I think Uncle Orson explained that in the forward of the book, but I can't remember now. I do remember being disappointed I didn't make it into the book...

By the way, are there still forum related AOL chats going on?

~Elanor
They say curiosity killed the cat . . . but I'm not a cat.

All of the AOL writings were lost, I believe, save for some stuff that a guy under the handle of Taleswapper (a moderator, I think) removed before the closing of the AOL site. He got in trouble, but the writings he took never surfaced again.

I remember the old AOL boards and I think Ryan is right about Vilate being the only one to go to page....so much for good taste, although....Orson did e-mail me once and said he did in fact exsist (I bluffed him out of his silence to prove it to me.) And I made him say that he liked my writing too. tee hee hee....I'm sooooooo very bad...lol

What I do know for certain is what was written in the forward (except for Melissa Wunderly, I think most folk who write here know this much): Kat Kidd was Goody Trader, Uncle Orson was Horace Guester, the two of them created Vilate Franker, then Melissa Wunderly portrayed Vilate first-hand in the community.

Wish I remember more of those chats. They weren't nearly as lively as some of our own Tuesday nighters, but they were always more packed. And, of course, Uncle Orson actually showed up to those chats.

Ela: Yes, OSC plans to write another Alvin book. There was supposed to be two more books in the series, but the last I heard they were to be combined in a single volume entitled The Crystal City.

How about create fascinating characters who do more than eat and greet each other and give OSC a REASON to want to base a character on you? Vilate was a crabby loudmouth who was colorful and full of life. She was wonderfully realized and that may be one reason OSC sat up and paid attention. She also researched the period thoroughly and used a spell check when she posted. Now, I don't mean to be grouchy, and I don't claim to be any better than the things I just said, but then I don't hope that Uncle Orson will choose my character for his next book. If and it's a BIG if anyone would appear, I suspect it would be Lady Hampton. Ever read the posts at the theatre? Its a good lesson as what great character development and storytelling ability can do on a site like this. She doesnt need anyone to interact with, and not too much happens, but it is consistantly the best writing on this site.

I sure miss the weekly paper...

Once I'm up to speed again I'll be coming into town, until then, feel free to stop by the White's place.

Anyway, if Hatrack is about Mormon, why are there no Mormon in it? I think there have been Presbyterians and Baptists but - heck, not even a polygamist. What has knackery to do with Mormon? Doesn't that kind of fall in the realm of the occult?

It's not about mormonism, per se. It loosely follows the story of Smith, who was told by an angel where the plates were located from which the Book of Mormon was translated from. I always figured the Crystal City was a formation of Zion ("...this city was built many times in the past. I think it will be built again.")

It was in the Seeing Place on Lake Mizogan (a celestial vision of sorts) that Alvin determined that his mission was to build the city, just as the real Smith thought it his mission to build Zion. Whether Uncle Orson's version of Smith actually succeeds is something I've wondered about.

A tangent here: supposedly Alvin Smith is going to die in Carthage City after being imprisoned there. I wonder, is this going to happen before or after the Crystal City is built? I personally think it's not going to be Alvin Smith at all that builds the city, but those he teaches, who go west and build the city after his execution. Or maybe he survives the execution. Who knows where this is going to go... if it ever gets written.

But, as long as we can still have our dreams, there's a chance those dreams can become reality.

Just to reiterate what others have said regarding Alvin Journeyman, there were characters other than Vilate Franker who made brief appearances. I was fortunate in that Scott chose to have Arthur Stewart tell Alvin (during a visit to the jail cell) that John Binder had said that no rope of his would ever hang a maker (or something like that). And, wonder of wonders, Scott also had John Binder play a minor role in helping Alvin and Peggy make their escape.

I've forgotten more than I remember about the AOL chats. They were tremendous fun. As I recall we alternated in character chats with "normal" chats every other week. Wit was present in abundance. "Then I was young and unafraid" you might say.

The very first post of mine that I have a record of is from June 7th, 1994 (http://members.aol.com/~johnbinder/binder/jb01.txt). http://members.aol.com/~johnbinder/jb.htm has a few of what I once considered to be my "good" posts. Maybe a couple of them are actually any good.

Somewhere, somehow it would be awesome to find an archive of all the old AOL stuff. Once upon a time I had some of the chat transcripts but I think they are gone now.

When I got more time, I'll have to read over those. Just barely had time to glance at a couple of 'em. I've forgot most of the stories from those days, but if I'm not mistaken, Binder was courting Vilate for a time. Can't recall what came of it, though.

Anyway, good to see you John.

I just came across about 30 floppies or so that were stuffed into the case I keep my notebook computer in. I bought that computer back in '95, so there may be something there. Maybe if the computer itself isn't too corrupted, I'll be able to retrieve some of my old posts off the hard drive.

They always come back.

It stinks that I missed you on your trip through. I kept expecting a phone call from you on Sunday evening/Monday morning....but you go off and head back a day later and call me while I have my phone on silent while I sleep. We'll catch up with each other eventually.

I look forward to seeing how things develop with your latest arrival in Hatrack. It's always interesting.

We will absitively, posilutely have to plan better the next time I pass through. It was a hectic week for me all around, but a much needed vacation anyway.

Work has been a horrible mess with our skeleton crew getting cut in half and the upper pantheon expecting us to do the same amount of work. I'll try to get something posted by tomorrow morning, but no promises. If I take too long, feel free to 'find' that Bird has flown the coop and I'll figure out a way to write in a follow-up to it.

Again, many apologies.

Seriously - take care of yourself, take your anti-stress vitamins, and make sure your boss's boss NEVER sees the top of your desk. End all e-mails or conversations to the upper echelons with 'oops, there goes the phone again' or 'I'd better get back to the Johnson report' or something else that sounds terribly busy.

Posted reply, both alliterate and bordering on illiterate, but it is done, and what a treat it is for me. Must go now. Nice warm comforter begs for attention, and I shan't disappoint...

heehee, must remember the water gun tomorrow. who needs holy water? i just want to start a war!

In chaos, only the chaotic and the insane thrive!

Jeff, Philippe, whoever you are, lead on noble trickster, to the cafe, or whatever nefarious location you deem appropriate. Fear not, sneaky fiend, I shall find you. You will not be able to shake your newly acquired fan(atic) easily, I assure you.

Oh, by the way, Jane- I've been here on an and off for a year, and it's always quiet. But if you want excitement, join the Battle School forum- people don't necessarily post more than they do here, but there are more people there, and something's always happening. If you're interested I can lend you one of my screennames, perhaps.

I saw something about having to ask if you could join an army - but do you have to be a launchie first for a month or something?

Maybe after the holidays I'll take you up on the offer of a name over there... till then I'll just enjoy the relaxed 'post when you have time' ambiance over here. Thanks, though!

As for money . . . didn't they use shillings and such? Shillings, pence, I think they would have used cents, also. But for lack of a better term, you can just use 'coins' and nobody will mind