MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 483

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Multi-tasking
	by STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk>
  2) Re: Delurk
	by ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
  3) Re: age
	by Chris Parmenter <magister-+AT+-academy.net.au>
  4) Re: Rolan, MOC, soulbonds, etc...
	by ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
  5) Re: Big List(again) form
	by "Kimber Brumbaugh" <kimber_brumbaugh-+AT+-library.lib.ncsu.edu>
  6) re: music
	by Catherine Osborne <cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
  7) Re: Kinda Off Topic, But Fantasy Related Anyway
	by ThessaIy-+AT+-aol.com
  8) Re: Anthony
	by ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
  9) Re: Rolan, MOC, soulbonds, etc...
	by adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
 10) Valdemar's name (was Add another to the ranks)
	by Marissa K Lingen <mlingen-+AT+-gac.edu>
 11) re: age
	by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
 12) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
	by Catherine Osborne <cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
 13) Re: Short Question
	by adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
 14) Re: Book lovers
	by Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
 15) Mage Wars
	by Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
 16) Re: Anthony
	by Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
 17) Re: Anthony
	by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
 18) re: age
	by adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
 19) Re: Who wrote that?
	by Rozanna McNeer <ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl>
 20) Re: Borderlands Books
	by Rozanna McNeer <ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl>
 21) Re: Top Ten New Plot Twists in Next Misty Novel
	by "Over the Insanity Horizon, and Accelerating" <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
 22) Re: lifebonds
	by ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl (Rozanna McNeer)
 23) ballistas
	by ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl (Rozanna McNeer)
 24) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
	by Mannaheim <patw-+AT+-clark.edu>
 25) Re: Sacred Ground and Diana Tregarde
	by "Icewolf" <LBELZER-+AT+-sbu.edu>
 26) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
	by "Icewolf" <LBELZER-+AT+-sbu.edu>
 27) Re: Companions/Women/Music
	by "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
 28) RE: Mercedes Lackey Booklist.
	by Chelsea Amberle Fischer <caf0001-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>
 29) sex, religion, economic systems and Misty
	by EGLESTON-+AT+-bpl.org

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

Date:          Tue, 16 Apr 1996 17:04:14 GMT
From: STOKES J <95662014-+AT+-mmu.ac.uk>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Multi-tasking
Message-ID: <5A7193001D9-+AT+-EXCALIBUR.MMU.AC.UK>

>From:          JSteinb103-+AT+-aol.com

>I haven't done much walking and reading at the same time recently, but does
>anyone else read and watch TV at the same time?

>Julia

I have and I read and listen to fairly loud music at the 
same time. I can also have about 3 different sets of books 
on the go at the same time and manage to keep all 
characters and plot lines straight and separate.
That is one thing that really Portillos' people off that 
have trouble keeping the characters etc of one book 
in their heads./

Kalen Shena Vuysher'edras[OIB] 

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:36:24 +0800
From: ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Delurk
Message-ID: <199604171136.TAA26520-+AT+-sunflower.singnet.com.sg>

Heyla! Glad to hear from you. Nice to know that I'm once again not the only
one feeling vaguely lost here <g>. Welcome.

>Heyla everyone,
>
>I am another lurker/fan of Misty's, and have been lurking for some 
>weeks. As a librarian,
>I can sympathize with fellow bibliophiles:) Other delurking messages 
>seem to include age and location so: I am 28, and a resident of Upland, 
>CA. BTW, I would like to use the username
>Blue Vrondi, if no one else has claimed it. I, too, am a newbie to the 
>list, if not the net, and apologize in advance for any blunders, 
>mistakes, etc. I have been reading fantasy since junior high school. 
>Thanks!
>
>James Augur
>(Blue Vrondi?)
>
 

  Zhai'helleva,
   Jeanette.


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:58:21 +1030
From: Chris Parmenter <magister-+AT+-academy.net.au>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: age
Message-ID: <31749D95.1E0D-+AT+-academy.net.au>

I was reading the Chronicles of Tornor by Elizabeth A. Lynn in 1980. One of the first books with gay heroes/heroines. So there was fantasy 
around at least 16 years ago. But if I remember rightly, back in Primary school (1960s - sorry) I was reading Alan Garner. I think you would 
class him as fantasy.
Chris
-- 
 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
 X X X     X X      X  X       X   X   X X
 X X X XXXXX X  XX  X  XXXXX   X   XXXXX X
 X X X X   X X   X  X      X   X   X     X
 X X X XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXX   X   XXXXX X


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:55:00 +0800
From: ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Rolan, MOC, soulbonds, etc...
Message-ID: <199604171155.TAA27121-+AT+-sunflower.singnet.com.sg>

(tremendous snippage)
>Hmmm, I wonder what the parallels to MacCaffrey's Impressing of 
>dragons and dragon death/ rider death are in Valdemar with Companion 
>and Chosen. MCW???? Comments?
(sig snipped)

I think that basically Impressing a dragon and being Chosen are the same.
Both Choose their soulmates, after all. Just one question, though. Do
Companions suicide ahen their Herald dies? I know that the dagons do, after
their riders die. You know, I never saw that! Chee!
 

  Zhai'helleva,
   Jeanette.(the confused)


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

Date: 17 Apr 1996 07:43:56 -0400
From: "Kimber Brumbaugh" <kimber_brumbaugh-+AT+-library.lib.ncsu.edu>
To: "mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald." <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Big List(again) form
Message-ID: <n1382393999.16319-+AT+-library.lib.ncsu.edu>

Well, since you said to reply to this message....

Name: Kimber Brumbaugh
email: willow-+AT+-catt.ncsu.edu
  or     kimber_brumbaugh-+AT+-library.lib.ncsu.edu
Web Page: http://www.catt.ncsu.edu/users/willow/www/home.html
Age: 22yo
Location: Graduate of NCSU, Raleigh NC.  I work at the library on campus.
------------------------------
Date: 4/17/96 0:42 AM
To: Brumbaugh, Kimber
From: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.

sorry to take so long to get back to you.  I've been rather busy.   just
respond to this message to be on the list.  I must warn you that I'd like to
pass on some info to Becky to put on a webpage just for the addresses of
mailing list people.




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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:09:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Catherine Osborne <cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
To: mercedes lackey list <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: re: music
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.960417080835.1080A-100000-+AT+-gateway.us.sidwell.edu>

Cennydd, I enjoyed your lyric-posting. I was sitting in assembly when the 
following popped into my mind:

Dirk to Talia:

I just wanna be your te-eddy bear!

Valdemarean Elvis -- can you see it? ;)

Catherine Osborne (Sundancer)             cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu
Q: The first car in the Bible was a Plymouth.
A: Huh?
Q: Yeah, God in his Fury drove Adam and Eve from the Garden.
                                --The Car Talk Guys.


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:16:59 -0400
From: ThessaIy-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Cc: ThessaIy-+AT+-aol.com
Subject: Re: Kinda Off Topic, But Fantasy Related Anyway
Message-ID: <960417081658_192786403-+AT+-mail04>

Lady Thess here,  I'm swamped under four days of list stuff, and I haven't
even checked today's mail yet, aaargh!!!!  What's worse is I'm supposed to be
packing as I'm moving into a new apt. in a week or two. 
   What I wanted to ask if if you could email the music to "the Ash Grove" to
me because I had to sell my songbook with it in it.  Also, I can't get
another copy because I'm broke, it was tax time, and I owe.  Help, I'm only
23, if anyone ever goes to work, put down zero dependents, I filled out my W4
form the way it said too, and I didn't get enough taxes taken out, never
listen to the govt, they lie.
   OBMisty.  that was all, just OBMisty.
                                 Lady ThessaIy, Lady in Green, MKGC

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:47:53 +0800
From: ywlau-+AT+-singnet.com.sg (Yale)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Anthony
Message-ID: <199604171147.TAA26853-+AT+-sunflower.singnet.com.sg>

(snip)
>Is it me or did everyone start reading fantasy with either Tolkien or
>Anthony?  The first fantasy book I read was "The Last Unicorn" followed by
>"On a Pale Horse" and "The Hobbit"...  
                                                        - Shadow-Lover
(snip)

Nope, I started reading fnatasy with L'engle. I had to do the 1st book "A
Wrinkle in Time" for school, and got hooked on the series. Then I went on to
David Eddings. And so on and so forth...(rambles on) :-)
 

  Zhai'helleva,
   Jeanette.


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 09:24:30 -0400
From: adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Rolan, MOC, soulbonds, etc...
Message-ID: <v01530500ad9aa041087a-+AT+-[165.106.12.152]>

>>
>> Which brings me to the nature of the Herald/Companion bond.  We know it is a
>> soulbond, at least of some kind, from the evidence of Elspeth, who, when she
>> bonded to Need, said that it was just like being Chosen.  Again, most of what
>> we know about soulbonds is in relation to Need.  Kero's refusal to rely on
>> the blade during her early training meant that the bond set in lightly.
>>  Kethry's constant reliance on the gifts of the blade meant a very deep bond
>> formed.  And yet both of them were unharmed by the loss of the soulbond when
>> Need was passed to the next person.  And Elspeth didn't even *notice* that
>> Need was gone until Nyara was well out of sight!  Kero was badly affected
>> when Need was lost in the river, but since Kero (who is remarkably chary of
>> personal commitments or bonds) had been carrying Need in the packs instead of
>> on her person, that may, in part, have been a mild ruse on Need's part to be
>> carried more closely to her bondmate.  Kero's distress was also the blade's
>> best chance of getting rescued from the water, so the evidence can be taken
>> in more than one light.
>
On 4/17, Rozanna said:
>Maybe that centering and resounding like a bell (or singing, or
>whatever need did in the half-asleep stage) also loosened the soul
>bond between Need and the current bearer. However, Companions can go
>far distances away from their Chosen (unlike Need and Kero when she
>lost the sword) Here's my question. If a companion were knocked


     I may be wrong here -- I don't have the book with me and am working
from memory -- but wasn't Kero wounded when she lost Need that time?  And
that's why she felt pain when they were seperated.  Need had been blocking
the pain of her injury, and it came flooding back when she lost Need.  Or
maybe I'm thinking of later on in the book.
--Aimee

**********************************************
 "Living is dancing and you are the dancer,
  within you the answer if only you'll dare."
          --- Mercedes Lackey, "Dream Rider."
**********************************************
"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.
 Inside of a dog it's too dark to read!"
                        ---Groucho Marx
**********************************************



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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:48:05 -0500 (CDT)
From: Marissa K Lingen <mlingen-+AT+-gac.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Valdemar's name (was Add another to the ranks)
Message-ID: <199604171348.IAA16812-+AT+-hermes.gac.edu>

Actually, the name Valdemar or Waldemar is an old Germanic one.  I had
seen it while flipping through a name book looking for cool character
names, and it surprised me (obviously).  That was quite awhile ago.  Last
night, I had to send a mailing at my work-study job (icky bleah) to a Mr.
and Mrs. Waldemar Johnson.  So I doubt that Misty's Valdemar is a
reference to Poe (oh, I hope not!).
--Morticia
>  > Add me to the ranks of those who have
used Misty
in a school > assignment.  This afternoon, I had to give an informative
> speech for my Oral Communications class.  Ugh.  Speeches
> and I do not mix.  So, I had to pick a topic.  After
> hours of contemplating (otherwise known as watching TV ;) ),
> I decided to talk about how fantasy and sci-fi are more
> meaningful than most people think (people like certain
> teachers a bunch of you seem to have had  :) ).
> But to get to the obMisty part, I used the 
> "There is no one, true way," to show that fantasy can
> tackle social issues like tolerance and acceptace.  
> I also used McCaffrey (Menolly as female Harper) and
> Brust (Vlad Taltos--ethics of assasination) in the speech.
> 
> Now I just hope I get a good mark!
> 
> Oh, and another thing.  I had to do research on the topic, and
> while I was doing it, I came across something.  I found a mention
> of a story by Edgar Allen Poe.  The title was "The Facts in the
> Case of M. Valdemar".  Interesting, huh?  I wonder if this is
> where Misty got the name from, or if it's just a huge coincidence.
> 
> Mat 
> Cat Person and Hunter of TMIW
> accmjt-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu
> http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/
> "There is no one, true way."  -- Mercedes Lackey
> 


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 96 15:48:57 +0200
From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: re: age
Message-ID: <9604171348.AA14364-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl>

this was from me:
> In fact, thinking back, there was precious little fantasy around 20 years ago 
> - any other geriatrics out there with a few brain cells left who can help me
> out here? McCaffrey was my first (Dragonflight, Restoree, Ship who Sang) -
> before that I read the "softer" Sci-Fi - but straight fantasy (excluding
> messrs. Tolkien and Lewis) - I don't remember any, it's either my age, or they
> weren't memorable!

Lordy Lord, how could I have forgotten ..... Gormengast! You don't get
more fantastical than that, and it's a looooong time since those books
joined my shelves - mind you, it's also a loooooong time since I dusted
them down and read them - hmm - when's my next holiday?

tot ziens,
Esmeralda Evensbane

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 09:54:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: Catherine Osborne <cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.960417095227.2700A-100000-+AT+-gateway.us.sidwell.edu>

On Wed, 17 Apr 1996 HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu wrote:

> Daren says in BTS that they used a "ballista" (cannon?) and took off a corner
> of the Prophet's shrine.  Gunpowder, for certain.

See, "ballista" to me implied "catapult". Why would a big rock thrown at 
high speed not be able to take off a corner of a shrine? Why would it 
have to be gunpowder? Someone who actually knows physics want to say 
something?

(see, it's not a one line post. I suppose next year I'll be able to 
answer my own question since I have to take Clintoning physics if I want 
to get into Harvard. BTW, Mat, I got mail from Hofstra yesterday 
recruiting me and thought of you.)

Catherine Osborne (Sundancer)             cosborne-+AT+-sidwell.edu
Q: The first car in the Bible was a Plymouth.
A: Huh?
Q: Yeah, God in his Fury drove Adam and Eve from the Garden.
                                --The Car Talk Guys.


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 10:19:37 -0400
From: adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Short Question
Message-ID: <v01530501ad9aad2a1118-+AT+-[165.106.12.152]>

On 4/17, Jesse said:

>I just remembered a question I've been wondering about...can someone with
>the bardic gift choose to sing/play/whatever _without_ using the gift? I
>don't recall this being addressed, and you'd think there would be times when
>singing with the gift would be inconvenient.

     I think they can play without using the bardic gift.  Doesn't Vanyel
give Stefen a lecture on when using the Bardic gift is appropriate and
acceptable after Stefen gives Van the mage-focus?  That would imply that
you could perform music without using the gift.
--Aimee

**********************************************
 "Living is dancing and you are the dancer,
  within you the answer if only you'll dare."
          --- Mercedes Lackey, "Dream Rider."
**********************************************
"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.
 Inside of a dog it's too dark to read!"
                        ---Groucho Marx
**********************************************



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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 15:27:46 +0100
From: Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Book lovers
Message-ID: <9604171427.AA27560-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>

At 03:21 AM 4/17/96 +0100, you wrote:
>On Wed, 10 Apr 1996, George of the Jungle wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 9 Apr 1996 HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu wrote:
>> 
>> > I still feel sorry for whoever it was who said they couldn't read and
walk at
>> > the same time.  The trick is to hold the book high up so over the top
of it and
>> > below it you can see any obstacles.  At least, that's what I do.  ANy other
>> > techniques?
>> > 
>> > Shadowspun
>> > 
>> 
I have always read as I walked and I guess I subconciously lower the book or
ssomething since I can see clearly. I just have an awareness of what's
around. Maybe I have a second pair of invisible eyes! But actually, I think
it is because I only read + walk in familiar places. : ) (Sigh, invisible
eyes theory proven wrong)


Cecilia Kwok

"This book is not about heroes. English Poetry is not yet fit to speak of
them...... Above all, I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and
the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity."	--- Wilfred Owen


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 15:27:51 +0100
From: Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Mage Wars
Message-ID: <9604171427.AA27561-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>

Hi! I was just wondering if I should get the Silver Gryphon. I read the
Black Gryphon and liked it so much that I bought it. I got the White Gryphon
believing that it would be as good, (it was not) and now I am pondering over
whether to get the Silver Gryphon as I hear it is not fantastic. Could
somebody give advice? By the way, *why* is it called the Mage Wars? Like
somebody mentioned, only the first book is about any war.


Cecilia Kwok

"This book is not about heroes. English Poetry is not yet fit to speak of
them...... Above all, I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and
the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity."	--- Wilfred Owen


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 15:27:50 +0100
From: Cecilia <ckwok-+AT+-rgs.edu.sg>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Anthony
Message-ID: <9604171427.AA27562-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>

At 07:29 AM 4/17/96 +0100, you wrote:
>At 08:37 PM 4/12/96 +0100, you wrote:
>>On Piers Anthony negativity:
>>
>>    Piers Anthony was one of the first fantasy authors I ever started
>>reading, starting with one of the Xanth books (the Nightmare one, I
>>think).  And, yes, I do think that they were good at first, but
>>lately they've been all puns and in-jokes and no plot.  Ridiculous.  
>>Humor has its place (i finally managed to get my hands on a copy of 
>>Mary Gentle's "Grunts," which came *highly* recommeded :), but 
>>they're not even funny anymore. I reread the first nine every once in 
>>a while, though.
>>    The APprentice Adept series was good (IMHO), especially the first
>>three.  The next couple were alright ... but the final one was awful.
>>The Incarnations series was interesting - but I've only read a few.
>>:)  Some day I'll get very bored and have nothing to read and I'll
>>manage to finish it.
>>

I used to like Piers Anthony's books but after you read some of them, they
get more dumbly punny (sorry for the language) and consequently, draws
groans instead of grins.
>
>Is it me or did everyone start reading fantasy with either Tolkien or
>Anthony?  The first fantasy book I read was "The Last Unicorn" followed by
>"On a Pale Horse" and "The Hobbit"...  
>
>                                                        - Shadow-Lover


My first fantasy book was something by Jonathan Wylie. Nice book.


Cecilia Kwok

"This book is not about heroes. English Poetry is not yet fit to speak of
them...... Above all, I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and
the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity."	--- Wilfred Owen


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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 96 16:33:55 +0200
From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Anthony
Message-ID: <9604171433.AA14383-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl>

Shadow-Lover asked:
> Is it me or did everyone start reading fantasy with either Tolkien or
> Anthony?  The first fantasy book I read was "The Last Unicorn" followed by
> "On a Pale Horse" and "The Hobbit"...  

nope, as I said earlier, it was probably McCaffrey's Dragonflight (I'm
now sitting here trying to visualise my bookshelves, and which are the
soggy, moth eaten, read-to-death ones (I would _hate_ to be burdened by
the need to keep books pristine - mind you an ex of mine used to gradually
eat his books - well, and mine too, starting at the corners - very annoying
habit), oh and Dune of course - when did that come into being? Forget anything
after the first three, and numbers 2 and 3 can be missed, but The Book, Dune,
is a classic - still grabs me every time. Nah, can't get the shelves to
materialise here - I'll look tonight.

ObMisty: I must dig back into the archives and re-read the debates we (well
those of you who'd read it, which excluded me) had about Storm Rising and
White Griffon. I read both for the first time last week, and am not sure 
what to make of them. Griffon was just a story, and I didn't care that much 
what happened, except that it was obvious that it would all end in smiles 
with no beloved one copping it. Mind you Black Griffon didn't grab first time 
round, I find it improves with subsequent readings, so I'll give White a chance. 
Storm Rising tho - well, I piled through it, managed it in 1 sitting (vital for
a first flash, see-what-happens pass), but am not compelled to start over. We
shall see - I do remember thinking Fire-whatsits behavioural change plausible -
but why only him? I know he's a healer-mage, but what about  Talia - oozing
all that empathy, and the top rank healers - was _no-one_ else affected? I also
found the scene when he cracks and wants to clock Ayla one mildly amusing - 
I can recall pursuing a fairly stressed-out cat around my house one evening 
shrieking "I'll f*%#$-+AT+-g kill you when I get my hands on you, I'll skin you,
the dogs can have you" etc etc etc (he'd been draped over the boiler on a 
cold day and thrown up all down the back - I came home to cooked kitty-sick - 
mmm, my favvourite!). He escaped to live another day (naturally) and continued 
to drape himself tastefully across the boiler - I tried all sorts of 'keep-offs'
 - he just re-arranged them and himself until comfy and went to sleep. 

Right, my program has just finished, so my legit excuse for not working is
gone,

tot ziens,
Esmeralda Evensbane
(Cat lover (most of the time);)

ps any brilliant, bright, helpful person out there remember when we were 
chewing Storm Rising and White Griffon over - them thar' archives is mighty
big. 

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 10:49:12 -0400
From: adowd-+AT+-brynmawr.edu
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: re: age
Message-ID: <v01530504ad9ab13403e7-+AT+-[165.106.12.152]>

On April 17, the Mage of the Green Silences wrote:

>fantasy was the classic Tolkien and Norton stuff.  Oh, and the "young
>adults" stuff by Lloyd Alexander.  Does anyone else besides me remember
>those books?  I still love them.  I have the entire set of Taran books,
>plus some Prydain short stories.  I still read them.  The second-to-last

     Yes!  I loved those books.  I thought they were wonderful.  Does
anyone remember the Disney movie _The Black Cauldron_?  As I recall (I only
saw it once, a long time ago), it was just awful!  They murdered the
Prydain books.  The books were _much_ better.
     Lloyd Alexander was one of the first fantasy authors I read.  I also
remember reading Anne McCaffery's Harper Hall trilogy, and Robin McKinley's
_The Blue Sword_.  That's another good book.  I just re-read it the other
day, and there's a lot of stuff in there that went straight over my head
the first time I read it.
     I first encountered Misty in high school.  I was combing the school
library for something I hadn't already read, when I found AotQ.  I remember
looking at it and thinking how stupid it looked -- I mean, telepathic
horses?  Give me a break!  But I was desperate for something to read, and
it, at least, was NEW,  so I checked it out.  And then I started to read
it.  Within a few pages I was hooked! Am I glad I went against my first
impulse and read it!  Thinking back, my high school library was fairly well
stocked with fantasy and science fiction.  I guess I was lucky to have a
sf/fantasy fan for a librarian!

--Aimee
Oh -- in case anyone is wondering, I'm 22 years old.

**********************************************
 "Living is dancing and you are the dancer,
  within you the answer if only you'll dare."
          --- Mercedes Lackey, "Dream Rider."
**********************************************
"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.
 Inside of a dog it's too dark to read!"
                        ---Groucho Marx
**********************************************



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

Date:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 16:49:13 GMT+0200
From: Rozanna McNeer <ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl>
To: Mannaheim <clark.edu!patw-+AT+-enterprise.cistron.nl>,
Subject: Re: Who wrote that?
Message-ID: <317515e2.webster-+AT+-mail.webster.nl>

IIRC Lady Jaguar wrote it. I myself am feeling particuallary 
ancient at the ripe age of 21. Sigh. But at least I'll have my 
BA in May. Joy! only 2 more degrees to go . . .


/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Rozanna n'ha Iris                         e-mail: rozanm-+AT+-webster.nl
Renunciate of Darkover               Member of the Cat People/Huntress 
   "feel the wildness hiding in the back of the shadows,
        lips pulled in an uncurbed, savage grin." Charles de Lint
        
         

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

Date:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:09:51 GMT+0200
From: Rozanna McNeer <ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl>
To: deanca <edweb.concord.wvnet.edu!deanca-+AT+-enterprise.cistron.nl>,
Subject: Re: Borderlands Books
Message-ID: <31751a96.webster-+AT+-mail.webster.nl>

There is also an old book by MZB called "The House Between the 
Worlds" Involves Sidhe, mundane earth, elemental planes, etc. etc.


/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Rozanna n'ha Iris                         e-mail: rozanm-+AT+-webster.nl
Renunciate of Darkover               Member of the Cat People/Huntress 
   "feel the wildness hiding in the back of the shadows,
        lips pulled in an uncurbed, savage grin." Charles de Lint
        
         

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 11:49:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Over the Insanity Horizon, and Accelerating" <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Top Ten New Plot Twists in Next Misty Novel
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960417114141.15167A-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

On Wed, 17 Apr 1996, Birgit Hanel wrote:

[some snippage about Magic's Price as a dream.]

> If only she would do this! I know Misty *had* to explain somehow why 
> there's no magic in Valdemar (before Mage Winds), but did she really 
> have to let Van die? Why did he have to do this Final Strike thing when 
> he had every reason to live and be happy with Stefen?

Umm.  Yes, he did have to die!  Remember that the very first introduction 
to Valdemar includes the tale of Vanyel's death (in AotQ).  If Misty had 
wimped out and not had Van die, I would have been so bummed.  
Fortunately, she did the right thing and Van died.  This is called 
"cool."  I love authors who aren't afraid to kill off a protaganist, when 
it fills the dramatic necessity of the narrative.

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:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:03:43 GMT+0200
From: ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl (Rozanna McNeer)
To: aaron douglas bilodeau <indiana.edu!abilodea-+AT+-enterprise.cistron.nl>,
Subject: Re: lifebonds
Message-ID: <31751a94.webster-+AT+-mail.webster.nl>

In response to the Question "Do life bonded pairs both get chosen?":

Both twins and life bonded have a form of soul linking, right?
I'm assuming that of the two, twins is more rudimentary. Twins that 
have been Chosen:
    Teren (7 years after Keren) and Keren, Drake and Edric, and it 
seems like Selenay's children are about to join the list. 
    Twins where both weren't chosen: Tylendel and Stafan
Due to Stafan's untimely death we don't know if he would ever have 
been chosen or not, but the case seems to be if one twin is chosen so 
is the other. Does this mean that life-bonded, assumed to have a 
stronger soul-link that twins, are also both Chosen?

    Most of the life-bonded we've met have been Chosen:
       Sherril/Keren/Ylsa, talia/dirk, selenay's parents, 
Shavri/Randale, Seleny/Daren, Kero/Eldan, Donni? and other (LHM)
    One notable exception is Vanyel/Tylendal and Vanyel/Stefan. with 
Van and Lyndel, Van hadn't been chosen yet, and didn't get chosen 
until after Lyndel died. Stefan on the other hand never gets Chosen 
at all.

Given the reaction that twins and lifebonded have when one of them 
dies, having a companion bond or at least having a safe place for the 
one that isn't chosen would make it easier on both of them. Thi is 
thinking chiefly of Keren nearly death-willing herself after Ylsa 
died, Van's attempted suicide after Lyndel, Lyndel's insanity after 
Stafan dies.

Comments? remember me-+AT+-amsterdam, books-+AT+-houston. If I've forgotten 
anything I'm sorry!


/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Rozanna n'ha Iris                         e-mail: rozanm-+AT+-webster.nl
Renunciate of Darkover               Member of the Cat People/Huntress 
   "feel the wildness hiding in the back of the shadows,
        lips pulled in an uncurbed, savage grin." Charles de Lint
        
         

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

Date:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:07:13 GMT+0200
From: ROZANM-+AT+-webster.nl (Rozanna McNeer)
To: vms.cis.pitt.edu!HATST5-+AT+-enterprise.cistron.nl,
Subject: ballistas
Message-ID: <31751a95.webster-+AT+-mail.webster.nl>

ballistas ARE catapults, just a different name for them. Kind of like 
gun, rifle, shotgun are all the same thing (said she, being very 
ignorant of modern weapons, but who can tell the difference between 
a guisarme and bec de corbin!)


/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Rozanna n'ha Iris                         e-mail: rozanm-+AT+-webster.nl
Renunciate of Darkover               Member of the Cat People/Huntress 
   "feel the wildness hiding in the back of the shadows,
        lips pulled in an uncurbed, savage grin." Charles de Lint
        
         

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 09:51:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mannaheim <patw-+AT+-clark.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.91.960417095021.4450A-100000-+AT+-clark.edu>

On Wed, 17 Apr 1996 HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu wrote:

> Here's a new thing we can debate (which, of course, we will, because it's fun!)
> 
> Daren says in BTS that they used a "ballista" (cannon?) and took off a corner
> of the Prophet's shrine.  Gunpowder, for certain.
> 
> Shadowspun  :)
> 
>
	A ballista is a type of catapult.  There's also mangonels, which 
are made of whole trees and can throw huge boulders.

Mannaheim

-=-=-=-patw-+AT+-clark.edu-=-=-=-Mannaheim-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"He teaches like Speedy Gonzalez on a caffeine high."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


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

Date:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 12:55:21 EST5EDT
From: "Icewolf" <LBELZER-+AT+-sbu.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Sacred Ground and Diana Tregarde
Message-ID: <3BBD25848DA-+AT+-apps.sbu.edu>

>From:           "Mark A. Mains" <mamain01-+AT+-pop.uky.edu>
>I was wondering what were peoples reactions on Misty's "Sacred Ground".  I
>was thinking about reading it and wondered if it was any good.

I, for one, really enjoyed Sacred Ground.  I also thought Kestrel was 
one of Misty's best "heroines" thus far.  She makes real progress as 
a person in the course of the book.  Also, the subplot of the abusive 
marriage is facinating.  (For those of you who haven't read it, no, 
Kestrel isn't the one involved in the abusive marriage. :)

Talk to y'all later.

Zhai'helleva--

Lyn

Lyn Belzer * P.O. Box 234 St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 * 716/379-3034
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Good Lord for alliance!  There goes the world but I, and I am 
sunburnt.   -Wm. Shakespeare, _Much Ado About Nothing_ (Beatrice)

    "They're in love," Garion said, as if that explained everything. 
..."As soon as somebody falls in love, all the wits seem to dribble 
out of the bottom of his head....  It's almost as if it were some 
kind of disease."       -David Eddings, _Castle of Wizardry_ 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

Date:          Wed, 17 Apr 1996 13:02:22 EST5EDT
From: "Icewolf" <LBELZER-+AT+-sbu.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth
Message-ID: <3BBEFE27068-+AT+-apps.sbu.edu>

Shadowspun wrote:
>I was just wondering about the tech level on this planet.

>>>lots of stuff snipped<<<

    It seems to me that the tech levels vary by country on Velgarth.  
Valdemar seems to be at fifteenth, maybe sixteenth century Western 
Europe.  Rethwellan might be seventeenth century or so, and I don't 
think the Empire is too much further along than that.  Something I 
think one needs to remember when looking at how Imperial citizens (or 
former Imperial citizens ;) look at other cultures is that the Empire 
seems to encourage a BIG ol' superiority complex in it's citizens.  
Of *course* Rethwellan is a land of mud-grubbing barbarians: it's not 
the EMPIRE.  :)  Also, none of these other cultures use magic to the 
extent of the Empire.

*Snowwind trots over*

    One thinks you have said enough.  One may begin giving things 
away if one continues to speak.

*sigh*  Anyone want a gods-granted, Companion-*type* creature cheap?  
Free even?

*sounds of growling in background*

Uh, I'd better go now.  Talk to you all later.  :)

Zhai'helleva--

Lyn

Lyn Belzer * P.O. Box 234 St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 * 716/379-3034
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Good Lord for alliance!  There goes the world but I, and I am 
sunburnt.   -Wm. Shakespeare, _Much Ado About Nothing_ (Beatrice)

    "They're in love," Garion said, as if that explained everything. 
..."As soon as somebody falls in love, all the wits seem to dribble 
out of the bottom of his head....  It's almost as if it were some 
kind of disease."       -David Eddings, _Castle of Wizardry_ 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 13:15:40 EST
From: "AMY E. BAUER" <baueramy-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Companions/Women/Music
Message-ID: <71E2EFD4B66-+AT+-zebu.cvm.msu.edu>

      Actually, primarily music.  I was thinking about this yesterday or 
the day before.  In AFlight (I think) Talia, Kris, Dirk, and Elspeth 
are at a formal court function before Talia and Kris leave on 
circuit.  If I'm remembering correctly, there was dancing.  I imagine 
that the dance music was probably not folk music like Sun and Shadow, 
but symphonic or chamber-esque music.  That's my spare change on this 
one.
      Wonderful job with the songs, Mage of the Green Silences!  I 
think that I'll have to pull out books and CDs in tandem this summer.

May the sun warm your wings,
amy

P.S.  Though my mailings all proclaim my name, I'm thinking of taking 
a use name.  Would Owlbright be appropriate and available?

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 12:24:46 -0500 (CDT)
From: Chelsea Amberle Fischer <caf0001-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>
To: Mercedes Lackey Mailing List <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: RE: Mercedes Lackey Booklist.
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960417122247.8834B-100000-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu>


OOPS!! In my post about "Wet Wings", I said it was in _Sisters In 
Fantasy_, but it's *really* in _S I F 2_.... sorry     <sheepish grin>


				---Chelsae

		****************************************
		Pukka pukka pukka pukka squeetily boink.
			   ---Wembley Fraggle
		****************************************
			caf0001-+AT+-jove.acs.unt.edu
		****************************************



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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 13:41:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: EGLESTON-+AT+-bpl.org
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: sex, religion, economic systems and Misty
Message-ID: <960417134127.bd4-+AT+-bpl.org>

We've been grousing happily about a number of themes which tend to reoccur
in Misty's work, i.e., villainous males, bad/ignorant Christians and pseudo
Christians, and evil capitalists, and I Thought I'd take a minute to play devilsadvocate.  (This is, if this rassafrassa computer will cooperate.  I'm 
typing blind, as the letters I type appear on screen thirty to forty seconds
after I've typed them.)

Anyway, starting with the evil males. :)  I think that one of the 
reasons why we see more male villains than female villains in Misty's
work is that one of her recurring themes is about "control as abuse" and
as she has postulated male dominated societies, more males are likely to
be in the position of control.  So far, no one has mentioned Talia's
foster mother -- the Firstwife, I think the  title was -- who was so 
very sure that it was better to break the child than the rules, as a
villain.

About the Church of Alanda.  Well, yes, it is kind of an obvious tie to
a certain time period in the Catholic Church's history.  But that can
be deliberate without necessarily being denigrating.  By drawing an 
obvious parallel, Misty was able to avoid giving us a lecture on the
structure of her Church's monastary system, hierarchy, etc., and concen-
trate on the characterizations.  And the implications on Alanda are that
the present abuses by the Church are a recent development, rather than
a historical constant.  When Rune and Talaysen decide to get married, they go to get
their union blessed by the Church, so it cannot be that they are apostates.
If Misty had chosen to write about a time period when everything was
hunky-dory, then the conflicts would have been different.  
Do I wish that Misty would write some sympathetic Christian characters, yes,
but given that she lives in the Bible Belt, I know that she has had ample
opportunity to meet, and be prosletyzed at by, some of the sanctimonious
buffoons who claim to represent the main views of Christianity.  Also,
given "there is no one true way" as a basis of belief, the insistence
of Christianity that there is only one way (John 3:16) becomes a kind of
arrogance.  Can I live with it?  Well, yes. I haven't bothered to expect
perfection out of any memeber of the human race since I was eight.

About economics.  Misty does not come down on people
for trying to make money.  She has mercenaries and whores portrayed
as sympathetic good guys, after all.  She does come down on people who
make money without regard to the long term conseqences of their actions
on people and the environment.  I think that there is an important difference
there.  I am old enough to remember what some rivers in this country
looked like before the Clean Water Act, and I have read enough history
to know that unbridled capitalism has not usually resulted in Elysium for
all concerned.

(Has anyone seen my asbestos suit?  I think I'm gonna need it!)

Yoicks! and Away!

Cindy

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

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 483
*********************************