MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1014 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: ordinary by jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) 2) Re: armsmaster by Randi Skjaeran 3) poll /books 'n bits /new PoV on an old subject/ colours by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 4) WoFate/SGround/Religious music/sick? me not sick! by "Emily L Cartier" 5) Ordinary people by LCM46-+AT+-aol.com 6) Trek/Religious Songs/1st book vs fave book, etc. by John Hagen 7) Gambit/Huff/ordinary people/Stormwarden/Bardic Voices by Jaguar 8) Bardic Voices (a "wot she said" response) by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 9) from vix: xmas wishes/nonHeraldic stories/poll/byebye(temp) (fwd) by Wintershard 10) Re: poll /books 'n bits /new PoV on an old subject/ colours by "JAIME HATHAWAY" 11) collection of rambles... by haineca-+AT+-earlham.edu 12) Re: from vix: xmas wishes/nonHeraldic stories/poll/byebye(temp) (fwd) by Katherine M Brielmaier 13) Braiding again: M&M's/ the Guard/ Healers by Rose 14) Ordinary People by "Hth." 15) M&Ms/Gambit/PSAT/poll by Soljan-+AT+-aol.com 16) Important- Virus Info!...sorry, off topic by "JAIME HATHAWAY" 17) Re: Ordinary People by Kaatje 18) Re: Important- Virus Info!...sorry, off topic by Tensen 19) Brvaes Sees That Trial's A Hoax--He Can't Prove His Innoncence by Korendil ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 09:37:01 +0000 (GMT) From: jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Jerry Cullingford) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: ordinary Message-ID: <9612110937.AA13569-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk> > > Ordinary people in fantasy novels... Hmm.... About the only examples I can think of.. let me see... There's a bit in one of David Brin's _Traveller in Black_ stories where someone normal gets mistaken for a god, and I think at least one of the people-dropped-in-a- different-world in Ru Emerson's nightthreads series turns out to be fairly normal apart from some martial arts skills (BTW, I think most of Ru Emersons other books are much better than the nightthreads stuff). The protagonist in Larry Niven's _Flight of the Horse_ timetravel(ish) story is fairly normal, but then *most* time travel stories have "normal" main characters... Fairy tale type stories often have "normal" main characters, too. -- _|_ Jerry Cullingford jc-+AT+-crosfield.co.uk (Work) / | Hemel Hempstead, UK jc-+AT+-selune.demon.co.uk (Home) \_|_ www.selune.demon.co.uk (soon) \__/ ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 23:05:51 -0800 From: Randi Skjaeran To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: armsmaster Message-ID: <32AD0BCE.15DF-+AT+-sn.no> Just re-read Arrows for the umpteenth time - Korendil Wrote: >--do they all share the Armsmaster, or are only Heralds and Blues taught that? > Seemed to me all students _except_ the Blues get training, but only the special ones get much of Alberich's attention - very good like Jeri or in great need of improvement, like Talia. The rest get evaluated by A and maybe a lesson now and then, but mostly left to his assistants (sensible, that- _who are the assistans_?? Jeri we know, and Skif was considered. Seems to me A might need more than one. Same goes for Kero - seems like she took over later... -- life is lovely - Randi :-) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 96 14:17:58 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: poll /books 'n bits /new PoV on an old subject/ colours Message-ID: <9612111317.AA11163-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> greetings, Khenta asked: > 1) What was the first book by Misty you ever read? Arrows 1, then 2, then ..... > 2) What is your favourite Misty book? It's a toss up between BTS and the second Oaths book - Tarma is a great lady! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Deniz asked: > ObMisty: Is Fire Rose worth the money? I'm not sure, actually, who I > want to buy next. and I've had Wurtz recommended me. Well Fire Rose is ok - I bolted it in an evening, and will probably give it another whirl sometime soon. The end is a bit greased-lightening'ish tho'. Wurtz - only read one, The Storm Master or something - started fine, but got a tad formulaic. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Right, a couple of bits from Kory's unbraided braid (a tousled braid maybe?): > are the Power Line ones based on that weird planet in a crystal > singer book? Are they? I never made the connection. Is Power Lines the one with the half man/half seal bit in it? I think I stopped reading at that point. > here's a list of Mistys I never reread: I don't think I have a Misty I haven't re-read ..... oh yes I have, Eagle and Nightingale, and the Aztec'ish Di Tregarde. Di 'n me just did *not* click. I prefer Vicky Nelson. Oh and White Gryphon. I've not read SG 'cos I got put off by you lot, not the last Storm, cos I'm waiting for the standard paperback. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Mylee asked: > It feels like the whole of SWSang is a prologue to Partnership (is it? > I haven't read it yet, but I'm hoping it's about Helva and Niall), It's not, and of the spin offs from The Ship who Sang, I like it the least - sorry. Ship who Searched is good, City who Fought ain't bad - what else is there?? Oh and I also eat M&Ms like Mylee. Maltesers you have to suck until all the chocolate is gone, then put the honeycomb ball between your front teeth and slice it in two! Bounty bars you ear all the chocolate first, then the coconut, ...... ah me, those were the days, I'm an ex-sweet junkie, my teeth came to matter more! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Heavens this is more McCaffrey than Lackey - I need a new ML to read. Ah-ha - while browsing the old archives (1994 stuff - wow, Ian you were here *then*?), and finding a (sarcasm mode on) reeeallly fascinating thread 'bout what happens when the MO Companion dies (sarcasm mode off), with someone saying that if the MO dies then the MOC usually chooses another Herald, and that Herald will only have a temporary bonding .. yada-tada-dada. Weellll, that suggests that either a) the Companions know when they chose the putative MO that the existing one is going to cop it sometime in the future; or b) any bonding can be made temporary if it is deemed necessary. See - a new PoV on an old topic! And colours - I think Elspeth becomes a more peaceful soul when she quits wearing white. I "see" Alberich and Need as the say hard grey, Jeri is a dark dark blue, Dirk - a yellowy brown, Talia - neutral beiges. Who's red? Kero? Right I shall quit while I'm ahead, Esmeralda ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 08:28:38 -0500 From: "Emily L Cartier" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: WoFate/SGround/Religious music/sick? me not sick! Message-ID: <9612111331.AA09583-+AT+-udecc.engr.udayton.edu> My prob with WoFate was that it was the first Velgarth book I ever read. Think about it! I had no clue about what Companions were, what Heralds did, why there was no magic in Valdemar.... I read the foreward/explanation of what has gone before thingie and I still didn't understand anything. It assumed that I knew a whole bunch of things that I really didn't. Now WoFate isn't one of my fave books, but it isn't one that I never reread either. SGround is OK, and I like it, it's just that Jennie Talldeer and Co weren't that interesting that I'd want to read a series about them. It's not like there's a huge potential for stories there, and Di Tregarde is _at least_ as interesting. On the religious music thread: Some people pointed out that there is such a thing as an atheist and an agnostic. This is something I try to forget because it generally leads to headaches as a result of trying to make _all_ of my philosophies and religious beliefs work together... See I'm a Catholic, and an agnostic AND I believe in reincarnation. See where problems come up? I sort of compromise and work around this odd mix, because all three beliefs are at least slightly antagonistic (tho there are a bunch of Catholic agnostics who apparently have no problems sticking the two together). I really don't have any suggestions for atheists who have to sing religious music, but someone (prolly Hth.) pointed out that most of the great historical choral works are explicitly Christian. Hard to learn music without at least looking at Christian music. Meg asked for an update, so here it is. I'm mostly better and not as exhausted and tired and illogical due to the miricles of antibiotics taken on a regular schedule. I still have to finish off the antibiotic, and my lungs are still a little gunky, but I should be better before the end of the week. My lung capacity is almost back up to normal. And people wonder why I consider bronchitis minor.... Emily the invisible ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 08:58:00 -0500 From: LCM46-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Ordinary people Message-ID: <961211085758_1040245134-+AT+-emout07.mail.aol.com> To add to the conversation about "things" happening to PO people----how about whats-his-face in Douglas Adams "Hitchhiker" series----now there's an ordinary guy for you, and some strange things happen to him--------can't remember his name for the life of me. Gotta run, much to do, and not much time to do it in! Lorraine GoD/L But I'm not dead yet! MP/Holy Grail ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 09:44:46 -0400 From: John Hagen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Trek/Religious Songs/1st book vs fave book, etc. Message-ID: <32AEB92C.7030-+AT+-snet.net> Star Trek: First Contact - SEEITSEEITSEEITSEEITSEEIT!!!!! ST: 7, Riker commanded, Troi piloted. Star Trek TOS pilot, Majel Barrett Roddenbury played Number One. The Trouble with Tribbles what was a device used in the episode that was in place in 1954? I don't know unless it was the little dog toys that were cannabilized for the tribbles that moved and trilled. Religious Songs: Oookay. Having been brought up Catholic, both preVatican II and postVatican II, I love the Christmas Carols Joy to the World and O Come All Ye Faithful in the original Latin. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is beautiful when sung as a round. Of course there's Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (which always makes me cry), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Here We Go A-Wassailing, the Welsh carol with the refrain Fa la la la la, a la la la, and others too various to mention. I have masses by Messien, Bach, etc., etc. I have a CD of Native American religious songs or chants called Sunsongs. The point I'm trying to make is that songs for this time of year are so abundant that you can pretty pick and choose what you want to sing or hear. By the way, we celebrate Chanukah and Christmas and Yule in our house. Oy, the headaches. But that's another post. 1st Misty Book was Magic's Pawn. Favorite Misty Book is By the Sword. On to a personal note. On November 13, my grandmother died. She brought me up when my mother was off looking for work as a teacher. Nanny and my mother sort of co-mothered me and my siblings. At the same time my mother-in-law is dying of pancreatic cancer and will be going into the hospice by Monday. I am trying to be strong for my son and my husband who are taking this (Helga's dying) much harder than I am. I keep finding myself bursting into tears because of all this, especially my Nanny's death. Has anyone on the list gone through anything like this? Please e-mail me privately at john.hagen-+AT+-snet.net. Thank you. Lady Sara, Dryad Extraordinaire "Resistance is futile!" Data to the Borg Queen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 11:08:05 -0500 (EST) From: Jaguar To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Gambit/Huff/ordinary people/Stormwarden/Bardic Voices Message-ID: On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Mat the Cat in Green wrote: > On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Sara A Youngblood wrote: > > > And just what is wrong with Gambit? Other than he is a scoundrel, a > > Gambit. Ugh. He's so, so, *slimy*. > Uh-oh, I seem to have started something. .... And Gambit is YUMMY! So there! Although I still can't see Skif as a Gambit-type person. More a Storm-type person. > For Huff. Hmm. Well, if you want a standalone, go for _The Fire's > Stone_. It's a really cool book. Right 'Reesa? If you want > a series, I'd say the Victory Nelson Investigations. Esp. if you like > Di Tregarde. They're reminiscent of each other (tho, IIRC, Huff's books > came first) with occult detectives. Yes! Yes! Vicki Nelson is COOL! I 'specially liked what happened in the end of the series... but won't say for fear of spoiling. :) > ------------------ Hmmm.. ordinary people.. well, what about Star Wars? Lots of books have been written about the ordinary people in that.. Wedge and Rogue Squadron got a trilogy, Han Solo's got at least two trilogies..Leia.. well, she doesn't count, she's a princess. Umm.. Lando? SOmeone else mentioned Tam Lin by Pamela Dean.. almost everyone in there is an ordinary person (or seems to be, ). Misty seems to have almost no ordinary people, though. Hmm. She needs some... ------------------ EE wrote: > Wurtz - only read one, The Storm Master or something - started fine, but > got a tad formulaic. Stormwarden.. yeah, I read that a while back.. sort of liked it, didn't grab my attention in any special way. Are the other books in the series good, does anyone know? ---------------- And speaking of formulaic: My ObMisty! Does anyone else think that her Bardic Voices stories got very, VERY formulaic by the end? I was noticing a pattern by halfway through the Bardic Choices book.. though the first one was comparatively original: Free Bard couple, whether or not they know it, gets stuck in Big Bad City (tm). Are on Mission to Remedy a Bad Situation For Free Bards Everywhere, and of course are being hampered in Accomplishing the Mission by the Big Bad Church and the Big Bad Bardic Guild. But in the end, the couple is happy, the BBC and the BBBG are overthrown, the city and the Free Bards are saved, and everything is fine and dandy. YAWN. Anyone else notice this? Blessed be, Jaguar Leader of the Cat People J: "You're robbing a govt installation, Goddess of Large Hunter Cats Isn't that treason or something?" Chronicler of the Mage Wars K: "Your point is what?" Lady in Green -- Det. Jordan and Kermit Knight of Amber and Marigold Kung Fu: The Legend Continues ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 96 17:23:27 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Bardic Voices (a "wot she said" response) Message-ID: <9612111623.AA11272-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> Jaguar wrote: > And speaking of formulaic: My ObMisty! Does anyone else think that > her Bardic Voices stories got very, VERY formulaic by the end? I was > noticing a pattern by halfway through the Bardic Choices book.. though > the first one was comparatively original: Free Bard couple, whether or not > they know it, gets stuck in Big Bad City (tm). Are on Mission to Remedy > a Bad Situation For Free Bards Everywhere, and of course are being > hampered in Accomplishing the Mission by the Big Bad Church and the Big > Bad Bardic Guild. But in the end, the couple is happy, the BBC and the > BBBG are overthrown, the city and the Free Bards are saved, and everything > is fine and dandy. YAWN Yay, whoo whoo (a la Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman) - she said it, I agree! I also got slightly uncomfortable in E&N about the implied relationship between (bear with me here - read it once, didn't like it) the Free Bard girlie and some birdy thing. Call me hidbound, call me traditional, I may be a product of my upbringing, but I felt, sort of itchy under the skin about that. That said, I really enjoyed L&W - I've never bothered to try the 3rd. ciao ciao, Esmeralda Evensbane ************************************************************************** * No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got * * there first, and is waiting for it. (Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man) * ************************************************************************** The astrofizzizist in me just loves that one! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 12:42:07 -0500 (EST) From: Wintershard To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: from vix: xmas wishes/nonHeraldic stories/poll/byebye(temp) (fwd) Message-ID: This is from Vix, who got unsubbed by mistake. --------- First, thanks so much to all of you who have offered encouragement and support in my Quest To Remain Single--just the knowledge that there are so many kind people helps immeasureably, by itself. You are valued. I will be leaving temporarily, though, coz i have no idea how often (or if) i will be able to check my email--i'm going to miss you all tremendously! Should return mid-January or so. Since i won't be around for xmas, here's my early wishes (two): May all of your car batteries remain viable through the shopping season and not leave any of you stranded at 9:30 at night at a mall when everyone you know to call for a ride is out at a party or in another state. May no one bother you about your religious beliefs and practices this holiday season, whatever they may be. May your families not be psychotic when you're already too stressed out to deal with any of it. --and--May you all sound perfectly on-key and on-tempo when participating in the obligatory holiday singalongs. Unless you don't want to, of course! ok, responding to a few things now, Misty-related and otherwise-- On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Khaatje wrote: > > vix (thanks for not capitalizing, btw) said: > > >Well, i was kinda thinking of a Blue or maybe just some sort of hanger-on > > >who really, really, really thiunks s/he belongs in that saddle. > > (and this was. . . Kory? Mat? sorry, someone responding to me:) > > I dunno...I don't think I'd like to read that story. The person would > > hafta be pretty dense--maybe a minor character in a novel, or a short > > story... > > I think it's a good idea, but it sure would be difficult to pull off. I > mean, we're all pretty conditioned to assuming that the main character is > wonderful, bright, brave, special, talented, funny, ad nauseum. > Not to say that they're *perfect*, but usually there's something nifty > about them, otherwise why would there be a novel in the first place? > Unless of course they're totally average and something really amazing > happens to them--which is something I'd like to read. Hear, hear! I was gonna say just that, didn't have time to do so b4 lunch, and you took the words right out of my mind. I really prefer characters who have to struggle, with their own shortcomings as well as outside prejudices and inner doubts. In RPG's, i just hate playing characters who don't have any faults, because 1.) it's not as creative and 2.) it's harder to relate to and really get into them. For me, and apparently for Khaatje, as well) it's the same way. but, in response to your question, i honestly cannot think of any such fantasy novels right this minute. I seem to recall reading a few, but can't think right now what they'd be. . .probably thinking of gaming sessions, or just wishing, huh? oh, and also, no, I hadn't been "abml'ing"; in fact, i've never abml'ed. I was just in a cider mood, i guess! > course, this may not be my fault, because I'm so drugged up on DayQuil > right now that I feel like I'm wrapped in cotton. (Got a Bad Cold). oh, what i'd give for some DayQuil right now. Or, better yet, NyQuil. Not ill; just not desiring to deal with reality. Tired girl! ------ Poll: First Misty book: Oathbound/Oathbreakers set Favorite Misty book: yep, same thing. (I have the same theory, incidentally) OK, i *must* do some studying, and will catch up with everything in a month or so-- vix, Goddess of Water. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 12:04:33 CST From: "JAIME HATHAWAY" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: poll /books 'n bits /new PoV on an old subject/ colours Message-ID: <161A7F66D2-+AT+-future.judson.edu> > with someone saying that if the MO dies then the MOC usually chooses another > Herald, > and that Herald will only have a temporary bonding .. yada-tada-dada. > Weellll, that suggests that either > a) the Companions know when they chose the putative MO that the existing one > is going to cop it sometime in the future; > or > b) any bonding can be made temporary if it is deemed necessary. > Interesting thought. I KNOW this has been done before, but I can't help it...it BOTHERS me....what do you think would have happened to Yfandes if Vanyel had been Chosen King's Own? HE himself thought that he was going to be, and probably would have been if Randale hadn't been so sick. He just cavalierily tells Fandes that he thought he was going to be KO. His bond with Fandes wasn't temporary, and the thought that she would just step aside for Taver just gnaws at me. The thought that Vanyel would just give her up like that gnaws at me too. sorry to rehash this, but I can't help it. Jacquelle "You broke your little ships." Lily to Picard Star Trek: First Contact ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 13:20:57 EST From: haineca-+AT+-earlham.edu To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: collection of rambles... Message-ID: <009ACAEE.9B54F34A.7-+AT+-earlham.edu> Heyla! Quick introduction here - I'm Wildcat, Priest of Large Hunter Cats. I go to Earlham College in lovely Richmond, IN. I spend way too much time reading, drawing, hiding in the shadows, and playing computer games. Lessee... What else? Not much, except that I'm really quiet. One thing that I noticed was that the Bardic Voices were formulaic. I never got around to reading the 3rd one, mainly because the second one bothered me a little. Not surewhy but it seemed to be a little too sweet, happy, and everything will work out happily ever after in some places. *shrug* Guess I'm something of a pessimist. I like unhappy endings sometimes because that's the way things seem to be. Wildcat gets off stand made of cliches and finds that many Precious Moments characters are hiding under it, determined to bury her in sweetness and niceness. Wildcat fortunately remembers lemmings and proceeds to run for the sea. What else? Someone a long time ago (a bout a week or two) was wondering about doctors or surgeons who practiced but didn't have Healing talents. The only thing that I could find were the field healers like what'sherfaceSkan'slover? Before she started the obstacle course, she suggested learning how to stop bleeding and that sort of thing so that when wounded forces return, more lives can be saved. No page numbers here. Sorry. Wildcat passes out snickerdoodles and cereal mouses to all. Oooh.. Bad pun. Wildcat, wierdo and priest of large hunter cats ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 12:46:14 -0600 (CST) From: Katherine M Brielmaier To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: from vix: xmas wishes/nonHeraldic stories/poll/byebye(temp) (fwd) Message-ID: On Wed, 11 Dec, vix wrote (by way of Wintershard) > > I will be leaving temporarily, though, coz i have no idea how often (or > if) i will be able to check my email--i'm going to miss you all > tremendously! Should return mid-January or so. Bye! *sniff, big hug of farewell* We'll miss you! > On Mon, 9 Dec 1996, Khaatje wrote: > > > I think it's a good idea, but it sure would be difficult to pull off. I > > mean, we're all pretty conditioned to assuming that the main character is > > wonderful, bright, brave, special, talented, funny, ad nauseum. > > Not to say that they're *perfect*, but usually there's something nifty > > about them, otherwise why would there be a novel in the first place? > > Unless of course they're totally average and something really amazing > > happens to them--which is something I'd like to read. > > Hear, hear! I was gonna say just that, didn't have time to do so b4 > lunch, and you took the words right out of my mind. I really prefer > characters who have to struggle, with their own shortcomings as well as > outside prejudices and inner doubts. In RPG's, i just hate playing > characters who don't have any faults, because 1.) it's not as creative > and 2.) it's harder to relate to and really get into them. For me, and > apparently for Khaatje, as well) it's the same way. > > but, in response to your question, i honestly cannot think of any such > fantasy novels right this minute. I seem to recall reading a few, but > can't think right now what they'd be. . .probably thinking of gaming > sessions, or just wishing, huh? Well, Deniz suggested Kevin, from The Fionavar Tapestry, which I think is *exactly* what I was looking for (thanks Deniz!). Here's Kevin, a Perfectly Ordinary guy, who performs an amazing act just by being who he is. I won't wreck it for anybody who hasn't read that trilogy (and what are you waiting for, hmmm? It's by Guy Gavriel Kay and it's wonderful!) > oh, what i'd give for some DayQuil right now. Or, better yet, NyQuil. > Not ill; just not desiring to deal with reality. Tired girl! I just can't use Nyquil, even when I'm about to go to bed. I just don't sleep well at all, and I have the *worst* dreams. Reminds me of Talia's illness after she got dumped in the river by the Blues--they made her take lots of willowbark tea and other nasty things, and she had nightmares as a result (and from the fever too, but I prefer to believe it's the medicine ;) ) Glad to hear you're feeling better, Emily (the Invisible)! No real ObMisty today (tithe to Mat). Although plowing my way to school this morning reminded me of Kris and Talia snowed in at the Waystation in Sorrows. Speaking of which, that Waystation must have been *really* far from the path for them to take so long in digging it out. And why did they do all that themselves? Dig out a huge path like that, I mean. Why not just flounder to the road, plant a signal there, and wait for the road crews? Or go in search of the road crews? Granted, it did give them something to do while they waited. I guess this is an ObMisty after all! Also, a request from me. I've been struggling for the last year or so with an eye disease. Parts of my retina are deteriorating, and no one knows what it is or what's going to happen (i.e. whether I'm going to go blind or not). Right now the outlook is pretty good, but this uncertainty is something I've had to deal with every day, and I handle it better some days than others. I've got another check-up this Friday, which I'm nervous about, and I'd appreciate any good vibes you guys could send me. 's e do bheatha, Kaatje (no h in there, but it did look nifty) Acolyte to the Goddess of Music and Song, Keeper of the Librettos Knight of the OAM ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 13:48:57 -0500 From: Rose To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braiding again: M&M's/ the Guard/ Healers Message-ID: <32AF0219.DCD-+AT+-ctol.net> Kory wrote: >To finish up an old thread, I'm gonna show the benefit of braids >first-hand to everyone. Today, I do individual emails. And I'm tired, >and >I've got a cold. We will return to your regularly scheduled Brvaes >tomorrow, prolly.;> Kory, I like your braids. They usualy tell me about a lot of stuff I seemed to have missed. I swear that me server eats portions of e-mail sometimes. Brvaes, come back, brvaes. Hope your cold gets better. Remember, lots of chix soup! >How does everyone here eat their M&Ms? I suck on each indivdually until >the shell's disolved and then mush the chocolate all over my mouth. Or >I just pop em in, like now, when I'm busy. I seperate them by color and eat them in such a way that they all have the same number. I eat them one at a time to savor that oh so infrequent bit of chocolate intake :) Meg wrote: > I have 2 teenaged boys, 15 and 17 who both are itching to join the Air >Force (my hubby is an LtCol in the Air Force Reserve) . The younger >one especially would like to be in the Special Forces and all that >macho stuff. Macho, ahem. I'm female and I was a cadet at the Air Force Academy. And from what I've been told, there isn't anything macho about me! I wish your sons good-luck, and I wish for your sake that they'll listen to there father's Reserve stories and realize what they're getting into before they join. I certainly wish I had done more thinking. Uhhh. Relating to Misty. After the guards that Talia meets on her way to Haven, we really don't hear much about them accept the quatermaster. Who are the guardswo/men? We know that they keep track of the Heralds comings and goings into and outof Haven. Wouldn't that be a good place to plant a spy! If you wanted certain Heralds out of the way, all you'd have to do is find a disgruntled guardswo/man. I wonder if they have any way of preventing this from happening? Since, the Healer thread is open again. What exactly is the *Healing Gift?*. If it's the ability to heal from the inside-out, then I understand. But that does leave open the possibility for ungifted people who heal from the outside-in. Perhaps, Velgarth has not developed the training for non-gifted healers because it relies heavily on the gifted ones. The Gifted Healers couldn't use non-gifted assistants, but could they use the energy from someone who had latent Healing? Also, the Heling gisft must be quite common considering all the wayside healing places that are talked about in the Arrow's series. Kawryathen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 13:42:00 CST From: "Hth." To: Subject: Ordinary People Message-ID: <11DEC96.14796142.0068.MUSIC-+AT+-ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU> I should learn to quit responding to questions like this while I'm at home with no bookshelves to go through. I'm going to miss a bunch of things. First of all, define "ordinary." What about someone brilliant and talented, who doesn't have Phenomenal Great Gifts making her/him The Only One Who Can Do It? I mean, the character doesn't have to be statistically average in every way, right? Because I'm thinking of the Dragonlance Chronicles, in which all the "Heroes of the Lance" are pretty good at what they do, but they aren't generally marked out by the gods or any such -- or didn't start out that way, anyway. Tanis is cool, a good leader and all-around multi-talented, but he doesn't seem Destined for Great Things, except that he gets involved somehow. Caramon's just a big guy who swings a sword with fair success, except that his brother is, well, Really Important. Sturm, Tas, Flint, even to some degree Laurana (though I guess she was technically a princess) -- you get the feeling they would've been very ordinary if they hadn't happened to get caught up in the events. Not that they weren't above-average people. But that's where we get back to defining "ordinary." Then there's the fantasy subgenre "Don't Trust the Jewelry!!", in which it really isn't the people themselves that are extraordinary, it's the fact that some important item has unwittingly fallen into their possession and now they have to cope with it. Frodo is the definitive example, I guess. There's also Angelica and Sweeney from *Waking the Moon* (normal college freshmen, until Angelica gets taken over by the necklace) and the characters whose names I've unfortunately forgotten from *Bride of the Rat God.* There's a Hollywood starlet, a secretary, and a cameraman -- they're pretty ordinary, except for the, well, demon necklace and the demon-killin' dogs. Hmm. Several people have mentioned The Fionavar Tapestry, and I really think all of those characters count -- except Kim, who seems to have inborn powers, and possibly Kevin, whom I get the feeling was born to be who he was and do what he did. Dave, though, was certainly just a guy who turned out to be pretty good at thumping heads with an axe, once he got unwillingly sucked into another dimension. I think Paul was ordinary; he wasn't blessed with his powers, he bloody well earned them. Jennifer's debatable. She herself was pretty ordinary, but she was the reincarnation of someone rather extraordinary. So I could go either way. A few of Parke Godwin's books have ordinary characters. The whole point of his Sherwood and Robin & the King was that Robin Hood was just an ordinary farmer who really didn't want to be involving himself in this mess; it just sort of happened. His whole family was pretty down-to-earth, as was the Sherriff, really. Patricius in The Last Rainbow was just an ordinary priest; it was his experiences that changed him. All the lead characters in Ecstasia seemed fairly ordinary. The only thing that really set them apart from everyone else in Elysia (besides the fact that they were the main characters) was that Rafe was the one who finally had the courage to walk out into the desert. Other than that, they were just a bunch of young, talented musicians. Those are just some of my favorites, because they're the ones I can remember off the top of my head. Now, again, maybe not everyone would see these people as ordinary. I'm thinking of ordinary as someone who isn't hand-picked for the job they end up doing. Heralds, obviously, are all Chosen. Firesong is where he is because he's the mage people call when they need a reeeeeally good mage. Tarma is chosen by her Goddess, and by extention Kethry, since the goddess marked them out as partners. I'm excluding characters who are 1) royal 2) born with special extraordinary gifts (ie, not superior intelligence or stealth, but something that most people don't have at all, someone like Alvin Maker or Luke Skywalker) 3) recognized as the leader in their field (Richard St. Vier, Firesong, Antryg Windrose) I'm considering everyone else ordinary, as in "like the reader." HTH Wand-Sworn Champion to the Ladies of the Pink Wand Grand Dame of the Order of Amber and Marigold DragonCon Shepherd r618-+AT+-academic.truman.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 16:11:49 -0500 From: Soljan-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: M&Ms/Gambit/PSAT/poll Message-ID: <961211160838_1424354907-+AT+-emout15.mail.aol.com> Kory asked: >><< How does everyone here eat their M&Ms? I suck on each indivdually until the shell's disolved and then mush the chocolate all over my mouth. Or I just pop em in, like now, when I'm busy.>> >> Kawryathen replied: >>I seperate them by color and eat them in such a way that they all have the same number. I eat them one at a time to savor that oh so infrequent bit of chocolate intake :)<< Well, I do what she does! Seperate them into colors! And usually I suck on them until the shell's gone. Lemme think...what order do I eat 'em? Dark brown, light brown, yellow, orange, red, green/blue. :) Jaguar said: >>Uh-oh, I seem to have started something. .... And Gambit is YUMMY! So there! Although I still can't see Skif as a Gambit-type person. More a Storm-type person. << I was holding off on this but...I agree! :) He's not really a Skif tho. Kinda, but not quite. Hmmm...dunno who he would be tho. For those who haven't heard: I got my PSAT scores back and I got a 1230! For those non-Americans who have no clue what I'm talking about... The SAT is a huge exam that you take when you are about to graduate from High School. There are 6 parts, 3 math and 3 english. The highest possible score is a 1600. Not many people come close to that tho. The PSAT is a preliminary test, with 4 parts. A 1230 is quite good actually. I did better then I lot of my friends. :) First book: Arrows of the Queen Fave book: Magic's Pawn Lady Silvermoon LIG, Leader of the DDMF, Dame of the OAM, LotPW, Goddess of Sensitivity "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage." Smashing Pumpkins, _Bullet with butterfly wings_ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 15:22:16 CST From: "JAIME HATHAWAY" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Important- Virus Info!...sorry, off topic Message-ID: <1965F52104-+AT+-future.judson.edu> If anyone receives mail entitled: PENPAL GREETINGS! please delete it WITHOUT reading it. Below is a little explanation of the message, and what it would do to your PC if you were to read the message. This is a warning for all internet users - there is a dangerous virus propogating across the internet through an e-mail message entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!". DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY MESSAGE ENTITLED "PENPAL GREETINGS!" This message appears to be a friendly letter asking you if you are interested in a penpal, but by the time you read this letter, it is too late. The"trojan horse" virus will have already infected the boot sector of your hard drive, destroying all of the data present. It is a self-replicating virus, and once the message is read, it will AUTOMATICALLY forward itself to anyone who's e-mail address is present in YOUR mailbox! This virus will DESTROY your hard drive, and holds the potential to DESTROY the hard drive of anyone whose mail is in your inbox, and who's mail is in their inbox, and so on. If this virus remains unchecked, it has the potntial to do a great deal of DAMAGE to computer networks worldwide!!!! Please, delete the message entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!" as soon as you see it! And pass this message along to all of your friends and relatives, and the other readers of the newsgroups and mailing lists which you are on, so that they are not hurt by this dangerous virus!!!! Sorry this is off-topic, but I thought I should forward it, and I apologize if everyone's already aware of it, but it sounds like it would really suck if it got into your computer system. Hmmm, Obmisty...(I must redeem myself here) About Healers...now that you mention it, there really isn't anyone non-Gifted in the Healing profession. Why is that? It would seem that knowing a little first aid would be very helpful, especially to Heralds in the field, as they're always getting into trouble. Bards and Healers have to go through all the classes that Heralds do when they're training, don't they? Wouldn't it make sense that Heralds-in- training should have to go through some kind of basic Healer training? Oh, and Merry Christmas to all those who are signing off for the holidays (and everyone else, too :) ). I, too, shall be leaving soon and not returning until the beginning of January. Good luck to everyone taking finals!! Mine start tomorrow with Biology. oh, joy. All my prayers are with all of our sick, injured, or otherwise not- well fellow listmembers. Just getting over a nasty cold, ear/throat infection, I feel for you. Jacquelle Ex astris, scientia ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 15:26:49 -0600 (CST) From: Kaatje To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Ordinary People Message-ID: On Wed, 11 Dec 1996, Hth. wrote: > > First of all, define "ordinary." What about someone brilliant and > talented, who doesn't have Phenomenal Great Gifts making her/him The > Only One Who Can Do It? I mean, the character doesn't have to be > statistically average in every way, right? That would be exactly what I mean. My quest for Perfectly Ordinary people probably stems from my frustration with Misty in this regard. A lot of the people we see in these novels are so darn amazingly super-gifted and perfect and hand-picked by the God(s) that it's a little frustrating. People in her novels I would call Perfectly Ordinary would be people like Rune, or Amberdrake (maybe) and so on and so forth. Exactly as you said: Someone who is *not* The Only One Who Can Do It. > > Those are just some of my favorites, because they're the ones I > can remember off the top of my head. Now, again, maybe not everyone > would see these people as ordinary. I'm thinking of ordinary as someone > who isn't hand-picked for the job they end up doing. Heralds, > obviously, are all Chosen. Firesong is where he is because he's the > mage people call when they need a reeeeeally good mage. Tarma is chosen > by her Goddess, and by extention Kethry, since the goddess marked them > out as partners. I'm excluding characters who are > 1) royal > 2) born with special extraordinary gifts (ie, not superior > intelligence or stealth, but something that most people don't have at > all, someone like Alvin Maker or Luke Skywalker) > 3) recognized as the leader in their field (Richard St. Vier, > Firesong, Antryg Windrose) > > I'm considering everyone else ordinary, as in "like the reader." Yup. That's what I mean. People who maybe have extraordinary talents or skills, but who are not necessarily the Only Ones For The Job. People who, through happenstance or that Magic Jewelry or whatever, who get to be the star. Work calls! Gotta run! 's e do bheatha, Kaatje ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 16:43:55 +0000 (GMT) From: Tensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Important- Virus Info!...sorry, off topic Message-ID: Please do not send warning messages of that type to the mailin list. it has been highly requested in the faq. Besides does that trojan horse infect ms-dos system, win95? Unix? linux? sunos? vax/vms? I'm sure there are tons of operating systems out there being used by us all. Unless that message prompts you to download it, don't worry, its only text and can't infect. Leave it up to the list mistress to post said warnings if its necessary. Though I doubt she'd like to get the mail anyway, its better that she gets it and decides whether to post it our not. Tensen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 96 19:38:33 -0500 From: Korendil To: Subject: Brvaes Sees That Trial's A Hoax--He Can't Prove His Innoncence Message-ID: <9612120044.AB14829-+AT+-raptor.icubed.net> We now return to your reguarly scheduled subject lines in the ongoing sage of a Braid Named Brvaes.;> Kaatje asked: >ObMisty: Can I borrow yours, Deniz? Is Fire Rose worth the money? I mean >paperback kinda money (I can't afford hardback for sure). I've become >disillusioned, so I'm rather wary. To answer you both, the general consensus is that it's good. I agree. She seems to have success working from fairy tales (FR and FB)....the story's based on Beauty and the Beast, set in turn-of-the-century San Fran. Nice strong female protagonist, weirdo villains, etc. etc... Hmm. Eng sings "Oathbreakers" rather nicely on Footlight...(guess who'se relistening to his bayfilk tapes;>)..and Larry Warner's ver of wossit..one of those Cherryh-based songs on Misty Live ("Lady with no conscience" is in it...) is pretty good. Well...just about anyone could sing that song better than Misty, though. Unfortunately, Misty sings the other one..sigh.. Adrianne said: >Well, I'm going to disagree with what so many others ahve said about >Fire Rose - I enjoyed it, even the slightly rapid ending. disagree? Reesa (oh gods! ANOTHER POST!;>) said: >In case he hasn't answered by the time I send this in, Jake's AOL >address stands for Shadowflight. Yes! I was *right*! woohoo! Mylee said: >Mylee: Wouldn't the gentle-born already have been taught those skills? Right..but they'd still have more to learn, and practice to do. And, remember, Van continued with the Armsmaster when he got to Haven, and he seemed to go there later than most noble kids.... >It feels like the whole of >SWSang is a prologue to Partnership (is it? I haven't read it yet, but >I'm hoping it's about Helva and Niall) No..I'm afraid it isn't. At least, iirc, it isn't. Esme asked: >It's not, and of the spin offs from The Ship who Sang, I like it the least >- sorry. Ship who Searched is good, City who Fought ain't bad - what else >is there?? Um..THe Ship Who Won....and I think there's another. I used to know all of these, a year or two ago... dear gods. People are actually responding to my M&M question. Misty, if you can hear me, write faster! And do some paperbacks, so all the starving students and such can the books! Well, I suppose we'll have more to talk about after everyone gets the new books for the holidays... bye vix! Wildcat said: >I like unhappy endings >sometimes because that's the way things seem to be. I hope you've read GGK's Fionavar Tapestry, then... Kawry said: >The Gifted Healers couldn't use non-gifted assistants, but could >they use the energy from someone who had latent Healing? Also, the >Heling gisft must be quite common considering all the wayside healing >places that are talked about in the Arrow's series. Hmm..for some reason, the idea of using latent Healing strikes a neuron, but I can't recall from where I recall it...and I got the impression that those Healing places were few and far between...took Talia quite awhiles to ride to one on a *COmpanion*, and they seemed undermanned. Heather said: > Dave, though, was certainly just a guy >who turned out to be pretty good at thumping heads with an axe, once he >got unwillingly sucked into another dimension. I think Paul was >ordinary; he wasn't blessed with his powers, he bloody well earned them. Well, when they asked for ordinary, I didn't mention dave because I included the jewelry thing as out of the norm, and he had the Horn. And Paul became like a demi-god/avatar/thing. Jen would definitely have been normal if not for the reinc aspect. Kevin, I agree, was prolly born to that. Liadon seemed to be a prophecised person. And Kim had her inherent gifts...um..what about Torc? He was rather normal. Or maybe Ruana? Hmm...I'm to tired for this. Need sleep. Oh, I know! Mort! From Pterry's _Mort_! He was normal...at the beginning. Just a tad bit intelligent. Bingo. Samuel Vimes. Most normal guy around, 'cept he married high. Good ways of deciding if they're NO (not Ordinary), too.. Silvermoon said: > Well, I do what she does! Seperate them into colors! And usually I suck >on them until the shell's gone. Lemme think...what order do I eat 'em? Dark >brown, light brown, yellow, orange, red, green/blue. :) Hmm..I usually go yellow, orange, red, green, light brown, blue, dark brown. I save the best fer last;> BTW, I must disagree with your sig...it should be "Bullet With Butterfly Winds," not with underscores...song, not a cd.. My sympathy, Lady Sara. -+AT+-LIDNEROK___________/ KORENDIL-+AT+-ICUBED.NET \_____________KORENDIL-+AT+- I|Korendil, Knight of the Order of Amber & Marigold and Elfhame |I C|Sun-Descending, Squire of the High Court, Envoy to Elfhame |C U|Misthold, Magus Minor, One In Black,Firstborn Child of Danaan,|U B|God of Night and All Things Nocturnal, Champion of the Ladies |B E|of the Pink Wand, Acting Master of Dreams, and Ailurophile. |E D|.NET______________/NAME THE MIME AND DIE!!\_______________TEN.|D ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1014 **********************************