[TRANSCRIBER NOTE: Yes indeed, the first and last paragraphs were originally printed in all caps, and therefore this transcription preserves that. -MK]
WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH OUR BOOK. HOPEFULLY THOSE DIFFERENCES HAVE MADE "ELFQUEST" THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL OF OUR READERS. SO, WHILE THE TREND IN COMICS SEEMS TO BE LESS PAGES FOR MORE MONEY, WE DECIDED TO BE DIFFERENT AGAIN, AND OFFER MORE PAGES FOR THE SAME MONEY! STARTING WITH THIS ISSUE, "ELFQUEST" WILL BE FORTY PAGES LONG - WE'LL STILL HAVE THE USUAL UNUSUAL 32 PAGES OF STORY/ART, BUT WILL BE ADDING VARIOUS NEW ITEMS FROM ISSUE TO ISSUE.
It occurs to us that with this issue, we're head and shoulders firmly into our third year of publishing ELFQUEST. There are some 25,000 of you reading these words, and we owe you all our most sincere thanks, for you've helped make our book the success it's become. Your letters and drawings brighten the mail, your comments and constructive criticisms provide the grist for lively discussions (usually over the dinner table and sometimes accompanied by flying lima beans when we disagree!) and we do appreciate the support you've given to ELFQUEST. Some spectacular things are looming large on the horizon for our elfin kids, and we look forward to having you all along for the ride!
Now put aside the world for a bit, and settle in with the story. Enjoy.
SOME WORDS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION (from RP - soul name: Stamplicker)
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO "ELFQUEST" IS HANDLED BY ONE OF THE LEAST RELIABLE COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN EXISTENCE - MY BRAIN AND SEVERAL HUNDRED SLIPS OF PAPER. THE OCCASIONAL MISTEAK DOES HAPPPEN. SEE? IF YOU THINK SOMETHING HAS FOULED UP, WRITE AND I'LL SEE THAT IT'S SET RIGHT. BUT MAKE YOUR LETTER A NICE, UNDERSTANDING ONE - PLEASE - OR I SHALL CAUSE A LARGE TROLL TO VISIT YOUR HOUSE.
THE LITTLE NUMBER FOLLOWING YOUR NAME ON THE MAILING LABEL IS THE LAST ISSUE YOU WILL RECEIVE ON YOUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION. AFTER YOU RECEIVE THAT ISSUE, THEN MAIL IN YOUR RENEWAL (YOU HAVE AT LEAST THREE MONTHS). THAT NUMBER WILL BE YOUR ONLY NOTIFICATION, SO BE SURE TO CHECK! ALSO WHENEVER YOU WRITE, BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON YOUR LETTER - WE WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSING AN ADDRESS ON AN ENVELOPE!
[TRANSCRIBER NOTE: Yes, this letters page was originally printed in all caps. Therefore, this transcription is *also* in all caps. -MK]
***** AS WE PROMISED, THE LETTERS PAGE IS BACK. INDEED, SINCE WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF MAIL FROM THE LAST TWO ISSUES, WE DECIDED WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE LETTERS PAGES. WE WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS, YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES, IDEAS FOR THINGS (LIKE DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE OUR NEW PAGES OR NEW BACKUP FEATURES) YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE IN "ELFQUEST," AND SO ON. WE CAN'T PROMISE THAT EVERY LETTER WILL SEE PRINT, OR THAT EVERY IDEA CAN BE CARRIED OUT, BUT WE READ EVERY BIT OF MAIL WE RECEIVE, AND ANSWER (EVEN THOUGH IT MUST BE A SHORT ANSWER) EVERY WRITER WHO SENDS A STAMPED-SELF-ADDRESSED-ENVELOPE. S'AWRIGHT? S'AWRIGHT! ONWARD!
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I SHAN'T WAX ELOQUENT ON "ELFQUEST." MANY OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN PRAISE.
NEITHER SHALL I HARP ON THE HAPPY FEELING IT LEAVES ME WHEN I RE-READ
MY ISSUES. WHAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS THIS: I MET A LADY THAT I
THINK I'M IN MESH WITH. WE HAVE ONLY MET ONCE, YET. WE WILL SEE EACH
OTHER AGAIN SOON. FOR A GIFT OF SHARING, I'M GIVING HER A SET OF "ELFQUEST."
IRIC SIEGERT
DENVER, CO
***** IRIC'S IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF LETTERS WE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO ISSUE #5, DEALING WITH WHAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED REAL-LIFE RECOGNITION. ELFQUEST LIVES! (OR AS ROBERT HEINLEIN PUT IT SO WELL, "MAGIC IS ALIVE IN THE WORLD!")
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I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED IN "ELFQUEST" #5. DON'T GET ME WRONG; IT WAS
NOT BAD AT ALL. IT WAS GOOD, WHEREAS 2, 3, AND 4 WERE EXCELLENT. THE
ART LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE A RUSH JOB. DON'T TRY TO STICK TO A SCHEDULE;
IF YOU NEED TIME, TAKE TIME. ALL THE SCENES WITH CUTTER AND LEETAH
WERE BEAUTIFUL AND I HAVEN'T GOT WORDS FOR PAGE 28. BUT PAGE 17 SHOWED
SIGNS OF ELEPHANTIASIS OF THE EXCLAMATION MARKS (A LETHAL DISEASE) AND
ENDED RATHER POINTLESSLY.
SHOSHANNA GREEN
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
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LIKE THE EARLIER ISSUES OF THE BOOK, "ELFQUEST" #6 DISTINGUISHES ITSELF
BY ITS HONEST AND APPARENT DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING NEW WITH ITS SITUATIONS
AND CHARACTERS, TO AVOID A "STATIC QUO" IN FAVOR OF PROGRESSING
THE THEMES INTRODUCED EARLIER. OBVIOUSLY FOREMOST AMONG THESE THEMES
IS THE ELVES' SEARCH FOR A SAFE HAVEN WHERE THEY CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES
WITHOUT THE LINGERING THREAT OF THE OUTSIDE RACES. THIS SEEMS TO BE
BEING PURSUED ON TWO FRONTS: CUTTER AND SKYWISE'S PHYSICAL SEARCH, AND
SAVAH'S MYSTICAL ONE. GOOD LUCK TO THIS STORY LINE. AS USUAL WITH ELFQUEST,
THE NEW ISSUE CONTAINS PAGES UPON PAGES OF CHARACTER PORTRAYALS,
EVOLUTIONS, AND REDEFINITIONS - ALL SERVING BOTH SOME PARTICULAR FUNCTION
IN THE IMMEDIATE STORY FLOW, AND IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE EPIC.
ONE OF THE REASONS I ENJOY "ELFQUEST" IS MY SECURE KNOWLEDGE THAT RESPONSIBLE
CRAFTSMANSHIP HAS GONE/WILL GO INTO EACH SCENE, EACH PLOT
DEVELOPMENT, EACH CHARACTER FILLIP, ETC. "ELFQUEST" MANAGES TO PRESENT
ITS COMPONENT NARRATIVE PARTS WITH ENOUGH HONESTY TO CONVINCE NEW READERS
THAT THE JOURNEY CONTAINED THEREIN IS NOT DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH,
BUT RATHER THAT IT IS A WHOLLY-CONCEIVED ODYSSEY WITH A PREDETERMINED
FOCUS AND PURPOSE. IN THIS IT REMINDS ME OF THE ORIGINAL "NEW GODS,"
OR THE LONG SERIALIZED ORIGINS OF THE VISION AND MANTIS (IN "THE AVENGERS");
PRECONCEPTION, PURPOSE, STRUCTURE, AND OVERALL INTEGRITY...
BOTH THE COVERS ON #6 WERE REAL STANDOUTS. THE COLORS ON THE SYMBOLIC FRONT WERE VERY STRIKING, AND THE DARK LUMINESCENCE OF THE BACK COVER MADE A GOOD CONTRAST. ONE QUESTION, THOUGH - WHAT IS SAVAH DOING IN THAT DISCO? ARE THERE ARCANE ELVEN RITES THAT INVOLVE FLASHING LIGHTS AND RITUALIZED MOVEMENT? HAVE THEY ALL GOT SAVAH-DAY NIGHT FEVER?
RICH HOWELL
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
***** RICH HOWELL, ALONG WITH PARTNER CAROL KALISH, IS ONE OF COMICS FANDOM'S MOST ARTICULATE CRITICS, AS WELL AS THE CREATOR AND PRODUCER OF THE EXCELLENT (AND DIFFERENT!) ALTERNATIVE COMIC, "PORTIA PRINZE OF THE GLAMAZONS." HIS CRUMMY PUN, HOWEVER, SEEMS TO HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR A NUMBER OF LETTERS WE'VE RECEIVED. WITNESS...
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DOESN'T IT SEEM NATURAL THAT THE ELVES OF THE SUN VILLAGE WOULD USE THE
NATURAL MATERIALS AT HAND TO FASHION THE IMPLEMENTS OF DAILY LIVING? IT
APPEARS THAT THEY USE CLAY FOR BUILDING AND UTENSILS AND NATURALLY THEY
USE THE SKINS OF THE ZWOOTS TO FASHION CLOTHING. DOES THAT MEAN,
THEN, THAT THE SUN FOLK ARE ALL WALKING AROUND WEARING ZWOOT SUITS?
KELLEY BENHAM
SOUTH LAGUNA, CALIFORNIA
***** AGGH!
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ONCE, A TALL HUMAN FROM MEXICO CAME RIDING INTO THE ELF VILLAGE ON A
BLACK HORSE. HE WAS WEARING A MASK, WAS DRESSED IN BLACK, AND CARRIED
A SWORD. BEFORE HE COULD ANNOUNCE WHO HE WAS OR WHAT HE WANTED, HE WAS
SHOT WITH AN ARROW AND KILLED. AFTER THEY FOUND OUT WHO HE WAS, THE
ELVES WERE VERY UPSET. AND THAT'S HOW THE VILLAGE CAME TO BE KNOWN AS
ZORRO'S END.
ROBERT TEAGUE
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA
***** AGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH!
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I'M DELIGHTED WITH THE TASTEFUL AND LOVING WAY YOU CHRONICLE YOUR CHARACTERS.
YOU DEMONSTRATE NEITHER THE CENSORIOUSNESS OF MAINSTREAM COMICS
NOR THE OBSCENE, SWEATY 'REALISM' OF "HEAVY METAL." THE TWELVE PANEL
PAGE IN #5 WHERE LEETAH FINALLY ACCEPTS CUTTER AS HER MATE IS A TOUCHINGLY
DRAWN, LOGICAL CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEEDING PAGES, YET SEX IS
NEITHER SENSATIONALIZED NOR SUPPRESSED; IT SIMPLY IS. THE INNER PRIVACY
OF THE CHARACTERS WHOSE HEARTS YOU SHARE WITH US IS RESPECTED, AND THEY
STAND MORE EQUALLY WITH US BECAUSE OF IT. THAT SEQUENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES
ABOUT LOVE, WHILE DRAWING THE READER INTO A DEEPLY FELT LINK WITH CUTTER
(I SPEAK FOR MALES HERE).
PETER SARTUCCI
DENVER, COLORADO
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WITH ALL THE GREY, BLACK AND CRIMSON GOING AROUND, I APPRECIATE "ELFQUEST'S"
SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT BRINGING A LITTLE PINKNESS ALSO.
"ORANGE OBJECT"
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY
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BY THE WAY, I NOTICED THAT ON THE COVER TO #5 YOU HAVE STRONGBOW AIMING
TO SHOOT THE ZWOOT (POETRY!), BUT YOU'VE DRAWN THE ARROW ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF THE BOW. WON'T WORK THAT WAY!
ARCHIE HUNTER
GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN
***** WOOPS...! IF STRONGBOW WOULD TALK, HE'D PROBABLY HAVE BLISTERED THE AIR ABOUT THAT ONE. AS IT WAS, WE HAD THESE STRANGE HEADACHES FOR DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE CAME OUT...
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YOU'VE MANAGED TO PORTRAY CUTTER'S TRIBE CAREFULLY, AND STILL NOT NEGLECT
THE ELVES OF THE SUN. I'M PLEASED THAT EVEN RAYEK, WHO IS/WAS THE
CLOSEST YOU HAVE/HAD TO A BAD ELF STILL HAD FINER POINTS TO HIM. (AS A
MATTER OF FACT I LIKE RAYEK! PLEASE BRING HIM BACK SOME YEAR - THERE'S
AS MUCH TO HIS CHARACTER AS THERE IS TO CUTTER'S. SURELY SOMEWHERE HE
CAN FIND THE COURAGE TO ACCEPT BEING 'JUST' AS GOOD AS CUTTER'S TRIBE).
I FIND MYSELF PARTICULARLY PLEASED WITH YOUR VARYING TREATMENTS OF THE
FEMALE ELVES - LEETAH, WHO WAS REALLY TOO SNOOTY FOR CUTTER; NIGHTFALL,
WHO IS IF ANYTHING THE FEMALE COUNTERPART TO CUTTER - TOUGH, PRACTICAL,
A CUNNING WARRIOR WHO LETS HER LOVE FOR REDLANCE TEMPER, BUT NOT DULL,
HER STRENGTH; DEWSHINE, WHO'S A CHARMING EXAMPLE OF HOW FRAGILITY DOES
NOT MEAN FEMININITY AND VICE-VERSA, WHILE RETAINING THAT CURIOUS MIX OF
WISE INNOCENCE THAT ONE SEEMS TO SEE ONLY IN YOUNG GIRLS-JUST-TURNED-WOMEN;
RAINSONG WHO (SO FAR) HAS BEEN THE TOTALLY DEVOTED MOTHER AND
PROTECTOR (BUT THERE ARE HIDDEN DEPTHS THERE, TOO).
SAMANDA JEUDE
EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
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JUST GOT THE NEW "ELFQUEST" AND A NEW TYPEWRITER RIBBON, SO MUST WRITE
TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH MY DAUGHTER AND HER DAUGHTER AND ALL HER HIGH
SCHOOL FRIENDS ENJOY THE BOOK. YOU MAY BRING BACK COMIC BOOKS, WHICH
ARE DYING AWAY. THE GIRLS HAVE A COMPLAINT; THAT YOU LEAVE THEM HANGING
AT THE END OF EACH ISSUE. WONDERFUL! SUSPENSE AND INTEREST HAVE
LONG BEEN MISSING IN COMICS. DON'T BOTHER TO ANSWER THIS LETTER - YOU
ARE FAR TOO BUSY. JUST FILE IT UNDER 'FANTASTIC PRAISE' FROM A FELLOW
WHO'S KNOWN MOSTLY AS AN OLD CURMUDGEON FROM THE PAST WHO SEES NOTHING
GOOD IN TODAY'S WORLD. THERE ISN'T MUCH HOPE FOR THE HUMAN RACE BUT WE
ELVES HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND ARE DOING ALL RIGHT.
C.C. BECK (THE WORLD'S
OLDEST ELF)
LAKE WALES, FLORIDA
***** LIVES THERE A FAN WITH SOUL SO DEAD THAT HE OR SHE KNOWS NOT THAT THE 'OLD CURMUDGEON' WAS (AND STILL IS AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED) THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE BOLT OF LIGHTNING THAT TURNED BILLY BATSON INTO THE ORIGINAL BIG RED CHEESE, CAPTAIN MARVEL? SHAZAM!
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I JUST GOT AND READ "ELFQUEST" #5. IT TOOK THE FIFTH ISSUE FOR ME TO
REALIZE THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS MAG: CUTTER AND LEETAH AND TREESTUMP AND
REDLANCE AND ALL THE GANG ARE THE REAL FOLK; THEY PUT OUT "ELFQUEST,"
AND JUST MADE YOU TWO UP SO MORE 'UNBELIEVERS' CAN LEARN OF THEIR ADVENTURES.
GOTCHA! AIN'T NO RICHARD AND WENDY PINI READING THIS LETTER;
WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU'RE AN ELF! AND I BELIEVE IN YA!
BARBARA LONG
BLUE SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI
***** UH OH... SECRET'S OUT! NOW EVERYBODY WILL KNOW...
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CONGRATULATIONS ON DEPICTING CUTTER AND LEETAH'S TWINS, SUNTOP AND
EMBER. ESPECIALLY EMBER. EMBER IS A DEAD RINGER FOR MY LITTLE SISTER
MARY EMILY WHEN SHE WAS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND EIGHT. THE SWAY-
BACKED GANGLINESS, THE HAIRSTYLE, THE FACIAL FEATURES, HEADSHAPE, BASIC
CHARACTER. EMBER IS EMILY. (WELL, MAYBE EXCEPT FOR THE POINTED EARS,
THREE FINGERS AND SLANTED EYEBROWS...) THANK YOU FOR PUTTING MY BABY
SISTER IN YOUR WORLD, NO MATTER IF IT WAS BY ACCIDENT.
NANCY COLLINS
STATE U., ARIZONA
***** WELL NOW, WE'RE NOT SO SURE ANYMORE THAT IT WAS BY ACCIDENT... FROM THE MAIL WE'VE GOTTEN, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER OF CHANGELINGS OUT THERE. HMMMM?
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I WAS IN COPENHAGEN A WEEK AGO AND BY COINCIDENCE, DROPPED INTO A SMALL
SHOP DEALING WITH COMIC STRIPS, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF HUNDREDS OF MAGAZINES
FILLED WITH VIOLENCE I SAW - IN A GLIMPSE - THE TITLE "ELFQUEST."
I STOPPED - BY CURIOSITY - TOOK ONE OF THE ISSUES JUST TO TAKE A SINGLE
LOOK INSIDE - WHAT'S HAPPENED? I WAS CAPTURED FROM THE FIRST PAGE. I
WENT HOME AND STARTED READING THE ISSUES I GOT, AND WHEN I STARTED THIS
READING, SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME. ONCE AGAIN I WAS CAPTURED,
AND THIS SO MUCH THAT I TOTALLY FORGOT A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING. THE
TIME WAS COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN - THE SAME FOR A NORMAL FRUSTRATED LIFE.
IN MY OPINION WHEN YOU CREATED "ELFQUEST" AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PERSONS
IN IT YOU CREATED A MILESTONE IN STORYTELLING. WHEN READING "ELFQUEST"
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL WARM ATMOSPHERE AND FEELING
WHICH GOES THROUGH ALL THE DRAWINGS AND ALL THE PAGES.
IB KRISTENSEN
FREDERIKSVAERK, DENMARK
***** WE KNOW THAT "ELFQUEST" GOES OVERSEAS BUT WE GET VERY FEW LETTERS FROM READERS "OVER THERE." WE WOULD VERY MUCH ENJOY HEARING FROM MORE OF OUR READERS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES - IS "ELFQUEST" EASY OR DIFFICULT TO FIND? WHAT KINDS OF PUBLISHED FANTASY DO YOU HAVE WHERE YOU LIVE? DO YOU THINK "ELFQUEST" WOULD BE WELL-RECEIVED IN YOUR COUNTRY IF IT WERE TRANSLATED INTO YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE? LET US HEAR FROM YOU (AND SEND ALONG AN INTERNATIONAL POSTAL UNION COUPON SO WE CAN REPLY TO YOU).
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I DO FEEL THAT CUTTER MAY HAVE MADE A TACTICAL ERROR IN ALLOWING THE
HUMANS TO LEAVE, THOUGH HE WAS IN A CLASSICAL 'NO-WIN' SITUATION. KILLING
THE HUMANS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAFEST SOLUTION, BUT THAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN, IN THE LONG RUN, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. HOLDING THEM PRISONER
OR HOSTAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST SOLUTION IN THE LONG RUN, BUT HAS
INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFICULTIES IN THE SHORT RUN... ARO COMES OFF AS A
SLIGHTLY TRAGIC, BUT ESSENTIALLY NOBLE FIGURE, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT
SAVED HIS AND HIS FAMILY'S LIVES. HIS LOYALTY TO HIS SICK BROTHER, AND
HIS WILLINGNESS TO EXPLAIN HIS POSITION TO THE 'WOLF DEMONS' SHOWS
HUMANITY'S BETTER SIDE - AND THE BASIC PROBLEMS WITH GETTING RELIGION
MIXED UP WITH POLITICS. RELIGIOUS WARFARE IS PROBABLY, EVEN TODAY,
OUR WORST PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN XENOPHOBIA IS MIXED IN. "GOD IS
ON OUR SIDE," "KILL THE INFIDELS," "YOU DO NOT BELIEVE AS I DO - THEREFORE
YOU ARE AGENTS OF THE DEVIL." HOW OFTEN HAS THIS BEEN THE EXCUSE
FOR WARFARE, IF NOT OUTRIGHT GENOCIDE? WE SEEM TO BE ABSOLUTELY INCAPABLE
OF LEARNING THE SIMPLE LESSON THAT, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS
DIFFERENT, OR BELIEVES DIFFERENTLY, HE IS NOT WRONG OR SINFUL OR EVIL.
WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN OVER THIS XENOPHOBIC REACTION AND LEARNED THAT
VARIETY, AND NOT SAMENESS, IS WHAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING.
WILLIAM JOHNSON
KENNEDYVILLE, MARYLAND
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"ELFQUEST" IS A DAMNED GOOD BOOK. SO GOOD, IN FACT, THAT I HAVE ONLY
ONE COMPLAINT, AND THAT ONE'S SHEER NITPICKERY. THE GREENISH COLOR INSIDE
THE LOGO ON THE COVER OF #5 LOOKED SORTA TACKY. DID YOU DO IT IN
FELT-TIP PEN? HOWEVER YOU DID IT, DON'T DO IT AGAIN! THIS BOOK'S TOO
GOOD TO LET SILLY LITTLE THINGS SPOIL IT, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHTLY.
BRYAN UHLENBROCK
SAN PABLO, CALIFORNIA
***** WE WEREN'T ENTIRELY PLEASED OURSELVES WITH THE WAY THE NEW LOGO CAME OUT ON #5 - THE COLORS WEREN'T QUITE RIGHT AND A NEW PRINTING TECHNIQUE EMPHASIZED IT. WE DO THINK, THOUGH, THAT THE COVER TO #6 WAS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AND, SINCE THE NEW DESIGN DOES MAKE THE TITLE MORE VISIBLE, WE'LL KEEP IT FOR AWHILE. COMMENTS?
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I'VE BEEN MEANING TO WRITE TO YOU AFTER READING EACH OF YOUR OTHER ISSUES,
BUT YESTERDAY I FINALLY BOUGHT "ELFQUEST" #6, AND READ IT THIS
MORNING. I CRIED FROM THE FOURTH PAGE ON, MOSTLY TEARS OF HAPPINESS
AND JOY, OVERWHELMED BY BEAUTY AND LOVE, BUT ALSO TEARS OF SADNESS OVER
PARTING FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES, AND TEARS OF SORROW WHEN I REACHED THE
FINAL PAGE. I FEEL SUCH A LONELINESS WHEN I VISIT WITH THE ELVES.
THERE IS SUCH A LOVE BETWEEN THEM, AN ENJOYMENT OF LIFE, AND AN EXUBERANCE
OF THEMSELVES, THAT IS RARE TO FIND IN OUR WORLD. I WISH I COULD
STAY WITH THEM, BUT INSTEAD I TRY TO BRING THAT LOVE AND JOY INTO MY
OWN RELATIONSHIPS.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON. I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU SHOW SUCH LOVE BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN, AND THAT THE FEMALE ELVES HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EQUALITY WITH THE MALE ELVES, AND ALL ARE ALLOWED TO BECOME WHAT THEY WILL BE. I WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE RAINSONG NURSING HER BABY IN #5 (I AM NURSING MY LITTLE BOY), AND CUTTER HELPING DELIVER HIS CHILDREN (I BIRTHED MY SON AT HOME AMONG FRIENDS). I FEEL SO AT HOME WITH THE ELVES THAT I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO MEET THEM.
CHRISTINE DUGAL
NO ADDRESS GIVEN
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I THINK YOUR SIX-PLUS YEAR JUMP WAS THE SMARTEST MOVE I'VE EVER SEEN IN
COMICDOM. BY DOING THIS YOU'VE ALLOWED THE CHARACTERS TO QUIETLY AND
PRIVATELY AND NATURALLY MATURE AND GROW. YOU'VE ALLOWED TIME FOR THINGS
TO CHANGE (SOME OBVIOUSLY, OTHERS A BIT MORE SUBTLY) INSTEAD OF TOSSING
ALL KINDS OF EXTRA-MARITAL FACTORS AT THEM. YOU'VE KEPT THE WHOLE
STORY FROM STAGNATING - IT'S WONDERFUL.
I REALLY APPROVE, BY THE WAY (PARDON ME WHILE I WAX PHILOSOPHICAL) OF THE WAY IN WHICH YOU PRESENT THE FEMALE AND MALE CHARACTERS. YOU SHOW THE WIDE RANGE OF CHARACTERIZATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS HUMAN BEINGS BUT YOU DO IT WITHOUT PREACHING OR CRAMMING IT DOWN OUR THROATS. IT'S PRESENTED QUIETLY AND MATTER-OF-FACTLY. THERE IS ALWAYS THAT ELEMENT - ANIMUS/ANIMA, IF YOU WILL - THAT MUST BE CAPTURED; A WOMAN CAN BE STRONG YET FEMININE AND A MALE, SENSITIVE YET MASCULINE. I CONSIDER, BY THE WAY, THAT THE 'CRIME' WHICH HAS BEEN PERPETRATED ON WOMEN FOR GENERATIONS CANNOT REALLY BE CONSIDERED WORSE THAN THE MENTAL ONE WHICH HAS BEEN COMMITTED ON MEN AT THE SAME TIME. I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I LOVE THE FACT THAT MACHO LITTLE CUTTER CAN CRY AND SEEK STRENGTH FROM LEETAH AND VICE-VERSA. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. CONSTANT, QUIET EXPOSURE TO PRESENTATIONS OF MALENESS/FEMALENESS LIKE THAT WILL DO MORE FOR FORMING THE POSSIBLE PSYCHES OF UPCOMING GENERATIONS THAN ALL THE LEGISLATION IN THE WORLD.
JANE FANCHER
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON
***** AMEN. WE LIKE TO THINK OF "ELFQUEST" AS BEING OF THE 'CANDLE- LIGHTING' SCHOOL OF THOUGHT, AS OPPOSED TO THE 'CURSING-OF-THE- DARKNESS' VARIETY.
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THANK YOU FOR "ELFQUEST." I AM VERY GLAD TO KNOW THAT THIS SORT OF THING
GOES ON IN POUGHKEEPSIE!
URSULA K. LEGUIN
PORTLAND, OREGON
***** FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE UNAWARE OF URSULA K. LEGUIN'S DISTINGUISHED LITERARY OUTPUT, SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF SUCH FINE WORKS OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION AS "THE LATHE OF HEAVEN," "THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS," AND THE EARTHSEA TRILOGY. SHE ALSO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A DELIGHTFUL ESSAY ENTITLED "FROM ELFLAND TO POUGHKEEPSIE," ON THE WRITING OF FANTASY.
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IF POUGHKEEPSIE IS A REAL CITY, IT SURE SOUNDS FUNNY. I CAN'T EVEN
PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT!
MAGGIE WINELAND
ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA
***** AND THEN WE GET THE LETTERS LIKE THIS ONE, WHICH KEEP US HUMBLE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING! ON THIS NOTE, WE'LL SAY FAREWELL FOR THE TIME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU; SHADE AND SWEET WATER TO YOU ALL.
[TRANSCRIBER NOTE: Yes, again, this was originally published in all caps, so therefore, this transcription is as well. -MK]
WHEREIN WE TRY TO ANSWER SOME OF THE MORE GENERAL QUESTIONS ASKED BY OUR INSATIABLY CURIOUS READERS...
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Q. WHAT IS RECOGNITION?
A. RECOGNITION IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN IRRESISTABLE, INVOLUNTARY MATING URGE THAT DRAWS TWO GENETICALLY IDEAL ELVES TOGETHER, THUS INSURING STRONG AND GIFTED OFFSPRING. RECOGNITION, AT THE MOMENT OF ITS OCCURANCE, IS THE DEEPEST KIND OF SENDING POSSIBLE. THE SOULS OF THE TWO ELVES INVOLVED ARE LAID BARE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND IF THE ELVES ARE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN LOVE AT THE TIME RECOGNITION HAPPENS (AS WAS THE CASE WITH CUTTER AND LEETAH) IT CAN BE AN UNNERVING EXPERIENCE! RECOGNITION IS A SURVIVAL FACTOR IN THE WORLD OF ELFQUEST - SINCE THE NUMBER OF ELVES IS SMALL, INBREEDING COULD CAUSE GENETIC PROBLEMS IF THERE WERE NOT SOME WAY TO INSURE THAT HEALTHY GENES HAD A GOOD CHANCE OF MIXING.
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Q. WHAT IS A SOUL NAME?
A. SOUL NAMES GREW OUT OF THE WOLFRIDERS' INCREASINGLY FREQUENT USE OF SENDING AS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION. SENDING IS AN INTENSE, DIRECTIONAL KIND OF TELEPATHY WHICH REQUIRES VULNERABILITY AND OPENNESS IN BOTH SENDER AND RECEIVER. THE SOUL NAME IS A WORD/SOUND/CONCEPT THAT EXPRESSES A WOLFRIDER'S PERSONAL INDIVIDUALITY (AND ALL THAT THAT MEANS) AND ACTS AS A BUFFER. A WOLFRIDER, SENSING THAT HE OR SHE IS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO A FELLOW WOLFRIDER'S SOUL NAME WHILE SENDING WILL PULL BACK, PSYCHICALLY SPEAKING - AND SO THE "DEEPMOST PRIVATE SELF" OF EACH INDIVIDUAL IS PROTECTED.
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Q. HOW WELL CAN SENDING BE CONTROLLED?
A. THE WOLFRIDERS HAVE IT DOWN TO AN ART. ONE CAN SEND TO MANY AND VICE VERSA. ALSO, TWO CAN SEND TO EACH OTHER PRIVATELY, THEIR MINDS LOCKED IN SUCH A WAY THAT EAVESDROPPING IS IMPOSSIBLE. A WOLFRIDER CAN SEND TO A RECEIVER WHO IS A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, BUT THE STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNICATION DECREASES AS DISTANCE INCREASES. ALSO, THOSE WHO ARE MORE ADEPT AT SENDING CAN TRANSMIT OVER LONGER DISTANCES THAN THOSE WHO ARE NOVICES AT IT LIKE YOUNG ELF CHILDREN.
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Q. DO THE ELVES GET TALLER AS THEY GROW OLDER?
A. NO. THE ELVES ARE STILL DEVOLVING FROM THE TALL HIGH ONES. EACH NEW GENERATION OF ELVES IS A LITTLE SMALLER PHYSICALLY THAN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS LIKELY THAT THE DEVOLUTION IN SIZE HAS GONE ABOUT AS FAR AS IT IS GOING TO. SAVAH AND SOME OF THE SUN FOLK ARE TALL BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY OLD AND SO ARE CLOSER IN STATURE AND EVOLUTION TO THE HIGH ONES.
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Q. WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE OTHER ELVES, WOLVES, THEIR SOUL NAMES, PARENTS, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.?
A. THIS IS A KIND OF DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. JUST AS WE ALL, IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, MEET PEOPLE FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND WHOSE NAMES WE NEVER REALLY GET TO KNOW, SO IN "ELFQUEST" WE HAVE MET AND WILL MEET CHARACTERS WHOM WE WILL NEVER KNOW COMPLETELY. THOSE CHARACTERS WHO PLAY A PART IN THE TELLING OF THE STORY WILL BE FLESHED OUT AS MUCH AS IS NEEDED AND WE WILL PERHAPS COME TO HAVE FEELINGS FOR THEM. THOSE CHARACTERS WHO PASS QUICKLY IN AND OUT OF OUR TALE WILL REMAIN A BIT SHADOWY, AND WE WILL WONDER ABOUT THEM, AND USE OUR IMAGINATIONS.
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Q. DO THE WOLVES LIVE AS LONG AS THEIR ELF PARTNERS?
A. NO. ALTHOUGH THE WOLVES OF THIS WORLD DO PERHAPS LIVE A BIT LONGER THAN THEIR EARTHLY COUNTERPARTS, THEIR LIFESPAN IS STILL A MORE OR LESS NATURAL ONE. A LONG-LIVED WOLFRIDER WILL GO THROUGH SEVERAL OR MANY WOLVES IN HIS OR HER LIFETIME, AND ALTHOUGH A BOND BETWEEN WOLF AND WOLFRIDER DOES EXIST AND THE SENSE OF LOSS AT THE WOLF'S DEATH IS GREAT, IT'S STILL A PART OF THE NATURAL CYCLE OF THE LIFE OF THE TRIBE.
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Q. DO YOU FOLKS EVER ATTEND CONVENTIONS?
A. YES INDEED, AS OFTEN AS WE CAN - AS LONG AS WE CAN STEAL TIME TO DO SO FROM OUR SCHEDULES, AND AS LONG AS WE CAN ABSORB THE EXPENSE. WE VERY MUCH ENJOY GOING TO CONVENTIONS (BOTH COMICS AND SCIENCE - FICTION TYPES) AND MEETING NEW FRIENDS. BARRING LAST MINUTE CHANGES, WE PLAN SO FAR TO BE AT THE CREATION SPRING CONVENTION (JUNE 21-22, NEW YORK), THE COMIC ART CONVENTION (JULY 4 WEEKEND, NEW YORK), THE SAN DIEGO COMIC CON (JULY 31-AUG 3, GUESS WHERE), AND THE NOREASCON II WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION (LABOR DAY WEEKEND, BOSTON). WE'LL BOTH BE THERE, JUST AS WE BOTH PRODUCE "ELFQUEST," SO STOP BY AND SAY HI!
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Q. ANY NEW NEWS ABOUT THE "ELFQUEST" NOVEL OR ANIMATED FILM?
A. WELL, AS THEY SAY, WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME GOOD NEWS - AND WE'RE ABOUT AS EXCITED AS TWO HUMANS AND A HOUSE FULL OF ELVES CAN GET! THE NEWS ON THE NOVELIZATION IS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED A CONTRACT FROM PLAYBOY PRESS ENTERPRISES FOR THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY BECOME THE "ELFQUEST" TRILOGY - WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN THE WRITING, WENDY WILL BE ILLUSTRATING THE INTERIOR, AND THE BOOK IS DUE TO THE PUBLISHER BY THE BEGINNING OF 1981. THE NEWS OF THE ANIMATED FILM IS LESS FIRM AT THIS POINT, BUT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE VERY STRONG EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FROM AN ANIMATION HOUSE IN NEW YORK TO DO THE ANIMATED FILM - YOU HAVE SEEN THEIR WORK ON TELEVISION AND WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK IN GENERAL. WE ARE BEING DELIBERATELY VAGUE HERE UNTIL ALL DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE MUCH MORE BY NEXT ISSUE!
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Q. I ORDERED A SUBSCRIPTION, T-SHIRT, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER FROM YOU A WHILE AGO AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET. WHAT HAPPENED?
A. IF WE ONLY KNEW... MOST LIKELY, YOUR ORDER GOT EATEN BY THE OMNIVOROUS POSTAL BEAST (WHO ACTUALLY, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, HAS NOT HAD THAT LARGE OF AN APPETITE). IF YOU THINK AN OVERLONG TIME HAS GONE BY FOR YOUR ORDER TO ARRIVE - AFTER GIVING US TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO PROCESS YOUR ORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE - WRITE US A LETTER (PLEASE, MAKE IT A NICE LETTER) AND WE'LL DO OUR LEVEL BEST TO TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER TO YOUR SATISFACTION.
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Q. DO YOU EVER PLAN TO GO BI-MONTHLY OR MONTHLY?
A. THIS QUESTION IS FROM ALL THOSE WHO WANT US TO GO OFF THE DEEP END IN A HURRY! OUR PUBLICATION RATE IS THREE TIMES A YEAR - ALWAYS HAS BEEN - FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WE (ESPECIALLY WENDY) CAN'T DO THE WORK ANY FASTER AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY WE DO. WE KNOW IT'S A LONG TIME BETWEEN ISSUES! IT IS FOR US TOO, BUT WE ASK EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND; AND WE STILL PROMISE THAT YOU'LL HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE FANTASY COMIC MAGAZINE AT THE END OF THAT WAIT!
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ONE FINAL NOTE FROM THE ARTIST...
"HEY, EVERYBODY! IT'S WENDY WITH A 'Y' - NOT WENDI! THANK YOU ALL!"