NOTE: The words to the eight-page "epilog" last issue are by Jeff Day from a song entitled "As Far As The Eye Can See" with music by Keiko Matsui. The album that the song is from is "Under Northern Lights" by Keiko Matsui and is published by MCA Records. The artwork is by Wendy Pini. (I have to resist saying "of course," only because it's obvious to me after all these years. But long familiarity doesn't excuse editorial oversight; credit should always be given where it's appropriate.) This information was to have appeared on the epilog pages themselves; it was included in the indicia, but no one reads that tiny little type. Some of you, though, read this tiny little type - which I've made bigger for this erratum. - RP
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 1994 23:05:21 -0500
From: Sarah H Harrison
<harrison@ecn.purdue.edu>
Ayoooah! The "Shards" tale is just as full of suspense (recently read #14) and is picking up speed! Can't wait for the next one. Once again, I'm glad it's monthly. I really enjoy the development of the "young" characters. Nightfall has always been one of my favorites, but Tyleet is stealing my heart as well. With the splitting of the Wolfriders, I hope we'll get to reacquaint ourselves with our old favorites. I noticed others were upset with the proposed split, but I see it from a writer's perspective as an opportunity to focus on certain characters we haven't heard from in awhile, i.e. the elders. Plus, it's the only way we can see Ember in action as Chief without having to mourn Cutter first. I look forward to it but still hope it's temporary. Speaking of Cutter, how will he deal with what seems to be an inevitable war over the shards of the palace when he swore "never again" and kept a scar to remind him? And how about the one who gave him the scar, Kahvi? Will she and her Go-backs turn up in any more tales? Too bad they are so far away. The Wolfriders could use the Go-backs experience and numbers in a war with the humans. What of the trolls? I hope Two-Edge reappears as you've hinted. It's great to have EQ up and running again, so to speak. The new team is doing wonderful. My thanks to them for keeping EQ on the shelf each month. I don't know about other places or stores, but I've been getting my comics on time here.
I also like the fact that we once again have a
"decent" human being in the woodcutter. Hmm... he's
got brown hair, beard. His wife has medium length dark
hair. This seems familiar to me somehow. ;-)
Yeah, must be. We wouldn't try that stunt three
times in a row, now, would we? - RP
I went through the folder and took out all of the
HIDDEN YEARS that I could find. So, after all that I went
about reading HY #1 through HY #14, and loved them
all very much! I especially enjoyed seeing Tyleet Recognized
to Scouter. (After all, aren't they the only two
who are not otherwise bound by Recognition?)
Aside from all of the changes that are going on
with the regular characters (the tribe splitting in two
by mandate for the second time in their recorded
history), I'm glad that you're bringing back some of
the old favorites like Winnowill and Two-Edge. Don't
look so surprised! You were quite blatant to say that
it was Winnowill who was the woman (quite the babe
as a human - SCHWINNNNGGG!) in the Power Ape's
tent, and the wrist launcher and rather exceptional
armor the Ape's men are toting suggest that Two-Edge
has found someone to abuse him, so he's
happy.
An inquiry before I relieve you of this letter,
even though I know you won't answer except in the
proper issue: Is Two-Edge helping the humans because
he feels betrayed by both elves and trolls, and
so he wants humans to wipe out the population? Don't
tell me that Two-Edge is a slave... he's far too clever
to be trapped by a bunch of obvious Neanderthals
such as the Djun and his War Machine. If our nimble
and nigh perfect elves and our clever and far-traveled
trolls have no idea of where Two-Edge is, how much
less chance does a herd of lumbering behemoths
have of finding the master smith?
Eric Hammers
That's not entirely a bad thing... in fact, it's not
bad at all. I grew up following the first quest, watched
over the SIEGE AT BLUE MOUNTAIN during high school,
and agonized with the elves taken out of time when I
was a premed at Stanford (where, by the way, I
introduced several good friends to the elves in the
process).
Now, having entered seminary, I find myself
grappling with many issues that are strangely mirrored
in the current twist on EQ. As the elves face
schism over the need to persevere in "the Way"
against a rigid and repressive human society, so do
many of my younger classmates find themselves
hoping to re-imagine aspects of our faith tradition
against a controlling, patriarchal institution. In both
instances, it is a matter of a spirit-centered community
of love set at odds with traditions turned to
domination. A long time ago, someone once wrote
that ELFQUEST was really better called "selfquest." I am
glad you have kept that so, even while pushing the
characters out of an idyllic hunter-gatherer setting
into a time that leaves- little room for them. I'm
looking forward to watching how the elves adapt and
change, as I do too.
Also, you've done a nice job showing a human
perspective on elf magic. I always wondered if
humans were aware of magic and could perceive its
use. The "cold fire" and Tyleet's eyes "glowing like a
cat's" when sending made the familiar magic a little
more interesting. My only complaint is that Winnowill
has changed too much. As a human she's just not
recognizable. Could you please give her back the
trademark raven hair? She's not menacing without it.
Christopher Buckley
I dunno. I think there's a whole slew of folks
who think that Winnowill is quite menacing, trademark
hair or not. And as for her not being recognizable...
that's the point, no? - RP
We're all on cloud nine for Scouter, Tyleet and
Dewshine, and you're plotting evil against the elves
while we rejoice. The holocaust at Blue Mountain was
so heartbreaking. Do we really need more war? Can't
the World of Two-Moons be just a little idealistic?
Going back to the subject of Dewshine, I have
to say that the scene in HIDDEN YEARS #13 was one of the
most beautiful things I've seen. Pages seven and eight
displayed such tremendous joy so vividly. Though
Dewshine was afraid, she can only now truly celebrate
what happened to her years before as she sees it
happen to Scouter. She can admit to its happiness and
sweetness for the first time. While Scouter couldn't
celebrate with her due to the unhappy circumstances
that surrounded the recognition, she can be a very real
part of his joy. It is such a lovely and unexpected treat
for us readers!
Vickie M. Brown
How can that be Winnowill? She's... she's human!
You can't fool me, I saw it all: five fingers, round
ears, brown hair instead of her usual raven black. It
can't be her, it can't be...
Ah hell. It is.
Look, these things have got to stop happening
to Cutter. He's already so brooding. I know he's been
through a lot in the past thousand years or so, but I
thought cleaning Rayek's clock would cheer him up.
And now he's got to go to war. Before you know it, he'll
be as silent as Strongbow!
Please don't let Cutter, Skywise, or Leetah die.
If one of them dies, the other two will. They are three
parts of a whole. I know you won't kill Tyleet now,
because of the cub. Don't let Scouter or Dewshine go;
they're too happy now! Also, watch out for Strongbow,
Treestump, Clearbrook, Redlance, Pike... oh, can't you
just round up some Go-Backs and send them after
humans? Don't you know what it does to us when a
Wolfrider dies?
Hey, here's an idea from the HIDDEN YEARS #13
letter department: Let Timmain pass judgment on
Winnowill. That's it! Let her do some High One thing to
get Winnowill away from the humans, and then she can
get rid of her.
It's not that easy, is it?
Shannon Pochran
But wait! There's more! Seeing as how we've
got not only HIDDEN YEARS but also the first issue of
SHARDS coming out this month, I find myself with the
opportunity to print even more letters over there! Who
says a first issue can't have its own feedback? (But be
warned; I'll expect you all to start writing twice as
much now that there are two titles running in parallel!)
See you in 30/30! - RP
I'm a prodigal reader. Due to financial misgivings,
I had not gone into my favorite comic store in
nearly a year. When I finally went in, the proprietor, who
is also an associate of mine, blessed me with a four-inch
thick folder of comics that I had on reserve but had
not yet purchased. Talk about embarrassment...
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My, but you're certainly set on something
ominous, aren't you! All these premonitions of war
and schism are making HIDDEN YEARS quite a foreboding
series for us first generation readers.
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Now listen, you guys, you're really scaring me!
I don't like this antepenultimate split-up issue thing at
all! The worse separation that we've stood so far -
Cutter from his family - should suffice. It's enough for
me to bear just to read NEW BLOOD and watch the
youngsters struggle to make their way in the world
alone. I try not to think about what it may mean, and I'm
not good at calculating time lines at all. All this is bad
enough, but don't you even talk about Ember assuming
leadership in our lifetime! I know you'd never do
anything as foolhardy as killing off Cutter, but are you
thinking of separating him from her again? (I hear your
wicked laughter in the background.)
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AAAAAUUGGHHH!
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