MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1967 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Who bothers you? by "Angela Stith" 2) heyla list! by ladyember-+AT+-email.com 3) Re: Who bothers you? by "Jamie Jacobs" 4) Re: Impossible Dream by Reanna20-+AT+-aol.com 5) Favourite Characters by ladyember-+AT+-email.com 6) Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 1966 by Ellen K Fluharty 7) stuff by Katie McQuage 8) My Favorite Characters by Darkmoon 9) Re: stuff by Kenneth Allen Hyde 10) Re: stuff by Paige 11) Di Tregarde books by David John Curry 12) Firesong by David John Curry 13) characters and Re: Re:stuff by "Lyssa Knox" 14) Re: My Favorite Characters by "Jamie Jacobs" 15) Braid: reminder/Bother/Internat'l probs by "You" 16) Braid: reminder/Bother/Internat'l probs by "You" 17) politics and Van by "ambermoon starshadow" 18) Braids! by "Li'nia Stormdancer" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 08:16:23 PDT From: "Angela Stith" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Who bothers you? Message-ID: <19990515151623.90770.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> tamlin said to the talia lady: >I have to say that I like Vanyel, and I think that his not wanting >to be >friends with anyone was a defensive thing, so that he was >protected >against further hurt. i think mostly that that was just what most people of the same personality type would do in that sort of situation. if you're taught from early on that nobody loves you, and everyone YOU try to love either goes away or rejects your love, you're not going to just keep trying going "oh hurt me some more please." you're going to shut yourself out from people. it's horribly easy. *smile* anyway, onto the favourite characters thing. . . favourite characters: hm. . . vanyel, probably. i relate to him. so sue me. or, perhaps, skif or nyara. they are very cool too. originally i hated nyara because she was miss sex-kitten and, besides, she was stealing my skif (*giggle*), but then i saw how it wasn't her fault and how she kept fighting and she wasn't just a weak little sextoy and i decided she was a cool person. now i rather like her. I also rather like firesong. he reminds me of my good friend, perry, to the point that it almost BOTHERS me. *grin* least favourite characters: this is actually a little harder. . . um. i'm not especially fond of dawnfire, actually. she annoyed me until she became an avatar, then i could tolerate her. all the bad guys of course. i'm not at all fond of the bad guys *grin* there aren't really any characters i really dislike. *shrug* there are some who vaguely annoy me, or who i don't really care about. but i really don't DISLIKE any of them. *shrug* -autumndusk/topia- who rather likes gwena. _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 11:45:25 -0400 (EDT) From: ladyember-+AT+-email.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: heyla list! Message-ID: <990515114525AV.05465-+AT+-www5.iname.net> Heyla list! I'm brand new here. So I just thought I would send greetings to all. And maybe someone could fill me in on what is going on here? Lady Ember ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -+AT+-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 18:11:23 GMT From: "Jamie Jacobs" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Who bothers you? Message-ID: <19990515181124.72153.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> I would say that Nyara was rather annoying at first, but she had redeeming qualities, and in the end, she was the one who helped deal with the major conflict in the series. And i had noticed that she ecame much stronger as the stories went on, and thought it was rather sweet the way she thought skiff wouldn't like her anymore. Well, i'm done picking at my brain( never much to pick at) so i'll just say bye now =o) >From: "Angela Stith" >Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk >To: shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com >Subject: Re: Who bothers you? >Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 16:27:47 +0100 (BST) > >tamlin said to the talia lady: > > >I have to say that I like Vanyel, and I think that his not wanting >to be > >friends with anyone was a defensive thing, so that he was >protected > >against further hurt. > >i think mostly that that was just what most people of the same personality >type would do in that sort of situation. if you're taught from early on >that >nobody loves you, and everyone YOU try to love either goes away or rejects >your love, you're not going to just keep trying going "oh hurt me some more >please." you're going to shut yourself out from people. it's horribly easy. >*smile* > >anyway, onto the favourite characters thing. . . > >favourite characters: hm. . . vanyel, probably. i relate to him. so sue me. >or, perhaps, skif or nyara. they are very cool too. originally i hated >nyara >because she was miss sex-kitten and, besides, she was stealing my skif >(*giggle*), but then i saw how it wasn't her fault and how she kept >fighting >and she wasn't just a weak little sextoy and i decided she was a cool >person. now i rather like her. I also rather like firesong. he reminds me >of >my good friend, perry, to the point that it almost BOTHERS me. *grin* > >least favourite characters: this is actually a little harder. . . um. i'm >not especially fond of dawnfire, actually. she annoyed me until she became >an avatar, then i could tolerate her. all the bad guys of course. i'm not >at >all fond of the bad guys *grin* there aren't really any characters i really >dislike. *shrug* there are some who vaguely annoy me, or who i don't really >care about. but i really don't DISLIKE any of them. *shrug* > >-autumndusk/topia- >who rather likes gwena. > > >_______________________________________________________________ >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 14:28:07 EDT From: Reanna20-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Impossible Dream Message-ID: <954fd472.246f16b7-+AT+-aol.com> ambermoon, you rock!!..."man of la mancha" is the one of the best plays....i love its message and thoughts....for those who haven't seen it, here's a quote from the main character of the play... "When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender to dreams - this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be" -Don Quixote whenever i feel so fed up with the world that i want to resign from it, i read this quote and feel strangely better....anyways, i highly reccommend anyone to see the play.... my least favorite character??...i think the highest on the list is talia....i don't quite know why, i've just never taken a liking to her... my favorite character??...if you had asked me a year ago, i would've said van....but i don't know anymore...i've reread the gryphon series and have fallen back in love with ambermoon, winterhart, and skan....and i've always thought that tarma and kethry were two of the best female characters written.... i don't have anything more to say i think.... wind to thy wings ~Reanna ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 14:46:25 -0400 (EDT) From: ladyember-+AT+-email.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Favourite Characters Message-ID: <990515144625FQ.18274-+AT+-www4.iname.net> My favourite characters are probably Tarma & Kethry & Warrl. I also like Vanyel, but who doesn't? My least favourite character is probably Elspeth, the princess, in the Winds books. I didn't really like the Winds books at all, I guess. Ember ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -+AT+-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 15:32:48 -0400 From: Ellen K Fluharty To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: MERCEDES-LACKEY digest 1966 Message-ID: <19990515.153249.-4182859.0.Efluharty-+AT+-juno.com> I would not consider the discussion of America good or evil, or democracy vs. communism etc., a relevant list topic. We are on this list to discuss Mercedes Lackey. That said...I live in America, I love America, with all it's faults and crimes etc. (I am an american, I don't smoke, abuse my children, tote guns or say "to hell with everyone, you've gotta believe what I believe!") Stereotyping people is wrong, no matter what. (and) Not one system of government is perfect, not one. Why need we bring our accusations here? who is wrong...who is right.... we all belong to this list because we love Mercedes Lackey. Let's talk about Misty...just Misty, o.k.? Ellen shena Liha'irden Priestess to the God of New Homes Keeper of Ingrid, the boogie woogie beanie Lamb WV Spy for CfWD/ Lady in Green She'endra to Laurel shena Dester'tale ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 15:14:07 +0000 From: Katie McQuage To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: stuff Message-ID: <373D8F3C.76F868DA-+AT+-geocities.com> Hmm. I've always been for the death penalty for severe crimes that make the criminal a danger to society. For me, that means murders, *especially* the insane ones, as they tend to have no understanding of the crimes commit. For me, it's an issue of "will they do it again" and "will they breed". If anyone wants to flame me or get into a debate, offlist is fine. Those are fun. ::wink:: The way I understood mage schools, it was primarily a thing of how they use their power. Philosohpical, and stuff. I think Keth told Tarmomething like that when she was talking about her past in the beginning of Oathbound. That also makes magic styles different, because som school devoted to healing spells and the like, would be totally different from a school that allows offensive magics and war spells, like White Winds does. I think the schools get founded on philosophical principles, and then evolve into a way of life and style. Waah! Wolfshadow told me to vote and stuff instead of seceding.... I'm seventeen, so I'm powerless in that respect. I do try to keep an eye on events and write letters when I feel strongly, though. Only a few more months until my eighteenth birthday, though. And I'm quite jealous of your book find! For those looking for books: Try Amazon, and if they don't have it try Barnes & Noble. I prefer Amazon, but B&N mighthave something if it doesn't. I wish Misty would write more Di books, but I suppose I understand her reluctance. It's really bizarre tho, that her Di books don't sell the way the others do. I've never heard any Misty fan say they hated them, or anything, so you'd think they'd sell just about the way the rest do. I haven't seen Werehunter, but then, I rarely leave my house, so that's not a surprise. Wingcommander was based on a video game. Every single person I know that saw it thought it was absolutely horrible. So I certainly hope it has no relation to Misty. Damn Commies! (That lighten the mood?) Hmm. I don't think Stefansen just magically matured. I think his ordeal and experiences in flight, not to mention being in the presence of lots of Heralds while in Valdemar, matured him. His only problem before was being oversexed, or whatever, he wasn't a bad wicked person. People that exploit their peasants tend to get punished by the Heralds. And I'm sure we all remember Lord Orthallen? Also, the Council is made up of normal people with tempers and prejudices (I'm drawing this opinion from the meetings in the Arrow books). And in one of the STorm books, somebody says something phenomonally stupid and Firesong smacks him around and the Queen boots him off the Council. The reason we see such great people in Valdemar is that the Heralds keeps it all that way. e we go. Sunny, I think you might need this. ::Whips out a flame-shield: We're big Van fans round here, he's won "favorite charavter" every time I've seen the votes (which isn't all that often, but is often enough) arliss never seemd 'not so bad" to me. He seemed to be a power-hungry dictator, which is pretty much what he was. he was selfish and obsessed with prolonging his own life, which took precedence over the affairs of ruling an empire. Jerk! ::Grin:: Cennydd: I can't be a Pollyanna, I don't think. I've spent too much time in school with my fellow classmates and the new generation to think very positively about the coming years. Pessimism has become ingrained. Not by anything so nasty as the Columbine incident, either, but just by the genreal pettiness and stupidity of the majority of the people I know. Arg. The Herald didn't beat his Companion! ::gasp of horror:: He was beating what he believed to be a demon, while his Companion tried to stop him, but was being blocked by the Herald's anger and outrage. There was overwhelming evidence in the Herald's favor in fact. It was all skewed, but it was there. The Companion really was a Companion, and he was choosing the boy-king, who was supposedly a murderer (hence the supposition that it was a demon). And you can't severely punish someone for being a stupid !#$!&^*, epecially if you're a Herald. His Companion made his life miserable as I recall, although no where near as miserable as he deserved. Question: How in the hell do *accidentally* bomb the Chinese Embassy? That's been bothering me for a while. Mardic and Donni weren't supposed to be interesting. It would have distracted you fron Van and Lendel, and it would also have defeated their purpose. They were the hhappy stable lifebonded couple with no problems. No problems, no interest. All the reasons people listed why they didn't like the LHM characters much are the reason s I did like them. They were *real*. As a whole, the Heralds are too mcuh sweetness and light to seem like real everyday people. Of course, they aren't everyday people, which is the whole point, but the people in the LHM books had flaws, were selfish, whiny, or stupis, and taht mad ethem more itneresting to me. I hate a lot of the later characters, like in the owl books and the storms, because they dont' have flaws, and they just mosey along, doing what they have to do. BORING I love the Last Herald-MAge books passionately because I can identify: I'm selfish, I'm whiny, and feel I'm damn superior to a lot of people around me. So Van and I got a long real well. Ah... the quote is Tennyson's Can't help it, I've got to correct that kind of thing. It's innate. that bout answers all the mail in my inbox (thank goodness... it went all the way back to Tuesday) Go gentle, and don't let AP tests drive you nuts. Rhiannon Shadowsong ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 17:25:25 -0400 From: Darkmoon To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: My Favorite Characters Message-ID: <373DE642.DCEBC52B-+AT+-tidalwave.net> Okay. My favorite characters in ML books are Vanyel and Elspeth, because I relate to them both immensely. Like Elspeth, I am prideful and stubborn, and like Vanyel... well, there's more than I can count. I don't like Firesong, and I especially hated Dawnfire, at least in her human form. Okay. Now, something's been bothering me. I get this kind of vague feeling that Skif is familiar from more of Misty's books... does anyone think he's the reincarnation of another Misty character? (I can't find which one.) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 19:20:15 -0400 (EDT) From: Kenneth Allen Hyde To: Misty Lackey List Subject: Re: stuff Message-ID: On Sat, 15 May 1999, Katie McQuage wrote: > It's really bizarre tho, that her Di books don't sell the way the others > do. I've never heard any Misty fan say they hated them, or anything, so > you'd think they'd sell just about the way the rest do. Well, that's just cause you missed the last round. Honestly, I dislike the Di Tregarde books, and I'm not surprised that they don't sell well. I don't think that Misty really has the skills, style, or knowledge to do well in the occult/horror genre. She's a brilliant fantasy writer, but her style seems to strike an uneven and uneasy balance with the dark subjects of the Di mysteries. (And as some of the oldbies on the list will tell you, don't even get me started on the factual/plotting problems with the books!) Even if you set aside the quality of the books, however, they are competing in a niche market with some very heavy hitters. Laurel K. Hamilton and Tanya Huff pretty much dominate the human/vampire investigation genre, from what I can tell. Further, the niche is not necessarily one that most Misty readers are going to even look for. I know that a lot of stores carry the Di books in the horror section, and I would be surprised if more than a small percentage of Misty's fans spent a lot of time browsing there. Anyway, even for the people who like Di Tregarde, I think the latter reasons would be a plausible explanation of why the Di books don't do so well: they are pretty much separate from Misty's other works in terms of genre, and the majority of her fan base may never even see them, unless they go looking. > Cennydd: I can't be a Pollyanna, I don't think. I've spent too much > time in school with my fellow classmates and the new generation to think > very positively about the coming years. Pessimism has become > ingrained. Not by anything so nasty as the Columbine incident, either, > but just by the genreal pettiness and stupidity of the majority of the > people I know. Arg. I know. That's what worries me. And that's why I think people need to change. Pessimism is not healthy or good for our society, but it is becoming entrenched. If people don't fight it, and work hard at being optimistic, things are only going to get worse. It's not easy to break ingrained habits, but it's got to start somewhere or we are all going to be living in a very scary, unpleasant world of our own making. > Question: How in the hell do *accidentally* bomb the Chinese Embassy? > That's been bothering me for a while. Well, basically, bombs come out of planes or helicopters and go in the general direction they are pointed. Two possible errors are that they were mis-aimed (it's easy to miss even a stationary target when you are moving) or something went wrong after they were fired. For that matter, there is a non-zero possibility that they simply misfired. The fact that they hit the Chinese Embassy would then be an unfortunate (and politically disastrous) coincidence. It could happen. Frankly, knowing a little bit about weapons systems and how hard it is to actually hit something that you fire at (okay, don't worry, I've never actually shot any heavy artillery, but my dad was an artillery officer and I am a fairly good shot with a rifle), it doesn't surprise me. It was only a matter of time. 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: Sat, 15 May 1999 19:38:53 -0400 From: Paige To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: stuff Message-ID: <373E058D.90B465F8-+AT+-sympatico.ca> > > It's really bizarre tho, that her Di books don't sell the way the others > > do. I've never heard any Misty fan say they hated them, or anything, so > > you'd think they'd sell just about the way the rest do. Many people I've heard from / talked to say they can't stand the Tregarde books. Number one on their dislike list is usually Burning Water. What I find so funny is that BW was the first Misty I ever read. It's a good thing I liked it as much as I did or I never would have read Misty again :-) Personally, I like Di. On another thread... Least favourite character - I'm going to be really unpopular, I know, but I really don't like Firesong. I find him to be childish, conceited and spoilt - I realize most of his actions are not his fault, that he was raised to adoration, and he had those problems with the Storms but I still find that I can't make myself like him. Oh well... -- Paige GO LEAFS!!! proud to be Outlandish When you are finally holding all the cards, why does everyone else decide to play chess. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 01:07:45 +0100 From: David John Curry To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Di Tregarde books Message-ID: <373E0C51.51D7AF13-+AT+-exeter.ac.uk> Kenneth Allen Hyde wrote: > Honestly, I dislike the Di Tregarde books, and I'm not surprised that > they don't sell well. I have to agree with you there. While I hate to think that we are catagorising ML as a "Valdemar only" writer, I have found that SF, fantasy and horror, while lumped together by the "mundanes" 'cos thir readership has some overlap, require very different writing styles. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any author who has been *as* successful in writing "SF" and "fantasy", or "fantasy" and "horror" (sorry, Mercedes), or "fantasy" and "investigation". I appreciate that authors don't like to be catagorised and told that they can't write in another genre, but to be a major luminary in one genre doesn't guarantee that you'll be anything more than a candle in another. >From a purely selfish motive, I wish authors would stick to the genre that they're good at -- I can't believe that ML can write a Di Tregarde book as "quickly" as one of her best -- 'cos that's what the punters want, no matter what the publishers claim, and they'll only buy the first book of a series if they don't like it. I judge a book partly by how quickly I can read it (a good book can be gone in two hours), whether I finish it (I've only failed to complete a book less than the fingers on one hand), and whether I pick it up again and again. I must have read the Mage Storms trilogy about four times since I got them (more than the Magic trilogy) and there are few books which rated more than that (David Brin's Glory Season and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game for two). But authors who cross genres rarer get a second read -- even one's that I know personally. David. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 01:22:21 +0100 From: David John Curry To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Firesong Message-ID: <373E0FBD.AB46C106-+AT+-exeter.ac.uk> Paige wrote: > Least favourite character ... I really don't like Firesong. Yes, he is irritating, isn't he? > I find him to be childish, conceited and spoilt. A bit like a domestic cat. Sorry, that requires explanation. Most of the behavioural patterns of domestic cats (treading you when they sit on you, mijowing, etc.) are explainable only if you recognise that they never grow out of kitten- hood and it's only habit. > ... his actions are not his fault, that he was raised to adoration ... And that's no excuse ... only an explanation. *** DIATRIBE SPOILER *** I hate it when people think they should be excused antisocial behaviour just because there's some psychological mumbo jumbo. A murderer is a murderer, no matter the excuse ... if they're going to do it again if you let them, don't. This, of course, doesn't apply to all murders. If a wife kills her husband *just* 'cos he was beating her, then *just* make sure she doesn't get in the same dilemma. I think it might work (or maybe not, but then keeping an eye on her is no worse than slapping her in gaol) *** END OF DIATRIBE *** David. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 02:39:03 GMT From: "Lyssa Knox" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: characters and Re: Re:stuff Message-ID: <19990516023904.78030.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> heyla!! i have to agree with you about firesong. i never really liked him, but he seems a bit better in 'flight.(or is it 'sight?) i have to apologize for the bit about Skif i sent-many people seemed offended.don't worry-i love him too!:o) my favorite characters...hmm...i like a lot of them, but i would have to say that Tarma, Kethry, Talia, Dirk, Eldan, Darkwind, Darian, Keisha andKerowyn are my absolute favs.(lot of them, hey? *grin*) The caracters i dont like...Charliss, firesong, ma'ar, and the most despised one:Lord Orthallen.he bothered me from the start. now i will stop rambling, rainbow sheep to all, Silverwing (hopeful) Goddess of Insanity and Stick People ********************************************** it's not easy being green -Kermit the Frog ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 03:18:30 GMT From: "Jamie Jacobs" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: My Favorite Characters Message-ID: <19990516031830.19712.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> i think Firesong is the character i could most relate to, I'm vain, i can be very selfish, and can get on peoples nerves easily, not to metion my wardrobe, but we won't go there, but almost every one of here characters has a reason for this, for him, it was because he became a mage at such a young age, and was incredibly handsome, so he was showered with compliments, which can make a person vain(as i should know) but like myself, he learned to be more humble in the owl books, after his accedent, and becomes a very caring and nurting person. Speaking of our favourite vain bird, when will owlkinght be out? i have finished the other two, and wnat the third already =0) >From: Darkmoon >Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk >To: shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com >Subject: My Favorite Characters >Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 22:45:05 +0100 (BST) > >Okay. My favorite characters in ML books are Vanyel and Elspeth, because I >relate to them both immensely. Like Elspeth, I am prideful and >stubborn, and like Vanyel... well, there's more than I can count. >I don't like Firesong, and I especially hated Dawnfire, at least in her >human form. >Okay. Now, something's been bothering me. I get this kind of vague >feeling that Skif is familiar from more of Misty's books... does anyone >think he's the reincarnation of another Misty character? (I can't find >which one.) > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 19:05:15 -0000 From: "You" To: "misty" Subject: Braid: reminder/Bother/Internat'l probs Message-ID: <000201be9ec7$9b0c2ee0$bfa715a5-+AT+-knbwubxl> Hillo ho ho list-sibs, firstly, a reminder to the new-comers. Please refrain from: - one-liners, - quoting more than is needed, and - sending MIME mails, Vanyel doesn't like them. *a shadow steps from the wall and moves closer to a discontented young woman to speak a few words concerning "Bother"* Talia dearheart, I believe you might be getting a tinge vindictive here. Beware! the Order of Amber and Marigold would defend Van to their deaths (or maybe not), and hmm... OOUH for Stef and Moondance? You know, Stef might be irritating to a certain degree, but he _was_ after all, a teenager.. 17? And heh, I know _I'm_ irritating! Beside's he was _fun_. Like the joking around with Medren "I'm celibate!") I _do_ see your point of a more... umm... fluffy appearance to Stef: maybe it's Larry's influence (which brings in my theory about Larry's influence on Misty's work, but let's forget about that first) Hey! I like Moondance! I thought he was really sweet with Van. *makes a face* (I hate cliched words like that. "Sweet", "cool". ick) sorry, going off topic again. and he wasn't a wannabe-Starwind, he was Starwind's she'kreth'ashke. which makes a whole lot of difference, since lifebonded are supposed to become close to mirrors (cf Storms trilogy where Firesong was lamenting An'desha's growing polarisation of FS' character) As for Kris, I don't think he's obsessed with his looks. Others are obsessed with his looks. I think he's afraid of them. Afraid of how others may be hurt indirectly because of his own attractiveness. Like how Dirk got hurt with that Lady whatshername. Van was nice, though a tinge unhuman in the way he's so freaking perfect. *makes a blah face* I prefer Firesong *wg* he's van's alter-ego, in my very wierd opinion. (What can I say? Econs tests do wierd things to my mind) I'd hate to see a list with characters we don't like. I mean, some characters are badly written/can be improved on, but I don't see any that really bothers me... *she turns to the list at large and shakes off the shadows from lurkdom to reveal the cloaked figure of Shadowblade. Taking a moment to compose herself, she addressed the imposing figures of the Mage of Green Silences and Shadowlight* A-hem, sorry if I butt in at this point, but would you please take your international finger-pointing somewhere else. There was a period of time when an unpleasant man had created a magnet for the Hall's anger, and unhappiness reigned in darkness. Would you plunge the Hall back into that? It may be that what you say is true *at this point, it is unclear who she is speaking to*, yet remember that there is always more than one side to any situation. *she frowns and quits being polite, since it never suited her anyway* Stop being so stiff-necked will you? I'm not a member of the US _or_ the UK, so if I stick my foot in my mouth for the next two paragraphs, please forgive the way I look. Cennydd, thanks for drowning us in sweetness and light, but maybe, just maybe, if the Harris and Klebold _had_ been wrapped in saccharine bubble-wrap, they would have gone out and killed sooner. Sometimes, I find it so much easier to get angry and explode. If, someone had been nice while I was in a mood, I'd only get more irritated. Heck, shrinks would have driven me to the breaking point. So maybe, just maybe, some people don't like sweetness and light all the time. Maybe, just maybe, it is not so much the mentality at fault, but the country. Please see the other side of the situation, there are limits to patriotism. Shadowlight, it is true that somethings that the US had done were terrible and there are somethings that the UK had done that were Bad. However, one must take into consideration that while moral superiority is Uncalled For, so is unrelieved penance. The colonisation of the Second and Third worlds is, by the way, in the Past. Certain regions like Africa are struggling to escape the grip of colonisation, yes. Yet, as Cennydd pointed out, there _Are_ good things about colonisation as well! For one thing, the so-called Third World is not that badly off. ELDCs are showing that they too can modernise, some metamorphing into NICs like HongKong and Singapore. Without british influence, singapore and hong kong would never have been able to exploit their strategic positions as ports and stop-overs. You know, there are limits to cynicism. *she sighs and moves away slouched, knowing that some mentalities can't be changed, and that her energy was probably wasted. Quietly turning to her list-sibs, she said* Have some giggle bubbles while they ponder over what they said, will you? *so saying, she blew lightly on her hand to send small luminiscent bubbles floating over the heads of the collective list-sibs, just low enough to jump up and catch in their mouths. bubbles to remind one of ancient laughter and sunlit glades, bubbles to remind one of music and light.* ( ) Wind to thy Wings <==-+AT+-==> Shadowblade, mindmate to Raul | | Fairgove elven archer >>~~~> | | High Priestess of the Goddess of Elves and Unicorns and OOPS | | OOUH Advocate of the entire Urban Fantasy group! :) \/ Singer of Fire, Member of the Mistic Circle ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 12:05:06 -0000 From: "You" To: "misty" Subject: Braid: reminder/Bother/Internat'l probs Message-ID: <006101be9ecb$2e701680$bfa715a5-+AT+-knbwubxl> i don't know if this got through before. if it did, please forgive me, i'm so sorry to subject this to you guys twice. if it didn't... well, here it is! *weak smile* --------------- :Hillo ho ho list-sibs, :firstly, a reminder to the new-comers. :Please refrain from: :- one-liners, :- quoting more than is needed, and :- sending MIME mails, Vanyel doesn't like them. : :*a shadow steps from the wall and moves closer to a discontented young woman :to speak a few words concerning "Bother"* :Talia dearheart, I believe you might be getting a tinge vindictive here. :Beware! the Order of Amber and Marigold would defend Van to their deaths (or :maybe not), and hmm... OOUH for Stef and Moondance? :You know, Stef might be irritating to a certain degree, but he _was_ after :all, a teenager.. 17? And heh, I know _I'm_ irritating! Beside's he was :_fun_. Like the joking around with Medren "I'm celibate!") I _do_ see your :point of a more... umm... fluffy appearance to Stef: maybe it's Larry's :influence (which brings in my theory about Larry's influence on Misty's :work, but let's forget about that first) :Hey! I like Moondance! I thought he was really sweet with Van. *makes a :face* (I hate cliched words like that. "Sweet", "cool". ick) sorry, going :off topic again. and he wasn't a wannabe-Starwind, he was Starwind's :she'kreth'ashke. which makes a whole lot of difference, since lifebonded are :supposed to become close to mirrors (cf Storms trilogy where Firesong was :lamenting An'desha's growing polarisation of FS' character) :As for Kris, I don't think he's obsessed with his looks. Others are obsessed :with his looks. I think he's afraid of them. Afraid of how others may be :hurt indirectly because of his own attractiveness. Like how Dirk got hurt :with that Lady whatshername. :Van was nice, though a tinge unhuman in the way he's so freaking perfect. :*makes a blah face* I prefer Firesong *wg* he's van's alter-ego, in my very :wierd opinion. (What can I say? Econs tests do wierd things to my mind) :I'd hate to see a list with characters we don't like. I mean, some :characters are badly written/can be improved on, but I don't see any that :really bothers me... : :*she turns to the list at large and shakes off the shadows from lurkdom to :reveal the cloaked figure of Shadowblade. Taking a moment to compose :herself, she addressed the imposing figures of the Mage of Green Silences :and :Shadowlight* :A-hem, sorry if I butt in at this point, but would you please :take your international finger-pointing somewhere else. There was a period :of time when an unpleasant man had created a magnet for the Hall's anger, :and unhappiness reigned in darkness. Would you plunge the Hall :back into that? It may be that what you say is true *at this point, it is :unclear who she is speaking to*, yet remember that there is always more than :one side to any situation. *she frowns and quits being polite, since it :never suited her anyway* Stop being so stiff-necked will you? I'm not a :member of the US _or_ the UK, so if I stick my foot in my mouth for the next :two paragraphs, please forgive the way I look. : Cennydd, thanks for drowning us in sweetness and light, but maybe, :just maybe, if the Harris and Klebold _had_ been wrapped in saccharine :bubble-wrap, they would have gone out and killed sooner. Sometimes, I find :it so much easier to get angry and explode. If, someone had been nice while :I was in a mood, I'd only get more irritated. Heck, shrinks would have :driven me to the breaking point. So maybe, just maybe, some people don't :like sweetness and light all the time. Maybe, just maybe, it is not so much :the mentality at fault, but the country. Please see the other side of the :situation, there are limits to patriotism. : Shadowlight, it is true that somethings that the US had done were :terrible and there are somethings that the UK had done that were Bad. :However, one must take into consideration that while moral superiority is :Uncalled For, so is unrelieved penance. The colonisation of the Second and :Third worlds is, by the way, in the Past. Certain regions like Africa are :struggling to escape the grip of colonisation, yes. Yet, as Cennydd pointed :out, there _Are_ good things about colonisation as well! For one thing, the :so-called Third World is not that badly off. ELDCs are showing that they too :can modernise, some metamorphing into NICs like HongKong and Singapore. :Without british influence, singapore and hong kong would never have been :able to exploit their strategic positions as ports and stop-overs. You know, :there are limits to cynicism. : : :*she sighs and moves away slouched, knowing that some mentalities can't be :changed, and that her energy was probably wasted. Quietly turning to her :list-sibs, she said* Have some giggle bubbles while they ponder over what :they said, will you? *so saying, she blew lightly on her hand to send small :luminiscent bubbles floating over the heads of the collective list-sibs, :just low enough to jump up and catch in their mouths. bubbles to remind one :of ancient laughter and sunlit glades, bubbles to remind one of music and :light.* : : ( ) Wind to thy Wings :<==-+AT+-==> Shadowblade, mindmate to Raul : | | Fairgove elven archer >>~~~> : | | High Priestess of the Goddess of Elves and Unicorns and OOPS : | | OOUH Advocate of the entire Urban Fantasy group! :) : \/ Singer of Fire, Member of the Mistic Circle : : : ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 23:22:02 PDT From: "ambermoon starshadow" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: politics and Van Message-ID: <19990516062202.36696.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Heyla, a story: At some point last year, in response to some ongoing school discussions, an extremely patriotic student posted a letter to the school defending American politics and military intervention, specifically the Vietnam war. I promptly posted a letter of my own disagreeing with him, as did several others. Later that day I saw him, and restated my reasons for disagreeing. He told me, "If you don't like this country, then leave." I said, "I plan to." However, when I thought about it, I realized there was nowhere to go. I don't like what this country has done, or what it is doing, but I can't think of any other place that has done any better. What's more, leaving wouldn't accomplish anything. Staying and working towards change might. And insulting each other and flaming other people's homes and beliefs is also completely counter-productive. OBMisty: Several people have now insulted Vanyel. At this point I must step in. He's my favorite Misty character of all of them; I connected with him to an extent that's rare for any character, out of any book. For accusations that he's "winy", would you like to live his life? And he did almost all of it without complaining at all, and if he did complain, he still did it, disregarding his personal wishes. And he did it with a sense of humour and a manner of grace and beauty. I think he's one of the finest characters Misty has written, or indeed anyone has. Zhai'helleva, Ambermoon Singer of Fire Royal Defender of the Brat _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 06:29:14 GMT From: "Li'nia Stormdancer" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braids! Message-ID: <19990516062914.74905.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Heyla List-Sibs! Ok, I've got a few topics here, so bear with me.... First off, I honestly don't think that this List is the best place for airing all of our pent up emotions and thoughts about who's country is the best/worst. EVERY country has it's problems, but some country's are publicized more. A _person_, or several people, can be "evil"; you cannot categorize an entire country like that. Enough said. Flame me if you want, but do it off-list, please. You have my address. Back to Misty..... My least favorite character...this'll probably get me flamed....but I never really liked Van. I know all of his faults and strengths, his past, and all of his actions. But for some reason I never could warm to him. The LHM is probably my least favorite of the Velgarth books. Although I've read them a few times...Hey! I can't ignore a good book! LOL My favorite character...I'd probably have to say would be Karal. Don't ask me why, but I think it's because he's been hit with so much at once, and somehow manages to deal with it. Some say he's too good to be true. But I would love to be able to deal with problems, shattered illusions, and unexpected events like that. That's one of my wishes/fantasies... :-) About the Di Tregarde books...you know, I sometimes can forget that Misty has written them. It's so totally unlike most of her other books. I love her sci-fi and fantasy, and I also like the Tregarde books. But it's so different... Wing Commander...the books and the movie are based on the computer game. Misty did co-write a Wing Commander novel, though, IIRC. I believe I even read it a long time ago, in a place far, far away... (and I'm not kidding!) About being a Pollyanna....I'm in the US Military (yes, one of those "evil" people!) and have a hard time sometimes seeing the brighter side of life. However, I've just fallen in love, and that's one of those things worth living for.... *Li'nia looks around, and realizes just how long she's been on her soapbox. She smiles sheepishly and steps down. :Finally!: She throws a mint sheep at Styx, which he gracefully dodges. "Shut furball. Just shut up...: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Variety is the spice of life." - my father =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ~~Li'nia Stormdancer~~Stormdance k'T'more y Kuus~~Peon to the Powers That Be~~Devotee to the OoUH~~(Hopeful) Goddess of All Things Possessed~~Mindmate to Styx A'ska~~Caretaker of the Arena of Discussion and Dissention~~ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1967 **********************************