HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: asher@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (Marnita Asher)
Subject: Re: A couple of Questions
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 11:52:04 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.182619.1576@dunix.drake.edu> you write:
>I just have couple of questions concerning the David Eddings World:

>3)I'm rereading the Belgariad/Mallorean series for about the sixth time,
>mainly because I'm thinking of making a adventure campaign in the world,
>but not around the central characters.  I just love the way that Eddings
>pulls you into his stories, more like the child of the "Neverending
>Story" where every outcome seems to hinge upon your reactions:)  There
>is something that i noticed in the 'Pawn of Prophecy' that i question?
>When Belgarath comes back to take Pol, and she insists that he also take
>Garion with, and the reason why is because she caught him alone with
>Zubrette.  Belgarth laughs and says "so?" Pol is afraid of coming back
>and finding him set to be a father with Zubrette and insists they can't
>wait another 100 years.  What about this 100 years, would that mean they
>would have to wait for Zubrette to die and Garion could finally fulfill
>his prophecy or that they would have to wait for his heir?  The reason
>why this bothers me is because I thought they didn't know his sorcery,
>so how would he be alive in 100 years?  And his son may not have his
>mark since it was destined?  Just a question.
>
>Thank You
>Chris

Sigh.  I think we're talking another gaping inconsistancy here.  What I took
that to mean was that if Garion married Zubrette, etc., he would be just a
simple farmer all his life, would never fulfill his destiny, and they would
have to wait for his son or another descendent.  (Garion would not have still
been alive, because he would not have "activated" his sorcery and would not
have been able to keep himself alive.

Inconsistency:

Eddings makes it clear throughout the series in all places except here that
Garion is destined to fight Torak, to retrieve the Orb, etc., etc.  His name
has been written across the universe for thousands of years, etc., etc.  
There is no way, NO WAY, that things could have turned out differently, 
because the prophecy was guiding them.  The only thing that was up in the air
was whether Garion would defeat Torak, but never that Garion would be the one
to fight him, at that exact moment.

It would have made much more sense, to me, for Polgara to say, "No father,
it's dangerous for him here without me to protect him.  He goes with me."

Marnita
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: asher@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (Marnita Asher)
Subject: Re: eddings endings...
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 04:18:37 GMT

In article <1992Oct16.123828.3332@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au> you write:
>fellow fantasy lovers
>I enjoyed reading the belgariad the Mallorean and the ellenium 

>My only dissapointment in his work is with regards to his ending to the 
>Mallorean! The death of the mute was no real loss to anyone (sorry 
>forget his name).  This is easy for me to say but he could of killed off 
>Belgarath or Polgara etc.  It was the end of the series so I don't see
>why he couldn't have delivered Belgarath (mortal?) to his place apart
>from this Earth.

I disagree.  The death of Toth, IMO, left Cyradis vurnerable.  Without this,
I think she would never have left Kell, where she felt safe and protected,
to go to Mallorea with Zaketh.

That's not to say that it wouldn't have been good to see how Polgara and 
Garion would handle Belgareth's death.

Marnita
From: michaelt@essex.ecn.uoknor.edu (Cail mac Cuel)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: A couple of Questions
Date: 15 Oct 92 21:16:00 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA


	I would like to remind everybody that even though Polgara and
	Belgarath didn't know for sure that Garion was the `chosen one',
	They had studied the Mrin Prophecy (and the others) and so they
	knew what the events leading up to that point would need to be.

	Polgara (in reference to Garion marrying Zuebrette (sp?) and thus
	needing to bring him along to recapture the orb) stated something
	along the lines of it might be another hundred years before the
	*conditions* are right for the prophecy to be fulfilled.

	Also, as to Garion's name being written across the stars - who
	knows whether Garion is the only one who has had that name in
	his family.  Remember, all the the names of the male heirs have
	closely resembled each other.  It is entirely possible that the
	name Garion could be used more than once in the linage.

 

-- 
"Yea, though I walk through the shadow of |   michaelt@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
the Valley of Death, I will fear no Evil, |         Michael D. Thompson
for I am at Mach 3, and accelerating."    | Ld. Cail mac Cuel, Knights Marshall,
                     former SR-71 pilot   |     Barony of Namron, Ansteorra
From: dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Donald A Shaffer)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: question about belgariad
Date: 12 Oct 92 22:00:54 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Having already read the Belgariad (I think that's what it's called) and eagerly
waiting for the sequel, I was wondering about Eddintgs other series.  Are they 
in the same or different worlds, etc...
 Thanks
From: tsau@cae.wisc.edu (Johne Tsau)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: The Beginning of a Philosophical Debate :)
Date: 15 Oct 92 01:33:55 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin--Madison

In article <1992Oct14.203155.1@eagle.wesleyan.edu> jtulli@eagle.wesleyan.edu writes:
>i have a question...
>i have read the Belgariad twice, and loved it, by the way, but recent goings-on
>have gotten me pondering and i was wondering if anyone else out there has
>thought of this...
>Garion is supposedly the Child of Light and Torak the Child of Darkness.
>at the very end of the series, the "Child of Light" not only points out to
>Torak that no one loves him, but then he goes ahead and kills the guy (ok, the
>god)...doesn't that make Garion's Lightness a bit more shadowy?  does anyone
>out there except me think there's got to be a way for love to melt away evil;
>isn't evil only the result of fear and insecurity that love has a magical way
>of dispelling?
>sorry to be rambling, but if Torak is evil because he kills people, and Garion
>kills Torak, doesn't that make Garion evil?  kinda hypocritical i think.
>
>what do you all think?
>
>Jude

Well, I don't know if there is really a problem here.  Does it really
say anywhere that the Child of Light is good, and the Child of Dark is
evil?  Its really a war between two prophecies, with different
purpose.  Even Belgarath said he didnt like the idea of good vs evil,
it was too complicated... he preferred us vs them.  Plus, a lot of
the companions cannot be said to really be saints either.  Silk has
done enough swindling, stealing, and killing... Hettar kills because
he hates an entire race of people... 

If you don't want spoilers from the Mallorean, don't read on...
















If you include the Mallorean in the argument, you can include the fact
that Belgarion goes out of his way to kill Mallorean (I think mallorean,
could be murgos) deserters, w/o giving them a chance to redeem themselves.
Plus, the light prophecy ITSELF says that it holds too many grudges against
the traditional agents of the dark prophecy, and that ANOTHER prophecy would
take over after the FINAL event...

I think maybe the prophecy of light is light and the prophecy of dark is dark
because one suggests enlightenment... I dunno, gotta think about that one.

--
Johne...   Kariel the Margrave
"The question the truly scientific ask is 'Did God make man,
 or did man make God?'"

UNIX Address            : tsau@cae.wisc.edu
Real World Address      : 5348 Brummel St, Skokie, IL 60077
Real World Phone        : (708) 674-2947
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: cad002@dunix.drake.edu (Christopher Drake)
Subject: A couple of Questions
Organization: Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 18:26:19 GMT

I just have couple of questions concerning the David Eddings World:
1)Does anybody happen to know David Eddings Address?  Or a place where
he takes mail?
2)Does Eddings have any plans to continue the Belgariad/Mallorean
series?
3)I'm rereading the Belgariad/Mallorean series for about the sixth time,
mainly because I'm thinking of making a adventure campaign in the world,
but not around the central characters.  I just love the way that Eddings
pulls you into his stories, more like the child of the "Neverending
Story" where every outcome seems to hinge upon your reactions:)  There
is something that i noticed in the 'Pawn of Prophecy' that i question?
When Belgarath comes back to take Pol, and she insists that he also take
Garion with, and the reason why is because she caught him alone with
Zubrette.  Belgarth laughs and says "so?" Pol is afraid of coming back
and finding him set to be a father with Zubrette and insists they can't
wait another 100 years.  What about this 100 years, would that mean they
would have to wait for Zubrette to die and Garion could finally fulfill
his prophecy or that they would have to wait for his heir?  The reason
why this bothers me is because I thought they didn't know his sorcery,
so how would he be alive in 100 years?  And his son may not have his
mark since it was destined?  Just a question.

Thank You
Chris

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: ladyk@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Catarina Ang)
Subject: Domes of Fire: out!
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 02:23:25 GMT


	As an addition to T.F. Eccles point, I'd like to mention that
places like 'Bookworld' sell books for a 10-15% discount, and certain
newsagents sell the book for about $8 less.

	So, who else besides me, in Australia, has read it? *smirk*
From: hoffmann@plantain.cps.msu.edu (Lisa M Hoffmann)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Weis and Hickman
Date: 8 Oct 92 15:52:23 GMT
Organization: Michigan State University

In article <1992Oct7.214055.23196@newsroom.utas.edu.au>  
u920065@postoffice.utas.edu.au (Cameron Hill) writes:
> Hi 
>    I agree that the work mentioned above does not resemble Tolkien, but  
what
> the Dragonlance series. In this series there was a group of companions  
that 
> set out to bet the forces of Darkness that was led by a God.( In  
Tolkien's 
> case Sauron was a Demi god)  To do this they go to the free people and 
> build an army.  But this army is much smaller than that of the dark.  
> However it is not the armies that defeat the dark, it is the companions  
by
> means of destroying some great item (Tolkien had the ring, DragonLance  
had the 
> gem imbedded in Berem's (name may be wrong) chest ).  This of course  
does
> not stop enjoyment of the books.  
> 			Also has anyone noticed the similarities with  
non-human races.  All 
> dwarves are stocky, bad tempered miners and crafters who fight with  
elves.
> ( Death gate cycle did deviate slightly here in book one(I think) ).  
> Sure enough, the stockyness and the living in caves comes from  
mythology, but
> the fighting with elves, and the bad tempers, the seems to come from the 
> Gimli and legolas conflict with tolkien.
> 			Another point to consider.  In nearly all fantasy  
books that involve elves,
> they are fair in features and nearly taller than humans.  Also a large  
number
> are proficient with the longbow.  Where does this come from, not  
mythology,
> here elves were a short people that lived with the fairies.  I think it  
was 
> Tolkien that first sterotyped the 'modern' elves.
> 			Finally two last points. The first, isn't logical  
for Tolkien to have
> a big impact on todays fantasy as he is the one who most likely made 
> fantasy into what it is today.  And secondly, is there any need for the 
> language that has been flying around the net.
> 

As far as the Dragonlance series goes, I believe it was based on the  
(A)D&D modules of the same name.  As a matter of fact, somewhere in the  
credits they mentioned that some parts of the stories weren't originally  
theirs, but things that happened in playing the modules (like Raistlain  
charming the gully-dwarfs).  My point here is that when Gygax wrote the  
game, he DID base things (like the dislike between dwarves and elves) on  
Tolkien but that does not necessarily mean Weis & Hickman relied on  
Tolkien for inspiration -- unless you count second-hand reliance.

> Well thats about it.
> Now who likes eddings.
> 

That would be me! :-)  And I agree, let's get back to what this group is  
really about! 

> 
> Dean Bailey
> u920065@postoffice.utas.edu.au

Lisa Hoffmann
hoffmann@cps.msu.edu
From: gjr@st-andrews.ac.uk (Graham James Reilly)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ELENIUM
Date: 17 Oct 92 01:58:22 GMT
Organization: St. Andrews University, Scotland.

Come on, did anybody really expect Cyris ( or whatever her name was ) to 
choose the nasty side?  When it gets to the point wherer the author has no
surprises left there is no point in reading his works anymore.  It was too
'cute and nice." He didn't even have the guts to kill off a major character.
"Seeress of Kell" was the most recent paperback to come out over here and
its the last one of his I'mm buying.....
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: valjean@leland.Stanford.EDU (Scott Putterman)
Subject: Re: Have you heard of this author?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 16:08:25 GMT



I think Tad Williams is one of the best fantasy authors around.
The rumor I've heard is that the third and final book will be coming
out around December.

Ever heard of Robert Jordan?  I can't wait to read Shadow Rising which
just came out in hardcover.

Scott
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
From: valjean@leland.Stanford.EDU (Scott Putterman)
Subject: Re: eddings endings...
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 16:10:55 GMT

I agree.  I was very disappointed when Toth was the one to die.  I mean,
I could have told you that after Guardians of the West.  Toth was the most
predictable character to die and I was sort of hoping Eddings would be daring
and kill of someone else, but in the end he let the more likeable character
live.  Can you imagine the negative feedback he would have gotten if he
killed of Silk?

Scott
From: v125p7c5@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Michael Lamanna)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: A couple of Questions
Date: 13 Oct 92 14:10:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Oct12.182619.1576@dunix.drake.edu>, cad002@dunix.drake.edu (Christopher Drake) writes...
>I just have couple of questions concerning the David Eddings World:
>1)Does anybody happen to know David Eddings Address?  Or a place where
>he takes mail?

	If you would like to send him a letter you can address it to 
David Eddings in care of Del Ray books and send it to the address of 
Del Ray books.  The publishing company will distribute his fan mail to 
him.  

>2)Does Eddings have any plans to continue the Belgariad/Mallorean
>series?

	He has not mentioned anything about it.  Personally I don't think
that he can.  The underling theme of the 2 series is that the proficies are
split do to the accident.
	The child of dark is the instrument of the dark proficies, and since
the child of dark has been defeated and will never return, since the proficies
are no longer split, I don't see that he could continue with the same plot
line.  He could use the same characters in a new plot line, but what's the
point.
	What I like most about his books is the way that he develops the
characters.  This and the characters that he develops are what I find most
enjoyable about reading his books.  

> 
>Thank You
>Chris
> 
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------


						Michael Lamanna
					     University At Buffalo
					       Civil Engineering

	"It is easier to get forgiven than permission."


lamanna@ubunix.cc.buffalo.edu
v125p7c5@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
From: EXG106@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Have you heard of this author?
Date: 16 Oct 92 14:26:25 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

In article <roabennett.3.719240979@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au>,
roabennett@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (Andrew Bennett) says:
>
>ummm also is there a alt.fantasy newsgroup?? If not, why not!
>
>Anyway, Later Dudes....
>
>Andrew Bennett
>

No.   Because it seems that this group doubles as one! :-)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
From: JDRUM00@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Re: Will, but no Word!
Date: 12 Oct 92 19:47:34 GMT
Organization: Rice University

I agree with the muttering argument. I would say that a word, physical
or mental, is always used but not always PRINTED. The surest way to
make a system of magic or other paranormality sound silly is to make
it completely consistant. If Eddings included a Word for every act of
sorcery performed, the narrative would start sounding like it had been
written and conceived by a fifth-grader (except for the brilliant
characters and fantastic plot :) ).
 
For those who don't accept the ability of Belgarath or the other
powerful sorcerers to perform sorcery without a physical Word,
consider this:  would Belgarath be turned mundane by having his
tongue cut out? (Not that he'd ever let that happen.) It's a grisly
example, but I figure it clarifies the point. I would respond in the
negative...anyone else?
 
Jennifer Drummond
a.k.a. jdrum00@ricevm1.rice.edu
From: roabennett@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (Andrew Bennett)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.eddings
Subject: Have you heard of this author?
Date: 16 Oct 92 13:09:39 GMT
Organization: Halls of Residence, Monash University

Greetings all,

I was wondering if any of  you Fantasy readers out there had heard of the 
author TAD WILLIAMS. He wrote the series Thorn, Sorrow, and Memory...a 
trilogy(?) about three great swords....

I have read the first two books..(can't remember there names:( ...) but was 
wondering if the third book was published yet....the series is really good (
one of the best series that I have read for awhile!) and he has sort of left 
me hanging in mid-air...*groan*

Any info would be much appreciated...

ummm also is there a alt.fantasy newsgroup?? If not, why not!

Anyway, Later Dudes....

Andrew Bennett


 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  I can be contacted at the following  |  Reality is what people       |
|  addresses...                         |  perceive it to be.           |
|  The opinions expressed are entirely  |                               |
|  my own.                              |  Sanity is what the majority  |
|  e-mail me at:                        |  of people call Reallity.     |
|  kryndal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au        |                               |
|  roabennett@halls1.cc.monash.edu au   | Insanity is what a Minority   |
|  10706747@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au      | view as the Truth.            |
|                                       |                    Anonymous  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: alt.fan.tom-robbins
From: aeksir@owlnet.rice.edu (Amy Elizabeth Ksir)
Subject: Re: Chinese painting
Organization: Rice University
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 19:05:01 GMT

Is this the same, or a variation on, the painting called "The Vinegar
Tasters" mentioned in the Tao of Pooh?

Amy.
Newsgroups: alt.fan.tom-robbins
From: s0522457@let.rug.nl (L.E. Plat)
Subject: Chinese painting
Organization: Faculteit der Letteren, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, NL
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 17:56:46 GMT

Hi there!

I thought I'd breath some new life into this newsgroup with the 
following questions:

At the end of _Even_Cowgirls_Get_the_Blues_, in the 'special bonus
parabel', TR mentions a scene from a (as far as I know: Chinese)
painting that I would like to get my hands on. (You know: the one featuring
Jesus Christ, Confucius and Buddha (and two other persons that I'm sure 
do not exist in the original painting :-).) Does anyone know the name
of this painting? & what's more: does anyone know of a book I can find
this painting in?

And: a (long) while ago a (few) person(s) mentioned some articles TR had 
written. Would any soul be as so kind as to put these articles into this 
group? I know I that they are probably copy-righted, but the chances of 
getting those articles over here in The Netherlands are < 0.001 so, 
please..?  

Also: can anyone mention articles in which books by TR were reviewed?

Hope this shakes things up a bit,

Bert
Newsgroups: alt.fan.asprin
From: jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist)
Subject: Re: Sheesh.
Organization: INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, Naperville, IL
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1992 17:02:51 GMT

In article <AeojrVu00WBO41ugp3@andrew.cmu.edu> Matthew A Kagle <mk52+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>It's amazing how much time we can spend arguing over such goofy stuff. 
>Is there a degree I can get in this? (rhetorical theory of silliness?)


I think "BS" pretty much covers it.
-- 
Jonathan E. Quist                              INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
jeq@i88.isc.com  '71 CL450-K4 "Gleep", DoD #094        Naperville, IL
        There are many things a person should experience in a lifetime.
       Among them are an infant's first cry, and an infant's first laugh.
From: mk52+@andrew.cmu.edu (Matthew A Kagle)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.asprin
Subject: Sheesh.
Date: 7 Oct 92 15:10:25 GMT
Organization: Masters student, English, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

It's amazing how much time we can spend arguing over such goofy stuff. 
Is there a degree I can get in this? (rhetorical theory of silliness?)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.asprin
From: fsjjp@acad3.alaska.edu (Whatya Want?  Get Screwed)
Subject: Re: Dragon Poker
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41.UAC
Organization: P.A.R.A.N.O.I.A
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 06:53:00 GMT

In article <1ahu80INNjb0@agate.berkeley.edu>, ding@oreo.berkeley.edu (Howard Ding) writes...
>In article <oemvrx_00WBK08fqNL@andrew.cmu.edu> Matthew A Kagle <mk52+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>>You must be kidding.  Those rules would be a twelve volume set....abridged!!
> 
>Probably not.  Guido and Nunzio carry rulebooks around with them
>in MythINC in Action.
> 
>Howard Ding
>ding@math.berkeley.edu
> 

        Ahh, but you must remember, the book they carry around with them
        is for *THAT* dimension only and is the short version...
        Again, I agree with Matthew ... at least 12 volumes

Stuart_Hall
aka Corwin
#include BITNET <FSJJP@ALASKA.BITNET>
#include EMAIL <FSJJP@ACAD3.ALASKA.EDU>
From: s91001ra@sfc.keio.ac.jp (Rie Aizawa)
Newsgroups: alt.mcdonalds
Subject: Re: Bizarre Regional McFood Trials...
Date: 13 Oct 92 13:03:56 GMT
Organization: Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus.

In article <1992Oct11.215957.1@acad.drake.edu> aar001@acad.drake.edu writes:

 *	  I have heard many jokes about Mc(this) and Mc(that), but what are some
 *	  of the more bizzare McDonalds experimental foods that have been 
 *	  regionally tested in your areas?    (I.E. Pizza's, Pastas etc...)
 *	  
 *	  And, How were they (If you had enough nerve to try them  :)?
 *
Well, we have many kind of our original foods at McDonalds in Japan.

We have Curry-and-Rice and also Fried-Rice called McChao.  And we have

a lot more.  (I will go to McDonalds tomorrow to check.)

When I went New Zealand this summer, they had a burger called

Kiwi-Burger!

Rie
-----
s91001ra@sfc.keio.ac.jp