Mercedes Lackey 49619 225629435 2008-07-14T17:10:52Z Kbdankbot 6505923 Robot - remove category per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 July 8|2008 July 8]] {{Unreferenced|date=May 2008}} {{Infobox Writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox Writer/doc]] --> |image =Mercedes Lackey 1a.jpg | name = Mercedes Lackey | caption = Mercedes Lackey signing autographs at [[CONvergence (convention)|CONvergence]] | pseudonym = Misty Lackey | birthdate = {{Birth date and age|1950|6|24|mf=y}} | birthplace = | deathdate = | deathplace = | occupation = novelist, short story writer | nationality = [[United States|American]] | period = 1987 to the present | genre = [[fiction]] | subject = [[fantasy]] | movement = | notableworks = Valdemar series | influences = [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]<br>[[C. J. Cherryh]]<br>[[Andre Norton]] | influenced = | website = http://mercedeslackey.com }} '''Mercedes Lackey''' (born [[June 24]], [[1950]]) New York, New York (also known as '''Misty Lackey''') is a prolific [[United States|American]] author of [[Fantasy literature|fantasy novels]]. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of [[Velgarth]], mostly in and around the country of [[Velgarth#Valdemar|Valdemar]]. Her Valdemar novels form a complex tapestry of interaction between human and non-human protagonists with many different cultures and social [[mores]]. The other main world in which she writes is one much like our own, but also populated by elves, mages, vampires, and other mythical beings. Some of the interlocking series in this world are the ''Diana Tregarde'' thrillers, the ''SERRAted Edge'' books about racecar-driving elves, and the ''Bedlam's Bard'' books, describing a young man with the power to work incredible magics through music. While the ''SERRAted Edge'' and ''Bedlam's Bard'' series are still in progress, she has declined to write further ''Diana Tregarde'' stories because of low sales. Lackey received harassment from a small but determined number of fans over the decision. She claims that the trouble escalated to the point where she and her husband received death threats and were temporarily forced to suspend their fandom activities. She resumed attending conventions by 2004. There is a Mercedes Lackey fan group on [[Usenet]]. The fanclub, the "Queen's Own", is named after Herald Talia's position in her books. Her earlier Velgarth novels are all solo projects, but later volumes in the Valdemar saga are illustrated by her husband [[Larry Dixon]], and in many of her latest works he is also credited as co-author. Many of her other novels are collaborations. She has worked with fantasy authors [[Andre Norton]], [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]], and [[Piers Anthony]], and most recently has written ''The Obsidian Trilogy'' with historian James Mallory and a historical fantasy series based on Elizabeth I with romance writer Roberta Gellis. ==Biography== Lackey's birth in 1950 prevented her father from being called to fight in the [[Korean War]]. She places her meeting with [[science fiction]] at age 10 or 11, when she happened to pick up her father's copy of James H. Schmitz's ''Agent of Vega''. She then read [[Andre Norton]]'s ''Beast Master'' and ''Lord of Thunder'', and continued to read all of Norton's works - Lackey noted with chagrined amusement the difficulties of obtaining enough interesting books from the public library to sate her passion for reading. She wrote for herself but without real direction or purpose until she attended [[Purdue University]]. Lackey graduated from Purdue in 1972. While at Purdue, she took a one-on-one class of English Literature Independent Studies with a professor who was a fellow sci-fi fan. He helped her analyze books she enjoyed and then use that knowledge. Lackey then encountered fan fiction, which further encouraged her writing. She began publishing work in fanzines, and then discovered [[filk]] and had some filk lyrics published by Off Centaur Publications. She submitted a story to ''Sword and Sorceress'', then sold the rewritten story to ''Fantasy Book Magazine''. Her first sale was to ''Friends of Darkover''. She met [[C. J. Cherryh]] through filk, who mentored her during the writing of her 'Arrows' series. During this time, [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]] included her short stories in an anthology and Cherryh helped Lackey through 17 rewrites of 'Arrows'. During this time, she claims to have been writing so much that she had no social life at all. She divorced Tony Lackey, and eventually remarried to Larry Dixon. Mercedes Lackey lives with her husband outside of [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], in an unusual house. She describes it as a "2½-story concrete dome with an octagonal wooden shell over it to make it look more like a normal house ... it's round with curved outer walls, which makes placement of furniture kind of awkward." (Valdemar Companion, 68) She and Larry Dixon have in the past worked in [[raptor rehabilitation]]. She often refers to her various [[parrot]]s as her "feathered children". The afterwords to some of her books refer to rehabilitation and [[falconry]], and it is clear that this interest has influenced and informed her writing. She also enjoys beadwork, costuming, and needlework. She claims, however, to be a "wretched housekeeper, and by and large an indifferent cook" (Valdemar Companion, p 64) Besides this, she does radar-reading during tornado season. She helps support the [[Alex Foundation]] Lackey has been active in the [[filk]]ing community. She was a major contributor to an early album of space filk, ''[[Minus Ten and Counting]]''. She has won 5 [[Pegasus Award]]s, mostly for her songwriting. Her favorite book that she has written is ''By the Sword'', and her easiest to write was anything about Tarma and Kethry. Lackey's dream cast list for her best-known books is as follows: *Falconsbane: [[David Bowie]] *Firesong: [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] *Kerowyn: [[Cher]] *Lavan Firestorm: [[Haley Joel Osment]] *Tarma: [[Lucy Lawless]] *Vanyel: [[Johnny Depp]] ==Related writers== Mercedes Lackey is a protegée of [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]], and got her start writing short stories in Bradley's story collections. Other mentors include writers [[C. J. Cherryh]] and [[Andre Norton]], along with her editor, Elizabeth (Betsy) Wollheim of [[DAW Books]]. She shares regular employment of female and homosexual characters as protagonists with [[Tanya Huff]], although she tends to write in a more dramatic and straightforward style without Huff's typically sardonic authorial tone. She claims many aspects of her stories are based on her own experiences. ==Published works== ===Velgarth=== Some of the trilogies follow on chronologically from each other. Others are set a considerable number of years apart from the others. Overall the books span some 3000 years of history. There is a significant gap in the middle which might some day be filled. In October 2003 Lackey announced that she was taking a break from writing Velgarth books, but a new one, [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Foundation-Collegium-Chronicles-Valdemar-Novel/dp/0756405246/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215966405&sr=8-2 Foundation: Book One of the Collegium Chronicles] will be published in October 2008 and will presumably cover the founding of Valdemar. ====''Heralds of Valdemar''==== This set consists of the original trilogy, the very first Valdemar books published, and a prequel trilogy, the most recent. =====Prequels===== These centre on the Weaponsmaster '''Alberich''' (in the first two books) and the thief '''Skif''' (in the third book), telling the stories of their not-entirely-voluntary enrollments as Heralds. #''[[Exile's Honor]]'', 2002 #''[[Exile's Valor]]'', 2003 #''[[Take a Thief]]'', 2001 =====The original trilogy===== These centre on the character '''Talia''', from her first encounter with the Heralds to becoming the ''Queen's Own Herald''. #''[[Arrows of the Queen]]'', 1987 #''[[Arrow's Flight]]'', 1987 #''[[Arrow's Fall]]'', 1988 ====''The Mage Winds''==== These follow on from the original ''Heralds of Valdemar'' trilogy, centering on '''Princess Elspeth''' completing her transformation from "the Brat" to a fully-fledged Herald. Secondary protagonists include Skif and a new character Darkwind. The latter part of ''[[#Kerowyn's Tale|Kerowyn's Tale, By the Sword]]'' fills in the events that happen after ''Arrow's Fall'' but before ''Winds of Fate''. #''[[Winds of Fate]]'', 1991 #''[[Winds of Change (novel)|Winds of Change]]'', 1992 #''[[Winds of Fury]]'', 1993 ====''The Mage Storms''==== These follow on again, centering on the characters '''Karal''' and '''An'desha''' as Velgarth is threatened by a repetition of the Cataclysm described in ''The Mage Wars'' trilogy. This trilogy also focuses on the threat posed to Valdemar by the vast Eastern Empire and the development of the newly-formed Alliance between Valdemar and its surrounding nations. #''[[Storm Warning (Mercedes Lackey novel)|Storm Warning]]'', 1994 #''[[Storm Rising]]'', 1995 #''[[Storm Breaking]]'', 1996 ====''Darian's Tale''==== The ''Owl'' trilogy takes place several years after the events of ''The Mage Storms'', and follows the character '''Darian'''. The story focuses on the repercussions of the mage storms on Valdemar's northern border, and centers on new tensions between the kingdom and invading barbarians from beyond the Ice Wall. #''[[Owlflight]]'', 1997 (ISBN 0-88677-754-2) #''Owlsight'', 1998 (ISBN 0-88677-802-6) #''Owlknight'', 1999 (ISBN 0-88677-851-4) ====''The Last Herald Mage''==== These occur some centuries before the ''Heralds of Valdemar'' books, telling the life story of '''[[Vanyel Ashkevron]]'''; by the time of the "later" books he has become legend, thus explaining some of the small inconsistencies. This series was also consistently nominated for the Lambda Literary Prize, with ''Magic's Price'' winning in 1990.[http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/previous_winners/paw_1988_1991.html#1991] #''[[Magic's Pawn]]'', 1989 (ISBN 0-613-63053-X) #''[[Magic's Promise]]'', 1990 (ISBN 0-613-63055-6) #''[[Magic's Price]]'', 1991 (ISBN 0-613-63054-8) ====''Vows and Honor''==== #''The Oathbound'' ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], January 19, 1989, ISBN 0-88677-414-4 ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], January 19, 1989, ISBN 0-88677-285-0 ##''Hardcover'' - Published By: Rebound by Sagebrush, July 31, 2003, ISBN 0-61360-587-X #''Oathbreakers'' ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], January 30, 1989, ISBN 0-88677-454-3 ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], January 30, 1989, ISBN 0-88677-319-9 ##''Hardcover'' - Published By: Rebound by Sagebrush, July 31, 2003, ISBN 0-61363-061-0 #''[[Oathblood]]'' ##''Hardcover'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], January 19, 1989, ISBN 1-56865-653-X ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], March 23, 1998, ISBN 0-88677-773-9 These precede the ''Heralds of Valdemar'' books, centering on the characters '''Tarma''' and '''Kethry'''. These characters appeared first in [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]'s [[Sword and Sorceress series]]) and were revisited in subsequent short stories. Two of these short stories are woven into the ''Vows and Honor'' books as part of a longer narrative. The original ''Vows and Honor'' pair of books were linked together with ''By the Sword'' (published long before ''Oathblood'') as a trilogy. The third volume, ''Oathblood'', is made up entirely of short stories in place of a longer narrative. With its publication, nearly all of the Tarma and Kethry stories were available together in a single compiled volume for the first time. The single missing story, ''A DRAGON IN DISTRESS'', was co-authored with Elizabeth Waters and was originally published in the [[Sword and Sorceress series]], volume XII. The story is missing from the compilation novel ''Oathblood'' due to the setting of the story taking place in Elizabeth Waters's world, not Mercedes Lackey's Velgarth. The contents of ''Oathblood'' are as follows: # ''Introduction'' (c) 1998 (Originally published in ''Oathblood'') # ''Sword-sworn'' (c) 1985 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress III'') # ''Turnabout'' (c) 1986 (Originally published in ???) # ''The Making of a Legend'' (c) 1990 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress VI'') # ''Keys'' (c) 1988 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress V'') # ''A Woman's Weapon'' (c) 1992 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress IX'') # ''The Talisman'' (c) 1990 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress VII'') # ''A Tale of Heroes'' (c) 1987 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress IV'') # ''Friendly Fire'' (c) 1993 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress X'') # ''Wings of Fire'' (c) 1991 (Originally published in ''Sword and Sorceress VIII'') # ''Spring Plowing at Forst Reach'' (c) 1998 (Originally published in ''Oathblood'') # ''Oathblood'' (c) 1998 (Originally published in ''Oathblood'') In the books and short stories, Tarma is a sword-wielding Shin'a'in [[clan]]swoman. Kethry is a magic-user who carries a sword with unusual properties. The nature of this sword, Need, is explored in later series set in Valdemar. At the time of the ''Vows and Honor'' books, all that is known is that it is magic, protects female bearers, and can pressure its owner into assisting other women. The overarching goal for the two women is to accumulate resources enough to regenerate Tarma's almost-destroyed clan. As the titles of the books suggest, emphasis is laid on the importance and consequences of oaths in at least one story from each book. The setting of the books is generally in the lands south of Valdemar such as Rethwellan, although there is a brief sojourn in Valdemar in ''Oathbreakers''. Despite limited time in Valdemar, there were references in the first two ''Vows and Honor'' books to the Companions of Valdemar which laid early hints to their nature. The introduction of a fourfold deity (Tarma's Goddess) was something of a novel idea at the time of publication. ====''Kerowyn's Tale''==== This is a stand-alone novel which connects the ''Vows & Honor'' sub-series to the ''Heralds'' and other trilogies; it introduces the character '''Kerowyn''' who features therein. Kerowyn is the granddaughter of '''Kethry''' from the '''Vows and Honor''' sub-series. *''[[By the Sword]]'' #''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published By: [[DAW Books]], February 19, 1991, ISBN 0-88677-463-2 ====''The Mage Wars''==== These are set in pre-history, some 2000-3000 years earlier. They describe the events which set off ''The Mage Storms''. It involves gryphons, creatures created by the mage Urtho (Mage of Silence). Co-protagonists are Skandranon Rashkae, a princely but proud ebony gryphon, and Amberdrake, a Healer of spirit and mind called a kestra'chern. #''[[The Black Gryphon]]'' ##''Hardcover'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], January 1, 1994, ISBN 0-88677-577-9 ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], December 12, 1994, ISBN 0-88677-643-0 #''[[The White Gryphon]]'' ##''Hardcover'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], January 4, 1995, ISBN 0-88677-631-7 ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], February 15, 1996, ISBN 0-88677-682-1 #''The Silver Gryphon'' ##''Hardcover'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], January 3, 1996, ISBN 0-88677-684-8 ##''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], November 7, 1996, ISBN 0-88677-685-6 ====Miscellaneous==== This is a stand-alone novel, set somewhere between ''The Last Herald Mage'' and the ''Heralds'' books; it describes another legendary character referred to in the latter, '''[[Lavan Firestorm]]'''. *''[[Brightly Burning]]'' #''Hardcover'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], May 8, 2000, ISBN 0-88677-889-1 #''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], May 28, 2001, ISBN 0-88677-989-8 #''Hardcover'' - Published by: Rebound by Sagebrush, June 1, 2001, ISBN 0-61363-021-1 ====Anthologies==== *''Sword of Ice And Other Tales of Valdemar'', 1997 (ISBN 0-88677-720-8) *''Sun in Glory And Other Tales of Valdemar'' #''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], November 21, 2003, ISBN 0-75640-166-6 *''Crossroads And Other Tales of Valdemar'', 2005 (ISBN 0-7564-0325-1) ====References==== *''Valdemar Companion'' #''Hardcover'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], November 30, 2001, ISBN 0-75640-037-6 #''Mass Market Paperbound'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], November 22, 2002, ISBN 0756400694 #''Trade Paperback'' - Published by: [[DAW Books]], May 26, 2006, ISBN 0756403901 ===''Elves on the Road'' universe=== ====Bedlam's Bard==== *''Knight of Ghosts and Shadows'' (1990) with [[Ellen Guon]] *''Summoned to Tourney'' (1992) with [[Ellen Guon]] *''[http://www.baen.com/library/0671721771/0671721771.htm Bedlam Boyz]'' (1993) by [[Ellen Guon]] (prequel) *''[http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/0671319558/0671319558.htm Beyond World's End]'' (2001) with [[Rosemary Edghill]] *''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/Spirits%20White%20as%20Lightning/index.htm Spirits White as Lightning]'' (2001) with [[Rosemary Edghill]] *''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/Mad%20Maudlin/index.htm Mad Maudlin]'' (2003) with [[Rosemary Edghill]] *''[http://www.baen.com/chapters/W200508/1416508937.htm?blurb Bedlam's Edge]'' (2005) with [[Rosemary Edghill]] *''Music to My Sorrow'' (2005) with [[Rosemary Edghill]] ''Bedlam Boyz'' is a prequel to ''Knight of Ghosts and Shadows'', detailing the origin of a secondary character in the series. ''Bedlam's Edge'' is a collection of short stories, set in the same universe as the rest of the series but not involving any of the characters from the rest of the books. It includes two stories and an essay by Mercedes Lackey, one story each from Ellen Guon and Rosemary Edghill, and nine from a variety of other authors. When reading the series in chronological order, ''Music to My Sorrow'' follows directly from ''Mad Maudlin''. ====Diana Tregarde==== *''Burning Water'' (1989) *''Children of the Night'' (1990) *''Jinx High'' (1991) These books are set in the same real world as the ''SERRAted Edge'' books: that is, a real world with levinbolts and elves who drive racing cars. At least one character (Tannim) is seen in both sets of books. The main character, '''Diana Tregarde''', is an [[United States|American]] witch, practicing a fantasy version of [[Wicca]]; by virtue of her position as a "Guardian" Diana has access to more [[magic (paranormal)|magical power]] than many, but she is required to give her help when someone asks it of her. Her magical abilities do not pay the bills, however, and Diana is a [[romance novel|romance]] ([[genre fiction|genre]]) novelist in her day job. In the stories, she must protect others from [[Tezcatlipoca|angry deities]] (''Burning Water''), [[vampires]] (''Children of the Night''), and a sorceress who intends to remain eternally young (''Jinx High''). The books were published under Tor's [[horror fiction|horror]] imprint rather than as fantasy. At the time of publication, positive depictions of what Wiccans and, more generally, [[neopagans]] believed and did were rare. In the mid-nineties, Lackey's books generally and these three particularly were regularly cited as examples of pagan-friendly fiction. ([http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.pagan/msg/459610003c7d496e?hl=en&] (1992), [http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.pagan/msg/0a781ed2afea5f82?hl=en&] (1995)) Lackey has written that she has no plans for further books in the series because they did not sell well (and not, as some fans apparently believed, because she had come under pressure for stumbling "too close to the truth" of some supernatural [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]]); nonetheless, she incorporated several elements of the Guardian mythos, including the apartment building where Diana lived, into later books in her ''Bedlam's Bard'' series. The character Diana Tregarde first appeared in two short stories, "Satanic, Versus..." and "Nightside", which were originally written for inclusion in the ''[[Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic]]'' [[roleplaying game]] and subsequently featured in the short story collection ''[http://www.baen.com/library/0671578057/0671578057.htm Werehunter]'' (1999). "Satanic, Versus..." is a humorous, cautionary tale that demonstrates just what can happen when people who don't quite understand magic meddle with it, whereas "Nightside" is a preliminary version of what later became the novel ''Children of the Night''. An agency similar to Bureau 13 appears as an antagonist in a later ''Bedlam's Bard'' book. In the collection "Bedlam's Edge" Lackey notes that she placed the Diana Tregarde world with her ''SERRAted Edge'' and ''Summoned to Tourney'' world with the intention of forcing anyone who believed Diana Tregarde and the Guardians were real to also have to believe in elves, dragons, and other patently fantastical things. The unification of Lackey's worlds has had an odd effect: in ''Summoned to Tourney'' the main character, Eric, associates elves with "telepathic horses" (as in her Valdemar books) and "Aztec Gods rising in Oklahoma" referring to one of the Diana Tregarde books. This leads to canon-inconsistency, because Tannim, another character from ''SERRAted Edge'', lives in both worlds, and Eric ends up living in the same building (or one nearly identical to) Diana Tregarde lived in. Eric references what will later become part of his own book series. ====The Serrated Edge==== *''Born To Run'' (1992) with [[Larry Dixon]] *''Wheels of Fire'' (1992) with [[Mark Shepherd (Novelist)|Mark Shepherd]] *''When the Bough Breaks'' (1993) with [[Holly Lisle]] *''Chrome Circle'' (1994) with [[Larry Dixon]] *''Elvendude'' (1994) by [[Mark Shepherd (Novelist)|Mark Shepherd]] *''Spiritride'' (1997) by [[Mark Shepherd (Novelist)|Mark Shepherd]] *''Lazerwarz'' (1999) by [[Mark Shepherd (Novelist)|Mark Shepherd]] *''Stoned Souls'' with [[Sarah Hoyt]] *''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/This%20Scepter'd%20Isle/index.htm This Scepter'd Isle]'' (2004) with Roberta Gellis (prequel) *''Ill Met by Moonlight'' (2005) with Roberta Gellis (prequel) *''By Slanderous Tongues'' (2007) with Roberta Gellis (prequel) *''And Less Than Kind'' (2008) with Roberta Gellis (prequel) ''Born to Run'' and ''Chrome Circle'' were incorporated into an omnibus called ''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/The%20Chrome%20Borne/index.htm The Chrome Borne]''. ''Wheels of Fire'' and ''When the Bough Breaks'' were incorporated into an omnibus called ''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/The%20Otherworld/index.htm The Otherworld]''. The books were paired off by thematic content rather than order; thus readers wishing to read the series in chronological order would be advised to read the first half of ''The Chrome Borne'', all of ''The Otherworld'', and then the latter half of ''The Chrome Borne''. Mark Shepherd's solo books in this series are only thinly connected to the other books, and might more properly be considered a separate series of their own. ''This Scepter'd Isle'', ''Ill Met by Moonlight'', ''By Slanderous Tongues'', and ''And Less Than Kind'' are a prequel series set several hundred years prior to the other books in the series. The first printing of ''This Scepter'd Isle'''s first [[Baen]] hardcover edition included a bound-in [[CDROM]] containing [[ebook]] editions of that as well as many other works by Lackey and other authors. As with [http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ Baen's other bound-in CDs], this CD included blanket permission to copy and share its contents noncommercially; thus it may be found freely circulating in [[peer-to-peer]] networks, as well as [http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/ hosted on the world-wide web]. The four books are historically based, unlike the other SERRAted Edge books, surrounding Elizabeth I's parentage, birth, and rise to power. The books currently published take Elizabeth to just before her ascension to the throne. ===Sacred Ground=== Sacred Ground (1995) ''Sacred Ground'' is a non-series novel in contemporary milieu concerning Native American magic. The main character, Jennifer Talldeer, is a private investigator. She is also Kestral-Hunts-Alone, an apprentice shaman learning modified tribal magic from her grandfather. She is called in to investigate possible sabotage at a local construction site where Indian artifacts have been found. Initially a run-of-the-mill investigation, it quickly spirals into a mess involving an old flame, Medicine and Native spirits running amok and an ancient evil once defeated by Jennifer's ancestor that has come back seeking revenge. Much like Diana Tregarde, Jennifer is an independent woman and a powerful magic worker who also has mundane problems. There is no formal connection stated with Lackey's other contemporary fiction, but it fits better here than with her other novels. In her short story ''After Midnight'' Lackey insinuates that the novel was an attempt to recover the spirit of the Diana Tregarde novels after the fiasco with a few fans believing the novels were based on real events ( http://www.mercedeslackey.com/features_laststraw.html ). However, Sacred Ground also did not sell well, and Lackey took a break from dark fantasy. ===Secret World Chronicle=== *''Book One: Invasion'' (2006) with [[Steve Libbey]] *''Book Two: The Hunt'' (2007) with [[Steve Libbey]] [http://www.secretworldchronicle.com ''The Secret World Chronicle''] is a series of "braided novels," based on characters and ideas created by Lackey and Libbey in an on-line [[role-playing]] environment, transposed into an entirely new setting. Although there are plans to set future works in different eras, ''Invasion'' is set in the present-day in a world where "metas" (short for metahumans, that setting's term for [[superhero]]es) first appeared during [[World War II]] and now play an important role in keeping the world safe. In ''Invasion,'' the world is invaded by a mysterious force of armored [[Nazi]] soldiers, some of whom are subsequently found not to be human. While ''Secret World Chronicle'' is not set in the same world as the ''Serrated Edge'' and ''Bedlam's Bard'' series, it does share certain elements in common with those books; one of ''Invasion's'' central characters, Victoria Victrix Nagy, is referred to as a Knight of Underhill. The first book of ''The Secret World Chronicle'' began serialization in [[podcast]] form in September, 2006, read aloud by actors Adam Higgins and Laura Patterson. No plans have yet been announced for print publication. ===[[The Halfblood Chronicles]]=== ''with [[Andre Norton]]'' #''The Elvenbane'' (1991) #''Elvenblood'' (1995) #''Elvenborn'' (2002) #''Elvenbred'' (forthcoming December 2007) this has not yet been released and is in question on account of Andre Norton passing away. ===[[Elemental Masters|The Elemental Masters]] === Set in an earth where magic exists during the early 1900s, these stories follow magicians who control the powers of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. These stories are based loosely —-sometimes ''very'' loosely-— on various [[fairy tale]]s. Although these books all take place in the same "world" and all include the same established system of Elemental Magick, the first book, ''The Fire Rose,'' can be distinguished in that the story takes place in the United States rather than in England, and the set of characters are not interrelated as are those in the following books. ''The Wizard of London'' can be considered a prequel to the other stories set in England and takes place during the Victorian Era. # ''[[The Fire Rose]]'' (1995, ISBN 0-671-87750-X) ''based on [[Beauty and the Beast]]'' # ''[[The Serpent's Shadow]]'' (2001, ISBN 0-7564-0061-9) ''based on [[Snow White]]'' # ''[[The Gates of Sleep]]'' (2002, ISBN 0-7564-0101-1) ''based on [[Sleeping Beauty]]'' # ''[[Phoenix And Ashes]]'' (2004, ISBN 0-7564-0272-7) ''based on [[Cinderella]]'' # ''[[The Wizard of London]]'' (October 2005, ISBN 0-7564-0174-7) ''based on [[The Snow Queen]].'' # ''[[Reserved for the Cat]]'' (October 2007, ISBN 978-0-7564-0362-1) ''based on [[Puss in Boots (fairy tale)|Puss in Boots]].'' ===Fairy Tale === # ''[[The Black Swan (novel)|The Black Swan]]'' (1999) based on [[Swan Lake]] # ''[[Firebird (book)|Firebird]]'' (1996) Based on a Russian Folk Tale ===Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms=== A fantasy series that deals with the more mature side of fairy tales. In the Five Hundred Kingdoms (almost certainly a literal name), the destiny of witches, knights, princesses and such are regulated by The Tradition, a magical force that is one of the primary sources of magic. Fairy Godmothers, Champions and Wizards are responsible for ensuring that The Tradition is upheld with a minimal loss of life. As with ''The Black Swan,'' place-names suggest that these books are set in a fantasized version of late-medieval Europe. The Five Hundred Kingdoms series is published as part of Harlequin's Luna imprint, targeted at female romance-science fiction/fantasy readers. # ''[[The Fairy Godmother]]'' (2004) # ''[[One Good Knight]]'' (2006) # ''[[Fortune's Fool (book)|Fortune's Fool]]'' (2007) # The Snow Queen (2008) ===''Free Bards'' universe=== ====Bardic Voices ==== # ''[http://www.baen.com/library/0671720996/0671720996.htm The Lark and the Wren]'' (1992) # ''The Robin & the Kestrel'' (1994) # ''The Eagle & the Nightingales'' (1996) # ''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/Four%20and%20Twenty%20Blackbirds/index.htm Four and Twenty Blackbirds]'' (1997, ISBN 0-671-87853-0) The Free Bards had their genesis in the story "Fiddler Fair," originally written for an [[Andre Norton]] shared-world anthology titled ''Magic in Ithkar''. The Ithkar series did not continue after its second volume, so Lackey rewrote, changed, and expanded the story into a setting of its own in ''The Lark and the Wren''. "Fiddler Fair" may be found in the Mercedes Lackey short-story collection that is also titled ''[http://www.baen.com/library/0671878662/0671878662.htm Fiddler Fair.]'' ====Bardic Choices ==== # ''A Cast of Corbies'' (1994) ===The Dragon Jousters === The books primarily follow the story of Vetch (or Kiron, from the second book onward), and centers initially around a war between the neighboring countries of Alta and Tia, both of which use Dragon Jousters as their most powerful weapons. The books are based on the predynastic period of [[Ancient Egypt]] and (very loosely) the myth of [[Atlantis]]. This series began with a short story entitled "Joust" which was published in The Dragon Quintet (ISBN: 076531035X). This short story was later expanded into the following series with the first novel holding the same name as the short story that began the series. # ''[[Joust (novel)|Joust]]'' (2003) # ''[[Alta (book)|Alta]]'' (2004) # ''Sanctuary'' (May 2005) # ''Aerie'' (Oct 2006) ===[[Heirs of Alexandria series|Heirs of Alexandria]]=== An alternate universe/historical fantasy series set primarily in the [[Republic of Venice]] during the 1500s. In this world, [[Hypatia]] converted to Christianity and managed to save the [[Library of Alexandria]] from destruction. As a result, magic is a regular part of the Church, and priests double as magicians. The books focus on citizens of the Republic as they attempt to prevent their beloved city from being destroyed by the demon [[Chernobog]]. # ''[http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/0743435230/0743435230.htm Shadow of the Lion]'' with [[Dave Freer]] & [[Eric Flint]] # ''[http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/05-ScepteredIsleCD/ScepteredIsleCD/This%20Rough%20Magic/index.htm This Rough Magic]'' with [[Dave Freer]] & [[Eric Flint]] # ''[http://www.baen.com/chapters/W200507/0743499131.htm?blurb A Mankind Witch]'' by [[Dave Freer]] solo work continuing the series. === Obsidian Trilogy === This series primarily follows the adventures of Kellen Tavadon, and centers on the war between the races of light, and the Endarkened. # ''[[The Outstretched Shadow]]'' with [[James Mallory]] # ''[[To Light a Candle]]'' with [[James Mallory]] # ''[[When Darkness Falls]]'' with [[James Mallory]] === Enduring Flame === New series, set 1000 years after the events in Obsidian Mountain (Obsidian 1-3); and following an entirely new cast of characters. # ''The Phoenix Unchained'' with [[James Mallory]] # ''The Phoenix Endangered'' with [[James Mallory]] ===''The Bard's Tale'' === Based on [[Bard's Tale (1985)|The Bard's Tale]] computer role playing game series. # ''[[Castle of Deception (novel)|Castle of Deception]]'' (1992) with [[Josepha Sherman]] # ''[[Fortress of Frost and Fire]]'' (1993) with Ru Emerson # ''[[Prison of Souls]]'' (1993) with [[Mark Shepherd (Novelist)|Mark Shepherd]] ===Collection of Short Stories=== * ''Fiddler Fair'' (March 1, 1998), ISBN 0-671-87866-2 **''How I Spent My Summer Vacation'' **''Aliens Ate My Pickup'' **''Small Print'' **''Last Rights'' **''Dumb Feast'' **''Dance Track'' **''Jihad'' **''Balance'' **''Dragon's Teeth'' **''The Cup and the Caldron'' **''Once and Future'' **''Fiddler Fair'' **''The Enemy of My Enemy'' * ''Werehunter'' (April 1, 1999), ISBN 0-671-57805-7 **''Werehunter'' **''SKitty'' **''A Tail of Two SKitties'' **''SCat'' **''A Better Mousetrap'' **''Last of the Season'' **''Satanic, Versus'' **''Nightside'' **''Wet Wings'' **''Stolen Silver'' **''Roadkill'' **''Operation Desert Fox'' **''Grey'' **''Grey's Ghost'' ===''[[Sword and Sorceress series]]'' Short Stories=== All Mercedes Lackey stories written for the ''[[Sword and Sorceress series]]'' anthology involve Tarma & Kethry as the main characters. With the notable exception of ''A DRAGON IN DISTRESS'', all of these short stories have subsequently been published in a compiled Tarma & Kethry novel called ''Oathblood'' (April 1998, ISBN 0-88677-773-9). The reason this story was left out of the compiled novel is due to the fact that the setting for ''A DRAGON IN DISTRESS'' takes place in Elisabeth Waters's world, not Mercedes Lackey's Velgarth. # ''Sword and Sorceress III'' (July 1986, ISBN 0-88677-141-2), story ''SWORD SWORN'' # ''Sword and Sorceress IV'' (July 1987, ISBN 0-88677-210-9), story ''A TALE OF HEROES'' # ''Sword and Sorceress V'' (August 1988, ISBN 0-88677-288-5), story ''KEYS'' # ''Sword and Sorceress VI'' (June 1990, ISBN 0-88677-423-3), story ''THE MAKING OF A LEGEND'' # ''Sword and Sorceress VII'' (December 1990, ISBN 0-88677-457-8), story ''THE TALISMAN'' # ''Sword and Sorceress VIII'' (September 1991, ISBN 0-88677-486-1), story ''WINGS OF FIRE'' # ''Sword and Sorceress IX'' (April 1992, ISBN 0-88677-509-4), story ''A WOMAN'S WEAPON'' # ''Sword and Sorceress X'' (June 1993, ISBN 0-88677-552-3), story ''FRIENDLY FIRE'' # ''Sword and Sorceress XII'' (July 1995, ISBN 0-88677-657-0), story ''A DRAGON IN DISTRESS'' with [[Elisabeth Waters]] ===Other works=== * ''[[Reap the Whirlwind]]'' (1989) with [[C. J. Cherryh]] (book three of ''[[The Sword of Knowledge]]'' trilogy) * ''[[The Ship Who Searched]]'' (1992) with [[Anne McCaffrey]], Book 3 in ''The Ship Series'', ISBN 0-671-72129-1 * ''Freedom Flight'' (1992) with [[Ellen Guon]], Book 1 in the [[Wing Commander (franchise)|Wing Commander]] universe, ISBN 0-671-72145-3 * ''Rediscovery'' (1993) (with [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]), Book 20 in the ''[[Darkover series]]'', ISBN 0-88677-529-9 * ''If I Pay Thee Not in Gold'' (1993) with [[Piers Anthony]], ISBN 0-671-87623-6 * ''Tiger Burning Bright'' (1995) with Marion Zimmer Bradley and [[Andre Norton]], ISBN 0-688-14360-1 * ''The River's Gift'' (1999) ISBN 0-451-45759-5 * ''[[The Wizard of Karres]]'' (2004) with [[Eric Flint]] and [[Dave Freer]], ISBN 0-7434-8839-3 * Contributions of short fiction to all seven of the ''[[Merovingen Nights]]'' shared world anthologies ==External links== {{wikiquote}} *[http://mercedeslackey.com/ Official Website] (New information has not been added to this site for almost three years) *[http://scifan.com/writers/ll/LackeyMercedes.asp Entry] on [[SciFan]] *[http://www.baen.com/author_catalog.asp?author=mlackey Baen Books author page] *[http://www.baen.com/library/mlackey.htm Baen Free Library free ebooks by Mercedes Lackey] *[http://www.mercedeslackey.com/features_laststraw.html Letter about death threats received.] *[http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qonews.htm The Queen's Own Newsletters] archive, provided by The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club in [[Laguna Beach]], CA (with archives online dating back to 1988) * {{isfdb name|id=Mercedes_Lackey|name=Mercedes Lackey}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME= Lackey, Mercedes |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Lackey, Misty |SHORT DESCRIPTION= American novelist, short story writer |DATE OF BIRTH= [[June 24]], [[1950]] |PLACE OF BIRTH= |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lackey, Mercedes}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:American fantasy writers]] [[Category:Filkers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[de:Mercedes Lackey]] [[fr:Mercedes Lackey]] [[ja:マーセデス・ラッキー]] [[pl:Mercedes Lackey]] [[pt:Mercedes Lackey]] [[fi:Mercedes Lackey]]