From: owner-glencook-fans-digest@lists.xmission.com (glencook-fans-digest) To: glencook-fans-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: glencook-fans-digest V1 #24 Reply-To: glencook-fans-digest Sender: owner-glencook-fans-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-glencook-fans-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk glencook-fans-digest Thursday, August 31 2000 Volume 01 : Number 024 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:11:53 EDT From: Donnafair@aol.com Subject: (glencook-fans) Re: SL Spoiler/question * Spoilers * In a message dated 8/30/00 5:02:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jdesimon1@earthlink.net writes: << and have just (about an hour ago) finished reading Soldiers Live. Everything is clear to me, until the end...what exactly happened with Croaker and Shivetya? Do they inhabit each other's minds? Does S get to be Croaker until the body dies, and then resume being himself? I read this several times, and am totally not clear. >> I just finished SL today (and am currently catching up on archived messages for the past few weeks!). My impression was that this was Shivetya's release from immortality. When Croaker's body goes, Shivetya goes to whatever his afterlife is. I liked the changing voices. It took awhile to figure out what was going on with Murgen during his time as annalist, but what a fascinating concept once I got it. And I liked Sleepy's voice (though no one truly compares to Croaker), though that might be a product of my own gender. ;) It was a bit disappointing to have Sleepy killed offstage, and I was pretty sad about Murgen buying it by a shadow (or was it a fireball that got him in the tower?). Mogaba sure got what was coming to him, in the end. Lady's reference to her mother as Sleeping Beauty was a neat little bit. Boy, I wish he'd write the story of Lady & Soulcatcher growing up! Wouldn't that be something. Donna ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:14:16 -0700 From: Jay DeSimone Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) Re: SL Spoiler/question * Spoilers * Donnafair@aol.com wrote: > My impression was that this was Shivetya's release from immortality. > When Croaker's body goes, Shivetya goes to whatever his afterlife is. mine too. but what happened? did they switch minds? Is croaker's mind now in Shivetya's body, immortal? > > I liked the changing voices. It took awhile to figure out what was going on > with Murgen during his time as annalist, but what a fascinating concept once > I got it. And I liked Sleepy's voice (though no one truly compares to > Croaker), though that might be a product of my own gender. ;) It was a bit > disappointing to have Sleepy killed offstage, and I was pretty sad about > Murgen buying it by a shadow (or was it a fireball that got him in the > tower?). > > Mogaba sure got what was coming to him, in the end. > > Lady's reference to her mother as Sleeping Beauty was a neat little bit. > Boy, I wish he'd write the story of Lady & Soulcatcher growing up! Wouldn't > that be something. > > Donna > > ======================================================================= > To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, > visit . - -- The future of Politics: http://www.votenader.com/downloads/nader18SM.jpg http://www.votenader.com/downloads/winona1future.jpg ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 17:19:33 -0700 From: "Sam Felice" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question S P O I L E R S My take on the ending of the book is that Shivetya and Croaker switched = "souls" but not necessarily all of their minds. Which is a BIT wishy-washy= to me, but I still like it. What I take it to mean is that when = Croaker's body dies, Shivetya dies along with it. Which is what he wanted = all along. But "Croaker" will be inhabiting the body of Shivetya with all = of the powers that go along with it. The thing I found to be a bit = "wishy-washy" is the part where Croaker gets to see all of Shivetya's = memories just by inhabiting his body, and yet he seems to still retain all = of his OWN memories. I would think that they'd either stay with the mind = OR the body, and not both. But who knows. Maybe Shivetya's body is a = receptacle for all of the knowledge that he's gotten over the years, and = that this is what Croaker is now tapping into by being Shivetya. Either way, you're right. It does make for the possibility of a longer = series. And I think that is the best possible outcome of this book. Cook = has really set himself up great for future "Black Company" novels. He can = now go back and do the history of the Black Company from Khatovar on. He = can go do other characters' histories. He can do tales from the other = worlds off of the plain of Glittering Stone. And it gets him out of the = annalist perspective. He's now given himself an omnipresent perspective = to write from, while still being able to use Croaker's "voice". This, I = think, will make many Black Company fans (including myself, for sure) very = happy. I, like most BC fans, liked Croaker's books the best. The first 3 books = are my favorites by far. In part, I think (and as others have said) = because I've read them more than the others. But also because of the old, = familiar characters, and Croaker's voice, and just the whole story line of = the books is better. That doesn't mean I have disliked any of the books. = I think it's the best series I've ever read. But at the same time, I'm = glad it's over in its current form. As much as I enjoy it, I don't want = it to turn into another WoT-like saga that goes on and on forever with no = end in sight. =20 Soldiers Live is my favorite of the Glittering Stone books because it does = wrap up the books of the south nicely. Now we have North, South, Spike, = and whatever series that Cook decides to do from the perspective of the = Shivetya/Croaker creature. It'll be different. It'll be good (I hope). = It'll be in the world of the Black Company, and that's what matters most. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:29:16 -0700 From: Jay DeSimone Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Sam Felice wrote: > But at the same time, I'm glad it's over in its current form. Is it over in its current form? Suvrin has expressed much interest in keeping Company tradition...he will pick a new annalist, and the tradition would continue. Cook has many options here...he can assume the disembodied narrator, and delve into company past, he can continue the annalist voice...the possibilities are endless. Or, he could do both, and dovetail them together once in a while. My hopes for the future of the series remain bright, regardless of where it goes...I haven't been disappointed so far, and don't think I will be. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 17:36:49 -0700 From: "Sam Felice" Subject: (glencook-fans) BC world vs our world (Was SL Spoiler/question) >Lady's reference to her mother as Sleeping Beauty was a neat little bit. = =20 >Boy, I wish he'd write the story of Lady & Soulcatcher growing up! = Wouldn't=20 >that be something. This jogged my memory to something that I'd been thinking of after I read = this book, that has kind of bugged me at the back of my mind all through = the BC books. And that is that language and mythos and just little = details that are part of "our world" but seem to creep into the world of = the Black Company. =20 I have two theories on this. One is very simply that Glen isn't all that = concerned about "anachronism" or making sure that he doesn't borrow things = from our world for use in his. That's the simplest explanation, but it = leaves the series open for nitpickers to say "Hey, why do they have a = Sleeping Beauty in their world? That's an Earth myth. Where would it = come from in the world of the Black Company?" There are a lot of small = examples of this throughout the books. Even in the first book, which I'm = now re-reading, I can spot several areas where someone more picky than I = might say "hey, that doesn't belong in their world, unles their world is = somehow the future, or an alternate future, of ours". =20 Now, my second theory doesn't go so far as to suggest that our world and = their world are the SAME some how, but it does suggest a relationship. My = second theory is that with all of the worlds off of the plain of Glittering= Stone, and with all of the similarities that they list between worlds = (Croaker often describes that there are similar land masses and other = geological similarities) that our world is actually one of the other = worlds off of the plain, but with it's shadowgate broken. In each world, = there are things that are very similar (such as the landscape, to the = degree that it started out similar and has changed due to geological = forces). Other similarities might even pop up in mythology and religion = and such. That would explain the decidedly "Indian" or "middle-eastern" = flavor to the books of the south, and the almost European feel to the = books of the north (and it even makes sense geographically). It's probably more likely the first explanation. Or perhaps in the first = 6 books it was like that, but it changed in Bleak Seasons when Glen = invented the idea of the plain of Glittering Stone. Who knows. I just = thought it was something interesting to think about. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 17:42:23 -0700 From: "Sam Felice" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question >Is it over in its current form? Suvrin has expressed much interest in = keeping Company tradition...he=20 >will pick a new annalist, and the tradition would continue. =20 Exactly. Croaker even says that Suvrin is taking the company to the Land = of Unknown Shadows and perhaps will create a new start there. It's a = parallell to the first company coming from Khatovar. Perhaps they didn't = originally come from Khatovar. Maybe they came TO Khatover over 400 years = before they LEFT from Khatovar, but the Annals portray the company as = coming from Khatovar. The new annals, 400 years from now, may show the = company as fleeing into the Land of Unknown Shadows FROM Taglios. There = may be another Croaker 400 years hence who will be obsessed with reaching = Taglios, and before he gets there will discover an immortal Golem on the = plain, who just wants to die. A nice bit of recurring history there, I = think. So, even if the tradition of the company continues, it will be a = different company and therefore a different story (even more different = that between the books of the south and the north. At leas there, the = character continuity was more present). >Cook has many options here...he can=20 >assume the disembodied narrator, and delve into company past, he can = continue the annalist=20 >voice...the possibilities are endless. Or, he could do both, and = dovetail them together once in a=20 >while. My hopes for the future of the series remain bright, regardless = of where it goes...I haven't=20 >been disappointed so far, and don't think I will be. Me neither. I will be happy with the history of the company. I'll be = happy with seeing what becomes of the "new" company. I'll be happy with = Croaker looking in on the other worlds off of the plain. Or fixing the = shadowgates and going to some of them. Whatever. I'm sure Cook will do a = good job. (At least I hope he will. Obviously we won't know until we = read them). ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 18:24:18 -0700 From: "R. Hyrum Savage" Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question I've been reading all of the SL theories and ideas since I finished the book and one thing that strikes me is that almost everyone thinks that GC is going to keep writing Black Company books. When I finished SL, it felt like the end of the Black Company (in terms of stories) and felt like it was in fact the end of the series. Almost everyone we've grown to care about is dead, Croaker gets his ultimate wish, and it doesn't look like there's a whole lot left to write about. (Other than starting over with a whole new BC, or delving into the past, etc.) What do the rest of you think is going to happen? Are we going to get more Black Company, or something new? Hyrum Savage http://www.otherworlds.cx - -----Original Message----- From: owner-glencook-fans@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-glencook-fans@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Sam Felice Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 5:20 PM To: glencook-fans@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question S P O I L E R S My take on the ending of the book is that Shivetya and Croaker switched "souls" but not necessarily all of their minds. Which is a BIT wishy-washy to me, but I still like it. What I take it to mean is that when Croaker's body dies, Shivetya dies along with it. Which is what he wanted all along. But "Croaker" will be inhabiting the body of Shivetya with all of the powers that go along with it. The thing I found to be a bit "wishy-washy" is the part where Croaker gets to see all of Shivetya's memories just by inhabiting his body, and yet he seems to still retain all of his OWN memories. I would think that they'd either stay with the mind OR the body, and not both. But who knows. Maybe Shivetya's body is a receptacle for all of the knowledge that he's gotten over the years, and that this is what Croaker is now tapping into by being Shivetya. Either way, you're right. It does make for the possibility of a longer series. And I think that is the best possible outcome of this book. Cook has really set himself up great for future "Black Company" novels. He can now go back and do the history of the Black Company from Khatovar on. He can go do other characters' histories. He can do tales from the other worlds off of the plain of Glittering Stone. And it gets him out of the annalist perspective. He's now given himself an omnipresent perspective to write from, while still being able to use Croaker's "voice". This, I think, will make many Black Company fans (including myself, for sure) very happy. I, like most BC fans, liked Croaker's books the best. The first 3 books are my favorites by far. In part, I think (and as others have said) because I've read them more than the others. But also because of the old, familiar characters, and Croaker's voice, and just the whole story line of the books is better. That doesn't mean I have disliked any of the books. I think it's the best series I've ever read. But at the same time, I'm glad it's over in its current form. As much as I enjoy it, I don't want it to turn into another WoT-like saga that goes on and on forever with no end in sight. Soldiers Live is my favorite of the Glittering Stone books because it does wrap up the books of the south nicely. Now we have North, South, Spike, and whatever series that Cook decides to do from the perspective of the Shivetya/Croaker creature. It'll be different. It'll be good (I hope). It'll be in the world of the Black Company, and that's what matters most. ======================== To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 21:27:39 -0700 From: Jay DeSimone Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Well, The Glittering Stone cycle has ended, but no announcement has come forth to say that the series in general has ended. Since his fan base for this series is growing, he may continue writing it. Who knows. I'd put money on the fact that glen gets this list, but I'm sure he isn't going to tell us yet...and I'm sure he would make the announcement through TOR. But I know I sure would like him to keep going. Jay "R. Hyrum Savage" wrote: > I've been reading all of the SL theories and ideas since I finished the book > and one thing that strikes me is that almost everyone thinks that GC is > going to keep writing Black Company books. \ ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:54:56 -0500 From: "Jordan Raney" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question > I've been reading all of the SL theories and ideas since I finished the book > and one thing that strikes me is that almost everyone thinks that GC is > going to keep writing Black Company books. When I finished SL, it felt like > the end of the Black Company (in terms of stories) and felt like it was in > fact the end of the series. Almost everyone we've grown to care about is > dead, Croaker gets his ultimate wish, and it doesn't look like there's a > whole lot left to write about. (Other than starting over with a whole new > BC, or delving into the past, etc.) I agree, and I was also surprised to see how many others don't follow this train of thought. I felt like Soldier's Live closed things up very nicely and in fact I don't even want to see anything close to the Company that we read about in SL. I put the book down and just felt satisfied that things were over, and that it was a good time for it to end. He can't write BC books eternally, and he should quit at a point that has such great closure. Just my opinion of course. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:59:39 -0500 From: "Jordan Raney" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question > Well, The Glittering Stone cycle has ended, but no announcement has come forth Yes, the Glittering Stone cycle has ended...and when it ended, it wrapped up the WHOLE series, not just the Glittering Stone cycle. That's the difference with Glittering Stone and Books of the South. I can't even place in my mind what the end of the Books of the South was. > to say that the series in general has ended. Since his fan base for this series > is growing, he may continue writing it. Who knows. I'd put money on the fact > that glen gets this list, but I'm sure he isn't going to tell us yet...and I'm From what I hear he doesn't even have a computer. I thought someone mentioned (on the list) about him being almost uncomfortable with fans. *shrug* Just from what I remember from reading interviews and such, I don't think he cares all that much about fans or their opinions. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 08:55:35 -0500 From: "Vonder Haar, Peter C." Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question > -----Original Message----- > From: R. Hyrum Savage [mailto:ashaman@flashcom.net] > > I've been reading all of the SL theories and ideas since I > finished the book > and one thing that strikes me is that almost everyone thinks > that GC is > going to keep writing Black Company books. When I finished > SL, it felt like > the end of the Black Company (in terms of stories) and felt > like it was in > fact the end of the series. > > What do the rest of you think is going to happen? Are we > going to get more > Black Company, or something new? Aha, this looks like a job for the FAQ.[1] Q: Is Glen planning on writing any more Black Company books? A: : Possibly. The ending of Soldiers Live (the latest Chronicle of the Black Company) has inspired a healthy debate as to whether another book is possible or even desirable. However, during a Q&A session at Windycon in 1999, Glen was asked about the possibility of starting a new fantasy series and admitted, "I had expected to begin, and I would start something entirely new, but my agent and my editor both are pressuring me to do more Black Company material because they sell so well." So the answer is: wait and see. Pete [1] The "non-formatted, still-needs-to-be-cleaned-up, haven't-touched-in-two-weeks-'cause-I've-been-in-Maine" FAQ. I should be able to put together the final version this weekend. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 08:53:18 -0500 From: "Ray Washburn" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question I have to agree with Sam in that I'm glad it's over in its current form. I never was all that happy with what the Company was turning into in _Soldier's_Live_. It seems to have lost itself and evolved into a unit that I really wasn't that interested in. Hopefully if there are any more Black Company books by Cook, they'll be historical or like the SilverSpike where they're covering events elsewhere. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay DeSimone" To: Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 10:29 PM Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Sam Felice wrote: > But at the same time, I'm glad it's over in its current form. Is it over in its current form? Suvrin has expressed much interest in keeping Company tradition...he will pick a new annalist, and the tradition would continue. Cook has many options here...he can assume the disembodied narrator, and delve into company past, he can continue the annalist voice...the possibilities are endless. Or, he could do both, and dovetail them together once in a while. My hopes for the future of the series remain bright, regardless of where it goes...I haven't been disappointed so far, and don't think I will be. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 08:50:29 -0700 From: Aaron Contreras Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Can't see any more Black Company stories, at least not following Suvrin and gang. Seriously, Suvrin was a non-character. It is pretty obvious Cook didn't plan on doing any more while writing SL - he kills off interesting character after character. Funny how my favorite authors always tell such incomplete stories. I think it makes it somehow more real to me. I'd be happy if he told the story of the Domination, or just another tale in the same world. I was growing tired of 'Companyspeak' - that cynical, always insulting and joking tone of voice just about anyone who hangs out with the company eventually adopts. Props to the Nyueng Bao (God I hope I spelled that right) for keeping their culture intact through their long (and ultimately very unsatisfying) association with the Company. I dunno, I feel Murgen, Sahra, Uncle Doj, Booboo and even Sleepy deserved a happy ending...or at least resolution. Aaron - -----Original Message----- From: Ray Washburn [mailto:chrome@wwisp.com] Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 6:53 AM To: glencook-fans@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question I have to agree with Sam in that I'm glad it's over in its current form. I never was all that happy with what the Company was turning into in _Soldier's_Live_. It seems to have lost itself and evolved into a unit that I really wasn't that interested in. Hopefully if there are any more Black Company books by Cook, they'll be historical or like the SilverSpike where they're covering events elsewhere. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay DeSimone" To: Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 10:29 PM Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Sam Felice wrote: > But at the same time, I'm glad it's over in its current form. Is it over in its current form? Suvrin has expressed much interest in keeping Company tradition...he will pick a new annalist, and the tradition would continue. Cook has many options here...he can assume the disembodied narrator, and delve into company past, he can continue the annalist voice...the possibilities are endless. Or, he could do both, and dovetail them together once in a while. My hopes for the future of the series remain bright, regardless of where it goes...I haven't been disappointed so far, and don't think I will be. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:53:26 -0600 From: Eric Herrmann Subject: (glencook-fans) Glen Cook Biography Here is an interesting opportunity. Glen Cook is scheduled to be guest of honor at Albacon 2000, , to be held October 6-8, 2000 in Schenectady, NY. Albacon would like a short biography (say, 1000 words) for their program book. I declined to do it personally, but I thought the list might want to do it as an individual or group project. > A group bio would be great. Try to have it more than just the basic > biographical items. Personal anecdotes or things like "How Glen Cook changed > my life" ;) would be what I'm looking for. Albacon needs it by September 22. So we have three weeks. Do we want to do this as a group or as individual submissions? We could make it a contest. Prizes, prizes, prizes! Any comments? - -- Eric Herrmann ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:00:21 -0700 From: "Sam Felice" Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question >I've been reading all of the SL theories and ideas since I finished the = book >and one thing that strikes me is that almost everyone thinks that GC is >going to keep writing Black Company books. When I finished SL, it felt = like >the end of the Black Company (in terms of stories) and felt like it was = in >fact the end of the series. Almost everyone we've grown to care about is >dead, Croaker gets his ultimate wish, and it doesn't look like there's a >whole lot left to write about. (Other than starting over with a whole new >BC, or delving into the past, etc.) > >What do the rest of you think is going to happen? Are we going to get = more >Black Company, or something new? My feeling on the current state of the Black Company as it is at the end = of Soldiers Live is that this is the end of the Black Company as we know = it. They have come full circle. They may not have returned to Khatovar, = but as I mentioned before, they may not have actually started from = Khatovar in the first place. It may be a bit of romanticizing, but I = think that the company has always existed in some form or another. That = every 400 years or so, they pass through the plain of Glittering Stone = into a new world and begin again in a new incarnation. I think that = whatever Suvrin does with the company will be completely different, and = yet the same in some ways. The ideals of the Company will remain alive. = The keeping of the annals, their devotion to duty, and their preference to = fight only when it becomes necessary will keep them around in SOME = incarnation forever. But OUR Black Company is done. All but Croaker are = dead of the original Company. And even though he's got the Lady and = Soulcatcher for company, anything they do from here on out will not be as = the Black Company. And whatever Suvrin and Tobo and their gang do, they = will be starting afresh in a new world. And should they decide to retain = the name of the Black Company, it still won't be the same company. As for my personal thoughts as to what will happen if Glen writes more in = the Black Company universe, I would HOPE that he would use the power that = he has in the Shivetya/Croaker creature to its fullest. Shivetya's = memories combined with Croaker's voice would make for some great storytelli= ng. The story of Khatovar. The origins of the Company. Where did = One-eye and Goblin and Silent come from? The history of the Dominator and = the Lady and the Taken. There are SO many stories in this universe that = would be just awesome to read. And I know that part of the mytique of = reading the Black Company series was that there were these characters = whose history we didn't know, but who we could identify with and come to = love nonetheless. But now that it's over with, I don't think it will ruin = anything to go back and tell their tales. I think it'd make for some = great fun. I, personally, hope Cook doesn't start up with more tales of the Company = in its current format. So, technically, I guess, I think that there = shouldn't be any more Black Company books. Rather, I think there should = be book in the Black Company universe. But more importantly, I think that = Cook should be the one to write them. I don't want to see the universe = ruined like the Dragonlance universe was by hack writers telling the tales = of other characters in the universe. Or the way the Star Wars universe = has been ruined by many of the books that have come out lately. If Cook = doesn't write them, I won't read them. But I sure hope he does. ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:07:33 -0700 From: "Sam Felice" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) Glen Cook Biography >Do we want to do this as a group or as individual submissions? We could = make >it a contest. Prizes, prizes, prizes! That sounds cool. I'd love to submit something on my personal introduction= to Glen Cook and the Black Company. I realize that I'm probably in the = minority having never read any Cook except for BC (though I fully intend = to do so, right after I finish re-reading BC again. heh). But since it's = his most popular work, and is what people usually come to first when = reading Cook, I think it makes a good starting point for any bio about = Glen. I would think that individual submissions would be easier to do, but = perhaps take out snippets of each one? Or submit the top three or = something? =20 Do you want us to just post them to the list, or email them to you for = posting on the website? ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 12:24:13 EDT From: WinB@aol.com Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question Personally, since it appears that *most* people enjoyed the books of the North more than the South, Cook should focus there. As others have mentioned, the Domination would be perfect. Hell, even George Lucas has gone back and explained how things came to be. Wouldn't everyone like to know how Limper got that scar from Shifter? Who was the woman that became Shifter's staff? A novel (or group of novels) with chapters from each of the well-known Taken's viewpoint...how they tried to stay out of the clutches of the Dominator...how Lady and the Dominator got together...what the Taken did to catch the eye of the Dominator. The old saying is "Hold your friends close, but your enemies closer." Perhaps they were warring with the Dominator for domination, so to speak. And who wouldn't want to see the playboy that was the Limper in his early days. Can you image him partying in Opal, making ties with Raven's great-great-great grandfather (and making time with Shifter's woman)? Properly executed, such a series would appeal to current readers through references in the early books. We would spend time on this list trying to figure out which Taken so-and-so becomes, before the end of the series. New readers would go through the series and then want to move on to the "old" series. Like Star Wars, the series should end some years prior to the existing books...probably when the original White Rose puts down the Dominator and his minions. And, like The Silver Spike, a separate book could be written that brings Croaker into the Company and up to Beryl. Maybe even two viewpoints...the previous Annalist, talking about how this new kid has promise, and taking him under his wing. This has the potential to be a trilogy as well, with One-eye being recruited. Okay, Glen...you've got six more books to write. I can wait 12 to 18 years to see it finished. How about everyone else? Win ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 11:36:15 -0500 From: "Ray Washburn" Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question >> Where did One-eye and Goblin and Silent come from? << Honestly I'd love to hear a story about One-eye and TomTom when they were about a hundred years younger.... Maybe the murder and escape from the wizard that apprenticed/enslaved them.....and their subsequent joining the Company to escape retribution. I've always liked the TomTom character....even though he only lasts a few chapters. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Felice" To: Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 11:00 AM Subject: RE: (glencook-fans) SL Spoiler/question My feeling on the current state of the Black Company as it is at the end of Soldiers Live is that this is the end of the Black Company as we know it. They have come full circle. They may not have returned to Khatovar, but as I mentioned before, they may not have actually started from Khatovar in the first place. It may be a bit of romanticizing, but I think that the company has always existed in some form or another. That every 400 years or so, they pass through the plain of Glittering Stone into a new world and begin again in a new incarnation. I think that whatever Suvrin does with the company will be completely different, and yet the same in some ways. The ideals of the Company will remain alive. The keeping of the annals, their devotion to duty, and their preference to fight only when it becomes necessary will keep them around in SOME incarnation forever. But OUR Black Company is done. All but Croaker are dead of the original Company. And even though he's got the Lady and Soulcatcher for company, anything they do from here on out will not be as the Black Company. And whatever Suvrin and Tobo and their gang do, they will be starting afresh in a new world. And should they decide to retain the name of the Black Company, it still won't be the same company. As for my personal thoughts as to what will happen if Glen writes more in the Black Company universe, I would HOPE that he would use the power that he has in the Shivetya/Croaker creature to its fullest. Shivetya's memories combined with Croaker's voice would make for some great storytelling. The story of Khatovar. The origins of the Company. Where did One-eye and Goblin and Silent come from? The history of the Dominator and the Lady and the Taken. There are SO many stories in this universe that would be just awesome to read. And I know that part of the mytique of reading the Black Company series was that there were these characters whose history we didn't know, but who we could identify with and come to love nonetheless. But now that it's over with, I don't think it will ruin anything to go back and tell their tales. I think it'd make for some great fun. I, personally, hope Cook doesn't start up with more tales of the Company in its current format. So, technically, I guess, I think that there shouldn't be any more Black Company books. Rather, I think there should be book in the Black Company universe. But more importantly, I think that Cook should be the one to write them. I don't want to see the universe ruined like the Dragonlance universe was by hack writers telling the tales of other characters in the universe. Or the way the Star Wars universe has been ruined by many of the books that have come out lately. If Cook doesn't write them, I won't read them. But I sure hope he does. ======================== To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 17:04:11 -0600 From: Eric Herrmann Subject: Re: (glencook-fans) Glen Cook Biography > I would think that individual submissions would be easier to do, but perhaps > take out snippets of each one? Or submit the top three or something? Here are my straw men. Feel free to make suggestions. I'd like to in either case have something to Albacon by Sept 15. If we are doing individual: I'll take submissions privately for a week, then put them up on the website for voting for 3 days and then send the top 5 on to Albacon. One entry per person. Albacon can then choose a winner. I'll chip in a copy of "Heirs of Babylon" as a prize. (Any others want to sweeten the pot?) If Albacon doesn't choose any, then we'll come up with a new plan. If we are doing group: I'll take submissions of ideas and changes and put them up on the website daily. The list can respond to what they like and don't like. After 10 days or so, we'll submit the biography to Albacon. No prizes. > Do you want us to just post them to the list, or email them to you for posting > on the website? If we are doing individual, all posts should be private to me. If we are doing group, post to where it makes sense. I'd like to achieve a consensus of which we are doing by Saturday night. - -- Eric Herrmann ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit . ------------------------------ End of glencook-fans-digest V1 #24 ********************************** ======================================================================= To unsubscribe, subscribe, or access the archives of this list, visit .