MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 375 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Tarma's voice by winkle-+AT+-imsa.edu 2) Re: Help me find books! by mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (puppies and dragons) 3) Re: darkwind by fearless-+AT+-ix.netcom.com (Chris Berry) 4) Re: BOOKS! and locations by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 5) Re: Literary Criticism...Valdemar style! by STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk> 6) Re: Attention all groups! by STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk> 7) Re: Literary Criticism...Valdemar style! by Catherine Osborne 8) Re: Attention all groups! by Catherine Osborne 9) Re: Attention all groups! by Rosario Holsen-Baker 10) Re: No OBMisty, but please help me out by "Stormcloud" 11) Re: Gender diffs[was Re: bits and pieces] by "Stormcloud" 12) Re: Misty's filk? by "Stormcloud" 13) Re: BOOKS! and locations by "Stormcloud" 14) Re: darkwind by Gyrfalcon 15) Re: Religion by mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (puppies and dragons) 16) Re: Attention all groups! by Tammy Harris 17) Re: Attention all groups! by "Stormcloud" 18) No ObMisty by "Stormcloud" 19) Re: News & Reviews by Heather Watson 20) Re: BOOKS! and locations by Rosario Holsen-Baker 21) Re: BOOKS! and locations by Marissa K Lingen 22) Joining by "Kyshaia, who was Winterwind" 23) Pre- Vows and Honors by Kendall Legg ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 23:11:07 -0600 (CST) From: winkle-+AT+-imsa.edu To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Tarma's voice Message-ID: <199602150511.XAA05463-+AT+-coke.imsa.edu> As I recall, Tarma had always had a harsh voice... the original story is in something like _Sword and Sorceress III_, as I recall, which is an anthology compiled by Marion Zimmer Bradley, correct? Wonderful story.. and I'm still not sure how exactly it happened, but ... read it, and decide for yourself... Libby ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 22:11:08 -0700 (MST) From: mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (puppies and dragons) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Help me find books! Message-ID: <199602150511.WAA25072-+AT+-usr2.primenet.com> At 05:04 AM 2/15/96 GMT, Wallace-+AT+-online.knoxnews.com wrote: >Heyla, all: > >Need your wonderful help AGAIN! Went to local Bookstar yesterday - they >don't even have "In Celebration of Lammas Night" on their >books-about-to-come-out list . . . yech! So, one more time: can anybody >tell me who the d-+AT+-#$ PUBLISHER is? Maybe with that info I can find it! > >Did you notice I was getting frustrated? > >Candace > > The publisher is Baen, the editor is Josepha Sherman, and it says on the spine of the book "Created by Mercedes Lackey". All the stores here (AZ) have it with Misty's stuff, but maybe yours lists it under Sherman. Hope you find it, it's a fun book (if you ignore that pig story, and the one by Gael Baudino What horrid wastes of paper... IMNSHO) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 22:52:50 -0800 From: fearless-+AT+-ix.netcom.com (Chris Berry) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: darkwind Message-ID: <199602150652.WAA12309-+AT+-ix5.ix.netcom.com> You wrote: > >> Becky wrote: >> > Also, Darkwind doesn't have mind-magic, does he? Or would that matter? > >Yvonne Spangler replied: >> Boy do i feel dense now....I didnt even think of that. > >He does have mind-magic. Not as much as we normally see, but he is something >of a mind-speaker, IIRC. Almost all of the hawkbrother mages are. > >--Gyrfalcon In Winds of Change, Wintermoon says that his brother (ie. Darkwind) has the ability to speak with non-humans (the bond birds, the dyheli, and others) but he can speak to humans as well. Darkwind, I think just is not trained the way hearlds are at mind-magic. The reason I think that he was not chosen is because he has his bond-bird. What do you guys and gals think? Fearless ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 11:01:20 GMT From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: BOOKS! and locations Message-ID: <9602151101.AA09568-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Patrick asked: > 1. Is Storm Rising out in paperback yet? > 2. Is Storm Breaking out at all yet? (if so, where have you people seen it?) > 3. Is the Silver Gryphon out? (if so, where have you people seen it?) > 4. Can anyone give me a complete list of all Misty books, Velgarth and > other? > 5. Can anyone tell me who Terry Pratchett is? > 6. Can anyone tell me what the Deeds of Paksenarrion is about? At least three of these are probably general-interest, sooo: 1 & 2) don't know 3) Reportedly out in the US, not yet imported to the UK 4) Try the FAQ (available by ftp from ftp://ftp.herald.co.uk/pub/lists/lackey-archives/lackey_faq.{1,2,3,4,5} Or by mail to listproc-+AT+-herald.co.uk, blank Subject line, message get mercedes-lackey lackey_faq.1 (Change the 1 to whichever part you want. The bibliography is part 3; it's about six months out of date, but as far as I know it is otherwise complete.) 5) Yes. (Kosh-type answer) A British fantasy author, specialising in light and humorous fantasy, well worth a look, although nothing whatever like Misty :) Enjoyed by your friendly listmistress. Loads of information online (alt.fan.pratchett, more Web pages than you can shake a stick at, etc) (more helpful answer) 6) Deed of Paksenarrion is about a young girl who joins a mercenary company, and then finds that she has a different destiny. (Yuck, that sounds _so_ much like formula fantasy. I promise you it isn't.) Can't really give you much more information without getting into major spoiler country, so I won't, but if anyone else thinks they can summarise it ... Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 11:36:30 GMT From: STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk> To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Literary Criticism...Valdemar style! Message-ID: <32E6B965928-+AT+-EXCALIBUR.MMU.AC.UK> thurs 15th Lyn wrote:- > But what I really want to know is why I can sit here and prattle >on about characterization in Mercedes Lackey but William Blake >absolutely baffles me. :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please don't mention Blake. I've just finished a essay entitled:- "Imagination is the soul of art. Discuss. " Dealing with Blake, it was a nightmare. Between some of his poetry and then the "Visionary Heads" pictures, I felt as if someone had trampled on my head. Don't get me wrong I love the work of the Romantics, but if you are not feeling very literery at the time it takes a lot out of you. I see you shiver with antici...pation Lord Jason [OIB] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:02:07 GMT From: STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk> To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Message-ID: <32ED96F0086-+AT+-EXCALIBUR.MMU.AC.UK> Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 11:33:38 GMT Reply-to: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk From: Rynath <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com> To: 95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Stormy wrote: .. .On Tue, Feb 13, Raingcats wrote: .. .> I am a Tayledras Adept looking for a "Clan" to take me .> in. If there are any groups, or "clans", willing to take me in I would be .> eternally grateful. .. .I am also a Tayledras Adept, and a member of the Ones in Black. .While I am not anyone in charge, I would welcome the company. .Perhaps we could trade tales? Anyone have room for an Iftel outcast? Zhai'ha'allav'a! +-------------------------------------------------------------+ |Rynath / "Dear gods-- | | / it's a conspiracy of fools!" | | O)/////I<>=======================================-------- | | \ -- Vanyel from Mercedes Lackey's | |Jake IRL \ _Magic's Promise_ | +----------------102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com-------------------+ "I am not a number! I am a human being!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- We've been wondering about Iftel for many a long year. Come join The Ones In Black and tell us all the stories of your country. I see you shiver with antici...pation Lord Jason[OIB] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 07:42:22 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine Osborne To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Literary Criticism...Valdemar style! Message-ID: On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, Icewolf wrote: > introduces Karal to An'desha, for instance). It's got a much better > "villain," too. What I didn't like about Falconsbane was that he was > a Misty-stock-bad guy: a cruel control freak with a sadistic, twisted > sexuality. In Tremane, we have a bad-guy-who-isn't-a-bad-guy. You'd Whoa! Tremane isn't a bad guy! He's a *misunderstood* guy ;) He's my favorite character in Storms, in fact along with Vanyel, Tylendel, Savil, and Kerowyn, plus Darkwind in the first Mage book and Firesong in the second, he's at the top of my list, period. I like his practicality. I like his toughness. I like his compassion. Although I hadn't quite realized it (I was thinking more of Kero in particular, plus a lot of me, plus some Alexander the Great ;) I modeled quite a bit of Sundancer on him. Now that he's free of the "Empire syndrome" (cryptic reference to SR ;) he'll be even better! He's definitely very well written when compared to Karal, who is becoming so saccarine (sp) as to rival Talia, or Firesong, who doesn't seem to *have* a character anymore. > on about characterization in Mercedes Lackey but William Blake > absolutely baffles me. :) Silly Icewolf. William Blake baffles *everyone*. That's why he's so much fun to read! I\/ Catherine Osborne "Tyger, tyger burning bright I\/ Sundancer In the forest of the night" I cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu --William Blake I http://www.sidwell.edu/~cosborne/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 07:57:25 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine Osborne To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Message-ID: On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, Kendall Legg wrote: > What about me? I'm just a your average warrior! I'd love to join > your cause and fight to make right! I'm pretty good with most > known weapons and even a few unknown ones! Who-hoo! Sounds like prime Sunbolt material! Interested? I\/ Catherine Osborne "After great pain, I\/ Sundancer a formal feeling comes." I cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu --Emily Dickinson I http://www.sidwell.edu/~cosborne/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 08:26:32 -0500 (EST) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Message-ID: On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, Sandra K Haas wrote: > Is it ok that I have a dog instead of a cat? (whole family is allergic to > cats :{) If its ok, point me at the bad guys!! (everybody else might > want to duck just to be safe!!) > The Cat People have long since expanded. We've got dragons, a wolf mages, fighters, and all sorts of things of all shapes and sizes, were-cats, gryphons..... |----------------------------<>------------------------| | See these eyes so green I can stare for a thousand years | | Colder than the moon Well, it's been so long | | And I've been putting out fire with gasoline | | David Bowie__"Cat People" | |--------------------------------------------------------------| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 09:23:03 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: No OBMisty, but please help me out Message-ID: <1315BA02420-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> > On Tue, 13 Feb 1996, Heather Watson wrote: > > Heyla, all. I was lately siezed with a mad yen to edit and publish a > 'zine. I'm very > excited about this project, BUT.... > It occurs to me that I don't know how in heaven's name to go about > this. This is where you all come in.... > Have any of you ever published a 'zine? Know anyone who has? Are > there any resources I could look over that would help me get my > bearings? > Please, if you can contribute any wisdom, from the philosophical to > the deeply practical (the latter preferred), I stand in sore need of it. > E-mail me, or have anyone you know who'd like to give me a hand e-mail > me, at: > R618%nemomus.bitnet-+AT+-academic.nemostate.edu > Or, if you have hard copy for me to take a look at, you can mail it to > me here at school: > Heather Watson > 502 Missouri Hall > Kirksville, MO 63501 > (Re: Endless Frontiers) > > > Zhai'helleva > > HTH I already contacted Heather personally, but then I thought, why the hell am I not making a public announcement (aka an ad) on the list?! I am the editor of a fantasy/ dark fantasy fanzine called Night Songs, which used to be four times a year, but because I am now in university, has to be cut down to one huge issue a year. When I have the pricing info and everything set, I'll tell you all more if you are interested. Also, I will probably be setting up and e-mail mailing list for anyone who is interested. You can e-mail me with submissions or with guideline requests (addy's in the sig) or I can give you my snail-mail addy. E-mail me privately about this if you're interested. Get caught up in the melody! :) -+AT+->--- In the name Stormcloud of the Moon One in Black I'll punish you! Jenna, the Misty maniac jwil3969-+AT+-simcl.stjohns.edu (Note the addy change, everybody!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 09:27:49 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Gender diffs[was Re: bits and pieces] Message-ID: <131700476EF-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> > > On Tue, Feb 13, Adrienne York wrote: > > > > > On Mon, 12 Feb 1996, Kerry Mealing wrote: > > > > > > . There is no evidence that I know of that > > > > indicates a physical (in the sense of brain structure) difference between > > > > or cause of male and female thinking. > > > > > > Just for posterity's sake, testerone actually does increase the size and, > > > i think, change the shape of brain cells. Also, girls who have received > > > abnormally high levels of testosterone before or during birth, w/o > > > receiving enough sorts of chemicals to turn 'em male, show behavior > > > differences which are more similar to a stereotypical "boy" pattern. > > > Now, with this behavior, it might be that their parents *expected* them > > > to act more masculine and so let them.... or something. I dunno. > > > > > > > > > Just to add a little more info that you'll wish you never had, > > injecting moderate-to-high levels of testosterone to female animals > > causes them to become more aggressive. No, this is not a slam, it's > > a fact. No offense is intended! (You'll notice that I made no > > mention of bragging or belching in public. : ) ) > > > > Tammy > > > > "It's time to ask yourself what you believe" > > > > > You must be talking mainly about mamals, as the females of several > >species of insects and arachnids EAT the males! > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > Ladies let's not go getting any ideas now. Hee hee hee hee hee!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 09:31:00 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Misty's filk? Message-ID: <1317E140808-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> > >>>n/o..but I can not STAND her. OR Eng. I thought I'd die when it was only > >>>the two of them, as Ash can vouch. > > i heard eng in person once singing idra's sunhawks. it wasn't intell then > that i realized it wasn't her voice i disliked, but the midi > instraments....yuck...in fact...i even enjoyed misty's singing in person, > and i think her voice on the tapes is by far the most annoying to listen > to.... > > >>> > >You know, thats something I've been wondering for *quite* awhiles, though > >it might be stated...how DID Tarma's voice get wracked? How does having > >you clan wiped out destroy a beautiful voice? > > > screaming to her goddess....can't remember where it said so. > and i think that the best song with fish as tarma are the winds four > quarters and oathbreakers...very powerful.... > > -colette > gjuka-+AT+-cnw.com I agree completely! I think it loses some of that power when Heather Alexander sings it. NOT that she is bad!!!! Not at all-- I happen to adore her voice. But Leslie Fish singing it as Tarma really kind of brings the song as a prayer/ plea to her Goddess home. -+AT+->--- In the name Stormcloud of the Moon One in Black I'll punish you! Jenna, the Misty maniac jwil3969-+AT+-simcl.stjohns.edu (Note the addy change, everybody!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 09:47:23 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: BOOKS! and locations Message-ID: <131C3B7037F-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> > I know these questions were asked before, but I just HAVE to know! And I know someone will jump in before me, but here I am anyway! > 1. Is Storm Rising out in paperback yet? No, it will probably some out in pb the same time Storm Breaking comes out in hc. > 2. Is Storm Breaking out at all yet? (if so, where have you people seen it?) Not in New York City, it isn't! > 3. Is the Silver Gryphon out? (if so, where have you people seen it?) Many people have told me they have seen it, and a few people on this lost have read it. I am going to the mall for proof this weekend. > 4. Can anyone give me a complete list of all Misty books, Velgarth and > other? Hold on. . . . The Last Herald Mage trilogy: Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price. The Heralds of Valdemar: Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall. Vows and Honor: Oathbound, Oathbreakers. By the Sword Mage Winds: Winds of Fate, Winds of Change, Winds of Fury. Mage Wars: Black Gryphon, White Gryphon, Silver Gryphon. Mage Storms: Storm Warning, Storm Rising, Storm Breaking. Bedlam Bards: Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, Summoned to Tourney. SERRAted Edge: Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, Chrome Circle, and damnit there's another one (forgive me, I can't think of the name right now!) Bardic Voices/ Choices: The Lark and the Wren, The Robin and the Kestrel, The Eagle and the Nightingale, A Cast of Corbies. The Fire Rose. Sacred Ground. Di Tregarde investigations: Burning Water, Children of the Night, Jinx High. Wing Commander: Freedom Flight. The Bard's Tale: Castle of Deception, Fortress of Frost and Fire, and again, I can't remember the other one. Tiger Burning Bright. If I Pay Thee Not in Gold. Rediscovery (MZB's Darkover). Elvenbane. Elvenblood. I've probably missed a few-- I mean, I have two bookshelves at home full of her stuff, and mentally scanning it is hard. Someone please correct any errors I made-- I'm doing it all from memory. > 5. Can anyone tell me who Terry Pratchett is? An author who writes humourous, satirical fantasy that I like to read sometimes. > 6. Can anyone tell me what the Deeds of Paksenarrion is about? About a sheepfarmer's daughter who join a band of mercs. I've only read the first book, but I have the entire trilogy out know from the library. It is very gritty, realistic fantasy. > Thats about all I can think of right now. If anyone can answer these, > please do. I guess its your choice whether or not you use private E-Mail > or the list. > > Declan > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > -Wishing he wasn't so > tired of life- > Declan > patw-+AT+-clark.edu > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > -+AT+->--- In the name Stormcloud of the Moon One in Black I'll punish you! Jenna, the Misty maniac jwil3969-+AT+-simcl.stjohns.edu (Note the addy change, everybody!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 10:42:22 -0500 From: Gyrfalcon To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: darkwind Message-ID: <3123545E.1E7A-+AT+-menger.eecs.stevens-tech.edu> Chris Berry wrote: > In Winds of Change, Wintermoon says that his brother (ie. Darkwind) has > the ability to speak with non-humans (the bond birds, the dyheli, and > others) but he can speak to humans as well. Darkwind, I think just is > not trained the way hearlds are at mind-magic. The reason I think that > he was not chosen is because he has his bond-bird. What do you guys and > gals think? I very much doubt that it was Vree that prevented him from being Chosen. Instead I believe that it's that peculiar Tale'dras mindset. He is tied to the land, and thusly it is his first responsibility. Whereas the Heralds are tied to the people of Valdemar. That's their first concern. IIRC Firesong was awestruck at the devestation Ancar unleashed on his lands, not the people. His sorrow for the people came later. That's probably what's keeping any of the Hawkbrothers from being Chosen. --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, 15 Feb 1996 09:30:10 -0700 (MST) From: mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (puppies and dragons) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Religion Message-ID: <199602151630.JAA10974-+AT+-usr2.primenet.com> At 11:55 AM 2/15/96 GMT, Rynath wrote: >The Beckster wrote: > >.Okay, looks like we have enough people to atart a real discussion. >.Everyone who wants to, tell us. So far there's me >. >. >.McCaffrey's White Dragon >.. >. >.Breg >.. >. >.Chonni Brightwolf >. >. >. Who else wants in? Sorry if I forgot anybody. >. >. Lady Becky > > You forgot someone.... me. > >Rynath--102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com. > > And me! (grumble, grumble... It's early here, sorry...) It's Lady 'Reesa, at just so I don't get left out. By the way, lady Becky, I will answer your letter, but My best friend just got here from CA, I have about ten articles of SCA garb left to sew, and we're leaving for Estrella War (last year officially the biggest SCA event:) on Friday afternoon. Oh, and I need to clean the house! It may be after the (madness, large gathering of complete4ly insane people... Oh, wait, that's the MAGE War) before you get the reply, but I have thought about your questions. Lady 'Reesa (Who knows she's rambling, but doesn't give a damn, cause she was up way to early, after staying up WAY to late...) > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 11:38:21 -0500 From: Tammy Harris To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Message-ID: <1F816F40A46-+AT+-medicine.dmed.iupui.edu> On Thurs, Feb 15, Flynn wrote: > What about me? I'm just a your average warrior! I'd love to join > your cause and fight to make right! I'm pretty good with most > known weapons and even a few unknown ones! And Rynath wrote: > Anyone have room for an Iftel outcast? We welcome all who live with honor, be they warrior, mage, cleric, or priest. The Ladies in Green would be honored to have you join us. You are invited to become House Champions of the Ladies in Green (well, we couldn't very well call you 'Ladies', could we?) May Emerald Waters Keep You Lady Tammy Speaker for the Ladies in Green Lady Tammy Speaker for the Ladies in Green "It's time to ask yourself what you believe" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:14:22 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Attention all groups! Message-ID: <134367317DF-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> > Stormcloud wrote: > . > .On Tue, Feb 13, Raingcats wrote: > . > .> I am a Tayledras Adept looking for a "Clan" to take me > .> in. If there are any groups, or "clans", willing to take me in I would be > .> eternally grateful. > . > .I am also a Tayledras Adept, and a member of the Ones in Black. > .While I am not anyone in charge, I would welcome the company. > .Perhaps we could trade tales? > > Anyone have room for an Iftel outcast? > > Zhai'ha'allav'a! > We've been wondering about Iftel for many a long year. Come join > The Ones In Black and tell us all the stories of your country. > > I see you shiver with antici...pation > > Lord Jason[OIB] Let us all trade tales, then. I am an outcast myself, for nothing more than wanting to leave the Vale and offer my skills to those outside. I was not born Tayledras, and I never felt like I belonged there. So I and my menagerie left, never more to be called k'Treva. -+AT+->--- Stormcloud In the name One in Black of the Moon Jenna, the Misty maniac I'll punish you! jwil3969-+AT+-simcl.stjohns.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:31:52 EST From: "Stormcloud" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: No ObMisty Message-ID: <13481B97AE8-+AT+-SIMCL.STJOHNS.EDU> I have a week off from school next week, so to prevent my mailbox from overflowing, I'm going on postpone. If anyone has anything they want to say to me, say it now before I have to go! :) -+AT+->--- Stormcloud In the name One in Black of the Moon Jenna, the Misty maniac I'll punish you! jwil3969-+AT+-simcl.stjohns.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:58:49 CST From: Heather Watson To: Subject: Re: News & Reviews Message-ID: <15FEB96.14018810.0041.MUSIC-+AT+-NEMOMUS> Thanks to everyone who responded offering to help me with my zine. I'm sure I'll be in touch with you guys at the first sign of difficutly -- which shouldn't be too far from now. A lot of people also requested submission information, so I'll go right ahead and post it, on the assumption that a fair number of the folks on this list might be interested. It's going to be called Peregrine, and I need original fiction (ie, not set in Valdemar or wherever): traditional and urban fantasy. I also want music, poetry, and art, and these can have "fannish" themes (ie, be based on someone else's work), but original is also great. I'll be reading most seriously between the beginning of May and the end of July, but if you want to send something to me now, feel free. My address here at school.... Heather Watson 502 Missouri Hall Kirksville, MO 63501 (Re: Endless Frontiers) That address will change at the beginning of May, and I'll keep you up-to-date when I know more about that. Peregrine will also have reviews, book and otherwise, ads, and essays on fantasy-related themes. Anyone who submits anything to me, whether I use it or not, will receive a free copy of the first issue, which will come out at the end of August. Thanks again for the support. Okay, back onto topic. Lyn, thanks for the interesting responses to my statements about characters and so forth. Enjoyed it. But I still have to point out that LHM and By the Sword DID have essential one important character apiece. Bear with me, and I'll attempt to support this. LHM was Vanyel's story (I make an exception for Stefan, but we'll get to him later). I know Lyn liked Savil, but I really think Savil was only important because she was Vanyel's mentor; that was her purpose in the story. She wasn't there because the book was about her; she was there because the book was about Vanyel, and Vanyel needed an authority figure to help him out. Yes, a lot of things were from her point of view, and yes, she was a great character. Secondary character does not mean that she was expendable or uninteresting. It only means that her importance to the plot revolved around the way she affected the central character...Van. As for Tylendal, he was a plot point. Go back and count the number of scenes Tylendal was actually in. He was there so Vanyel could fall in love and get his heart broken, because if Vanyel didn't do those things, there'd be no story. Tylendal's problems would have been mentioned in passing, if at all, had they not had such a massive impact on Vanyel, because otherwise they would have been outside the focus of the story. We didn't know Tyelendal well enough to care about his family problems, except that Vanyel cared. Compare him with Stefan. Stefan was the viewpoint character for so long in Magic's Price that you had a chance to care about him individually, as well as in relationship to Vanyel. He was the only character in that series whose personal happiness and individual needs mattered as much as Vanyel's. By the Sword is an even more striking example. Everything that happened in that book happened because of Kerowyn. Yes, there were other characters there. Tarma and Kethry were there, but only to mentor Kerowyn. Daren was there, but only to relate to Kerowyn. Eldan was definitely only Kerowyn's Love Interest -- again, he's in a very small percentage of the book. By the Sword is Kerowyn's story, 100%, and everyone else is there to affect the course of Kerowyn's story. I didn't like Mage Winds much because I was never sure whose story it was. All right, I admit: I didn't really care. Saving the world was the important thing in that book, and characters came later. If I want that kind of thing, I'll read Robert Jordan, not Mercedes Lackey. (Sorry to all the Robt. Jordan fans who are now going to come screaming at me. I think he's a derivitive hack, and boring as all hell. My Latin book has more drama than the Wheel of Time series.) I like Mage Storms better, but I still miss being able to focus on one really interesting character; I like Karal, but not in that way. The character I REALLY like is An'desha, and I don't think he gets nearly enough screen time. But I haven't read Storm Rising yet (waiting for the paperback version), so maybe that changes. Okay, I'm ready to defend myself against all attackers if necessary. I'm standing behind this one. Oh, and I wouldn't be able to sleep nights if I didn't warn whomever asked about the Deed of Paksennarion. IMO, that trilogy was not just formula fantasy, it was the QUINTESSENCE of formula fantasy. You probably won't notice or mind...unless you've ever played D&D. DARK ELVES WHO LIVE UNDERGROUND AND WORSHIP AN EVIL SPIDER GODDESS? PALADINS WHO CAN CALL LIGHT AND SUMMON A BONDED MOUNT? Gary Gygax ought to sue. This is straight out of the D&D rulebook: I know, because my D&D party includes a renegade Drow elf *and* a paladin (my character, Sir Tom Megarry: Six foot ten in shining plate mail, Damsels Rescued, Scoundrels Soundly Thumped, and Good Works Humbly Performed.) I was furious for days after reading it; I absolutely hate it when authors lift concepts whole cloth. When I shell out for a trilogy, I want it to be something I've never seen before, goddamit. And I hated the main character. She was the most insufferable goody-goody I've ever had the misfortune to become acquainted with in print. Paks is the reason most D&D players can't stand paladins: she's always Right, and she always knows it. But hey, some people really liked the trilogy. Take my warning for what little it may be worth. HTH ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 14:16:05 -0500 (EST) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: BOOKS! and locations Message-ID: On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, Stormcloud wrote: > SERRAted Edge: Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, Chrome Circle, > and damnit there's another one (forgive me, I can't think of the > name right now!) Born To Run > The Bard's Tale: Castle of Deception, Fortress of Frost and Fire, > and again, I can't remember the other one. Prison of Souls. I think that one was with Mark Shepard, but I could be wrong. |----------------------------<>------------------------| | See these eyes so green I can stare for a thousand years | | Colder than the moon Well, it's been so long | | And I've been putting out fire with gasoline | | David Bowie__"Cat People" | |--------------------------------------------------------------| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 13:30:24 -0600 From: Marissa K Lingen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: BOOKS! and locations Message-ID: <199602151930.NAA15642-+AT+-pepperoncini.gac.edu> The SERRAted Edge book Stormy missed was Born To Run (I know, 'cause it was the first urban fantasy I ever read). Morticia ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 14:22:35 EDT From: "Kyshaia, who was Winterwind" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Joining Message-ID: <1844F752AA4-+AT+-pub.sbu.edu> I give in. Here goes nothing ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- She comes riding out of nowhere on a silver-white, blue-eyed stallion, dismounts, and lifts an eyebrow at the assembled groups. Brushing very red hair out of eyes the color of silver smoke, she speaks... "I've been a-watching you for quite a while, you see, and finally have decided I'd like to participate in this little ... contest." "I'm Kyshaia Idaeryn - call me Shaya. I'm a Herald out of Valdemar, with just enough Mindspeach to make myself heard, and Mage- potential I've never trained. I'm also a Firestarter - fully trained." "I don't *do* swords, but you'll see few better archers, and I'm pretty handy with throwing knives - and I'm sneaky." She puts a hand on the Companion's neck. "Where I go, so goes Tynan - but if we don't like the cause we find ourselves in, we won't stay." "Well? Who'll have me --- and why do you think I should join you?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jill (who was Winterwind) "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - "Hamlet," Act 1.5, lines 175-176. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 14:41:13 -0500 From: Kendall Legg To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Pre- Vows and Honors Message-ID: <199602151941.OAA00279-+AT+-mail.datasys.net> Hey, I've got a question: At the beginning of The Oathbound, there's a note saying that everything up to that point took place in another book. WHat was it and who wrote it? I NEED t find it! Thanks!!! FLYNN ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 375 *********************************