MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 485 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Who wrote that? by Mat Timmerman 2) Re: Errors in books by Mat Timmerman 3) Re: Companions/Women/Music by Mat Timmerman 4) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth by Mat Timmerman 5) Re: Mercedes Lackey Booklist. by Mat Timmerman 6) meanderings--tech, E&N by HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu 7) Re: age by Mat Timmerman 8) Re: A strange request (Off topic) by "Vrondi" 9) Re: ADMIN: let me repeat this, once more, with feeling. by "Vrondi" 10) Re: Anthony by "Vrondi" 11) Re: Valdemaran music (was Re: I am here. (fwd)) by blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) 12) Re: Short Question by blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) 13) Re: Mercedes Lackey Booklist. by mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (Lady 'Reesa And Tina) 14) Re: Eagle & Nightengale by Heather Watson 15) I Blame Kris (was Re: Jean Auel) by Heather Watson 16) Re: Anthony by "M. Wang" 17) Re: Errors in books by "M. Wang" 18) Re: Cecelia's Delurk by "M. Wang" 19) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth by "Mark A. Mains" 20) Re: Diana Tregarde by "Mark A. Mains" 21) Re: Apologies by kirchfa-+AT+-AZStarNet.com 22) Re: Talamir- Previous Queen's Own by blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) 23) re: Tech Level on Velgarth by blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) 24) Re: Tech Level on Velgarth by blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:33:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Who wrote that? Message-ID: <01I3NR8WK5OE91WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: Mannaheim > >On Mon, 15 Apr 1996 dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl wrote: > >> >> > >> > Woah. It's amazing how many people you think are college kids or >> > > adults, only to find out...well, I'll put Shadow-Lover out of his misery >> > > (last I heard he was trying to figure out how old I was): I'm 15, too, >> > > soon to be 16! >> > gee, I'm ancient! An old maid of 19... >> > - -Free Bard Oriole >> >> > Who wrote that they are 15, soon to be 16? IIRC, that was Jaguar. While we're doing this, I might as well say that I'm 19 (20 in Oct.). 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 1996 19:36:18 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Errors in books Message-ID: <01I3NRB5Y42C91WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: Mannaheim > >On Sat, 13 Apr 1996 Raingcats-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > >> >I can't imagine how some of those more obvious spelling and >grammatical >> errors could be overlooked by so many people. >> >> Did anyone stop to think that maybe it's the printer's fault? I mean I >> totally can not see how so many (supposedly intelligent) people could miss >> such obvious mistakes but it could very well be the printers fault not the >> editors. >> > Eeep! That's not a nice thing to say about a printer. And, as a >computer geek and techie freak, I can say that printers dont make those >kinds of errors. The software and hardware aren't capable of doing those >kinds of things. Now, if it garbled words, or left some out, that would >be possible. But just putting in one wrong letter can't happen. > I think that Moonsong was referring to printers as in the people who print the books. She didn't mean the actual machines (am I right Lady M ?). 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 1996 19:43:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions/Women/Music Message-ID: <01I3NRE8Y46291WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu > >I've been thinking for a strong woman who is also artsy, I guess, would be the >word, and I come up with Shaman Ravenwing. She really only gets a bit part, >but it's one of the most important in the history of the Shin'a'in. She's one >of the shaman of the Kaled'a'in that decide to forego magic and remain to >protect the remaining weapons of Urtho's. She or her Clan-chief, Silverhorse >would have to shed their blood for the protection of the clans and she is quite >prepared to, but the clan needs a shaman so Silverhorse had to. But at the >same time, she creates beutiful feather and bead work that Darkwind himself >collects. She weaves the history of the Shin'a'in into their >history/tapestries more effectively than any others. Apparently, she also >created the Kal'enedral. She sounds like a strong woman to me, and she >obviously wasn't afraid of "woman's work." > >Winds of Fate, pp296-303, various other references to her in other places. I think that the Ravenwing whose stuff Darkwind collects is not the same as the shaman. I think that she (or he) was one of the artisans who got lost when k'Sheyna was separated. Speaking of that, I wonder what happened to _them_ for the years of separation. After all, they're from a fairly magic-dependant society, and suddenly, all they have are a few apprentices or Jouneymen. >Thank God for notepads on macs! Noooooo!!!! Macs are eeeeeeeevvvillll!!!!! 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 1996 19:47:11 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth Message-ID: <01I3NRO9WOY891WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu > >Daren says in BTS that they used a "ballista" (cannon?) and took off a corner >of the Prophet's shrine. Gunpowder, for certain. IIRC, ballistae are something like really big crossbows (or is catapults?). I'm pretty sure that they're not cannons though. 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 1996 19:49:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Mercedes Lackey Booklist. Message-ID: <01I3NRRSV41Y91WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: Mannaheim > > Well, that certainly is a long list. But my question is, didn't >Misty write a book called Lammas Night? Or was it just In Celebration of >Lammas Night? This has me confused. Please help me! She wrote the original song's lyrics. She also wrote the first story in the anthology, _In Celebration of Lammas Night_. It was called "Hallowmas Night". That was what was listed on the booklist. 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 1996 19:57:37 -0500 (EST) From: HATST5-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: meanderings--tech, E&N Message-ID: <01I3NS3TOUPU8Y72PW-+AT+-vms.cis.pitt.edu> Okay, I was wrong about the cannons. Davey and Rozanna both sent me (private, so i guess they didn't want me embarrased) mail telling me what ballistas really are. Thank you both, really. I still think the tech level is a little wacked, though. Okay, I knew there was something I wanted to ask about. Isn't the proposed use of steam a little ahead of the time. I'm thinking that this world is comparable to medieval times--around 1300. Steam came around much later, around the 1700's I think. I have to ask the same thing Mannaheim did. I never got a copy of the Top 10 New Plot Twists in Next Misty Novel, either. Jessie, I think I read somewhere that the Bards COULD sing without the Gift. I know Breda said it got in the way every once in a while. Wouldn't it just be logical, anyways, that since the Gifts must be used actively (they're not always working) or they have to be turned on, that the bards would have concious control over their use. How did everybody get into Misty? I'm sure you've talked about this already, but I wasn't here for it. I'll tell you my little story---Well, in 1991 there was a Star Trek fan who would devour the books in mere hours. My library didn't have any so I had to buy them (What a shame!) One day in KMart I saw another Star Trek book and asked my mother to buy it for me. Being very fed up with me getting a book, reading it in one sitting and immediately asking for another one, she said no. She told me she would not buy me another Star Trek book that day. Desperate for a new book, I looked around quickly, noticed a cover with a beautiful white horse with blue eyes and a lady holding a sword. The horse was what grabbed me though. I picked it up, skimmed the back and brought it to mom. I asked her if she'd buy me THIS book. She turned purple, I think. She said in that mothers-only voice, you know, the one that should let you know you're on thin ice, to put it in the cart and not ask for anything else for a few weeks. You know, I really don't think she was happy with me. Imagine that. Anyway, I got the book home, read BTS in one sitting of course, and was so happy with it that for about fifteen minutes after I read the last page I pranced around my room singing, "Let's go scandalize Valdemar." Need I say that Shallan was, and is, one of my fave characters. God, I don't believe I told anybody about that last bit. Oh, well, if anybody would understand it's you people. Going through the messages I noticed a post from me about the big list. I'm sorry. I meant to send that to someone not the list. Okay, I told myself I wouldn't say anything, but Oriole brought up what I was going to say, basically. Except that I AM (was) Catholic. I consider myself agnostic now because of what I went through. It wasn't as extraordinary as being considered satanist or witch, but it was abuse of position and emotions nonetheless. I liked the Bardic stories, maybe because I hold many of the opinions expressed in the books. In my opinion, the Church (both Catholic and Alanda's) can use the incredible influence they have for good. There could be a lot less hypocrisy, but there isn't. I don't think our Catholic church is quite that bad, on a whole, but it could be. In cases, I think it already has been and has recovered some of its original purpose. That happened with the excising of "bad" officials and reform. It sounds like Alanda could use it. Capitalism--Well, I have a friend who doesn't exactly like capitalism and would love a better system in place, but she knows that now that we have it and some have tasted the fruit of their labors (or others) as it were, it will be around for all time. I think I'd better quit before I start raving. Shadowspun ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:58:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Mat Timmerman To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: age Message-ID: <01I3NRV4641O91WZ09-+AT+-vaxc.hofstra.edu> From: Becky Anne Christensen > >Ahhh, but we do have to wait like you did. I'm drooling over storm rising >and silver gryphon, just waiting for the paperbacks. Don't bother drooling over Silver Gryphon. It's about as good as White Gryphon was. 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 1996 08:10:19 +0000 From: "Vrondi" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: A strange request (Off topic) Message-ID: <199604172308.TAA10816-+AT+-edweb.concord.wvnet.edu> > ObMisty: I wonder where Misty got her information on abuse? I've > read "When Rabbit Howls" (Very scary book) but I just can't seem > to relate most of the experiences to my character. What a minute! is this a book by Misty I somehow missed? -Free Bard Oriole known on IRC as Vrondi a.k.a. Chrys Amy Dean. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://edweb.concord.wvnet.edu/~deanca/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell." -The Witch from "Into The Woods" by Stephen Sondheim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:12:10 +0000 From: "Vrondi" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ADMIN: let me repeat this, once more, with feeling. Message-ID: <199604172310.TAA10822-+AT+-edweb.concord.wvnet.edu> > >No. Chain. Letters. > >I really mean this. > >Mel. > > Umm... Forgive this but I gotta: Due to the fact that we, the readers, are > meant to read this posting, heed it's warning, and follow it's directions > without fail under penalty of horrible things happening to us... By > defintion doesn't that make this a chain letter? No, 'cause we're not asked to pass it on. -Free Bard Oriole known on IRC as Vrondi a.k.a. Chrys Amy Dean. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://edweb.concord.wvnet.edu/~deanca/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell." -The Witch from "Into The Woods" by Stephen Sondheim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:18:28 +0000 From: "Vrondi" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Anthony Message-ID: <199604172316.TAA10862-+AT+-edweb.concord.wvnet.edu> > 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"... I think one of the first "fantasy" things I read was a book called "The Girl With The Silver Eyes." It shall always be a fave. I checked it out of the library numerous times. I was about 9 I think when I read it. I don't 'member who the author was because I never owned a copy. It was about a girl who was telekinetic. she had silver eyes and telekinesis as side effects of some experimental drugs her mom worked with while pregnant. She finds out that there are 4 more kids like her and goes looking for them. It's very cool.I didn't get to Tolkien 'till I was 14. after Misty. -Free Bard Oriole known on IRC as Vrondi a.k.a. Chrys Amy Dean. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://edweb.concord.wvnet.edu/~deanca/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell." -The Witch from "Into The Woods" by Stephen Sondheim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:10:29 -0400 (EDT) From: blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Valdemaran music (was Re: I am here. (fwd)) Message-ID: <199604180110.VAA17980-+AT+-maple.sover.net> > >Morticia (Marissa) wrote: >> I totally agree with Cennydd on this one. I don't think there's a >> good reason for there *not* to be complex polyphonic music on >> Valdemar--I mean, they have a Bardic school in Havens, so it's not >> like the Bards are so scattered that they couldn't constitute an >> orchestra. I guess I sort of keep expecting that there is one and we >> just haven't heard about it yet. You'd think there would be some >> sort of permanent dance and/or theatre company as well. Capital >> cities seem to attract such things. I'd like to see the Bards get up >> a huge group and just *go* with it! > >The only reason I can think of is that it might be dangerous to have >that many Bards all playing together. Consider - an orchestra, full of >bards, all emoting their little hearts out. :) Even worse, an orchestra >of bards backing bardic opera singers.. Valdemar might never be the same. :) > >*grin* Yes, it is early morning here. :) > >Cheers, >Kerry. >"The three most dangerous things in the world are an intelligent person >without morals, an armed fool with a cause, and a bored computer >programmer..." Excuse me ladies, I'm new to this list, however I feel obligated to point something out. Most bards play some sort of *portable* musical intrument. (i.e. lute, harp, lyre, giturn) this would make an really wierd polyharmonic orchestra. but on the lighter side, can you imagine all these people playing and singing also invoking the Bardic Gift? Now *that* would change Valdemar ;) Blades ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:14:43 -0400 (EDT) From: blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Short Question Message-ID: <199604180114.VAA18497-+AT+-maple.sover.net> >On Wed, 17 Apr 1996 kirchfa-+AT+-AZStarNet.com wrote: > >> 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. > >The answer is "yes." It becomes an issue in the LHM series. I think >that Breda plays a song without the Bardic gift, and then with. And it >is clear that Medren (is that his name?) plays with and without. Also, >since the Bardic Circle makes such a big point out of only using the gift >in the service of queen and country, I think that the ability to *not* >use it is implied. Otherwise, it would only be a choice of playing or >not playing. My first day here and something tat intrests me, oh boy :) Oh by the way , Hi. If you have read the Last Herald-Mage trilogy you may recall that Vanyel was caught telling Stephen that he came close to misusing his gift, and that it is a gift, and it's exercise takes energy form the user, just like any normal gift. And also remember somewhere in there it points out that sometimes the gift get in the way of the song. So, like any other gift the Bardic Gift can be either used or not, depending on wether the bard is exerting it or not. Blades ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:12:25 -0700 (MST) From: mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com (Lady 'Reesa And Tina) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Mercedes Lackey Booklist. Message-ID: <199604180212.TAA29810-+AT+-usr2.primenet.com> >I'm so excited!!!!! (<--I wonder?? :) ...I think I've found a misty >short story no one else knows about!! I haven't read it yet, so I can't >say how good it is, but it's called "Wet Wings," and it's printed in >_Sisters In Fantasy_, copyright 1996 by Roc, a division of Penguin >Books... it's edited by Susan Schwartz and Martin H. Greenberg... I'll >post agin to tell you how it is when I've finished.... > > ---Chelsae I loved that story!!!!! It seemed sort of like a really cynical autobiography to me, and IMNSHO, was one of Misty's most thought-provoking works ever. I must admit, I didn't buy the book, I just stood there reading that story. Ah well, the Walden people are used to it by now! I would strongly urge everyone to go out and read this (You don't have to buy it, but I plan on it when I've got the money!) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Lady 'Reesa<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Just one final thought. Writing is like sex: people do it all the time, in all sorts of ways, but only those with good control, technique, and length (or depth) really stand out. -Jake Adamo/Rynath In Green '96 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>mrtmh-+AT+-primenet.com<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:18:04 CST From: Heather Watson To: Subject: Re: Eagle & Nightengale Message-ID: <17APR96.23005497.0102.MUSIC-+AT+-NEMOMUS> Oriole shared with us a bad experience some of her friends had with Christians, and opined that maybe Misty had similar experiences. Could wellbe. Plenty of people have. She then goes on to call it "human nature" to bear a grudge against that group, and asks "why hunt up the good people," when you've been hurt before. My answer would be because not to do so is prejudiced. Let me share a story that's happened many times. My father is a minister (and would probably be Chosen if he showed up in Valdemar tomorrow -- though I admit I'm biased, cause he's my Daddy), and worked for many years on the state level of our denomination (for those with a Catholic background, it's a position roughly equivalent to a Bishop). One of his jobs was to help counsel churches who were going through the process of finding and hiring a new minister. Sometimes the last minister had been a woman. Sometimes it had been a bad situation, for any number of reasons. Usually she was the only female minister that church had ever had. He used to get very frustrated, because many search committees would say, "Well, we definitely don't want a woman. We tried that, and look what happened." Most of us would call that unjust behavior, to judge an entire group on the actions of a part of its membership. These churches have declared themselves "unwilling to hunt up good people," and I think that's a rotten way of going about life. If this is truly Misty's attitude (and I don't know that it is), then fine for her. I'm not in the business of correcting people I've never met. But I think she ought to keep her prejudices out of her books. And if not, then I reserve the right not to like her books. Several people said as part of an earlier discussion that they would not read a book that sanctioned homophobia, for example. Well, I feel similarly about books that seem to sanction any form of prejudice, and I thought Robin & Kestrel fell firmly under that rubric. I was irked when I finished that I'd been, I felt, misled by Misty's stated beliefs into reading a book that was divisive and judgemental. I don't subscribe to the "why hunt up the good people, I've been hurt before," theory of social interactions. I refuse to enjoy a book that appears to stem from exactly that kind of mindset. HTH Ladies' Aid & Armor Society ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:41:12 CST From: Heather Watson To: Subject: I Blame Kris (was Re: Jean Auel) Message-ID: <17APR96.23421755.0102.MUSIC-+AT+-NEMOMUS> Cennydd mentioned sort of in passing that the Kris-Talia-Dirk triangle was a little weird: I believe "all tied up in knots" was a phrase he used. Now, my disclaimer is that I love the Arrows series, and it follows on the heels of LHM as my favorite of Misty's stuff. I think its flaws are compensated for by some marvelous things she did very, very right. But that relationship, yeah, that was a mess. And it's all Kris' fault. Oh, yeah, I liked Kris. I liked him a lot. But he really dropped the ball in AFall. He *knew* that Dirk was crazy about Talia. He *knew* that Talia was crazy about Dirk. He was even pretty sure they were lifebonded. So what does he do? Well, first he tells Dirk that he slept with Talia. No commentary, no explanation. Just "of course we did." Then he can't quite grok why Dirk seems stressed out about this, *knowing,* once again, that Dirk is a bit neurotic about Kris being so much more attractive to women than he is, based on extremely painful past experience. Sensitive, Kris, thanks. Then, after swearing that he's going to see Talia and Dirk together, dance at their wedding, so on and so forth, he passively watches their relationship fall apart under the weight of the various misunderstandings. He doesn't go to Dirk and say, "Man, she's so goony in love with you she can't see straight. Are you going to ask her out, or are you stupid?" He doesn't go to Talia and say, "God knows why he's acting this way. It's not because he doesn't want you, I promise. Work it out with him." No. He just sort of hangs around, watching his best friend dissolve into drunkenness and depression, then bitches him out about it. Big help, Kris. Thanks for being there, man. Now, God knows, I've gotten used to Companions and dieties who never tell their friends anything, on the excuse that they have to figure these things out on their own. But Kris doesn't seem the type. In fact, he says several times that they'd better get together or he was going to knock some heads, or something to that effect. And for crying out loud, even the Companions interfere when their Chosen are being dumb as posts about something because of their own quiet mistaken assumptions. My theory is this. Kris' behavior was out of character, and just plain odd. It was never explained, and it just doesn't hang together. Likewise, Talia not talking to Dirk because the healers wouldn't let her in. By God, Talia was the Queen's Own, and if she told them to let her in, I bet they would. And it would be the natural thing to do, because who wants to leave the country when your lifebonded is a sick and broken shell of a man without even the chance to say goodbye, we'll talk as soon as I get back, or, God forbid, I love you. This was, however, Misty's first series. And she may not have had the finesse with plotting that she later developed. She may have gotten to the end of AFlight and realized that, by golly, there was nothing stopping Kris from resolving this whole issue in one well-placed conversation, which would play merry hell with her third book. So she dodged the issue like a fiend. It's the Star Trek syndrome (well, that would have been easier, but we have twenty minutes still to go in this episode). I like that explanation, because it keeps Kris from looking like a totally insensitive, self-involved dork who obviously had better things to do than help his two best friends out of an emotionally traumatic situation, even though they were lifebonded and would never be happy until somebody did something. HTH Ladies' Aid & Armor Society ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:21:42 +0000 From: "M. Wang" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Anthony Message-ID: > 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 > *************************-E-mail-WDJPEJ-+AT+-ix.netcom.com-************************ > * - Freedom of opinion can only exist when the government thinks itself * > * secure... -Bertrand Russell * > * - It is respectable to have no illusions - and safe - and profitable - * > * and dull... -Joseph Conrad * > ********************************-IRC: Hairenn-******************************** > > > Actually, I was put on the fantasy path by C.S. Lewis (like many others, no doubt.) From there it was a gradual move to McCaffrey's Dragonsinger trilogy and Pern books. It was a sneaky process, and, because those books were shelved in the "Young Adult" section of my library, I wasn't actively aware that I was reading fantasy or science fiction. (I suffered from the general public opinion/impression that "sci-fi" was some sort of cryptic, arcane body of work that *I* would never comprehend/read. How times have changed!) When I finally figured out where other books with similar subject matter could be found, I was amazed that I had been so obtuse. I haven't looked back since, and fantasy is now my primary reading material, though I'm also a sucker for mysteries, Regencies, and cyberpunk (NOT space opera) science fiction. To return to the topic: strangely enough, I still haven't read Tolkein, though I did read a few of Anthony's books a few years after my initial introduction to fantasy. Aside from On a Pale Horse and a few of the first Xanth novels (okay, just the first 2), I haven't really found his books to be "keepers". I tend to buy em from the used bookstore, read 'em once, then toss them back into my "return to store for credit" pile. Too much froth, and not enough cappucino, I guess. :) ob Misty: There doesn't seem to be a great deal of non-ballad, non-religious literature in Velgarth. Magyss ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't date corpses. A girl's got to have some standards." --Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter ------------------------------------------------------------------- magyss-+AT+-iag.net | http://www.iag.net/~magyss ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:21:42 +0000 From: "M. Wang" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Errors in books Message-ID: > On Sat, 13 Apr 1996 Raingcats-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > > > >I can't imagine how some of those more obvious spelling and >grammatical > > errors could be overlooked by so many people. > > > > Did anyone stop to think that maybe it's the printer's fault? > > Lady Moonsong > > > Eeep! That's not a nice thing to say about a printer. And, as a > computer geek and techie freak, I can say that printers dont make those > kinds of errors. The software and hardware aren't capable of doing those > kinds of things. Now, if it garbled words, or left some out, that would > be possible. But just putting in one wrong letter can't happen. > > Mannaheim > Well, a *computer* printer wouldn't make that mistake, but a *human* typesetter (or whatever the publisher uses to actually print the books on the presses) very well might! Magyss ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't date corpses. A girl's got to have some standards." --Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter ------------------------------------------------------------------- magyss-+AT+-iag.net | http://www.iag.net/~magyss ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:21:42 +0000 From: "M. Wang" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Cecelia's Delurk Message-ID: Hi there, Cecelia! > > I thought they were all > > quite good except for the White Gryphon which was a disappointment after the > > Black Gryphon. > > Can. It. Be? Another person who thought that _The White Gryphon_ was a > disappointment! Well, add me to the list of White Gryphon non-fans. I checked it out a few weeks ago, and couldn't manage to get past chapter 3 in two weeks. (My usual reading time for a Misty book is a nonstop 6 hour marathon.) This is the only in-print Misty book set in Velgarth that I haven't been able to finish. Too bad there isn't a Cliffs Notes version for those of us who can't seem to work up enough interest, but still want to know the pertinent facts.... > > One question: Why are there so many non-Misty things on the list? Eg. other > > authors, gays etc. > > Should we abandon a thread because it doesn't relate > exactly to Misty? That's both the downside and the upside to the list, but > welcome to our humble home! > Well, to be honest, as a subscriber to both this list and the Usenet newsgroup alt.books.m-lackey, I must say that the mailing list is MUCH more on topic than the newsgroup has ever been. The meanderings of this list almost always lead back to Misty in some way, or are at least of interest to almost everyone else on the list. Alas, the same can not be said of the off-topic posts on the newsgroup, which at times is more like a personal playground for in-jokes among a select few than a Misty forum. Anyone else notice this? > Dli kea'bemfoska akota'tyaaka-ne puku kea'tabhoka-beku (*) > > Rynath / Jake > House Champion of the Ladies in Green > Member of the Misty Mountain Vale > The Hopeless Bibliomaniac > 102744.2515-+AT+-compuserve.com > Magyss ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't date corpses. A girl's got to have some standards." --Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter ------------------------------------------------------------------- magyss-+AT+-iag.net | http://www.iag.net/~magyss ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:31:50 -0400 (EDT) From: "Mark A. Mains" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth Message-ID: <199604180331.XAA05097-+AT+-service1.cc.uky.edu> On April 15, 1996 Shadowspun wrote: >Daren says in BTS that they used a "ballista" (cannon?) and took off a corner >of the Prophet's shrine. Gunpowder, for certain. I may be wrong but aren't ballista similar to giant crossbows? That has always been the impression that I have had. If they are, that would explain why they are referred to as seige engines. BTW, as the Tech level on Velgarth increases will the common people begin to push the heralds, mages, bards etc to the wayside? Mundanes will always outnumber the gifted and a few will resent their lack of gifts. They could use technology to "even the score" so to speak. This may not occur as much in Valdemar due to the respect and love the people have for the Heralds. However, I could certainly see it happening in other places. Well, that's my 2 cents....FLAME away! **************************************************************************** Mark Mains email: mamain01-+AT+-pop.uky.edu University of Kentucky (only 1 more year!) "The gene pool could use a little chlorine." **************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 23:57:25 -0400 (EDT) From: "Mark A. Mains" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Diana Tregarde Message-ID: <199604180357.XAA07397-+AT+-service1.cc.uky.edu> >> I am a little confused with the whole guardian concept in the Tregarde >> books. Can anyone give me insight into exactly what is going on with that? >> Who gives the guardians the extra power? How are they chosen? >They just seem to "happen." They just get born that way, from what >little info. we're given. Di's Grandma was a "teacher" and spotted >her as a kid. I think in a way the Di Tregarde books and Sacred >Ground are similar in this area. Di's grandma discovering and >training her seems similar to Jennie's grandfather discovering and >training her. (what a sentence!) mebbe the Gaurdians are like >powerful shamans? >-Free Bard Oriole Early in Di's career she renounces her guardian powers and they leave her. She then calls them back when she is in danger from a nightflyer. I get the impression she learns that when one has the potential for great power they have greater responsibility. However, how can one renounce something that is part of them? **************************************************************************** Mark Mains email: mamain01-+AT+-pop.uky.edu University of Kentucky (only 1 more year!) "The gene pool could use a little chlorine." **************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:27:12 -0700 (MST) From: kirchfa-+AT+-AZStarNet.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Apologies Message-ID: <199604180427.VAA23019-+AT+-web.azstarnet.com> Heyla! >I also wanted to ask if anyone knows the e-mail add. for Firebird Arts and >Music. I'd like to e-mail them regarding the ML tapes. Thanx in advance! > > > Zhai'helleva, > Jeanette. Well, the Firebird web-site is at http://www.usa.net/firebird. I don't know what the plain e-mail address (if any) is. Deep Thought of the Day: Given, that reading brings knowledge Given, that knowledge is power Given, that power corrupts Therefore, is it not the duty of any responsible government to keep its citizens as uninformed as possible? Zhai'helleva and Cheysuli i'halla shansu all, "If a man and a cat were to be crossed, it would imrove the man but degrade the cat." - Mark Twain Save the Eurasian Lynx! Sign the petition at http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynxform.html *************************************************** Jesse von Kirchner, Apprentice to His Lordship Chosa Dei, High Wizard of Ysaa-Den and rightful ruler of both north and south. *************************************************** /\ / \.--./\ / \ / \ / \/ \ .--. / |\_/| \ | | .--. / / o o\ \ | | | | .---. / /( )\ \ | `- ' |_| | / / \#/ \ \ | ___' | | `---. | | | | | | | (~\ | | / ~) | | __\_|| ||_/__ | | _///_//_| |_\\__\\\___|__| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 00:47:31 -0400 (EDT) From: blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Talamir- Previous Queen's Own Message-ID: <199604180447.AAA11498-+AT+-maple.sover.net> >At 12:03 4/10/96 +0100, you wrote: >Selenay's father was killed during the T(something) Wars, remember? Selenay >assumed the throne, and it is mentioned in one of the books (can't remember >which Arrows it is) that Talamir wasn't used to advising a head-strong >woman, and didn't quite know how to deal with Selenay. I forget which Arrows >it is...but its somewhere... If I remember correctly it was in Arrows for The Queen, after Talia had met up with Jadus and before the river "accident" Blades ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 00:52:08 -0400 (EDT) From: blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: re: Tech Level on Velgarth Message-ID: <199604180452.AAA11706-+AT+-maple.sover.net> > >As far as I know (from role-playing, a very long time ago), ballistas >are just really big, heavy-duty catapults. No gunpowder there. >Siege engines I remember less about, but I don't think they had a very >high "tech level" either. Just enough machinery so that they could >move around relatively easily and bash big holes in walls, IIRC... A ballista is a huge crossbow, shoots arrows about the size of telephone poles. >Or maybe siege engines don't bash holes in walls. I've completely >forgotten; those days when my characters commanded armies are long gone. >*grin* But I do remember, however, Kero talking at one point about >a way to delay Ancar, and it had something to do with lots of fake >Heralds and some twisted creation made out of broken bits that was >supposed to look sufficiently impressive as to make Ancar pay attention >to it, and not to whatever else was going on. I think it was where >someone mentioned, "Oh, it's a good thing [for the rest of the world] >we're honest!" Yes, Kero had on of the Blue's rig up a mock siege engine that looked impresive, but did absolutely nothing as a tactic to get Firesong, Darkwind, Elspeth, Nira and Skif into HArdorn. Blades ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 00:58:45 -0400 (EDT) From: blades-+AT+-sover.net (Matthew Gorsky) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Tech Level on Velgarth Message-ID: <199604180458.AAA12147-+AT+-maple.sover.net> >In a message dated 96-04-17 00:30:39 EDT, you write: >um, i thought (assumed) siege engines were either those tower things, they >used to build in a skinny rectangle, like a hollow box, they would have >ladders inside and they would push them up against castles and you would >climb up them, protected by the outside, where arrows couldnt get you, and >onto the wall > >however, this practice didnt work so good because the people on the inside of >the castle learned to pour boiling pitch down on you while you were inside >the tower (i know its gross but the pursuit of knowledge leads you to wierd >turns) > >if they arent those, or catapults, or battering ram things, i dont have a >clue, any ideas? These are all siege engines, all siege engine is is a term for machinery used during a siege, by the army *outside* the castle. >also, just for the record, since in Arrows they mention indoor plumbing with >running water and also herbs for the purpose of birth control--they are far >more advanced than the actual medieval society of our world, indoor plumbing >with running water did not come along until late victorian times, chamber >pots were the thing, and privies and garderobes, which were basically little >rooms with holes in the floor--if you were lucky there was a water supply >under the castle garderobe which carried sewage away--it is my belief that >the lack of sanitation is the main cause of the various plagues medieval man >was subjected to, which for the most part comparatively speaking the people >of Velgarth are amazingly healthy Yes, however in our midieval society *did* have herbs against pregnacy, it's just all the knowledge was lost when the witch hunts went through and destroyed/burned the people, the midwives and such, who had the knowledge of which herbs they were, and the proper mixtures and amounts. As for the running water, you are correct. Perhaps it's just that because of magic and mind-magic that some of the technology we have hasn't needed to be developed... Blades ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 485 *********************************