MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 682

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Wolves/Upcoming releases
	by Megan Smith <megan-+AT+-wwdc.com>
  2) Re: certificates, herald mage requirements and all kinds of
	by Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
  3) Re: Empathy
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
  4) Humor / Family Members / Problems / Bards
	by Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
  5) kethry & Tarma
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
  6) Re: books/companions/tardis/names/bits 'n bobs
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
  7) Oathbinded
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
  8) 
	by Topaze Smoke <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
  9) Cranky Uncle/Lil Sis/Auntie/Black Sheep/Birthday Song
	by Seranna-+AT+-aol.com
 10) 
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
 11) Age / Family Reunions NO OBMISTY
	by Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
 12) Just FYI to the list.
	by Topaze Smoke <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
 13) I'm Sorry
	by philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
 14) Re: Braide: Bippy the Mime / Larry Dixon / Life bonds /etc
	by Shadow-Lover <wdjpej-+AT+-ix.netcom.com>
 15) Re: Bards, Re-worked legends
	by Claris Smith <ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>
 16) Re: Bardic Tales/Sacred Ground
	by be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User)
 17) Re: Apologetic Cennydd; Kitsune
	by Claris Smith <ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>
 18) Re: TWO new song parodies! The joy!
	by Edward Dunai <edward01-+AT+-IMAP2.ASU.EDU>
 19) Braiding, Braiding--Will I ever get caught up?
	by Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com
 20) Vanyel
	by Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com

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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:23:19 -0500 (EST)
From: Megan Smith <megan-+AT+-wwdc.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Wolves/Upcoming releases
Message-ID: <199607120323.WAA20666-+AT+-zap.wwdc.com>

>ObMisty: I'm sure there are wolves on Velgarth...anyone remember references
>to them? Just OOC...(no, the ~other~ OOC! ;))

Wouldn't the ... (GACK - I hate drawing a total blank!  What Waarl was -
intellegent person, pony-sized wolf body.)  Anyway, one of those - wouldn't
the wolf have been the "basic design platform" for some mage?  After all,
the griffons were created by ... (GACK - I give up! Mage of Silence).
Weren't wolves mentioned in MPrice?

Soon-to-be-Released Book notices found at the House of Speculative fiction
(http://www.cyberus.ca/specfic/):

  Storm Rising (pb or hc? - had it as both! anyone know?)
  Firebird (hc)  - what series is this part of, or what realm?
  Storm Breaking (hc)
Also, 2 David Brin's and 2 CJ Cherryh's and a McCaffery!  I'm gonna be busy!!

Megan Smith (megan-+AT+-wwdc.com)
******************************
>[snip]
>RPG is short for Role Playing Game

Gee, and I thought it was "report program generator".  Oops, just dated myself! 

>God of Useless Facts and Irellevant Information (Herald Michal)

OK - 70% of people surveyed thought it was the train's fault!

They're both after the sig, so they don't count, sort of like eating
fattening stuff in a plane<G>.



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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:14:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: certificates, herald mage requirements and all kinds of
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19960713220416.1e2ffc20-+AT+-webspan.net>

Cennydd  wrote:

>On Thu, 11 Jul 1996 hallett-+AT+-sprynet.com wrote:

>[snippage of a really huge long *personal* letter to Rynath]

>this really should have been private email.  This is the sort of thing 
>that we should be keeping off the list, so that Aunti Mel doesn't go 
>totally ballistic and discontinue the whole shebang.  And don't say it 
>can't happen, I see web sites an mailing lists disappear all the time 
>because they become to unwieldy for their own good (too much bandwidth, 
>not enough substantive comment)

But didn't Arielle and I already say it was a mistake?  I think I posted an
apology early yesterday morning.  She clicked on reply to and send by
accident without changing the e-mail addres.  <innocent grin>  It's not like
she did it on purpose or anything, or if she posted something on the GOOD
TIMES virus, or even.. <duck> an OS comment.  

And to the list at large, please, it's Jake.  Don't call me Rynath... that's
my QO persona, and it's disorienting to go by it.  All my posts for about
two or three months have had "Jake" as the poster.  

May the bones of your enemies form a bridge beneath your feet,

Jake / Rynath in Green <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
God of Parody and Top Ten Lists / Avatar of Humor
Misty Humor and FAQ archivist ~ http://www.webspan.net/~rynath

I eat too much / I drink too much / I want too much / TOO MUCH!
- Dave Matthews Band, _Too Much_



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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:19:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Empathy
Message-ID: <199607120219.WAA08439-+AT+-smtp1.erols.com>

>I have a lot of empathy and I can't imagine feeling what someone else 
>is feeling all the time.  I knew that my aunt wasn't OK, so I stayed 
>an extra day.  I could feel when she pulled herself up and would go 
>on.  I know when someone I care about isn't feeling well.  My 
>girlfriend used to get these migraines and then I would get them and 
>her's would let up.  I would call her and ask her if she had a 
>headache, and she would say she did but it was better.  I can't 
>imagine what Talia was going through, not being able to block 
>correctly in the beginning.
>
>Diana

I know what yo're talking about.  Sometimes your relationships with people
makes it hard to block out their problems and feelings.  When my best friend
was pregnant, I felt the same way she did.  We both had the same cravings
and got irritable at the same times over the same things (and I wasn't
pregnant!).  WHen she had her emergency Cesarian, I kept having this feeling
that I should check on her.  When one of my (many) cats is ill, I feel it
untill I do something about it (the funny thing is, they usually know that I
feel it!).
:)
Ami


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:26:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Humor / Family Members / Problems / Bards
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19960713221548.19177652-+AT+-webspan.net>

Serrana wrote:

>I was going to offer you whatever Hurricane Bertha dumped in my yard, but she
>decided not to visit <sigh>.  I'd offer you chocolate sheep, but a certain
>you know who on the list has dibs on them all.  So, how about this:  imagine
>a purple suede pouch lined with goldenrod velvet; it is rather small, but can
>hold your greatest wish.  It's yours.  Can I have a copy of the lists? BTW,
>please remember to forward Jake his share! <BG>

Once again, to the list at large:

I AM POSTING THE HUMOR FILE TO THE LIST THIS WEEKEND IN SEVERAL PARTS.  I'VE
ALREADY TALKED TO MEL ABOUT IT.  

So please, Sandy, don't post my humor up.. .now, you'll have a whole concise
file (or set of files) of my humor.   Just be patient!  It's easier then
sending copies to the twenty or thirty people on the list who want it.  I
just need time to finish compiling it, and putting in (unfotunately) the
disclaimers and legalese.   And it will have the right names, email
addresses, and spelled words in it.  I would ask people to replace this file
with the old one if they have it. 

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

><Kerry? wrote>
>>>Dogmatic cousin? Hmmm... Oh Cennnnnnnnnyyyyd.. *grin duck & run*

<I wrote>
>>Gods. (grin) And I didn't even do that on purpose....

>You didn't?  Geez, that's scary! That you didn't do it on purpose, I that I
>understood it that way <G>.

No, I *didn't*, no matter how much nobody believes me. *sigh* And I am NOT
keeping track of who nominates whom for what family members.  

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>On 7-9 Jake wrote:

>>BTW, .sig wise, I am upset about things that are happening with my short
>>stories, song parodies, characters, and humor, that's why I sound so
>>irritable.  I apologize to the list for it in advance. 

>I think that I may have been losing email because I don't understand what's
>been happening to your creations.  I don't want to reopen any issues, but I
>hope everything has been worked out.  Is there something I can do to help?

Alright.  What happened was someone had printed out one of my song parodies
and had circulated it without attribution.  And one of my top ten lists had
been posted on the web without attribution, even though I corrected the
person  (although that second thing might be fixed as I haven't checked it
these past few days.)

I heard about the song parody problem third-hand, and it got me slightly
upset, since these parodies are hitting the magazine circuit now.  I am
(trying) to support myself through freelancing, and this garbage that
happened was very upsetting, which is why I was such a pain in the butt this
week.  The other stuff is settled.

OBMISTY:  With the lack of mass-book publishing, did Bards have problems
with copyrights?  How the heck could Stefan prevent, for example (and
argument's sake, these are the only two bards I can remember, I know they
are from two different time periods) Leslac from stealing his songs and
presenting them as his own?


  
May the bones of your enemies form a bridge beneath your feet,

Jake / Rynath in Green <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
God of Parody and Top Ten Lists / Avatar of Humor
Misty Humor and FAQ archivist ~ http://www.webspan.net/~rynath

I eat too much / I drink too much / I want too much / TOO MUCH!
- Dave Matthews Band, _Too Much_



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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:28:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: kethry & Tarma
Message-ID: <199607120228.WAA09015-+AT+-smtp1.erols.com>

In the begining of BTS, when Kerowyn goes to plead for Kethry's help,  it is
implied that both Kethry and her partner are feeling their age.  Tarma
certainly wasn't any spring chicken when she took Kero & Daren on as
students.  After Kero leaves to join the Skybolts, Kethry & Tarma seem to
fade out.  In the Mage Winds and Storms books,  kero seems to be getting
old.  Whatever happened to Tarma & Kethry? I mean, by this time they'd be
pretty ancient wouln't they?

:)
Ami


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:36:16 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: books/companions/tardis/names/bits 'n bobs
Message-ID: <199607120236.WAA01967-+AT+-smtp2.erols.com>

> I've read ever novel she has written. At least I think I have? Every time
>I see A new book list, there is something new! 
>Patricia Christianson A.K.A. Spokes
>

No kidding!  Everytime i see a list with something new on it, I go running
(NOT walking) to the bookstore to find it- and it's not there.  they all
think I'm crazy (I am, you know):) Just the same books that I've read ten
million times... sigh
guess I'll go read them for the ten millionth and first time.
:)
Ami


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:47:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Oathbinded
Message-ID: <199607120247.WAA02886-+AT+-smtp2.erols.com>

Thanks for setting me straight, Jake.  I feel kind of stupid now... I mean,
I thought i knew all of misty's books....
Actually, I saw _Oathblinded on a list somewhre on the Net of bools to come
from Misty- along with _Triangle Park & _Arcanum 101.
:)
Ami


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:53:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: Topaze Smoke <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960711221827.6691E-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

First off, I would like to apologize to the list for having been a bit 
bitchy these last couple days.  I don't know why, since I have been in a 
fairly good mood, but I have come to realize (feedback is not a pretty 
thing, but very useful) that I have apparently come across as borderline 
nasty on a few occasions.  I haven't meant to (with one notable exception 
that I kept private) and I will hopefully be able to avoid it in the future.

"O, Goddess of Forgiveness | Amoung the three levels of the world you are 
most needed |  In the vastness of the Heavenly Spheres you reign from on 
high | You're coming is as the coming of a gentle mist | You're presence 
is as the presence of sweet glades and valleys | As little animals are 
made glad by the coming of the dawn, the world sings at your advent | 
Hear the prayer that I offer up to you | Grant that your gift fall upon 
me as the blessing of rain upon scorched earth"

(can you tell that I have been re-reading "Lord of Light"?)

Anyway, on to other things.  The thread about where would you like to 
live (in a fant-fict setting) and why:

Well, to be honest my first choice would be to live in the fantasy world 
that I have been creating over the last several years.  This is the home 
dimension of the Mage of Green Silences and is a very interesting and 
wonderful place full of adventure, magic, beauty, evil, and 1,001 
forbidden pleasures.  I don't think that I would be the Mage though.  He 
is sort of tied into his Halls and that would get boring.  I would be one 
of the scions of the line E Koresh (they are all gifted with incantry) or 
one of the Great Houses (they all have really kewl attributes like 
Levitation or Telepathy).  I wouldn't be one of the heirs or highly 
placed members of the house, but would be one the unimportant but highly 
placed ones (say...a 4 or 5 son of the Lord of the house).  That way I 
could spend all my time alternating between courtly intrigues and 
interesting adventures.

As a second choice, I suppose I would pick Velgarth...as long as I was 
guaranteed never to be Chosen!  I would, of course, be a mage and would 
live in isolation in the Pelagirs, using my magic to preserve the land 
and gently shape and heal the beasts that had been twisted and made 
monstrous by the Mage Wars.  I would be surrounded by the remnants of the 
makar<sp?> which I had preserved and healed as well as by packs of good 
wyrsa and other beings.  This would come as a major surprise to the 
Tayledras, when they encountered me, since they have always taken the 
easy way out and just settled for eradicating the twisted results of the 
MageWars, rather than healing them.

-----EOM

On Fri, 12 Jul 1996, undine wrote:

BOM>>>Subject: FAQ & kitsune

> Any suggestions for reading more about kitsune? Cennydd? Anyone?

Well, there are a couple of short-stories in the S&S volumes (I don't 
know which ones, off-hand, but I remember that one of them has several 
fox-were stories, though they aren't all kitsune).  Alan Dean Foster (I 
think) also wrote a story about a man who encounters a Chinese fox-woman 
and her family.  Another place is Pamela Dean's "The Nightingale."  One 
of the characters is named Kitsune and is the perfect example of the type 
of character kitsune usually are portrayed as being (although this 
character isn't really a fox-were).  I have a few Japanese folk-tales 
about kitsune that were sent to me from Japan by a man who was in a 
conference that I was coordinating, but I don't think that they are 
available in the US.  I also seem to remember that there was a kitsune in 
"Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu (it has been a long time since I read 
that).  Hope this helps,  

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

Cennydd,

Mage of the Green Silences.

Quand tu entendras le vent dans la vallee,
Que tu verras l'aigle en liberte,
Que tu sentiras le printemps venir en toi,
Ce sera moi, ce sera moi.

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+-Udel.Edu         |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:56:06 -0400
From: Seranna-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Cranky Uncle/Lil Sis/Auntie/Black Sheep/Birthday Song
Message-ID: <960711225605_154161627-+AT+-emout19.mail.aol.com>

In a message dated 96-07-09 22:34:36 EDT, you write:

>Do you actually WANT me to stop writing humor?
On 7-9 Jake wrote:
>Kory wrote:
>>And as for people who are taking Jake's stuff...stop. Please. Look what 
>>it's DOING to the poor guy! Jake, be happy to know that whenever I print 
>>out and show people your parodies, I always print out the full email, 
>>inlcuding your name, and am sure to praise you on the effort. 
>
>Indeed!  This is why I've been so cranky lately, and I apologize profusely

So this is what's been going on!  Actually, I you were reminding me of 'The
BodySnatchers'  and I was beginning worry.  Glad you're back.  <um, you don't
have any pods in your backyard, do you?>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Ditto day Mishi wrote:
> Oh please can I be the pesty, whiny little sister that everybody loves 
>but pretends to hate. Pleeeaaassse!!(said in a whiny little voice here)
>I think that Jake and Gryfalcon should be the dottering old uncles that 
>say such funny things and everybody just adores.

Yep, lil' sis.  Don't quite agree with the pesty, but if you want, okie-doke.
 But, I don't think dottering quite describes Uncle Jake.  Still don't have a
good famial picture of Gryfalcon...will think on it.  BTW, I'm the weird
cousin that hides in the attic, reading books <& sneezing>!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<Sorry, don't recognize the ID> Wrote 
>May I please be that aunt that always pinches your cheeks whenever she 
>comes to visit? (Another good use for that Tiger Balm! ;>)

The one that always smelled of Vicks and carried those wrinkled lace hankies?
The one that would sneak you money whenever she thought your mom wasn't
lookin?  Or the one that would make faces at the relatives she didn't like?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 7-10 Jenna says:
>Oooooooooh! *giggle* Can I nominate Reesa for the (tongue firmly in 
>cheek) black sheep of the family? *giggle*

Not a baaaad idea! <g>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ditto Day Jake writes:

>And, of course, in celebration of Kerry and Alisa and Spiritblade and
>whomever else's birthday,  the mailing list's resident bard shall sing a
>verse or two <or fifteen> from the SCA Happy Birthday song, which is sung to
>the tune of Song of the Volga Boatmen.  (Used without permission.)

>*ahem* *sings*
>Happy Birthday! (UHH!) Happy Birthday! (UHH!)
>Death and gloom and black despair
>People dying everywhere
>Happy Birthday! (UHH!) Happy Birthday! (UHH!)

Um, Jake?  I am one of those few people who actually don't have birthdays,
honest <she says, crossing her fingers behind her back>!...so don't worry
about *singing* the birthday song in my honor. 
>See!  I'm in a better mood!
'Death and gloom and black despair'....are you sure? <g>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for the long brayed.  I finally caught up to yesterday's mail, but am
afraid of what I'll find today.  Actually, I enjoy getting email from the
list, so I'm going to stop complaining.  Have a super <insert here> !

Seranna
Goddess of Lost Minds and Bodies





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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 23:00:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Message-ID: <199607120300.XAA03894-+AT+-smtp2.erols.com>

On Friday, July 12, Mishi wrote:

>ObMisty: I'm sure there are wolves on Velgarth...anyone remember references
>to them? Just OOC...(no, the ~other~ OOC! ;))
>I'm sure I'll think of five as soon as I send this, but at least I have an 
>ObMisty...<g>
>Wasn't Warrl some sort of wolf hybrid or something?  I thought that's what
the kyree were.

:)
Ami


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 23:02:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jake <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Age / Family Reunions NO OBMISTY
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19960713225140.19bf0018-+AT+-webspan.net>

Topaze Smoke wrote:

>On Wed, 10 Jul 1996, Rylissia wrote:
>
>BOM>>>Subject: All of us young people
>
>>>>I'm under twenty but I'm not admitting my age because then I will get no
>respect from anyone. No one seems to believe that chronological age has
>nothing to do with mental age.<<<
>
>I think that most of us on this list know that chronolgical age and 
>intellectual age are totally different things.  I think the chrono age on 
>this list is spread over a pretty wide range, but I think most of us are 
>about the same intellectual age or development. 

Indeed!  I think I've said this before, (whadya want, it's the old age <g>)
but, Rylissia, I don't care if you're 14 or 41, it doesn't matter.  You have
my respect, milady. *bow*  You sure don't act like a young teenager (which
is what I think you may be not telling us.  I mean, if you're under 20 but
17, I don't think you'd complain.)

My closest friend is 16 years old!  And I'm talking about close, calling up
on the phone and cry and talk about life close.  She's got a mind of a 24
year old.  Of course, then I know 50 year old people (not here, so nobody go
reading into this!) who act like they're 13.  I know people of all ages, and
that's not really a barrier to friendship, or respect, in cases.  

!-+AT+-#$%^%$&^%#$-+AT+-!#$^*()((**&^%$$#-+AT+--+AT+-!!-+AT+-~~!-+AT+-#$$%^*((*&$%&*%

>On Thu, 11 Jul 1996, Diana L. Heald wrote:
>
>BOM>>>Subject: Re: FamReunions
>
>>>>I don't care if your family is crazy or not - cherish these family 
>reunions.<<<
>
>I can't cherish the family reunions.  They are awful and I usually end up 
>so stressed that I want to have a screaming fit.  I also find myself 
>eyeing my kitchen knives and thinking "Noone would ever convict me."

Thank the gods.  Someone >else< feels this way!  I always am afraid that my
family gatherings will turn up like the Riddick Bowe fight I have on, pure
chaos and rioting <what a ridiculous fight this evening!>.  It's always WHO
isn't talking to WHO, or which daughter is out of the good graces of the
family matron. *sigh* A pit of anger and frustration, and since my goal at
family gatherings is to ensure things go smoothly, I usually wind up
thinking the same way Cennydd does.  :: If I get rid of ONE or TWO of
them.... ::  They're good in ones and twos, and I love my home family unit
and my grandmother and aunt.  But outside of that, gather more than four or
five of them in one place, and it's a mess.

>>>>I didn't make it to the reunion last year because I was 
>busy looking for a job.  We had another one to bury my mother.
>This year we had another one to bury my uncle.<<<

That's terrible, Diana.  I have a big family (my great grandmother had 10
children)  and it's getting to the times where the grand aunts and uncles
are leaving to start over again.  Senior year in high school, I think I had
six funerals in six months.  So I sympathize, but I feel your statement is
too much "even if it's bad, like it, because when it's gone, you'll miss it"
for me.




May the bones of your enemies form a bridge beneath your feet,

Jake / Rynath in Green <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
God of Parody and Top Ten Lists / Avatar of Humor
Misty Humor and FAQ archivist ~ http://www.webspan.net/~rynath

I eat too much / I drink too much / I want too much / TOO MUCH!
- Dave Matthews Band, _Too Much_



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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 23:03:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: Topaze Smoke <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: Misty Lackey List <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: Just FYI to the list.
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960711225447.6691F-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

Heyla all,

I just thought that I would let you know about something that I found on 
the web.  There is an awesome cyber bookstore at amazon.com (I think the 
complete addy is "http://www.amazon.com"--Yep, I just checked, and that 
is it.)  They offer some really great services, including a notification 
list for books by your favorite writers and contests to win gift 
certificates ($100 and $1000 prizes for writing the best book review of 
the month and things like that).  I was just blown away.  

Plus, they have around 62 books listed for Misty.  Even counting the 
paperback/hardback dupies, that is a lot of books.  BTW, they list S&SIII 
as "Not officially out of print" and have a page that you can check 
occasionally for reissuing notices (if the publ. ever reissues it).  

Anyway, I just thought you might be interested.  Now I am going to go 
find a online used bookstore and find oodles of copies of S&SIII

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

Cennydd,

Mage of the Green Silences.

Quand tu entendras le vent dans la vallee,
Que tu verras l'aigle en liberte,
Que tu sentiras le printemps venir en toi,
Ce sera moi, ce sera moi.

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+-Udel.Edu         |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 23:04:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: philip dancause <dancause-+AT+-erols.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk>
Subject: I'm Sorry
Message-ID: <199607120304.XAA04205-+AT+-smtp2.erols.com>

on my last post, I incorrectly credited mishi with something that Herald
Michal wrote (wolves on Velgarth)
my apologies to both

:)
Ami


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

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 10:15:33 -0400
From: Shadow-Lover <wdjpej-+AT+-ix.netcom.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Braide: Bippy the Mime / Larry Dixon / Life bonds /etc
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960712141533.0068b3bc-+AT+-popd.ix.netcom.com>

At 08:53 AM 7/11/96 +0100, you wrote:

>Roffle!  You know, you missed the scene with Leslac, Tarma, 30 pounds of
>suet, and the red hot iron poker... I can TELL that Larry didn't help on
>THIS one!  

        I wonder if Larry had something to do with that scene where Kethry
turned Tarma into a man for a night so she could keep Jarek company while
she was out repopulating Tale'sedrin with the Star-Eyed...  (Was is
Oathblinded or Oathbreakers when Kethry admitted she was a man in drag, and
an incarnation of V'kandis at that!  I forget!  Textevd someone?)


                                             - Shadow-Lover
************************-=E-mail-WDJPEJ-+AT+-ix.netcom.com=-***********************
* - Puritainism: The haunting fear that somebody, somewhere might be happy...*
*									     *	
* - Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else... 		     *
*									     *
* - Dancing naked to the drums...  Something Wiccan this way comes...	     *
*******************************-=IRC: Hairenn=-*******************************


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:35:56 -0500
From: Claris Smith <ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Bards, Re-worked legends
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960712033556.006b3cd4-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>

Jake "Don't call me Rynath!" said:
>OBMISTY:  With the lack of mass-book publishing, did Bards have problems
>with copyrights?  How the heck could Stefan prevent, for example (and
>argument's sake, these are the only two bards I can remember, I know they
>are from two different time periods) Leslac from stealing his songs and
>presenting them as his own?

I would imagine it's because bards are the masters of character
assassination, and any infringing bard would find himself the target of
*other* bards' nasty wits.  As a group, they'd be motivated to protect
origins.  On the other hand, on Earth anyway, bards performed other
musicians' works all the time.  There being no such thing as royalties,
authorship wouldn't be such a big deal.  Besides, capital B Bards (Gifted
ones) all know each other, right? (I.e., there's some kind of structure).

(BTW, Jake, nice Web page!)

If Misty really does a re-do of the firebird legend next, I'm going to get
worried.  What's next, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with singing gargoyles
and a happy ending??? (Waaaaaaait a second .....) ;)
Actually, I love well-done new versions of old tales.  Going back to the
bard theme, that's the way it was always done; the tales *grew*.  Recent
cases-in-point:  _The Serpent's Tooth, Tam-Lin, Beauty, The Grail of
Hearts_, the Reynardine story in "Life on the Border", etc.
*Claris Smith, Art/History Major, GM/Gamewriter, sf/fantasy Artist, Gung Fu
Student*
 *U. of A., Su Ko Ming, Razorbattles Art Show Coordinator, The Dragon Roars
Editor*
     *ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu  |  4045 Abington Ct. Fayetteville AR 72703-5065*
       *The first prerequisite for immortality is death.  ---Stanislaw Lec*


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 20:44:08 -0700
From: be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Bardic Tales/Sacred Ground
Message-ID: <199607120344.UAA19544-+AT+-scn.org>

Megan wrote:
> > >>>>>those aren't the bard's tales books! those are the bardic voices
>books! :) (the only reason that I know is because I've read the bardic
>voices books and not the bard's tales.  So here's a question to you all
>are the bard's tales books good? or at least better than silver gryphon? 
>And about the sacred groung question--no it's not Di book but I did like
>it ( okay I know everyone will attack me for saying so, but even with the
>boo-boos I still liked it) 

	The first Bard's Tale book, Castle of Deception, is very well 
written, as is the sequel to it written by Josepha Sherman.  The second 
one (Fortress of Frost and Fire) should be thrown away and the third is 
mildly better..  I too love the SERRAted Edge series, especially the ones 
about Tannim, and the series about Eric, Beth and Kory.  Not too fond of 
Bardic Voices, haven't read either Bardic Choices or Wing Commander.  I 
totally love The Ship Who Searched (about the only book of mine that has 
CFOS)...  

	Re: Character I'd be...

	I'd like to be my persona in Valdemar(Herald), and elf in the 
Eric, Beth and Kory series, or a Vampire from a number of different 
universes...

Just my thoughts....
Zhai'helleva,

Herald Briana

--
Herald Briana Kestyl		For some reason I never had any trouble
Lady In Green				figuring out what death was all 
wc814-+AT+-freenet.victoria			about; but life - that's taken 
be248-+AT+-scn.org				me until now.

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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 22:59:29 -0500
From: Claris Smith <ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Apologetic Cennydd; Kitsune
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960712035929.00675bb0-+AT+-comp.uark.edu>

At 04:43 AM 7/12/96 +0100, Cennydd wrote:
>First off, I would like to apologize to the list for having been a bit 
>bitchy these last couple days. 
Who, *you*??? Never!

>
>Anyway, on to other things.  The thread about where would you like to 
>live (in a fant-fict setting) and why:
>
>Well, to be honest my first choice would be to live in the fantasy world 
>that I have been creating over the last several years.  

So, what are you doing with this world?  (Spending a lot of time in it,
yeah, but besides that!)

>On Fri, 12 Jul 1996, undine wrote:
>
>BOM>>>Subject: FAQ & kitsune
>
>> Any suggestions for reading more about kitsune? Cennydd? Anyone?
Oops, how did I miss this?  Try _Night Creatures_, from Time-Life's
Enchanted World series (your library probably has them).  It has some nice
artwork, and there's a famous kitsune legend in the back.  I don't remember
any kitsune in Murasaki's Tale of Genji, but maybe I need to re-read it and
find them!

Was that kind of Misty-relevant?  Sure it was!  Uh-huh.
OK, then. Um....actually, I'm not sure I want to see these new Di books, if
Andre' isn't in them <pout>.  (JOKE!  JOKE!  I already sent e-mail to Tor!)
*Claris Smith, Art/History Major, GM/Gamewriter, sf/fantasy Artist, Gung Fu
Student*
 *U. of A., Su Ko Ming, Razorbattles Art Show Coordinator, The Dragon Roars
Editor*
     *ccsmith-+AT+-comp.uark.edu  |  4045 Abington Ct. Fayetteville AR 72703-5065*
       *The first prerequisite for immortality is death.  ---Stanislaw Lec*


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

Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 21:05:18 -0700 (MST)
From: Edward Dunai <edward01-+AT+-IMAP2.ASU.EDU>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: TWO new song parodies! The joy!
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960711205925.12644A-100000-+AT+-email1.asu.edu>



On Fri, 12 Jul 1996, Jake wrote:

> Wahey, folks!
> 
> We've got two, yes two, dos, zwei, dva, deux song parodies
> for you this time!  The first is a parody of LAMMAS NIGHT by
> Mercedes Lackey.  The second?  Well, you'll figure it out.
> 
> (I'd like to apologize NOW for the second one. <grin>)
> 
> =============================================================
> VAN: Yet another parody.
> With apologies to Monty Python's Flying Circus
> New Lyrics by Jake Adamo <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
> =============================================================
> 
> Van, Van, Van, Van,
> Van, Van, Van, Van <repeat ad infinitum>
> 
> <when sick of singing>
> 
> Wonderful Van, Powerful Van,
> Magical Van, Wonderful...
> 
> <crescendo> Van Van Van Van Van Van Van Va-an
> Van Van Van Van Van Van Van
> 
> Wonderful Van!
> Magical Van!
> Powerful Van!
> 
> <slow down> Van.. Van.. Van... Vaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
> 
> * Author's note: I couldn't resist this one.  If you don't
>   know what song this is to, I'll give you a hint. It's a 4
>   letter word beginning with S and ending in PAM...
> 
> 
> <groan!>> 
> Jake / Rynath in Green <rynath-+AT+-webspan.net>
> God of Parody and Top Ten Lists / Avatar of Humor
> Misty Humor and FAQ archivist ~ http://www.webspan.net/~rynath
> 
> I eat too much / I drink too much / I want too much / TOO MUCH!
> - Dave Matthews Band, _Too Much_

OH NO! NOT THIS <g>  Great work, oh master comedic god...
<and I like python...>

OBMisty: There are no butterflies in Velgarth(hey, I'm getting desperate<g>)

Bahzell Banahkson

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

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 01:20:31 -0400
From: Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Braiding, Braiding--Will I ever get caught up?
Message-ID: <960712012030_154260874-+AT+-emout16.mail.aol.com>


Can't you folks go outside and sit in the sun once in awhile?  I mean I know
its
summer vacation for most of you, but I can't keep up!!!  Too old?  Never.  I
refuse.  In
fact next year I'll be celebrating the 1st anniversary of my 29th Birthday
<G>  Pardon for the lateness of the posts, but this is the first evening I've
been home all week *sigh*.

Korendil:  I too have considered the Firesong/Tremane bonding.  I don't think
so; but its a definite bet that Tremane will be chosen(probably by Florian).
 The one point that disuaded me was the arguement that Tremane had to shaych
since he didn't feel anything special for his previous female lovers.  Maybe
he just wasn't in love with them.  People do have sex all the time who hardly
know each other.  Tremane strikes me as a very self-contained type, who
doesn't give his heart easily.  Besides, Firesong really isn't prime for a
lifebond.  He isn't depressive and he would hate it as Silverfox warned him.
 I think what Firesong needs(asides from a good spanking!  He's a petulant
brat at times!) is someone who'll drive him absolutely crazy but that he
loves and can't leave.  It would serve him right<weg>.  Still its kinda fun
to speculate. . . . . . . 

Esmeralda:  >>. . . .now I know Dirk was meant to be stunningly ugly, but I
bet he had shining hair with no dandruff, good eyesight, straight teeth, no
paunch, straight manly legs. . . .<<<  Since Heralds spend a good bit of time
Companion-back,  wouldn't most of them have bowed legs?  Isn't that a hazard
of so much time in the saddle?  Or am I hallucinating?

Diana:  >>I call myself a recovering introvert . . . .<<<   I'm an
extroverted introvert or is that an introverted extrovert?<G>   Anyways, I
fake being outgoing really well.  I learned that from my heart-sister, who is
the most extroverted person I ever met.

Kerry:  >>>I'd like to see a Mind-Speaker who actually used their power
effectively.  Kero was a bit of a disappointment that way - I mean, she's the
one who's forever teaching people to use whatever weapons at hand . . . <<<
 Mindspeakers have a very strict code of ethics, even ones like Kero who
never developed her talents.  If she had used her talents as a direct weapon,
she'd never have been Chosen(IMO).  It isn't ethical to invade someone's mind
and take over.  Now if said person is criminal(like the rapist/murderer in
Arrows Flight) or if they attack first, then it is reasonable.  Just because
you _can_ do something, doesn't mean you _should_. 

Lately Korendil and others have been confessing their ages.  You could have
knocked me over with a feather.  I never guessed some of you were so young!
  The internet is the great leveler.  Leaves room for hope for World Peace.  

CatWoman:  >>>GGRR . . . .I might as well not read Storm Rising then . . .you
spoiled it for me! augh! :)<<<  You mean you don't read the end of the book
first!!??<G>

awand123:  on the vegetarian/raw meat thing(I can't find the orginal posts.
 Too many
digests!!) -- I can't imagine not eating meat(although I have a cousin who
doesn't because the idea of eating "muscles" grosses her out); but then I
imagine you can't understand us carnivores either<G>.  My philosophy on the
what I should eat/not eat topic is that everybody has to die sometime.  I
might as well eat what I want and die happy<G>.  

Cennydd:  >>>Tremane-Real surname, never heard of it as a first name<<<  I
don't know about elsewhere, but here in South Carolina its fairly common to
use surnames as first names, even on girls (for instance I know a dear lady
whose name is Fairey Louise.  Fairey, IIRC, is a Low Country surname.)

Mishi:  >>I was just curious if anyone else on the list has family
reunions?<<  Oh Lordy,yes!!  Theres nothing like getting together with my
insane family once a year.  Ya'll do a cake walk.  Well our folks sing.
*shudder*  off key and all around the tunes.<G>

Jake:  >>So I want permission from the listmembers to pull their answers and
give them credit.<<  That's a good idea--the pulling answers not the asking
permission :)  You have mine, for what its worth.  I'm seldom profound and
usually somebody else says it better first<G>.

Ami:  >>Furthermore, did anyone actually enjoy the SERRAted Edge books?  I
kind of did<<  I loved the SERRA books!!  They are witty and serious all at
the same time.  But then Dr Seuss is my fourth favorite author(right after
Lackey, Pratchett, and Elizabeth Peters)<G>.    

Sal:  >>If you could really visit the worlds of literature, where would you
go and
why?<<  That's easy!  My own personal universe is the perfect place for me.
 Then I can walk the White Winds and visit any plane or planet I choose to.
 Ok, so I'm not playing fair. <G>  I suppose if I had to choose a published
world, then it would definitly be the Discworld.  I'd be in the Ramtops
hunting down Granny Weatherwax, who is my role model!  If only I could use
headology the way Granny does.  (Misty is fun but Pterry is a riot!).

Debbie:  >>I never did learn how to snip the old way - and I havent a clue on
how to pull this one off.  If anyone on AOL holds the secret - I'd be
eternally grateful ( well, at least for a few reincarnations anyway !)<<   I
open up my digests in Works and a file I want to make my comments in.  Then I
used the good old cut and paste method for quoting.  AOL doesn't make it easy
to reply to any messages unless of course you want to write a zillion
e-mails.  Or you could try Tech-Live.  They might be able to shed some light
on the subject.  (BTW, I do the same thing for logging the boards I frequent.
 Makes life so much easier.  If you or any other AOLer's don't know that
secret just e-mail me.  I'm willing to share!  It works for both Mac and PC!)

Bahzhell:  >>Is it just me or is Misty's writing style changing, . . .<<
 I've noticed the same thing.  In fact, experimentation with style may
explain the poor quality of some of her recent stuff(not counting the Mage
Wars books.  I think I know the reason for that but refuse to say why in so
public a place!).  I noticed that in the Mage Storm series she's using
interweaving plotlines.  That isn't easy and explains a lot of the loose ends
in the books(not nearly as bad as Tad Wms though!).

Barbara(the Bertha-baiter<G>):  >>He thought it was wish-fulfillment on his
part; she
thought it was wish-fulfillment on her part; they were <both> right!!! He
accepted it a lot faster than she did, I think, because he's more used to the
MindSpeaking than she is.<<   ::grinning sheepishly::  You know you have a
point.  Its what I get for not double checking before I open my big mouth!  I
went back and double checked.  Sure enough, you're right!(textevd.  pp448-449
 _By The Sword_  SFBC edition)  Beg pardon, my mistake.  Thanks for
correcting me.

BTW:  Don't anybody believe a thing that the person disguising himself as
Peter the Great says about me.<G>  He is prejudiced(rightly so, he's my other
half<G>).  His name's really Mark(if he hasn't said so already).  PtG just
happens to be the source of his all time favorite quote.  Barbara:  we live
near Johnston between Augusta, GA and Columbia.  I am a South Carolinian born
and bred(for generations). 

Glith,
Goddess of Tardiness
Consort of Peter the Great?
"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
 Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;"
      --Edgar Allen Poe  "The Raven"

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

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 01:18:54 -0400
From: Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk
Subject: Vanyel
Message-ID: <960712011853_154260929-+AT+-emout07.mail.aol.com>

I got an e-mail from an aquaitance that had the following message attached to
it.  They pulled it from the "Homosexuality in Fantasy" board on AOL.  Since
I am neither male not gay, I couldn't very well decide if the premise of the
whole arguement was true or not.  So, I'm throwing it out for a general chew
over.   I don't agree with it, but there are some valid point there.
 Remember:  This isn't my opinion!!
>>Subj:  Re: The Last Herald MageDate:  96-02-07 23:15:15 EDTFrom:
 JNelson659     
>>The main character, Vanyel, is a male, and he is homosexual.  But the books
are about much more than his sexuality.  Lackey has homosexual relationship
occur throughout her books, as she does hetersexual ones.  Homosexual issues
aside, these books are fabulous.<<Ah yes!  There we have it...  It has been a
while since I read the book (having gotten it immediately when it came out),
but while finding it diverting, I remember being dissappointed...feeling
used...  This often happens when straight or bi- women write about male
homosexual characters.  It can be nice, real nice, but ultimately it doesn't
ring true, just because homosexual issues are, as you put it, "aside".  What
do I mean by this?  Well, it is something I noticed, or rather, had brought
to my conscious attention, when I was reading some critical essays about
/-fiction (read that "slash"-fiction), especially a wonderful essay by Joanna
Russ.  For the uninitiated, /-fiction or "slash" is a genre of fan fiction
that takes two established characters such as Batman and Robin, Robinhood and
Little John, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, or perhaps the most quintessencial
paring, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, and writes a non-canonical story about
them as if they were
homosexual lovers.  "Kirk/Spock", "Luke/Han", "x/y" is the way sub-genres of
/-fiction are notated, hence the designation "slash".  Now what does this
have to do with Misty's Vanyel?Well, Joanna Russ, when analyzing /-fiction
points out textual indications that these stories, while superfically about
two men in a homosexual situation and thus primafacia seem to be "homosexual"
stories, if one looks at them closely one can see that one of the characters
is actually deeply coded as a female.  The sex scenes, if analyzed closely,
are actually described as if they were heterosexual.  Two homosexual males
don't/can't have the sex as described in the story.  Interestingly, Russ
notes that it is predominantly straight women who write /-fiction - And she
goes on to theorize about the social significance of the genre:  Essentially,
in these stories, the authors embody an ideal egalitarian sexual relationship
that they, straight women, wish they had.  The two characters are ostensively
male so that they are equal and free of the power issues that are
typically involved in heterosexual relations.  (What does this have to do
with Vanyel???)I found Russ' analysis persuasive, and since, whenever I read
or re-read stories about male homosexuals by women (particualarly straight
women) I am aware of the dynamic that Russ outlined in her essay.  I have to
honestly ask myself, "Are these really gay male characters?"  If I honestly
have to say, "No..." I am disappointed and feel used by the author.  In
Misty's case, I believe that she trys real hard, and undoubtable has her
heart in the right place; but, her homosexual male characters were ultimately
not convincing.   Their actual homosexuality was bracketed-out, put "aside"
in some manner and not dealt with in a truly imaginitively honest way.  Her
homosexual male characters have about the same relationship to real gay men
as the artist's drawings of those bug-eyed opalescent horses that the heralds
ride have to living, breathing sweating horseflesh that one encounters when
one goes out riding oneself.  One gets the idea that Misty finds homosexual
sexual relations a bit icky.  She honestly can't deal with them and so she
doesn't...  I may be real off-base, and stand to be corrected or convinced
otherwise.  I haven't read much beyond The Last Herald Mage. Please don't
respond as if I have blasphemed or taken the name of God in vain.  Literary
idolatry is unbecoming and not very flattering of its object.  Misty does not
need to be defended, she needs to be
encouraged to do even better.With all respect,   Jeffrey<<

Well, any thoughts?

Glith,
Goddess of Tardiness

". . .and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, 
 Fall, gall themselves and gash gold-vermillion"
     --Gerard Manley Hopkins  "The Windhover"

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

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 682
*********************************