Thank you...

[feaelin]

When I searched the web for a way to send Mr. Stasheff a letter, expecting to find a publisher's address that I'd be sending it "c/o" through...discovering this site instead was a pleasant surprise; a somewhat more direct means of saying what I wanted to say. . So here goes:

Mr. Stasheff:

I read lots of SF&F every year...for around thirty years so far. Some portion of those are re-reads, of course. The Gramarye novels and Wizard in Rhyme series are both in that category "series I frequently re-read".

They're a frequent re-read not just because I have a good time reading them. That alone would be enough for me to want to collect them all (nearly there) and read them frequently. But that's not why I'm writing a letter to thank you for them.

What I want to thank you for is that these particular books have helped me personally. There are times in anyone's life that are difficult and I am no different! There has been many occasions where something that one of your characters has said something (sometimes in passing, sometimes quite directly) that has helped me through some of those times. Rodney (and his friend Simon) and Gwen in particular, but sometimes Matthew Mantrell or Saul have been a help.

I was re-reading the Wizard in Rhyme series over the past couple weeks and realized how much I appreciated your books and characters and I wanted to send you this letter to let you know how grateful I am for them and how much I've enjoyed them.

Thank you,

Iain Davis

[cstasheff]

I AM DELIGHTED to learn my books have done you some good, Iain Davis. That's every writer's dream -- to leave the world a little better than he found it. Occasional readers have told me about troubles of their own which have resonated with my characters' -- and sometimes changed the direction of one of my works -- in progress at the time. Please do fill out your collection, and I hope they will do you some good in both present and future. Thank you for the inspiration!

[RN7457]

I would have to second those sentiments. I have thoroughly enjoyed your books, as did my late husband, and now my son (who is sitting next to me reading "A Wizard in the Way".

[cstasheff]

I very much appreciuate your thanks, RN7457. I do hope your son enjoys Magnus's adventures --- results have been mixed. TheRogue Wizard's story doesn't end until THE WARLOCK'S LAST RIDE, but the last two books before that prepare the way, by Gar's meeting Alea, a young woman outcast from her people for being too tall. You can always pester your local library -- I do.

Thanks from CBS (middle name's Boris).

[RN7457]

Welcome! I've also recommended your books to other homeschoolers as an intro to poly sci, (good old Cholly methods)

[meadowsberg]

Hello Dr.Stasheff,
Same with the rest of the people who posted, I would like to give my appreciation to you for bringing us Rod and the rest of his comrades and family. I can remember, I was introduced to your books during my senior year in high school. Our graduation practice was so boring that the only thing that kept me entertained was your book.
I normally avoid series books for the reason that I hate it when I am hooked in to the story and can't find the other books. That happened to me when I read the Warlock series. My mother brought me the To the magic born: compilation of the first three books of Gramarye. After reading that book, I was frustrated for I do not know where to find the other series! Fortunately through the years I have discovered a couple of them in various bookshops.
Truthfully, I did not really quite understand Escape velocity when I first read it(the innocence of youth is to be blamed here!) and only appreciate and enjoyed it after I took a few courses in Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science in college. Now, Escape velocity is one those books I usually read again and again.
Good luck to you Dr.Stasheff and I am looking forward for more of your works.

[emollison]

I skimmed the first comment and felt this is a great place to say "thank you". Your gramarye series and the magnus books and eventually the wizard in rhyme series were a great joy in my childhood and teenage years. Your writing is very unique and I suspect because of my early exposure you were inevitably precisely my cup of tea. I fantasized a lot about being a psychic or psionic wizard or whatever the psychics of gramarye are. I used to ask people if they ever heard of you before I realized no one ever answers yes. i often wondered how, then realized your early books were full of proofreading errors so even your publishers weren't taking you that seriously. But even if this is some weird forbidden cult of stasheff fans, I want in! Now that I have finally found it I want to say to Stasheff before he dies that his work is deeply appreciated and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to join the cult. I didn't even waste time looking at anything anyone else wrote because I need to make sure I say this now. Okay, I'll keep this short. THANK YOU!