HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Transformation of others
Date: 6 Nov 92 04:01:12 GMT
Organization: Rice University

I don't think that curing a terminally ill person is the same thing
as transforming a person into a snake. Remember the mad monk from Mar
Terrin? Garion had to, and I paraphrase, 'fully understand the nature
of his madness' before he could cure it. It's a lot easier to under-
stand the workings of a healthy snake than those of an aged, diseased,
and obese human body.
 
Polgara is very skilled at medicine, so it's possible that she DID
have the knowledge to 'rebuild him from the ground up'. But I don't
think that's necessarily what Porenn was asking for. Porenn wasn't
stupid, and she wasn't greedy or selfish. People must die, and
Porenn knew that. Whe she wanted (as I interpret it) was for Rhodar
to be made healthier and more comfortable so that he could live out
his natural life with his full mental faculties. Full rebuilding
would be extremely difficult, morally wrong (for all the reasons
previously discussed), and also hazardous. What if Polgara made a
mistake? This is a delicate operation, and remember what she told
Ce'Nedra when Ce'Nedra wanted her to tamper with...er...certain
underdeveloped features of hers? That messing with it would 'upset
certain delicate balances'. If a minor change like that could be
dangerous to a young and healthy girl, imagine the strain on Rhodar.
 
=-=-> Jennifer Drummond
      a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu
      a.a.k.a. Jedra, PernMUSH
               Jenner, TooMUSH
From: st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Rosaleen Dhu)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Size of the orb??
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:23:42 GMT
Reply-To: st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University


	I think that the Orb is smooth, otherwise it'd look damn silly on the
hilt of a sword. Maybe it looks like those really bad special effects in
"Dr. Who" and such, the ones with a crystal ball on a pedestal, glowing
faintly blue. As to size, I always thought that maybe the Orb changed size to
fit the circumstances. You know, not like anyone ever really saw it change,
but somehow it just always seemed to be exactly the right size for whatever
it was doing and no one questioned it.
					Rosaleen Dhu
From: ghesmiz@brahms.udel.edu (Michael Macchione)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Summary: a new idea
Date: 6 Nov 92 23:47:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Delaware

Maybe the question isn't how did the Orb get on Brand's shield, but what
is special about Brand's shield?  Everyone knew that the Orb would burn
anyone who took it off the sword of the Rivan King, and that anyone using
the sword of the Rivan King would certainly touch the Orb, so why not have
Belgarath change the sword into something that could still be used in battle
but would be a lesser risk in using, hence a shield.  I don't know of any
evidence that will support this, but I also can't think of anything that
would disprove this either.
Any comments?

Mike Macchione  aka Ghesmiz
From: mcmurtrey@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Rumormongering
Date: 8 Nov 92 16:33:36 -0600
Summary: ?????
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

        I heard a rumor that Eddings is planning a few more books related to
the Mallorean and Belgarad series.  This was basically pub talk so I didn't
take much notice.  But I would like to know if anyone has heard anything???  
I do hope it is true.....

                                                     Diana
From: EXG106@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: The Lock
Date: 13 Nov 92 16:04:18 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

Here is something that has bothered me since the first few chapters of Pawn of
Prophecy:
          Does anyone remember when Polgara was putting a young Garion to bed,
he reached out his hand (the one with the mark on it) and touched Pol's white
lock of hair....And it opened a 'window' of thoughts?
          I've always wondered what this was.  Eddings seems to use this just
to capture the reader's interest, but then seems to COMPLETELY forget about thi
s.   Garion doesn't even ask about this later on.

 Any clues?
        Eylon

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eylon Geva            |   "Somebody please tell me that I'm dreaming,
geva@orville.psu.edu  |    It's not so easy to stop from screaming..."
exg106@psuvm.pdu.edu  |                            Iron Maiden
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: reason@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Jason E. Reasoner)
Subject: Nope, it didn't show up...
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:14:27 GMT

>Let's see if my .sig shows up here...I've been gone so long from this group
>that I may have deleted it..
Nope, it didn't show up...
But I bet mine does...

-- 
     ******************************|---------------------------------|
     *  reason@sage.cc.purdue.edu  |"I will not buy this record, it  |
     *  aka  Smegma, Reason, Rand  | is scratched."      -John Cleese|
     ******************************|---------------------------------|
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: detchay@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (TONY CHAY)
Subject: Re: Silk and the Prophecy
Organization: Halls of Residence, Monash University 
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 23:38:29 GMT


	Just a comment.  In the Guardians of the West, at the end when 
Cyradis is naming the members of the company she refer's to silk as the "
guide".  She would be the most authoritative source there is for sure!  
THis is also compatible with what Garion saw silk as when he touched the 
orb.  As for the other names, I think that in Ctuchik's case the Mallorean 
Gospels (ie. The opposing prophecy) was another destiny.  Perhaps the 
disagreement on the outcome of events also led to a difference in the names 
given to the members of the company.  It's no great inconsistency on Eddings 
part.

	T.C..... Aus.
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: detchay@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (TONY CHAY)
Subject: Re: Transformation of others
Organization: Halls of Residence, Monash University 
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 07:26:32 GMT

In article <1992Nov3.005151.23549@usage.csd.unsw.OZ.AU> 2120158@hydra.maths.unsw.EDU.AU () writes:
>From: 2120158@hydra.maths.unsw.EDU.AU ()
>Subject: Re: Transformation of others
>Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1992 00:51:51 GMT

>In article <1992Oct30.123533.21159@doug.cae.wisc.edu> tsau@cae.wisc.edu (Johne Tsau) writes:
>>Can someone explain this one...  Polgara has the ability to assume
>>almost any form she wants.  She also had the ability to transform
>>Salmissra (on the spot) into an immortal snake (well, at least she
>>doesn't grow old), and she had the ability to curse a man to live
>>forever (living a life of lies).  Yet, when King Rhodar was dying,
>>she said she couldn't do anything, and that his body would have to
>>be rebuilt from top to bottom.  And Salmissra wasn't rebuilt???
>>
>>So did she not help him because she couldn't, or because she wouldn't
>>(it was against some principle or something).

>  She could've just transform him into another human, but what use would it be?
>I mean sure he would be alive, but his shape and IDENTITY would've been 
>destroyed, leaving him a king, but unable to be recognised by his subjects
>(and viewed as a usurper).
>   So he's alive with nothing to do? Isn't that kinda cruel?

	The real issue here is not that polgara could or could not have 
changed rhodar.  I have absolutely no doubt that she meant what she said 
when she said "I'd have to rebuild him from the ground up".  Nor do I have 
any doubt that she could have done it.  Now, why wouldn't she.  Think over
the entire 2 series of books, how many close friends did polgara, belgarath
etc (sorcerers) have.  Lots.  So if any of them started messing around with
stopping their freinds from dieing they would set a dangerous precedent
and would have to do so for all their freinds.  Nobody wants to die right!
	They were all in the end servants of 1)Aldur and 2) Fate (ie 
the two prophocies).  So she had to play by the rules.  The gods would not
be happy if polgara suddenly made everyone immortal would they.  It's 
impractical.  Besides, maybe the gods gathered rhodar to their breast.

			Just my two bobs worth.

						Tony...


Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: detchay@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (TONY CHAY)
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Organization: Halls of Residence, Monash University 
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 23:45:05 GMT

In article <1992Nov8.201640.21128@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> haljibur@coos.dartmouth.edu (Halim F. Aljibury) writes:
>From: haljibur@coos.dartmouth.edu (Halim F. Aljibury)
>Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
>Date: 8 Nov 92 20:16:40 GMT

>In article <1689613721.JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU> JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU writes:
>>Wait a second, guys.

>Erm, Poledra was the child of light...At least from the Malloreon, anyway...

>Let's see if my .sig shows up here...I've been gone so long from this group
>that I may have deleted it..
From: millerbe@bohr.physics.purdue.edu (Barry E. Miller)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Domes of Fire (possible spoiler)
Date: 9 Nov 92 16:54:39 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Physics Department


I just finished reading "Domes Of Fire" and I must say that I
really enjoyed the book.  For some reason, I did not care for
the cover of the book, but that's not important.



I didn't hear any mention of the rings Sparhawk and Ehlana have.
Do they still have them or did I forget that they got rid of them?

How come the other members of the party that knew Flute do not
recognize her as Danae? Is she purposely using her powers to keep
them from noticing?

Nothing really happened in the book. No great battles or anything,
but I feel like they are setting the stage for more intrigue than
Eddings has used before.  Who are the Shining Ones?? Where are
the Cyrga (?) hiding? How are the Troll-Gods able to use their 
powers when they are supposedly trapped in Bhelliom?

Did anyone notice that now that Kurik is dead, his son just took
over his character? It's like Kurik didn't die, just changed his
name to the practical Durnik,..I mean Khalad. (I think that's his
name.)

Barry
millerbe@bohr.physics.purdue.edu

"Icy calm, Mr. Steele" L. Holt 

Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU
Subject: Re: Silk and the Prophecy
Organization: Rice University  
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 04:19:12 GMT

[Silk's several prophecy-names deleted]
 
>That depends on how you look at it. There were many prophesies and most were
>dictated from the mouths of lunatics. (And a couple weren't. i.e., Torak and
>Belkira/Beltira.) These people spoke their visions from the prophesies, so
>certain perceptions can lead to different titles. Only the Dals would be a
>true source for such information being that they were directly involved with
>both prophesies.
 
Very good point...the names we're used to hearing -- The Eternal Man,
The Man With Two Lives, The Dreadful Bear, the Knight Protector etc.
-- are all from the Mrin Codex. Belgarath mentions at some point that
the Mrin is the only prophecy which names them all clearly, and that's
why he searches so long for Taiba -- she's in no prophecies BUT the
Mrin Codex. The other two of Silk's names could easily have come from
other prophecies.
 
This is a rationalization, of course...I think Eddings probably just
goofed! :) (See the ongoing argument on Pern about whether Lytol's
dead Larth was a brown or a green...)
 
=-=-> Jennifer Drummond
      a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu
      a.a.k.a. Jedra, PernMUSH
               Jenner, TooMUSH
 
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: p9b3@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Dan Fleet)
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Organization: University of New Brunswick
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 17:17:51 GMT

In article <1689613721.JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU> JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU writes:
>Wait a second, guys...about Brand and the shield: there's always a
>Child of Light around when you need one. To my shame, I can't
>remember whether Poledra or Brand was the Child of Light at Vo

Poledra was: (see _The Seeress of Kell_).
Also interesting is that Belgarath and Polgara never knew that...
So just maybe Poledra snuck into the throne room one night, picked up
the Orb, and stuck it on Brand's shield.  The next day, everyone wonders
about this miracle.

    
>Mimbre...I'm sure someone will correct me. ;) But do you really
>think the Orb would burn the Child of Light? Brand wore it on his
>shield instead of wielding the Sword of the Rivan King, but this
>was another one of those things that was Destined To Be. The Orb
>was GOING to be at that battle, and it was GOING to help against
>Torak...the actual mechanism almost doesn't matter.

 Of course, the jury's still out as to whether or not the Orb would
burn ANYONE associated with the Light. :-)
I'm sure, between the ingenuity of Belgarath, the Spirit of Light's plain
mystrious motives, and the Orb's admitted eagerness to fight with Torak,
they would have found a way to get the Orb on Brand's shield.

Of course, it would be nice if we had a story or ten about the events
leading up to Vo Mimbre  *HINT HINT* :-]

> 
>That doesn't mean I'm not as curious as the rest of you,
>of course. :)
> 
>=-=-> Jennifer Drummond
>      a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu

 ----
 Dan Fleet is p9b3@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca  University of New Brunswick
                                            Fredericton, NB, CANADA

Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Organization: Rice University  
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 04:07:29 GMT

Wait a second, guys...about Brand and the shield: there's always a
Child of Light around when you need one. To my shame, I can't
remember whether Poledra or Brand was the Child of Light at Vo
Mimbre...I'm sure someone will correct me. ;) But do you really
think the Orb would burn the Child of Light? Brand wore it on his
shield instead of wielding the Sword of the Rivan King, but this
was another one of those things that was Destined To Be. The Orb
was GOING to be at that battle, and it was GOING to help against
Torak...the actual mechanism almost doesn't matter.
 
That doesn't mean I'm not as curious as the rest of you,
of course. :)
 
=-=-> Jennifer Drummond
      a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu
      a.a.k.a. Jedra, PernMUSH
               Jenner, TooMUSH
 
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: skwatkin@nyx.cs.du.edu (Steven Watkins)
Subject: Re: alt.fan.fantasy.writers
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 03:38:10 GMT

I agree totally!!  I think someone should set up alt.fan.fantasy.writers!!
I have no idea how to do it or I would do it myself . . . If someone 
does start it, will they please post the exact name.  I support talk of
Eddings, Jordan, and Tad Williams also.  These are *great* authors!!

********

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
                      -- H. L. Mencken
skw1@engr.uark.edu

Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: torch@idt.unit.no (Tor Christian Ulvang)
Subject: Re: Size of the orb??
Reply-To: torch@idt.unit.no (Tor Christian Ulvang)
Organization: Div. of CS & Telematics, Norwegian Institute of Technology
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 11:12:20 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.212342.21733@news.cs.brandeis.edu>, st923058@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Rosaleen Dhu) writes:
|> 
|> 	I think that the Orb is smooth, otherwise it'd look damn silly on the
|> hilt of a sword. Maybe it looks like those really bad special effects in
|> "Dr. Who" and such, the ones with a crystal ball on a pedestal, glowing
|> faintly blue. As to size, I always thought that maybe the Orb changed size to
|> fit the circumstances. You know, not like anyone ever really saw it change,
|> but somehow it just always seemed to be exactly the right size for whatever
|> it was doing and no one questioned it.
|> 					Rosaleen Dhu

-- 

I think Belgarath recites from "The Book of Alorns" (?) in Pawn of Prophecy
at Faldor's farm, and tells that it's the size of a childs heart. But
whatever size, it har to fit the mark on Garions hand. 
I can't remember reading anything about the Orb changing size.

Tor Christian

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Tor Christian Ulvang               | Quote wanted.                      | 
| torch@solan.unit.no                |                                    |
| Norwegian institute of Technology  |                                    |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: STUCS204@UK.AC.BHAM.IBM3090
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 09:55:11 GMT
Organization: The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

>1020444@MAINE.MAINE.EDU (The Judge) writes:
>> But are we so sure that Polgara and Belgarath aren't related to Cherek?
>> There's a part in one of the books where Silk is trying to prove to
>> someone that Polgara is an Alorn, mentioning her resemblance to Velvet
>> (which puts in the Malloreon somewhere) and Beldaran's blond-ness.
>> If they're Alorns, might they not be related to Cherek somehow?
>
>     Polgara and Belgarath might very well be somehow related to Cherek.
>However, this would *not* affect their ability to touch the Orb.  It
>is not any blood relative of Riva who may touch the Orb, as some recent
>posts have appeared to claim; it is those of the *line* of Riva, that
>is, Riva's descendants.
>     So, the sorcerous duo may be relatives of Riva's father Cherek.
>And they have the addition relationship to Riva's line through
>Beldaran (this being the reason that Belgarath is Garion's "grandfather"
>and Polgara his "aunt").  But neither of these facts means that they
>may touch the Orb.  If any blood relative of Riva's could touch the Orb,
>then his brothers and father would have been able to touch it, but we
>know that Riva was the only one of the group who was able to take the
>Orb out of the cask where Torak kept it.
>
>mmmchugh@vax1.tcd.ie (Noctua) writes:
>>But, if you are on good terms with the orb - and it has a rather childish
>>temper - you will be allowed to hold it - after all Brand of Riva carried it
>>into battle against Torak.  Also, anyone who is innocent in heart and soul, or
>>some other such nonsense, can hold it, ie Errand/Eriond
>
>     Yes, Brand carried the Orb into battle, but he wasn't physically
>holding it -- it was on his shield.  And no one (yet) has suggested
>that *Brand* might have been the one to take the Orb off the Sword of
>the Rivan King and place it on the shield.
>     Yes, anyone innocent in heart and soul can carry the Orb, but we
>only know of two people to have qualified in all of history:  Eriond
>and Riva.
>     So, these are hardly evidence that anyone "on good terms with" the
>Orb can blithely pick it up.
>                                        tamora@owlnet.rice.edu
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from stucs204@birmingham.ac.uk aka richard thomas
  The above is true but it must also be recognised that Aldur and Torak could p
ick up the orb - the orb only maimed Torak when he tried to *use* it. In this c
ategory of Gods touching the orb this would also include Eriond. I base this on
 the fact that there are several mmentions in the Belgariad to the fact that th
e prophecys having future telling abilities and if we assume the orbs and the p
rophecys are somehow related then the orb would know that Eriond would someday
be  God himself.
                Thoughts please to the above address.
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: tamora@owlnet.rice.edu (Tami Dawn Kimmel)
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Organization: Rice University
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:34:19 GMT

1020444@MAINE.MAINE.EDU (The Judge) writes:
> But are we so sure that Polgara and Belgarath aren't related to Cherek?
> There's a part in one of the books where Silk is trying to prove to
> someone that Polgara is an Alorn, mentioning her resemblance to Velvet
> (which puts in the Malloreon somewhere) and Beldaran's blond-ness.
> If they're Alorns, might they not be related to Cherek somehow?

     Polgara and Belgarath might very well be somehow related to Cherek.
However, this would *not* affect their ability to touch the Orb.  It
is not any blood relative of Riva who may touch the Orb, as some recent
posts have appeared to claim; it is those of the *line* of Riva, that
is, Riva's descendants.
     So, the sorcerous duo may be relatives of Riva's father Cherek.
And they have the addition relationship to Riva's line through 
Beldaran (this being the reason that Belgarath is Garion's "grandfather"
and Polgara his "aunt").  But neither of these facts means that they
may touch the Orb.  If any blood relative of Riva's could touch the Orb,
then his brothers and father would have been able to touch it, but we
know that Riva was the only one of the group who was able to take the
Orb out of the cask where Torak kept it.

mmmchugh@vax1.tcd.ie (Noctua) writes:
>But, if you are on good terms with the orb - and it has a rather childish
>temper - you will be allowed to hold it - after all Brand of Riva carried it
>into battle against Torak.  Also, anyone who is innocent in heart and soul, or
>some other such nonsense, can hold it, ie Errand/Eriond

     Yes, Brand carried the Orb into battle, but he wasn't physically 
holding it -- it was on his shield.  And no one (yet) has suggested 
that *Brand* might have been the one to take the Orb off the Sword of 
the Rivan King and place it on the shield.
     Yes, anyone innocent in heart and soul can carry the Orb, but we
only know of two people to have qualified in all of history:  Eriond
and Riva.
     So, these are hardly evidence that anyone "on good terms with" the
Orb can blithely pick it up.
                                        tamora@owlnet.rice.edu
From: haljibur@coos.dartmouth.edu (Halim F. Aljibury)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Why the Orb burns anybody at all?
Date: 8 Nov 92 20:16:40 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <1689613721.JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU> JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU writes:
>Wait a second, guys...about Brand and the shield: there's always a
>Child of Light around when you need one. To my shame, I can't
>remember whether Poledra or Brand was the Child of Light at Vo
>Mimbre...I'm sure someone will correct me. ;) But do you really
>think the Orb would burn the Child of Light? Brand wore it on his
>shield instead of wielding the Sword of the Rivan King, but this
>was another one of those things that was Destined To Be. The Orb
>was GOING to be at that battle, and it was GOING to help against
>Torak...the actual mechanism almost doesn't matter.
> 
>That doesn't mean I'm not as curious as the rest of you,
>of course. :)
> 
>=-=-> Jennifer Drummond
>      a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu
>      a.a.k.a. Jedra, PernMUSH
>               Jenner, TooMUSH
> 

Erm, Poledra was the child of light...At least from the Malloreon, anyway...

Let's see if my .sig shows up here...I've been gone so long from this group
that I may have deleted it..
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: reason@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Jason E. Reasoner)
Subject: Re: alt.fan.fantasy.writers
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:10:36 GMT

In article <1992Nov8.162324.8501@iscsvax.uni.edu> mcmurtrey@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
>        If anyone does start a general newsgroup for fantasy-novel addicts 
>pppplllleeaasssee let me know.  I unfortunately don't know how to start one.  I
   The same goes for me....

-- 
     ******************************|---------------------------------|
     *  reason@sage.cc.purdue.edu  |"I will not buy this record, it  |
     *  aka  Smegma, Reason, Rand  | is scratched."      -John Cleese|
     ******************************|---------------------------------|
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings