[Radthorne]

You took Writing 101? Wow. I thought all your skills were developed and honed in the ball pit at the Olde Inn.
Funny you should mention that - I actually went back to look at those old threads a few weeks ago, just for nostalgia's sake. Ah, the indiscretions of youth :D

[alison]

I'm with you KatG on Kevin's books - they're great fun. I too especially liked the birds. And I liked the moral centre, which as you say, stays well away from any preachiness...

Stealing hard drives? O the slander...

[JRMurdock]

EEK. I totally forgot. I'm so sorry, Maus.

No worries. Whenever you get the time, ship it on over. Let me which book you do so I can look into buying a copy to review for the podcast.

[Hereford Eye]

Okey Dokey, Radical Thorn. Have completed Sands and am very impressed with the total effort. Nay, I thoroughly enjoyed the total effort. Your work is up there at the top of the fantasies that I have read. I do have a few questions re your motivations for certain things. You may or may not wish to discuss these items in the open forum so I'll post a few samples for your consideration. As this conversation could well develop into major spoilers for those who have not read the books, I can understand avoiding open discussion.

Possible spoilers:
Of the male characters, only Himitsu pays a price for his supporting the cause. Nakama pays a price but not because of anything he does or fails to do and not because he supports the cause. Natami may have paid a price but there is no information provided in the story as to what happened to him. OTOH, all the women pay a price ending with lives they did not plan. Only Shudojo has a patently happy ending though one can surmise that Nusumi and Jayan will be okay. Did you see the story in these terms?

Shiko's ordeal is a character assassination; Mikasama's is a physical test. Shiko must come to terms with his humanity - that was good stuff!; Mikasama must come to terms with her role. One deals directly and one deals indirectly with the Darkness. The contrast between the two, the costs paid, and the outcomes are very different. The same can be said for Natami and Kurtaya. One deals with a physical test and one with a test of character. Did you see these opposing plot lines when you were building the story?

You tell us how Shiko sees his future but you didn't tell us if Shiko ever realizes how his actions fulfilled the Kotaishi's destiny to unite Tonogato under one banner to fight the Darkness. Does he ever realize that he accomplished what his father meant for him to do?

Anyhoo - thanks for a great read! I'll get around to reviewing Sands sooner or later, promise.

[Radthorne]

Okey Dokey, Radical Thorn. Have completed Sands and am very impressed with the total effort. Nay, I thoroughly enjoyed the total effort. Your work is up there at the top of the fantasies that I have read. I do have a few questions re your motivations for certain things. You may or may not wish to discuss these items in the open forum so I'll post a few samples for your consideration. As this conversation could well develop into major spoilers for those who have not read the books, I can understand avoiding open discussion.

:) Many thank you's! As my wife would say, "Another satisfied customer." :D

I think I shall PM you on the discussion points you have raised, as you're right, we might start wandering off into all sorts of story topics and examples from the text. When I become as well-read as Alison ;) and everybody stopping by the forum has read the books, I'm sure we'll have all kinds of debate threads popping up, just like she does! :)

[Hereford Eye]

Later rather than sooner, I suppose. At my age you tend to do these things when the spirit moves and the Lady Who Shares Her Life With Me says that happens about as often as bowels move. Can't imagine what she is intending to say. Anyway, sir, feel free to ignore it or use it as you can.
http://www.sffworld.com/brev/si676p0.html

Again, congratulations. I am envious of your accomplishment. About the time I think I am on to something I read something you, or Alison, or Holbrook wrote and I regain my perspective. If you folk can figure out a way to charge for that very useful service, you will get rich quickly.

[Radthorne]

Later rather than sooner, I suppose. At my age you tend to do these things when the spirit moves and the Lady Who Shares Her Life With Me says that happens about as often as bowels move. Can't imagine what she is intending to say. Anyway, sir, feel free to ignore it or use it as you can.
http://www.sffworld.com/brev/si676p0.html

Again, congratulations. I am envious of your accomplishment. About the time I think I am on to something I read something you, or Alison, or Holbrook wrote and I regain my perspective. If you folk can figure out a way to charge for that very useful service, you will get rich quickly.
You are a kind and generous man, sir; and I thank you greatly. I will most assuredly be able to make positive use of your very thoughtful reviews.

While I doubt anything that I have to write will make anyone particularly rich (particularly me! :) ), perhaps it is just a matter of perspective. If the words I've produced serve to enrich your own creative imagination in some small way, then I will have done a rewarding service not just to those who read me but to those who will have the pleasure to read your works as well.

Many thanks again, and I hope that the current works evolving under my keystrokes will provide the same level of enjoyment when they crawl out from under the rock into the light of day. ;)