MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1424

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Choosing books
	by "freddiek" <freddiek-+AT+-autobahn.mb.ca>
  2) Re:  Tolkien/Question
	by brianben-+AT+-worldnet.att.net
  3) Re: Gabby/Autrolicus (sp) and males in Misty's work
	by Yagathai <Yagathai-+AT+-aol.com>
  4) Re: Sexuality
	by "Cipaku, Bandung" <sofia-+AT+-melsa.net.id>
  5) Re: A question...
	by "Mark Severson" <markttz-+AT+-eonet.com>
  6) Nothing but Fluff
	by Sorchafyr <Sorchafyr-+AT+-aol.com>
  7) Re: authors
	by GrobuHit-+AT+-t-online.de (M. Grob u. S. Hitzler)
  8) Braid-sorta
	by ikunkle-+AT+-andover.edu (Izzy Kunkle)
  9) Re: Braid-sorta
	by Kenneth Allen Hyde <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
 10) Re: I am sorry
	by GrobuHit-+AT+-t-online.de (M. Grob u. S. Hitzler)
 11) Re: Gabby/Autrolicus (sp) and males in Misty's work
	by "Jeff Aguiar" <roman_87-+AT+-hotmail.com>
 12) "just"
	by RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
 13) Re: Anne McCaffrey movie/interview
	by RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
 14) Re: Filk, and some other stuff
	by RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
 15) Re: Braid-sorta
	by Riyan699 <Riyan699-+AT+-aol.com>
 16) An answer...
	by Spiralivy <Spiralivy-+AT+-aol.com>
 17) Casting and some fluffy stuff....
	by "Traci Harriman" <tracienesta-+AT+-hotmail.com>
 18) Re: An answer...
	by "Rebecca McAllister" <becs71-+AT+-hotmail.com>

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

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 22:58:12 -0000
From: "freddiek" <freddiek-+AT+-autobahn.mb.ca>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Choosing books
Message-ID: <199712110500.XAA29709-+AT+-one.autobahn.mb.ca>



  I would say that in all honesty the first thing that attracts me to a
book is the cover. I will look at the cover and read the summary and see if
the book appeals to me. Sometimes I will read a book that someone highly
recommends it to me.
   As for what books become favorites and join my personal library to be
read again and again, there are different criteria. I get different things
from different authors. To add to the Tolkien debate, I do like his work it
was the first fantasy I ever read and hooked me on the genre. I will admit
that Lord of the Rings is a slow starter but it is worth it once you get
going. I first read it when I was ten and I had a lot more patience then.
  Eddings is another favorite. It is pure escapism, with a nice adventure,
and some tongue in cheek humour thrown in. I also really liked Katherine
Kurtz when I was a teenager and still like her now. She writes stories that
really do seem like a history. Unfortunately she doesn't always have
uplifting endings. The end of King Javan's Year was really depressing. I
was in a funk for days after that one.
  Jordan is good for the shear grandness of his story. Anyone know when it
will end? McCaffrey is good for the stories. They are a joy to read. And
usually the good guys win.
   Last but not least is Misty herself. I like them for the emotional
impact. She brings the characters to such high and lows that you can't help
but get involved with them. And of course there is her society and its
acceptance of gays and lesbians. I also like how she writes characters in
which their gender, though apparent, plays a small role in what they do. It
is truly a place where anyone can be almost anything.

                          Fred
   

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

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 23:59:49 -0500
From: brianben-+AT+-worldnet.att.net
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re:  Tolkien/Question
Message-ID: <19971211050327.AAA2854-+AT+-hal>


Shantaya Autumnleaf said:

> Re: Tolkien <snip>
> I respect Tolkien for what he did in creating a whole new world. It was
just 
> hard to read. BTW, my sister who usually has the same taste as I thinks
Tolkien 
> is the Greatest of all. (She hasn't read any Valdemar stuff yet
*snicker*) Maybe 
> I just have some default genes here. 
> 
It's okay if you don't like Tolkien.  That's why there are different books
for different people.  However, Tolkien happens to be my favorite author.
(Yes, even before Misty.) I like lots of description and details.  I also
like books that take a while to finish since I read pretty quickly.

Ahri asked:

 The question is, what attracts you to a certain author?  Writing style,
feel of characters, etc.?  This can include both a book you saw and read
(give reason for choosing it) and an author whose books you do your best
to get ahold of.  Since I know most people here do their best to read any
Misty work, that's fairly on-topic, right? :)  

Usually I find out about a good author from friends that know what type of
book I want.  Then I'll read the synopsis on the cover to find out if it is
something I want to plunge into.  The book has to have vivid description,
some action, characters that I care about.  There  has to be a good balance
between narrative, description and dialogue.  Too much of one of those can
make a book drag.  When I find an author that I like, I read everything I
can get by that author. BTW I want to thank those people on the list who
recommended Terry Pratchett.  His DiscWorld books are a riot!  I can't wait
to read the newest ones out.

ShadowWolf, God of Stupid Chess Moves
"My mind is going...I can feel it." --HAL--

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 00:03:57 EST
From: Yagathai <Yagathai-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gabby/Autrolicus (sp) and males in Misty's work
Message-ID: <e6e9a8f5.348f7488-+AT+-aol.com>

In a message dated 97-12-10 03:43:45 EST, you write:

<< After careful consideration, I don't think you knew what a can of worms 
 you were opening.  This isn't to say that the conversation isn't worth 
 exploring...
 
 There is a reason that fantasy is written.  There is a reason fiction 
 exists and it's because people want to get away from Tim Taylor's image 
 of masculinity, they want to get away from Dear Abby's column in the 
 Times...Fiction is an escape.  That's why some things are unbelievable 
 (not that ANY of Misty's characters are at all unbelievable---I believe 
 them, else I wouldn't cry and think that they merited my tears).  It 
 isn't fair to say that Misty can't write believable characters because 
 she isn't supposed to write believable characters.  That's what fiction 
 is about (I'm saying this a lot because this is the point of my post) 
 and, more specifically, fantasy/scifi is supposed to be unrealistic and 
 beyond belief.  I don't want to look in a book by a writer that I enjoy 
 and see something shoved in there that doesn't mesh with the rest of 
 everything because she wants to put "believable" characters in there.  I 
 would disapprove because I don't think that's the point of her 
 writing--to write something that is believable and sacrifice her 
 purpose.  I don't think anyone should compromise what they're doing just 
 to be accepted by the rest of everyone.  
 Example: I had to do a research paper for my english class on issues in 
 education.  I wrote on Homosexual teachers and why they should be able 
 to teach.  My friends couldn't believe how much cajones I had to turn 
 something like that in...It's so controversial, but my purpose was to 
 open the eyes of those that read it.  I wasn't going to compromise my 
 point of view just so what I said would be accepted.  I'm not like that.  
 And I'm glad that Misty doesn't do that either... >>

Ay ay ay!  

First off, apologies for the length of the quote.  It's kinda necessary,
though.

Second, I was aware of the potential hulabaloo this post would raise - I
thought that was the point of this mailing list.  =)

Third, don't be so defensive!  I'm not critisizing Misty.  I'm just pointing
out that there seems to be a lack of a certain type of character in her work,
and asking why this is.  As I (think) I stated, I'm fully aware that the
persona I'm talking about probably would not mesh with the rest of Misty's
work (her Valdemar series, most especially).  I'm just wondering if Misty is
incapable or simply unwilling to put this type of character in.   think that
she's a good enough author that if she wanted to she could fit a stereotypical
north-american male in there somewhere - presuming, of course, that she knows
how to convincingly write one.

Thanks,

Yagathai

"Cogito, ergo non sum Puella Condimenti"
(Semi-Hemi-Demi-Invisible God of Mythological Trivia of the Palladium Mailing
List)
(God of Maniacal Laughter, also of the Palladium Mailing List)
(The people on the PML were stumped by my new sig quote.  Can anyone here
translate it without a lexicon?)
(Brace yourself.  Make ready for flames!)

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 13:14:57 +0700
From: "Cipaku, Bandung" <sofia-+AT+-melsa.net.id>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Sexuality
Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19971211131457.006ab538-+AT+-mail.melsa.net.id>

Hi all,

On this list is the first time I've ever met anyone who's gay/lesbian. I
hope that what I have to say won't offend anyone.

Just as I believe that sex before marriage is wrong, I also believe that
homosexuality is wrong, in the sense that it is sinful (according to my
religion, Islam). But I don't think that people who is gay/lesbian is a bad
person or evil.

But, this is only what I believe, and it's my concern only, not other's.
For people who believe that homosexuality is okay, I accept that you
believe that and I'm not going to try to change your opinion or belief. But
I also ask that you don't try to change my belief/opinion that
homosexuality is not okay.

Personally, I like the way Vanyel is portrayed by Misty. He's just a
sensitive loving guy who happens to be shaych, and that's that. The books
doesn't attempt to 'prove' to the readers that homosexuality is right, they
just tell a story where homosexuality just /is/.

I've seen Ellen with her girlfriend on Oprah, and when they told about how
they met, I think it was touching.

Femmy.

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

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 22:52:29 -0600
From: "Mark Severson" <markttz-+AT+-eonet.com>
To: <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Re: A question...
Message-ID: <01bd05f0$955c8380$2a5181ce-+AT+-markttz.eonet.com>



>  The question is, what attracts you to a certain author?

  There are several things that will attact me to an author/book.  When it
comes to an author I already know from past experience I'll glance at the
cover and back of the book to see what it contains.  At that point it
depends on how much I enjoyed past books by him/her/them.
   For new authors cover art/back page writeup and most of all mood have a
lot to do with whether or not I will pick up the book - prices being what
they are I do not care to waste my money on junk.
   Even when I am purchasing a book by an "old favorite" mood is still a
large factor in the purchase/past senerio.   Do I feel like laughing or am I
in a somber mood.  Perhaps a book to make me think.
   Regardless of what I purchase if I find that the book as no soul - that
is no life to its characters it will find its way back out the door very
quickly.   I especially enjoy books that are have a combination of
seriousness and humor interlaced.   A character with a sharp but not mean
wit will keep me going.   I just finished an interesting book called
Bloodsucking Fiends by  Christopher Moore.  Not one that I would normally
have picked up but it was listed in the Firebird Catalog and Teri
recommended it.   Dark and funny - thats what the New Your Times book review
said, its a good description.
  Glen Cooks books about a detective named Garrett are also ones I have
enjoyed.  The thing is Garrett is a detective in a city which has people,
elves, fairies, ogres, etc.   His partner is the dead man who is a person of
another species that was killed about two hundred years ago but he won't
leave his body so he sits in the front room and Garrett and his crusty old
male house keeper have to keep the mice from nibbling on him.   Imagine say
New York City in the 1800's before steam with magic being the main thing
that makes things go.
It's a dirty, mean city but it also has its good points too.  They are
stories I can get into, just as I did with LHM and the Arrows books, along
with the others up till the Storm books which I read but I found them to be
rather flat.  They struck me as hastily done, without soul.
There were flashes of insperation but only flashes.
   Gads!  I guess I rambled a bit here.  My apoligies.   What do I look
for - match my mood/ books with soul.  that sums it up.

Mark the tax zombie




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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 05:09:59 EST
From: Sorchafyr <Sorchafyr-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Nothing but Fluff
Message-ID: <30efde2f.348fbbf9-+AT+-aol.com>

Heyla all:

OK, here is my first (and maybe only) original attempt at fluff.  I know
Christmas is a religous holiday and everyone dosen't celebrate it, but you all
should be familiar with the song.  Like any filk sometimes you have to squish
the words togther to make them fit, but it shouldn't be too bad.  If you want
to flame me, please do it privately.  I blush easily <g>.  

Mercedes Lackey Mailing List Christmas
(sung to The Twelve Days of Christmas)

On the first day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    a ton of post where my e-mail used to be.
On the second day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be.
On the third day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be.
On the fourth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be.
On the fifth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the sixth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the seventh day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the eighth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    8 recommended authors;
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the ninth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    9 Knights of Fluff;
    8 recommended authors;
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the tenth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    10 Xena referrences;
    9 Knights of Fluff;
    8 recommended authors;
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the eleventh day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    11 opinions on lifebonds;
    10 Xena referrences;
    9 Knights of Fluff;
    8 recommended authors;
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be
On the twelfth day of Christmas my Misty List sent to me
    12 actors as Vanyel;
    10 Xena referrences
    9 Knights of Fluff
    8 recommended authors;
    7 lengthy braids;
    6 web site addresses;
    5 flavored sheep;
    4 ways to say Yfandes;
    3 Owlflight spoilers;
    2 brand new dieties;
    and a ton of post where my e-mail used to be

And keep those great quotes at the end of the posts comming.  (Oh dear,
somehow I can't make that fit into proper syntax, but I'm hoping you know what
I mean.)

Sorchafyr
******************************************************************************
*
The opposite of love isn't hate, the opposite of love is fear.
Tim Allen (believe it or not)
******************************************************************************
*

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:26:59 +0100
From: GrobuHit-+AT+-t-online.de (M. Grob u. S. Hitzler)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: authors
Message-ID: <m0xg6lf-0007sVC-+AT+-fwd01.btx.dtag.de>

Heyla listsibs,

On Dec 10, 1997, Ahri asked:
>The question is, what attracts you to a certain author?  Writing style,
>feel of characters, etc.?  This can include both a book you saw and read
>(give reason for choosing it) and an author whose books you do your best
>to get ahold of.  Since I know most people here do their best to read any
>Misty work, that's fairly on-topic, right? :)  

Diese E-Mail wurde versandt von
Marion Grob und/oder Stefan Hitzler


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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 09:53:28 -0500
From: ikunkle-+AT+-andover.edu (Izzy Kunkle)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Braid-sorta
Message-ID: <v01530500b0b5610742bd-+AT+-[172.17.95.163]>


           I managed to delete half the contents of my mailbox, so I'm
working from memory here. Please forgive me if I get anything wrong.


          Casting-I believe Raven commented to me once that the problem
with a Pern/Valdemar/DL movie is that it'll become pop culture. Since then,
I've had troubled visions of Arrows Happy Meals and such. (The new Ma'ar
action figure! Transforms into one of his descendants! Push the button and
he laughs evilly! Implements of torture and Blood Magic sold seperately.
Batteries and node-power not included.) I fear that if we let Hollywood get
their hands on Misty, they /will/ end up casting Keanu as Van. And...(scary
music here)...Pamela Lee as Selenay! Noooooooooooo! Aieeeee! And other
sounds like the extras in "Godzilla"!. And not just that, but gods know
what awful twisted things they'll do to the plot. I can't even think about
it without shivering. If there /is/ a movie, I vote to get it done by a
small company, with relatively unknown actors (maybe a major name or two
for the small parts, so it'll draw something of a crowd).

        Males-Well, quite frankly, I'd be more than happy if there were no
'manly men' in /this/ world, let alone Valdemar. (Tim Taylor is
annoying...of course, Jill is just disgustingly sappy. It's like she's read
and memorized every single family psychology book on the market. Don't even
get me /started/ on JTT. Ugh.) But I think she could do it, if she wanted
to...and I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'manly'. Alberich, Withen,
Jervis, and such, though not all gross and macho (okay, Withen /was/, in
Promise, but he got better...), are certainly tough and masculine and such.

       Sexuality-Hmm. I have a sort of relaxed viewpoint about things of
this nature, (I've been described by RL friends from PernMUSH as
'weyrbred'. I'm Californian....sometimes it works out the same.) As long as
both people are having fun, it's kewl with me.   I don't think the LHM
trilogy would have been quite the same if Van was straight. For example,
the whole thing with Jaysen and slitting his wrists wouldn't have happened,
his relationship with his father wouldn't have been so strained, (True, his
dad could have wanted him to settle down and have kids and stuff, like
someone said-apologies, see top of post-but I don't think he would have
gotten as upset.), and there wouldn't have been that funky stuff with
Tashir. Stef I dunno about; maybe they would have gotten together sooner,
but I've known some straight guys to be as stupidly honorable as Van was
being about that. (And BTW, did anyone want to just /shake/ him when he was
trying to avoid Stef? This is a trait of mine, to get irritated when
characters do this kind of thing. Very disconcerting to other people, I'd
imagine, when I'm just sitting around reading and suddenly say out loud,
"You freaking idiot.")

   Choosing books-Well, at the moment I have the tendancy to go through the
library downtown (I finally got a card, through a long and complicated
process..boarding schools and their policies. Oy vey.) and pick out
whatever looks good from the fantasy stack (which, insultingly enough, is
in the young adult/juvenile section.). I also will pick a new novel if I've
read a short story by that author and liked it, or if someone else has
reccomended it to me.
I like McCaffery, some of the D&D/TSR books. (Weis and Hickman, mostly. Ed
Greenwood and Salvatore are OK, as is the author of Elfsong, whose name I
forget at the moment, but I don't read them too much ATM, just because I've
got other stuff.), M. Lackey of course, Stephen King, and Jennifer
Roberson, among others.
I liked The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, couldn't get through the
Silmarillion. I should try again, since it's been a year or two.


     One last thing-does anyone know how to change this to digest form? I'm
going to be gone for three weeks, so...Thanks in advance, and sorry for
talking so much!








Izzy Kunkle, Freezing Californian at Phillips Academy, Andover.
Dragonlance MUSH is at dragonlance.justbecause.org 6666. Try it!
'Twas the week we had finals, and all through the school, all the students
were surely not keeping their cool.



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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 11:06:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Kenneth Allen Hyde <kenny-+AT+-UDel.Edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Braid-sorta
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.971211102509.27948B-100000-+AT+-copland.udel.edu>

On Thu, 11 Dec 1997, Izzy Kunkle wrote:

>           Casting-I believe Raven commented to me once that the problem
> with a Pern/Valdemar/DL movie is that it'll become pop culture. 

I personally have no problems with that idea.  But then again, I am not
normally one of those people who makes a point of only liking things that
are not popular.  (To be honest, I also am not one of those people who
have a lot of patience with that attitude either).  If Misty became
mainstream and massively popular, I would just enjoy the film for what it
was (if it was well-done) and feel good that one of my favorite authors
had really hit the big-time. =)  Who knows, it could be a good thing.  If
Misty's work became wildly popular, she might make enough money off of it
that she could afford to go back to the schedule of one book every one or
two years, instead of cranking them out at high-speed (I'm assuming that
part of her reason for the breakneck pace of production is that she
needs/likes the extra money).

> If there /is/ a movie, I vote to get it done by a
> small company, with relatively unknown actors (maybe a major name or two
> for the small parts, so it'll draw something of a crowd).

Definitely not!  I have never seen a indie film that had anything close to
the same production values as the major studios.  They simply can't afford
them.  And I think that Misty is too good to spoil with low production
values and the attendant corner-cutting.  (I have this horrible vision of
the "indy" group deciding to have only one white horse who will play all
the Companions, and changing the story to explain why there is never more
than one Companion "en scene" at a time.)


>         Males-Well, quite frankly, I'd be more than happy if there were no
> 'manly men' in /this/ world, let alone Valdemar. (Tim Taylor is
> annoying...of course, Jill is just disgustingly sappy. 

Hmmm.  Again, I have to disagree.  I *like* manly men (even the Tim Taylor
version).  I just wish there were more men (and women) for that matter,
that tried as hard as Tim does to do the right thing and who were also as
enthusiastic and joyful about life.  Of course, I may be biased somewhat,
since I grew up with a "Tim Taylor" dad and I think he is pretty special.
As for Jill, I love her character (she reminds me of my mom, too).  My
goal in life is to find someone like Tim Taylor and marry him.  Well,
okay, my actual goal is to publish my dissertation, change the way
linguists think about morphology for all time, get tenure at a major
research university, marry a Tim Taylor type, and live happily ever after,
studying the idiosyncracies of Romance and Austronesian morphology while
he plays with power tools. =)

> (And BTW, did anyone want to just /shake/ him when he was
> trying to avoid Stef?

Oh, me! me! me!  I wanted to slap him!  (or hit him over the head with a
two-by-four and leave him in Stef's bed, naked!)

> This is a trait of mine, to get irritated when characters do this kind
> of thing. Very disconcerting to other people, I'd imagine, when I'm just
> sitting around reading and suddenly say out loud, "You freaking idiot.") 

I can relate to that.  I get very annoyed when characters that I like are
behaving in an idiotic way.  Particularly when it is really out of
character and is clearly just a device for extending the story. Of course,
at that point, I start to call the author nasty names.  Still, Vanyel and
Dirk both tend to annoy me themselves.  The annoyance factor is a part of
their character and doesn't have that feel of Misty trying to make a short
story long.

> Choosing books

Hmmm.  I tend to choose books based on the plot summaries.  As far as why
I like them, I guess it has to do with the characters and the
world-building.  If I like the characters (and I base that on the same
sort of things as I base my choice of friends on) and if the world is
engaging and interesting, then I will tend to like the books.  But if the
world is dull or predictable or if the characters are one-dimensional or
unpleasant, I will tend to dislike the book (and may not finish it).
Also, I have decided that I really do not like "Mtv books" where the
author has a large number of characters doing different things and
scattered all over, and the narration jumps from one character to another.
I much prefer a coherent plot that follows a single group (or at most, two
groups) around.  If there are two groups, I much prefer that the narration
stick with each group for a long period rather than jumping back and forth
like a bad music video.  Oy!

On the topic of Sexuality:

I have to say "*snaps* to Femmy and you go, girl!"  I wish everyone who
had strong religious beliefs felt as you do, that such beliefs are
personal and should not be forced on others.  And I also wish that more
people were willing to accept others for all the good in them, rather than
hate them for the bad.  

Other topics:

Hmmm.  Oh, casting: Someone mentioned Laura San Giacomo for Diana.  I
think that might be a good choice, except that I always got the impression
that Di was lithe and slender, rather than curvy.  I've always seen Diana
as more of a Mia Sara type.  On the other hand, mentioning Laura gave me a
great idea for a casting conundrum that I have been having re: the Anita
Blake novels.  Laura would be a perfect Anita Blake. =)

Anyway, that's all I can think of at the moment.  Of course, as soon as I
send this off, I will remember four or five other little short things I
wanted to say, but I'll save them for a later braid.

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

Cennydd
Councilor of Mist

Kenneth Allen Hyde     |  No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife
Univ. of Delaware      |  between the shoulder blades will seriously
Dept. of Linguistics   |  cramp his style  -- Old Jhereg proverb
kenny-+AT+-Udel.Edu         |  A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me

//www.ling.udel.edu/hyde/prof/ken.html



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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 18:27:14 +0100
From: GrobuHit-+AT+-t-online.de (M. Grob u. S. Hitzler)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: I am sorry
Message-ID: <m0xgCOI-0003gxC-+AT+-fwd08.btx.dtag.de>

Heyla listsibs,

I am absolutely embarrassed! My mail went off before I had added my thoughts! It 
happened when I sent a mail to somebody else. Either I don't understand this 
programm or it is downright stupid to handle.

Well, here are my 2 cents:
On Dec 10, 1997, Ahri asked:
>The question is, what attracts you to a certain author?  Writing style,
>feel of characters, etc.?  This can include both a book you saw and read
>(give reason for choosing it) and an author whose books you do your best
>to get ahold of.  Since I know most people here do their best to read any
>Misty work, that's fairly on-topic, right? :)  

I choose my books by what it says on the cover (short summary, not this "Oh, I 
absolutely loved this stuff. Marion Zimmer Bradley" things. I don't care who 
else read this book). A good review can do the trick as well. I also like to 
have books recommended to me by people I know share my taste. (On the other 
hand, if I know that somebody reads books that are not to my taste I know what 
to avoid when he/she recommends one to me). I usually don't go for style. I'm 
sure I wouldn't recognise s.o.'s style if it hit me on the head. I don't care 
for it so I don't look for it. I hope you know what I mean cause I don't know 
how else to put it. (Seems I like the word "know") :-)
Any author that got me hooked with a story will find his/her way back to me. If 
he/she could please me once with a good plot, three-dimensional characters (they 
MUST have faults, emotions and no common sense sometimes), suspense and some 
great surprises lurking in the story I will hunt down anything from him/her. As 
far as it is fantasy. I don't read SF anymore, it's too close to real life. 
Sometimes, if an author I didn't like because he bored me with one story is 
recommended to me by a person with the same taste, I will give him/her a second 
chance. Anybody is able to improve.

> (And BTW, did anyone want to just /shake/ him when he was
> trying to avoid Stef?
> This is a trait of mine, to get irritated when characters do this kind
> of thing. Very disconcerting to other people, I'd imagine, when I'm just
> sitting around reading and suddenly say out loud, "You freaking idiot.") 

I always get so absorbed in good books that I can't stop myself from giving them 
good advice or yelling out loud "Oh no, you won't! You did! ARRRGH!" or 
something like that. The more I "live" with the characters the more I like the 
book. If a story leaves me completely indifferent I don't like it.

That's it for today.
Zhai'heleva
Shantaya Autumnleaf
Keeper of Cats


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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:32:32 EST
From: "Jeff Aguiar" <roman_87-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gabby/Autrolicus (sp) and males in Misty's work
Message-ID: <19971211173233.25407.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>




Third, don't be so defensive!  I'm not critisizing Misty.  I'm just 
pointing
>out that there seems to be a lack of a certain type of character in her 
work,
>and asking why this is.  As I (think) I stated, I'm fully aware that 
the
>persona I'm talking about probably would not mesh with the rest of 
Misty's
>work (her Valdemar series, most especially).  I'm just wondering if 
Misty is
>incapable or simply unwilling to put this type of character in.   think 
that
>she's a good enough author that if she wanted to she could fit a 
stereotypical
>north-american male in there somewhere - presuming, of course, that she 
knows
>how to convincingly write one.

Don't worry about the defensive thing---I didn't mean to come off that 
way and apologize if I did :o) ...

The most important part to be realized is this: you're right---"the 
persona [you're] talking about probably would not mesh with...Misty's 
work."  So why write it in there?  Writing has to be specific and how 
many people are actually going to read something that has superfluous 
characters thrown in for the sake of having them in there?  I wouldn't 
read it.  That's a lot of the reason that I don't read Victor Hugo---he 
gets bogged down with a lot of details (similar, but in no way better 
than Tolkein---I like Tolkein's work more) about things that don't 
really have anything to do with the plot.  I'm not saying that there 
shouldn't be human interest, real moments, and other such things that 
make novels like Misty's real, but what purpose is served by Misty 
trying to prove that she can write a specific character?  Granted, if 
she started a new series, or even one book, that was centered on the 
surburban dream as portrayed through the eyes of a male, mid-30's, with 
a wife, two children, two cats, one dog, and a white picket fence, then 
she better have Tim Taylor's "manly man" in there somewhere because 
there's a point to him being there.  Tim Taylor's "manly man" does not 
belong in Velgarth or the Bardic Voices world (don't remember the name 
of the place) or Amazonia (If I Pay Thee Not In Gold).   I can't say 
anything about SERRated Edge because I haven't read any of those yet 
(mainly because I don't know which was the first one---any help?), but 
North American Males do not belong in any of those worlds.  

Hope that I didn't come off as angry or anything because I'm not...

Zhai'helleva,
Heartspring

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Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 14:11:01 EST
From: RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: "just"
Message-ID: <75b46c03.34903ac7-+AT+-aol.com>

In a message dated 97-12-10 06:22:04 EST, Lady Summersunshine writes:

<<  I would say that they were just deeply in love, but I can't bring myself
to when I remember the dreams they shared>>

    I think you're just a wee bit too cynical.  Are you saying that "just"
being in love is not enough to make someone miss another person, or dream
about them?  I don't believe that I've ever even heard the expression "just
deeply in love."  
    To all those who think that a lifebond is so much better than "just" being
in love, read any one of a dozen interviews with Misty, where she says "they
ain't all that grand."
    Now I know why Van wanted to change the opinions about "just" being
Heralds...

   Robert

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 14:10:01 EST
From: RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Anne McCaffrey movie/interview
Message-ID: <32e67602.34903a8b-+AT+-aol.com>

In a message dated 97-12-10 03:13:24 EST, you write:

<< Anne had an interview on AOL about 6 months ago where she talked about her
 movie based on the first book in the series.  She stated then that it was
 going to  be filmed in Ireland, not animated but lots of special effects,
 the actors will probably be unknowns because of the budget, and it will be
 done for tv. >>


   Does anyone know where I can read this interview?

   Robert

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 14:10:00 EST
From: RPierce137 <RPierce137-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Filk, and some other stuff
Message-ID: <a82f7c02.34903a8a-+AT+-aol.com>

In a message dated 97-12-09 22:25:31 EST, you write:

<< Love it, and Murder, Mayhem and Mystery , and Wolf Rider's Reflections and
 Chickaswa Mountain by Fish.  These were actually my first introduction to
 Misty. >>

    I've heard of Murder, Mayhem, & Mystery, but have never seen it available.
Is it out of print?  Who performs on it?  

   Thanks, 
       Robert

  PS:  I figured out that you were joking about the elves, but many of the sub
threads seemed to really think that the Tayledras weren't related to the
Shin'a'in.

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 14:14:50 EST
From: Riyan699 <Riyan699-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Braid-sorta
Message-ID: <7431ce80.34903bad-+AT+-aol.com>

In a message dated 97-12-11 12:01:05 EST, you write:

<<  (And BTW, did anyone want to just /shake/ him when he was
 trying to avoid Stef? This is a trait of mine, to get irritated when
 characters do this kind of thing. Very disconcerting to other people, I'd
 imagine, when I'm just sitting around reading and suddenly say out loud,
 "You freaking idiot.") >>
Ahhh... me too.  Well, freaking wasn't quite the word I used, but still.  I
fell in love with Stefen right in the beginning, and actually threw the book
around a few times.  I felt so bad for STefen- we all know how it feels to
throw yourself forcefully at someone and have them say "oh yes, what a
wonderful friendship we have," ignoring the fact that you want it to be
more.... Did anyone understand what I just wrote
As for the favorite author- I'd have to go with (sorry, Misty) Melanie Rawn.
I just love her characters, and her books aren't so small that it leaves on
with a sense of "That's it?  Where the hell is the rest of the story?
(Although I must admit- Misty has only done that in the last few books. 

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 15:48:47 EST
From: Spiralivy <Spiralivy-+AT+-aol.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: An answer...
Message-ID: <be39002c.349052fd-+AT+-aol.com>

Heyla!  

a question was asked...

<< The question is, what attracts you to a certain author?  Writing style,
feel of characters, etc.?>>

... and a person thought,and came up with a version of an answer....  guess
what! That person was me!  How'd you guess?   :)

Anyway, I find my self initially attracted to flashy books.  Books whose
covers come out and grab me, usually ones with celtic knotwork... because
celtic stuff is my passion...  But that's not all. After that I will read the
summary, and I like books about love and alternate worlds, and love, and
quests, and good characters,and love, and books that I can fall into, and not
notice the outside world while I am reading.  Those are the best books.  Books
such as just about any of Misty's,  Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon
and the prequel and sequel,  MZB's books about parapsychology (another one of
my passions),   Tolkien's Lord of the Rings,  Robert Jordan's Eye of the World
books, Janny Wurts (sometimes....when theyre not too long...),  Susan Cooper
is very good (although her books are deemed "juvenile" from those who know not
better),  just about any Arthurian book (a third passion of mine....but only
if theyre about characters and not battles)....the books by Weiss and Hickman
: Death Gate cycle...  Fantasy books like that.  Anyway, that's a little off
subject.  I find myself reading over and over books about true love.  I am a
hopeless romantic. I cant help it.  I have read the parts of Arrow's Fall
where Talia and Dirk finally get together and the part in Magic's Pawn (the
first one?) and Magic's Price (the 3rd one?) where Van and Lendel, and Van and
Stef get together...many, many, many, many times.  Those are my favorite
parts.  The Romantic Parts.  Oh well...

For jai who didnt know what to get her neice...
I began with LHM when I was 12 or 13 or 14, but I would recommend AotQ for her
first books.  As a person of 17 years on this earth,  I can understand that I
got hooked on LHM, but I might not have, had I read AotQ first.  It just
depends on what type of person she is.  If she wont mind Van and Lendel/Stef's
relationship I can only say that those are my favorite.  Or, you could go with
Knight of Ghost and Shadows.  That one is really good as well.....(my other
favorite)....just some suggestions....

thanks again for putting up with my unruly thoughts...

Andi

PS: Here's my contribution to the  quote pool..

    For all four points of the compass, there is only one direction
    and time is its only measure...
        --Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead  an absurdist play by Tom
Stoppard

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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 13:30:01 PST
From: "Traci Harriman" <tracienesta-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Casting and some fluffy stuff....
Message-ID: <19971211213002.8671.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>

I really like your choices.
If you were to go by the book(which I just got recently, Children of the 
night)You would need characters for the psivamps and for Hidoro. If any1 
can think of these please write to me personally. 
Now since im a knight of fluff and this is far to serious, i feel 
obliged to add some fluff to my stuff!!!!!!
(I could be Leslac.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH) 
Q. Why did the frog cross the road?
A. It didn't. It jumped......:)
Yea i know that was bad but well you should laugh anyway just cause it 
is soooooooooooooooooooooo bad!
Zhai'helluva
Mooncrystal
tracienesta-+AT+-hotmail.com



>Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 09:35:13 GMT
>Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
>From: prince_ravnos-+AT+-juno.com (James B Collar)
>To: tracienesta-+AT+-hotmail.com
>Subject: Casting
>
>Ok..here is my cast list for non-Valdemar stuff:
>
>Diana Tregarde: ok, my favorite picture of Diana is the cover of Jinx
>High...anyone know an actress that looks like that?
>Andre:  Adrian Paul (thank you to whoever mentioned his name for the
>part!)
>Mark:  Lou Diamond Phillips (ditto!)
>Faye (bad girl in Jinx High):  Claire Danes!
>
>Tannim:  Brad Pitt
>Vidal Dhu:  Al Pacino
>Keighvin (sp?) Silverhair:  Kevin Sorbo
>Aurillia (sp!):  Hudson Leick!
>
>
>others later...
>
>
>"You want to know if I am an ace or a joker?
> The answer is yes."  -- The Great and Powerful Turtle
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Prince Ravnos
>http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/3748
>
>


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

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 15:23:14 PST
From: "Rebecca McAllister" <becs71-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: An answer...
Message-ID: <19971211232314.20764.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>




>  I find myself reading over and over books about true love.  I am a
>hopeless romantic. I cant help it.  I have read the parts of Arrow's 
Fall
>where Talia and Dirk finally get together and the part in Magic's Pawn 
(the
>first one?) and Magic's Price (the 3rd one?) where Van and Lendel, and 
Van and
>Stef get together...many, many, many, many times.  Those are my 
favorite
>parts.  The Romantic Parts.  Oh well...
>
Heyla,
	Me too.  I've read Arrows fall about a million times, while I've only 
read Arrow's of the Queen and Arrows flight about three times. I often 
skip through the part in the beginning when Talia and kris are coming 
into the town , straight to the parts about Talia and Dirk.  I love 
those parts. They make me sooo emoitional I just start to sob.  At those 
parts I feel so bad for Talia and and Dirk....Sigh...

						Rebecca Bondmate of Xeben the barnowl

My strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure.



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

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1424
**********************************