MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1454 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Authors: MBZ by "Mark Severson" 2) Re: Authors: MBZ by Owlie-+AT+-postoffice.worldnet.att.net 3) Re: Re: Authors: MBZ by Ashali9928 4) Female & male characters (long) by "Ailsa n'ha Winifreyda" 5) Apologies by Ashali9928 6) Re: Apologies by Riyan699 7) Re: Inferior work by "Brighthawk K'Treva" 8) Re: Re: Authors: MBZ by "Brighthawk K'Treva" 9) Re: Re: Authors: MBZ by "silntlies" 10) Braid by Shadowdancer 11) Re: Why do I read by "Mark Severson" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 12:47:43 -0600 From: "Mark Severson" To: Subject: Re: Authors: MBZ Message-ID: <001e01bd1ec2$6af260c0$335181ce-+AT+-markttz.eonet.com> Hmmm, It appears from the defense of her (MZB's) books AND the fact that it is quite possible I read some of her works (she had written) after her ex was accused of child molestation (my personal opinion concerning persons convicted of CM is that they should be shoot down like a mad dog) perhaps I will give her another chance. But I will still do it on the cheap - i.e. I borrow a book from the library, hopefully they will have one of the ones you've recommended. If I like what I read I will purchase other books from the used book store. Thank's for the info on Norman, now I know who to steer clear of in the future should he attempt to write something besides the Gor series. The only reason I gave him even 2 1/2 books is that I started with first book where he is first taken to Gor. There was only a line or two concerning slave girls in the first part of the book. THEN he got into his repeat mode. Which I hoped he would drop. That proved to be a lost cause so, I dropped him. As for Anthony I use to read his Xanth series - the only thing I noticed in them was the puns, tons and tons of puns. I just looked up from the screen and spotted the paperback Hawkmistriss! It's a first print from 82. I'll give it a chance and get back to you. Take care all and I wish you all the best in the New Year. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 17:39:26 +0000 From: Owlie-+AT+-postoffice.worldnet.att.net To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Authors: MBZ Message-ID: <19980111224155.AAA7413-+AT+-pooka> Mark Re: Anthony. Agreed on the puns. But well, anyone who names one of his Xanth books "The Color of Her Panties" tends towards the obsessive, in my opinion. In fact, back on the days when Misty and her husband Larry were on the Genie BBS, there were a lot of posts that bordered on distaste after Misty's collaboration with Piers on ... wow. I can't even remember the name of the book. I never read it, because I had such an aversion to Piers that I figured that even Misty's writing couldn't hold enough interest for me to buy it. Libraries are wonderful things. It's a great way to try out an author without making a commitment. In fact, try Rediscovery which was co-written by Misty and MZB (though my suspicions on this was that the main story was written by Misty since Marion in the last few years hasn't been doing well enough to write.) elaine ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 19:12:56 EST From: Ashali9928 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re: Authors: MBZ Message-ID: <21d779dc.34b96009-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 1/11/98 10:59:24 PM, you wrote: << In fact, back on the days when Misty and her husband Larry were on the Genie BBS, there were a lot of posts that bordered on distaste after Misty's collaboration with Piers on ... wow. I can't even remember the name of the book. I never read it, because I had such an aversion to Piers that I figured that even Misty's writing couldn't hold enough interest for me to buy it.>> That was the book If I Pay Thee Not In Gold. I read it and it's not that bad, even though it is definitely an inferior work. Now, for all of you video game and anime people out there, they made a PlayStation video game of Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Why couldn't they do one with Misty? Hmm, but a nice anime movie of LHM would be cool, but it would be terrible if the voice acting was bad and Vanyel sounded like a squeaky 6 year old. Also, the whole story would probably be changed and I would defintely not like that. It'd still be keen anyway though......... Savarana Sappharine aka Gaudiora Stefansen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:46:00 From: "Ailsa n'ha Winifreyda" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Female & male characters (long) Message-ID: <3.0.2.16.19980112104600.3407a916-+AT+-bilbo.cc.flinders.edu.au> Dear List sibs, It is an interesting thread about sexism that is being discussed here and I don't want to encourage a flame war by my comments but if fantasy is more than just a "jolly good read" then we as dedicated readers, I believe, need to read the sub-text in the novels and discuss it. I have always been attracted to books that explore interpersonal relationships and, in particular, those between groups of people. Afterall, I as a white Australian, have been socialised into seeing my idigenous people in a particular way (often poorly) and also by the media as seeing people from North American, Europe & the UK in another. Thus books that explore predjudice (overt, covert, known & unknown) have interested me. As a lesbian, I have been attracted also to books that explore the issue of sexuality and people's response to it. So Misty was right up there for me as an author. As a feminist, I am very attracted to books that explore the nature of patriarchy and suppression based on gender. Thus MZB and Sheri Tepper have been of deep interest to me. Karen Chan and I have been having a very interesting discussion(off list) on the nature of male violence and its affect on the world. If you have read the Gate to Women's Country and The Rise and Fall of Gibbon's ?? - you would know what I mean - though most of her books are filled with pictures of male violence. Now I know that not all males are violent and that not all females are non-violent! Of course I do! I also know that the women's movement made great shakes into helping decrease patriarchy - but in my opinion patriarchy is still very much the dominant hegemony in this world of ours What I would ask all members of this reading list to do (including myself) is ask why they read? Is it enjoyment? of course? Is it because some books make me and you think and take me out of my comfort zone - yep and bloody uncomfortable it can be - the two postings from Mark & Cennyd about MZB have made me think more deeply on this issue and MZB is a BIG fav of mine. Do we read for the future as we would have it, and if we do, can we do that, without looking at the world as it is now or how it has been as MZB may have been writing. An intriguing question as Tuvok would say. Is Misty writing because she has to and does she choose her characters to have a message? Probably IMHO - after all the treatment of animals and the earth is very new age in her books and all of her books main protagonists are working from some code of honour or against it. Does that affect me, us in our daily living?? It does me - my ethical stance is a mixture of Star Trek, Heraldic Circle, Guild of the Renunciates, Christianity, Bhuddism etc. If all this is too heavy - forgive me - and if you want to continue to have a discussion about it off list please do so. In the meantime - the sun is shining, Australia lost the 1-day match (rats!) and we look like having another national election in March - based on what I consider racist issues - to do with indigenous land issues. But the Goddess is in her heaven and the macadamia nuts are verry luscious so I send to all of my listsibs a virtual kilo of them to be enjoyed whenever possible. Zen hugs to you all, Warm regards, Aili & Zika (my virtual bondbird - goshawk) Herald-healer, Dragon-friend, Renunciate & Xenite Member of the Council of Mist ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 19:20:09 EST From: Ashali9928 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Apologies Message-ID: <5427badf.34b961bd-+AT+-aol.com> Hello! May I apologize for the last part of that last email I sent? I thought I was sending that mail to the Vanyel Fanclub. Oooooops. Also, IMHO, I think that Misty's work is a bit inferior lately. Ok, Misty said that she didn't have enough time to work on Owlflight, which was an okay book. But, if she doesn't do well on her next book, I will be extremely irritated. One more thing: She's not going to do anymore SERRAted Edge books, right? Savarana Sappharine ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 20:30:02 EST From: Riyan699 To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Apologies Message-ID: <532a13fc.34b9721b-+AT+-aol.com> In a message dated 98-01-11 19:49:01 EST, you write: << Also, IMHO, I think that Misty's work is a bit inferior lately. >> Well, well, well. Finally someone who agrees with me!!! Her latest efforts, I'm afraid, have made me rather irritated. I know all authors are writing for the money, but at least she could try to make it appear as if she still cared about her books. Character development in her books stopped somewhere in the Mage storms books, and I felt the the character in Owlflight had no character. He was like a simulacrum. I bawled when Vanyel died, I cried when Kris died, I cried when Kero left Daran and Eldan. And I couldn't have cared less what happened to Karal or (excuse me if this the wrong spelling) Darian. During the first Mage Storm book, I watched Karal grow up, come to terms with everything, and then suddenly, his character stopped developing. It's a pity, since Misty is so concerned with money, that I'll not be paying 20 dollars to buy one of her books in hardback, I think I can wait till paperback comes out and save myself fifteen dollars. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 18:21:31 PST From: "Brighthawk K'Treva" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Inferior work Message-ID: <19980112022131.22661.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> I agree that Owlflight, while being a decent read, was not one of her best works. I only read it once, which is strange since I usually go through the entire Valdemar series universe once a month. The plot just didn't pull me in like it usually does. In a way I wish Misty would work on one, at most two books at a time... lately she seems to be writing more to pay the bills than for joy of writing. She has even stated so in some interviews, after too much hate mail has made her make a statement. IMO, her more recent works have lacked some of the life, emotion and sheer creativity that they once held. I sure hope I'm wrong. And I hope Misty finds her joy again in quality rather than quantity (although a large quantity of good Misty quality would be appreciated just as well!) -Brighthawk ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 18:25:01 PST From: "Brighthawk K'Treva" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Re: Authors: MBZ Message-ID: <19980112022501.22481.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Ah, if only movies would follow the books they were made from... I'd be watching a lot more movies! When will the producers learn? -Brighthawk >In a message dated 1/11/98 10:59:24 PM, you wrote: > >Why couldn't they do one with Misty? Hmm, but a nice >anime movie of LHM would be cool, but it would be terrible if the voice acting >was bad and Vanyel sounded like a squeaky 6 year old. Also, the whole story >would probably be changed and I would defintely not like that. It'd still be >keen anyway though......... > >Savarana Sappharine > aka Gaudiora Stefansen > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 22:02:41 -0600 From: "silntlies" To: Subject: Re: Re: Authors: MBZ Message-ID: <000801bd1fd8$191d75c0$4635dece-+AT+-paulbare> Yes, but there s a reason for the statement"Never judge a book by its movie" hmm....a picthfork...tomorow...pitchfork...tomorow..... what to do? Paul -----Original Message----- From: Brighthawk K'Treva To: apkolyps-+AT+-cbcast.com Date: Sunday, January 11, 1998 9:37 PM Subject: Re: Re: Authors: MBZ >Ah, if only movies would follow the books they were made from... I'd be >watching a lot more movies! When will the producers learn? > >-Brighthawk > > >>In a message dated 1/11/98 10:59:24 PM, you wrote: >> >>Why couldn't they do one with Misty? Hmm, but a nice >>anime movie of LHM would be cool, but it would be terrible if the voice >acting >>was bad and Vanyel sounded like a squeaky 6 year old. Also, the whole >story >>would probably be changed and I would defintely not like that. It'd >still be >>keen anyway though......... >> >>Savarana Sappharine >> aka Gaudiora Stefansen >> > > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:57:29 -0500 From: Shadowdancer To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braid Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980111235729.007be100-+AT+-internet_link> Aili said >What I would ask all members of this reading list to do (including myself) >is ask why they read? The reason I read is for escape from my life. And what a life I have had in my short (almost) 26 years. The reason I read fantasy/sci-fi is because I enjoy it most. >But the Goddess is in her heaven and the macadamia nuts are verry luscious >so I send to all of my listsibs a virtual kilo of them to be enjoyed >whenever possible. >Zen hugs to you all, Thank you so much for the macadamia nuts (my fav. :-q (licking my lips in satisfaction) yum yum) As to Misty's inferior work, I agree with Brighthawk --Brighthawk's quote-- IMO, her more recent works have lacked some of the life, emotion and sheer creativity that they once held. I sure hope I'm wrong. And I hope Misty finds her joy again in quality rather than quantity (although a large quantity of good Misty quality would be appreciated just as well!) --End Quote-- We must realize that she is very heart weary over some of the things that have been going on in her life. (Refer to "The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back") Who would not be upset and looking out over their shoulder?? I know I would. I know that this does not make up for her bad writing, but it is a thought. Wind to thy Wings & Never give up on the Dance of Life Shadowdancer ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 23:31:50 -0600 From: "Mark Severson" To: Subject: Re: Why do I read Message-ID: <002101bd1f1b$67651de0$295181ce-+AT+-markttz.eonet.com> I read for several reasons, to increase my knowledge, answer questions which come to mind, but most of all I read to escape. I am, and always have been an "escapist" - that is I read to forget about my life, my job, and world in general. Not that I am compaining about my life, but to live where magic was real or we really could talk with the animals or travel to distant planets and contact other races, discovering new worlds, even to discover some relic concerning the elder gods ala Lovecraft ah, such would truly be heaven indeed. I think that I should have gone to college and studied to be an archelogist as that is probably as close to the above as I could ever get in RL. History, ancient history has always been facinating to me. Back when I was a child I found a bone from a camel which lived in north america over 11 (or 7) million years ago. I still have it. When a writer is able to write a book or series of books which is able to drawn me and hold my attention, make me beleive, no matter how far fetched, or unbeivable that I am there watching, listening as the book unfolds then I have found something truly beautiful. Such books are true gems, to be hoarded and enjoyed like a dragon and his/her treasure. Misty's LHM are such books, I also enjoyed the Arrows series, along with BTS and the Oath books, the Winds weren't bad but both the Gryhon and especially the Storm books were disappointing. Disjoined and soulless. They do indeed read like they were written to pay bills rather then for the pleasure of writing them. I did enjoy Firebird but having just relocated my copy of Owlflight I'm not sure I want to read now what with the commentary that I have been reading here of late. Sorry got to go - Loki is demanding attention and you ignore her at your own peril. Take care. Good Luck Mark Severson markttz-+AT+-eonet.com ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1454 **********************************