MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 924

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) FBird/instruments/re oops/one book/bookstore/waves/demonhood
	by Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
  2) Firebird/Shakespeare/One book/Blast-craters/no-one-true-way/Circles
	by Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com
  3) One True Way/Learning Languages/Acolytes
	by Lynne Markova <lynne-+AT+-seaccd.sccd.ctc.edu>
  4) Re: professors (off topic)/music/one book/languages
	by "Linda Malcor, Ph.D" <legend-+AT+-oxy.edu>
  5) Acolytes/Bodily Harm/senses
	by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA
  6) Music/instruments in Velgarth
	by Katherine M Brielmaier <Katherine.M.Brielmaier-1-+AT+-tc.umn.edu>
  7) Re: pronunciations
	by Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
  8) Reply to: languages
	by Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
  9) Bodily Harm
	by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA
 10) Braiding to beat the band
	by GRAYMT-+AT+-centum.utulsa.edu
 11) Evendim Fish/Lores/pronunciation/Misty songs/emoting /Music
	by Rose <prose-+AT+-ctol.net>
 12) Spanish Braid. (As opposed to French, which I don't speak) 
	by Nicole Dubuc <nicole.dubuc-+AT+-yale.edu>
 13) KK/burned hand/music/Xanth/Happy b-day/Aww..../other Piers/
	by Soljan-+AT+-aol.com

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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 14:56:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: FBird/instruments/re oops/one book/bookstore/waves/demonhood
Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.95.961106135447.27362B-100000-+AT+-orion.naz.edu>

For anyone who wants to know something about FireBird, I went to
WaldenBooks the other day and picked up a catalogue of theirs that said:
'In the time before the Tsars, Ilya, a young Russian noble, has caught a
glimpse of the fabulous Firebird stealing cherries from his father's
orchard. Banished from his homeland for disobeying his tyrannical father,
Ilya travels the land, meeting strange beings like a talking fox, and
solving magical puzzels. But his heart is set on the Firebird, with which
he has fallen in love.'
------------------------------------------
Kaatje asked:
>I wonder whether Valdemar has the use of steel for strings, or do they
>use catgut yet?

In MPrice, Van(?) went to the faire to buy some instruments, and found one
vender who showed him something the vender was toying with, some steel
stringed lutes/harps.
------------------------------------------
 Jaiook wrote:
> Wintershard, for you I reached deep into my poket and . . . 
and then:
>but I didn't mean Wintersahrd I meant Ke'Leecha!!! Really Really REALLY
>sorry about that one

Oh, sure... Raise up my hopes of getting something, then dash it away like
it's nothing. No, no. I don't mind. Really, I was planning on moping for 
the day anyway, so...

Ke'leecha, Happy B-day! To thee I present a pure chocolate, no calerie,
life-size image of Vanyel. May thee indulge thy self as much as thee wish.
-------------------------------------------
For the one-book survey, I'd have to say Black Gryphon. It was my first ML
book, and still my fav.
-------------------------------------------
Kory wrote:
>and think of the horrors bookstores would have over where to put Pern!;>
I was wondering that myself, actually. What if one author is completely
fantasy, and the other sci-fi? That always annoys me if I'm looking for
only one of them, but have to sift through both. :P
-------------------------------------------
The Gdo fo Taypus wrote:
>2) Has anybody wondered what reflected these waves back towards
>     point of origin? Angles of incidence come into play here if we
>     aren't talking about a spherical reflector, I believe.

Yuck. Hmm... What do we really know about magic and it's properties before
the explosions? Were they the same after?
-------------------------------------------
Tensen scribbled:
>Yes, a demon can have followers.  I've had them before.  But they usually 
>die too quickly..  as I well  use them in ways they weren't meant to be 
>used :)

All right!! <joyful glee> And, since all of you dieties out their used
some thunder and stuff, it's my turn. Let's make it official...

Wintershard raises his finger and points to Cele. <insert flashes of
lightning> KABOOOM, CRASH, <the wind rises and swirls around them>,
Unto thee, Cele, I bestow the title of High Worshipper. Let it be known
throughout this realm that I am thy leader. And, when the time comes, I
shall appoint thee as Grand Priestess (hopehopehope). Go. And remember,
let thy good times be forever in the world of Crappy Weather.

....so I already wrote this before, so what? It's fun ;P

then Esmarelda had to write:
>We had 110km winds here today, which coupled with a blue sky, sunshine
>and temperatures of around 15 (that's deg. C) made it irresistable.

AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!! Ack, wease, cough! Hurry, oh worshipper of mine! Run! You
shall rue the day I become a God. 

[insert rest of letter]

YYEEEEEAAAAAAA!!!!! Quick! On to Denmark! AAAAHHH!


Wintershard
Demon of Subtlety, Discreetness, and Crappy Weather
"I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it."

















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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:04:44 -0500
From: Glithoniel-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Firebird/Shakespeare/One book/Blast-craters/no-one-true-way/Circles
Message-ID: <961106150444_346137291-+AT+-emout17.mail.aol.com>

Heather wrote:

>>It does seem like a bit of a traditional plot for Mercedes Lackey though,
gender-wise.  Not that I'm necessarily opposed on those grounds, but it
surprised me.  It may not be as different as the blurb makes it sound,
however.<<

Not being critical or anything but if you're retelling a fairy tale, you're
kinda stuck with a traditional plot.  Fairy tales are how they got to be
traditional, see<G>.   Sorry, couldn't resist.  

******

Kaatje commented:

>>Segue: Just saw Romeo and Juliet tonight....if you can survive the first 20

minutes, which are *horrendous*, I recommend it.  The rest of the movie 
more than makes up for it, once you get used to the style.  And some parts 
are literally stop-your-heart wonderful.  God, I love Shakespeare.<<<

Then Matt added:  >>Ok.  I want to go see it anyway.  I like Shakespeare.<<

Is there a new version of that old hack(sorry, R & J is one Shakespeare play
I really hate.  Its just too, too much.  Sickly sweet and idiotic.  Those two
were real idiots.  I much prefer King Lear or Hamlet or Othello.  At least
they had something to be tragic about!!)?  But I am curious.  After all  it
is the Immortal Bard we are talking about here.  Who's in it?  Who directed
it?  Details, I want details--private e-mail will do.  And have ya'll heard
that Kenneth Brannaugh is doing a stupendous version of Hamlet due out in
1997?  I saw a huge promotion for it at the beginning of his new version of
Othello(which was ok, I was spoiled the very first time I saw that play
performed.).  It, Hamlet, has an all star caste but the only one I can
remember at the moment is Billy Crystal as the grave digger.   

*******

Firemist queried:

>>question: if (for some reason) you could only keep one misty book out of
all
the one's she's written which would it be? (that's ~book~ NOT series)<<

Oh, boy--I thought this was going to be easy.  It would definitly be one of
the LHM books but its a toss up between Pawn and Promise.  I think though,
I'd have to go with Promise.  It isn't as painful as the other two.  I like
the ending and it gives us a chance to see Vanyel in a more normal light.
 But the main point is very few stabs to the soul(like you find in both Pawn
and Price).  There are others I might choose but none of them focus on
Vanyel.  So, they aren't worth the bother<G>(well except the ones with
Firesong)

*******

Korendil wrote on the great debate of who went out with the biggest
bang--Urtho or Ma'ar:

>>right, except look at the maps: Dhorisa is like 5 time the size of 
evendim! They should both be the same size....unless maybe ma'ar had some 
kind of dome-shield, so all the force went DOWN, instead of to the sides?<<

I think someone may have already brushed this area, but I'd like to expand a
little.  Urtho's blast crater would have been bigger.  1) Urtho's tower was a
repository of magic that he'd been building up over a lifetime.  Ma'ar had
had only a few years to invest power into the palace(wish I could remember
who mentioned this.)  2)  Most of the fighting at the time of the twin
explosions were centered around Urtho's tower.  Ma'ar's forces were closing
in.  Again adding to the magic in the vicinity were Ma'ar's created creatures
and magical weapons.  3)  Evacuation was underway from Urtho's Tower.  They
had all those Gates open throwing everything through that they could.  Those
gates collapsed after the explosions creating another whole set of
disruptions.  The Gates are significant since they are essentially doorways
through the Void.  The Void is the birth- or recycling- place of magic.  I
suspect it heightened the effect.  I'm sure there are other reasons but
that's all I can think of and 3 is the usual number of proofs.

**********

Cennydd wrote:

>>I am more coming to the conclusion that Misty's touting the "no one true
way" is a crock.  She seems quite convinced that there is one true way and it
is the Heralds of
Valdemar way, backed up by the Goddess and God who are always the same
although they may be known by different names.<<

Then Korendil commented:

>>The thing is...the One Law is =
too small...it doesn't *work*...if there's no true way, then Ancar =
shouldn't have been fought against..since his way isn't bad, just =
different.<<  
 *snipping*
>>.misty has us not like her bad guys, like her good =
guys...but that isn't compatible with the way valdemar should =
work...it shouldn't do anything against cultures that are different =
or against people because they do horrible things...<<

And Heather added:

>>>>I really don't think it's that Misty is rigid and exclusionary.  I think
it's that she's stopped challenging herself.  She found a way to be, a
way to think, something that works for her, and she's simply ignored
other paths.  She just does not seem to push the envelope anymore in the
way that some of her earlier work did.  She was very brave and very
idealistic years ago, when she insisted on having utterly independant
adventuring women and gay protagonists.  Now Xena is the third-rated
show in syndication and everytime you turn around there are new queers
on the SF shelves, and Misty hasn't kept going.  She hasn't continued to
break ground, and I expect that also means she hasn't continued to
evolve significantly in her own thinking and, if I may say it, spiritual
growth.<<

 I must admit that I have to agree.  Misty has been selling her public short
lately and if it continues, I forsee the day when I might forswear
Misty(heaven's forfend).  The problem lies in the fact that everyone is
perfect.  She sort of glosses over the utterly nasty individuals that appear
in any society(remember the Council in the Talia books?).  With a too, too
perfect society where do conflicts come from?  Super charged bad guys, of
course!  She's setting up paper dragons and giving the good guys flame
throwers.  Makes for boring or dissatisfying reading.  Its worse even than
Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow & Thorn series.  That one only needed major
re-write.  Misty's newer stuff needs to be put on the scrap heap for salvage.
 My husband said that its like she writes some then hits the word counter to
reach a quota.  Story by quota isn't worth the paper its printed on.  

So things are getting bad but where does one place the blame?  Has Misty
become complacent as an author?  Has she just plain lost touch with the day
to day world of real life(as Heather suggested)?  Or is she just greedy?  All
I do know is that its disappointing and I've taken to reading more mysteries
than Misty.  She's put me off the whole genre for the moment.  

*******
Heather wrote about Misty's complacency:

>>I think that kind of rigidity is a common characteristic of people who
were brought up in a "traditional" environment and become
non-traditional.  After this tremendous revelatory experience when they
realize that the way they were raised isn't necessarily right, they feel
like they've gained enlightenment, and they forget that enlightenment is
not one tremendous earthshaking experience, but an ongoing process.
There is *always* more to learn.  Sometimes the more people feel like
they have learned and changed, the less they assume they will need to
learn and change in the future.<<

I hope that isn't the case.  Truly I do.  I would rather believe she's
overworking and taking the easy way out than that.  If you quit growing and
learning, you're as good as dead.  Perish the thought, since I owe it to one
of Misty's series for helping me to regain lost ground after having my own
faith shattered.  Maybe that's why I keep reading, and hoping what I see
isn't really happening.

*********
Deniz wrote:

>>And stop knocking yourself.  We're just "Very Smart People" according to
our 
society's "Scientists are the only Smart People" thinking.  I wouldn't 
hesitate to call all of us Very Obsessed People, but Smart?  That implies
that 
everyone else is Not Smart, and I don't believe that one bit.<<

An apt example of the no-one-true-way principal!!!  I may not be able to
understand most of the discussion on the Circles question, but I can find
symbology in the way a leaf falls or dissect a poem with pleasurable
alacrity.  Variety, as the old saying goes, is the spice of life. 

*****
Emily wrote:

>>I don't want Misty ever doing two Velgarth trilogies at the same time 
ever again. The plots had potential (mostly) but the writing suffered 
too much.<<

The writing suffered IMO from not enough plotting.  A well rounded author
should know exactly where the characters are going.  Little side-line stuff
will turn up in the actual writing process.  The later books look to me like
Misty just sat at the computer for X-hours a day and poured down any
hodge-podge.  Things don't tie together.  For example, there was a perfectly
lovely declaration of love between Firesong and Andesha near the end of Storm
Warning.  I thought the relationship was an intriguing one since Andesha
wasn't solely attracted by men.  I remember thinking--aha, here's a nice
theory.  Love between to like souls is still love no matter what type of body
they happen to inhabit.  Then she blew it by making things fall apart without
sufficient explanation in Storm Rising.  Its as though she changed her mind
between books.  So instead of making a wonderful conflict of Andesha being
torn between his love for Firesong and being drawn to the Goddess, it gets
shrugged away.  Firesong is slightly insane and Andesha never really loved
him in the first place.  I liked the Andesha of Storm Warning.  He isn't the
same Andesha that appears in Storm Rising.  It wasn't well thought out or
plotted ahead of time. Mage storms are three books that are loosely related.
 The only people I care deeply about are Karal and Tremane.  Those feelings
were established in the FIRST book. 

********
Cennydd rebuked all us none science types:

>>Anyway, This Is A Flame: Telling people who are engaged in a non-fluffy,
on-topic discussion to shut up, because you aren't interested is rude!
Don't do it anymore, please.<<

Er, uhm, you do have a point.   I humbly apologize to Cennydd and all the
others who were so gleefully tearing apart the circle model.  Can I amend my
protest?  Can you guys try to explain your ideas/experiments in plain
English, like Spencer did back on Nov 1st.  I like learning new things, its
just that those technical words seem to signal a total black out of the
intelligence.  

BTW, Cennydd regarding your cold--if you're having trouble sleeping due to
congestion, you might want to try a remedy my courtesy Grandmother
recommends(works too!).  She says to put Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottom of
your feet just before bedtime and then wear heavy socks to bed.  It clears
your breathing without having the stuff on your chest and allows you to
sleep.  Sleep and chicken soup are the best healers--oh yeah, and
laughter.<G>  Consider this my apology offering.  Hope you feel better.
 Lingering colds are the pits.

********
Deniz wrote at the end of extended explanation:

>>Whew!  That turned out to be longer than I expected, but I hope it was 
understandable to all you who profess to not like the formulatic aspect which

is the crux of the matter I just outlined in (I hope!) layman's terms.<<

All I can say is THANK YOU!!!  I'll have to read it through a couple more
times but I got the gist of it the first time.  It does make sense.  I really
appreciate it!  One thing is for sure, Misty really ought to have gotten her
physics straight before she field tested it on the most critical audience of
readers in the world(sci/fi readers tend to be science oriented for the most
part).  You folks are certainly making mincemeat of a spurious theory.  
Would you accept a finely crafted crystal clock shaped like a sheep, in
appreciation of your efforts on behalf of us poor non-scientists.  I must
warn you though, it runs backwards half the time, so don't go by the time on
it or you'll be late<G>.
*********** 

Glithoniel
Goddess of Tardiness
Mistress of Willowhawk(in exile)
LotPW

"Is there --is there balm in Gilead? -- tell me -- tell me, I implore!"
          --Edgar Allen Poe (The Raven)

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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 12:08:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Lynne Markova <lynne-+AT+-seaccd.sccd.ctc.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: One True Way/Learning Languages/Acolytes
Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.94.961106115020.29451A-100000-+AT+-seaccd.sccd.ctc.edu>

Lady Sophia stops listening to Gorecki's Symphony No. 2, long enough to
reply....

RE:  One True Way
I think Misty's characters realize that *they* think their way is the best
- but that it might not be for everyone else.  That's why Valdemarans are
*forbidden* to pray for victory in times of way...  from a God or Goddess'
perspective it might be best for Valdemar to lose!

RE:  Retiring Heralds
Jadus, Talia's friend in AQueen was retired - he didn't teach, and really
didn't have a "job" per say.

RE:  Learning Languages
The Goddess of Song was required to learn three languages en route, and
discovered that once one builds a *system* for acquiring grammar and
vocabulary (especially if the languages have similar structure) it is not
terribly difficult to learn the second or even the third, having acquired
one.  The difficult part is to remember which vocabulary pertains to which
language!

RE:  Acolytes

Rise, Lady Woodlark!  Rie, Lady Kaatje!  You are now Acolytes to the High
Priestess of the
Goddess of Music and Song!  To you falls the task of assisting the High
Priestess in keeping an eye (and ear) on those bards, maintaining (and
adding to) the Celestial Discography, to answering all calls for
inspiration and musical assistance!  To each of you, the Goddess of Music
and Song presents a mother-of-pearl instrument of choice, and a silver
notebook/laptop or CD player (for recording one's songs, and maintaining
the Celestial Discography).

Bright Blessings, 

Lady Sophia, trilling away
Goddess of Song and Music


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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 12:56:40 -0800
From: "Linda Malcor, Ph.D" <legend-+AT+-oxy.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: professors (off topic)/music/one book/languages
Message-ID: <199611062056.MAA20778-+AT+-latimes.com>

At 08:18 PM 11/6/96 GMT, Emily L Cartier wrote:
>Thanks, Cynnedd, for the suggestions. There are two comparative 
>religion classes here, and the profs have totally different lists of 
>textbooks to cover the same material. I assume that mine chose her 
>own textbook because she said she used it in college to study 
>religion! I find this hard to believe cause every other textbook I've 
>seen has an index and a bibliography (if it isn't primary source 
>material, like Rerum Novarum or the Qu'ran).

What is the name of this textbook?  I can't even imagine anything written in
this field without a bibliography (even Time-Life books have "Suggestions
for Further Reading"!).

>Since I was the one to complain about learning languages in Misty's 
>books I'm going to repost the question. Why don't her characters ever
>complain about learning grammar in their many foreign language 
>classes? Everyone seems to just magically know about six languages 
>and not have much trouble picking them up (except Karal and An'desha).  

I wonder how magical that is.  I wonder how many of the students come in
knowing at least a couple of the languages.  Think about it.  Anyone coming
from a border region generally has a primary language and at least a
smattering of the language from across the border.  Anyone who is of trader
stock or who was raised at an inn probably knows at least a little of
several different languages (It's just good business sense.).  And if
someone was the child of a noble, they were probably being tutored in
whatever languages would be necessary because of politics.  That pretty much
covers the groups that Heralds tend to be Chosen from, if memory serves, so
they might have all had a jump start on learning the languages covered at
the Collegium and be past the grumbling about grammar stage.

>But Talia seems to speak fluent Rethwellan, Valdemaren, 
>Hardornen and Karsite. Elspeth knows Shin'a'in, Rethwellan, 
>Valdemaran, Tayledras, and Hardornen.

I would imagine anyone who trained under Alberich everyday would wind up
with at least some Karsite (One tends to swear in one's native
tongue--especially if a student does something that is particularly careless
and potentially deadly.).  Training under Kero might expose the student to
Shin'a'in (the proverbs she's always quoting) and possibly Rethwellan.
Talia's and Elspeth's assortments could be explained on the basis of
political necessity--they may not be typical of every Herald.  Plus, don't
we skip over the years where Talia and Elspeth might have done the most of
their complaining?  I can't remember.  Also, once you learn two or three
languages, it becomes easier to learn others--particularly if they are in
the same language group.

Danya


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

Date: Wed, 06 Nov 96 16:42:59 -0500
From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Acolytes/Bodily Harm/senses
Message-ID: <199611062153.QAA00941-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA>

>Lady Sophia stops listening to Gorecki's Symphony No. 2, long enough to
>reply....
>
>Rise, Lady Woodlark!  Rie, Lady Kaatje!  You are now Acolytes to the High
>Priestess of the Goddess of Music and Song!  To you falls the task of 
>assisting the High Priestess in keeping an eye (and ear) on those bards, 
>maintaining (and adding to) the Celestial Discography, to answering all calls 
>for inspiration and musical assistance!  To each of you, the Goddess of Music 
>and Song presents a mother-of-pearl instrument of choice, and a silver 
>notebook/laptop or CD player (for recording one's songs, and maintaining the 
>Celestial Discography).
>
>Bright Blessings, 
>
>Lady Sophia, trilling away
>Goddess of Song and Music

I'm singing a joyous impromptu performance of Arvo Part's Magnificat to you, 
milady, who doth magnify my soul. <no, that's not a pun.  it's truth.>

Right now, I'm enjoying my mother-of-pearl presently-clarinet in rehearsals of 
Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen.  I'm also using it every now and then as a 
piano, to practice for my devoutly hoped for solo.  The notebook/laptop and CD 
player really help, too.  Well, in five hours or so, everybody will know 
whether I got it or not.

magnificatanimameaDominumetexultavitspiritusmeusinDeosalutarimeoecceenim...

Emily said:
>>Woodlark (who is not Deniz) said:
>deniz, stop whining, you know how to fall and you obviously aren't 
>hurt
Woodlark, be more careful of the High Priestess of Procrastination! 
It isn't a good idea to damage priestesses because sometimes their 
deity will get annoyed with you and who knows what will happen then.<<

Damage?  Deniz?  (Deniz, are you hurt?)  You didn't hear that.  She said she's 
fine.  Now, if she didn't say anything, I would worry.  However, she said 
she's fine (or at least, that's what it sounded like through the gag).  You 
didn't read that, either.  I hope that the deities on this list prefer not to 
interfere with the lives of non-practicers/believers.

>>Tell us all about it so we can be happy for you if you get the solo. And if 
you don't there are lots of shoulders to cry on here.<<

Don't worry.  5 hours.

Obmisty:  I really should think of one, shouldn't I?  Wait.  I got one.  They 
said that people with no mage-talent wouldn't notice these storms at all if it 
weren't for the tangible results, right?  That's kinda like saying a deaf 
person wouldn't hear a huge explosion, though... wouldn't some other sense 
inform said "normal" person that something big happened?  Even a raising of 
the hackles?

love,
free bard woodlark, Acolyte in |On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur.
Music and Song, and not deniz  |L'essentiel est invisible pour les
at all, even though i know her |yeux.
username and passwords. <weg>  |     --  Antoine de Saint-Exupery
                 dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA


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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:50:53 -0600 (CST)
From: Katherine M Brielmaier <Katherine.M.Brielmaier-1-+AT+-tc.umn.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Music/instruments in Velgarth
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.961106154514.18185A-100000-+AT+-gold.tc.umn.edu>



On Wed, 6 Nov 1996, Rozanna McNeer wrote:

 
> Firemist gets out the memory leash again <g>
> 
> Kaatje, I belive that in one of the MPs Van is buying a lute for Medren
> and the luthier brings out some 12 stringed gitterns and also some strung
> with metal wire --  Van's reaction was something about it sounding like an 
> angel in flight. The luthier said that instruement would sound good in a privy.
> <pun alert> does that ring any bells?

Ah HA!  Yes, it does--thank you!  OK, since this type of thing in 
Vanyel's time seems to have been recently discovered, then it would 
probably be safe to assume that by Talia's time they would have been 
using metal strings in all of their applicable instruments.  Then, it 
looks as if Misty is deliberately keeping her music genres as 
oral/small-group performance.  And given that much of the population 
seems to be isolated and not too much on the move, that would make sense 
(since people would have to travel to a central place to hear an 
orchestra, and that's not likely during harvest time).  But I wonder if 
there aren't groups of larger ensembles in Haven--at court, say.  All of 
this is wild speculation with no data, of course.  Just my way of amusing 
myself.

And thank you, Lady Sophia, for my Annointing.  (As I hug my new 
instrument close....I would kill for a hammered dulcimer, by the way...)

's e do bheatha,

Kaatje
 

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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 16:56:53 -0500
From: Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
To: "mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk" <MERCEDES-LACKEY-+AT+-HERALD.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: pronunciations
Message-ID: <199611061658_MC1-BC6-5809-+AT+-compuserve.com>


pronounciation guide a la Firemist <g>

Vanyel -  VAN- yell
Yfandes - Yuh-FAN-dez (rhymes with candies)
Elspeth - ELS-peth (as opposed to el-SPETH, which I have heard. ugh)
Talia - TAL-ee-a (the tal part is kinda like 'towel')
Selenay - SEL-uh-nee (I slur the 'nay' into 'nee')
Alberich - al-BEAR-ich (with the 'ich' slightly gutteral like the Dutch 'ch')
Karal - KAR-rul (with a rolled r in the middle) (that's the dutch pronounciation)
Natoli - nah-TOL-ee (again, a more dutch-ish pronounciation re: emphasis on
                syllables)

Moirain - Mwor-a-in
Nynaeve - NIN - ave (as in the end of 'behave')

Lythande - LITH-un-dee (MZB Thieves World charcter)


Firemist

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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 16:56:56 -0500
From: Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
To: "mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk" <MERCEDES-LACKEY-+AT+-HERALD.CO.UK>
Subject: Reply to: languages
Message-ID: <199611061657_MC1-BC6-580A-+AT+-compuserve.com>


with regard to speed of learning languages -- it seems to be an accepted
fact that children will learn foreign languages faster than adults, but the
ability plateaus or goes downhill at around 13. And isn't it in AotQ where
we find out that most heralds are chosen at 13? so their language learning
skills would already be on the decline, and i think talia didn't even have
foreign language classes until her 3rd year (no text evd, just a hunch)

I do know that in dutch schools the kids taking VWO have to take english
german, french and latin to get their high school diploma. (VWO is the
highest high school level they have -- out of three. MAVO is shop/trade-
school level. HAVO is  average, and VWO is for the brains. they get tested
and put into these levels at 11/12 (6th grade to americans) Mavo has 4 yrs,
havo has 5 yrs, and vwo 6 yrs until they get their diploma.)

firemist

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

Date: Wed, 06 Nov 96 16:57:47 -0500
From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Bodily Harm
Message-ID: <199611062207.RAA04862-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA>

i, woodlark, wrote:
>Emily said:
>>>Woodlark (who is not Deniz) said:
>>deniz, stop whining, you know how to fall and you obviously aren't 
>>hurt
>Woodlark, be more careful of the High Priestess of Procrastination! 
>It isn't a good idea to damage priestesses because sometimes their 
>deity will get annoyed with you and who knows what will happen then.<<
>Damage?  Deniz?  (Deniz, are you hurt?)  You didn't hear that.  She said 
>she's fine.  Now, if she didn't say anything, I would worry.  However, she 
>said she's fine (or at least, that's what it sounded like through the gag).  
>You didn't read that, either.  I hope that the deities on this list prefer 
>not to interfere with the lives of non-practicers/believers.

Sorry to do this, but I just realized there's an announcement I have to make 
real quickly.  Deniz is *mine*!  Mine, you hear?  I can do whatever I want 
with her, and -yes- she can do whatever she wants with me... like that... and 
that... umm... I have to go and... yelp! let me send this off, deniz! you can 
wait 5 seconds!... must be the sexy music on the radio... ooh... i reaaally 
gotta go.  bye!

love,
free bard woodlark, Acolyte in |On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur.
Music and Song, and not deniz  |L'essentiel est invisible pour les
at all, even though i know her |yeux.
username and passwords. <weg>  |     --  Antoine de Saint-Exupery
                 dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA


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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 16:35:05 -0600 (CST)
From: GRAYMT-+AT+-centum.utulsa.edu
To: MERCEDES-LACKEY-+AT+-HERALD.CO.UK
Subject: Braiding to beat the band
Message-ID: <961106163505.22b67b26-+AT+-centum.utulsa.edu>

On Sunday Rozanna McNeer wrote:
>question: if (for some reason) you could only keep one misty book out of all
>the one's she's written which would it be? (that's ~book~ NOT series)

Ah, it would have to Bedlam Bardz- ha, a two in one!  Otherwise it would
be Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, I just love Kory!

Speaking of Kory:
> Gavroche stopped,
>fumbled in his trousers, felt in his fob, ...

Kory, really, is this the place to be quoting such things?  I thought this was a
family channel... :D


Cenn asked:
>Ok, here is a recycle of an ObMisty: what popular song (from whatever
>genre) would you match up to which Misty characters?  Or what songs would
>you like to hear in the background, if they actually made a Misty movie.
>Sort of a variation of the casting thread (which can stay dormant for a
>while longer, please!).


Well,..let's see...  Firesong  -   (Tell us about the) Boy from New York City
                                 (can't you just see him strutting in, swinging a braid?)
   Dirk - I Can't Fight This Feeling (REO Speedwagon)  (as he's moping around
                                  trying to decide how he feels for Talia)
   Korendil - I'll Stop the World and Melt with You (Modern English)  (the scene where
                                  the three of them are standing together in the group hug)
   Vanyel - It's all Coming Back to Me Now (Celine Dion) (on Sovvan Night)


There's a start, I love music-people associations.


HTH:
>Ah, I see that the reference was specifically about Orthallen, and now I
>do vaguely remember that bit.  I though he was talking about Elspeth
>offerring the whole Council a chance to resign, which bepuzzled me.
>Well, I think Elspeth handled it well.  After all, Heralds are the legal
>system of Valdemar, and they seem to have a pretty structured system of
>Due Process of Law.  I.e., you can't just geek somebody without so much
>immediate physical danger.  Like, say, the person you're trying to
>arrest flips out and tries to knife somebody.

Well, I'm answering for my significant other.  Yes, it was partially about
Orthallen, but he was also referring to the other member of the Council
who decided to resign.  His quote at the time, IIRC was," She should
have put everyone of them under Truth Spell and then they would find
out all the other conspiricies and who else was involved!"  Can you tell
he wants to be a lawyer when he grows up?

deniz
>Xanth - it was great for maybe the first 5 books, and then it started to feel
>like a bunch of puns.  I think it is probably the worst body of literature to
>judge Piers Anthony by.  If you want to read good PA, read either the Mode
>books (seriously depresing, though -- main character is suicidal, and this
>isn't a spoiler) or his Phaze books.  Start the Mode books with Virtual Mode,
>and start the Phaze books with Split Infinity.

I agree wholeheartedly, except I haven't read the Mode books.  Alot of his
older stuff is really good such as Macroscope and I liked If I Pay Thee Not
In Gold.  Puns are addictive and thus should be administered in small
doses.

Heather hum-drummed:
>>I'm feeling a little down about the world today.<< <snip explanation>
Deniz (I think) suggested:
>Well, I know this is a bit cliched, but my suggestion?  Seeing as you're a
>musical expert, pull out The Secret Garden, and listen to "Hold On."  A few
>times.  Until you're singing along with passion.

My favs on Really Bad Days (tm) is any Yanni or Kitaro "Ki" although "Tenku" is
good too.  Or else the Nelsons or Hootie and the Blowfish.  If I kind of want
to stay mellow/melencholy then Cat Stevens.  But, if you really want to blow
the cobwebs away---I suggest  "Dancing at the Zombie Zoo" by Tom Petty.

Lady sophia:
>RE:  Learning Languages
>The Goddess of Song was required to learn three languages en route, and
>discovered that once one builds a *system* for acquiring grammar and
>vocabulary (especially if the languages have similar structure) it is not
>language!

Being the proud owner of three languages, including my native one and a
certifed polyglot, I can wholeheartedly agree that rembering which word
goes with which language is definately one of the most difficult parts.
Also, it is much easier to build on languages with similar bases.
(Hint:  Russian, Vietnamese and English do Not have similar bases. :) )

Firemist:
>Lores is the 'fathead, but an honset fathead' from LHM. Usually recognized
>as the 'dread Herald that beats Companions' Lores is a Fetcher with little or
>no MindSpeech. He mistook Tashir's companion ghost for a demon since he
>believed Tashir was a murdered and companions don't choose murderers.


Now, I am not laughing at you I'm laughing WITH you, really...'cause I do
the same thing all the time, when I start thinking faster than I can type...
Um.., who is the Fetcher with little or no MindSpeech that is the Dread
Herald that beat Companion Lores?  And yes, I could see someone mistaking
a friendly ghost for a demon, since it appears that his friend Tashir was
murdered.. did Casper and Tashir become friends before or after his death?


Okay, okay I'll quit!  Really Firemist, this is only gentle teasing because I
see my own faults.  A unicorn would never hurt anyone, except in self defense
or in the defense of the helpless.

Dax the Eternal, Lady of the Unicorns
"I will believe in you if you will believe in me"  --The Unicorn, Alice in Wonderland

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

Date: Wed, 06 Nov 1996 18:22:12 -0500
From: Rose <prose-+AT+-ctol.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Evendim Fish/Lores/pronunciation/Misty songs/emoting /Music
Message-ID: <32811DA4.55CA-+AT+-ctol.net>

Someone wrote (sorry, I got it from a snip),
> > lotsa fishing on evendim, and
> > there's more fishing in shallow water, right?
> Remember the Plains after the Cataclysm? They were in no habitable 
condition. And it took the stareyed to make them livable. If Ma'ar 
exploded in Lake Evendim shouldn't the fish be big, mean, and nasty 
three eyed, blinky-type fish?

Firemist wrote
>IMO wouldn't things be just a bit *strained* between the two? After 
>all, Lores beat Tashir's companion while Tashir was on his back (safe 
>to assume tashir probably got whipped too), and i would not consider 
>this an auspicious start to a trusting relationship. I don't care if 
>heralds are supposed to be compassionate etc, this seems a bit much! 
>Talia didn't forgive the brother with the poker. . .

Yeah, but Talia's brother wasn't a fellow Herald either. Lores probably 
learned a thing or three from his experience and I wouldn't be much 
surprised if he had become Tashir's mentor in Heraldry when he became 
the advisor. Randale, I would think, would have given Lores a very large 
piece of his mind on how lucky he was that he wasn't repudated and how 
he had to make it up to Tashir and both Tashir's and his Companions for 
being such an idiot.  Maybe Tashir's companion needed help from Lores 
companion to completely heal? It's most likely that Lores companion is 
the one who relayed to the collegium companions about the existance of 
Tashir anyway.

On pronunciation? It has do with who you yourself pronounce the words in 
your own language. I'm from New England with French-Canadien relatives 
and my speach is therefore very altered feo the norm. My A's are 
pronounced ah (take the pronuncation of Aunt as Ahnt) from the new 
england side, and my Y's end more in E's from the French side.  Letter 
combinations can be pronounced in so many different ways that it's hard 
to tell if any one way is correct. If you like how it sounds, go with 
it. You're the one ultimately reading the book and getting enjoyment out 
of it, heck, I know sometimes on really long complicated names I 
memorize the spelling in order to recognize the word because I don't 
want to even attemp to sound it out.

Renee asked
>BTW, does anyone know why Misty didn't record "Kerowyn's Ride"?

She did, but it's not on an album straight out of a series. Allow me to 
peruse Firebird for a momento...  Found it! It's on Magic, Moondust, and 
Melancholy.

ForverePsi wrote
>  I have also killed my emotions.  Through
>the ages I have learned to choose carefully who my friends shall be, 
>and show no outward emotion.  I have, however, become an expert at 
>reading the emotions of others, as I had experienced many different 
>kinds of emotion before I stopped showing my own.

Heck, You sound just like a very good friend of mine. And he's also the 
best friend I've got and from experience it's people like you and him 
(and Vanyel/Vahnyel) that have the strongest emotions and if they are 
shown then *wow*, noone is ever going to see someone so passionate about 
something then someone like you all.

Someone was asking about music? Well I like everything but woman bashing 
Rap. From Prokofiev to Pantera, and from Seal and Alabama to Aerosmith.

One day's mail is complete. Phewww;) Now onto Engineering HW.
                      Dyana

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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 18:50:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Nicole Dubuc <nicole.dubuc-+AT+-yale.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Spanish Braid. (As opposed to French, which I don't speak) 
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.961106183946.24938C-100000-+AT+-minerva.cis.yale.edu>

Hola.  Como estan?  
Well, I'm having trouble with Spanish, so I don't even want to think about
learning five other languages.  Some people can pick them up out of thin
air, like my friend who knows French, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, and
Italian.  AND speaks them bloody well!  I still have problems with English
(especially at 6 in the morning without my diet coke!)

 On Wed, 6 Nov 1996,Jaiook Park wrote:

> question: if (for some reason) you could only keep one misty book out of all
> the one's she's written which would it be? (that's ~book~ NOT series)

Hookay.  Well, since we all know that I am aspiring to be the goddess of
gryphons (among other things necessary for  one's sanity) it  probably
comes as no shock that I would choose The Black Gryphon, incidentaly the
first Misty book I read.  Yep.  And then I was addicted and borrowed all
my friends copies of the other series.  Skandranon rocks my world.  What
can I say?  I was supposed to have been born a gryphlet.

> One more question, well two, What types of music do all you people out there
> like(Go Alanis!)? and does anyone here like Xanth?

Alright.  I like movie soundtracks a whole whole bunch, and
essentially everything classical.  Alanis has her moments to be
played, but usually when I'm in a bad mood.  I also like the
"Music of the Eighties".  Heh, back in my era, we had music you
could sing right along with.  None of this techno stuff.  We just 
banged a couple of rocks together and that was music.  And we
liked it.  Heh.  
	As for Xanth, I know I'm treading on really really weak
ground here, but yes, I ~like~ Xanth.  The first books were good, 
remember that I read them ages ago, and now I enjoy the stories
mainly for laughs.  Since Piers has recently gone back to using
his old characters (Trent, Bink) his books have gotten better.  I 
think someone told him to look at his old better stuff, and now
he's trying to fight the urge to write weak books like the ones in 
the middle of his Xanth series.  I enjoyed the Adepts series, but 
it got weak as it continued also.  At least he cut it off when he 
felt like he was writing for fans instead of himself.  Having
made her point, Ke'leecha looks around quickly, and quickly dives into her
border collie camouflage, ambling amongst the sheep with innocent abandon.
:Sorry to have offended anyone: says the big-as-a-kyree 
border-collie:Well, my sheep are calling:

Cennydd wrote on Nov. 6:
>Ok, here is a recycle of an ObMisty: what popular song (from
>whatever genre) would you match up to which Misty characters?  Or what
>songs would you like to hear in the background, if they actually made a
>Misty movie.

Being an aspiring filmmaker, my ears perked up when you wrote that last
ObMisty.  (Have you ever seen a human's ears perk up?  It's kinda scary.)
I don't have any songs as of yet (But when I think of the Tayledras I
hear Wind Beneath My Wings, but that's cheezy), but as soon as I think of
some I'll post them. 

Hth, you sounded very sad in your mailing.  My condolances, because I
have days like that too.  Sometimes, the world seems like it's getting
better, and sometimes I wonder why humans exist.  We mess things up so
much, yet we place ourselves over other opportunistic species. We laugh
that some parasitic creatures are so stupid, they kill the hosts they feed
off of,and in doing so, kill themselves.  And then, I think about what we're
doing to the world, our host, and I realize that we are the same as a
loathesome virus.  

Now I'm depressed.  Oh, and deniz, thanks for the observations about New
Haven!  Yes, there is usually a siren in the background everytime I am on
the phone.  My friends and parents fear for me.  Sheesh (not sheep,
sheesh). BTW, I read Pegasus in Flight, my first book by Anne McCafferty.
I think the Talents are so cool. 

Thanks to everyone who sent me bday gifts!  I felt loved.  So, in the
thankyou note I am sending, I included rainbow colored shaved-ice sheep,
any flavor, for all of you for remembering.

Emily, oh invisible one, WHY do you need precalculus?? Its evil.  As the
(soon-to-be I hope I hope) Goddess of Those Who Hate Calculus, I shudder
that you need it.

To the goddess of music and her priestesses and acolytes, I play the piano
and the carillon.  Can any of you recommend some good carillon music to
me?  I'm always looking for some.

Um, Ke'leecha stretches out a paw and grabs at an ObMisty, any ObMisty:
Are there any interspecies bonds (Aside from humans)?  For instance, could
a kyree and a gryphon lifebond?  Just a thought.  I know, it was weak,
I'll do better next time.

May you always have a pack and yet know when to run alone,
Ke'leecha (Who knows she is the goddess of Diet Coke, Gryphons, and Those
Who Hate Calculus just as well as Dionysus knew that he was a god in
Euripides' The Bacchae, yet waiting to have her point proven by the Naming
One)
_______________________________________________________________________
"I have animal magnetism.  When I go outside, squirrels stick to my
clothes."  
_______________________________________________________________________



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

Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 19:05:59 -0500
From: Soljan-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: KK/burned hand/music/Xanth/Happy b-day/Aww..../other Piers/
Message-ID: <961106190558_136398777-+AT+-emout15.mail.aol.com>

I have returned from beneath the not-so-large-or-quite-as-dusty tomes(tm)!  I
had a lot more homework than usual,  and I got behind on my list mail.  

The Gid op typas wrote:
>> I could live happily forever after if the
only place Kelson ever appears in subsequent books is in a cradle!
I'm much more interested in the period between BP and DR, for example
what happened in 1025 that killed King Urien and his son Cinhil leaving
the crown to Malcom (Kelson's great-grandda) or in the 980's with King
Uther and his sons? How about the long-promised Childe Morgan trilogy?
And now she's whetted my curiosity about pre-King Ifor Haldanes! <<
  Yet another KK fan here!  I didn't mind Kelson at all.  Not that I can
recall.  I really must re-read though.  I find myself forgetting everything.
 I'd like to know about some of those things too!  My fave character was
always Rhys for some reason.

Firemist wrote:
>> Talia didn't forgive the brother with the poker....<<  
   I can understand that though.  Burning is bad enough,  but he told all the
adults she did it herself and no one bothered to look at the evidence.  Plus,
 that mark is there forever.  Every time she looks at her hand,  it's there.

Jaiook writes:
>>One more question, well two, What types of music do all you people out
there
like(Go Alanis!)? and does anyone here like Xanth?<<
   Music?  Hehehehe...I like a lot of different things.  Lemme think...Alanis
is good,  but overplayed.  I'm referring to her new album,  not Alanis!  that
someone mentioned.  I *love* Dave Matthew's Band, and No Doubt(notice my
sig?).  I just got Bush's _16 Stone_  and I love it....ummmm.  What else?
 Smashing Pumpkins,  Cranberries,  Collective Soul,  Oasis.  In other types,
 I love Enigma,  both albums,  and Enya is great.  I like Yanni,  and Susan
Cianni.  What else?  Gods,  there's tons of it...Genesis,  Peter Gabriel,
 Ace of Base.  I'll try just about anything.  I like musicals...Phantom,  Les
Mis,  Cats...that's all I can think of right now...
   Oh,  and our school is doing Bye Bye Birdie as the musical this year.  I'm
hoping to get the role of Rosie.  =)
Xanth?  I've read all of them except the new one.  I'll have to grab that in
my spare time.  (HAHAHAHAHA!!!  what a silly concept...)

Happy Birthday Ke'Leecha!!  I hope I spelled your name right!  As a gift I
give you a silver locket.  Contained inside is a magical handkercheif.  The
locket will open whenever you are sad,  and the handkercheif never gets wet.
 After you are finished it will replace itself in the locket!  Enjoy!

Sigh...no one wants to be a priestess to me.  I understand though.  Not very
many ways to be qualified I guess.  

Heather writes:
>>I'm feeling a little down about the world today.  <<
  I understand completely!  I heard about that frog thing in biology.  It
sounds so creepy.  Plus I bet the frogs aren't very crazy about it either!
 As for crime,  there isn't much I can say about that.  It's going to happen,
 but when there's a big clump of it,  it can be a real downer.  I hope you
feel better soon.

deniz said:
>>Xanth - it was great for maybe the first 5 books, and then it started to
feel 
like a bunch of puns.  I think it is probably the worst body of literature to

judge Piers Anthony by.  If you want to read good PA, read either the Mode 
books (seriously depressing, though -- main character is suicidal, and this 
isn't a spoiler) or his Phaze books.  Start the Mode books with Virtual Mode,

and start the Phaze books with Split Infinity.<<
  I liked them,  but I liked the others more.  A lot more.  Mode was very
depressing.  I found those right after I found Misty.  That was when I was
really depressed,  but everyone knows that story,  and I don't want to sound
whiny.  If you really want to know,  mail me.  Phaze would be
Apprentice/Adept.  Those were very good and deserve a re-read.  They were
very technical,  and I read them about 2 years ago.  Very good though.  His
Incarnations series is great also.  Starts with _On a Pale Horse._ 

Not much Misty in  here,  but I did mention Talia!

Lady Silvermoon
LIG,  Leader of the DDMF,  Goddess of Sensitivity
"We're boss at denial,  but best at forget."  Bush _Little Things_

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

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 924
*********************************