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Nancy Martsch:

Regarding OH 18, "The Knight-wives"—more big-boobed male sex fantasies. At least they aren't naked. Capt. Rastarin is much better. Sometimes I am tempted to suggest the artist fight his next campaign in a large pointed steel codpiece....Oh well, it's just fantasy. (Why the misspelling of Sangahyando?) [Editor: the spelling was actually intentional: Sangahyandion = "Son of Sangahyando."]

I enjoyed the piece on horses. The subject of Elvish horsemanship was debated at length, breadth, depth, and nausea in Beyond Bree a few years back. Those interested in further research should check out Beyond Bree Sept '89 "Rochon Fëanorim (Noldor Cavalry)"; Dec '89 "Stirrups & Elves," etc; Feb '90 "Ride On!"; and "Saddle & Stirrups" May '97. The English Tolkien Society's Mallorn 29, Aug '92 had "Dressed to Kill" (Glorfindel's Horse) and a writer to one of the English publications noted that Tolkien learned to ride in the army (officers rode horses), and that his descriptions of cavalry tactics and the behavior of horses (getting lost, falling into rivers) are accurate.

I see no reason why Snowmane could not be of the mearas ("who would bear no one but the king of the Mark or his sons"). The Rohirrim did not habitually ride Elf-style. There might have been a waning among the mearas (BTW: the singular of mearas is mearh—see note 6 to "Cirion and Eorl," UT: 311. It's an Old English word.), as there was among Men of Númenórean descent: both Aragorn and Shadowfax seem to have been throwbacks.

Don't forget draft horses in your lists. And horses can have unexpected virtues as well, as the following true story illustrates.

My mother had a horse when she was a girl. It, and her friend's horse, were kept at a farm outside town. Mother's horse Maggie was big, docile, part Percheren or some such; a perfect horse for a girl. The friend's horse—let's call it Equis—was a former circus animal, white and beautiful, but sold for its bad habit of stumbling. Mother was nervous about riding Equis for fear she would make a wrong move and it would start doing tricks (remember that war horses are trained to do tricks). One day the girls decided to ride to town (which they weren't supposed to). They came galloping into town, showing all. When they hit the pavement, Equis went down directly in front of Maggie. To everyone's surprise, Maggie picked up her big feet and soared over the fallen horse and rider, clearing them with many feet to spare. Maggie could jump! No one was hurt. And for the moment, at least, Maggie was considered to have the most brains of the outfit. Anyway, this incident might provide some ideas for gamers.

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Jasna Martinovic:

I just want to let you know that I enjoyed OH 18. I loved the article on horses, it was just what I needed for my campaigns! I think that the Knight-wives article was good, and also very daring (RPG articles on female warriors so often turn into second rate Amazonian gibberish); it was indeed a pleasant read. I loved Rastarin's log, I hope to see more of it in the next issue! I liked the idea of having cover-art; still, I did not like that you changed the lettering on the first page. The previous font for Other Hands was, IMHO, much prettier, more subtle and exquisite. This one is too rough for my taste.

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