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| Foundation (Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Mercedes Lackey
Publisher: DAW Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $15.57
You Save: $10.38 (40%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 2699
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0756405246
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780756405243
ASIN: 0756405246
Publication Date: October 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The long-awaited brand new novel in the bestselling Valdemar series.
In this chronicle of the early history of Valdemar, Mercedes Lackeys bestselling world, a thirteenyear- old orphan named Magpie escapes a life of slavery in the gem mines when he is chosen by one of the magical Companion horses of Valdemar to be trained as a Herald. Thrust into the center of a legend in the making, Magpie discovers talents he never knew he hadand witnesses the founding of the great Heralds Collegium.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
 *sigh* October 11, 2008
56 out of 62 found this review helpful
I was 13 when Arrows of the Queen was published, so I've been with Misty for quite a while now. I was really looking forward to this book, but it turned out to be a major disappointment.
In a nutshell: don't waste your money on the hardcover version, and unless you're a big fan of Valdemar, and HAVE to read every book out there, you can probably live your life without having read it and be okay.
The main character of the book is a TOTAL Mary Sue. He's practically illiterate, malnourished, knows nothing at all of the world outside his slavery, but once he is freed and Chosen, he pretty much can do anything he tries to do, and do it better than most other people. Even if he's never done it before. Or even heard about it before. And he does it all in a totally unrealistic short period of time. Oh, and his Gift of Mindspeech is greater than anybody else's, ever. And he has no failings (unless you count his wavering doubt of others/self-doubt as a failing). He is also, apparently, the only one in the ENTIRE Circle who can do what he does, and he does it as a newly Chosen.
If that weren't off-putting enough, the characters in the book play blindman's bluff, and I Spy (and actually call it "I Spy"). The student Healer-herbalist uses pills rather than tea and knows all about heart disease and its causes ("Cut down on red meat..."), there is a mechanical log-splitter, the houses have wall-to-wall carpeting in them and are furnished like houses in the modern world. There are so many references to 20th-century type things.... I don't know how she can put this in a medieval setting. And yet, this is supposed to take place 500 years before Talia.
It's been less than 50 years since Vanyel died, but Stefan died a long time ago from the way it reads.... he should still be alive at this point, however. So should Treven and Jisa, unless something weird happened to them. But I don't think anything did.... Treven was still listed as king, iirc, in the epilogue of Magic's Price. The vrondi are seen as totally mythical, which would not happen in the span of 50 years. Oh, and the Holderkin are alive and well in Valdemar, even though it states in AotQ they only came to Valdemar in Talia's grandmother's time. It's like she completely ignored her own canon, or was just too lazy to look up some simple facts.
And I don't even want to talk about her writing. At least she wrote this from a single POV, and didn't split the chapters up into separate POV. But her writing has just gone downhill from her earliest books. You don't lose talent, though. You just get lazy. And that's how it reads, as lazy writing. It's uninspired and unoriginal, and maybe it's hard to be original in Valdemar after all these years, but to pull modern day tools, games, food (fondue, anyone?), etc. and stick them in Valdemar without even trying to disguise the fact that you're doing so is just laziness. How about creating a brand new Gift that is volatile and dangerous, but absolutely necessary for the crisis at hand, and then have the Companions suppress it from memory (they're good at that). Or something. Anything. But this? I've read fanfiction better than this. I only gave it two stars because it's Valdemar. Maybe I should only have given it one.
I'm just really disappointed with this book.
 Disappointing...but readable. October 12, 2008
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
It's been awhile since there's been a new Valdemar book, and I'd been really eager to read it. Unfortunately, this newest book just doesn't hold up.
Firstly, the writing style is overly simplistic. It almost reads like a Young Adult book. I think it's to try and showcase the main character's general ignorance about the world at large, but since the book is still written in the third person, it brings the whole book down. Speaking of the main character, he's a bit flat....and also seems to be near perfect at everything he does with little struggle. There also isn't much in the way of story...very little really happens. I suspect that's because this is more of a just prologue for more books to come, especially since the ending kind of came out of nowhere and left things unexplained.
The most glaring problem for me though, as a long time reader of the series, are the many places that it contradicts things that are stated in other books, and that even though it's supposed to be taking place hundreds of years in the past (from the "present day" Valdemar reign of Selenay), some things actually seem to be more advanced, and the rest seem exactly the same, as if the passing of time has very little effect.
It's also worth noting that if you've never read a Valdemar book, this is not the one to start with. Most of the other books offer at least some background, information, or explanation of the general aspects Valdemar...this one very much does not, and just assumes that you already know. You particularly would want to read The Last Herald Mage trilogy before this one.
Bildungroman - Again October 21, 2008
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
Misty Lackey is capable of writing Valdemar novels that aren't bildungroman - coming of age in Valdemar stories. She is also capable of writing Valdemar novels that aren't seemingly written for 13 year olds. This story is neither. After a promising start - the protagonist is a child slave, working in a mine - the story lapses into the same, tired plot line we have seen in the Owl Trilogy and a depressing number of her other, recent books. Combined with the annoying, frequent inconsistencies and lapses from facts established in earlier novels, and you have a two star mess.
I'm afraid this story will annoy serious fans and bewilder those new to the otherwise admirable Valdemar series. Skip it.
 Set the Foundation for a New Series October 8, 2008
8 out of 14 found this review helpful
Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
on 09/21/2008
Mags has been a virtual slave in a mine since he was a little tyke. To survive, he scrabbled for food and learned how to dig out "sparklies" to keep the mine owner off his back. The day the Herald arrives is both the most wonderful and most terrifying of Mags's life. After more than a decade of abuse and neglect, Mags is brought into a new life that defies comprehension. All that keeps him from panic is the gentle white horse with blue eyes... a horse that is as smart as any human... a Companion who has made Mags his Chosen, a future Herald.
Mags and Dallen must travel to Haven, the city where the Heralds are headquartered, and where the Collegium awaits Heraldic Trainees. Mags must overcome thick layers of defense in order to see the world as more than hunger and beatings. If he can, he'll find more than he imagined possible--both good and dangerous.
From grubby child worker to a Trainee in the middle of growing intrigue, Mags has the chance to do more than most people experience in a lifetime.
There is no doubt that Mercedes Lackey is extraordinarily talented. This novel is imbued with her spirit and a strong sense of justice. Depth of character, setting, and story are all present in this orphan's tale, opening readers to a new glimmer of understanding of those less fortunate and the appreciation for having what is needed.
There were some holes in the story that were distracting. As someone new to the world of Valdemar, it took some time to understand what constituted the bond between Companion and Chosen. The story is told from Mags's point of view, so the reader shouldn't be told everything right away, but there were basic questions I can't believe Mags didn't ask of Dallen. Other "holes" are things that I assume to be lead-ins to the next novel in the series.
Overall, I think fans of Mercedes Lackey will find this to their liking. It seems more targeted for a young adult, or even middle school, audience, but it's a good read whatever your age.
Good read October 8, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Mags, a 13 year old orphan, is rescued from a life of hardship in a gemstone mine, by a herald and a white horse who becomes his Companion. He soon finds he has the gift of Mindspeech which allows him to converse with the intelligent white horse, his Companion Dellen. Mags is brought to Haven, where the new Herald's Collegium was started a year ago. There has been a huge influx of newly chosen Herald trainees, and the mentor/protegee training system that worked in Vanyel's time has been abandoned as there are many more trainees than active Heralds.
Mags is distrustful of his new environment and has a difficult time making friends. He slowly uncovers the hidden power struggles and politics in Haven, and is relieved to discover the hidden discord, as this is something he can understand and trust.
Foundation appears to have been written to explain why the method of training Heralds changed between Vanyel's time and that of Lavan Firestorm and Talia. The whole book spans about 4-6 months in the life of a 13 year old. The name of the reigning King or Heir is never mentioned, unlike every other Valdemar book. It was an enjoyable read that I had trouble putting down, but the book was shallower than all previous Valdemar books. I can tell Lackey intends to develop a new series following this book, but the novel did not do a good job of standing alone. It did feel like a young adult book, good, but I always hope for more in a Valdemar book. Guess I shouldn't be surprised, as most Valdemar series' start chronicling the life of a teenager, with the exception of Winds of Fate and Exile's Honor.
I thought the title Foundation was misleading as Herald's Collegium was founded a year before the story starts, and Mags has nothing to do with the process. The book felt unfinished as I did not understand or feel the significance of Mags' character in the world of Valdemar.
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