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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

732.0. "Spellsinger/Alan Dean Foster" by SNOC01::SIMPSON (Those whom the Gods would destroy...) Tue Jan 10 1989 19:58

    I'm dissapointed to see no mention of Alan Dean Foster's _Spellsinger_
    series.  Six books in all, each full of invention, humour bizarre
    characters.
    
    Take one UCLA pre-law student who wants to be a rock singer, drag
    into another world by a 260 year old turtle who is the world's greatest
    wizard (and somewhat senile), give him such unlikely companions
    as a thoroughly untrustworthy and lecherous otter, a Marxist dragon,
    a love besotten by otherwise obnoxious bat, and a magic instrument
    called a duar by which said would-be musician has somewhat less
    than accurate (although always impressive) results, and you have
    the beginnings of Spellsinger.
    
    Great stuff.  Highly recommended. 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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732.1MOSAIC::TARBETFri Jan 13 1989 10:077
    There was a short string (in an earlier incarnation of the file?).
    
    I second your recommendation!  A fine, inventive series, just what
    you'd expect from the writer who gave us "Nor Crystal Tears" (the
    absolutely positively best first-contact novel I've ever read).
    
    						=maggie
732.2Alien(s) - yeah!SED750::PARKERMon Jan 16 1989 03:068
I don't know so much...I started reading spellsinger, but I chucked it in 
when i'd read about half of it. I just couldn't get to grips with the way 
he wrote the speech of the characters. 

In my opinion, Alien and Aliens are his best, although I haven't read all 
his work, or hardly any of it come to that.

A. 
732.3STRATA::RUDMANThe Posthumous NoterMon Jan 16 1989 13:304
    I'm sure there's other notes which discuss it, but, for expediency
    sake, I'll recommend ICERIGGER and the Flinx story THE TAR-AYM KRANG.
    
    							Don
732.4ADF on Del Rey only for meHAVOC::WESSELSHunting the ultimate personal nameMon Feb 13 1989 12:5714
    Maybe it's me.  I'm an avid ADF fan, and I could never get into
    the Spellsinger series at all.  I read the entire first book, and
    I believe I started a second and bought a third.  I've never touched
    them since.  The writing seemed totally different from the Flinx
    series, or the Icerigger series, and inferior.  I've made it a policy
    never to buy any ADF that is not published by Del Rey.  His Warner
    Books efforts leave me cold... and I suspect did the same for the
    folks at Del Rey.
    
    I'm not bashing Alan Dean Foster, really, he's one of my favorite
    authors.  There's just some real disparity between some of his work,
    in my opinion.  Anyone else feel this way?
    
    Brian W.
732.5Tell me more!ARTMIS::GOREIWed Feb 15 1989 10:336
    
    	I read and thoroughly enjoyed Spellsinger. Alas, I haven't been
    able to find any others in the series. Can anyone tell me what they
    are, please?
    
    	Ian G.
732.6ASABET::BOYAJIANKlactovedesteen!Wed Feb 15 1989 11:288
    SPELLSINGER		These first two originally appeared in one volume
    HOUR AT THE GATE	in hardcover as SPELLSINGER AT THE GATE.
    THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE
    THE MOMENT OF THE MAGICIAN
    THE PATHS OF THE PERAMBULATOR
    THE TIME OF THE TRANSFERANCE
    
    --- jerry
732.7OASS::MDILLSONWed Feb 15 1989 11:366
    re .6
    
    Jerry,
    Do you have a reference volume on your desk, or do you have a
    photographic memory?  I couldn't remember those book names to save
    my life!
732.8NeitherASABET::BOYAJIANKlactovedesteen!Wed Feb 15 1989 12:4010
    re:.7
    
    I happen to be logged in from home, where I have scads of reference
    books (I actually work third shift, but this is recreational
    noting right now).
    
    Actually, in this case I happened to remember all the titles, but
    I had to check one of my references to get them in proper order.
    
    --- jerry
732.9OASS::MDILLSONWed Feb 15 1989 13:034
    re .8
    
    I always wondered about that.
732.10Of or And?YARD::OTTENInsert witty comment hereThu Feb 16 1989 08:326
    RE: 732.5
    Wasn't the title of the second in the series "the Hour _OF_ the
    Gate"???
    
    David
    
732.11RAINBO::TARBETThu Feb 16 1989 15:189
    yup, "of"
    
    
    I agree that there's a lot of variability in his writing, some of
    his Flinx books seem ill-plotted and/or juvenile.  But his Spellsinger
    series, the "Prism" ("Exiled to"? "Trapped on"? I can't remember)
    and most especially Nor Crystal Tears...*very* fine.
    
    						=maggie
732.12ASABET::BOYAJIANAh ah, ee ee, tookie tookieFri Feb 17 1989 09:585
    re:.10
    
    Yes, it was OF. I got it mixed up with the combined title.
    
    --- jerry
732.13Sentenced to...STRATA::RUDMANP51--Cadillac of the Skies!Fri Feb 17 1989 13:071
    
732.14A possible firstDISCVR::SANKARTue Mar 21 1989 23:025
    
    
    		Tsk tsk jer....you're slipping!
    
    						sam(18)
732.15sam(N) for N = 1..99MINAR::BISHOPWed Mar 22 1989 11:343
    Is "sam(18)" the '89 version of "sam(13)"?  If so,
    welcome back!
    			-John Bishop
732.16...DISCVR::SANKARThu Mar 23 1989 17:416
    
    
    		Not back, just out on break from college. Thanks
    	anyway though.
    		
    						sam(18)
732.17disbelieve everything to the contrary...INCH::ALFORDNo problems, just opportunities...Wed May 10 1989 16:478
	Re: .7

	Actually --- Jerry BOYAJIAN is a real-time computer.  I came to this 
	conculusion a long time ago, he/it is far to knowledgeable and 
	organised to be really human.  

	;-}
732.18RUBY::BOYAJIANStarfleet SecurityThu May 11 1989 01:506
    re:.17
    
    If you ever met me in person, or saw the state my library is in,
    "organized" is the last adjective you'd think of.
    
    --- jerry
732.19You're just saying that...INCH::ALFORDNo problems, just opportunities...Thu May 11 1989 06:465
	I'll never believe that......

	CJA

	.....When are you next in Basingstoke, UK
732.20RUBY::BOYAJIANStarfleet SecurityThu May 11 1989 10:116
    I've got to be there a first time before I can be there a next
    time. :-)
    
    Just ask Andy Leslie. He's seen me; he knows I'm real.
    
    --- jerry
732.21 I 'spose he could be an android thoughNOETIC::KOLBEThe dilettante debutanteThu May 11 1989 19:208
      I've finally had the chance to meet Jerry also. He DOES exist and
      is not merely a computer dream. I wasn't able to find where he
      hides all the reference books that he must have stashed on his
      person somewhere. ;*) liesl

      p.s. that hat does remind me of Zorro now that you mention it -
      who was that masked man??? ;*)
732.22Still not on the topic...INCH::ALFORDNo problems, just opportunities...Fri May 12 1989 08:5716
	I could go along with the android idea, since an android is a 
	computer, just looks human...

	Maybe someone has taken the concept of taking a human brain and
	linking up to a computer to utilise the incredible storage capacity,
	and instead of linking the human brain to a computer, has linked
	it to a human body instead.... nah, that would mean that Jerry is
	actually human, not a computer.

	These ramblings are either getting us nowhere, or into the realms
	of, dare I say it...



	SCIENCE FICTION
732.23Truly Hard To Believe, But...HPSCAD::WALLYou and me against the world: attack!Fri May 12 1989 10:465
    
    Jerry is most definitely real.  He throws a neat party and lives
    with at least one interesting cat.
    
    DFW
732.24INCH::ALFORDNo problems, just opportunities...Mon May 15 1989 15:4118
	Re: .20 

>    Just ask Andy Leslie. He's seen me; he knows I'm real.
    
    Who is Andy Leslie ? and where does he hide out ?

	Re: .23 

>    lives with at least one interesting cat.

	Now this sounds as though there is a very strong possibility that
	Jerry must be human.  

	CJA


	P.S. Jerry, I still maintain that you know too much... it's not
	     normal, I hope I haven't hurt your feelings toooo much. ;^}
732.25"If life is a linked list, mine must be the NIL pointer..."3284::GRIERmjg's holistic computing agencyMon May 15 1989 23:115
   Geez, Stan was just a TECO macro, Jerry's a whole real-time entity...

   I wonder what's next?

					-mjg
732.26RUBY::BOYAJIANStarfleet SecurityTue May 16 1989 03:177
    re:.24
    
    Andy's one of the more prominent Brit noters. His home base
    is in Reading, though he seems to spend an inordinant amount
    of time on the Continent and here in the Colonies.
    
    --- jerry
732.27one yes, one maybe...WMOIS::B_REINKEIf you are a dreamer, come in..Mon May 22 1989 23:099
    I too have met Jerry, actually several times, and will also
    vouch for his reality, and also that he is a charming person
    to talk to.
    
    However, I am not at all sure that Dave hpscad::wall still exists..
    
    he used to, but I'm not sure any more  ( :-) hi Dave)
    
    Bonnie
732.28RUBY::BOYAJIANStarfleet SecurityTue May 23 1989 03:075
    Well, CJA has actually spoken to me on the phone, and since I
    don't sound like a drunken Swede :-), I figure she's pretty
    sure now that I really exist.
    
    --- jerry
732.29God, I love happy endings.STRATA::RUDMANDefenceless,adj. Unable to attack.Thu May 25 1989 14:270
732.30You softy...CURRNT::ALFORDNo problems, just opportunities...Thu May 25 1989 16:180
732.31SAC::WHITAKER_AThe man from HullSun Jan 14 1990 10:4810
    
    	Does anyone know if another Spell Singer book is planned. ADF
    	seems to be churning books out quiet regularly on other subjects
    	so have we seen the last of Spell Singer ?
    
    	Has anyone else read: Into the Out Of or To the Vanishing Point ?
    	I thought they were excellent but would like to know what other
    	people think of them.
    
    							Andy
732.32Of course, he may change his mind.JETSAM::WILBURWed Jan 17 1990 11:008
    
    
    	Unless he's changed his mind...There will be no more spellsinger
    	books. 
    
    	(from a conversation I had with him at a con a couple of years
    	 back.)
    
732.33SWEEP::ALFORD...Suffragette of GorThu Jan 18 1990 12:442
oh, what a pity, I was enjoying that series...
732.34MOSAIC::TARBETcentimental = halfwit/50Tue Jan 23 1990 11:014
    Yeah, I do too (I re-read).  But it's certainly true that the final
    book did close with a lot of finality, so it might be hard to revive
    it...especially considering the hopeless job he did reviving Flinx.
    
732.35PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormSat Feb 03 1990 13:115
                I want  to see him come back into the other world
                with a Corvette :').  He brought everything else!
                
                
732.36husker du?GLOWS::COCCOLIThela Hun GingeetFri Feb 16 1990 22:4113
    
        Once Upon A Time..
    
       I owned a book which I believe was written by ADF. 
    I would like some help remembering the name. All I remember about
    it was it was very good, very pornographic, and dealt wih some very
    weird vampirish creatures with strange sexual tastes.
                                      Anyone?
    
    RC
      
    
       
732.37Maybe a red herring, butTROA09::SKEOCHParallel processors never converge.Sat Feb 17 1990 14:446
When I read your description, it immediately brought to mind one of Philip Jose 
Farmer's early books -- unfortunately, the title completely escapes me.

I hope that's worth something, anyway...

Ian S.
732.38But who would notice the plot?MINAR::BISHOPSun Feb 18 1990 16:357
    re .36,.37
    
    _Image_of_the_Beast_ and _Blown_, by Philip Jose Farmer fit the
    description.  Definitely X-rated, with a vague plot revolving
    around a war between two groups of aliens stranded on earth.
    
    			-John Bishop
732.39Vampire sex TINCUP::KOLBEThe dilettante debutanteMon Feb 19 1990 19:122
    I haven't read them yet but Ann Rice's Vampire books seem to fit the
    description also. liesl
732.40PFLOYD::ROTHBERGEverybody'sGot2DeviateFromTheNormTue Feb 20 1990 13:4011
                Wasn't 'Into  the  Out  Of', was it?  Not exactly
                X-rated or anything,  but  there  are daemons fro
                another  plate  that  eat  by  sex  (interesting,
                huh?).  This is fresh  in  my  mind 'cause I just
                started reading it yesterday.  First  book I read
                my him was 'Spliter of the Minds  Eye',  though I
                don't remember it at all.  Maybe I'll  reread  it
                one day.  I was always a Star Wars fanatic...
                
                
732.41GLOWS::COCCOLIThela Hun GingeetThu Feb 22 1990 22:366
    
    
       Oops, wrong author. It definately was Image of the Beast by
    Farmer!!.
                                        Thanx.  Rich
    
732.42VANDAL::BAILEYfailureTue Apr 24 1990 09:2814
                      <<< Note 732.11 by RAINBO::TARBET >>>


>   But his Spellsinger
>    series, the "Prism" ("Exiled to"? "Trapped on"? I can't remember)


Is there a series of "prism" books ?  (just finishing "sentenced to prism"
.. which is the best thing i've read for _AGES_ 

fun inventive stuff



732.43RANGER::TARBETHaud awa fae me, WullyWed May 02 1990 05:145
    Nope, only the one I'm afraid...he pretty well resolves the whole thing
    in that one book which I agree was a pity, he might have been able to
    get at least two out of it.  [sigh]
    
    							=maggie
732.44Desperately seeking Midworld!EBYGUM::BOWEOThe Sandwichman cometh!Tue Aug 03 1993 10:187
    
    	I've read most of his books but the first One I read was "Midworld"
    which is a pre-cursor to his commonwealth series but unfortunately my
    copy has been lost to the ravages of time if anyone does have a copy I
    could borrow or buy could you mail me?
    
    Oliver