The Valdemar Companion [Mass Market Paperback]

Even with all this wonderful information, I wanted more... Other than the wonderful cover art of Vanyel, the only artwork in the Valdemar Companion was the detailed maps of Velgarth. This from the series that would have a picture of the characters every chapter. I wanted more on the myths and legends of Velgarth and how it shaped that world. Perhaps even descriptions of all the different beings in Velgarth (with pictures) like the Companions, gryphons, kree, firecats, bondbirds, etc. Ha! Even a list of Shin'a'in proverbs! In short, I wanted more details of Velgarth, how it was put together, to learn all the details that makes it unique that you can't glean from the novels.

For those who have not read all her books, there will be spoilers. And for those of us who have read all her books, it's nice to have as a reference as you are rereading her books. Though, is it worth the price of a hardback? I suppose it depends on how great your need to have a complete collection...

All in all, I would have preferred if the Companion came out a little later (maybe after Exile's Honor so it could have included any info from that), with more thought on what the readers want.

The next chapter was an interview with Mecerdes Lackey, there was nothing there that any fan here doesn't already know. THen followed a long and wordy
description of every region of Valdemar. Rather than the descriptive but interesting way Jody Lynn Nye handled the Pern information, it was really dry, like a college
textbook.

After that was a map of Velgarth, I was rather confused if Velgarth is the world or simply a continent on that world, ther is no indication of oceans, only a couple
small seas, not enough to generate a decent weather pattern. In addition there was little or no indication of how the two maps fit together.

The last chapter was an index of places, characters and words that is useful to a newbie to Valdemar but to a veteran of the series it was just a little blurb.

All in all I was rather disappointed and I'm considering returning the book. The only reason to keep it is the novella at the beginning.