thank you livejournal for being awesome. because my internet failed halfway through posting this.

[natane.livejournal.com]

new member, have loved these books for years. due to the restrictions of my public library, my personal funds, etc, i've only read the first four books. hopefully someday soon i'll be able to immerse myself in the others!

big dumb question... diane duane has never given us the symbols for the speech, has she? i don't think so, but i figured i might as well ask and be disappointed. *sigh*

second dumb question... why do i seem to think i'm finding two different versions of the wizard's oath? the first is like this...


In Life's name and for Life's sake, I say that I will use the Art for nothing but the service of that Life. I will guard growth and ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way; and I will change no object or creature unless its growth and life, or that of the system of which it is part, are threatened. To these ends, in the practice of my Art, I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life, when it is right to do so -- till Universe's end.


in the other version, the 'until Universe's end" is replaced with...


looking always forward to the Heart of Time, where all our sundered times are one, and all our myriad worlds lie whole, in That from Which they proceeded.

Comments

[amadareneko.livejournal.com]

I don't remember ever having seen the first one - is it one of the early books or something? Because perhaps it was an early version she wrote and then amended in future editions/novels. Maybe?

[natane.livejournal.com]

first version was what she provided on the website as the wizard's oath, and what nina sees in the book...

the second version is what is on the wallpapers that she provides on her website...

i haven't seen the second version, which was why i was confused...

[platypus]

I like the early version of the Oath better -- it's a little simpler, a little less immersed in the specific theology (so to speak) of the series. But, IIRC, even Nita and Dairine's versions of the Oath differed, and Dairine read hers out of Nita's manual. Considering how much the manuals change for the needs of the moment and of the wizard using them, one might speculate that one individual may see a slightly different version of the Oath than another (with the substance, of course, remaining the same) or that the Oath itself subtly evolves.

[dameruth.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with that interpretation; all wizards appear to take personalized versions of the Oath, IIRC. FWIW, both versions cited above appear in "official" capacities. The shorter version is the one given on the Young Wizards website (http://www.youngwizards.com/The-Wizards-Oath), while the longer one is on the CafePress merchandise. (http://www.youngwizards.com/The-Wizards-Oath)

I don't think Duane has ever provided characters for the Speech, but I think I've seen some fan-designed versions kicking around the net.

[natane.livejournal.com]

ah, that makes sense.

i didn't even think to look back at dairine's oath...

[tortoises.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure my copy has the first one - although my early books are currently buried under several piles of clothes under my bed, and I can't be bothered finding them to check. I don't remember reading the second one, but I certainly like the first better.

[ameretrifle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Wizard's Oath has changed over the years. The first one's the one listed on the official site, too. I think I've seen a list somewhere... someone else might know.

As to the symbols, all I know is she's always described it as "vaguely Arabic".

Anyway, hi! Nice to meet you! ^^

[natane.livejournal.com]

:D you too...

ah well... i had hope at least...

[northern_magic]

I vaguely recall seeing a description of a particular symbol (in Arhu's name via The Book of Night with Moon, an 'adult' book set in the same universe), but unless you count the Wizard's Knot then no, I've never seen any canonical symbols.

And to add evidence to the bit about the Oath changing per user/species, there's one variation in TBoNwM as well as A Wizard Alone.

Dai stihéh!

[natane.livejournal.com]

hmm... someone else was saying there might be a list of all the different oaths... *turns to google*

anyway, thanks!

p.s. love the icon.

[doranwen.livejournal.com]

There was, at this one guy's site full of all the YW info. It died and is now only found at the Internet Archive, but someone asked about it in the last month or two, so if you have some time, poke around on this comm and see if you can't find the link. It has a complete timeline, and that's most likely what people were talking about/looking for.

As for the books, if you can't find them at the library and can't afford to buy them . . . how do you do with e-books? I have some that I read when I am traveling and/or don't have access to the actual books. So far I only have up to book 6, but I'm keeping my eyes out. (Books 5 & 6 are major plot changes and stuff, so you really want to read them to understand half of what is discussed sometimes.)

I recorded myself saying the first version of the Oath once, and mixed it in with Amethystium's song Autumn Interlude. It fit rather well, I thought. I really like that first version; it's simple, easy, and sounds much more lyrical than the other.

[l33tminion]

I seem to remember there being various versions of the Oath in the books. Darryl has his own version (I think), and I think the cats' version is in one of the books. Do they mention the version from the planet in Wizard's Holiday? Is there one in Wizards at War? I hoped that a bit of searching would yield a more conclusive answer, but no luck.