Bookworm

[trista]

I was tagged by damuddymeg.

1. One book that changed your life?

Magic's Pawn, the first book of Mercedes Lackey's series, The Last Herald-Mage. It was my introduction to fantasy. It opened doors to new worlds that I'd never imagined existed, and it helped me explore my beliefs about people and relationships and diversity in many areas. I might be a very

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[platypus]

I didn't do the book thing last night, 'cause I suck.

But I do have Magic's Pawn in my bookcase:

"Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic (not true), he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet, such talent as his, if left untrained, may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar. (I suppose that sounds better than "his dad thought he was gay, so..."?)

"But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the forcus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. (Ummm.. sort... of.) And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept (huh?), Vanyel's wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril."

Oooooo-kay.

[trista]

Yeah. So not what I would have written for that back. The first paragraph makes it sound as though the entire universe knew from the moment of his birth that he was The Ultimate Hero o' Magic and Glory but that he's a tree-hugging musician who could be a fantabulous warrior but chooses peace instead. His parents, who want only Vanyel's happiness, send him to his loving aunt for the care and training he needs and wants. I won't even bother with the second paragraph.

It should say that Vanyel's dad thinks he might be gay so he sends Vanyel away in hopes that either Savil will straighten him out (seriously, no pun intended there) or that Vanyel will stay out of sight and therefore out of mind so that Dad can get on with turning Vanyel's younger brother into the proper manly man that Vanyel will not ever be.

[platypus]

I am a little disturbed, fifteen years or so after first reading, that, well, Vanyel 'takes after his mother' and is fine-boned and would rather read than get beaten up and has more than two brain cells to rub together, so of course he's gay. Could things possibly get a little less anvilicious? Sure, it follows that up with "and why's that such a damned big problem?" but...

I love Savil, though. I so desperately wanted a Savil book. Not anymore, I think, but once upon a time it would have been fascinating. And maybe one about Vanyel's sister, too. I was so much more interested in them than in the second and third books of this series, which really disappointed me by leaping so far into the future.

[trista]

I remember thinking that the fact that he preferred music to regular beatings from the jackass arms master guy was not necessarily an indication that he was gay bur rather a sign that that he was not into being beaten by the jackass arms master guy. I thought that was quite sensible of him.

I lurved Savil, and I think I would have lurved a Savil book. It always frustrates me to not learn enough about the characters who grab my interest. Savil was definitely that sort. I don't remember much about Vanyel's sister except that she was nice to him.