Mermaids?! I'm not quite sure what to say. Okay, they could be on the series "The Little Mermaid." You know, the Saturday morning cartoon. Whatever happened to the Seareapers and Sea Harrowers? (Yes, I've read "The Siege of Suncliff Island." I have a copy of YEARNINGS that is autographed by you.) Barmek's going to find the Wolfriders, isn't he? In fact, I'm willing to bet he's the one Suntop "heard.") (Ooops. Oh well, win some, lose some. - RP)
You know, I didn't like Tilaweed very much at first. In fact, I pretty much agreed with Hyfus' description of her. "She is so cold and unaffected by it all." But she seems so much better after I know that she really does care that there is some terrible plague going on. I would wager that it is all Minnowill's fault. I simply cannot reconcile myself to the fact that Rayek is in love with her. I cannot see the attraction.
I HATE Sydor. How can he possibly be a High One? Timmorn's Blood, even Haken was a good guy until he was perverted by the grief of death. Until you prove to me that Sydor has something at heart more precious than his own power and comfort, I will continue to believe him a greater perversion than Minnowill.
Better be careful about how long you leave Barmek and Sleia out there without company. They are apt to kill each other. Thankfully, they haven't yet, though not for lack of trying. Such a silly thing to fight over, yet I think it was good for them to get their emotions out in the open, where they won't fester.
Tentus reminds me a bit of Ekuar and Savah combined. The wisdom and the age. And you certainly surprised us with Kirith's blindness. Why is it always such a shock to see a maimed elf? Perhaps because they always seem so ethereal. Do you believe that elves and humans will ever live together without all of the battles and hatred? If that's part of a coming story, don't tell me! I don't want the fun to be spoiled.
Letha Pennington
<<street address removed from archive>>
The magazine you mentioned - YEARNINGS - was a short-lived series that contained ELQUEST fan fiction, poetry, artwork and so forth. The stories that were published between its covers were never considered to be part of the ELQUEST "canon," so you won't be seeing the particular characters that you recall. However we do have some interesting plans for the WaveDancers - both the ones you've been reading about in this very comic and possibly some offshoots. The World of Two Moons is a big place and twenty thousand years is a long time - you just never know who might show up, or where, or when... - RP
1) I had to write and tell you: Hyfus is the most
sexy, scrumptious, beautiful, gorgeous, sensuous, handsome,
buff elf on the World of Two Moons! Those eyes,
those lips, that hair! I want a poster of him! (And he
should be the chief of the WaveDancers.)
2) I'm a bit confused about the tail thing too. Here's my explanation: Some of the elves wanted more speed, better aquatic travel, etc. And due to their surroundings, they're practically the only tribe who hasn't lost the use of shape-shifting magic. Since the tails are there anyway, I can assume that when Recog- nition happens, they can shift back to normal readily. (Ooops. Oh well. win some, lose some, part two. - RP) How else could they handle bodily functions anyway? (If you guys could see how red my face is...) Besides, this is fantasy, so let's not get nit-picky on the details.
3) GO MONTHLY! My only complaint with ELFQUEST is that we must wait so darn long for an issue.
4) Did I mention that I'm in love with Hyfus? Let's see more of him (please, please, please!).
5) I love what you guys are doing!
Jessica Hillman
<<street address removed from archive>>
"Besides, this is fantasy, so let's not get nitpicky on the details." Oh my stars and garters! It's because it's fantasy that we have to be nit-picky on the details - not an easy task, let me tell you! If you don't pay attention to details - another way of saying, if there are no rules - then anything can happen and believability goes right out the window. There's a (literally) fantastic book of essays out, called "The Languages of the Night," written by Ursula K. LeGuin. It's a look at what fantasy is, how it's done, what it means. There's a wonderful chapter entitled "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie" - I'm not making this up - on what's wrong with 95% of the so-called fantasy that's being written these days. It's all in the details - and "details" covers a lot more ground than just "are her eyes blue or green?" - RP
WAVEDANCERS is... well, it's...
It's garbage, is what it is. Piss poor. A waste of trees.
The cheap imitation-Disney ghodawful art. The embarrassingly amateur arrangement. The muddled story of an insular group who've retold it to themselves many times too often. The complete lack of character or characterization. The pitiful contrivance of technological technique trying to disguise lack of substance.
It's really disheartening, to see how low your greed and ego has brought you.
Dian Hardison
<<street address removed from archive>>
Gee, all that in just four issues? But believe it or not, even though there's nearly nothing constructive in this can of condensed cream of criticism soup, we managed to distill it out and use it. - RP
I want to thank you for creating the perfect elf:
Raenafel. All I can say is "Wow!" You guys deserve
and A+. I've had my favorites, but she shot straight to
the top at first sight. She looks like Winnowill, but
warmer, with all the good qualities in an elf. Maybe
she's the opposite of Winnowill? Her hair is different,
more alive. On page 19 in issue #4 the picture of
Raenafel rising from the water is breathtaking. She's
like a goddess. It looks as if she's dancing - almost
seductive. Gosh, Sleia just pales in comparison!
I also wanted to mention the picture of Ti- laweed in WAVEDANCERS #3. That's also excellent. Hyfus says she's coldhearted, but she's not. She cries for the loss of her child. And if you look closely, you can see the image of a mother and child in the clouds. I love that picture. I want a big poster of it, and I'd frame it and put it on my wall.
Oh, and I also read Ann Decker ask for WAVEDANCERS to be changed to a monthly title. No! If it takes you two months to turn out quality like this, take all the time you want. You already have three others that come out monthly. I can wait.
Jason Burns
<<street address removed from archive>>
I love WAVEDANCERS number four! So, the call
Barmek has been feeling is Recognition. Wow! In his
dreamspeak he turns into a deer with Raenafel. I like
how you incorporated that into the cover. I also like the
before and now part of the comic. It gives us some
insight into what's going on. Why is Raenafel's neck so
long and why doesn't Barmek ever get uncomfortable?
He does have a piece of seaweed giving him a wedgie.
Kelly Lantz
<<street address removed from archive>>
I understand now. When they said that Kirith
birthed Raenafel I thought they meant she was her
mother. But Kirith was midwife. I love Ailsa's white
hair. I hope she is featured in later books.
WaveDancers leave their dead to the sharks the way Wolfriders leave their dead to the wolves.
I'm glad that the WaveDancers have soul names. But I have one question about names. I was under the impression that WaveDancers had two spoken names - their squirt names and then adult names. Has Barmek always been Barmek? (Look at Cutter - he's had the name he was given at birth for a long, long time now. If the name fits, there's no need to change it. If a change is called for, then the name can be changed. It's choice. - RP)
The scene where Raenafel comes up out of the water... Wow! (Looks like we're building up a large wow-factor with this one... - RP) And the tears later - very lovely!
So where were the dolphins in the first three issues? Can the WaveDancers communicate with the dolphins?
Why did Raenafel go into the Preserver's cocoon? Was she out of the water too long? Or did she just lie down for a nap, and No-Wing got bored? I can't wait to see Raenafel kick Winnowill's sneaky butt.
If there is a chance of WAVEDANCERS coming out monthly without endangering its quality, go for it.
Karen McMeans
<<street address removed from archive>>
I saw WAVEDANCERS and I bought it because I was really curious. I read it and I loved it! The art is fantastic and I can tell that the writers and artist really know what they're doing. Everything flows - the words, the art. The art! I love the details. The first thought I had was "FernGully," but after reading WD over and over, it's totally unique and wonderful. I really cannot wait to find out what happens; it's driving me crazy! I can't figure out what the secret that Barmek mentioned is! (I'm sure I'm not supposed to know, or else it wouldn't be a secret, huh?) I know, I know, I'll find out eventually, right? Sigh. I'm usually patient, but... Does WAVEDANCERS have to be bi-monthly???
Anonymous by request
St. Louis, MO
Not if ye olde (quiet, Tavie!) publisher has anything to say about it! Keep writing, and we shell sea you in 60! - RP