MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 444

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Re: Kris
	by "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
  2) re:Companion-names 
	by "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
  3) Re: Astrology on Velgarth
	by Birgit Hanel <bhanel-+AT+-ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
  4) Star-Eyed
	by Chelsea Amberle Fischer <caf0001-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>
  5) Booklovers, was Re: Women's Lit
	by George of the Jungle <recary-+AT+-phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
  6) rehashing Talia's gifts
	by Birgit Hanel <bhanel-+AT+-ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
  7) Re: 3-fold Goddesses
	by The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
  8) poll
	by Tammy Harris <TAMARAH-+AT+-medicine.dmed.iupui.edu>
  9) Re: Women's Lit
	by The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
 10) Re: Order of reading books
	by Tensen <tensen-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>
 11) Re: Beauty
	by Tensen <tensen-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>
 12) Re: Dragons
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 13) Re: Companion-names
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 14) Re: Order of Reading Books
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 15) Re: ObMisty
	by mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (Lady  'Reesa  And  Tina)
 16) Re: What if?
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 17) Re: Women's Lit
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 18) Re: Velgarth (Got it right this time!)
	by "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
 19) Re: Random (I think :)
	by Korendil <korendil-+AT+-icubed.net>
 20) re:Companion-names
	by The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
 21) Re: Companion-names
	by Heather Watson <R618%NEMOMUS.bitnet-+AT+-ACADEMIC.NEMOSTATE.EDU>
 22) Re: Really dumb question
	by Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
 23) Re: Gate of Darkness.. (Spoilers) (Was re: David...)
	by Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
 24) Katherine Kerr (was Re: Series v. stand-alone)
	by Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
 25) Re: Dirk
	by Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
 26) Re: Stand-alones
	by Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:22:10 EST
From: "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Kris
Message-ID: <5553F591CDB-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>

Susanna,
    Very much so!  I keep several of them in a special place in my 
heart and look them up on especially bad days.  That's probably why I 
two copies of several books, with one usually worn to shreds.
amy

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:23:31 EST
From: "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: re:Companion-names 
Message-ID: <55544FD3A80-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>


> > I thought of changing the vowel, came up with Skof - whereupon my brain
> > leapt to Scrofulous - is that a real word, I _think_ it is, with a somewhat
> > unpleasant meaning?
Sofula/Scrofulous-n. <scrof- a sow>  tuberculosis of the lymph 
glands, especially of the neck, with enlargement of the glands;
king's evil.
-Free Bard Oriole

Bright stars, no!! I'm having microbiology flashbacks!!
amy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're SO nice! You're not good, you're not 
bad, you're just NICE! I'm not nice I'm not 
good, I'm just RIGHT!..."
       -The Witch from "Into The Woods"
         (written by Stephen Sondheim)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 18:25:00 +0100 (CET)
From: Birgit Hanel <bhanel-+AT+-ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Astrology on Velgarth
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.960329181945.16053A-100000-+AT+-aixterm4.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>

On Fri, 29 Mar 1996 JWSCHM00-+AT+-UKCC.uky.edu wrote:

> Quick note replying to something someone said (can't quote with
> this editor--that I know of).
> 
> Didn't Jadrek pose as an astrologer when Kethry, Tarma and he
> were plotting Char's downfall?
> 
> Mistfox
> 
IIRC his disguise was that of a fortune cookie, errr fortune teller; 
sorry, my back hurts so much it makes remembering the vocabulary rather 
difficult.
Well, astrology could have been a part of it (dunno, me-+AT+-URZ, books-+AT+-home).

Khenta Blaufalk
aka the yet nameless Dragonlady




------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:39:20 -0600 (CST)
From: Chelsea Amberle Fischer <caf0001-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>
To: Mercedes Lackey mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Star-Eyed
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960329113312.29725C-100000-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>


OK, since the topic of the Star-Eyed has come up, along with 
astronomy/astrology/etc., I *have* to ask about something that I've been 
curious about ever since _Winds_.... OK.... the Star-Eyed's avatars have, 
as the name implies, fields of stars where one would expect to see eyes, 
yes?? Yes.  So... 

does each avatar have their own distinctive field of stars (kinda like 
a fingerprint)?
OR 
do they all have the same one, since they're all aspects of *the* Star-Eyed?
OR 
does each avatar's field of stars appear to change over time, like the 
stars we see from a particular place seem to change if we watch long enough?
OR
does the field of stars visible in each avatar's eyes change according to 
their location on/above the earth?

Someone PLEASE help me!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Ok, Ok... so I have too much free time for stuff like this.... so sue 
me :)


			---Chelsea 

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:21:46 -0500 (EST)
From: George of the Jungle <recary-+AT+-phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Booklovers, was Re: Women's Lit
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960329131933.20106A-100000-+AT+-tucson.princeton.edu>

On Fri, 29 Mar 1996 dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl wrote:

> I have hundreds of books, and very few are single reads only - hell I can
> do an Arrows in an evening, without stretching - a Winds requires a total
> shut out of husband/chores/telly/conversation, but it's do-able - I need
> books, lots of books, shelves and shelves of books. Does anyone out there
> "read" their bookshelves? If I've 10 minutes to kill with a coffe, I just
> take up station in front of my book-wall, and browse - I like to know
> where they all are, remind myself of what's there - some people commune 
> with nature, I commune with my books!
> 
> whoof, shuttit EE, there's work awaiting,
> 
> tot ziens
> Esmeralda Evensbane
> (unaffiliated)
> 

Yes! Yes! At last, vindication! I am not a freak! Or, at least, if I am, 
I am not the only one of my kind. I reread every book I own, and I own 
lots. (4 sets of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves at last count.) 

A dedicated bibliophile,

Becky

----------
With my luck, the entrance exam to Heaven will have logarithms on it.



------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 19:32:02 +0100 (CET)
From: Birgit Hanel <bhanel-+AT+-ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
To: Misty Mailingliste <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: rehashing Talia's gifts
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.960329191904.16053D-100000-+AT+-aixterm4.urz.uni-heidelberg.de>

This was bothering me for some time and I can't remember if it was 
discussed on the list, so please forgive me if I'm starting it 
over agaaaiiin <assumed groans>.

Rolan talked to Talia when he chose her and made her forget the fact 
afterwards (for some obscure, Companion-like reasons <g>).
So we read that Talia has no direct Mindspeech, but how did Rolan tell her 
about Elspeth's progress in learning magic (WoChange)? IIRC Gwena told Rolan 
who told Talia who told Selenay. How's that supposed to work if Talia 
cannot "talk" to Rolan?

Somewhat confused

Khenta Blaufalk
aka the yet nameless Dragonlady



------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:38:44 -0500 (EST)
From: The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: 3-fold Goddesses
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960329133157.1524A-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

On Fri, 29 Mar 1996 Susan5683-+AT+-aol.com wrote:

> ISIS who actually handles some of all three aspects
> Sekhmet
> and i do apologise will look up third


AAAAaaaagh!  Just because a pantheon has 3 (or more) Goddesses doesn't 
mean they were all viewed as aspects of the same Goddess.  Could we 
possibly *be* any more monotheist!?! (very best Chandler impression).  
Sekhment was a lioness goddess of IIRC war and killing.  I don't think 
that she was an avatar of Isis.  In fact, I think that Sekhmet may have 
been conflated with Bast (or Pasht, however you want to spellit).  Isis, 
on the other hand did absorb the Hathor cult, so that eventually, Hathor 
was seen as another form of Isis (this was how the Hathor/Isis cult got 
to Rome).


May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit,

Cennydd,

Mage of the Green Silences.

Eu guardo a luz das estrelas
a alma de cada folha
Sem folhas nao tem vida,
Sem folhas nao tem nada,
Salve as folhas!

Kenneth Allen Hyde     |  No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife
Univ. of Delaware      |  between the shoulder blades will seriously
Dept. of Linguistics   |  cramp his style  -- Old Jhereg proverb
kenny-+AT+-strauss.udel.edu |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:39:55 -0500
From: Tammy Harris <TAMARAH-+AT+-medicine.dmed.iupui.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: poll
Message-ID: <6FA09A1EE0-+AT+-medicine.dmed.iupui.edu>

Heyla, all!

In case some of you were wondering, I haven't forgotten.  Things just 
got crazy.  So, there's still time to respond!

If you're interested, send me your ages and where you live.  I'll 
post the results next week (I promise!).

Wind to thy Wings,
Tammy

"It's time to ask yourself what you believe"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:48:33 -0500 (EST)
From: The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Women's Lit
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960329134130.1524B-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

On Fri, 29 Mar 1996 Susan5683-+AT+-aol.com wrote:

 
> i don't  see the need to lable books at all, that is a waste of time
> 

Well, if you didn't label books, we would all be searching for the 
Valdemar books in amoungst the Romance novels and Computer Manuals.  
Labeling is good.  Labeling is our friend.

The Peril of Improper Labelling: a Cautionary tale.
By Nicole Hollander (liberally adapted by me).

MadScientist: Quick! Igor!  The monster is escaping.  Hand me my laser!

Igor: Yes, Master.  Now where did I put it! I think that it was over 
near the cuisinart.

MS: Aaahgh!  Try looking under "l"!

I: Master, you know how I feel about labeling!  It is wrong and promotes 
stereotypes!

MS: *bloodcurdling scream*

Monster:  yum, yum.  *burp*


May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit,

Cennydd,

Mage of the Green Silences.

Eu guardo a luz das estrelas
a alma de cada folha
Sem folhas nao tem vida,
Sem folhas nao tem nada,
Salve as folhas!

Kenneth Allen Hyde     |  No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife
Univ. of Delaware      |  between the shoulder blades will seriously
Dept. of Linguistics   |  cramp his style  -- Old Jhereg proverb
kenny-+AT+-strauss.udel.edu |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 15:36:32 +0000 (GMT)
From: Tensen <tensen-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Order of reading books
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960329153527.26726A-100000-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>


> I'd agree that when one "book" is chopped up to create a series then it's
> totally out of order. However, series where each book is mainly self contained
> are another matter. I particularly like those series where the only common
> thread is the characters. Like Simon Green's "Hawke & Fisher" books.
> 

Yes, its a good thing that Hawke & Fisher can stand alone, because it 
took me the longest time even to find a second book in that series.


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 15:42:40 +0000 (GMT)
From: Tensen <tensen-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Beauty
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.960329154122.26726B-100000-+AT+-crow.cybercomm.net>



On Wed, 27 Mar 1996, George of the Jungle wrote:

> Note to anyone in the New Jersey/NYC area:
> Princeton Public Library has both McKinley's Beauty and the first THREE 
> editions of S&S!!!!! <---look 5!
> If you are from the general area, you can probably get them on 
> interlibrary loan. If you live close enough to drive, you can probably 
> get a library card. In either case, you'll have to wait a while.... I 
> have them and am _not_ giving them back just yet.
> 

Actually if you live in NJ and plan to get your library to interlibrary 
loan, have them attempt someplace else before Pricenton, because they 
don't tend to respond the loan inquiries very frequently.


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 15:46:20 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Dragons
Message-ID: <960329204619_102744.2515_GHT68-3-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

Khenta wrote:

.What is a congressional sub-committee?

In the U.S. Government--it's a type of committee formed (if I remember right...
"Participation in Government" was a class I had many moons ago...) in Congress
on a specific subject (i.e. the budget, finance, etc..)

I think there's a parallel of that in the German Government, but I'm not sure
what it would be called.


.I don't remember any book where dragons form committees.

Weren't they part of a committee of sorts in _Elvenbane?_ (I read that this
weekend--it was goooood.)

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------
         It's like mage storms on your wedding day
         A song by Leslac  that just won't go away
       It's the vrondi's eyes, which mages can't bear
               But Misty wrote it... it figures
------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 15:46:23 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Companion-names
Message-ID: <960329204623_102744.2515_GHT68-4-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

FROM:	aaron douglas bilodeau, INTERNET:abilodea-+AT+-indiana.edu
TO:	Jake (Rynath *OIB*), 102744,2515
Summmerstorm wrote on 3/29/96 at 9:42 AM:


.	Here's a thought: What happens when a herald who was 
.lifebonded comes back as a comapnion? Does the other come back as 
.their chosen herald? Maybe a lifebonded companion-pairing? (Boy, 
.would that be weird) 	
.	I started thinking about this when I noticed a line or two 
.that made me wonder if Yfandes could have been Shadowdancer, but 
.after working through the logistics of it I discarded the idea. 
.Still, does anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?

Do *Heralds* come back too?  

I thought that the purpose of Companions was something along the lines of
helping Heralds out.  Bringing a Herald back would be kind of redundant for that
purpose.

Intriguing idea, though...

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------

To HELL with the Prime Directive. Let's go KILL something!! 

------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------

	


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 15:46:13 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Order of Reading Books
Message-ID: <960329204612_102744.2515_GHT68-1-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

JSTEINB103-+AT+-AOL.COM wrote:

.My problem is that I *like* long sagas, probably because I read so fast.

Someone today at work asked me about my reading rate, since I *fly* through
books like they were nothing... (finished _Guardians of the West_ by David
Eddings in like 90 minutes today.)  

.Sometimes the author is chopping it into separate books for convenience, but
.sometimes the book is actually too big for the binding.   Janny Wurts' "Ships
.of Merior" was published as one book in hardcover, but split into two in
.paperback: "Ships of Merior" and "Warhost of Vastmark".  The paperbacks are
.636 pages (599 without the glossary) and 492 pages (with glossary repeated).
. In an author's note she thanks the publishers for trying to keep it in one
.volume.  It gets complicated though: Ships of Merior is Book 2 of a series.
. So will the next hardcover book in the series be Book 3 or Book 4?

Maybe it will turn out like Edding's Belgariad.. with "Part One" consisting of
books 1, 2, and 3 and "Part Two" consisting of the rest.

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------
         It's like mage storms on your wedding day
         A song by Leslac  that just won't go away
       It's the vrondi's eyes, which mages can't bear
               But Misty wrote it... it figures
------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 14:40:41 -0700 (MST)
From: mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (Lady  'Reesa  And  Tina)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: ObMisty
Message-ID: <199603292140.OAA25533-+AT+-usr4.primenet.com>


>> 
>> P.S.  Yes,  I  know  this  is  a  Misty  list,  for  those  of  you  who
>> were  about  to  remind  me.  I'm  not  in  the  mood  to  be  lectured
>> this  week,  so  please  don't  flame  me.  Anyone  who  does  risks  being
>> turned  into  shrubbery,  or  worse,  a  completely  NORMAL  person!  (Don't
>> test  me,  I've  been  studiying  "Lord  of  the  Flies"  in  school,  and
>> I  HATE  that  book!  I'm  in  a  REALLY  bad  mood  at  the  moment!)
>> 
>
>You forgot this:
>
>	ObMisty: There are no talking pig's heads on sticks in Valdemar.
>
><GD&FLTNT>
                ObMisty: Heralds from the tropics are either reincarinated as 
European or African swallows, depending on whether or not coconuts are in 
season.


Sir  Dragon,  don't  make  me  come  after  you!!!!!<--lok 5!  I'd  do  it,
you  know!  I  do  have  some  advice  for  you  though,

                                            FLAP  FASTER!  I'll  get  you
for  those!

Best  wishes  for  a  speedy  recovery  (Since  you  are  obviously  a  very
sick  boy...<GRIN>,


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 LADY     HERALD     MAREESA     RAENNSYR
   in              of           BLACK  KNIGHT:  Come  Back!    
Green    Valdemar     I'll  Bite  Your  Leg  Off!!!!!<--look 5!
ME:  Run  For  Your  Lives!  It's  The  Sparrows!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 16:50:16 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: What if?
Message-ID: <960329215015_102744.2515_GHT197-6-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

JWSCHM00-+AT+-UKCC.UKY.EDU writes:

> Okay, I've been re-reading (again) _Winds of Fate_ and have just
> gotten to where Elspeth decides to strike off from her "destiny."

> So, what would have happened if she'd gone on to studying with
> Jendar like the Companions wanted?  She wouldn't have met Darkwind
> or Firesong, wouldn't have tangled with Falconsbane.  So, Falconsbane
> might (probably would have?) chewed up k'Sheyna vale.  Would he
> have moved on from there into the Plains?  Maybe Elspeth running
> from one destiny was set up by the Star-eyed to get another chain
> of events running.  So her running from destiny was destiny???

I'm holding myself back from being *too* metaphysical, so this is a bit short...

Some people move along destiny by not moving it along.  That's where destiny
gets you--because whatever you do, that's what you're supposed to do, anyway.
You *can't* escape destiny, no matter how hard you try. 

I'm not up on Misty's destiny stuff, but you can draw parallels to (sorry,
Stormy!) the tahlmorra in the Cheysuli books by Jennifer Roberson for another
example (I think it was in _Flight of the Raven_) where the right way to fulfill
the prophecy was not to fulfill it.  

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------
         It's like mage storms on your wedding day
         A song by Leslac  that just won't go away
       It's the vrondi's eyes, which mages can't bear
               But Misty wrote it... it figures
------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 16:50:27 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Women's Lit
Message-ID: <960329215026_102744.2515_GHT197-10-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

Heather wrote:

.    I guess it has to do with that wonderful, old opinion that anything female
.is inherently evil.  You know, the one that males have perpetuated since the
.first minute of human intelligence.  

Hey, hey, hey.  The one that *some* males have perpetuated.  Don't classify all
of us together.  It's just as bad as the female stereotype you mention below.

<SNIP>

.And any of the fantasy/sci-fi that I read that is written by men has
.lots of fights, sleeping around and women screeching if they see a mouse and
.hiding behind the nearest testosterone-filled, muscle-bound,
.sword/blaster-wielding hero.  

And you think I enjoy the muscle-bound fighter stereotype?  Sometimes I find
that just as offensive as the female stereotype.

Maybe in old-time sf/f. But I don't think that statement holds as true as you
say it does today.  I'd have to say that in fantasy/sci-fi, I can think of a
couple of writers who don't make women the meek creatures you mention.

David Eddings, for one (OK, everyone groan now.  Out of your systems? GOOD.)
His female characters aren't weak.. in fact, many of them are stronger than the
men in his books.  I can't remember the names offhand, but a goodly number of
them appear throughout the Belgariad, The Malloreon, and the Tamuli.

In SciFi?  William Gibson's female characters also are strong... just look at
Molly Millions from "Johnny Mnemonic," (the short story) and  _Neuromancer._
And his female protagonists in _Count Zero_ and _Virtual Light._  Also the main
character from Shale Aaron's _Virtual Death,_ who is a female death performance
artist.

I'm away from my library, and I'm in the middle of the Malloreon books, so I
can't give a thorough name-checking on these people, but it should be right.  

There are archetypes that we writers use all the time.  Some of them are
stereotypical, yes, but archetypes (at least my library of them) go all across
the spectrum, from weak to strong in both sexes.

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------
         It's like mage storms on your wedding day
         A song by Leslac  that just won't go away
       It's the vrondi's eyes, which mages can't bear
               But Misty wrote it... it figures
------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------


------------------------------

Date: 29 Mar 96 16:50:19 EST
From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
To: M-L mailing list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Velgarth (Got it right this time!)
Message-ID: <960329215018_102744.2515_GHT197-7-+AT+-CompuServe.COM>

Rynath spelled Velgarth wrong!  We know! We know! (It's all that David Eddings,
Jenna!)

To address some of the Velgarth discussion:

Yes, it appeared in the beginning of _Arrows of the Queen._  And I suppose not a
lot of people use the name of the planet in daily conversation.  Although, for
all we know, *they* could call their own planet earth.

Our Earth is officially known as Terra or, even, Sol III.  But we call it Earth
(or, to be more specific, the ancient people who came up with it called it
Earth,) after the element earth (as in earth, air, fire, water.)  Now, Velgarth
has elements, yes.  And I think I read somewhere about elements in Misty's stuff
(especially in the song "Wind's Four Quarters")--so they could call it earth,
using the same reasoning (unless her elements are velgarath, air, fire, water..
which I sorely doubt.)

Boy, I use a lot of parentheses... 

I'halla shansu,
                                                                  
---------------===X> Rynath (OIB) / Jake <X===-------------
         It's like mage storms on your wedding day
         A song by Leslac  that just won't go away
       It's the vrondi's eyes, which mages can't bear
               But Misty wrote it... it figures
------------===X> 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com <X===---------


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 96 17:22:11 EST
From: Korendil <korendil-+AT+-icubed.net>
To: "Misty List" <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Random (I think :)
Message-ID: <9603292222.AA17987-+AT+-raptor.icubed.net>

>>> Ach...I meant to do it:P The pumped up avaians need that to keep 'em from
>>> thinking they're so high and mighty just because they're big carnivores
>>> with huge sharp beaks and lots of magic and-- you know, on the other
>>> hand, maybe this is JUST the time to make that little hidey-hole
>>> Underhill I've been planning on.....
>
>>Coward!!!!! <-- Look 5!
>
>>Go ahead and run you pansy!
> 
>>> ObMisty: We've seen no sign that gryphons have access to Underhill
>
>>Just keep telling yourself that, one day you may believe it. <Evil gryn>
>
>>> Korendil, Knight of Elfhame Sun-Descending, Squire of the High Court,
>>> Magus Minor, One In Black, and Firstborn Child of Danaan.
>
>>Can we add a few titles?  Pounce toy, gryphon chow, target, etc etc...
>
>>--Gyrfalcon


Now...Gryf....we know, you ARE ratehr stressed...me and my allies 
basically shoving you off the face of the multi-verse...but thats *no 
reason* to insult one of the pushees mentioned earlier! I dunno...maybe 
I'll just have Terenil call in his father or something...see if you can 
take on High KIng Oberon, eh? nowm, what those titles mean to lay-birds 
like you:

Knight of Elfhame Sun-Descending: I can kick your butt in fighting
Squire of the High Court: I have favors I can call in from VIS (Very 
Important Sidhe), to            make your life a living hell
Magus Minor: The equates to...oh..Master. I.e., we're equal there, birdy
One In Black: That w/o any other titles, I'm whipping your butt
Firstborn CHild of Danaan: VIG (Very Important Goddesses) like 
Danann/Danu/Dana don't like having members of their all-time favorite 
race being insulted by a mere mage-lab mess-up gone bad:P

ObMisty: How come we've never met Oberon?


*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*
Korendil, Knight of Elfhame Sun-Descending, Squire of the High Court,
Magus Minor, One In Black, and Firstborn Child of Danaan.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Email: korendil-+AT+-icubed.net           |Blue Bread Mold, the story must be told
Email: jon_rubin-+AT+-bam_online.tfnet.com|Nothing keep you livin' like the Blue
IRC: Korendil on #macintosh; Undernet|Bread Mold-- Leslie Fish
*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+AT+-*-+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: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 17:58:42 -0500 (EST)
From: The Mage of Green Silences <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: re:Companion-names
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960329174735.7175A-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

On Fri, 29 Mar 1996, Melanie Dymond Harper wrote:

> 
> > then again, if you'd got through life with a monniker like Ebenezer, or 
> > Hamadryad (Lordy where'd that one come from - Heinlein??) or Enolagay (I
> > kid you not - I knew one - her parents had no idea where it came from),
> > maybe you'd keep your 'real' name to yourself!
> 
> Hamadryad was a name used in Heinlein, yep (although the dryads are also 
> mythological). Parents who didn't know where Enolagay came from should not have
> been allowed to breed (the Enola Gay was the plane which dropped the A-bomb
> on Hiroshima). :)

Hmmm.  Well, here is an even worse one: H.L.Mencken cites "Wasserman 
Positive" as the given name of a child in the records of a Southern 
hospital.  It was only one of several really cruel names.  The phenomenon 
was based on the fact that the hospital took charity cases in their 
Obstetrics ward which was staffed by the Med students from an affiliated 
univesity.  The patients were oftern poor and uneducated and the students 
used to make a game of suggesting pretty-sounding but horrible names 
(such as WP or Enolagay) to see if the patients would use them.  My 
personal feeling is that if I had been the program director and found out 
about I would booted their nasty, elitist Buchanons out of school so fast 
it would have made their heads swim.  Talk about unprofessional behaviour.

ObMisty: Have you noticed that Misty doesn't have any un-engaged healers 
in her worlds?  What about those who might have the gift of healing but 
not of empathy?  Wouldn't they be prime candidates to become the sort of 
healer that is only interested in getting rich (like a lot of doctors I 
know).  Come to think of it, Misty doesn't seem to have any characters 
who are interested in getting rich (except, maybe Stefen).

May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit,

Cennydd,

Mage of the Green Silences.

Eu guardo a luz das estrelas
a alma de cada folha
Sem folhas nao tem vida,
Sem folhas nao tem nada,
Salve as folhas!

Kenneth Allen Hyde     |  No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife
Univ. of Delaware      |  between the shoulder blades will seriously
Dept. of Linguistics   |  cramp his style  -- Old Jhereg proverb
kenny-+AT+-strauss.udel.edu |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me


------------------------------

Date:        Fri, 29 Mar 1996 17:42:21 CST
From: Heather Watson <R618%NEMOMUS.bitnet-+AT+-ACADEMIC.NEMOSTATE.EDU>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Companion-names
Message-ID:  <29MAR96.19122563.0040.MUSIC-+AT+-NEMOMUS>

Yeah, and I brought up the question a while back of whether or not
companions fall in love.  I mean, we've seen lots of companions flirt
and dally, so we know they have sexuality.  We've seen a lot of Heralds
fall in love.  But we've never seen two companions either lifebonded or
seriously lovebonded to one another.  Maybe they just don't have those
feelings anymore?  They're here to be guides, after all; they already
had their chance to live their own lives.
   I won't raise the questions of lesbian companions a second time
though <g> There's just no way to talk about it without being at least
PG 13.


HTH

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:07:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Really dumb question
Message-ID: <01I2X8RVYQ7M91XHU4-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

From: ThessaIy-+AT+-aol.com
>     
>     How about Lucy Lawless for Kerowyn?  

Oh no.  I just got an image of Kero with that battle yell thing.
That and Need as that circle thing (chokrum?) instead of a sword.
And don't forget the acrobatics (those are some of the worst
special effects...)

Mat

	accmjt-+AT+-hofstra.edu		mtimme47-+AT+-magic.hofstra.edu
	           http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/
--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--
"They want to stop the ones who want prosthetic foreheads on their heads.  
 But everybody wants prosthetic foreheads on their real heads."  
	-- They Might Be Giants  
	          


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:19:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gate of Darkness.. (Spoilers) (Was re: David...)
Message-ID: <01I2X8YGIS5491XHU4-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

From: "Jake (Rynath *OIB*)" <102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com>
>
>Mat Timmerman wrote:
>
>.Minor spoilers for _GoD,CoL_ 
><that's _Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light_ by Tanya Huff>
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.
>.Though I thought that Evan and (what's his name?) the Bard, were going to
>.get together at some point.  I was kind of let down when they didn't.
>.And did anyone else _love_ the fact that a Misty song saved the world?
>.Even though "Wind's Four Quarters" got mangled a little to make
>.a three faced Goddess, instead of four (Maiden-warrior, Mother, and
>.Crone, instead of Maiden, Warrior, Mother, and Crone).
>
><Frantically waving arms>
>Ooh! Ooh! I did! I did!
>
>I read that book before I read the Kethry and Tarma stuff, and I didn't know
>"Wind's Four Quarters" was a Velgarath song.  I just thought it was one of her
>"stand alone" songs.  Of course, after I read the "Vows & Honor" books (and
>listed to "Magic, Moondust, and Melancholy") I realized how coooool it was that
>the song was both!
>
I love Heather Alexander (buy "Wanderlust".  buy it now), but she
just isn't Tarma for me.  I prefer her to Leslie Fish, but 
LF _is_ Tarma.

A bit off the topic (but still on topic for the list :) ), do 
"FAP", and "Mis-Conceptions"  really bug anyone else?  I kind
of liked them at first, but now they really annoy me.  I think
I even prefer "Herald's Creed" to them.  It seems like they are
only meant to be joke songs, and the joke pales really fast.

BTW - I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again.  If anyone
needs lyrics to Misty filk, I've got quite a lot of them on my homepage.
They're a mix of the published ones (like in the backs of the novels)
with the lyrics fixed (some of the recorded lyrics are _not_ the
same as the written ones) and what I could figure out of the ones that
are not (like some of MM&M).


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:24:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Katherine Kerr (was Re: Series v. stand-alone)
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9603292050.A547439144-0100000-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

On Wed, 27 Mar 1996, STOKES J wrote:

> 
> >I'm just starting to read _Daggerspell_ right now (it's #1 in the series).
> >I hope it's good.>
> 
> 
> iI've got all the books in that series they are Brill.
> 

I'm only a hundred or so pages into Daggerspell, but it seems that
Katherine Kerr has the same fondness for having people get
slapped in the face as Misty does for 2x4's (you know, 
"XXXX looked like he/she got hit in the back of
the head with a board."  ;)  Has anyone else noticed this.
And BTW - so far, I'm not getting too good vibes about who
Cullyn is reincarnated from, and what that means for Jill.

Mat 
accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu
http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/
"I don't care what you smell, just get in there!"


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:30:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Dirk
Message-ID: <01I2X9M01V2A91XHU4-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
>
>I also find it interesting that in Arrows, you get an impression of a 
>slightly bumbly, ugly (that description from Arrows 1!) character,
>lacking in self-confidence. Then in BTS, Kero sees him as homely, and
>with the gait and manner of a trained assassin. I remember thinking that it's
>amazing what marriage can do to you!
                                     
Ah, but remember when Kris is telling Talia all about Dirk in AFlight?
He mentions that Dirk is one of the few people that Alberich will
accept as a substitute when he's sick.  That implies a high level of
skill.  And I don't really remember him as being clumsy.  Rumpled
yes, clumsy no.

Mat 
accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu
http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/
"I don't care what you smell, just get in there!"


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:32:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: Mat Timmerman <ACCMJT-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Stand-alones
Message-ID: <01I2X9QW9WHK91XHU4-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu>

From: Lady Kayla <kayla-+AT+-vianet.net.au>
>
>I must admit I much prefer series to stand-alones. Until someone writes a
>stand alone that is long enough I guess that will always be the way!!!!!  I
>read too fast for most people!!!! *grin*  I always get to the end of a book
>and think "is that it??? what happens next????"
                                                
That's why I refuse to buy the S&S books, just for the Tarma and Kethry 
stories, and why I avoid anthologies in general.  Short stories
always leave me saying "And????".  I like long series b/c, if 
I really like the characters, I can see them develop.

Mat 
accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu
http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/
"I don't care what you smell, just get in there!"


------------------------------

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 444
*********************************