Posted by Terry on 3/25/2002, 10:42 am

There's an interesting new article by Lou Anders at RevolutionSF, about the influence the LotR movie will have on the fantasy field. I'm flattered to be quoted so extensively! Here's the URL:

http://www.revolutionsf.com/article/1022.html

Posted by juan on 4/1/2002, 9:53 pm , in reply to "Influence of "The Lord of the Rings""

Were you sipping on Dr. Pepper when you talked to Mr. Anders?
Or did he get your quotes from elsewhere?

Seems we touched on the movie aspect of your creation on another thread?

But, having read "LotR", I went into the theatre knowing where it would
leave off. It surprised me to hear so many "Ahhhs" and "Whats!!!!!" because
of where it finished, a sure sign of people not having read the series at all.

Another re-read of mine while I "anxiously await". ;-)

Juan

Posted by Terry on 4/2/2002, 4:14 pm , in reply to "Re: Influence of "

I probably was sipping Dr Pepper when I answered Lou Anders' questions! He did interview me directly, so the quotes didn't come from anywhere else. He combined my answers to several different questions into one response--deftly, I think.

It's a neat article. I especially like the way it combines the perspectives of publishing and Hollywood.

We did touch on the film potential of Illumination in another thread. You never know what might happen....

The groans of the audience when you saw the movie are a good thing, I hope--it means they'll be keen to see the next installment, or maybe even to read the books to see what happens next. In fact, that's something I hadn't thought of. The cliffhanger itself might be the best inducement for people to turn to the novel. Cool!

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/3/2002, 2:38 am , in reply to "Re: Influence of "

Some of the creatures in LotR were "too evil". My friend had to leave the theatre before the move ended because of it. I think she was just queemish. I think the worst one was when Bilbo wanted to see the ring and turned Golem-ish for a moment. Though I think she'd be able to handle [font:i] Illumination [/i] because the "evil" parts in there are a neccessary part of the characters and its not on the same scale LotR (it was too scary for her because of religious resons, she said).

~oiy, i think i must be dr pepper deprived, rambling on like this, in addition to being html illiterate~

Posted by Terry on 4/3/2002, 4:15 pm , in reply to "Re: Influence of "The Lord of the Rings""

I'm sorry your friend had to leave the theater early! The moment when Bilbo's face bulged out scared me, too (but I loved it {g}). I found the Ringwraiths pretty scary, too- -did she get up to the part where they come into play? I thought they were scary in a cool way.

There aren't too many outright scares in Illumination. Not any that I can think of offhand. If your friend reads it, Angi-Kate, let me know how she responds. I'd love to hear.

....Dr Pepper deprivation, now *there* is something scary! :) :)

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/4/2002, 1:50 am , in reply to "Re: Influence of "The Lord of the Rings""

NO! Not the dreaded Dr. Pepper fiasco of (enter any deprived date here)!!!!! When will the insanity end?!

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/16/2002, 1:19 am , in reply to "Re: Influence of "The Lord of the Rings""

Sorry, I guess I kinda got carried away...

Posted by Terry on 4/17/2002, 4:50 pm , in reply to "Re: Influence of "The Lord of the Rings""

Oh, always get carried away! I love it. I was laughing too hard to respond, I think. :)

Posted by Terry on 4/18/2002, 9:14 pm

I thought I'd start a new thread here, to keep things from getting too unwieldy in this interface...I've quoted your last in italics, Angi-Kate...

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/18/2002, 1:57 am , in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

Asparagus? Arugula? Terry, you do have a sick mind now and again, don't you? :)

We haven't even touched on rutabaga yet. It could be a scene of vegetable terror!

How is TBR doing? I've cornered one of the Tor reps and she's been trying to locate a reader's copy or manuscript for me because of my lack of patients (and, quite possibly, lack of spelling ability). I've got a space next to my sturdy copy of Illumination waiting for the hardcover of TBR to sit next to it. Is TBR going to be the same yellow with metalic blue writing on the cover? Or is it going to be another color combination (like the ones you are playing with now...or turquoise and purple???).

I wish I knew how it's going to look! That's up to the designers. But I'm sure they'll make it as consistent as they can with the first book.

The fiery yellow-gold in the art for the first book was perfect; if they do something similar with TBR, it will have a coppery-red cast to it. But what I'm hoping for is an ancient, mist-shrouded wood, with some glowing figures and one shadowy figure...and some bonefolk. :) Even more than that, I'm hoping they can get the same cover artist, Gary Ruddell.

It's great that you talked to the Tor rep! I might be even more impatient than you are for you to read it. I don't think there are any bound manuscripts around, but it'll be way cool if you can score something.

Any news on visiting??? I'll show you around town, we can play pool, or you can just chill at the hotel shouting, "Thank God it's over, now hand me my Dr. Pepper and leave." (j/k)

It didn't work out for last month--too last-minute, alas--but I've been in touch with the store, and I'm primed for a visit the next time I'm in the area. That could be later this year...I'll see how the convention schedule shapes up. I'm so looking forward. And a game of pool would be awesome!

Just noticed the length of the post, chat with ya later!

Never worry about long posts! I love 'em.

Posted by juan on 4/18/2002, 10:00 pm , in reply to "The Binder's Road"

POOL! Now that is another one of my all time favorite past times.

Posted by Terry on 4/22/2002, 11:47 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Pool is a most excellent game. I also like snooker, although I haven't had a chance to play it in years (not since I was in Ireland, actually).

And it's even on topic! Tangentially, anyway (which is appropriate for a game like pool). Because there's a game mentioned in The Binder's Road that's a combination of snooker and knock hockey. It made for good analogies during the big battle scene. :)

Posted by juan on 4/25/2002, 8:56 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

"Big Battle Scene"????

The anticipation heightens..........

By the way I finished the Sea Dragon Hier Trilogy, and picked up Hamilton's
"Fallen Dragon". Am I in a rut or what? Help me, I want to get back to
Eiden Myr.

Posted by Terry on 4/26/2002, 1:25 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Dragons! Lots of dragons! This is good. Dragons rule.

We're getting you back to Eiden Myr as fast as we can...! I hope to have more on a publication date soon. I'm eager, too, and I've *read* the next book. (I got mad at John Crowley and George R. R. Martin today, because, sure, *they* get to read their new stuff *months* before we do.)

Yup, Big Battle Scene. From several angles. I'm really pleased with it. :)

Posted by juan on 4/29/2002, 9:17 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Like dragons huh? Check out "http://www.kimberart.com/", really nice dragon
graphics.

By the way, once you've been "illuminated", dragons take a back seat. ;-)

Posted by Terry on 5/2/2002, 12:27 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

I finally got a chance to take a look at kimberart.com. Beautiful dragons!

Posted by Angi-Kate on 5/21/2002, 1:38 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

*Poof* I magically appear :)

Sorry for the disappearance, I blame the school system. o_O That and editing for www.sffworld.com. And other works in progress, but you don't want to hear about that, at least no one else does since I've jammered about it for weeks now. Publication dates, publication dates, how does that spell go again? TBR has been written, but has it been illuminated yet? I know we've all been singing for it to come. (Knew I shouldn't have skipped that 2nd step, its a loulou.) I haven't heard anything from my friends at Tor, darn it! But a little side note, I did advertize Illumination as Best Summer Reading in our bookstore's newsletter and the book club is reading it in July.

--Oh, and Juan, if I can challenge you for a game of pool, that would be fun. (If I don't win, I'll challenge you at bowling, and chutes and ladders, and hopscotch, and. . .I have this thing about losing, I don't like it :). . .and I seem to be on a pool losing streak.)

Posted by juan on 5/21/2002, 8:21 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

You have just named some of my favorite games. I'll hide all my trophies though ;-)

And, Terry, by the way, I'm done with Dragons and ready for Eiden Myr.....

Posted by Terry on 5/21/2002, 11:03 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Bwahahah...we're never done with dragons...!

I can't tell you how ready I am for Eiden Myr to come back to you. Angi-Kate, we need that spell....

Posted by Terry on 5/21/2002, 11:00 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Yay! Angi-Kate is back!

Hope your classes have been going well. I've been taking a bunch myself, just miscellaneous stuff, and it's been great. And how cool that you're editing for sffworld! Feel free to talk about whatever else you're up to...we haven't heard about it here, and I'd love to know.

Thank you so much for listing Illumination in the store newsletter! I'm so psyched that your book club is going to read it. If anyone has any questions or anything, of course-- well, you know the drill. :)

A spell to get TBR into print faster, now, that's the ticket!

I see I'd better brush up on my pool playing. This'll be fun. ;)

Posted by Angi-Kate on 5/29/2002, 11:11 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

School's almost out! YES! I've jazzed my creative writing class this quarter and completed all of the extra work to boost my grade. I'm this || close to winning the bowling tournament. But there are only two days of clay-lab left. As you can tell, this was my fun quarter.

I can't wait until Kiyari gets out of the kiln! She's been crushed once already, so as long as she makes it through the first firing, she's set. I'll hafta figure out how to upload a picture when she's completely glazed.

sffworld.com. Oi. I love the experience, and some of the stories are really good. It's just those ones that still need a little--okay, a lot!--of spit and polish that bug me. Dag said that we have to accept everything, though. The problem I see with this is that the good writers will quit sending us good work because of being stacked up equally with the pieces of less quality. I've already developed a mean-nasty-don't-mess-with-me editor attitude, but I'm also more than willing to work with someone who wants to make their story captivate the reader into the world they've painstakingly created. Either that, or I'm just a great big jerk. But since I'm an underling, I do what I'm told.

Hopefully you're schedule will be more flexable, Terry, and we will see you in a few months. And Juan, I'm ready for ya! If'n ye be in me neighborhood, I'll scuttle yer bum a'any game ye like! Argh. ;)

Posted by Terry on 5/30/2002, 3:31 pm , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Wooo! on the bowling tournament, and on doing the grade-boosting. Way to go!

You *have* to upload a picture when Kiyari is glazed. I haven't yet tried attaching Image URLs to any messages here, but in theory you're supposed to be able to do it...hmm, I'll try to post one with this and see what happens.

Editing is such great experience. I know exactly how it is to be the middleman, though. I'm totally with you there. The best thing is that you want to work with authors to improve their stories. That's great.

Hey, this image thing seems to work! Way cool. Here's where all those crazy ideas come from:

Posted by Angi-Kate on 6/8/2002, 1:46 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

That is too cute!

Bowling tournament update: Matt won, Tony 2nd, Angi-Kate 3rd! :)

What are the other jars? I'm picturing Dr. Pepper and Chocolate---since I know that there couldn't be a jar for short story and novel (writers have to have some work).

I've been pestering my events guy to ask you if your schedule has opened up a little so that you can come over. I've got the whole staff somewhat excited about your arrival, depending on what they think of the fantasy genre.

I hope all of your touring is going wonderfully. The sales rep I told you about before is on vacation, but she is trying to find a readers copy. I already have the hardcover of Illumination for you to sign, and if the hardcover of TBR is out by the time you get here, you will have to sign that, too, but I'm addicted and cannot wait for it to be published. My boyfriend says that I should spend more time working on my writing than anticipating the arrival of new books to read, but reading helps me to get excited about writing. That, and movies. He and I have seen LotR three times now, the last time we watched it, we were able to piece together the final battle of the trilogy we're working on. That was exhilerating.

Anyway, I must be back to studying, Finals Week in CollegeTown, blah, blah, blah...

Posted by Angi-Kate on 6/8/2002, 1:51 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

MARCH 2003! Yes! Woohoo! *does the happy hampster dance* I know what I want for my 21st birthday! (my birthday is in march) YES! Terry, you are amazing! Thank you so much for Eiden Myr and continuing such a wonderful story of epic proportions!

Posted by Terry on 6/17/2002, 11:00 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Wooo! Yay! I'm so pleased by your reaction to the publication date! I was being all bummed that it's so long from now. Your post gave me a huge smile. :)

Posted by Terry on 6/17/2002, 10:59 am , in reply to "Re: The Binder's Road"

Congrats on your show in the bowling tournament, Angi-Kate! I haven't been bowling in a couple of months now--you're getting me inspired to go out again. (Last time we went, we bowled a couple of fun games, and then the place transformed into Disco Bowling Night--the lights went down, glowy lights came up in the lanes, and Very Loud Music came on. It was hilarious. We got into the whole bop-while-you-bowl thing, but actually bowling well was no longer an option, so we called it quits at the end of that game and vowed to find out when Normal Bowling Night is. {g})

There are two conventions later on this year in WA--the annual Norwescon, and also Westercon. I should be out there for one of those. As soon as I know, I'll tell the store, and hope we can make plans for me to stop by! I would love to meet you all.

The other jars...let's see. I think they're SPELLS and DREAMS. There's a pottery guy who sells at the local street fairs here, and I try to pick up a new jar every year. The next one I have my eye on is WISHES.

There probably isn't an official reader's copy of The Binder's Road yet, but you never know what magic sales reps can do. The manuscript is in-house. :)

Starting a new thread for your comments on reading as inspiration for writing...that's a neat subject.

Hope finals are going/went superbly well!!

Terry

Posted by Terry on 5/13/2002, 1:43 pm

The May newsletter has gone out, although for some bizarre reason I titled it June 2002. Rationales for this braino will be given all consideration.

Of course, this may get me off the hook for doing a June newsletter, especially since they've turned out to be roughly every-other-month in frequency, but I'll figure something out if there's breaking news next month. :)

You can sign up for the newsletter by clicking "Mailing List" in the left frames menu, by visiting http:// www.topica.com/lists/eidenmyr, or by sending a blank email to eidenmyr- subscribe@topica.com.

Posted by Terry on 6/17/2002, 11:08 am

Angi-Kate posted:

...reading helps me to get excited about writing. That, and movies. He and I have seen LotR three times now, the last time we watched it, we were able to piece together the final battle of the trilogy we're working on. That was exhilerating.

That happens to me all the time. You'd think that it would be somehow plagiaristic, to have these realizations about your own work when you're reading or viewing someone else's, but in my experience it isn't at all. Whatever alchemy goes on in the writer's brain can transform something that seems completely unrelated into the just the perfect solution to a writing dilemma. Or you can be watching a movie and get hit by that bolt of lightning: Oh! Of course! That's how that scene should go! And it's a scene that might have at most a passing similarity to what you're working on, but your brain glommed on to some detail and made the leap it needed to make.

That's one wonderful indication that the writer's brain in always working on stories, even while doing other things. :)

Posted by Terry on 6/18/2002, 8:35 pm

I just wanted to post a thank-you to any readers who've clicked through from Fictionwise to comment on stories, say hello, ask questions, or find out more about my books. Feel free to start threads here, or just reply to this one.

"For Fear of Little Men' went up last week, and "A Girl in Every Universe" went up this week, which means that it's 15% off through about this coming Sunday night. I'll post here with links as new stories are added.

Links:
"A Girl in Every Universe" (SF/humor)
"For Fear of Little Men" (SF)

Posted by Terry on 6/24/2002, 5:28 pm , in reply to "Welcome, Fictionwise readers!"

This week's new story from me at Fictionwise is a dark fantasy about power and identity called "Loophole." This was my first professionally published story, way back in the mists of time--in a terrific anthology called Skin of the Soul, which Lisa Tuttle edited for The Women's Press in London, and which came out a year later from Pocket Books in the U.S. There are still copies floating around, but they're a little hard to score, so I'm very pleased that this story has a new electronic lease on life. Hope you enjoy!

Posted by Terry on 7/9/2002, 6:06 pm , in reply to "Welcome, Fictionwise readers!"

Two more stories up at Fictionwise since I last posted (before vacation): "Victor Lynch the Forger," a Sherlock Holmes tale featuring illuminated manuscripts!, and "Mindchild," a dystopic near-future SF story.

Links:
"Victor Lynch the Forger"
"Mindchild"

Posted by Terry on 7/22/2002, 6:50 pm , in reply to "Welcome, Fictionwise readers!"

Two new stories up this week! "Red Heart," a coming-of-age story set in Madagascar and concerning ecological/wildlife preservation and ancient myths (are they really inimical?) ... and "Syrinx," a first-contact SF story sprinkled with opera references and featuring extraterrestrials with a striking resemblance to bagpipes. (No, there probably won't be sequel with uilleann-pipe aliens. {g})

Links:
"Red Heart"
"Syrinx"

Posted by Karin on 6/24/2002, 6:03 pm

Thought you'd like a fourth poster...

I ran across _Illumination_ in the new books section of my local public library. Wow! I really enjoyed it, and I'm pretty finicky. An ambitous, brave, wonderous book. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book(s), and will have to check out Terry's other stories.

I've reccommended it on the Fantasy Literature board for the MUD (text-based fantasy adventure game) I play, Gemstone III (www.play.net). Yeah, I'm a fantasy game geek, but I do like to get outdoors, too.

Anyway, the general favorite author on that board is George R.R. Martin, and I'm kind of partial to Robin Hobb. I think my favorite classic fantasy is the Thieves' World series.

Keep it coming, Terry!

Karin
Florida Keys

Posted by Angi-Kate on 6/25/2002, 11:30 am , in reply to "Greetings, Board"

Yay! We have a fourth! Welcome, Karin, enjoy the boards. Don't worry about being a fantasy game geek, I'm an RPG nerd and Juan seems to have disappeared....(I didn't do it, though if he really vanished, can I take credit for it? I've never made anyone disappear before and saying I make a Juan-ghostie might be fun, though it has been rather quiet without him) Anyway, have fun and may the schwartz be with you! (I hope that ain't copyrighted)

Posted by juan on 6/27/2002, 9:30 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

No ghostie yet. Just summer travel. Also lookin' for new reading material since TBR ain't
out yet. Looks like I'm going with more Dragons, will let yawl know.

Posted by Terry on 7/9/2002, 2:02 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Did you pick new reading material yet, Juan?

Posted by juan on 7/9/2002, 10:12 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Yes, still at it, "The Pearl" series of Eric Van Lustbader, starting with
"The Ring of Five Dragons". Just can't get away from them "dragons".

You don't suppose you could work one into your trilogy?

juan ;-)

Posted by Terry on 7/10/2002, 8:19 am , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

More dragons! Yay. (And I love the red signature on your message. Very dragon's- breathy.)

I don't think I can work dragons into Eiden Myr itself, but you never know...there's lots more world out there, and there are a lot of other planes of existence, and there's at least one more book in the series...hmm!

Posted by Terry on 6/26/2002, 10:09 am , in reply to "Greetings, Board"

Karin, thank you so much for posting! It's a pleasure to (virtually) meet you. I'm not sure if Lisa and Speedo are still reading here, and I haven't seen Vera here since the beginning, but we have a most excellent s/m/a/l/l/ elite(!) group of posters...so welcome aboard. :)

Your kind words about Illumination are a delight, and recommending it on the Gemstone III board is above and beyond! Much, much appreciation for that.

I sit here with an Asheron's Call box at my feet, opened and plundered but the software not loaded. I got so obsessive about Myst that I had to put a moratorium on gaming for a while, and then I thought I should probably finish Riven before I loaded Asheron's Call...but the AC players I met at Norwescon were great folks, and I am sorely tempted to try out a multi-player environment. My only fear is addiction! But the box is there, and I know that eventually the CD will go into that drive....

That said, and with some trepidation (cuz I know it's going to sound great), tell me more about Gemstone III!

I'm a huge GRRM fan myself. I loved his science fiction, especially Dying of the Light, Sandkings, and the Tuf stories, and now his heroic fantasy is blowing me away. Robin Hobb is also wonderful. I still haven't read the ship books (and I love sailing ships!), but I thought the Assassin books were terrific.

The most recent fantasy I read was David Gemmell's Legend, very enjoyable. Then I went on a Syne Mitchell kick, so I'm in the middle of her second SF book at the moment. But I'm on vacation next week, and have lots of fantasy to choose from for reading material.

Again, thanks for dropping by, Karin!
Terry

Posted by Robert on 6/26/2002, 9:03 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Just finished Illumination. Loved your work. As a passionate fantasy reader I am often disappointed with some of the writing out there. There have been three or four writers that I have loved over the years: Mercedes Lackey, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind and most of all Marion Zimmer Bradley. You are now in that league of writers. You have helped me to escape the worries of the world that surrounds my everyday life. Kudos on a job very well done. By the way, Dreamcatcher games has a fascinating number of rpgs on the market. It's my other escape from a sometimes hectic world. Looking forward to your next novel.

Posted by Terry on 6/26/2002, 9:16 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Why, thank you so much, Robert! I was over here doing an archiving sweep before I head off on vacation, and I was caught surprised and blinking to find a new message while I was working. Now I'm beaming!

You've listed some wonderful authors. I am more than flattered to be included in that list. And thanks for the suggestion of Dreamcatcher (great name)...I'll just be rolling in enjoyable places to visit when I get back to the computer!

Much appreciated,
Terry

Posted by Robert on 6/26/2002, 9:32 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Have a great vacation.....glad I could make you smile. It's not often that you can make the author who makes you smile, smile.
Robert

Posted by Terry on 6/27/2002, 8:18 am , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

{g} You did it again! Thanks, Robert. :)

Posted by juan on 6/27/2002, 9:33 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Speaking of Dreamcatcher, did any of yawl read Stephen King's "Dreamcatcher"?
Hilarious.

Posted by Angi-Kate on 7/2/2002, 3:13 am , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

No, but I have to shelve it almost daily at work. It's a very popular book. (Popular with returning as well, I'm afraid.)

Wow, two new people! It's fun here, but posting is sporatic....and I'm glad Juan is still here! I didn't make him disappear, but I've taken to other "talents". This morning I was playing in front of the mirror (don't ask, rare habit) and have started another story. No chaos mage this time, and I've gotta think up a better name for him than just "chaos mage" or "that ever present bald dude" or something.

Spoke too much, but Hi! and Welcome! and Kameshlatei! and stuff!

Posted by Terry on 7/9/2002, 2:01 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

You never speak too much, Angi-Kate! "that ever-present bald dude"--LOL. Congrats on starting the new story!

(And we will not inquire further about the mirror... {grin})

I'm glad Juan is still here, too, even if it means that your amazing ability to vaporize people is only temporary. :)

Posted by Terry on 7/9/2002, 1:59 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Dreamcatcher is one of the King books I missed. Actually, I've missed a lot of them--he just kept writing 'em too fast for me to keep up!

Was that "hilarious" in a good way, or a bad way? :)

My favorite Kings were The Shining and 'Salem's Lot. I read The Shining in one sitting while waiting for a friend to take the GREs. I'd driven him to the testing center and meant to go grab lunch or drive around (Dover, Delaware, where I'd never been before) till it was time to pick him up, but I ended up sitting in the parking lot the whole time, unable to tear myself away from the book. Even in a parking lot in broad daylight, it scared me!

I liked The Dead Zone a lot when I first read it, too, but I tried to reread it a couple of years ago and didn't enjoy it as much. I guess tastes change over time.

Posted by juan on 7/9/2002, 10:16 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Hilarious - good. Read it, but only if you like Aliens.

juan ;-)

Posted by Terry on 7/10/2002, 8:21 am , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Cool! Recommendation accepted. With much enjoyment of the font gymnastics. :)

Posted by joey on 7/6/2002, 5:23 am , in reply to "Greetings, Board"

Well I also found the book at the library. A really good book. Right up there with lord of the rings, harry potter (ya thats right !!), amber and of corse cat in the hat.
I play ultima online, nox, tribes, warcraft, aoe and star wars. We prefere to be called socialy impared not nerds =). Terry keep writing!

Posted by Terry on 7/9/2002, 1:52 pm , in reply to "Re: Greetings, Board"

Thanks so much for posting, joey! I'm so glad your library had the book, and especially glad you found and enjoyed it--and put it in such good company, too!

"Socially impaired"--LOL. Except that you're not! Sometimes I think it takes more social skill to interact online, in a multiplayer game or an IRC channel or wherever, because it's so easy for people to take things the wrong way.

Nox--what a great name. I'll add that (and the others you mention) to my list of games to check out.

Posted by Terry on 7/28/2002, 9:59 pm

I've just emerged from a week of birthday celebrations and housewarmings and a lovely fiftieth-wedding-anniversary party and making boffer swords with my godson and all kinds of fun stuff, and I thought I'd just ask...

How's your summer going?

My biggest complaint is that they keep saying it will rain, so I don't water my lawn so that I won't look like a big water-wasting doofus, and then it doesn't rain. Things could be worse. (Well, the lawn doesn't agree, but it doesn't have Internet access.)

Terry

Posted by Karin on 7/29/2002, 9:02 pm , in reply to "Midsummer"

This summer is differing in that I have a lot of work to do. I live in a tourist destination (Florida Keys), and usually have maybe five hours of work a week this time of year. Now I'm working a bunch, and not having time to spend the extra money.
It is good to see our local economy coming back, though. The suffering national economy in 2001, and then those terrorists, had really put a kink in it.

I bought my first boat last year in the spring, and got to spend a lot of time with her last summer. This summer, she's awful lonesome!

This coming weekend I'll be traipsing off with my second husband for our first wedding anniversary.
Yay! Some time off "The Rock"!
And when I get back I think I'll make believe my boat is a customer (at least once a week).

I read "Dragon Prince" by Melanie Rawn last week, and found it good, but a little tame compared to GRR Martin, Robin Hobb, and Terry. I wish I had enough book critiquing experience to be more specific as to why.
Anyway, now I'm spoiled. Does that give you board-dwellers enough information to make reccommendations for me?

--Karin

Posted by Terry on 8/1/2002, 5:13 pm , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

Thanks for the great posts, Karen! I'm on a library computer right now, not at my regular library, and it's got crazy settings that are driving me mad, so I'll save longer replies for later, but I just wanted to say that I *have* seen your posts.

Juan and Angi-Kate, I *know* you'll have lots of reading recommendations! And lurkers, too--don't hesitate to chime in.

Be back later, from home, with a keyboard and monitor settings I can deal with {g}.

Posted by Angi-Kate on 8/3/2002, 1:28 pm , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

Yes I have recommendations. I run the sci-fi/fantasy book group in the bookstore I work at (i'm addicted, but some things are worth being hooked up to interveiniously) and we just finished reading Illumination (which everyone loved!!!) and the month before that we read StormFront by Jim Butcher. This book is so completely different from George RR Martin, Robin Hobb, and our ever popular Terry that you may wonder why I suggest it. The book is hilarious! It's written in the first person point of view of Dresden, an old fashioned wizard in modern day Chicago. Talk about complications. He prides himself on being the only wizard in the 'book. The first story in this four book series finds Dresden on the misterious murder case of a vampiress's call girl and the leading mobsters body guard. Combine this with a small drug ring run by a wanna-be evil sorcerer all trying to hide their true identity from us normal people and you can get a lot of laughs. If you thought the opening scene in Illumination was scarry, the first murder in this book is worse.

Also, if you can ever find a copy of Warp Angel by Stuart Hopen, grab it! This out-of- print gem is the best book I've read combining the struggles of keeping Jewish traditions amidst a bleek future where most humans are considered little more than slaves in interplanetary politics. The main story is about a woman in search of her husband who was banished to an inescapable planet where the gravity is so dense, the exiles lose their minds if they live long enough to survive on the planet. Her faith in her husband, if not in his god, brings them together in a "What Dreams May Come" style.

Hate Harry Potter? Waiting for Book 5? Either way, check out His Majesty's Dark Materials by Pullman. Beginning with The Golden Compass, we find the main character Lyra in search of this mysterious artifact that has the power to save or condemn her world. She is entrusted to the task of finding these artifacts by her father, the head of the college that discovered the artifacts' usefulness (can't remember which one). Excited about the good she and her father can do, she sets off on adventure with her polar bear (sounds corny, but the bear is cool!) and finds that her wonderful daddy may not be so wonderful...

Quantum Leap, fantasy style: Currently reading the Death Gate Cycle by my favorite fantasy team Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Haplo is a man from ancient lands, his people banished by the Sartan (very important mage race) to the Labyrinth of which there is no escape. Somehow, like i really have to tell you, he escapes through the Death Gate and must climb his way through the seven circles to reach the Sartan at the top. In each circle, he meets different worlds with different problems that in order to advance to the next gate, he must help to solve.

Wow, i really sound like a bookseller, huh? I've been working so much more this summer it isn't funny. I'm working two jobs so I finally have 40 hours a week of work (yay!) and trying to get school put together (finally got accepted, now I have to meet with the advisor and register) and I'm in the middle of moving into my own appartment. Mom hates it, but I like living their, my neighbors are sooooo cool! Vegas isn't as cool as most people think, far too hot! Spent one week there and was disappointed that they wouldn't let me take home a white tiger from the Mirage. Still working (almost) diligently on my trilogy (as if anyone is going to read it anytime soon) and sent off my first short story to a magazine last week (more later). And once I get access to a scanner (our library sucks) I'll have to upload a pic of Kiyari, the sculpture I made in ceramics that I told you about eons ago.

And Terry, when are you going to visit us? ;)

Posted by Terry on 8/5/2002, 11:33 am , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

I second Angi-Kate's recommendations, especially of the Philip Pullman series His Dark Materials. I just adored The Golden Compass, and read it twice, once when it came out and again when I'd gotten books two and three so I could read them as a unit.

Angi-Kate, I am so psyched that your reading group enjoyed Illumination! Woo!

The next conventions in your area aren't till next year (sob), but the first one is right around the time The Binder's Road comes out, and I would just love to come visit the store then. I'll send MF an email to see if we can start the process of setting it up.

In the meantime, I just had an idea. Does your reading group have Internet access? Are they at all comfortable using IRC chat? We could pick an evening to get together online and have an informal discussion. What do you think? Want to sound them out? It would be great to chat with you all while the book's fresh in everyone's mind.

Terry

Posted by Angi-Kate on 8/10/2002, 3:51 pm , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

The next meeting is the last wednesday of this month and we don't have internet access at our meeting site...I'll think of something and let you know if we can chat sometime...i wouldn't mind inviting everyone to my place, but I don't have a comp, i hafta borrow other computers until I get my computer loan from school this fall *sigh*

Posted by Terry on 8/15/2002, 7:59 am , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

No problem, Angi-Kate. It's better in person anyway! And maybe we can work it out in the fall. In the meantime, I do a couple of regular chats a week with other writer and reader friends--I'll put up a separate post about that.

Have a great meeting! Which book are you discussing this month?

Posted by Angi-Kate on 8/22/2002, 2:13 pm , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

Dragon Delasangre by Alan F. Troop. So far, I'm on chapter 6 and its all about sex. I'm not really finding any "underlying meaning" or reason for all of the extra curricular activities going on and it is not making for a good book club book so far, but maybe i need to read more...later. This is looking more like soft porn with a fantasy twist than an actual fantasy book.

Posted by Karin on 8/8/2002, 5:39 pm , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

::thud::

Hey! How'd I get on the floor?

Karin

P.S. Thanks!

Posted by Terry on 8/9/2002, 11:05 am , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

// offering Karin a hand up //

:)

Posted by Terry on 8/5/2002, 11:22 am , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

Karin, I'm so glad your local economy is rebounding, and so glad you're getting lots of work! But I sympathize with how hard it's been to get sailing time in--and I know how much of a time commitment a boat is. What kind do you have? (Wooden/fiberglass, power/sail?)

I'm quite fond of schooners, myself, and I can even tie this in with book recommendations! There's a book by Erin Patrick called Moontide, from Wildside Press, that's a psychological thriller/ghost story about a haunted Maine historic schooner. Amazon, BooksAMillion, and Barnes & Noble online carry it, and you could always ask a local bookseller to order it (through Ingram, as a backorder). Also, if you can score a used copy, On Stranger Tides is a wonderful Tim Powers book about pirates. There's lots of fun nautical stuff in there, and it's a gonzo fantasy. In fact, I recommend anything by Tim Powers. He's one-of-a-kind.

More fantasy-novel recommendations in the Books and Authors thread...

Treating your boat as a customer is a brilliant strategy! Love it. Hope it works!

Terry

Posted by Robert on 8/25/2002, 12:43 pm , in reply to "Midsummer"

Just into the last week of our summer vacation and am also afraid to water the lawn, although I have never seen quite that shade of yellow before I'm almost positive that a lawn should be green. Having a great summer so far. Terry, I took your advise and sat my butt down and started writing. It is somewhat frustrating, seems that all the good ideas have been done and redone, but I'm not going to give up.
Robert

Posted by Karin on 8/28/2002, 12:23 am , in reply to "Re: Midsummer"

Robert, I know what you mean about finding writing a challenge. I took a couple of writing courses with a really good (my opinion) professor, and discovered that my distaste for conflict induces me to write BORING stories. I got my best marks for writing down my dreams and presenting them as science fiction.

I did find that my knack for descriptive writing can make me a pretty good essayist. I've also been told I have "an ear for vernacular." Think I can find a practical use for these skills?

As far as all the ideas having been used goes, maybe it's like rock 'n' roll. All the chord progressions have already been done, but you can still come up with new ways of putting them across.

Karin
Looking forward to seeing some "my two bits about writing" posts.

Posted by Karin on 7/29/2002, 10:51 pm

Gads. The "Greetings" string mutated into so many branches that I despaired of replying there. Hence the new string. And that'll teach me not to wander off after I post!

Looks like I'll be checking out Gemmel's "Legend." I like the authors Robert listed, but prefer George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, and now Terry. For sheer fun, I like Fritz Leiber, and his social consciousness stuff was pretty amazing for it's time as well.

I loved Stephen King's "The Stand," though it was depressing when 99% of the world died. I like the world-changing events of "Illumination" better. Heh.
The reason I stopped reading King was that he became so formulaic. Another tortured and/or murdered pet, another tortured and/or murdered beloved old person... It got so he'd start describing a likeable character, and I'd be there going, "Sheesh, I hope this one isn't chum, too."

I must be on a fantasy kick. I have a friend that lets me pick throught the science fiction he's about to trade in at the local used book store, and none of it has made me want to run out and get another title by that author.

I really miss the periodical, Aboriginal Science Fiction. I know the latest issue of Absolute Magnitude is part Abo, but I fear Abo has finally bit the dust. I see you had at least one story in there, Terry. I'll have to dig through my back copies and see if I can find it.

--Karin

Posted by Terry on 8/5/2002, 11:55 am , in reply to "Books and Authors"

Karin, I loved Aboriginal, too, and I was terribly sorry when it ceased publication. The issues I had stories in are: March/April 1991, Spring 1996, and Fall 1999. I also had poems in a couple of issues; I'll check the dates for you. If you have a full run of the magazine, hang on to those! :)

If you can't find them and you have a couple of bucks to spend (literally, $1.97 total), the three short stories from Aboriginal just became available at Fictionwise. I'll put links at the bottom of this message. But I really hope you have the issues--the stories had such great illustrations!

Right now I'm reading God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell. I somehow missed reading her work when it first came out, and Meisha Merlin has brought it back into print. (Thanks to Rama for the email recommendation of these!) I'm enjoying it quite a bit--it started out very reminiscent of Clark Ashton Smith, and is now turning into a fun high-fantasy adventure--but I'll have more to say when I'm done.

I love Fritz Leiber's work. Have you tried any Graham Joyce or Jonathan Carroll? They write absolutely wonderful contemporary dark fantasy.

For heroic fantasy, another out-of-print author to look for is Phyllis Eisenstein. Anything you can get your hands on. I think she's terrific.

Guy Gavriel Kay is another high-fantasy author to look for. And if you like his work and GRRM's, you might try David B. Coe's new series Winds of the Forelands (the first book's in hardcover now, Rules of Ascension).

I won't blather on too long, since there are just so many wonderful books and authors, but my last heroic-fantasy recommendation for now will be Elizabeth Haydon (a search on her first book, Rhapsody, will lead to the other three). And SF books I recently read and enjoyed are: Murphy's Gambit and Technogenesis, by Syne Mitchell; Divine Intervention, by Ken Wharton; and Cosmonaut Keep, by Ken Macleod. We just had a group discussion of the Macleod book on DelphiForums' SF Literature message board (http://www.sflit.com/), if anyone feels like popping over there. (It's a free service, though it may nag you once or twice to join the Premium service. I'm a member there, but it's important to me that anyone can access it without charge.)

Terry

Links to Aboriginal stories in electronic reprint (open in new window):
"For Fear of Little Men" (March/April 1991)
"Syrinx" (Spring 1996)
"A Girl in Every Universe" (Fall 1999)

Posted by Robert on 8/25/2002, 12:51 pm , in reply to "Re: Books and Authors"

One more suggestion ladies, try Kate Forsyth's The Witches of Eileanan series. A nice little twist on what happened to the witches of earth.

Robert

Posted by Karin on 8/28/2002, 12:45 am , in reply to "Re: Books and Authors"

Thanks for all the recommendations!

I wrote down all the authors and took them to my local library for a search, but found the only ones available are in the main library in Key West. I'm in KW a couple/few times a week, but have to remember to bring my list. No luck in the used book store just yet.

In the meantime, I'd read Lynn Flewelling’s name on somebody's list, and it was easy enough to remember that I noticed a copy of "Luck in the Shadows" while I was browsing. I'm about a half-dozen chapters into it, and truly enjoying myself so far.

Karin

Posted by Karin on 7/29/2002, 11:10 pm

Terry, don't get me started on Gemstone unless you want to see a looonnngggg post.

Here's the absolute basics:

It's unlike the other RPG's you've played because it's all text. No graphics except those in a sidebar that tell you what's in your hands, what direction you can go, how much mana and blood you have, and a couple other things.
If you remember the very first PC Adventure games, those are the basis. You have a room with exits and some puzzles (your basic Adventure game), and you add critters and magic based on the mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons (with the computer rolling dice to decide how successful your attempts at certain actions are).

The average number of players in Elanthia at any given time is about 1,000. If you use a credit card, you can try it free for a month and I'm pretty sure there's no obligation to buy a subscription (basic is about $15/mo).

You must be able to touch-type to enjoy the game.

I've never played another MPG, so I couldn't compare it, but the info page is:
http://www.play.net/gs3/info/

Anyone who wants to know more, just ask. I'll e-mail and post until your eyes cross.

If anyone has MPG favorites, this string might be a good place to wax poetic about their virtues.
::runs for cover::

--Karin

Posted by Terry on 8/5/2002, 12:03 pm , in reply to "MPG's"

Ah, great description of Gemstone, Karin!

The text-only aspect reminds me of the old days on the GEnie service, which was my first online home back in the early 1990s. And I used to play Adventure in college (on an IBM mainframe that was probably less powerful than the desktop computer I'm using right now--gadzooks). Text-only can be great, and so much faster than graphics-heavy programs.

I will try to get over there to check it out! I'm still very wary about doing any gaming right now, because I just added a couple of new activities to my schedule, and I'm trying to finish up some short fiction at the same time that I'm working on Triad. But at some point I'm going to need a fun, indoors break, and that's when I'll be sliding over to some MPG sites.... :)

Thanks for the info and links!

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