MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 46 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Talia & Dirk/Karal by "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" 2) Elvenblood by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 3) Re: Talia & Dirk/Karal by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 4) Re: Elvenblood availability by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 5) Re: Lifebonding by SariKr-+AT+-aol.com 6) Elvenblood discussion by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 7) Re: Sign off??? by 941200422 8) Re: www reviews updated by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 9) Why do YOU read Misty? by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 10) Re: Talia & Dirk/Karal by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 11) Homosexuality in Books by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 12) Re: Why do YOU read Misty? by Alden Strock 13) Re: Why do YOU read Misty? by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 14) Re: Homosexuality in Books by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 15) Why I love Misty/Homosexuality/Another book recomm. by j_ferguson-+AT+-harvard.edu (Joan Ferguson) 16) WWW etc by Ian MacDonald 17) Re: Why do YOU read Misty? by Scya-+AT+-aol.com 18) Re: Why do YOU read Misty? by Gyrfalcon ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 15:22:23 -0400 (EDT) From: "Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Talia & Dirk/Karal Message-ID: I realize that I am about to get into deeep trouble here, but here goes anyway: Does anyone else have a problem with the dialogue between Dirk and Talia near the end of the Arrows trilogy, right before their marriage? Granted that it is better than the babytalk you sometimes hear between besotted couples, but to me it is affected and fake and sappy. I feel as if my teeth, which are set on edge by it, will begin rotting any second if I don't turn the page away from it FAST. ML does say something (or have Skif, overhearing, think) that from most people it wouldn't sound genuine. IMO, it doesn't sound genuine from those 2 either. (I know, I'm the one who bemoaned Dirk's absence from the last *Winds* book and from *Storm Warning*.) I like him, I really do, and I love Talia--great to see a small person do so capably and not be considered "cute", but this thee-ing and thou-ing and "little bird, I would like to put thee in my pocket" stuff--gaaaa! I would like to see Dirk again, but I hope ML spares us from any private conversations between them! Okay, about Karal becoming the next Son: I agree with whomever (sorry, can't recall who it was) quoted Ulrich as saying that Karal would have a different path, in some ways more difficult and certainly in some, lonelier. Anyone out there know when or if ML's Rose book is going to be at Barnes & Noble? I too read about 2 sentences on the back cover blurb of *Elvenblood* and put it back. About this virtual barbeque: anyone else want to bring some instruments and jam? I can bring my Celtic harp, and a mini-bodhran..... --Barra, whose feet are still tender from all the dancing, in heels, she did at a wedding on Saturday. Everything will perish save love and music.--Scots Gaelic proverb Harpers have pluck--but don't get strung out.--Barra the Bard ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 20:33:52 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey Subject: Elvenblood Message-ID: <9506121933.AA09093-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Actually, it's not really as bad as the blurb makes it out to be (very little ever is). It does, however, anticipate having a sequel (let's hope it's not as long in coming as _Evlvenblood_ (oops, no delete key) was after _Elvenbane_. It doesn't suffer from the "out-of-character actions" that some people have noted in _Winds of Fate_. Cheers Mel (who might write a review once she's less busy) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 15:48:45 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Talia & Dirk/Karal Message-ID: <199506121948.PAA25766-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell wrote: > I realize that I am about to get into deeep trouble here, but here >goes anyway: Does anyone else have a problem with the dialogue between >Dirk and Talia near the end of the Arrows trilogy, right before their >marriage? Granted that it is better than the babytalk you sometimes hear >between besotted couples, but to me it is affected and fake and sappy. I >feel as if my teeth, which are set on edge by it, will begin rotting any >second if I don't turn the page away from it FAST. ML does say something >(or have Skif, overhearing, think) that from most people it wouldn't >sound genuine. IMO, it doesn't sound genuine from those 2 either. (I >know, I'm the one who bemoaned Dirk's absence from the last *Winds* book >and from *Storm Warning*.) I like him, I really do, and I love >Talia--great to see a small person do so capably and not be considered >"cute", but this thee-ing and thou-ing and "little bird, I would like to >put thee in my pocket" stuff--gaaaa! I would like to see Dirk again, but >I hope ML spares us from any private conversations between them! The thing that irks me is that Misty seems to use the thee's and thou's as we're-switching-to-a-dialect-now. We see a little of it from Keren as well, and we're told that it's the dialect of her home area. OK, fine, that I can deal with. But then to have Dirk and Talia, who are from two entirely different areas (from each other and from Keren) slip into the *same* dialect, well, that stretches it a bit... -jenneke, who admits to being very 'cute' with her beloved, but not in public... 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, 12 Jun 1995 22:40:42 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Elvenblood availability Message-ID: <950612224040_93673246-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-06-10 16:29:25 EDT, you write: >Greetings, > >Saturday June 10 1995 17:19, URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > >>U> For any Anne Rice fans, (sorry that this would be off the subject) her >>U> new book, _Mnemoch, the Devil_ is due July 12. > >Hardcover ? What cost ? Tnx. > > >jhm > > Hardcover yes. Price I do not know yet. Let you know at the end of the week. Rose Madder is now available. Came into the store today. Cool Breezes Matt J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Softball is the single greatest organizing force in lesbian society. --Alix Dobkin. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 23:36:25 -0400 From: SariKr-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lifebonding Message-ID: <950612233624_69571336-+AT+-aol.com> In regards to the following on lifebonding that the Hart's wrote > Or it could be that Misty thinks of herself as lifebonded and so all the interesting characters she comes up with end up in the same kind of relationship -- when you're happy, you want everyone to be as happy as you are, so she may be writing that into her plots. I was just wondering if any of you out there considered yourself to be in a lifebonded relationship, or if you think that all marriages or long-term relationships as a life bonding? Sari Kr "you don't have to see, to believe" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 23:47:43 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Elvenblood discussion Message-ID: <950612234741_69579916-+AT+-aol.com> OK. give me one more day and I will be done with _Elvenblood_. Looking for people to discuss the book with. Either privately or on the list will do. Don't want to spoil to much for anybody who hasn't read the book yet. Cool Breezes Matt J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ We will make an eternity of poetry and love, not knowing where one ends and the other begins. --Ellen Frye. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 13:33:56 +0800 (CST) From: 941200422 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Sign off??? Message-ID: Pk, I sent the command the way I was told to to log off the list, but it was the old address before the switch info, so could some one please tell me how to sign off this list? I am Rlogin from canada to this account in Taiwan and can't have 300 + messages going there when I am not there to clear it out. Ok, thanks...Sigh... Michael ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 08:09:39 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: www reviews updated Message-ID: <9506130809.AA19676-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> > > Jerry, I atleast am one person who is reading the review page. Hooray! :-). It's nice to see people are looking at it; unfortunately, I don't get any usage statistics, so its impossible to see how many people are using it - so it's always nice to hear. > I like the setup > but where are you finding these reviews? They all seem so down on Misty. A lot of them so far are from the rec.arts.sf.reviews archive, via Ian's web page. Hopefully (hint! hint! :-) ) people will submit their comments, so we get a wider range of views. I put the _Winds of fate_ one together to complete the set, and then went back and reread the book, looking for evidence - and wound up revising the review (there's a spoiler section linked to it now). >I understand that Winds was a little slow at times but they keep talking as if >her writing is hardley worth the read. They're obviously not trufen then :-). Seriously though, writing reviews can be tricky - for example, something that said "It's by Misty - buy it!!!" for everything wouldn't be particularly useful (even if it's probably a reasonable match to a lot of our buying habits :-) ) so, since we know that Misty is capable of excellent work, that tends to be the standard she gets judged against - and there's a tendancy to pick out the unusual weak parts instead of the normal good bits. It may take a while to hit the right balance. For an unashamedly upbeat review, check out _The Ship Who Searched_ :-) And even one of Misty's "poorer" books is usually better than a lot of the other stuff around. > Maybe when I get back from my vacation > I'll put together some reviews that are a little closer to my take on reality. Please do! the more the merrier! :-) > Nice job though, I'lll check out the updates later on today.---Tamra S. > -- _|_ / | 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: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 08:15:36 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Why do YOU read Misty? Message-ID: <9506130815.AA19723-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> Here's a question that could produce some interesting stuff for the web page: (If we get some interesting answers, I'll add a section to the reviews page). What is it that makes you like reading Misty's stuff? -- _|_ / | 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: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 6:43:06 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Talia & Dirk/Karal Message-ID: <950613064306.21c0c68e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> Barbara G. Jacob-McDowell wrote: > I realize that I am about to get into deeep trouble here, but here >goes anyway: Does anyone else have a problem with the dialogue between >Dirk and Talia near the end of the Arrows trilogy, right before their >marriage? Granted that it is better than the babytalk you sometimes hear >between besotted couples, but to me it is affected and fake and sappy. I >feel as if my teeth, which are set on edge by it, will begin rotting any >second if I don't turn the page away from it FAST. ML does say something >(or have Skif, overhearing, think) that from most people it wouldn't >sound genuine. IMO, it doesn't sound genuine from those 2 either. (I >know, I'm the one who bemoaned Dirk's absence from the last *Winds* book >and from *Storm Warning*.) I like him, I really do, and I love >Talia--great to see a small person do so capably and not be considered >"cute", but this thee-ing and thou-ing and "little bird, I would like to >put thee in my pocket" stuff--gaaaa! I would like to see Dirk again, but >I hope ML spares us from any private conversations between them! Jennifer S. Broekman replied: >The thing that irks me is that Misty seems to use the thee's and >thou's as we're-switching-to-a-dialect-now. We see a little of it >from Keren as well, and we're told that it's the dialect of her home >area. OK, fine, that I can deal with. But then to have Dirk and >Talia, who are from two entirely different areas (from each other and >from Keren) slip into the *same* dialect, well, that stretches it a >bit... It's funny how different people see things. I thought that was THE most romantic scene Misty has ever written. Being married, and deeply in love with my husband, I find this scene to be one of those private moments you never share with anyone. That moment when you gaze into your loved ones eyes, and try to show your soul. I thought it was beautiful. As far as the dialect, I thought that Dirk was slipping into the dialect of his youth (which I think was shown before for him, as well as Karen's different one), and Talia, who knew him so well, had slipped into his dialect also, to show her love. That's the way I saw it. Starwolf ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 6:55:27 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Homosexuality in Books Message-ID: <950613065527.21c0c68e-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> I may not express this well, and I hope that nobody will get offended with this, but I wanted to bring up this point. I grew up in a small town, and never came across the idea of homosexuality until I was a teenager. So naturally (I think that's fairly natural :) I found the idea strange and bizarre. And never having met anyone gay, I never had a chance to change this opinion. Then I met one person who was gay, seemed like a super sweet guy, who was married to his male lover. You'll have to understand that this just blew me away. I figured, he's really nice. He must be a very unusual gay person. Sorry folks! We often fear that which is different. And nothing could be more different to my upbringing. I was brought up with the understanding that one went to school, got a job, got married, and had 2.5 kids. Period. No questions. No changes. Let's just say I grew up in a real small town, in an extremely conservative part of the world. And I faithfully held onto my prejudices Then I encountered Misty's books. And felt Vanyel's pain growing up, meeting 'Lendel, falling in love. And my attitude flipped upside down. Having read these, I recently picked up Gael Baudino's Gossamer Axe, on the recommendation of this list. And because of this experience with Misty, was able to utterly enjoy the book, regardless of the gay characters, and realize once and for all, that love is love, regardless what shape it takes. Even though I will always be straight, I can now see homosexuality as just another form of love. It's still a little odd to me, but I've definitely gotten over this nasty little attitude of prejudice. In other words, Misty changed my life! Or at least one of my attitudes. Did books have similar effects on other people? If so, what was the attitude, and what book changed it? BTW, having said all this, I'll say one more thing that'll probably get me flamed: I thought Gossamer Axe was one of the best books I've ever read. It's even better than Misty's stuff Seriously, it's awesome. Maybe part of why I liked it so much was because of all the music, since I started learning the guitar a few months back. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. But the story, and the characters are great! Check it out. Iris ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 09:52:40 -0400 (EDT) From: Alden Strock To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Why do YOU read Misty? Message-ID: On Tue, 13 Jun 1995, Jerry Cullingford wrote: > > What is it that makes you like reading Misty's stuff? I read Misty's Valdemar books (I stay away from the others because I don't like fantasy set in modern times) for the same reason I read fantasy in general - to escape. Valdemar is an extremely well-developed world and it has only become richer with time. The plots might be a tad predictable, but there's only 37 plots in existence anyway that are just redone time and time again, or something like that. For the most part, her characters are sympathetic and interesting. I love the Companions, and I LOVE the magic. Especially the mind-magic. I have always believed that "real" people are capable of such mind-maguc if we tried hard enough. I also like most of the dialogue and I applaud Misty's open mind concerning homosexuality and religion. Mostly, I like Valdemar because it is truly a world of imagination, different from anything we as readers have experienced. Like Anne McCaffrey's Pern, I find it thrilling to envision the lives these people lead, and wish I could have such a life, if only for a day. Is that a good Web entry, Jerry? Wind To Thy Wings - Rhonda Rodriguez :) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 11:37:25 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Why do YOU read Misty? Message-ID: <950613113724_93976489-+AT+-aol.com> I was intoduced to Misty throught the LHM. Being a gay male (as if most of you didn't know that already!) and going throught some hard times at that point in my life a friend gave me the set and said here read this. Now keep in mind that I did not read sci fi fantasy on a regular basis. During the course of reading LHM, I cried, and among other things, became hooked on Misty! She is the first author that I had come across that treated life as life with all its little diferences and saying that its ok to be different and have different views. I really admire that in her works. Toodles Matt J who by the way is glad that the weather decided to cooperate on a vacation day ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Strength comes in developing yourself on your own two feet, in feeling the loneliness of it all, and in loving yourself enough to laugh your ass if at your mistakes. --Susan Tyrrell ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 11:37:52 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Homosexuality in Books Message-ID: <950613113751_93976824-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-06-13 10:24:02 EDT, Iris wrote: snip >Having read these, I recently picked up Gael Baudino's Gossamer >Axe, on the recommendation of this list. And because of this experience >with Misty, was able to utterly enjoy the book, regardless of >the gay characters, and realize once and for all, that love is love, >regardless what shape it takes. Even though I will always be straight, >I can now see homosexuality as just another form of love. It's still >a little odd to me, but I've definitely gotten over this nasty little >attitude of prejudice. > > Now if the rest of the country would realize that people are people and what difference does it matter who loves who and what is done in the privacy of ones bedroom. I think that the world would be in a little better shape. Not much but a little. I could add more but wont because I don't want to take up band with, and I am not in the mood for a heavy debate on politics and the church. Toodles Matt J looking for someone to discuss Elvenblood! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Strength comes in developing yourself on your own two feetm in feeling the loneliness of it all, and in loving yourself enough to laugh your ass off at your mistakes. --Susan Tyrrell. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 11:50:12 -0400 From: j_ferguson-+AT+-harvard.edu (Joan Ferguson) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Why I love Misty/Homosexuality/Another book recomm. Message-ID: Please forgive the following longish post :) On June 13, 1995, Iris said: >In other words, Misty changed my life! Or at least one of my attitudes. > The best part about Misty's books for me is realizing that she really does influence people to this degree - and while you can't lump every gay/lesbian person under one character, she does an excellent job of defining the characters she does create to the point of true recognition (even for people who aren't gay/lesbian!) and empathy. I found that the effect of fantasy lit. as a whole was a truly astounding thing - I discovered that there were these other *worlds*, created by people a whole bunch more talented than me (grin), where I could be immersed and entertained and learn something new. That's why I read fantasy, and Misty in particular - I find that most "literature" is *too* close to reality, and I need a break from that. I do read all of her stuff, including the "modern day" books - I think I just love the way she writes, and crafts her characters, and creates her own worlds, even in the one that can be called "ours." Having grown up in a rather liberal home, and being a lesbian, I never "discovered" that homosexuals were "normal" - they were people like me, and I consider myself pretty OK :) I guess I've never had an epiphany like that from a book ... although I do want to add a title to the list of "things you might like ..." Has anyone read "Lammas Night" by Kathering Kurtz? Its not fantasy, but more of a historical "what if", set in England during WWII and based on the conjecture that maybe there were witches who helped prevent Hitler from invading England, the way Drake supposedly thwarted the Spanish Armada, and this is how they may have done it. If you like magic and a truly riveting story, full of historical detail and interesting characters, this is a good book. It has an ending that never fails to leave me sobbing, absolutely overwhelmed, and gratified all at the same time. All right, I'll stop now - much more than my allotted .02 cents! Thanks for listening- Joan ferguson_joan-+AT+-harvard.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 17:21:18 +0100 From: Ian MacDonald To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: WWW etc Message-ID: <21242.9506131621-+AT+-davaar.dcs.ed.ac.uk> Just if anyones interested, I have added links to jerry's review pages and to the reading list. The new covers will start going on from tomorrow afternoon ie wednessday bye _/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ You never get where you _/ _/_/ _/_/ want to be only where you need to be _/ _/ _/_/ _/ email ism-+AT+-dcs.ed.ac.uk _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/_/ AN _/ _/ ACDONALD, Edinburgh University, Scotland ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 12:40:29 -0400 From: Scya-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Why do YOU read Misty? Message-ID: <950613124027_94015796-+AT+-aol.com> (Delurking long enough for a response) I like reading Misty because: Misty writes stories about characters...those with real feelings for which everything doesn't go right or wrong but somewhere closer to reality where things go partially right with unexpected circumstances or creating situations caused from misunderstandings. Her work is not always predictable where others are. She offers the opportunity for people to broaden their horizons without shoving thier nose in it. My couple cents worth anyway! Scya-+AT+-aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 12:48:28 -0400 (EDT) From: Gyrfalcon To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Why do YOU read Misty? Message-ID: > Why do YOU read Misty? I'm not really sure but being an avid sci-fi/fantasy fan, I couldn't resist when I saw the trilogy of Arrows books rubberbanded together on the shelf of a used-bookstore. I bought them and immediatly fell in love w/ Velgarth. Immediatly hooked. I can honestly say that I suffer from a slight case of bleeding heart romanticism. But I honestly can say I felt for the characters. Any author that can bring any emotion to the surface through writing is one that I'll keep reading. Oh well, I've rambled enough. Who's next? --Gyrfalcon =======================msowers-+AT+-menger.eecs.stevens-tech.edu=================== Magic still exists. We have only to reach out and touch it, it is a part of the very fabric of the world. When our belief of magic completely dies this universe shall die. Because that magic; Hope, Dreams, Love, Beauty, Wonder, Belief, and Discovery are what make us a people. They are all part of a great Art whose workings are still a mystery but whose applications can be seen every day. If we ever lose the Art mankind shall not last the day. Let the magic that is in us roam free in our work, play, in each other, and most of all in ourselves. Let it roam free or it will die. ============================================================================== ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 46 ********************************