MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 258 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) RE: Companions... a thought by "Sarah A. Elliott" 2) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 257 by rubin-+AT+-cent.com (Korendil) 3) Re: Randal's Illness by MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com 4) Stefen wasn't Chosen by Adrienne York 5) Re: Shavri as MOH by MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com 6) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 257 by Mat Timmerman 7) Misty Filk reviews by Mat Timmerman ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 20:32:46 -0500 From: "Sarah A. Elliott" To: "'mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk'" Subject: RE: Companions... a thought Message-ID: <01BAC0F5.5A111760-+AT+-frosted.donet.com> ------ =_NextPart_000_01BAC0F5.5A1A3F20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello all, this is my first post, so please be lenient..... There has been another incidence of great attraction in ML's books = between two intelligent creatures that are not the same form. I am = thinking of Tre'valen and the Avatar of the Goddess/Dawnfire.... He was = a human, with a human spirit, and she was a vorcel-hawk..avatar..with a = human spirit, and Tre'valen was very much attracted to her... p361 Winds of Change "No matter how his heart might cry to him of how Dawnfire needed him, = and he needed her - he was still a sworn shaman, and owed his loyalty to = her and her purposes." I think that a similiar relationship of attraction could occur between a = companion and a human.... can anyone else see this?? Thanks for your time :) -Sarah ---------- From: Kerry Mealing[SMTP:mealink-+AT+-syd.au.swissbank.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 1995 12:02 AM Subject: Re: Companions... a thought At a stretch, I could [possibly] see a Companion and some-other = intelligent creature falling for each other.. but it's not really remotely possible=20 for three reasons: 1. The other would have to be intelligent. 2. There would have to be physical similarities (for both the mechanics of the act and probably physical attraction).=20 3. Probably most importantly, Companions are spirits.. they have a job to do and a reputation to uphold. They also couldn't speak freely = with their partner about who/what they are. (I know I won't bed someone I don't feel comfortable with and I'm = damn=20 sure Companions, especially mind-speaking ones, would be more noble / = refined / fussy / whathaveyou, than I. =20 ------ =_NextPart_000_01BAC0F5.5A1A3F20 Content-Type: application/ms-tnef Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 eJ8+IjMBAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAENgAQAAgAAAAIAAgABBJAG AGwBAAABAAAADAAAAAMAADADAAAACwAPDgAAAAACAf8PAQAAAGUAAAAAAAAAgSsfpL6jEBmdbgDd AQ9UAgAAAABtZXJjZWRlcy1sYWNrZXlAdmFueWVsLmhlcmFsZC5jby51awBTTVRQAG1lcmNlZGVz LWxhY2tleUB2YW55ZWwuaGVyYWxkLmNvLnVrAAAAAB4AAjABAAAABQAAAFNNVFAAAAAAHgADMAEA AAAkAAAAbWVyY2VkZXMtbGFja2V5QHZhbnllbC5oZXJhbGQuY28udWsAAwAVDAEAAAADAP4PBgAA AB4AATABAAAAJgAAACdtZXJjZWRlcy1sYWNrZXlAdmFueWVsLmhlcmFsZC5jby51aycAAAACAQsw AQAAACkAAABTTVRQOk1FUkNFREVTLUxBQ0tFWUBWQU5ZRUwuSEVSQUxELkNPLlVLAAAAAAMAADkA AAAACwBAOgEAAAACAfYPAQAAAAQAAAAAAAADgU8BCIAHABgAAABJUE0uTWljcm9zb2Z0IE1haWwu Tm90ZQAxCAEEgAEAHAAAAFJFOiBDb21wYW5pb25zLi4uIGEgdGhvdWdodAA2CQEFgAMADgAAAMsH DAACABQAIAAuAAYASAEBIIADAA4AAADLBwwAAgAUAAsALgAGADMBAQmAAQAhAAAARTgxQ0JCMzNF NDJDQ0YxMUFCNjY0NDQ1NTM1NDAwMDAABQcBA5AGABAHAAASAAAACwAjAAAAAAADACYAAAAAAAsA KQAAAAAAAwA2AAAAAABAADkAYKGQPx/BugEeAHAAAQAAABwAAABSRTogQ29tcGFuaW9ucy4uLiBh IHRob3VnaHQAAgFxAAEAAAAWAAAAAbrBHz+QM7sc6SzkEc+rZkRFU1QAAAAAHgAeDAEAAAAFAAAA U01UUAAAAAAeAB8MAQAAABAAAABzYXJhaEBkb25ldC5jb20AAwAGEFSqerQDAAcQ9wQAAB4ACBAB AAAAZQAAAEhFTExPQUxMLFRISVNJU01ZRklSU1RQT1NULFNPUExFQVNFQkVMRU5JRU5UVEhFUkVI QVNCRUVOQU5PVEhFUklOQ0lERU5DRU9GR1JFQVRBVFRSQUNUSU9OSU5NTFNCT09LU0IAAAAAAgEJ EAEAAACYBQAAlAUAAHUJAABMWkZ1uekJLf8ACgEPAhUCqAXrAoMAUALyCQIAY2gKwHNldDI3BgAG wwKDMgPFAgBwckJxEeJzdGVtAoMzdwLkBxMCgH0KgAjPCdk78RYPMjU1AoAKgQ2xC2DgbmcxMDMU UAsKFFGFC/JjAEAgSGVsFaCCIAdAbCwgdGgEAIIgG8FteSBmaRGg2QVAcG8TwBuAcxswC1DkZWER sCBiHZAdUAMAOQnwdC4eUgqFCoVUaH8EkB2QEYAEIB2wCfAbQG6ObxugBJAb4G5jaQ2woyEAHZBv ZiAJwWEFQMkh8HRyANB0aQIgIOGJBdBMJyABb29rIAL8dHcgMiPQGzALgBPQGxD0aWceISAFACHh CHAHkT8boCHyH7EggRuRHZBzYYcHgBxABbBtLiBJG0BSbRuSbmsLgGchglS5FhAndgdAIEEgYWQm k75BKOABkAXAIZEmokcEcIMNsAQQL0Rhd24cUaZlHlIa4SB3H/FhH9B+dQOBG4AD8BugLGYdAHBv HGAtEBuAKVJzJrEsNHaTBbAhYGwtEYB3ax5QfmEp4x5QLQ8uFiioLDJ28wSQHDBtdRFwIhYJgBuQ RxswH5Eef3AzNhrQV20LgGQEICGRQxGAGRBleR6sIk4bMADAAkAgwWi+bwfgG7IfkArABUBtJND+ aCUSHDA0MgdwIYI4cis2/yZQCeANsClwOiEuNCaxO2b9IMEtPFIsMhPAAxADICxw/wPgBbAtsRGA LLMpUjiAO6PrBCAVoHkHQHQ51CDBPCTPNYEIcByxB5AuIh6sJ5D/J+MlxR0AB3ADEAcwBcAWEH8L YCKCLpAFICGCIikFoHXybD9RY2MIcCOnLHAFoH5tCrADACKhKVIsdSuzY/sDkQBweQIgHZAbAB2B EbDzHZAboj8/Hq4AcCOBJzGeIEmARrEigCcBOikerHYtBhAiUGgerAr0JMAxBDgwAtFpLTE0NM8N 8AzQUDMLWTE2CqADYP8T0CJwPTBSVwqHUQsMMFHWOkYDYTpTXlHWDIIgSzsEkDMRTR1gJMAZEFtT ME1UUDoHgFeSa0BIc3lkL/B1LgPjYvVLwS5HgV1S/1QNBmACMBtVP1ZLVwmAO2BzZGE+eRuAN9Ay 8AbQIMEyOSEbgDE5OTVfoDI6MjAR4EFNWh9bLnVizmpSEVxfVktSZWLwCFD/R6VB4CvRLHAboAhg OXFOX09PYzWwUNcaSTxzAwBw3j5gjRpFUdYKhUFDoyJA3xHAEXAbgCeQRiRbHLEAkPkCYHldShMs cGUXLkQDcPxlLSCWJJcKhSU2HEAbUT8oMkwSHWAzYSCTK9Fidf8FQDCQIyEmYiHRGxAcMBYQ/wRg JJEcMG1lHZAKhUwSG6CvCdFz8h0QAIA6CoUxJ3D/H4FypCwgRjMRgDLwNCIdsTskeR6WMnejH7F4 b3Bo/ROwaUkgAyBD4wrAMJAIkP0EIChMEgbgMKEmogeAEXH5AwBjcwqFf3EqRSJhKUPfUdFZgG2x fDgiKCkncAqF+jMncFCAtgRgHIEHcByw+wAgAHB0bcAbgGUYJhMt1N9loSaSHDB4wyxwaoDAfxj9 NDFkGzFIMxYQQXABkCKD/TQxdXxABvBY4B9yHDAHQPMdEUYjbicFQC3QHWBDUP8DUAngdEEwgodp H5AcYBygXzkRO2BA0Qbgc0F3OHAvv45AIfGGcyYhHpZ/cSgnkP5rIIAH4CeQJECLEh2wbyTvSZIn kIgwixJmi9FHcicxzwGRdWEwhClhSScnwF6Q9m0DoH8Yc3FiZRgbgAeQ34tgIRB0IzlQKWAti1Mo M39eYSzhRjMdsQRgJjN1Ui8/lGkWEBxQO2ApcJlQZnX/BBAcMJlQjoJ4wkxRG4IDkf5Jj1kerJ2P np+fr2cfai8LazoVMQCkQAMAEBAAAAAAAwAREAEAAABAAAcw4Jy2UBzBugFAAAgw4Jy2UBzBugEe AD0AAQAAAAUAAABSRTogAAAAAJYp ------ =_NextPart_000_01BAC0F5.5A1A3F20-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 20:47:05 -0600 From: rubin-+AT+-cent.com (Korendil) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 257 Message-ID: > >Though this whole debate raises an interesting question. When the twins >grow up, and Selenay & Daran have died, who becomes Monarch? Do they >both? are they 'queen' and 'king'? And what about their >spouses? What if say, the twins marry nobly born Heralds? Would it be >like in _The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe_? What about those 'co-consorts' in between V&H, and Arrows? Aron and Leesa or something? We haven't heard a thing about them, but could they have been twins? On another topic... Someone mentioned that SUn and Shadow reminded them of Star-Eyed and Vkandis...well, accroding to what we think we know, they were twins...and unless we have a 'Small Gods' like situation, how could THEY have been captured and cursed? On another totally different topic: Someone said that H,H,&H Songbook said that 'A Dark and Stormy Night' might have been written by Leslac... 'Cept, it was in an OLD book...Leslac's song 'Threes' had iirc, just entered Valdemar, and it would have been written BEFORE. Also, how would Leslac become a VALDEMARAN Count?! On Music: I LOVED 'Across the Borders' found 'Surfing To Mecca' a bit iffy, and hat H,H,&H sounded as if it was recorded to CD from a copy of the tape:( I STILL haven't listened to 'Kyla', but the story was some of Misty's worst:( I love the pewter Star of David, and Concordance STILL isn't in:( -+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+-#*-+AT+- Oh Elbereth, watch over me while I play the game of life with fate and destiny... -The Palantir -From Journey of The Dunadan -By Glass Hammer Ubi nihil erit quod scribas, it ipsum scribito Even if you have nothing to write, write and say so. -Cicero -+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: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 20:50:23 -0500 From: MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Randal's Illness Message-ID: <951202205022_123285731-+AT+-emout06.mail.aol.com> snip >> I always thought Randale died of a disease resembling AIDS too. >> Especially as it, along with child abuse, seems to be one of the >> issues Misty likes to address in her books. (Remember Lenny in the >> Di Tregarde books?) >> >Unlikely, I suspect - Doesn't AIDS leave you open to all sorts of secondary >illnesses, which I don't recollect seeing Randale suffering from. There >are a lot of wasting diseases/conditions around, and my bet would be on >something hereditary - there's a quote in storm rising from a surgeon, >taliking about healers - something about "Healers restore the body to its >natural state, which is why only [surgeons] can do anything for congenital >defects" - that would tend to suggest that Randales problem is likely to be >genetic in origin. I tend to rate the magical attack theory as fairly >unlikely, too - There were enough mages around to check for that, and it >seems likely they'd have checked - so I'd rate it "possible but unlikely". >-- > _|_ > / | Jerry Cullingford jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Work) > \_|_ jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk (Home) >\__/ Hemel Hempstead, UK jerry-+AT+-shell.portal.com (alternate) end snip I just reread the parts of the books dealing with Randale's illness. The symptoms do not seem to match with the symptoms of AIDS other than the wasting. The other symptoms were severe pain, mainly in the joints, generalized weakness and malaise, and occasional dizzy spells. I originally thought of cancers but the disease had lasted for about 10 years and while some cancers are indolent they generally don't give you symptoms like these. There are some cancers that are associated with sterility, or actually some things that cause sterility that can lead to cancer. i.e. in the male the testicles are developed in the abdomen and descend down into the scrotum a short while prior to birth. If they do not descend,(which occasionally happens), the male is then sterile because sperm can not develope at body temperature. They need to be at a slightly lower temp. to develope correctly. The problem besides sterility with retained testes is that this men are also at a very high risk of developing testicular cancer. In addition testicular cancer frequently metastisizes to bones causing severe bone pain. This is definitely one possibility. Also as Jerry mentions above the healers have problems with healing genetic problems. Now while we still don't know everything about the pathogenesis of cancer,(sorry, how cancer starts, its hard to get out of the medical mind frame when one gets started,:) :) ) it is thought that many cancers are due to changes in the genes that cause the cells to grow out of control. Healers might have difficulty with this. An autoimmune disease can also cause similar symptoms as others have already pointed out. The only problem is that with those that cause severe joint pain there is usually very severe swelling and redness of the joints, and this is not mentioned as a symptom. That is not to say that it wasn't there but it is not mentioned. AIDS causes breakdown of the immune system, placing the person at risk for opportunistic infections. It is these infections both bacterial and viral that cause the death of the person with AIDS. We do not see these in Randale, so I place this much lower on the list of probabilities. Sorry to go on for so long! Michael Weber MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com "Never try to outstubborn a cat" -Lazarus Long(R.A.Heinlein) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 21:46:35 -0500 (EST) From: Adrienne York To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Stefen wasn't Chosen Message-ID: On Thu, 30 Nov 1995, Heather Mina wrote: > > I think, in fact, that Stefen probably would have made a good Herald, but > was not Chosen for very specific reasons on the part of the Companions. > First, his Bardic status allows him a more anonymous existence than the > oh-please-shoot-me-now whites of the Heralds, so he makes an unobtrusive > fixture in the Court to help Randale. Also, the duty Vanyel leaves him when > he dies probably could not be accomplished by a non-Herald as expediently as > by a "plain old Bard". A Herald-Bard singing the material that Stefen had > to sing would have been far less credible, I think (sour grapes). But I > think it is a great sadness that Stefen could not be Chosen, and I think it > is beautiful that he gets to live with Van and Yfandes in Sorrows forever... > I don't think Stefen would have been Chosen, I think he would have made a very bad Herald. Reason 1: A Herald would never have had the time to change the world through music, like Stef did and Heather alluded too. Reason 2: I never saw any evidence that Stef had the sort of selflessness and devotion to duty that Heralds have. Sure, he spent the rest of his life changing the status of Heralds, but because Van said that was the only way they could be together for eternity. And yes, he sang to help Randale function, but that was because A) it would put him before the Court, B) the Bardic circle commanded him, too, C) he was a Bard, singing was what he did, and D) since he could help Randi without killing himself, he felt like it was a good thing to do. Reason 3: Ethics and Stef had a loose relationship, particularly before he met Vanyel. I don't have LHM, but I vividly remember that discussion on Van's new focus-stone, and I remember that Stef said before knowing Van he would have done any number of unethical things without a second thought. IMO, YMMV. ;];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];] ;] Adrienne York-Minor ;] ;] "I'd like to believe that, but I'm fresh out of optimism." ;] ;] -Princess Jasmine ;] ;] ayork-+AT+-simons-rock.edu ;] ;];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];];] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 23:40:01 -0500 From: MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Shavri as MOH Message-ID: <951202234000_42434060-+AT+-mail04.mail.aol.com> snip >On Fri, 1 Dec 1995, Heather Mina wrote: >> Tammy writes: >> >Are you sure about this? IIRC, Shavri was *not* his consort, simply >> >his lifebonded. I believe that 'consort' implies a legal tie, not an >> >emotional/spiritual one. This is also the reason Jisa was not in line for the >> Often "consort" is taken to mean someone the monarch is in a relationship >> with, but not married to. Now in Valdemar, the monarch can marry somebody, >> but if they are not Chosen, they are considered a consort rather than a ruler. >Are you sure about this? I was under the impression that consort (when >referring to a member of the royal family) meant the non-ruling spouse of >a ruling queen. That is, when a queen marries (and retains the rule), her >spouse is called her consort, rather than her king. This is why Elizabeth >II's husband is Prince Phillip, rather than King Phillip. In RL, this >terminology is only used for the spouses of queens, but in Valdemar, it >seems to be used for both. In any case, it refers to a legal spouse, not >lover/partner/significant other/bedmate/lifebonded/etc. >-jenneke end snip(maybe snup?) >From page 20 of Magic's Price Vanyel is musing to himself "Shavri was if truth were told, entirely unsuited to ruling. I guess we should be just as pleased that she doesn't want Consort status, Vanyel thought, nodding to an early-rising courtier..." This seems to imply to me that there was a special status to being Consort. The capitalization is Misty's not mine. As a chosen Herald if there was a formal bond between Randale and Shavri that would have made her Queen which she and everyone else, correctly, did not want. Just something that I came across looking up Randale's illness. Michael Weber MIKE278485-+AT+-aol.com "Never try to outstubborn a cat" -Lazarus Long(R.A.Heinlein) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Dec 1995 13:12:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 257 Message-ID: <01HYDE1W5Q4O94GLZL-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: rubin-+AT+-cent.com (Korendil) > >> >>Though this whole debate raises an interesting question. When the twins >>grow up, and Selenay & Daran have died, who becomes Monarch? Do they >>both? are they 'queen' and 'king'? And what about their >>spouses? What if say, the twins marry nobly born Heralds? Would it be >>like in _The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe_? > > What about those 'co-consorts' in between V&H, and Arrows? Aron and >Leesa or something? We haven't heard a thing about them, but could they >have been twins? > I'm pretty sure that Arden and Leesa were Roald's parents. > >On another topic... >Someone mentioned that SUn and Shadow reminded them of Star-Eyed and >Vkandis...well, accroding to what we think we know, they were twins...and >unless we have a 'Small Gods' like situation, how could THEY have been >captured and cursed? > Um, since when did we think that the Star-Eyed and Vkandis were twins. Consorts yes, twins no. Speaking of Her, do we actually know a name that describes all of her aspects, aside from just "Her" or "Goddess"? The names we usually hear only describe the Warrior aspect. >From "Oathbreakers" Appendix 1: "Kal'enel (kahl enel) -- the Warrior aspect of the four-faced Goddess, litearally, "Sword of the Stars." Also called Enelve'astre (Star-Eyed) and Da'Gretha (Warrior)." >On another totally different topic: >Someone said that H,H,&H Songbook said that 'A Dark and Stormy Night' might >have been written by Leslac... > 'Cept, it was in an OLD book...Leslac's song 'Threes' had iirc, >just entered Valdemar, and it would have been written BEFORE. Also, how >would Leslac become a VALDEMARAN Count?! Well, didn't Roald marry Leslac off to some Valdemaran noblewoman to get him off of Tarma and Kethry's backs? (not that I think he wrote the song though) Mat accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/ VAX is the source of all evil. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Dec 1995 14:08:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Misty Filk reviews Message-ID: <01HYDGBLB0HU94GLZL-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> Well, I've listened to Heralds, Harpers, & Havok and Shadow Stalker quite a lot since I got them, so I thought I'd do a rating/mini-review thing. Disclaimer -- I don't really know anything about music. These are just based on how I think the songs sound. All IMHO. :) Rating scale: 0-10 (0 worst, 10 best) _Heralds, Harpers, & Havok_ Holderkin Sheep Song -- 8 The lyrics are sort of innane, but I really like the melody. I also think that Margie Butler is a pretty good choice for Talia. Until I bothered to pull out AFall and check the lyrics, it kept sounding like she was saying "li'ha'eer" (Shin'a'in, "by the gods!") when she says "we are here". I knew that the Holderkin would never know that word, but it sounded like that anyway. :) Meetings -- 8 I like this song, but something really bugs me about this and "Sun and Shadow". Why is Kris singing them? I know it says so in the back of AFall, but in the story, it's Dirk singing them. I don't know, but things like that bother me. Kristoph Klover's (did Misty write Kris with him in mind or something?) voice is a little high pitched for my taste though. Threes -- 10 I absolutely love this song. Larry Warner sounds very good in this song. I also love how the guitar sounds. I can't listen to this song without thinking of Tarma's reaction to it. Philosophy -- 9 At first, Dominic Bridwell's voice really got on my nerves. Then, it grew on me. This is one song that sounds much better than I thought it would from reading the lyrics. Her Father's Eyes -- 0 Shudder. That's what this song makes me do. Misty has one of the worst singing voices I've heard. She sings about as well as I do (badly). When she sings, "He tried to steal away my throne...," I seriously wince. I guess Misty wanted to be on at least one album. At least she didn't attempt to be Talia. Could you imagine her on "Sun and Shadow"? Pleease, let her stick to writing the lyrics and books. Dark and Stormy Night -- 6.5 Not too bad. It's a little to monotone for my taste though. And isn't Talia supposed to sing this song? I guess Frak Hayes just wanted to sing more than one song. Healer's Dilemma -- 8 Nice tune. Bill Roper has a pretty good voice. Sun and Shadow -- 8 I guess Dirk was wrong. This song doesn't make me hold my breath, _or_ bore me to tears. I was dissapionted at first, but I've come to like it. I think that it would have sounded much better with Larry Warner singing Sunsinger though. For Talia -- 8 I just like Larry Warner's voice. It's a nice song (lyrics and tune) too. The Face Within -- 6 Ok, not great, but not bad at all. KK's voice grates on me a little though. Laws -- 5 Fair. Not much to say on it though. Musings -- 1 Better that "Her Father's Eyes" but still bad. First Love -- 3 Sorry, just don't really like it. Arrow's Flight -- 8 Margie Butler just fits well as Talia. I really like the chorus. Fundamentals -- 7 Nice, fast paced. Otherlove -- 5 For some reason, this song is never very memorable to me. After Midnight -- 6 Herald's Lament -- 6.5 _Shadow Stalker_ ( this is from memory -- I don't have this one with me) Windrider Unchained -- 10 I love this song. Heather Alexander's voice is amazing. _She_ should have done the Selenay songs on HH&H. Demonsbane -- 9 Catchy tune. Nice story. Was this story mentioned in LHM? (I don't think it's the gretshke inicident from MProimise, unless it's really, really wrong) My Lady's Eyes -- 5 Ok. nothing special. Web of Light -- 7 The Colddrake -- 8 Um, Vanyel didn't use nodes to kill the colddrake. He didn't even know what a node was until he was on his way to find Krebain (Moondances little Gift explanation on Yfandes' back). Shadow Lover -- 9 Very nice. Like someone said a while ago, I expected the tune to be a bit more haunting. Vrondi's Eyes -- 7 Shadow Stalker -- 8 Earth Spirit -- 8 What's a shin'a'in sounding song doing on _Shadow Stalker_? Nightblades -- 6 Hawkbrother -- 8 Magic's Price -- 5 This song is _way_ to upbeat to be Stefen's last tribute to Vanyel. It should be sad. Heather doesn't do a very good Stefen either. Herald's Creed -- 3 The only song on the album that I don't really like. When this song comes on, my family thinks that I'm listening to Church music or something. Quick Takes on _The Oathbound_ and _Oathbreakers_ (haven't listened to them very much yet) Leslie Fish has a truly grating voice. The only song that she sings that I really like so far is "Wind's Four Quarters". I would have liked to have heard more songs sung by Heather Alexander. I'm glad they stuck in Tarma's spirit guide ( a leysha'e Kal'enedral?). Otherwise, Leslie Fish probably would have sang more songs :( Well, that's it. Long winded, aren't I? Any thoughts anyone? Mat accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/ VAX is the source of all evil. ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 258 *********************************