Post script to a dream...

[Nathan]

Didn’t have a chance to chat much in this newsletter. So, a small addendum, if I may.

The lack of response to my contest announced last issue has, as you might imagine, been somewhat discouraging.

They are tough questions though, and I thought, maybe that’s it! Maybe it’s just too much. Too “over-the-top.” So I’ve decided to simplify it as well as make it public. You subscribers have had puh-lenty of time to make an attempt, but have not. Let’s give everyone a chance, shall we?

The original contest was this (…and I quote):

Lumlian Knowledge

It's a simple game. Most of you have seen it played on the MessageBoard and quite a few have even been players. It's a fun little trivia game that tests one's knowledge of the Master's works and gives anyone with that knowledge the opportunity to stump the rest... once that one has correctly answered another's question of course. There are at least six separate topics in different forums around the MessageBoard, all fully loaded with at least four pages each of the game. There have been quite a few really good questions over the last several months and plenty of informative discussions throughout as well.

Well, now I've decided to make it more than just fun. I want to make it...interesting. A challenge, if you will. Yes, yes! A challenge...with a nice reward! Rather than simply getting a chance to ask a question of your own, (I'm actually denying you that privilege this time) I'm challenging everyone to answer a few that I came up with...for prizes!

You see, I've got a few items that have been sitting around the house collecting dust and I just thought to myself, what the hell? These items deserve a better home; a home where they'll be loved and cared for and possibly even used for their specified purpose, not just lying inert.

As with any contest there are rules. Mine are very simple and easy to remember. First of all, I ask that you email your answers to me at my email address listed below. Second, I'll allow only ONE attempt per person per Newsletter period (two months) so make sure your answers are your final answers, just like the game show. With that said, I must also say that time is also a factor. Be sure of your answers but also get them to me in a timely manner, because the first three with the correct answers are the winners!

Next, your answers MUST MATCH MINE. Only one of these questions could have more than one possible answer but chances are no one will think of the one that differs from mine.

So... is everyone ready? Got your thinking caps on? Okay... the first three are questions with multiple part answers and the last two are rhyming riddles. Here goes:

1. My aunt is named for one of a party of people who, stranded, were forced to eat their own dead. Name the party, name my aunt, and tell me what happened to her niece-in-law at Crater Lake.

2. There are at least three "robots" in Brian Lumley's works. Name them and name at least one of the books in which each appears.

3. Tell me how many Thyre colonies Nathan visited and which one was his favorite.

4. Two Bad Guys: A Duet

We share a first name and one common trait
Two separate beings guided by hate.
Our names are the same but we're worlds apart
Shunned by our races right from the start.

I was brutally slain by one of my own,
But I am alive and long since flown.
I was a slaver, a merciless brute,
And I'm from the stars with worlds to loot.
I'm buried shallow in sand and piss
Well, my trip to Earth was hardly worth this!

Although we are different, I'm sure you'll agree
We're of the same ilk in the worlds of Lumley.

5. Two Good Guys: A Duet

I did odd jobs for a man by the sea
And ran his errands, as he needed me.
Now absorbed by what should not be
I'm thinking I should have raised my fee!

Well, my name's the same but I really must say
My end came to me in a whole other way.
I'd taken my kids to the beach to play
And fell off a cliff later that day.

We both died too soon, sad tales indeed
Seemingly pointless, there seemed no need!
But still there is one of us does go on
Advising the living till battle is won!

On those last two I'll need full names and the books in which they appear.

Now for the prizes. First place gets to choose between all three prizes. Second place gets to choose from what remains. Third place gets the leftovers.

Up for grabs in Bag Number One will be a grab-bag/surprise package containing various smaller Lumley related items that I put together. You'll find three or four nice little oddities that I've collected and enjoyed having around but am now willing to part with to make up a third prize. Actually, this will probably be the third place item as it will most likely end up being all that's left once the other prizes have been taken. But who knows? Maybe the winner will already have the other two items and request this one...? We shall see.

Bag Number Two will contain the full Psychomech Trilogy. These are all three paperback but hard to find as a set nowadays. They are the original first Tor printing from 1992 and '93, signed by Brian (signed to me, but I'd be happy to endorse them to you) and read only once or twice. These could also potentially be a last (or possibly first?) place prize. Again, we shall see.

Finally, in Bag Number Three, I have a Classic Plastics Shaithis of the Wamphyri resin model kit. It is unfinished, unbegun and still in its original box. I've never been much of a model builder, much less a painter, so I thought I'd give it to someone who'd actually make something of it. It shames me to have it sitting on my shelf in a box mocking me. If you'd like to see pictures of one, ShadoeWolfe has some of his up in the Lumlian Pictures forum of the MessageBoard.

I think it will be interesting to see which order these will be given away. I'm almost positive the Shaithis bust will go first but you never know. I would ask, however, that if you already have it, you do not take it just for profit. That would be...uncool. I want these prizes going to someone who will truly enjoy them, not just put them up on ebay. But I guess it's ultimately up to the winners, right?

…and that’s the gist.

To simplify: first, throw out #1. It’s about me, and who gives a shit about me? This site is for a guy named Brian. Let’s concentrate on him.

So work out the answers to the last four and that’ll do me. I’m not gonna make you show your work either. I don’t need to know which book the answers are found in, just the answers themselves will do.

I’m also changing Bag Number Two. I’ve decided the ragged old Psychomech Trilogy is just too sentimental for me to let go. I almost didn’t put it up for grabs in the first place! I was torn. But now I’m finally decided for good.

I’ve got this new set (the trade paperbacks released last year by Tor) laying around that are completely unread and opened only to be signed at the front. As with the old, tattered set I was originally going to give away, the first two in the trilogy are signed to me. But the third (Psychamok) is forthcoming later this year, and I know a guy (Brian) who I’m quite sure will be more than happy to sign your name to it rather than mine.

So there you have it. Again, good luck.

And welcome to the game, Guests!

[ October 01, 2002, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Nathan ]

[Nathan]

Heck, I'll even give you the list of books in which all the answers can be found...

House of Doors (question #2)
Maze of Worlds (question #4)
The Transition of Titus Crow (question #2)
Necroscope (question #5)
Bloodbrothers (question #3)
Return of the Deep Ones (question #5)
Iced on Aran (question #2)
Sorcery in Shad (question #4)

If that don't do it, I don't know what will...

[img]smile.gif[/img]

[ October 22, 2002, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: Nathan ]

[Lagula Longarm]

Okay I'll try and concentrate my one last brain cell, and have a go at this quiz....but it might take a week or two, as I'm extremely busy at the mo...

[ October 02, 2002, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: deano ]

[JB_Lestat]

Ahh! Now I KNOW I could get one of them from the new list!!! Unfortunately, I do not have the books available to me at the moment... when you move to a big city, you don't bring the things that you really care about for fear of ruination! I do appreciate the help though, even if I cannot take part...

[Nathan]

Shaithis Bust
New complete Psychomech trilogy
Lumlian grab-bag

Good prizes all, (not to mention a couple of collectors items) but it looks like they will be staying in my possession.

Deadline: November First 2002.

After that day, it's off the table.

[Nathan]

Okay. JB_Lestat and Spike (formerly known as Spawn. ) need to get in touch with me again.

They are the only two people who got any questions right. And only two of four that even made attempts!

Since the object was to answer all five questions and each of those two only answered one correctly a piece, I regret to announce that the contest is over.

But...

There were four items in the grab-bag and I'm awarding two items a piece to the aforementioned Lumlians. Just for getting one. I wish I had something for the other two that made attempts, but alas, I don't. But I do appreciate your efforts.

Now...

I still have those other two prizes.

I've stumped you all (apparently), so lets see if you can do the same to me.

Two questions from two separate Lumlian sources. If they both stump me... you choose your prize.

I have a week to find the answers. That's a week from the time of your inquiry.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

[ November 04, 2002, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: Nathan ]

[Exsanguinator]

Now there's a challenge - stumping the Lord of Old Posts...

You'll have to be perspicasious and employ a degree of verisimilitude to suceed here... The cogs in my mind (wheel within a wheel) are turning at the prospect - don't let me be the only one... [img]tongue.gif[/img]