MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1445 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Kestra'chern, re-writes, welcome, Mystie's Companion by "J. Aguiar" 2) Re: Re-writting by "John E Morris" 3) Re: Stone Prince by SingnWand 4) Re: Re-writing by Femmy Syahrani 5) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 1444 by "Robbie Betts" 6) Re: Re-writing by "kim kotel" 7) Misty???? by "kim kotel" 8) Re: Misty???? by Eleonora Scoseria 9) Re: Question for all newbies by DFZC98A-+AT+-prodigy.com (MS SANDI L WELDON) 10) Re: Re-writing by "Rebecca McAllister" 11) Re: Re-writing by Beth Cavanaugh 12) Re: Re-writting by Beth Cavanaugh 13) Re: Re-writting by Riyan699 14) Re: Re-writting by Beth Cavanaugh 15) Re: Misty???? by J&M 16) Braid: by Kenneth Allen Hyde 17) Misty???? by AERDEN-+AT+-delphi.com 18) Owlflight/MU*s by saggitarius-+AT+-usa.net 19) Re: Owlflight/MU*s by Kenneth Allen Hyde 20) Re: Re-writing by Greg Wooledge 21) Braid, and Fluff Guide lines by dprono-+AT+-planet.eon.net 22) Re: Re-writing by "J. Aguiar" 23) Re: Re-writting by GodesCarla 24) Re: Question for all newbies by Chris Wiegand ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 00:39:42 EST From: "J. Aguiar" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Kestra'chern, re-writes, welcome, Mystie's Companion Message-ID: <19980102053943.25340.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Arrggghhh...I loathe when I double post but I just got two new messages while I was typing my first post (in quite a while, if I may observe, so I feel justified--if not rationalized *grin*--in posting again). Kestra'chern (Boy, am I behind or what?)--- Every therapist that exists in the phone book, and some that don't, all rolled into one. So they were call people, so what? *chuckle* I think I would feel the same way about getting involved with a kestra'chern as I would with getting involved (sorry, have to go there) a bisexual. There's a fear that exists, borne from your own (or my own as the case may be) insecurity and inferiority complexes, that you aren't enough--or maybe he's looking at someone else. The doubt always exists because now, you not only have your sex to compete with, but the other sex as well...I think the same applies to kestra'cherns because they have a calling to do what they do...It's sort of like a Herald in a way, or a Healing Adept...You have no choice to do what you do because the problems find you...the problems seek you out... Herald Chronicler Mystie-- I chuckled a bit at that, too. I don't recall a name being mentioned for a Companion. Who knows? I might have missed it... Well, I suppose the well wasn't as dry as I thought it was...Just goes to show that human presumptuousness even surpasses the knowledge of our own minds and bodies... Zhai'helleva and Safe Journey, Heartspring ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 00:54:57 -0500 From: "John E Morris" To: Subject: Re: Re-writting Message-ID: <01bd1742$f49f4180$916e2581-+AT+-default> >I'd say re-write the beging of Winds of Fate, beacuse Elspeth and Skif seem >a bit out of character. Elspeth is a brat again, and Skif had changed quite >a bit from when we met him in Arrows of the Queen. > >Eilis > I think all of this Elspeth-bashing in unfair. Everyone seems to think that just because Talia managed to break her out of her grossly self-indulgent, officious Brat-self that she is supposed to become this flawless paragon of behavior. Frankly, I think she is behaving just like any other late-adolescent would behave when trying to assert her independence. Heralds don't have to be lacking in grit - they just have to considerably less selfish than the average person. Let's give the illustrious Ms. lackey some credit for writing a character that is a little more complex than what some people seem to want. As for Skif: A) He is somewhat older than he was in the Arrows series, and B) Something happened to him that would tend to change a person. Anyway... Surecrow ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 06:31:29 EST From: SingnWand To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Stone Prince Message-ID: In a message dated 98-01-01 23:37:16 EST, you write: << The Stone Prince is a novel written by Fiona Patton and published by Daw Fantasy. It features a gay male prince witha lover called a Companion who in many ways is like a personal kestrachern. >> I don't know who it was on this list who recommended this book a while back but I did pick it up and it was great! Any idea if she is writing a sequel to this? OB Misty: Funny that Patton calls her kestrachern typed characters Companions . . .it took a few chapters for me to get over the feeling that these folks were sleeping with their Companions as in horse-type creatures. :) jai ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 20:10:15 +0700 From: Femmy Syahrani To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980102201015.0069350c-+AT+-pop03.ca.us.ibm.net> Hi all, I'd probably rewrite the Winds trilogy. Get some powerful emotions into it. Make the Falconsbane's evilness clearer, make hime more "hate-able", show how powerful he really is so I can accept him being ganged up by the good guys. This trilogy really killed my desire to read any more Misty's books, I dislike it so much. After reading Heralds trilogy and LHM trilogy, I was really disappointed by Winds. So, can you guys tell me if the Mage Wars Trilogy and Oath Trilogy are better than Winds? Are they as good as Heralds or LHM? Femmy ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 06:17:04 PST From: "Robbie Betts" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 1444 Message-ID: <19980102141705.16069.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> After a long hiatus, I'm back. Just got through reading Cennydd's welcome respone to Fritch: (Thu, 1 Jan 1998 14:49:28 -0500 (EST) "But you shouldn't have to worry about being flamed on list which is a no-no, anyway *grin*)." Hoping I'm not reading this wrong, but Cennydd doesn't give his brilliant & humorous Flames anymore??? I really did miss all of you. Robbie Betts. Still trying to figure out how to remove that hotmail sig... ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 09:09:15 -0800 From: "kim kotel" To: Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <199801021425.JAA80046-+AT+-pimout1-int.prodigy.net> I am responding to Marv about Owl Flight. I agree that it read kind of fast but to be honest I really enjoyed it . Perhpaps the change in the chracter was a little fast and a bit much for someone that age. ( If he had been 16 17 I think I could have accepted his personality a bit better) However it definitely seemed as if she is creating a new character to be used again later. We know way too much about his beginnings and his abilities ( save potential magic) I suppose since I cannot think of a use name I will stay with my own. Kim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 09:26:07 -0800 From: "kim kotel" To: Subject: Misty???? Message-ID: <199801021425.JAA39604-+AT+-pimout1-int.prodigy.net> Since this is a general posting I suppose I should try again to introduce myself also. I have been reading the list for about a month now and have responded a few times. The first time I was dumped from the list the second time no one directly noticed. ( It was really busy ) so I will try again. My name is Kim. I am 31 and also a avid Misty reader. I began them in 1990 with the LHM books and was enthralled. I have felt that I am a herald in the wrong world. In this world I am a teacher of the deaf, a volleyball coach and a choral member. In response to the general questions flying about my favorites are the LHM books. The only book I didn't really care for or felt dissapointment with was the Silver Gryphon and I don't think I would venture to change anything she has written but perhaps add more to it in some cases. A question to Arden or anyone else that has direct contact with Misty. do you know if she intends to write any books about the time of the founding of Valdemar and how about the huge expanses of time before and after Vanyel. One more. My boyfriend had started the idea of a role playing game based on Valdemar. Is there anyone out there that would be interested in such a game. If so then I might bug him to persue it and look into all the copywrite junk that would be neccesary to accomplish it. Okay I'll shut up now. Kim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 12:08:26 -0300 From: Eleonora Scoseria To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Misty???? Message-ID: <34AD02E9.534870E8-+AT+-www.multi.com.uy> kim kotel wrote: > Since this is a general posting I suppose I should try again to introduce > myself also. I have been reading the list for about a month now and have > responded a few times. The first time I was dumped from the list the > second time no one directly noticed. ( It was really busy ) so I will try > again. My name is Kim. I am 31 and also a avid Misty reader. Yay!!! Another 31 yo on the list. . I know there are more of us out there, but still it's nice to know that our ranks grow .Anyway, Welcome, kim! > A question to Arden or anyone else that has > direct contact with Misty. do you know if she intends to write any books > about the time of the founding of Valdemar and how about the huge expanses > of time before and after Vanyel. IIRC, Misty has gone on record saying that she does not intend to write any books about the founding of Valdemar. > One more. My boyfriend had started the > idea of a role playing game based on Valdemar. Is there anyone out there > that would be interested in such a game. If so then I might bug him to > persue it and look into all the copywrite junk that would be neccesary to > accomplish it. /me sighs. I hate to be the bearer of bad news . But such is life, and since today I am actually here, have time, and am reading the list avidly, guess I should say something.Alas, kim, I have bad news for you. Role-playing games based on valdemar are a no-no. Misty will consider it a copyright infringement, unless you buy the rights from her. According to what the listsibs who went to D*Con said (IIRC), she would be willing to consider it for about 50000 dollars. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Kory? Those list oldbies have prolly heard talk about Misty's lawyers who will pay you a polite but firm visit/letter if you have stuff on the web or elsewhere that might be considered to violate her copyrights. Just for the record, I wish it were different, since I would very much enjoy RPing in a valdemar environment, but Misty has the right to do as she pleases with her copyrights and since we appreciate her as an author the least we can do is respect her rights. Peace, Ele Councilor of Mist ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 10:25:12, -0500 From: DFZC98A-+AT+-prodigy.com (MS SANDI L WELDON) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Question for all newbies Message-ID: <199801021525.KAC20768-+AT+-mime4.prodigy.com> I have just joined the list. I've also just started reading the books. I'm guessing that Misty is a nickname for Mercedes Lackey? So far, I've read the Arrow trilogy, Oathbound and Oathbreaker, and just finished Magic's Pawn. I liked the Arrow books very much, and I LOVED Magic's Pawn. I didn't think the other two were nearly as good. Sandi ____ Sandi Weldon MonAmi Tervuren dfzc98a-+AT+-prodigy.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 07:52:58 PST From: "Rebecca McAllister" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <19980102155259.2191.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> >Hi all, > >I'd probably rewrite the Winds trilogy. Get some powerful emotions into it. >Make the Falconsbane's evilness clearer, make hime more "hate-able", show >how powerful he really is so I can accept him being ganged up by the good >guys. > >This trilogy really killed my desire to read any more Misty's books, I >dislike it so much. After reading Heralds trilogy and LHM trilogy, I was >really disappointed by Winds. So, can you guys tell me if the Mage Wars >Trilogy and Oath Trilogy are better than Winds? Are they as good as Heralds >or LHM? > >Femmy > I agree, the winds wasn't exactly One of Misty's best creations. The You Might want to try the Vows And Honors Dulogy. I felt it was a very good piece of literature. Rebecca Bondmate to Xeben the barnowl My strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 16:38:23 GMT From: Beth Cavanaugh To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <199801021638.QAA16492-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> >>I'd probably rewrite the Winds trilogy. >> >>This trilogy really killed my desire to read any more Misty's books Hummm...I think the Winds trilogy isn't to bad....of course, the end (not the VERY end, but I don't want to get in trouble for writing a spoiler) could have been written a bit bettter. I have never cried at a movie or during a show, but when Kethry died, and Kris I cried. I'm not ashamed (a little confused though, arn't Movies supposed to do that to you?) but the 'death scene' didn't touch me at all. I think It would have been better if she drew it out a bit more, then brought him back. Just an opinon though..... Zhai'helleva! Eilis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 16:55:52 GMT From: Beth Cavanaugh To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writting Message-ID: <199801021655.QAA17478-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Where Kris died....I didn't think he deserved to die. It was sand when he died, but I think that really made Ancar a more evil character. It really made him some one to hate. Prehaps thats what sets Ancar and Falconsbane appart....Ancar did something that really affects the readers, were Falsonsbane never really touched the main characters.... Eilis "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 11:54:31 EST From: Riyan699 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writting Message-ID: <9068aa05.34ad1bc9-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 98-01-01 21:41:19 EST, you write: << How bout ALL of Owlflight past Black Gryphon? Whats wrong with the books after BG and what don't you like about Owlflight? >> Actually- let me change that to WG. Now it seems that (you guys will hate me for this) Misty is in it more for the money- I know, I know, all writers want money. But now it seems that she's just cranking out these tiny books with little story line, and no depth. It seems to me tha SG and OF are written for the pre-teen age group ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 16:58:39 GMT From: Beth Cavanaugh To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writting Message-ID: <199801021658.QAA17542-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> I think all of this Elspeth-bashing in unfair. Please don't get me wrong! I'm not one for Elspeth bashing, I was glad when Talia got her out of that bratty-ness, but it seenmed in the first Winds book that prehaps the "brat is back" Eilis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 10:17:55 -0700 From: J&M To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Misty???? Message-ID: <34AD2143.2524C8E7-+AT+-PSN.Net> kim kotel wrote: > My boyfriend had started the idea of a role playing game based > on Valdemar. Is there anyone out there that would be interested in > such a game. If so then I might bug him to persue it and look into > all the copywrite junk that would be neccesary to accomplish it. Okay > I'll shut up now. Kim Kim (and all else)... I wrote to Misty a couple of years ago regarding using Heralds and Companions in our personal RPG game. I asked for permission and/or advice from her to use such and mentioned GURPS as an example of book series/themes that had been turned into RPG's. She said that it was perfectly all right with her to use them for a personal game - though you'd have to do all of the research on the class & stats et.al., but that there were absolutely NO PLANS whatsoever for EVER having an RPG based on Velgarth. She had been advised such by her agent, and I guess that that decision probably still stands. You can write to her yourself care of DAW books (use the address inside the cover), and you WILL get a reply from her (I've done so 3 times in the past - and was rather pleasantly surprised to receive a personal reply in a relatively short time). She's a very pleasant person to write to, though she may be somewhat short on detail (well, after all, she does have limited time to devote to replies). Well, I guess that's about enough for everyone to sit through this time. I'll probably be delurking again soon with more interesting quotables from the Mage Storms books, since I'm busy reading them now and have dog-earred several pages of examples. See all of you soon, and Seasons Greetings/Happy New Year to all. Melissa Settles ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 12:30:43 -0500 (EST) From: Kenneth Allen Hyde To: Misty Lackey List Subject: Braid: Message-ID: On Thu, 1 Jan 1998, Carla wrote: > You only need to get permission if you intend to publish it in any way. > (This means even simply posting it on the web or to this list, which > you're not supposed to do anyway.) But, if you just feel like having it > around for yourself and to show to your friends, you don't need her > permission. This is a common misconception, but it is nonetheless a misconception. The US copyright laws are quite specific that copyright and copyright violations apply to anything which is recorded in a permanent medium. This means that if you write it down on paper, your own original work is protected (you don't need to register it for copyright) and derivative work is a copyright violation. The only difference with "publishing" something on the web and writing it down in your private journal that no-one ever reads is that you are less likely to get caught in the latter case. But if you are caught, and the author feels strongly about it, you could get sued. ----- On Thu, 1 Jan 1998, Beth Cavanaugh wrote: > My only argument to that was that we read every thing he did to the > figher, fixing her back, massage, ect. I don't recall love bing in > there, I think it was a combenation of Zhaneel mis-intrepting and the > finger adding a few detail to the treatment.... Well, one thing to remember is that Misty is notoriously shy about writing explicit sex (as well she should be, given that she is not writing porn). I don't have my copy of the book here, but IIRC, there is ample reason to believe that Zhaneel did not "misinterpret" the fighter. In fact, if I remember correctly, Amberdrake even mentions in a bit of indirect discourse that he did have sex with the fighter (contrasting it to what's-his-face--Winterheart's paramour--who he wouldn't have sex with for any reason). ----- On, Thu, 1 Jan 1998, ceyl&john wrote: > i think they are more than just geisha like, amberdrake helped > repair damaged feathers and other things, even though he did't have much > for healing powers, he was a healer of the non-humans. Hmmm. This brings up another point that I didn't make in my last post. Remember that the role of the kestra'chern in Urtho's camp was very different from their normal role. Amberdrake is shown in several cases contemplating this fact and the pressures of redifining their roles (and the roles of all the "camp-followers"). Before the Mage War, I doubt if one kestra'chern in a thousand was called on to work with gryphons. After all, gryphons weren't that common (and were almost non-existant away from Urtho's stronghold). Also, it was made quite clear that acting as a healer (of humans or non-humans) was not something that the kestra'chern did as part of their normal peace-time jobs. And let's not forget that the kestra'chern were not unique to the kaled'a'in; The Silver Veil was not kaled'a'in nor were most of her students, as far as I remember. And yet she was surely one of the greatest of the kestra'chern. ----- On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, brianben wrote: > I think for that reason (that it had a negative connotation) Amberdrake > avoided using sex in a session unless it was absolutely necessary. It > could be that he was an isolated case and that other kestra'chern didn't > have a problem with using sex often in their sessions. This is a possibility. It is also possible that his new role as a political leader (even in Urtho's camp he was in a position of authority and leadership) made him more "careful" of his image. After all, whatever respect kestra'chern may have had among the kaled'a'in, it is possible that such a role would still be considered incompatible with a leadership role. ----- On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, Robbie Betts wrote: > Hoping I'm not reading this wrong, but Cennydd doesn't give his > brilliant & humorous Flames anymore??? Well, not normally. I suppose, I might consider writing one to the list every once in a while, but we haven't really had anyone who merited a Visit from the Mage (TM). The Council has been doing a wonderful job and everybody seems to be very well-behaved. Still, who knows what the future holds....there have been a few people that have been a bit lax in the snipping department. Perhaps there may be some new additions to the Drifting Ashes. =) > I really did miss all of you. Welcome back, Robbie. ----- On Fri, 2 Jan 1998, kim kotel wrote: > One more. My boyfriend had started the idea of a role playing game > based on Valdemar. Is there anyone out there that would be interested > in such a game. If so then I might bug him to persue it and look into > all the copywrite junk that would be neccesary to accomplish it. Well, this is a recurrent question. The answer is that Misty has announced through her lawyers that she is adamantly opposed to any role-playing games based on her work and that she will prosecute anyone that she or her lawyers catch develping such a product. It is a rather major bummer, of course, but you should be forwarned. Basically, her reasoning seems to be that she may wish to develop or licence her own version of a Valdemar role-playing game and she doesn't want the legal hassles of dealing with pre-existing games (or the competition, probably). Given this reasoning, I doubt that she will change her mind any time soon. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings. 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: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 13:26:37 -0500 (EST) From: AERDEN-+AT+-delphi.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Misty???? Message-ID: <01IRWIM92W5U9FSOEX-+AT+-delphi.com> Kim--Hi! That's neat about you being a teacher of the deaf. Where did you learn your ASL, and where did you go to practice it? I've been trying to learn. Studying it from _The Joy of Signing_ is one thing, but it'd help if I could practice 'reading' someone else where I live. From what I've heard, Lackey doesn't plan to write anything about the founding of Valdemar. I'm not going to give up hope, though, because plans can change. If her publisher decides someday that they want such a book, she might write it. Who knows? :) Chantal/Aerden God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 15:03:00 +0800 From: saggitarius-+AT+-usa.net To: Lackey List Subject: Owlflight/MU*s Message-ID: <34ADE2A4.2563-+AT+-usa.net> Heyla guys...just finished reading Owlflight, and I think it was [[SPOILER BLOCK]] :) I'd love to discuss the book with someone...feel free to email me privately at folkie-+AT+-usa.net if you want. Another thing....I know about all of Misty's truly resilient copywright laws, but is there a MU* (MUCK,MUD,MUSH, etc) out there based on the world of Valdemar? Those of you who don't know what an MU* is, it's sort of a text-based roleplaying setting where you can move around to different locations, create your own character, and interact with other players.....how would I find copywright permission to start a Lackey MU* up, if there isn't one running right now? ~K ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 18:57:58 -0500 (EST) From: Kenneth Allen Hyde To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Owlflight/MU*s Message-ID: On Fri, 2 Jan 1998 saggitarius-+AT+-usa.net wrote: > Another thing....I know about all of Misty's truly resilient copywright > laws, but is there a MU* (MUCK,MUD,MUSH, etc) out there based on the > world of Valdemar? If there is one, it is illegal. (Which means, incidentally, that if anyone knows of one, do NOT announce it on this list and do NOT solicit participants here, since Mel could get into legal trouble if you do. And you do not want to even imagine what kind of undiluted nastiness and flames would be heaped on anyone who made trouble for our beloved Listmistress. Gee, do I sound protective? *giggle*) > how would I find copywright permission to start a Lackey MU* > up, if there isn't one running right now? You would have to contact either Misty or her lawyers. From what someone said earlier, the rumored figure is US$50,000 for the rights. I know, it sucks, doesn't it? =) On the other hand, you might want to contact some of the Mage War people and see what they are up to. This is a non-Misty, but Misty List, related role-playing game that's been going on for a couple years now, IIRC. 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: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 20:09:36 -0500 From: Greg Wooledge To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <19980102200936.37107-+AT+-phoenix.local> Femmy Syahrani (femmy-+AT+-ibm.net) wrote: > This [Winds] trilogy really killed my desire to read any more Misty's books, I > dislike it so much. After reading Heralds trilogy and LHM trilogy, I was > really disappointed by Winds. So, can you guys tell me if the Mage Wars > Trilogy and Oath Trilogy are better than Winds? Are they as good as Heralds > or LHM? Winds is my least favorite part of the Velgarth/Valdemar series, too. The Mage Wars is better (especially the first book, Black Gryphon, but the next two aren't as good); and depending on your tastes, the Vows and Honor duology (there are only two books, not three) is even better than the Mage Wars. (The Vows and Honor books contain short stories which were also published in MZB's Sword and Sorceress anthologies, so they're much more episodic than any other Misty works.) Beth Cavanaugh (canchaser-+AT+-valint.net) wrote: > It was sand when he [Kris] died, but I think that really made Ancar a more evil > character. It really made him some one to hate. Prehaps thats what sets > Ancar and Falconsbane appart....Ancar did something that really affects the > readers, were Falsonsbane never really touched the main characters.... Well, there was that little thing with Darkwind's father, which certainly affected Darkwind. But I agree with your main point -- Falconsbane is not someone I really hated either; I found myself taking pity on him toward the end of the trilogy. -- # Greg Wooledge # "Daddy, why do those people have to # wooledge-+AT+-kellnet.com # use Microsoft Windows?" # http://kellnet.com/wooledge/main.html # "Don't stare, son; it's not polite." # -- Crack RC5-64 now! http://www.distributed.net/rc5/ -- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 18:17:48 -0800 From: dprono-+AT+-planet.eon.net To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braid, and Fluff Guide lines Message-ID: <34AD9FCC.648D-+AT+-planet.eon.net> Heyla all! I feel enormously guilty that I've had to deprive you of my presence in the last little while, but I'm bbaaaaacck! ;) (well, I betcha didnt even notice that I was gone, but I sure missed you guys, and what with Christmas, New Years (happy holidays all) and my Birthday, I had to tear myself away fro my computer witthout replying to anything. Oh! The torture!!) Ok, down to business. Welcome to all the Newbies! And if Icewind ever gets to read this, (she's got over 800 messages to read, the silly girl! And she didn't even go away!!) this would be a grand time to de-lurk, my friend! (hint hint) As for the Great Kestra'chern Debate (sp?) I think that they are just what Misty said they were in her books-healers, helpers, ect. Who can really argue with that? (this is NOT a flame, BTW) Although I agree it's really difficult to pin down their exact job. Maybe they are just there to snare helples mortals like ourselves into big, long, fun debates. I wont argue with that either! As for re-writing any bit of her books, I dont think that I would. I only wish that some of her more recent work had a little more soul. (no, I havent read Owlflight; again I'm torturing myself by waiting to buy it once it appears in paperback.) And finally, the long awaited for Fluff Guide lines. Cennydd, your the one doing up the copyright laws, arent you? Could the Fluffians maybe steal a copy to put up on our web page to avoid copyright confusion? Ppllleeeaaasse? With a sheep on top? :) (baaa!) Ok, here they are: 1. Keep posts short! No '75 ways to...' or '100 rules of...' ect. If you have made up a long list like that, maybe attach them as your sign-offs. 2. If you find something really neat on a web page, please dont copy it out and send it: give us the web page instead, and I'm sure most people will find the time to go check it out! 3. Try to keep the fluff Misty related. But PLEASE dont break any copyrights! We DONT want to get the list into trouble with *shudder* Lawyers! (no offence intended to any lawyers who happen to read this. This is a reference to Misty's Demon-Lawyers, not you.) 4. If you are posting fluff, please tack on some conversation, point of view, ect about what we are currently talking about on the list. Or it can be a new point or observation- what I'm trying to say is please dont just send fluff, send conversation with it! :) 5. Composing fluff is not the only way to send fluff. Use of creative language and interesting style in a regular post also counts! Rambling is fine, as long as it stays Misty related; tangents are fun only for a short while. Too much leaves you skipping it and going on to the important bits. Ok, thats all that I can think of. The Fluff Ban is now off! And if any of the Councellors wish to add anything, please do. Like I said before, I dont want to get anyone in trouble with anyone/thing. So happy holidays all! Yvonne Shadowshape, bondmate to Chiti, Chosen by Korla Goddess of Kelpies, Selkiess, and other Water-Borne Knight of Fluff (the origonal) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 21:03:28 EST From: "J. Aguiar" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writing Message-ID: <19980103020329.10149.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> I would like to preface this, knowing that sometimes I get ahead of myself and the mental editor, with a "this isn't, in any way, supposed to be mean or angered." I can't believe that no one could hate Falconsbane/Ma'ar/Leareth for what he has done...This is a sick, demented being that has lived many lifetimes without the express permission of certain godly powers. I think part of the reason that we, as readers, are supposed to hate Mornelithe Falconsbane is because he hasn't been the villain in ONE series, but in THREE series, to date (The Mage Wars--as Ma'ar, The Last Herald-Mage--as Leareth, and the Mage Winds--as Falconsbane, and who knows how many more). How can you not loathe a man who would take advantage of untrained descendants in order to please himself--and this isn't to say that, after who knows how many centuries of existence, his sense of pleasure is not warped and twisted (look at Nyara)? I almost forgot what he had done by the time I got to Winds of Fury but then I remembered what he did to all the MageGifted during Vanyel's time and the Dhorisha Plains during the time of the Mage Wars. All of these, plus his personality, causes, no, forces, someone to not like him...I don't think I hate him because, for goodness's sake, he's a character in a book, but I know, that if someone like him existed today, I would be hard-pressed to find a redeeming characteristic... Do you see? Zha'helleva, Heartpsring ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 22:35:46 EST From: GodesCarla To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re-writting Message-ID: <36de3400.34adb215-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 98-01-02 00:20:02 EST, you write: Delilah said: (in response to Rebecca's question: which part, if any, would you rewrite, of Misty's books? Paraphrased, sorry. :) << If I had to re-write a part of one of the novels I would re-write the part in Arrows Fall where Kris died. Sure he annoyed me at times but I didn't think he deserved to die. Besides, I think Dirk and Talia would still have gotten together even with him alive. >> Yeah...when I first read this question, I thought that would be the part I would rewrite, too...but then I thought harder, and about how Kris had been in rapport w/ Talia, and had imparted to her the joy of reaching the Havens. If he hadn't died, he wouldn't have come to Talia in her dream telling her that she should live. AND...the part of the book that I felt was the most moving: Talia and Dirk wouldn't have found those flowers that Talia loved so much on their wedding bed. That was the part that really got me...so, I don't think I would have changed Kris' death. As for a part Iwould have changed...I don't think I would have changed anything. Almost all of the stuff Misty writes is for a reason: much of it intertwines and comes back later, when you've practically forgotten it. I think that this is part of her craft: that she balances details so carefully. So, other than adding more 'soul', as many have put it, to her later works, I wouldn't change anything. Surecrow said: <> I totally agree. I think that I would have reacted the same way that Elspeth, had I been put in a situation where my decisions were made for me. As they say in Valdemar, "Grand Destinies lead to Grand Funerals." How annoying of Gwena to push Elspeth on a pre-set path! I think that Elspeth didn't make any fool- hardy choices, despite trying to get off the path set for her. Probably, other people put in that situation would have made some stupid decisions just to spite their "path maker." Elspeth kept her head and used good judgement in everything she did. Kim said: <> First of all, I'd like to acknowledge all the stuff people have been saying about RPGs being infringements of copyrights, however... The "Official" fan club of Mercedes Lackey, called "Queen's Own," has something like this. They make it quite clear that it is not a role-playing "game," actually, but it is similar. Everyone picks a persona and has to develop it, then they have meetings where everyone can converse in persona. If you would like to find out more about it, you can go to the home page of Queen's Own, although I am not quite sure what the address is. Wind to everyones' wings, Autumnwing ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 10:57:40 -0700 From: Chris Wiegand To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Question for all newbies Message-ID: <34AD2A93.8099FC86-+AT+-urgentmail.com> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------829E2D3F65993BF1F8F2ADB9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Rebecca McAllister wrote: Here are some common questions asked on the list: what is your favorite misty book? That would have to be Arrow's Fall. However, Magic's Price is a *really* close runner-up. And how did you get started reading Misty? My Fiancee got me started back in high school, and she got me quite interested in fantasy in general. Before that I was just a Trekkie, but now I know there's a world outside of StarTrek (although I prefer nice, reliable phasers to the unreliable magics anyday...) -- Chris Wiegand cwiegand-+AT+-urgentmail.com http://www.netcom.com/~cwiegand --------------829E2D3F65993BF1F8F2ADB9 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Chris Wiegand Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf" begin: vcard fn: Chris Wiegand n: Wiegand;Chris email;internet: cwiegand-+AT+-urgentmail.com title: Mr. x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: TRUE version: 2.1 end: vcard --------------829E2D3F65993BF1F8F2ADB9-- ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1445 **********************************