com 2) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" 3) Re: Companions choosing new Heralds by heb4-+AT+-cornell.edu (Heather Elizabeth Blatt) 4) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 5) Re: Companions choosing new Heralds by h-wilfehrt-+AT+-nwu.edu (Helen M. Wilfehrt) 6) Re: Gwena & Elspeth's internship by h-wilfehrt-+AT+-nwu.edu (Helen M. Wilfehrt) 7) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by heb4-+AT+-cornell.edu (Heather Elizabeth Blatt) 8) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by steph-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu (Stephanie Wukovitz) 9) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by TAMRA SPIELVOGEL 10) Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 11) Re: Evil Mind Magic People by MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com 12) Re: ElvenBlood Description by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 13) ElvenBlood Description by J Hulley-Miller 14) Re: other bo by SNESter-+AT+-aol.com 15) Re: Other Books by SNESter-+AT+-aol.com 16) Re: other books by SNESter-+AT+-aol.com 17) Re: other bo by SNESter-+AT+-aol.com 18) Books that mention Misty&other by SNESter-+AT+-aol.com 19) Re: Karal by Julie Vaux 20) Re: ElvenBlood Description by Kim Roberts support staff 273525 21) Re: Companions choosing new Heralds by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 22) Re: Evil Mind Magic People by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 23) Re: ElvenBlood Description by Michael Richards 24) Re: Companions choosing new Heralds by "Helen M. Wilfehrt" 25) Re: ElvenBlood Description by "You Called...?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 14:26:03 -0400 From: AnneS3832-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions choosing new Heralds Message-ID: <950605142602_87119930-+AT+-aol.com> Hi Everyone- I have a question to add to this discussion . . . . . in the First Arrows book, Selenay asks Talia if she is sure she wants to be a Herald, or would like the bond dropped. Is this ony because she was Chosen by the Monarch's Own Companion, or can this be done to ANY Chosen . . . . and what happens to those Companions who are dropped- do they pine away and die as if their Chosen had died or what? Wondering here in NY- Anne annes3832-+AT+-aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 15:18:09 -0400 (EDT) From: "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: <0jopVli00iV0E3cn10-+AT+-andrew.cmu.edu> Somehwere in either the last *Winds* book or in *Storm Warning*, someone protests, "But that's against the rules!" and is told, I think by one of the Companions, "The rules are changing." As we all know, "There is no One True Way" in Valdemar.... After all, Kerowyn was/is a merc captain, and a good bit older even than the Herald who was Chosen in his 20s (surely she was at least in her 30s or early 40s). No Herald-Mage for a loooong time before Elspeth. So why couldn't Florian Choose Karal? I personally don't think that he has, yet. And what is to prevent his just being a friend of Karal's? A Companion doesn't leave Valdemar (unless (s)he is with his/her Chosen), as far as I know, but...rules are changing. If Karal is going to be as important as it seems he will be, he may need to have a Companion around, even if only part of the time. And as someone remarked, most Companions don't Choose until they are around 10. --And that reminds me of something I meant to ask earlier, with all the questions about Gwena. How old is she when she Chooses Elspeth? I know that she was born during *Arrows of the Queen*; the Companions "adjust" the humans' memories so for a while everyone thinks that she is born normally, not Grove-born. And do we know what was finally settled about Elspeth's internship? There was a lot of arguing going on about whether or not she could go out on circuit like the others, and as far as I recall, the end decision isn't really stated clearly in the first *Winds* book. After all, by then Elspeth is well beyond the age of going on an internship. Yes, I know that there're all the problems stirred up by Ancar, but things have been calm enough in Havens at least for Talia to have her children. I say Talia and not Selenay, since back-up heirs would have everyone's approval, but as Monarch's Own, Talia is very important, and if you recall from the first *Arrows* book, choosing when to get pregnant is an option the Heralds, if not the rest of the population of Valdemar, have. Anyone else wonder what Dirk has been doing? He's barely mentioned in the last *Winds* or in *Storm*, to my disappointment. He always reminds me of a guy I once dated--who looked as if he, and especially his hands, had been assembled by a committee with poor communications...but what a voice! (oops, sorry, I now return to being a decorous matron) One other thing before I sign off: Speaking of Barbara Hambly, anyone else read and enjoy her trilogy about *The Walls of Air* and the other two? Or *Stranger at the Wedding*? I liked that, although I did not enjoy *The Silicon Mage* or *The Silent Tower* as much, and didn't even bother with the third. Maybe I should. --Barra Everything will perish save love and music.--Scots Gaelic proverb Harpers have pluck--but don't get strung out.--Barra the Bard ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 15:24:06 -0400 From: heb4-+AT+-cornell.edu (Heather Elizabeth Blatt) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions choosing new Heralds Message-ID: >in the First Arrows >book, Selenay asks Talia if she is sure she wants to be a Herald, or would >like the bond dropped. Is this ony because she was Chosen by the Monarch's >Own Companion, or can this be done to ANY Chosen . . . . and what happens to >those Companions who are dropped- do they pine away and die as if their >Chosen had died or what? > This was also addressed by Teren in the Orientation meeting (I think this is the right spot!) . . . he said that if any of the newly-Chosen did not wish to become Heralds, they had only to say `no', and the Companion would be sent out again. Actually, now that I've typed this, I remember it was said about Talia and Rolan in particular, somewhere in the beginning of AotQ. But I assume it would hold true for the other Companions as well. I just wonder how they--both Companion and ex-Chosen--would deal with the ex-bond: would the Companion make the ex-Chosen forget about the intensity of the bond, but not its fact? I don't see how anyone could deny a Companion-bond, with all its emotional impact--unless, of course, it was a weak bond . . . --Elizabeth. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 15:45:20 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: <199506051945.PAA20365-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell wrote: > --And that reminds me of something I meant to ask earlier, with all >the questions about Gwena. How old is she when she Chooses Elspeth? I >know that she was born during *Arrows of the Queen*; the Companions >"adjust" the humans' memories so for a while everyone thinks that she is >born normally, not Grove-born. I don't think "age" applies to the Grove born Companions. The Monarch's Own Companion "never seems to age", and Gwena and the original Companions Choose immediately upon being "born"... >And do we know what was finally settled >about Elspeth's internship? There was a lot of arguing going on about >whether or not she could go out on circuit like the others, and as far >as I recall, the end decision isn't really stated clearly in the first >*Winds* book. After all, by then Elspeth is well beyond the age of going >on an internship. In _By the Sword_ we find out how Elspeth's internship is handled. > Anyone else wonder what Dirk has been doing? He's barely mentioned >in the last *Winds* or in *Storm*, to my disappointment. He always >reminds me of a guy I once dated--who looked as if he, and especially >his hands, had been assembled by a committee with poor >communications...but what a voice! (oops, sorry, I now return to being a >decorous matron) I think that being Dean is probably occupying all of his time. As Dean, he's on the Circle, but not the Council, so it's not all that surprising that we haven't seen him. After the Arrows trilogy, we don't spend all that much time with the Heralds, after all... -jenneke 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: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 14:44:37 -0500 From: h-wilfehrt-+AT+-nwu.edu (Helen M. Wilfehrt) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions choosing new Heralds Message-ID: <199506051944.AA036141477-+AT+-casbah.acns.nwu.edu> >I have a question to add to this discussion . . . . . in the First Arrows >book, Selenay asks Talia if she is sure she wants to be a Herald, or would >like the bond dropped. Is this ony because she was Chosen by the Monarch's >Own Companion, or can this be done to ANY Chosen . . . . and what happens to >those Companions who are dropped- do they pine away and die as if their >Chosen had died or what? > >Wondering here in NY- > >Anne >annes3832-+AT+-aol.com I always gathered that it takes awhile for the Companion-Herald bond to fully develop - remember how newly Chosen Herald trainees are encouraged to spend as much time with their Companions as possible to allow the bond to grow and deepen. For example, remember how Yfandes said that she needed to be in physical contact with Vanyel in the beginning to help shield him. Plus, remember how proud Rolan was that Talia could call to him for help when she was tossed into the drink, as it were. There was a comment that it was unusual for their bond to be so strong so soon. I would guess that in the beginning the bond is still rather weak so that it may be dropped in case the Chosen decides not to continue to be a Herald - they must be given free choice and not coerced into being Heralds. But then, the Companions seem to choose those who are willing to be Heralds in the first place so the question is generally a moot point. In a state of serious spring fever here in Chicago - Helen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 14:58:41 -0500 From: h-wilfehrt-+AT+-nwu.edu (Helen M. Wilfehrt) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Gwena & Elspeth's internship Message-ID: <199506051958.AA059402321-+AT+-casbah.acns.nwu.edu> > --And that reminds me of something I meant to ask earlier, with all >the questions about Gwena. How old is she when she Chooses Elspeth? I >know that she was born during *Arrows of the Queen*; the Companions >"adjust" the humans' memories so for a while everyone thinks that she is >born normally, not Grove-born. And do we know what was finally settled >about Elspeth's internship? There was a lot of arguing going on about >whether or not she could go out on circuit like the others, and as far >as I recall, the end decision isn't really stated clearly in the first >*Winds* book. After all, by then Elspeth is well beyond the age of going >on an internship. Gwena came out of the Grove when Elspeth was maybe 10-12ish. So Gwena was whatever age the Companions are when they emerge from the Grove. It always seemed that she was close to full grown. Maybe the equivalent of a 1-3 year old???? In Winds part 3, Vanyel mentions that Gwena is not really that different in age than Elspeth when he talks about how Gwena believes that her decisions are best since she's Grove born but in reality, he mentions, she has very little human experience. In _By the Sword_, the issue of Elspeth's internship is discussed. It is at the point immediately following Kero's arrival at Haven when she has just met Selenay. Selenay introduces Elspeth as Kero's liason to the Council. Elspeth explains, that as the Heir and the only candidate for the throne in the immediate blood line, the Council decided that Elspeth shouldn't go out of Haven for her internship since it would be too risky. Elspeth mentions that instead she was staying in Haven for her internship and worked in the local courts, getting extra training from Kero, Alberich, and anyone else who believes they have something to teach her. - Helen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 16:19:19 -0400 From: heb4-+AT+-cornell.edu (Heather Elizabeth Blatt) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: >>And do we know what was finally settled >>about Elspeth's internship? There was a lot of arguing going on about >>whether or not she could go out on circuit like the others, and as far >>as I recall, the end decision isn't really stated clearly in the first >>*Winds* book. After all, by then Elspeth is well beyond the age of going >>on an internship. > >In _By the Sword_ we find out how Elspeth's internship is handled. She had duty at the judicial courts in Haven, since the Council decided it was in everyone's best interests not to have her leave the city for her intership during a state of war. Note: they did not decide this way with Selenay--she was on an out-of-city intership during the Tedrel Wars, and had just returned home when her father was killed/assassinated in battle. > >> Anyone else wonder what Dirk has been doing? He's barely mentioned >>in the last *Winds* or in *Storm*, to my disappointment. He always >>reminds me of a guy I once dated--who looked as if he, and especially >>his hands, had been assembled by a committee with poor >>communications...but what a voice! (oops, sorry, I now return to being a >>decorous matron) > >I think that being Dean is probably occupying all of his time. As >Dean, he's on the Circle, but not the Council, so it's not all that >surprising that we haven't seen him. After the Arrows trilogy, we >don't spend all that much time with the Heralds, after all... Not quite--Dirk replaced Teren as Orientation Counselor, Teren replaced Elcarth as Dean, and Elcarth remained Historian (Arrow's Fall). Question: as Historian, but not Dean, would Elcarth still have a seat in the Council and/or the Circle? I would imagine an Historian would be pretty important/helpful, but he's not mentioned after AFall (that I remember). Dirk did show up, briefly, in BtS, at Faram's court with Talia. --Elizabeth. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 95 13:20:41 -0700 From: steph-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu (Stephanie Wukovitz) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: <9506052020.AA28190-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu> Hmmm...Dirk's not Dean, he's Orientation Instructor (at least based on the end of Arrows...Teren got moved up to be Dean I think). -Stephanie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jun 95 16:39:29 EDT From: TAMRA SPIELVOGEL To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: <9506052046.AA09129-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Jenneke---Where does it say Dirk took over as Dean?!? I know it says at the end of Arrows he takes over as Orientation Instructor when Keren's twin (his name is escaping me) takes over as Dean. Am I missing something?---Tamra S. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 17:55:51 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal being Chosen/Gwena/Talia pregnant/Hambly Message-ID: <199506052155.RAA20500-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> TAMRA SPIELVOGEL wrote: >Where does it say Dirk took over as Dean?!? I know it says at the end >of Arrows he takes over as Orientation Instructor when Keren's twin (his name >is escaping me) takes over as Dean. Am I missing something?---Tamra S. My brain slipped: Dirk is Orientation Instructor, not Dean. Nevertheless, he's not on the Council, and he spends most of his time with the students, either giving Orientation instruction or teaching Gifts, so it's not all that surprising that he's not all that visible in the later books. -jenneke 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: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 20:55:07 -0400 From: MJGaul-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Evil Mind Magic People Message-ID: <950605205505_87354928-+AT+-aol.com> Anne asked: >and did the same sort of thing for Karal as they might have done for >Jisa. (Did anyone ever find out if she got an unbonded Choosing or not?) I think she didn't, at least that was the impression I got. I got the feeling the companions were being extremely politcally savvy, and didn't choose her yet, mostly 'cause she was meant to be King's Own, not Queen. If she had been chosen, the council would have probably made her Heir 'cause she was Randi's daughter. Anyway, I thought when Vanyel returned to Valdemar from treaty negotiations in Rethwellen, he explained to Stef that she would be chosen by Taver... So, on to another question: Will Valdemar have a king or a queen next? Opinions? Observations? --Melissa Suffering away in the Bay Area, CA .... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 21:05:04 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ElvenBlood Description Message-ID: <950605210459_87363459-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-06-05 04:38:58 EDT, you write: >Hi > > >I saw Elvenblood in Dillons at the weekend and the cover on the English >version looked terrible. I can't remember exactly as I left the book and >ordered it from my local store so I don't pick it up until tommorrow. >What I do remember was a women in a purple dress with a dragon in the >background, it just does not compare to the cover of Elvenbane which I >really liked. > >Kim. > > Are we talking about the same book? Elvenblood by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton? Now I wonder if there are 2 different covers and why that would be done. Toodles Matt J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ They are wrong when they reduce the complexity and beauty of our spirit to a freak show.---Urvashi Vaid ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jun 1995 22:54:29 +0000 From: J Hulley-Miller To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: ElvenBlood Description Message-ID: <199506060256.WAA09548-+AT+-cnj.digex.net> Greetings, Tuesday June 06 1995 02:11, URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote: >> What I do remember was a women in a purple dress with a dragon in >> the background, it just does not compare to the cover of Elvenbane >> which I really liked. >U> Now I wonder if there are 2 different covers and why that would be >U> done. Curiously enough, she is describing the cover of Elvenbane... jhm -- J Hulley-Miller ____ <1:107/330-+AT+-fidonet.org> \/\/ "Human nature is never so weak as in a bookstore" - unknown ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 23:39:16 -0400 From: SNESter-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: other bo Message-ID: <950605233912_61554655-+AT+-aol.com> I'd quote, but I'm using AOL for this list. (Even though I DO have REAL internet.) You mentioned that people say Jordan stole from Tolkien. Actually, the beginning of book one in Wheel is supposed to be like LoTR to 'start them off in familiar territory'. BTW anyone else have trouble getting through The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien? A bit less then half way through they seemed to get really boring. (At least for me) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 23:42:12 -0400 From: SNESter-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Other Books Message-ID: <950605234208_61554723-+AT+-aol.com> You're right. I'm 12 and I started on Narnia in... could it actually be 3rd grade?! I'll be in 7th in the fall now (wow! can't beleive that either). Then in the beginning of 4th I read The Hobbit and v. 1&2 of Rings. Only now am I getting back to them. (At that point I found Misty) BTW, It's also interesting that Tolkien and Lewis were good friends. Lewis wrote a sci-fi tril too... Tolkien was going to write one abut the same place also (his was to be on Time Travel). Never got to it 'fore he died, though. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 23:39:24 -0400 From: SNESter-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: other books Message-ID: <950605233923_61554779-+AT+-aol.com> The sniff thing is when many of the female characters (Nyna, Elayne, Egwene, Faile, Min, etc.) go and sniff at the 'idiotic men who think with the hair on there chests and not there brains, and how woolheaded they are.' One thing I don't like about Jordan (even though I ama loyal fan) is that his Old Tongue, unlike Tolkien's Elvish, is just a mishmash of foreign languages which he makes up as he goes along! And he actually TELLS people this! Also the fact that he thinks women shouldn't be allowed to go to the Citadel gets me mad. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 23:42:24 -0400 From: SNESter-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: other bo Message-ID: <950605234223_61554919-+AT+-aol.com> Everyone seems to think Forgotten Realms is trash. I agree. But that does not mean ALL TSR published lit is. Magaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, probably TSR's greatest writers, began all novels published by TSR with... Dragon Lance! While many books in the series (other authors write in it, including, I think, Nick O'Donahue)are horrible, the first 6 books are GREAT! Try them! They are: Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning Legends: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 23:42:32 -0400 From: SNESter-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Books that mention Misty&other Message-ID: <950605234230_61555023-+AT+-aol.com> It just took me FOUR HOURS to read and respond to ML mail! Of course, the fact that I haven't read any of it for 2 and a half weeeks might have something to do with it...:) By now quite some time ago everyone was talking abouts books in which Misty, or her characters, were mentioned. I had a hard time no one told of this one. In Bedlam Boyz, Kayla reads a book about a girl and her journey with a magical white horse. The cover, featuring a beutiful white horse with a young girl on its back attracted her to it. She enver got a chance to get very far though... hmmm where have I seen a book like that before? :) Then again, the fact that the other two books in the series were partly written by Misty MIGHT have something to do with it. I have, in the past few months, become in avid fan of the Firebird catalog. So far I have gotten from it: Heralds, Harpers and Havoc (lost it 'fore I could appreciate it), ShadowStalker (loved it) Elvendude (OK, like misty ones better) Glass Hammer's Journey of the Dunadan (GREAT, Tolkien and nonTolkien fans should get it), and Heather Alexander's Wanderlust (hard to describe it, though I do enjoy it, a lot!). Hard to beleive all the strange and wonderful things in Firebird! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 16:24:52 +1000 (EST) From: Julie Vaux To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Karal Message-ID: <199506060624.QAA24438-+AT+-metz.une.edu.au> Maybe Karal will end up as the next Son/VOice of the Sun ? Majissa - Jvaux ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 09:25:20 +0100 (BST) From: Kim Roberts support staff 273525 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ElvenBlood Description Message-ID: On Tue, 6 Jun 1995 URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > Are we talking about the same book? Elvenblood by Mercedes Lackey and Andre > Norton? Now I wonder if there are 2 different covers and why that would be > done. > > Toodles > Matt J > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yes it is without a doubt Elvenblood by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton. This is a paperback version I think yours might be a hardback. I have seen quite a few books that have been published in the States and the UK with different covers. It is not Elvenbane which I have at home which has a raised dragon on the cover. Has Elvenblood come out in paperback in the States? Kim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 09:31:21 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions choosing new Heralds Message-ID: <9506060831.AA18502-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> > This was also addressed by Teren in the Orientation meeting (I think this > is the right spot!) . . . he said that if any of the newly-Chosen did not > wish to become Heralds, they had only to say `no', and the Companion would > be sent out again. Actually, now that I've typed this, I remember it was > said about Talia and Rolan in particular, somewhere in the beginning of > AotQ. But I assume it would hold true for the other Companions as well. I > just wonder how they--both Companion and ex-Chosen--would deal with the > ex-bond: would the Companion make the ex-Chosen forget about the intensity > of the bond, but not its fact? I don't see how anyone could deny a > Companion-bond, with all its emotional impact--unless, of course, it was a > weak bond . . . > It might be to do with the fact that the Monarch's Own Companion always leaves Haven to choose. At least, I seem to remember that Talia and co. are told that during the same class, the implication being that they _might_ pick someone who just didn't want to. (I would make a bet that the number of times _that_ has happened could be counted on the fingers of one foot. :)) Of course, this all gets blown out of the water by Jisa. If she's going to be King's Own, how are they going to reconcile this with the statement above? Am I misremembering this? Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 09:43:04 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Evil Mind Magic People Message-ID: <9506060843.AA19133-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> > I think she didn't, at least that was the impression I got. I got the feeling > the companions were being extremely politcally savvy, and didn't choose her > yet, mostly 'cause she was meant to be King's Own, not Queen. If she had been > chosen, the council would have probably made her Heir 'cause she was Randi's > daughter. Anyway, I thought when Vanyel returned to Valdemar from treaty > negotiations in Rethwellen, he explained to Stef that she would be chosen by > Taver... > > So, on to another question: Will Valdemar have a king or a queen next? > Opinions? Observations? > I'd say that it was something close to a certainty that Jisa will not become Queen. Remember, although she "is" Randale's daughter (as far as Valdemar in general knows), she isn't his _legitimate_ daughter, and it would seem that legitimacy is still a requirement for succession in Valdemar. I think we're reminded of this later on when Selenay is being discussed in one of the Arrows books; the person speaking is saying how anyone else could just go out and have as many kids as they wanted, but because Selenay is Queen she has to have legitimate children, i.e. she must marry again if she wants more kids who will be in the line of succession. Of course, if Jisa was Chosen before Taver succeeded to the throne, she could become co-ruler with him. On the other hand (how many hands was that?), assuming that Jisa will become King's Own, she _can't_ be chosen before Taver succeeds, since it's made fairly plain that Randale and Shavri will die at much the same time. Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 10:00:01 +0100 (BST) From: Michael Richards To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ElvenBlood Description Message-ID: On Tue, 6 Jun 1995, Kim Roberts support staff 273525 wrote: > Yes it is without a doubt Elvenblood by Mercedes Lackey and Andre > Norton. This is a paperback version I think yours might be a hardback. > Kim Actually, as covers go, it's not _too_ bad - none of the chain-mail bikinis that all too often grace fantasy novels. It was filed under Norton in the local bookstores, so I presume it's been released here in the UK separately. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 08:53:27 -0500 From: "Helen M. Wilfehrt" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions choosing new Heralds Message-ID: <199506061353.AA087336807-+AT+-casbah.acns.nwu.edu> >It might be to do with the fact that the Monarch's Own Companion always leaves >Haven to choose. At least, I seem to remember that Talia and co. are told >that during the same class, the implication being that they _might_ pick >someone who just didn't want to. (I would make a bet that the number of times >_that_ has happened could be counted on the fingers of one foot. :)) > >Of course, this all gets blown out of the water by Jisa. If she's going to be >King's Own, how are they going to reconcile this with the statement above? >Am I misremembering this? > >Mel. This also gets negated by Selenay's twins- at one point it is mentioned that one of the twins will likely be Monarch and the other Monarch's Own. Plus it was mentioned that this had happened before. Helen ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 10:17:15 EST From: "You Called...?" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ElvenBlood Description Message-ID: <55D66B21D6-+AT+-stimpy.lakefieldcs.lakefield.on.ca> 'Bout Elven Bane... Shana was supposed to be this amazing (and powerful) half blood (breed?) that was going to save the earth, and all the humans. that's okay, i think I like that. The plot of Elven bane had a lot of potential...So why did it kind of dribble out into the end? Shana never once did anything interesting! She never fought, her true love (which she just discovers in the end) isn't really all that interesting either! They just kind of decide that they love each other and leave! The elves are still pretty much in controll, even if they are missing their best leader, surely after all that time as the rulers, the supreme and pure, they would not give up that easily! I found that I was quite dissapointed by the way the book ended, surely the next one will be better.... Beth "To walk in the Sands Of Time, You must first get to the Beach..." Beth Earon ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 39 ********************************