h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Mercedes Lackey (WIP) - A1290188
Author: Phil Boswell - U242431

I'd like some opinions on my first Guide Entry. I've made some comments actually in the entry where I'm not too certain which way to swing.

Should I split out the various sections into Guide Entries in their own right? I could then have a clearer "conscience" mentioning other people's books in an entry ostensibly about one particular author.

Also how mind-numbingly anal-retentive do I really need to be about completeness? I've directed people to the subject's official website and to one very good bibliographic site. Is this enough? I know of at least one more quite good site, but that one disagrees with the one I've already cited and has a much longer update cycle.

Maybe I should create an entry on Bibliographic websites

Don't get too caught up in the self-flagellation.
There are plenty of us willing to whale you with a wet noodle.

Now I'll go read your entry.

This better be worth it.

I don't think you have to get too complete with the lists.
Mentioning the individual series with a short synopsis of their content would probably do.

Mentioning an entry subject by their nickname is a bit twee.

I have been a fan of Mercedes' work on and off for years.

I liked her Diana series, with the witch with a shop and a duty to protect an entire area.

She was remarkable in her use of a gay character for a sword and sorcery series. The name of which eludes me at the moment.

She is also remarkable for her dyslexia.
I read an article years ago about her need to create her own keyboard assignments because she couldn't use the normal QWERTY.

There was some other aspect to it, but I'll have to see if I can find the article.

Thanks for your reply, I was wondering whether anyone would even notice . I'll answer your points in turn since I haven't figured out how to quote in a reply yet ...

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I did think it was getting a little long-winded, but figured that was just me . I can make a new entry for each section and bury the details further down the chain. Would that suit H2G2 better? Making it more granular makes it easier to link in from the other Authors should they get an entry.

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Oh, I agree, the name "Misty" is indeed twee, but it's also the accepted nickname used by her fandom, in the same vein as "pTerry" for Terry Pratchett. Also like Pratchett, she has been known to participate in fan forums.

Maybe I should explain it in the entry; there's also the question of "Herald Myste", a character in more recent Velgarth books who is a thinly disguised version of the Author herself.

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When I shove the sections down a layer, I can put in more info on the "Diana Tregarde" series and why it never went any further (full details on her website).

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The gay character you are thinking of is "Vanyel" who not only stars in "The Last Herald-Mage" trilogy but turns up later (I shoudn't spoil it here ). There are now a lot of gay characters; what impresses me is the way it's not shoved down your throat. It is politically correct but not obnoxiously so.

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Not aware of the dyslexia aspect. I'm a fan of the books themselves; I'm the wrong person to quiz as to any other aspect of her life. Just the most obvious stuff, like being married to Larry and the work they do with Raptors which is mentioned explicitly in several of the books.

I suppose I ought to stick some of that in, or do you think I could get someone else to collaborate with me for the more human angle . What I could really be doing with is a co-author who can fill in that angle while I handle the bibliographic stuff. Is that an OK strategy for H2G2?

The Posting to which you are replying is from Phil Boswell
Thanks for your reply, I was wondering whether anyone would even notice . I'll answer your points in turn since I haven't figured out how to quote in a reply yet ...


...

I did think it was getting a little long-winded, but figured that was just me . I can make a new entry for each section and bury the details further down the chain. Would that suit H2G2 better? Making it more granular makes it easier to link in from the other Authors should they get an entry.


...

Oh, I agree, the name "Misty" is indeed twee, but it's also the accepted nickname used by her fandom, in the same vein as "pTerry" for Terry Pratchett. Also like Pratchett, she has been known to participate in fan forums.



Maybe I should explain it in the entry; there's also the question of "Herald Myste", a character in more recent Velgarth books who is a thinly disguised version of the Author herself.


...

When I shove the sections down a layer, I can put in more info on the "Diana Tregarde" series and why it never went any further (full details on her website).

<"sections down a layer"... Oh, dealing with each series under a different heading?>
...

The gay character you are thinking of is "Vanyel" who not only stars in "The Last Herald-Mage" trilogy but turns up later (I shoudn't spoil it here ). There are now a lot of gay characters; what impresses me is the way it's not shoved down your throat. It is politically correct but not obnoxiously so.

...

Not aware of the dyslexia aspect. I'm a fan of the books themselves; I'm the wrong person to quiz as to any other aspect of her life. Just the most obvious stuff, like being married to Larry and the work they do with Raptors which is mentioned explicitly in several of the books.



I suppose I ought to stick some of that in, or do you think I could get someone else to collaborate with me for the more human angle . What I could really be doing with is a co-author who can fill in that angle while I handle the bibliographic stuff. Is that an OK strategy for H2G2?

Also, first person is not used in Guide Entries except possibly when quoting someone.
The accepted usage is "this researcher thinks" or "it is this researcher's opinion that", while holding the opinions to a minimum.
Facts are what is expected, normally, though I've been known to push the envelope myself.

Have you looked at how the entries in the guide on people, particularly authors, are constructed?
The entries on John Creasy, written by his son, are very interesting.
While that is a University of Life project, it does show some of the basic techniques.

I'm glad this has had comments, I'll drop by and give it a detailed read through later