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 Best of the Realms 3: Elminster's Jest
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
Admin

United Kingdom
5696 Posts

Posted - 01 Jun 2007 :  17:16:14  Show Profile  Visit Alaundo's Homepage Send Alaundo a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Well met

This is a Book Club thread for the short story of Elminster's Jest, in The Best of the Realms, Book III anthology, by Elaine Cunningham. Please discuss herein:

Alaundo
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initiate
Learned Scribe

Canada
102 Posts

Posted - 01 Jun 2007 :  19:13:49  Show Profile  Visit initiate's Homepage Send initiate a Private Message  Reply with Quote

I really enjoy how nastily amusing this song is. I'm quite taken with it at the moment, and reread it quickly every couple of days or so. I remember being kind of disappointed that only the first bit appeared in Elfsong, and wondering at the time what the rest of it might sound like. If Elminster himself new that the title attributed it to him, [and who knows, he may], I'm sure he would not be displeased!

Pieces like this really show the variety of styles Elaine Cunningham is capable of pulling off well in my opinion. I'm thinking the rest of the collection will show off more of this variety, as just flipping through the introductions quickly I see: a first person narrative, a mystery, a ghost story, and a metastory, to name a few.

When the book club threads didn't appear in May, I assumed they'd been opted against. I'm glad I was wrong! I just got my book a couple days ago, and have only read "Elminster's Jest" in full, as I want to savour the stories. After all, once its over. . . its over, and this sort of thing doesn't come along every day. However, discussing the stories with other scribes gives me an excuse to forge ahead immediately. Onward into the Realms!

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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader

USA
7106 Posts

Posted - 01 Jun 2007 :  23:26:51  Show Profile  Visit Rinonalyrna Fathomlin's Homepage Send Rinonalyrna Fathomlin a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by initiate

When the book club threads didn't appear in May, I assumed they'd been opted against.




Yes, I had thought the same thing. As for this little ditty, I loved it myself. It's as dirty as I like them to be.

"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time)
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Kajehase
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Sweden
2104 Posts

Posted - 03 Jun 2007 :  10:24:21  Show Profile Send Kajehase a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Can't agree more than I already do. This is one piece of text that will be read a lot when I need a quick pick-me-up.

And the "northern song" that Tzigone recites in The Magehound is pretty "nice" too.

There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author

2396 Posts

Posted - 04 Jun 2007 :  18:23:47  Show Profile  Visit ElaineCunningham's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Ah, yes. That was one of Danilo's more innane ballads, originally published in Elfshadow. At the time (1990), the editor (Jim Lowder) took an opinion poll in the book department as to whether or not it went over the Code of Conduct line. It made the cut, but I've got to admit that with this little ditty, Danilo was working the Scarlett Pimpernel schtick overtime.


They're far from staid after a raid
Those men of Zhentil Keep;
They kill off all the women
For they much prefer the sheep.

The men don't eat their ill-got treat;
Not one of them's a glutton.
So isn't it a marvel
That they always smell of mutton?


Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 04 Jun 2007 18:25:50
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 05 Jun 2007 :  01:01:00  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Wonderful!

I've got to start compiling all these ballads into a single file. Elaine, you don't, by any chance, have a few more Danilo-crafted ballads you could perhaps share with us here?

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ElaineCunningham
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2396 Posts

Posted - 05 Jun 2007 :  19:02:51  Show Profile  Visit ElaineCunningham's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Well, there's the song from the tale-end of Silver Shadows:

We've come to mourn the paladin,
That best and noblest sort of man.
His way was clear, his will was strong,
But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.

Alone he faced the orcish hoard
And, dauntless, raised his mighty sword.
He did not flinch, he did not blink,
He surely did not stop and think.

The halls of Tempus open wide.
Our paladin is led inside.
He shares with all his rightous creed
And frowns on wenching, ale, and mead.

So do not mourn this hero's death
Though of his strength you are bereft.
If you must weep, weep for the god
Who must endure the tiresome sod.

Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 05 Jun 2007 19:04:12
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ElaineCunningham
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2396 Posts

Posted - 05 Jun 2007 :  23:22:27  Show Profile  Visit ElaineCunningham's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by initiate

If Elminster himself knew that the title attributed it to him, [and who knows, he may], I'm sure he would not be displeased!


I cleared the title with Ed Greenwood, so I think it's safe to assume that Elminster is aware of the situation.


Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 06 Jun 2007 13:33:09
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 06 Jun 2007 :  02:30:28  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham

Well, there's the song from the tale-end of Silver Shadows:
Ah, yes. I'll have to add that to the file.

I appreciate that Elaine. Thanks

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The Sage
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Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 06 Jun 2007 :  15:43:43  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Indeed. Hmmm... I think you've shared this one with us before, though. I distinctly recall having it on file already. I'll have to check.

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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

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"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31799 Posts

Posted - 08 Jun 2007 :  01:34:47  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I loved it, Elaine.

I've even made a copy for the wall of my workstation -- for times of work-related stress when I really feel that I need a laugh.

Thanks.

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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage

Edited by - The Sage on 08 Jun 2007 01:35:34
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