Well, I've just gotten Once a Princess and Twice a Prince, and am already enjoying the first book. The thing I really liked about it so far is the detailed map. But this raised a few questions:
What is the scale? How do they measure distance in S-d anyway?
The same questions go for the large map of the southern continent. What is the scale there? Also, I understood Remalna was on the coast, between Sartor and Sles Adran. As far as I count, there are 8 'countries' between Sartor and Sles Adran. From the map it seems Remalna is four 'countries', between 'Gil al Mardgae' (?) and 'T----ara' (?). Is this right? If so, what do these four 'countries' represent? The duchies and counties of Remalana?

Hi.  After an infinite number of years of being a silent lurker in this community (yes, this dates back to the days of Yahoo's CastleTlanth), I have opted to finally post here.  I only ever got LiveJournal to follow this community, so my LiveJournal navigation skills are quite poor.  But I loved silently watching this community and was delighted whenever someone posted a question that pertained to the books and Sherwood Smith would reply with all these insights into the characters and their motivation!

This all started with a chance encounter with Crown Duel at the Chapters bookstore.  The cover of the book didn't appeal to me and neither did the summary at the back, but I was stuck waiting for my brother and I decided to give it a try.  And within minutes, I was completely hooked and I've been hooked ever since.  I love the Inda books and I can't wait to read the last book!  :) And I was also really happy to see that A Stranger to Command was finally being published in something other than hardcover (and the cover was infinitely improved too!)

Anyways, that is my introduction :)

I'm new here on lj and I've been trying to find some communities to join. Since I've loved Crown Duel ever since I first read it years and years ago, I figured this would be a good community to join. :) Crown Duel and Court Duel are still some of my favorite books of all time. However, I really have not read that many other books by Sherwood Smith. I did try the Wren series, but I did not like them as much as the Crown Duel series. So, I would really like to start reading more of her books, but I don't know anything about them. Any recommendations? 

Oh, and please add me if you like! I'd love to get some more friends.

Well, I've decided I want to try for a full account of the children of characters in Crown Duel. So if anybody has information he wishes to share, I would be happy to have it.
What I want is as much information as can be given on the following topics: coloring, age, noble status, family status, dates and events.
For example (This isn't necessarily true): Elestra Renslaeus, brown hair, blue eyes, 5 foot 6, age in 4769 is 18, daughter of Vidanric and Meliara, wife to Flauvic, sister to Oria and Alaraec, princess of Remalna, Marquise of Merindar.
4751 - born.
4755 - retreats to Tlanth with her mother during the Norsunder war.
4769 - events of Beauty.
4771 - return of Flauvic, marriage to Fauvic.
4772 - Gives birth to a girl named Ranisia.

So that's a quick example of what I want to write, and so need information for. As far as I know, I need information on Alaraec, Elestra, Oria, Nadav, Tara, Kitten, any other siblings they have, and any of their children, if they have any. Thanks in advance!

Okay, I still have no idea how to make cuts and since I don't wanna ruin the Sasha books for anyone, I'm just going to ask my simple question.
In A Stranger to Command, at least the older version posted here, I got my book but I haven't read it yet, it's a big point that Shevraeth is the first foreigner in the Academy. But it says that Jehan was there! So... Huh??? I'm just a little bit confused on this point.

Oh! And what's Canardan's relationship to Galdran and the Marquise? Is he their brother who was kicked out? Cause if so, if he was exiled, wouldn't it be in disgrace and he wouldn't really be welcomed in another country?

Other than that, I really loved the books! I honestly don't find Sasha as endearing as some of the other heroines from the S-D world (Sorry Ms. Smith!! I don't mean to insult!) but the rest of the characters really kept me wanting to know more and what happened. I liked the way that events were handled in the end, it was very clean, which I like. Hmm... I don't wanna spoil the book so... I'll stop here. I really just meant to ask that question anyway.

Oh, and if anyone wants to be kind enough, can you tell me how to make a cut????

As is (I hope) well known, there is a story timeline in the wiki. Here's the link: http://s-d.newsboyhat.co.uk/Timelines/StoryTimeline
Now, my question is, do you think we could organize it a bit more, and create a reading order list, including what stories are yet unwritten or not uploaded? And perhaps our most beloed author could shed some light on whteher it would be possible to read later parts and still understand the story, without reading those parts as yet unwritten?
For starters, this is a list I have composed, concentrating on the MH thread, based on the story timeline (I'm beginning from MH, as Inda is written and done):
MH1: Over the Sea: CJ's First Record (written).
MH2/3, part of 4: Mearsies Heili Bounces Back: CJ's Second Notebook (written).
MH 4 - 8: Unnamed Mearsies Heili Book (coming December 2009) .
MH 9: CJ & girls face Kessler (written, uploaded).
MH 10: MH girls defeat Norsunder at Bereth Ferian (not uploaded).
MH 11: Devon (?) (Not uploaded).
MH 12: Leander & Kitty, Faline adventure (not uploaded).
MH 13: Part of Senrid (written).
MH 14: ?
MH 15: Part of Senrid (written).
MH 16: Part of A Hunt Across Worlds (uploaded).
MH 17-18: ? 
MH 19: Fleeing Peace (uploaded). 
MH 20: MH girls return to discover Shnit Soscarna took MH, Clair Sherwood defeats (fragment uploaded).
MH 21: Us Against them (uploaded - fragmentary?).
MH 22: Dark Side of the Sun? (fragment uploaded?).

That's all I can do. If I had more info, especially on the other threads (Senrid, Vasande Leror, Fleeing Peace, Lsam Justice, Sartor, etc.) I could probably do more. Also, I would like to understand how and when all the threads tie in with each other. It would tell one how to read the books in a correct order. For example, do you read Senrid before MH 13, after, or is Senrid MH 13?
Also, a general overview, or explanation what each story will be about would help.
Thanks a lot.

Here it is, everyone! Redesigned with a gorgeous new cover by MengRuo Yang, in highly affordable (even in this economy) trade paperback. (Hint -- it's totally cheap at Barnes & Noble!)




A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith
Imprint: YA Angst
Trade Paperback (reprint edition)
June 15, 2009
Retail Price: $16.95 USD - £12.60 GBP
ISBN-13: 978-1-934648-56-8
ISBN-10: 1-934648-56-6
480 pages

Click here for more information...

Order Your Copy:

- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Amazon UK
- Amazon CA
- Amazon FR
- Amazon DE
- Amazon JP


Go and get your copies now!

Well, I'm in a bind. I can buy two books, and so I've decided to go for a duology. Only question is: Should I get the CJ's two notebooks (Over the Sea and Mearsies Heili BOunces Back), or Sashria En Garde (Once a Princess and Twice a Prince)? Please tell me what you recommend as soon as possible, because I need to order soon if I want to get the books.

I was thinking the other day (a dangerous pastime, I know xD), and had a question about the inhabitants of S-d. I recall Sherwood saying that the year of S-d was like 440 days, as opposed to 365 (I could be off on the days...)? So, I was wondering...are the life spans of the people on S-d different than those on earth? For example, if someone lived to be 80 on earth..then would the same person (given that they were born and raised on S-d, instead of earth), live to be 80 S-d years as well, or would it be more like 66 S-d years? Likewise, for things like puberty and the like, would that sort of thing happen to an S-d person at a younger (in actual years) age on S-d than on earth, or not?

Maybe this is a) super obvious and I'm just overthinking, or b)I'm just overthinking anyway, but I was curious. xD

Thanks!

(also, mods, was not sure how to tag...)

I just finished reading The Trouble With Kings and I really liked it.

I'm going to put all my other comments and some questions under the cut so no spoilers for those who don't want to see.

( Comments and questions about the book )

Yesterday I finished going carefully over the text of A Stranger to Command, having made a zillion tiny (and not so tiny) corrections, and found that Norilana has a new cover possibility, that I thought I would run by you people, see what you think:

I happened to be skimming avengangle's book blog, and an entry about Fire Study reminded me...

Maria V. Snyder's (Poison Study) most recent book Storm Glass is pretty good (end of statement, haha). It's a very promising start to a new series.
If you've read the Study series, the main character of this one is a bit younger, and her background is very different from Yelena's was, but it makes for a fun read. It's set in the same universe so some of the old characters make appearances.

I would give a synopsis, but I might give something away...I usually do, in casual conversation, without realizing it. : x

Anyone read it? Thoughts?

btw, that makes two Snyders of fantasy writing, hm? :E

I have been working with a friend on a project for AP English in which we must write a book on a subject of our choice (nonfiction). They have to be short, though, because the class is sending them to a school in Idobo, Uganda, which we are sponsering. This is all part of Books of Hope, an organization that provides learning materials to schoolchildren in Uganda. There has been a twenty-year-long civil war going on there, where the Lord's Resistance Army captures young boys and basically turns them into killing machines. They come at night to kidnap the children, after which they are usually not seen again. The girls are taken and used for sexual gratification of soldiers, even if they aren't teens or young adults. To keep the children in the villages with only huts for homes from being taken, they are sent, on foot, to the nearest town with actual buildings. Some walk ten miles or more to reach safety. When they get there, they may find room on a floor somewhere, or they may discover that there is no room, in which case they sleep on the sidewalk. Then they all walk back to their villages in the morning.

Such a life is difficult and cuts into the time that the children can spend in school. That is why Books of Hope was created. The books people write and send, whether they are fiction or nonfiction, are given to the children to read when they have walked for so long or for comfort, to know someone cares. They speak English as their language so it's not as if it is impossible to write for them. I thought that such an endeavor as writing books for these children was amazing. They also accept donations of money and materials such as crayons, dictionaries, paper, pencils, clothes, etc. There is a website for Books of Hope at www.booksofhope.org, if anyone would like to help out. I think schools can sponser a school in Uganda (my school happened to have Idobo), but I am not sure about individuals. I think it may be possible. If anyone who sees this wants to help the children of Uganda, go to the website that I linked! I'm sure that your help will not be in vain!

I just wrote a journal post about an organization that helps children in Uganda in their schooling. My school is involved. If you would like to see the entry click here. If you would rather I posted it here, let me know and I will.

Sorry for taking so long to update on the Crown Duel book that I made. Turned in my senior project, finished college end of March, finally found time to finish the book and take photos, have been relaxing since. Anyone in L.A. looking to hire a graphic designer? hahaha...



Crown Duel turned out to be much larger than I thought. (Puts an end to the thought of making my own versions of the Inda series. Unless I wanted to print an oversized, 10″×14″ book, haha!) The collected side stories ended up being a lot smaller than I expected, so I added the Q&A from Colorwoods to beef it up.

( some larger pics )

I uploaded more photos to my Flickr page, some shots of the process of making the book. (Although for some reason they're displayed in reverse order on that page, I have no idea why.)

So, yeah. Yay! Second book I've made! Next I'm thinking of printing Lucy Clifford's Anyhow Stories for myself. :D

Hi, everyone. :)

I recently joined LJ (by that, I mean yesterday). Add me if you'd like! 'Tis a bit lonely here atm. :(

It's always great to find others who share similar tastes in books.
So frustrating to read something fantastic and have no one to share with, hm?

I'm thinking of putting up some book reviews/recs on my LJ  every once in a while (to fill up space if nothing else...no one likes an empty LJ).
Would be nice to be read, though, when that time comes (;D). Seriously speaking, I do enjoy talking about obscure (and not so obscure) books that we all happen to come across. (Recently read a great book by Juliet Marillier--she's not obscure, of course).

Speaking of discussions, here is something that has bothered me for some time now:  Is it just me or are a lot of new fantasy books falling into similar plotlines? Maybe I'm just overlooking books too much, but I feel as though fantasy books (YA in particular) are beginning to have that girl meets vampires/fairies/fantastical creatures plot--and more so than before. What do you think/have you read anything unique and interesting lately?

Hope to be part of some fun discussions in the future!

So, after much discussion, we finally have the details set for a So Cal meet-up! And because the more people we get to come to such a meet-up the merrier, this gathering is open not only to people here at athanarel, but we've also invited those over at the Megan Whalen Turner fan community, sounis! So here are the details...

Who: LJers from sounis and athanarel who live in Southern California (or who are willing to travel to get there!). Those who aren't actually a part of either LJ community are more than welcome to come along as well, of course!
What: A meet-up to discuss the works of Megan Whalen Turner and Sherwood Smith, grab a bite to eat, and just generally have a good time with other book lovers.
When: Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 pm
Where: Seal Beach at the base of the pier.

If you can find some way to make it there, please do, because it should be a ton of fun! As an added bonus, Sherwood Smith herself is planning on being there, I believe!

Edit: For my own personal reference (as well as for anyone else interested), those planning on attending so far include bookaddict88, sartorias, chachic, decidedly_odd, and peanut13171.

This may have been asked, but I want to know the answer:
I have read in your site the underlying concept of the S-d universe, and find it easy enough to understand. But how does it tie in? What stories belong to what arc? (I am talking about the published stories - CD, Senrid, Sasharia, Inda, and CJ's Notebooks)How will the stories tie in with each other? Will they tie in? Or will they remain separate?
Of course, I completely understand and apologize if you can't answer because you're not sure, or you don't want to spoil it yet.

I realize this might be a touchy subject, which is why I'm not going to give any personal opinion, and I ask that everybody (except Sherwood, since I guess her answer is her opinion on this) do the same, please.
So I recently read a book where the heroines were bisexual, and of course, as they passed through seeral lands, we saw how each culture reacted to this. After that, I realized that I had seen no mention of this in S-d. So I wonder: Does such a concept as bi/homo/sexualism even exist in S-d? Or is everybody straight, with no exception? And if tsuch a concept does exist, what's the general attitude towards it? Tolerance? Abhorrence? Or is it seen as perfeectly normal?