Mercedes Lackey
A Short Discussion of Valdemar: Mercedes Lackey
By Nelson McKeeby
(Note: Nelson McKeeby is a science fiction author whose new book series, the Tea Merchants (The Tea Merchant), has recently been released, causing some of his old writing to surface about role-playing games. This article is posted with permission.)
(Note: Mercedes Lackey’s work can be found at Amazon.com: Mercedes Lackey: books, biography, latest update)
1994: Discovering a New Author
I first found out about Mercedes Lackey in 1994 when I was taking undergraduate courses in communication, writing, and technology at a small New Hampshire college. A friend, Blake Wood, had an exciting opportunity for me, and that was a chance to attend seminars in a nearby Vermont school with a writer I dearly loved, Ursula K. Le Guin, with opportunities to attend further seminars in Boston on women’s writers. Every minute I listened to Ms. Le Guin was a profound experience, and I would go to the little farm I was renting in Walpole, New Hampshire, with my head spinning in wonder.
Each generation of writer is informed by the previous, both by reading their work and by learning directly from them. I had enjoyed a long correspondence with C.J. Cherryh about how she developed her idea, and would later also, as a bit of serendipity, meet her in person, tall, elegant, and brilliant, and talk about roller rinks which she and her partner were involved in operating.
Informing Ms. Le Guin of my enjoyment of Ms. Cherryh’s work, she had a suggestion. Ms. Cherryh had just finished up a new book series called Mage Wind, and that writer was a disciple of Ms. Cherryh. Her name was Mercedes Lackey, and to get the most of her writing, I should read Arrows of the Queen.
I immediately went to Jen at the Toadstool Bookshop, a close friend and budding mathematician, and had her order me a copy of the book. I had been planning to hitchhike up to Mount Washington and walk up its eastern trails, writing my own story about magical cats using dimension doors to wander into alternate universes, and this would be a great time to also read the new book.
The weather was rather mild, but I never got to Mt. Washington. I hooked up my ride at the Colony Mill in Keene and was dropped off at a town called New Boston. It was getting late, so I camped in a rather wild area, planning to walk back to town. Turned out I was trespassing on some installation or other and discovered, not for the first time, a fact of map reading. A red dot on the map may represent many thousands of acres, and I had chosen quite by accident to violate one of them.
Lucky for me, I am an experienced hobo, and no one would ever claim I was a genius. My autism sometimes comes in handy as people who should get across to me decide I am comically harmless. But that left me for the evening in Goffstown in front of their police station with a stern warning to stay out of the range of their secret squirrel installation. Thus situated and too late to get a ride, I read the book I had received courtesy of Jen at Toadstool.
If I were writing a college essay, I would say that Mercedes Lackey is a prolific American writer of fantasy novels. She was born in Chicago on June 24, 1950, and received a B.S. from Purdue University in 1972. Ms. Lackey’s writing career began with a passion for science fiction and fantasy that started at a young age. She wrote fan fiction before she began publishing her own work, and her early writing was encouraged by a professor at Purdue and by author C.J. Cherryh. Ms. Lackey is also a professional lyricist and has won five Pegasus Awards for her songwriting. She is a licensed wild bird rehabilitator, and her interest in raptors and falconry has influenced her writing. In 2021, she was named the 38th Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for her lifetime contributions to the genre.
But that would be rather cold and dry. When I say she works with falcons, it goes deeper than that. She has edited an anthology of fantasy stories about flying creatures called Flights of Fantasy. Her dragons in her works are giant falcons rather than fire-breathing lizards. And she lives with, dotes on, and loves her group of parrots, which she treats like equals in her home. She had a lifetime parrot that was more partner than pet, and her advocacy for these creatures is part of her character.
She is a tough-talking, hard-working, ethical person whose characters reflect herself.
So what about her writing?
Arrows of the Queen is the foundational novel of the Valdemar universe and introduces readers to its central character, Talia, and the unique society of the Heralds. The story begins with Talia, a young girl living in a remote and patriarchal Hold on the fringes of the kingdom of Valdemar. She is an outcast in her community due to her intelligence and desire to read, and she faces the prospect of an arranged, and likely abusive, marriage.
At the beginning of the novel, Talia is a frightened is a scared child, created by her repressed and abusive environment to be passive . Her community is patriarchal, and women are expected to be subservient. One day she is to be forced into an unwanted marriage and forced to run away. This act of defiance is her first step toward independence.
As I weave this outline of one of Ms. Lackey’s books, I would like to expose her character and how she truly is, at least as I know her personally, is expressed in her stories. I have never known her to be a shrinking violet or weak in any way, but I do see her as someone who will act out in defiance against injustice. But perhaps Talia is expressing an older trait of Ms. Lackey’s that is not easily seen by an outsider.
Talia is soon recognized for her power by Rolan, a Companion. Companions are mystical, horse-like being with powerful telepathic and magical abilities. Rolan chooses the protagonist, Talia, to become a Herald. Companions are described as sentient and as intelligent as humans. Rolan's choice of Talia is significant because he selects her not only to be a Herald but specifically to be the "Queen's Own," a position of great trust and importance.
When she is chosen by the Companion Rolan, she is taken to the Heralds' Collegium for training as a Herald. The Heralds' Collegium is the central training institution for the Heralds of Valdemar. It is a large, sprawling complex located in the capital city of Haven and serves as both a school and a living space for Heralds and their Companions. The Collegium is the heart of the Heralds' organization, a place where chosen individuals from all walks of life are brought to be trained in a wide range of skills essential for their duties. Another key element - the Collegium is a place for all walks of life and has the power of the diversity of the entire land. If you ever meet Mercedes, that is an element of her own character, a love of the wild diversity of life.
Heralds are the elite protectors and peacekeepers of the kingdom of Valdemar. They are chosen by Companions, sentient and telepathic horse-like beings who bond permanently with an individual, allowing them to communicate telepathically and often share a heightened sense of awareness. Heralds serve the kingdom in a variety of roles, including as judges, diplomats, and royal guards. All Heralds possess a unique magical "Gift" that is enhanced by their bond with their Companion. These gifts are varied, such as clairvoyances. The organization operates as a meritocracy, valuing character and ability over social status, which allows people from all walks of life to join their ranks.
Talia's magical gift is her powerful empathy. Where other writers have wizards that throw fireballs or shake continents, her powers are so much more subtle and leave the reader in constant wonder. She can sense and even influence the emotions of others. Initially, this ability is a source of confusion and pain, as she is overwhelmed by the emotions of those around her. The bulk of the novel focuses on her training to control this gift. She learns to use it as a tool for understanding others and to help them with their emotional pain. This journey is central to her development, as she transitions from a passive observer of her own life to an active participant with a purpose.
Talia's initial training session with the Collegium's Herald-trainer, K'Treva, is a pivotal moment. The trainer forces her to use her magical gift of empathy to sense the emotions of others, which initially overwhelms her. Through this difficult process, she begins to understand and control her abilities, learning that she can choose to block out emotional noise and focus on what she needs. This experience is the first step in her journey to mastering her power. I see this as an aspect of Ms. Lackey’s own experiences at Purdue and with Ms. Cherryh. Strong teachers helping a talented student find their own potential.
Things are not perfect. Talia faces bullying and harassment from a group of established Heralds who resent her as the "Queen's Own," a title she holds due to being chosen by Rolan. One of them, a man named Trelain, repeatedly tries to intimidate and physically harm her. This harassment forces Talia to rely on her Companion, Rolan, and a few trusted friends. It also pushes her to develop her self-confidence and assertiveness, as she must stand up for herself against her peers. The bullying is not a wasted part of her life, but important to face the role she is being called to fill.
She eventually is assigned to be a mentor for Princess Elspeth, the Crown Princess of Valdemar. Elspeth is a difficult, spoiled, and emotionally guarded girl. Talia's empathic gift allows her to understand Elspeth's underlying insecurity and fear. Through this relationship, Talia learns patience and compassion. The experience of helping Elspeth grow into a more well-rounded person also strengthens Talia's own sense of responsibility and purpose, cementing her role as a future Herald of the Queen. She does not disdain the princess, reject her, or strike back, but instead finds a way to live with the princess and help her to maturity.
Talia’s empathy though discovers a plot. A group of powerful Heralds and leaders, including present the Queen's progressive policies. They plan to assassinate both the Queen and Elspeth, allowing them to install a puppet monarch and restore the old, more repressive order. The solution to this is the key to the growth of Talia and the final scene in the book.
Talia will continue as the protagonist of the rest of the trilogy and set the tone for all of the wonderful leading characters in the remaining books. Princess Elspeth shows up in Mage Winds and has her previous life and life after Talia explored, thus telling a beautiful tale of continuity. Vanyel Ashkevron appears in the Last Herald-Mage and is unique in that his orientation and attitude are unique for fantasy characters.
Conclusion
Ms.Lackey’s work is unique and deserves a read, either single books or the whole series, because it's not just about epic quests and battles; it's about the kind of people who are often overlooked in other fantasy novels. She has this incredible knack for writing characters who are misfits and outcasts, people who have been through trauma and are trying to heal. In her books, you see them find their purpose, their "found family," and their inner strength. That's what makes her stories so powerful and relatable. The way she handles complex topics like abuse, identity, and mental health is so compassionate and honest. She writes with a deep empathy for her characters, which is a gift in itself.
If you want to even spend a year in a wonderful world, I have provided the books in Valdemar below in order of publication.
Valdemar Universe
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Heralds of Valdemar
Arrows of the Queen (1987) Arrow's Flight (1987) Arrow's Fall (1988) Vows and Honor
The Oathbound (1988) Oathbreakers (1989) Oathblood (1998) The Last Herald-Mage
Magic's Pawn (1989) Magic's Promise (1990) Magic's Price (1990) Individual Novel
By the Sword (1991) Mage Winds
Winds of Fate (1991) Winds of Change (1992) Winds of Fury (1993) Mage Wars
The Black Gryphon (1994) The White Gryphon (1995) The Silver Gryphon (1996) Mage Storms
Storm Warning (1994) Storm Rising (1995) Storm Breaking (1996) Owl Mage trilogy
Owlflight (1997) Owlsight (1998) Owlknight (1999) Individual Novel
Brightly Burning (2000) Heralds of Valdemar (Prequels)
Take a Thief (2001) Exile's Honor (2002) Exile's Valor (2003) Collegium Chronicles
Foundation (2008) Intrigues (2010) Changes (2011) Redoubt (2012) Bastion (2013)