# Mercedes Lackey - Selected Reading **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768 "2008-09-16T01:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/21 "2008-09-17T01:24:16Z")
Oh good, I’m not the only one either. Lackey’s Valdemar stuff has been a guilty pleasure for decades, like a bag of mixed flavor mini tootsie rolls. Sweet, tasty, consume too much, feel queasy, swear off until next time. It affected me so much that the 2nd LOTR parody I wrote for that famous thread was as if Lackey was writing it. (The 1st of course was if “Doc” Smith wrote it.) My eldest daugher refers to Lackey’s works as a sterling example of the “beautiful magical horsie will be my frieeeeeeeeeeend” genre. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/22 "2008-09-17T01:54:39Z")
Hell, I read them. I don’t have any suggestions beyond what’s here, but they’re a good tale. I read the \*Arrows \*trilogy first, and that remains my favorite. Next, I’d go with _By The Sword_, then the _Last Herald-Mage_ trilogy. The others all sort of come in a jumble there, except for the Owlsflight ones - I tried, and just haven’t been able to get into these. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/23 "2008-09-17T02:00:07Z")
Yes, but, unlike so many, they’re acually _good_. OK, so shoot me. I enjoy them, too. I think _By the Sword_, which contains the true story behind Kerowyn’s ride may be my favorite, followed by the Vows and Honor pair. I like Tarma and Kethry’s interactions with Leslac the bard, among other things. Mercedes Lackey also has some interesting things to say about religion in her book, especially in the books dealing with Karse. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/24 "2008-09-17T02:28:11Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ll nth the _Last Herald Mage_ set. Those were actually my first Lackey books, and I was hooked. They’re my favorite, although I’ve come to adore Talia as well. But Vanyel and Tylendel…ah! I’m a total fag hag for those boys. 😃 Oh, god, I _cried_ - of course, that was in high school. Those are actually _good books_, as opposed to books you like that you make allowances for. Particularly the first one. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/25 "2008-09-17T02:48:41Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Oh, god, I _cried_ - of course, that was in high school. Those are actually _good books_, as opposed to books you like that you make allowances for. Particularly the first one. Now imagine being a deeply closeted gay teen and reading the first part of the first book, with Vanyel’s father and the way he treated him, then the second part, when Vanyel realized he was shay’achern and fell in love with Tylendel, then the third part, after Tylendel died. That whole trilogy kicked my ass. Completely. Misty owns me for the rest of my freaking life because of The Last Herald-Mage. ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/26 "2008-09-17T03:20:38Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > IIRC the first of the Velgarth books I read were the _Vows and Honor_, followed by the _Arrows_ trilogy. The latter led me to the _Exile_ books (I like Alberich, too). I have the Last Herald Mage books but haven’t gotten around to reading them yet (they got packed away two years ago and only recently surfaced). From what **Penchan** said, I presume I should read those before I read the Mage Winds and Mage Storms trilogies (which I would have to do anyway, because if I have any of them they’re still packed somewhere). > > What was strange (for me) about reading them is that I had previously heard the songs written about her books, which I liked even without knowing the stories behind them. Now, of course, they have even more meaning when I listen to them. Well if you’re going to invest in reading the series, I would actually go in chronological order so that the history of the Valdemar makes sense. Sure, everyone has their favorite story arcs, but that’s the fun of reading the entire series. There might be some parts or books or whole arcs you like better than others, but they all serve to enrich each other because you’re getting to know not one or even a dozen people. You’re getting to know an entire world! I highly encourage reading the whole series starting with the Mage Wars story arc with Black/White/Silver Gryphon and work your way through the history of the series. You’ll gain a whole new appreciation for the world of Valdemar\*! \*Velgarth? I never heard of that until this thread. It will always be the world of Valdemar to me! If only it were real and I could have a Companion…le sigh. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/27 "2008-09-17T03:27:35Z")
> [@Penchan](#): > > If only it were real and I could have a Companion…le sigh. A Companion would be nice, but I really want a Fire Cat. Of course, I also want to be Tayledras, though the bondbirds aren’t quite in the same class as the Companions or Cats. ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/28 "2008-09-17T03:32:06Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > A Companion would be nice, but I really want a Fire Cat. Of course, I also want to be Tayledras, though the bondbirds aren’t quite in the same class as the Companions or Cats. I don’t know. Cats are already snarky enough as it is and you want a cat with _powers_? Especially powers that allow them to talk to a god AND teleport to wherever you are? I’d be very wary! At least with a Companion you’re soul-bound to them so they’d be less inclined to kick you! A bondbird would be cool as well but you can’t ride them (no pervy jokes please) and they don’t do any of the cool stuff that Firecats do. Oh man could you imagine having all three? Getting around would be very interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/29 "2008-09-17T04:16:39Z")
I enjoyed the Oathblood collections and the Black/White Gryphon books, but none of her other books really held my interest. ---
**Author:** ![JustThinkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@JustThinkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustThinkin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/30 "2008-09-17T12:30:37Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > A Companion would be nice, but I really want a Fire Cat. I’m with you. Having a firecat would be, like, totally awesome. [Damn. Where did that come from?] ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/31 "2008-09-17T13:33:54Z")
> [@Penchan](#): > > Well if you’re going to invest in reading the series, I would actually go in chronological order so that the history of the Valdemar makes sense… Well, then. Might want to [wait a bit.](http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Valdemar-Collegium-Chronicles-Book/dp/0756405246/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221658315&sr=8-1) (I can’t believe Amazon is sending me preorders for magical horsie books! Or, that I was tempted…) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/32 "2008-09-17T13:45:39Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It affected me so much that the 2nd LOTR parody I wrote for that famous thread was as if Lackey was writing it. Oh, man! I missed that one. Long thread, some skimming required. I’ll have to go back and look for it. > [@](#): > > My eldest daugher refers to Lackey’s works as a sterling example of the “beautiful magical horsie will be my frieeeeeeeeeeend” genre. Absolutely! See also: Pern. (“Beautiful magical rideable \*dragon \*will be my frieeeeeeeeeeend!”) But also, as has been said, actually good writing. 'Cept for the Gryphon books. I’ve tried and tried and I just can’t get through ‘em. I suspect, based on the writing style, vocabulary, tone and pacing, that Lackey’s actual writing in those was minuscule, and that her name is on them because Dixon wanted to play in her world. Which is great and all (I loved the Thieves’ World experiment back in the day), but I don’t consider the Gryphon books “Mercedes Lackey books”. If Lackey wants to tell me I’m wrong and that Dixon was a glorified proofreader, well, then, they’re just not among the very best “Mercedes Lackey books”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![D.Fenestrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@D.Fenestrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.Fenestrator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/33 "2008-09-17T15:14:46Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Oh, man! I missed that one. Long thread, some skimming required. I’ll have to go back and look for it. > > Absolutely! See also: Pern. (“Beautiful magical rideable \*dragon \*will be my frieeeeeeeeeeend!”) But also, as has been said, actually good writing. > > 'Cept for the Gryphon books. I’ve tried and tried and I just can’t get through ‘em. I suspect, based on the writing style, vocabulary, tone and pacing, that Lackey’s actual writing in those was minuscule, and that her name is on them because Dixon wanted to play in her world. Which is great and all (I loved the Thieves’ World experiment back in the day), but I don’t consider the Gryphon books “Mercedes Lackey books”. > > If Lackey wants to tell me I’m wrong and that Dixon was a glorified proofreader, well, then, they’re just not among the very best “Mercedes Lackey books”. 😛 I’m with you there. If it’s one of her collaborations with Mr. Dixon, I know it will suffer in comparison with her solo work. The writing sometimes seems as if they are alternating paragraphs in which each is describing the very same thing or relating the same bit of dialogue. And does anyone else find his illustrations intrusive? I don’t mind a frontispiece, or the occasional internal illustration, but too many of the later books are overly decorated for my tastes. I want to imagine the characters for myself from the author’s description, thank you, not see Photoshopped versions of the authors’ neighbors and acquaintances… ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/34 "2008-09-17T15:25:53Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Well, then. Might want to [wait a bit.](http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Valdemar-Collegium-Chronicles-Book/dp/0756405246/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221658315&sr=8-1) > > (I can’t believe Amazon is sending me preorders for magical horsie books! Or, that I was tempted…) New book! New book! WANT!!! My husband is going to kill me, but I added it to my shopping list just the same. I have almost a whole shelf of Lackey (the shelf above is devoted to McCaffrey). I can’t believe I’m 42 years old and I almost squeed at a new Valdemar book. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/35 "2008-09-17T15:31:03Z")
Oh, and if anyone’s spent as much time as I have reviewing the timelines before the first chapter, this [Amazon listmaker](http://www.amazon.com/Valdemar-Time-Line-Mercedes-Collection/lm/R1VF7OT6MX9ODW/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_2_rdssss0?pf_rd_p=253462201&pf_rd_s=listmania-center&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0756405246&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0NHRZYMSE90JV4YC56D4)’s put them all in chronological (not published) order! ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/36 "2008-09-17T15:56:44Z")
> [@Penchan](#): > > Well if you’re going to invest in reading the series, I would actually go in chronological order so that the history of the Valdemar makes sense. Sure, everyone has their favorite story arcs, but that’s the fun of reading the entire series. There might be some parts or books or whole arcs you like better than others, but they all serve to enrich each other because you’re getting to know not one or even a dozen people. You’re getting to know an entire world! I highly encourage reading the whole series starting with the Mage Wars story arc with Black/White/Silver Gryphon and work your way through the history of the series. > > You’ll gain a whole new appreciation for the world of Valdemar\*! > > \*Velgarth? I never heard of that until this thread. It will always be the world of Valdemar to me! If only it were real and I could have a Companion…le sigh. The basic problem I have with trying to catch up on all the books I’ve been meaning to read but haven’t gotten to yet is that I have literally boxes and boxes of unread books I need to unpack. I used to sell books at SF conventions and wasn’t able to keep up with everything I wanted to read, and sometimes I didn’t put books aside for my personal collection when they came out (figuring that I could always get a copy later). When I shut down the business and disposed of my unsold stock I went through most of it first to try to find anything I hadn’t read yet, but I had a lot of other things going on in my life then and as a result I have no idea what’s in half of the boxes. So I’m reluctant to pick up any books more than a few years old unless it’s something I _know_ I don’t already have (like new authors I’ve discovered since then). Once I get everything unpacked I can start filling in the gaps. As I said before, I know I have the Magic books but I don’t know which of the others I might already have. As I unpack I occasionally find duplicates, and I hate wasting my book money like that. But eventually I’ll get around to reading all the books I missed. Of course, I’d be done sooner if I didn’t spend so much time online. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768/37 "2008-09-18T14:36:45Z")
Geez, I guess I’ve actually read most of the Valdemar and related books, with the exception of the new non-Lackey anthologies. Didn’t realize I had read that extensively. Even though I’m kind of a manly man, I like the gay-friendly pretty telepathic horsies with blue eyes. I think it’s because she actually puts her characters through a decent amount of hell that leavens the large dollop of adolescent wish-fulfillment. Almost all of the Heralds she uses as main characters were emotional basketcases when they were Chosen, because of either physical or mental abuse. As they’ve healed and grown into their roles as protectors and judges of the realm they tend to more than a little self-sacrifice. Vanyel in particular drags his ass in half-dead more often than not. There’s a fair bit of realism underlying the fantasy too. She puts in little touches about logistics, how hard it is to ride long distances and live on the trail, and the mixed fun and pain of practicing armed combat. I was introduced to Lackey through M.Z. Bradley’s Sword and Sorceress anthologies. The Tarma and Kethry stories were collected in single-author anthologies beginning with The Oathbound. Those have no direct connection to Valdemar, taking place in lands far outside its area for the most part. They were also written when she was still learning her craft, and if I remember right, a Tarma and Kethry story in S&S was her first sale. I then read the Last Herald Mage books and the Arrows books. As some others have said, I’d recommend skipping the gryphons, though some of that backstory comes into play with the Mage Winds and Storms books. Wiki whatever doesn’t become apparent through reading those if you want some more details on the death-cheating mage and the magic circles. The Owl series shows less Dixon influence, I think, and is more tolerable. Darian does get too much cool stuff with too little work put into it at first, and his (unfortunately accurately portrayed) adolescent whining gets on your nerves sometimes. Chronological order probably works best, though any group of books is more or less self-contained. My favorites will probably always be the first ones I read, and actually those were in many ways more serious than her later books. More permanent and nasty things happen to the characters, and the good guys lose a lot more battles than they win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercedes-lackey-selected-reading/463768.md?page=1)