Mercedes Lackey

[Emmy]

I love the Free Bards series, but must admit that apart from her collaboration with MZB (Darkover: Rediscovery), I haven't read any of her other work.
What's your favourite Mercedes Lackey series, and what do you like the most about it?

[Beisla]

I've only read one full series, the original Heralds of Valdemar series, plus the stand-alone book By the Sword.

Of these I prefer the series. It had more of the Companions and the books were just so... enjoyable. :D Not that By the Sword wasn't.

I've put the first book of the Last Herald Mage series on my Christmas list, but I don't know if I'm going to get it. I've got a number of books on the list and I'm only getting some. That way I'll be surprised. :xmas1:

[Anareth]

I've read all of the Valdemar books except the Gryphon books and the last Owl book(I like the Heralds, not the mages or the Hawkbrothers et al.) Otherwise, the only series of hers I really like is the Elemental Masters books. (CURSE Phoenix and Ashes, it's only out in hardbound and I'm not spending that much on a book right now!)

By Valdemar I mean:

The Arrows Trilogy (Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall)
The Exile duology (Exile's Honor, Exile's Valor)
Vows and Honor (Oathbound, Oathbreakers, Oathblood)
By the Sword (which makes more sense if you've read Vows and Honor)
The Mage Winds trilogy (Winds of Fate, Winds of Change, Winds of Fury)
The Mage Storms (Storm Warning, Storm Rising, Storm Breaking)
The Last Herald-Mage trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price)
Take A Thief
Brightly Burning
Owlflight
Owlsight
Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar (not all by Lackey; wish Anne would authorize something like this for Pern)
Sun In Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar (see above)
The Valdemar Companion

Elemental Masters includes:

The Serpent's Shadow (male Water, female Earth)
The Fire Rose (male Fire, female Air)
The Gates of Sleep (male Earth, female Water)
(new) Phoenyx and Ashes (male Air, female Fire)

I assume Phoenyx and Ashes will be the last of them, unless she starts shaking up the combinations of elements.

Oh, I have two other books, "The Black Swan" and "Firebird", which she based off the ballets.

[Mausey]

I'm a Valdemar fan myself. :D I've got all the books except the Gryphon series and the Valdemar Companion. I'm waiting until after the holidays to get the last of the Vows and Honor I need.

For favorites it would have to be The Last Herald Mage trilogy. Vanyel goes through so much, knowing it's only going to get worse yet he never falters. He might have private doubts but he doesn't let them get in the way of his duty as a herald.

[Pat]

Only 2 1/3 books to go and I'll have finished the Valdmar books!!!! I am almost finished with Oathblood. Brightly Burning and The Valdemar Companion remain to be read.

I've actually read the Arrow Trilogy twice so far. Hard to say which is my favorites. I enjoyed each "segment" for its own story line. If forced to pick, guess the Arrow Trilogy, since that was where I started.

[AnnMarie]

Vows and Honor (Oathbound, Oathbreakers, Oathblood)
The Last Herald-Mage trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price)

The Free Bards


These I've read.,. though it's time for a re-read. I want to read the rest, but I also want to make sure I get the series out together from the library, and read them in the right order.

[Dawn]

My favorites are the books from the Elves On The Road Universe (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/text/1biblio2.shtml) - Bedlam Bard, Diana Tregarde and The Serrated Edge. But I also really like the: Halfblood Chronicles, Elemental Masters and Fairytale series. :cool:

One of these days I'll actually get around to reading the Valdemar books. :tilt:

[Sharon]

I've got all the Valdemar books, and I'd be hardpressed to choice a favorite trilogy or segment of the books. Each has much to recommend it.

I do like the Diana Tregarde books, it's a shame that she won't be writing anymore due to negative reactions of people who objected to the main character being a witch.

I've enjoyed Elves on the Road & Serrated Edge series.

I've read the first two of the Elemental Masters, but haven't read the second two yet.

[Mausey]

I'd forgotten about the Bedlam's Bard series. I've got 3 of those and they get read over and over. I've managed to get one of the Diane Tregarde books. It's a real shame that a few people took the books so seriously that Mercedes was forced to stop writing them.:sad:

[Faren]

She's written so many! :crazy: I think I've read most all the Valdemar books and the ones I've missed are some of the Bedlam Bard series.
The ones she's written recently (how does she DO it?) have been wonderful but I couldn't tell you what sereis they were.

[White Rabbit]

I have recently made contact with Ladyaria, who lives near me, and she has a wonderful collection, and is prepared to lend them to me, so I have been able to fill in the gaps, where I couldn't get hold of books in series. It's just great :ok:

I think I like the free bards best, but they're all enjoyable.

[Anneli]

My first (and favourite) Valdemar trilogy was the Storms trilogy. After reading it I found it kind of odd to go *back* and catch up on the rest :) But I loved the relationship between Karal and his master, and as an introduction to Valdemar it had everything you could ever want :D

Having since read almost everything else (except the Oathbound trilogy and the Owl ones) I still think that the Storms trilogy is the most "complete" of the books, although I also love "By the Sword".

Hans recently sent me "Herald's Valor". It served only to make me want to shake some sense into the young Selenay ;)

[Jozell]

I have read what I could find at the library (because everyone was talking about them here), and started with the Storm trilogy, just by coincidence, Anneli, and I found it a good introduction too. But I didn't like all of the ones there, some of them I found a grind to read, including Owlsflight :crazy: The first of the Gryphon books was good, though and the Last Herald Mage books also. I thought the portraits in the books a nice touch.

[Brenda]

I've only read three, coauthored by Andre Norton: Elvenbane, Elvenblood, Elvenborn. Really great stories. Where would you suggest I start on her other books?

[Anareth]

If it's Valdemar you're starting on, my advice would be to start with the first ones she wrote, "Arrows of the Queen", "Arrow's Flight" and "Arrow's Fall." With the Elemental Masters books, it doesn't matter, though I would suggest "The Serpent's Shadow" or "The Fire Rose." I'm not familiar enough with her other books to say.

[Mausey]

Part of the reason some people are a bit dissappointed with the Owl series is because it's geared more towards a younger audience. If you read about Vanyel and then these books it's quite a bit different and you'll really notice it. For reading order I like this the best.

Arrows - Wind - Storm, then read Vanyel. Brightly Burning comes in quite nicely about here, then Oath trilogy, By the Sword and the Owl series. The Valor books, while before Arrows, shouldn't be read until the first 3 series are finished. It's best you know the Weapon's Master before you read what he was like as a young(er) Herald. I think the Gryphon series, time wise, is long before the founding of Valdemar but they can be read at any time. There are also a couple anthologies, Sun in Glory has the story of Talia becoming a Sun Priestess in it and answeres a few questions.

Now I'll wait to see what order everybody else reads the books in. :D

[bisb]

I like the Free Bards best.
When it comes to Valdemar I'd love to live in a Hawkbrother glade!

[murphy]

Tor is reissuing the first Diana Tregarde book either in January or February of 2005. I think they will reissue all of them and if they sell well, there will be more written. So, if you want more Tregarde books, buy the new ones and get all your friends to buy them also.

[Dawn]

Tor is reissuing the first Diana Tregarde book either in January or February of 2005. I think they will reissue all of them and if they sell well, there will be more written. So, if you want more Tregarde books, buy the new ones and get all your friends to buy them also.

Thanks for the "heads up", Murphy! :good: I would love more books in the Diana Tregarde series. :cool:

[Faren]

Got "Sun in Glory" as a Christmas present!! :bouncy: :bouncy: Can't wait to get started!

[Anareth]

[color=#2e8b57]Arrows - Wind - Storm, then read Vanyel. Brightly Burning comes in quite nicely about here, then Oath trilogy, By the Sword and the Owl series. The Valor books, while before Arrows, shouldn't be read until the first 3 series are finished. It's best you know the Weapon's Master before you read what he was like as a young(er) Herald. I think the Gryphon series, time wise, is long before the founding of Valdemar but they can be read at any time. There are also a couple anthologies, Sun in Glory has the story of Talia becoming a Sun Priestess in it and answeres a few questions.


Personally, I'd say you have to put the Vows and Honor duology (Oathblood, being an anthology, is sorta optional) and "By The Sword" before Winds and Storms, because otherwise Kero and Elspeth's stepfather are kind of coming at you out of nowhere. V&H maybe, but "By The Sword" definitely. My suggested order would be:

The Arrows Trilogy
Vanyel Trilogy
Vows and Honor (Oathbound, Oathbreakers, Oathblood maybe, which will make more sense after Vanyel)
By The Sword
The Mage Winds
The Mage Storms

Then it depends on your preferences. If you like and/or care more about the Mage stuff and all the hawkbrother things, you read these two next:

The Owl Trilogy
The Gryphon Trilogy

If you're more interested in the Heralds and the history of Valdemar, you read:

Brightly Burning
The Exile duology
Take a Thief

The order between those two groups--less important. (I never finished the Owl trilogy and never picked up the Gryphon books. I'm not really interested in all the random magic stuff as much as the Heralds.)

The ones I'd save for last are "Sword of Ice" and "Sun in Glory", since they're rather more random, being multi-author anthologies. They jump all over the timeline and settings and will for the most part make more sense if you save them and the Valdemar Companion (sorta the Valdemar version of the DLG) for last.

[Beisla]

On Mercedes Lackey's site there's a list for the chronology of Valdemar, both in order of publication and historical order. List here (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/text/1mlchron.shtml).

[Earthmother]

Valdemar is my favorite and the first Fantasy series I ever read. Read it!

I love the Elemental series too.

[Mausey]

On Mercedes Lackey's site there's a list for the chronology of Valdemar, both in order of publication and historical order. List here (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/text/1mlchron.shtml).
:laugh: I was on her site this morning and couldn't find that list. :D I was obviously looking in the wrong spot. But I did find all the books in the Bedlam's Bard series. :bouncy:

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

By far the Valdemar Series are my fave. I'm finally reading Exhile's Valor right now!

I WISH there were Companions that were real. *dreams* :bouncy:

[dragonvet]

Her new series"Joust" and "Alta" are great. She is coming out with the 3rd one in March. I couldn't put them down!

[Elisabetha]

I have read all of the Valdemar books (thanks to my colleague who was willing to lend them to me) and I like the ones about Vanyel best. I have also read most of the books about the elves and racing cars. Of those I liked most. Alta and Joust are great and I can hardly wait for book three in that series. I have also read everything by Lackey that is in the Baen free library www.baen.com/ . I really want to read everything else she has written, but I think she is not very well known in The Netherlands, as I can hardly find them second hand.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Anneli]

I got that too, not as a present but as a "make-weight" a couple of weeks back to ensure my amazon order qualified for free delivery :D

The Sun in Glory short story alone was worth the purchase price ;)

Got "Sun in Glory" as a Christmas present!! :bouncy: :bouncy: Can't wait to get started!

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

Her new series"Joust" and "Alta" are great. She is coming out with the 3rd one in March. I couldn't put them down!

I LOVED Joust, and I have Alta that I need to read.

And she's coming out with a third??!!!!!! :eek: :faint: :bouncy:

EXCELLENT!!!! Do you know when?

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I have read all of the Valdemar books (thanks to my colleague who was willing to lend them to me) and I like the ones about Vanyel best. I have also read most of the books about the elves and racing cars. Of those I liked most. Alta and Joust are great and I can hardly wait for book three in that series. I have also read everything by Lackey that is in the Baen free library www.baen.com/ . I really want to read everything else she has written, but I think she is not very well known in The Netherlands, as I can hardly find them second hand.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

Lackey is great! Though so is Marion Zimmer Bradley (I think I did that right). Did Lackey write The Gates of Sleep? That one was good too

And I also liked the ones with Vanyel as the best. All the ones set in older Pern are great

[Mausey]

Our library just got Alta in and it's on my table right now. :bouncy:

[Anneli]

Was in Waterstones yesterday with a book token simply burning a hole in my pocket ;)

So treated myself to "Sword of Ice", one of the collections of fan-written short-stories set in Valdemar. :good: Unfortunately, I've not had time to read it yet :( :heartbeat

[murphy]

Was in Waterstones yesterday with a book token simply burning a hole in my pocket ;)

So treated myself to "Sword of Ice", one of the collections of fan-written short-stories set in Valdemar. :good: Unfortunately, I've not had time to read it yet :( :heartbeat


I'm just finishing it. I thought the best story in there was the one written by Michelle West. But then I like her anyway. :2cent:

[Bookfiend]

I love her Valdemar series, and I've just finished reading the first two books in "The Obsidian Trilogy" she's written with James Mallory. The first book being called "The Outstretched Shadow" and the second called "To Light a Candle". I can't wait for the final book to come out whenever that may be. :bouncy:

[B`dgyr]

Valdemar is wonderful!
I read the Storms first, too, and then went back. I've read the Winds and the first and the third fo the owl series, and I liked it, but then I'm strange anyway. Also the Exile and the book about the thief, whose name escapes me for the mmoment, Skif? Is that it? I haven't been able to find the Arrows series yet or the short story collections.

[murphy]

Valdemar is wonderful!
I read the Storms first, too, and then went back. I've read the Winds and the first and the third fo the owl series, and I liked it, but then I'm strange anyway. Also the Exile and the book about the thief, whose name escapes me for the mmoment, Skif? Is that it? I haven't been able to find the Arrows series yet or the short story collections.


Have you gone on-line to try to find them? You might try Amazon or Barnes and Noble on line. :2cent:

[Elisabetha]

I love her Valdemar series, and I've just finished reading the first two books in "The Obsidian Trilogy" she's written with James Mallory. The first book being called "The Outstretched Shadow" and the second called "To Light a Candle". I can't wait for the final book to come out whenever that may be. :bouncy:

I have read the first book in that series Bookfiend, and I liked it, though the first part of the book took some work to get through. It was not until I was nearly at the end of the story that I decided I really liked it and wanted to read the rest of the series. Now I have to wait until I am back at work (Pregnancy leave will last to April) to borrow the rest of the series from my co-worker. If he decides to buy the rest as wel.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Reyneth]

Has nobody read "The Fairy Godmother?" While I love Valdemar, this book is my favorite one book of hers. The way that the fairy tales are interwoven and altered - pure genius. And what girl didn't dream of being Cinderella? :heartbeat

[-H-]

The only Mercedes Lackey work that i have ever read (apart form The Ship Who Searched) is a collaboration with E. Govin in the wing commander series

Freedom Flight (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671721453/qid=1107799270/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-9683884-0127826)

[Lily]

Has nobody read "The Fairy Godmother?" While I love Valdemar, this book is my favorite one book of hers. The way that the fairy tales are interwoven and altered - pure genius. And what girl didn't dream of being Cinderella? :heartbeat

Oh Yes! I loved that one!

[murphy]

Has nobody read "The Fairy Godmother?" While I love Valdemar, this book is my favorite one book of hers. The way that the fairy tales are interwoven and altered - pure genius. And what girl didn't dream of being Cinderella? :heartbeat

I thought it was a good turnaround on the Cinderella story. Enjoyed this much more than some of the other books Luna has published. :2cent:

[Elisabetha]

I have just read a story by Mercedes Lackey on the baen free library (to tell the truth I read more, all the stories under the title werehunter, but this one I really liked). It is about (forgotten the names of the characters) the vampire and the witch. DOes anyone know if there are more stories or perhaps books about those characters? I would love to read more about them.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I thought it was a good turnaround on the Cinderella story. Enjoyed this much more than some of the other books Luna has published. :2cent:

Hmmm.. never heard of that one! I'll have to check it out soon! (adds to list of books to find)

[murphy]

I noticed at Barnes and Noble that the reissue of the Diana Tregarde book is out (I think it's Burning Water). These were good books about a modern day witch. There were three of them originally and I sure would like to see more written, which there will be if these sell this time around.

[Elisabetha]

Thanks Murphy, that is the character I was talking about. Great to know there are more books about her and that they are still being published. Now for some money so that I can buy them.

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[murphy]

OMG, I had forgotten her boyfriend was a vampire. It's been a while since I read them. The three books that were written were Children of the Night, Burning Water and Jinx High. Then they didn't sell that well, so she stopped writing them. That's why I want everyone to buy copies. Love to see more. :2cent:

[Dawn]

OMG, I had forgotten her boyfriend was a vampire. It's been a while since I read them. The three books that were written were Children of the Night, Burning Water and Jinx High. Then they didn't sell that well, so she stopped writing them. That's why I want everyone to buy copies. Love to see more. :2cent:

LOL!! I had forgotten about the vampire boyfriend, as well. I was racking my brain trying to figure out which book was about a witch and a vampire. :laugh: :roll:

Jinx High was my favorite of the series. :ok: 1]Because it was set in a suburb of Tulsa. I could find most of the landmarks. ;) and 2]because it set up the character of Tannim in Born to Run. :cool:

[murphy]

I think I need to start a reread. As I recall, there were some possibilities of a followup from Jinx High. :2cent:

[Elisabetha]

I loved the storie in werehunter and have been wanting to read more of them since I first read that. So I am very happy that there is more.
Is the order you put down the order to read them in Murphy?
Now I only need money so I can buy them. Wish I was rich

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[murphy]

Yes. Burning Water was written first, but Children of the Night occurs first in the timeline, then Jinx High. So I would start with Children of the Night.

[murphy]

In checking Amazon UK, I see that Burning Water is the first to be rerelased. The others are out of print at this time. I just happen to have my original copies from the early 90's. Hope you can get it.

[skysong]

Mercedes Lackey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am loco for just about anything she has written. From Elvenbane to Valdemar and her newer books like Alta. What is really great about her books is that both men and women can enjoy them. I got both my brother and sister to read books by Mercedes Lackey and of course Anne McCaffrey.
I think I have read just about everything she has written at one point.
:bow: :bow: :bow:

[Flinx]

My favorites are the books from the Elves On The Road Universe (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/text/1biblio2.shtml) - Bedlam Bard, Diana Tregarde and The Serrated Edge. But I also really like the: Halfblood Chronicles, Elemental Masters and Fairytale series. :cool:

One of these days I'll actually get around to reading the Valdemar books. :tilt:Like Dawn, my favourites are also the books in Elves On The Road universe.

But I have to admit that I don't particularly like Mercedes' choice of title Elves On The Road. It reminds me of our road signs here, instead of Koalas next 5km, it's Elves next 5km.

Besides the Elves On The Road universe books, I've also read Sacred Ground.

Dawn would probably like Sacred Ground (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/sacred.shtml) because it is set in Oklahoma.

Flinx :crazy:

[Nurianna]

I hope she further the adventures of Jennifer Talldeer, I enjoyed Sacred Ground.

and I have been looking for the Burning Water (read it from the library, totally loved it!) Children of the night and Jinx High~ (waiting... waiting)... She mentioned on a BB site that she'd had a lot of flack from the BW series in the late 80's when they released.. but now with people loving Buffy and Angel.. they are trying the re-release~

:bouncy: I'll own them... soon as I can~

[Dawn]

Dawn would probably like Sacred Ground (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/sacred.shtml) because it is set in Oklahoma.

Flinx :crazy:

Thanks for the link. :ok: I hadn't come across that one yet, so I haven't read it. I'll have to look for it now - sounds good. :cool:

[GoldriderAria]

I've read *ALL* of the Valdemar books. (Actually just finished re-reading Vanyel for the ...I've lost count of how many times... two days ago). And I think they're probably some of my favorites of hers. Though I also enjoyed the Free Bards, and the old co-authored ones based on the Bard's Tale computer game (the one that's like 20 years old...not the new one). Bedlam's Bard and those sequels are pretty interesting for a look at modern life with elves, though the feel is a bit different, and they're not my absolute favorites. Oh, I also found the Firebird myth retelling rather fun!

I have Joust on my bookshelf, in hardcover, and school stole all my free time (danged grad school), so it's on my list to read as soon as the semester is over in May.

~Aria

[Anareth]

Doesn't it just figure? They're going to reprint the Tregarde books, finally--and today I browse through my used bookstore, go to see if there are any Adept books by Katherine Kurtz, look at Lackey who's right next to her, and lo and behold, there's Jinx High, in unread condition, for $4. Didn't find any Adept books or Templar anthologies, but I think I can live with the disappointment.... :ok:

[Keita]

I've only read two of her books, "Owlflight" and "The black swan". Enjoyed both! :good:

[GoldriderAria]

I've only read two of her books, "Owlflight" and "The black swan". Enjoyed both! :good:

*grins* her adaptations of existing bird-related stories are cool. I certainly recommend the sequels to Owlfight...and "The Firebird" if you enjoyed Black Swan. It's a wonderfully amusing adaptation of the old Russian tale.

~Aria

[Keita]

*grins* her adaptations of existing bird-related stories are cool. I certainly recommend the sequels to Owlfight...and "The Firebird" if you enjoyed Black Swan. It's a wonderfully amusing adaptation of the old Russian tale.

~Aria

I'll keep an eye out for that one! Thanks! :good:

[palmedfire]

Doesn't it just figure? They're going to reprint the Tregarde books, finally--and today I browse through my used bookstore, go to see if there are any Adept books by Katherine Kurtz, look at Lackey who's right next to her, and lo and behold, there's Jinx High, in unread condition, for $4. Didn't find any Adept books or Templar anthologies, but I think I can live with the disappointment.... :ok:


::off topic:: You read the Adept books and Templar anthologies? I thought I was like the only person in the world who did! (slight exageration).

[murphy]

::off topic:: You read the Adept books and Templar anthologies? I thought I was like the only person in the world who did! (slight exageration).

No, I read them all too. They were a bit stiff, but I liked them. :2cent: