MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 82 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers by Gyrfalcon 2) Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 3) more about search script by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 4) RE: newspapers by EBM 5) Magic by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 6) Re: Disabilities in Velgarth by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 7) Re: Disabilities in Velgarth by "Jennifer S. Broekman" 8) Printing Presses by RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com 9) Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers by steph-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu (Stephanie Wukovitz) 10) Ordinary people by Vivian Choh 11) Re: UK Lackey list meeting by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 12) Re: The ordinary people by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 13) Re: The ordinary people by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 14) Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers by URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com 15) Re: The ordinary people by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 16) Re: The ordinary people -Reply by Ian MacDonald 17) Re: Ordinary people by Gyrfalcon 18) Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers by "Otavia M. Propper" 19) Requirements to be chosen by Ilta Tuulia Adler 20) Re: The ordinary people by "Susan R. Dewey" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:40:22 -0400 (EDT) From: Gyrfalcon To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers Message-ID: >Hmm. I suppose that the book Talia was reading could be circumstancial >evidence of the existance of printing presses somewhere offstage - If >books were still hand copied, then (a) I'd expect to see scriptoria >somewhere to produce them, and (b) I'd expect books to be much rarer - >and far more expensive - Don't the Blues use alot of paper in S.W.? That at least suggests that there are papermills in Velgarth, there are probally printing presses in some of the more southern countries. Like Rethwellan, or even Hardorn (pre Ancar), where there were printing presses. After all wasn't it mentioned in V&H that nobody knew too much about Valdemar? It is possible that the werb't able to get such a press over the comb and the printers, and their daemons, (computer pun intended) had enough custom to make it worthwhile. After all Traders travel everywhere, so books, which would be cheap, say in Rethwellan, would turn a nice profit in Valdemar. my .002 cents, (My opinions just aren't worth that much anymore.) --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. ============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:50:28 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers Message-ID: <199507191950.PAA25222-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> Jerry Cullingford wrote: >Starwolf wrote: >> Wasn't one of Randale's inovations that every child should be taught >> to read so that they don't become prey to every wild rumor brought >> by a trader? If that's been kept up, why are there no printing >> presses, or at least some news sheets or something? Missives of >> some sort? One clue that the practice is kept up might be that >> Talia's brothers were taught to read, although she was only taught >> because of her brother's insistence and father's indulgence. >Hmm. I suppose that the book Talia was reading could be circumstancial >evidence of the existance of printing presses somewhere offstage - If >books were still hand copied, then (a) I'd expect to see scriptoria >somewhere to produce them, and (b) I'd expect books to be much rarer - >and far more expensive - Libraries are one thing, but they'd probably >be too rare for them to be available to children. >But we don't have much evidence either way - I think some of the old >chronicles are described as being hand written, but they're more like >one-off official documents, rather than mass circulation stuff, so it's >unlikely they'd be printed anyway. Well, we have evidence for printers. In _Arrow's Flight_, Dirk's circuit ran through the region of the country which housed most of the printers and publishers and music houses of the country, whichh is why he could get all of the (printed) sheet music he sent to Talia and Kris cheaply enough to make it and postage worthwhile. -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: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 20:48:26 +0100 From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey Subject: more about search script Message-ID: <9507191948.AA11102-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> As it stands, the search script will work on ONE keyword (and will break on more than one). You ight get multiple keywords in v1.1, and you might not.... Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 12:42:11 -0600 From: EBM To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: RE: newspapers Message-ID: <01HT2BXRGF7M9BXKR5-+AT+-SKISAS.USask.CA> Time to delurk again **Much stuff about mandatory reading, Talia's books etc snipped for brevity** >But we don't have much evidence either way - I think some of the old >chronicles are described as being hand written, but they're more like >one-off official documents, rather than mass circulation stuff, so it's >unlikely they'd be printed anyway. I have to disagree, aren't some of the songs that Dirk sends to Talia by way of Kris done on printing presses and the fact that he is in the area where alot of the printing is done makes them cheap to buy. This leads me to suspect one of the problems with newspapers might be cost. Assuming that newsprint hasn't been invented yet. Motors are an idea (Natoli's goal to build engines) so that might add to the problem in a minor way. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:01:23 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Magic Message-ID: <950719150123.20606533-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> >>Thinking about it, I haven't seen many fantasy societies where magic can >>do the sort of micro-level things which would be needed to fix chromosomal >>defects. Um, let's see. >> >> >Mel: >The one series I can think of id MZB's Darkover because their crystals >allowed them to see down to the genetic level. >Scya Then how would you explain what Ma'ar did? How about what the Shina'in do with horses and the Tayledras bondbirds? Certainly they are doing more than just good husbandry, they are altering the birds and horses genetically. How about Geyr's Pelagir dogs? I've always assumed that the magic of Velgarth can *change* things, not just adjust them. Make something completely different from the original. How about the thing that killed Sayvil? It was a construct. What is a construct but a created being. And then there's the Gryphons. Sure, they are bred to be the size etc that they become, from the size of Kechera, but they are clearly an engineered species. Magically engineered. StarWolf (who after writing this realizes she's spent a little too much time in Velgarth! How did I remember all those bloody names?) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:06:34 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Disabilities in Velgarth Message-ID: <950719150634.20606533-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> Thank you Sandi! I was starting to feel like a real slime for saying that some are just unsuited to be Heralds. You've expressed exactly what I was trying to say about what's required to be a Herald. A caring heart, an able mind, a sound body. I was not trying to be insulting to anyone, simply trying to express what I felt the requirements of Heraldry are. Obviously we each bring different things to the books we read, and take away different views. That's what this list is about after all (other than exchanging Dyheli Chocolate Recipes of course ). Exchanging our views on (one of) our fave authors world(s). StarWolf ------------------------------------------------------------------- While I agree that people with Down's Syndrome are kind and caring people, and sometimes have an empathic insight into other's emotional motives, they do have to deal with physical disabilities which would interfere with one of the major requirements for Heralds--to be able to defend themselves and others. One of the responsibilities of a Herald, remember, is to "serve as a war-leader in times of need." That means not only the ability to hack at someone with a sword (and usually win) but also a grasp of tactics and strategy, at least enough to be able to defeat the kind of bandits that prey on border towns. Another thing is--Valdemar simply can't afford to have Heralds who, by their nature, are unsuited for working outside of Haven. The only Heralds who stay at Haven are either retired, teaching, filling special posts (like Kyril, Elcarth and Talia) or have been bound to Haven by special circumstances--like Skif was when Cymry became pregnant. All other Heralds ride circuit, do relay work,go on special covert missions, or are special messengers. Any of the Heralds at Haven who are not retired could fill in in any of those spots if there was need, and any of them could go to war; including, I'd be willing to bet, Rubrik, the half-crippled Herald from Storm Warning. All Heralds start out being capable, both physically and mentally, whatever comes later. They have to be able to read other people, and most important, they have to be able to think and make decisions independently, so they can't be used or influenced by others. Remember, not all Heralds can perform the second-stage Truth Spell, and it only works when someone actually knows the truth. In all other cases, the Heralds have to rely on their brains and their instincts, so both have to be pretty good. I'll get off my soapbox now--it's someone else's turn. ~Sandi~ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 18:23:13 -0400 From: "Jennifer S. Broekman" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Disabilities in Velgarth Message-ID: <199507192223.SAA25527-+AT+-sparky.phast.umass.edu> Scya wrote: >Mel wrote: >>Thinking about it, I haven't seen many fantasy societies where magic can >>do the sort of micro-level things which would be needed to fix chromosomal >>defects. Um, let's see. >The one series I can think of id MZB's Darkover because their crystals >allowed them to see down to the genetic level. Ah, but Darkover is science fiction, not fantasy.:-) -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: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 16:07:56 -0600 (MDT) From: RUNDLE-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Printing Presses Message-ID: <950719160756.20606533-+AT+-wilma.bcasd.az.honeywell.com> I thought that Dirk was in the area of the country where scrolls/manuscripts are *copied*. Remember how each copy was individually bound? I'll have to go back and look at that passage, see what it says. As far as the Blues using paper... I dunno. It sounds accurate. And the manuscripts Dirk sends are bound paper. So there must be some form of paper processing done, even if no printing presses exist (which we are not sure of :) Hmm. It's amazing what new things you "see" in a book after discussing it for a while. StarWolf ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 95 16:44:38 -0700 From: steph-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu (Stephanie Wukovitz) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers Message-ID: <9507192344.AA01890-+AT+-escher.mbi.ucla.edu> Hmmmm...re: printing presses in Valdemar...I seem to remember something in Arrow's Flight about Talia and Kris getting lots of music from Dirk because he was stationed in the sector where a lot of printing was done and so books/music were cheap there... Don't have the book here though... -Stephanie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 20:05:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Vivian Choh To: Mercedes Lackey mailing list Subject: Ordinary people Message-ID: Hi all, In response to the posts/thread re: the story of the "ordinary" people, I think that I agree with the assessment that most stories are cannot be too interesting if something extraordinary does not occur...but I think that at the same time, the fact that the story is being told MAKES it extraordinary. (Does this make sense to anyone? Is the sentence logically constructed?). Each ordinary person is unique in a tiny way, but it seems to me that when telling the story about someone, the uniqueness (is that a word?) gets expanded, I would say either as the basis for all the extraordinary things that start to happen to the hero/ine or as the basis for being able to resolve the conflicts which happens to the protagonist. After all, isn't Talia just a normal, ordinary Holderkin girl until Rolan chooses her? Isn't Eldan actually quite an ordinary character apart from the fact that he is a Herald? What happens if you replace the heros and heroines with an "ordinary" person? Wouldn't he or she try to deal with the situation as best as he/she can, and if the situation is resolvable, wouldn't it be through some inner personality quirk or inner strength? Sorry I went on and on. I'm not sure that I got my idea across correctly. Does it make any sense? Sitting at the computer, braced for flames, comments etc... Vivian Choh bi189-+AT+-torfree.net v.choh-+AT+-utoronto.ca "I am all that I claim to be. I simply have not claimed all that I am." - M. Lackey, "Oathbreakers" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:20:38 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: UK Lackey list meeting Message-ID: <950719231746_118729097-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-07-19 04:47:33 EDT, you write: >> > body hitting a keyboard. "Good thing we had darts", one of the white >> coated men said to the other as they dragged Gyrfalcon's body from the >> terminal.> > > ^^^^^^^ > >I like it, you should use it for your signature !! >If you aren't going to use it can I have it? > > Looks like something else has been started! Matt ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >From our freedom, we produce diversity, and from our diversity we gain strength to overcome our problem. -- Seanator Alan Cranston. Let's stop treating the earth like an ashtray. -- Bette Midler. Why are some people so miserable in their own lives that they must try to control mine? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >> Harrisburg, PA Gay Pride Festival. July 30, 1995. Resivoir Park << ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:18:19 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The ordinary people Message-ID: <950719231810_36575998-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-07-19 12:59:54 EDT, you write: >I don't think one would have to leave the Heralds out entirely in >order to focus on 'ordinary' people. Misty could, for example, tell >us more about life in Haven by using the POV of a shopkeeper, say the >owner of the Compass Rose. Heralds wouldn't be absent entirely, but >the perspective would be different and we'd learn different things. > >>I think, if one found a problem major enough to be interesting to the >reader, >>then the chances of it requiring Heraldic intervention are very good. About >>the only way you could avoid it would be to have the Heralds specifically >>not aid the people with the problem, which would be a major glitch in the >>standard Valdemar background. Of course, you could hang a very good story >>on Heralds _not_ helping people in need, for some particular reason, but I >>somehow don't think Misty would go for it. :) > >I don't think Heraldic intervention requires a Heraldic focus. It >might be quite interesting to watch Heraldic doings through the eyes >of a commoner non-Herald. _Storm Warning_ intimately involves >Heralds, but the focus is on two non-Heralds, though they're hardly >commoners anymore. I'd like to hear, for example, the story of Dirk's >Choosing through one of his sisters' eyes, or the story of Talia's >disappearance through the eyes of one of her half-siblings. I found >the bits of Stefen's story before he was picked up by a Bard >fascinating, maybe we could hear about Neave's journey from that >horrible bar to being Chosen. In all of these, Heralds aren't absent, >but they aren't the nearly sole focus, either. > > Thank you jenneke, that was part of my point, not that I want to steal you lime light... Matt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:22:39 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The ordinary people Message-ID: <950719232134_36575941-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-07-19 07:50:45 EDT, you write: >It's not _quite_ the same thread, so I'll chuck in my 2p. > >The problem with writing stories or novels is that you have to have something >for the story to focus on, whether it be a major event, or extraordinary >people, or a combination of the two. A story about the ordinary life of an >ordinary person just wouldn't be that interesting to read. I know that there >are events in everyone's lives which stand out, so if you wanted to write >a story about an "everyday" person in Valdemar you would need to focus on >such an event. > >The second problem is that most of that which makes Valdemar Valdemar is >centred on the Heralds. Take out the Heralds and their companions, and you >are >left with a medievally-inspired state which is not all that distinguishable >from the "standard" fantasy state. (I'm thinking of Valdemar specifically >here, >rather than wider Velgarth; it is obviously possible to write stories >set in Velgarth which don't involve the Heralds, and Lackey's done so several >times, but there have been other "hooks" to clue you in as to the >background). > >So, let's suppose we want to write about an ordinary Valdemar citizen, and >some problem which they overcome. And let's suppose further that we want to >write this book without involving Heralds as characters. > >I think, if one found a problem major enough to be interesting to the reader, >then the chances of it requiring Heraldic intervention are very good. About >the only way you could avoid it would be to have the Heralds specifically >not aid the people with the problem, which would be a major glitch in the >standard Valdemar background. Of course, you could hang a very good story >on Heralds _not_ helping people in need, for some particular reason, but I >somehow don't think Misty would go for it. :) > >5p worth at least. :) > >Cheers > >Mel. > > At this point in time of the day and week, I can't even think of an argument. I think that I was onto something when I wrote that but now I can't think of what it was. So..........long week already and I am sure that it will get longer with only 2 days to go. Matt ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >From our freedom, we produce diversity, and from our diversity we gain strength to overcome our problem. -- Senator Alan Cranston. Let's stop treating the earth like an ashtray. -- Bette Midler. Why are some people so miserable in their own lives that they must try to control mine? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>JULY 30, 1995. GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL, HARRISBUEG, PA << ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 23:22:44 -0400 From: URAMESS-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers Message-ID: <950719232143_36576085-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 95-07-19 14:59:29 EDT, you write: >Hmm. I suppose that the book Talia was reading could be circumstancial >evidence of the existance of printing presses somewhere offstage - If >books were still hand copied, then (a) I'd expect to see scriptoria >somewhere to produce them, and (b) I'd expect books to be much rarer - >and far more expensive - Libraries are one thing, but they'd probably >be too rare for them to be available to children. > >But we don't have much evidence either way - I think some of the old >chronicles are described as being hand written, but they're more like >one-off official documents, rather than mass circulation stuff, so it's >unlikely they'd be printed anyway. > >-Jerry Not to mention being kept at Haven so that they would not be accessible to everyone. Matt ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >From our freedom, we produce diversity, and from our diversity we gain strength to overcome our problem. -- Senator Alan Cranston. Let's stop treating the earth like and ashtray. -- Bette Midler. Why are some people so miserable in their own lives that they must try to control mine? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >> Harrisburg, PA Gay Pride Festival July 30, 1995. << ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 08:41:16 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The ordinary people Message-ID: <9507200841.AA17882-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> I suspect you _could_ do a good story without involving heralds - or at least, without involving them too much. I assume that in the same way the companions prefer the heralds to do as much as possible themselves, the same is probably true with the heralds and the general populace - The heralds are there to help out when needed, but would encourage to people to cope with things themselves when possible and sensible - and then there's the regular army, too. So you could probably do a nice story about some situation where either the heralds don't get involved, or are injured near the start, or can't get there in time, or whatever - presumably the Web wouldn't kick in and send more if the locals were able to handle it. Or maybe a pre-choosing story - after all, a new herald who's managed to cope with a situation *before* being chosen is probably going to be more self-confident. -- _|_ / | 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: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 11:13:37 +0000 From: Ian MacDonald To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The ordinary people -Reply Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I suspect you _could_ do a good story without involving heralds - I know what you are thinking of, but remember that we already have By the Sword, Oathbound/Breaker Which are not herald related. These give you a bit more insite into the world. But do you really want a story that just talks about ordinary people. For a story to work you have to have something exciting or interesting going. At which point you have a hero/heroina and you start loosing sight of the 'ordinary' people Just my 5p worth Ian Macdonald-+AT+-work ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 06:38:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Gyrfalcon To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Ordinary people Message-ID: >After all, isn't Talia just a normal, ordinary Holderkin girl until >Rolan chooses her? No, actually, IIRC Talia was a misfit to the holderkin. And was constantly being punished for it. --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. ============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 08:44:41 -0400 (EDT) From: "Otavia M. Propper" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Blues, ordinary folk, and newspapers Message-ID: > Hmm. I suppose that the book Talia was reading could be circumstancial > evidence of the existance of printing presses somewhere offstage - If > books were still hand copied, then (a) I'd expect to see scriptoria > somewhere to produce them, and (b) I'd expect books to be much rarer - > and far more expensive - Libraries are one thing, but they'd probably > be too rare for them to be available to children. > > But we don't have much evidence either way - I think some of the old > chronicles are described as being hand written, but they're more like > one-off official documents, rather than mass circulation stuff, so it's > unlikely they'd be printed anyway. Well, actually, we do have evidence of printing presses. In the second Talia book, when Kris and Talia get their packets, Talia gets loads of stuff from Dirk and Kris says Dirk was in the Sector containing most of the country's printing presses. So we know they exist. Otavia ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 14:10:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Ilta Tuulia Adler To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Requirements to be chosen Message-ID: In my opinion........ There are many handicaps which should keep people from being chosen, like having no 'special' powers, like mindspeak. I would think some physical and mental disabilities would also keep poeple from being chosen. After all, Heralds are there for a specific purpose and have a job to do and if that means they can't let poeple with disabilities be chosen. Of course I see no reason why someone with Downs Syndrome or who is blind could not be a healer, or a Bard, and I could see someone who might be mute still being an excelent Herald. At one time I wanted to play Basketball, but I just wasn't made to be a sports jock, (and of course I'm female) but that didn't mean I can't do and be good at other things. Actually I was lucky and found something else I was good at enjoyed. My point is that there is no reason why the same thing couldn't work in Valdemar. Ilta -------------------------------------------------------------- Mushrooms taste good on burgers, but they won't raise the dead -------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 15:20:07 -0400 (EDT) From: "Susan R. Dewey" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The ordinary people Message-ID: On story lines about ordinary people: Something special needs to be found about non-socially elite people in order for the story to be interesting. HOWEVER, since magic has been allowed to come back to valdemar it seems that there could be some interesting stories as people get used to small household magics (fire starting, fetching, finding) and things that would have been suppressed before because they felt uncomfortable. Imagine the upheaval in our society of suddenly color was absent, or some heretofore unknown sense suddenly was gifted. This would affect grassroots sort of people in interesting ways. I think of the kids' story "The Great Blueness" by I don't know whom. Susan ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 82 ********************************