KW-Handbook-msg - 11/25/10

Comments and reviews about the Known World Handbook.

NOTE: See also the files: Y-Join-th-SCA-art, Easy-T-Tunics-art, intro-books-msg, SCA-intro-art, 4-newcomers-msg, SCA-royalty-msg, Start-a-Group-art, A-Study-o-SCA-art, The-Society-art.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: http://www.sca.org/KWHFlyer.pdf

"Whether you are a newcomer or a peer, the Known World
Handbook is THE quintessential, must-have compendium for
anyone interested or already taking part in the SCA. The fourth
edition (available for purchase now) of the Known World Handbook
is 222 pages with a color cover and over 80 articles (all but two
are new to the KWH) including articles by Duke Paul of Bellatrix
and Mistress Diana Listmaker plus the cartoons Nobelman’s Lane
and Lancelittle."


From: announcements-bounces at lists.sca.org On Behalf Of Leslie
Luther-Fulton
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 4:35 AM
To: sca Announcements
Subject: [Announcements] The Known World Handbook is available now!

The Known World Handbook is available now!

The perfect SCA gift, just in time for the holidays.

Whether you are a newcomer or a peer, the Known World Handbook is THE
quintessential, must-have compendium for anyone interested or already taking
part in the SCA. This new edition has been reworked from the ground up for
the SCA of today. Be among the first to own one! Order TODAY; only $25 per
copy!

We're pleased to offer a discount program for group orders too! Order 10 to
19 copies, and the per-copy price drops to $23 per handbook; for quantities
of 20 or more, the per-copy price drops to $22. The Known World Handbook is
a perfect resource for local groups to have on hand to give out and share
with newcomers.

To order, visit the SCA Stock Clerk website at
https://stockclerk.sca.org/official
mail your order to SCA Stock Clerk, P.O. Box 360789, Milpitas,CA 95036-0789,
or fax your order and credit card information to 408-263-0641.


Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:31:21 -0500
From: devra at aol.com
To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] KNOW WORLD HANDBOOK

This is a publication of the Society with introductory material on a great many topics that a new SCAdian will find useful, such as easy beginning garb, polite forms of address for various ranks, simple period recipes, advice on organizing a small event or demo, basic calligraphy and heraldry, and many other things.

Devra


From: Debra Hense <nickiandme at GMAIL.COM>
Date: November 12, 2010 12:54:25 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

On 11/12/2010 1:40 PM, sheryl wrote:
<<< The new Known World Handbook is out and they are offering a discount
for bulk orders over 9 and again over 19. I offered this locally and
have 17 books ordered. >>>

In the days before the Internet and the World Wide Web,
the Known World Handbook was the best deal going.

Nowadays: why buy it?

I really don't understand the appeal.  But it also seems to
me that I'm all alone in that.

Can someone kindly tell me why this book is worth
paying for?  Is it the contents, or a sense of having
a complete set, or support for the organization?

	Tibor 
==================================

Tibor,

Why have it?  Because it is great to haul out and show to a newcomer.
Look, we even have a book that has a lot of info about different
introductory topics that might pique your interest.

It's great to have around the house when you don't have access to a
private library and interlibrary loan may take a month, and your
internet is down due to a virus on your pc.

Call me old-fashioned but sometimes I just like to have a book in my
hands to read.

It's my goto backup book for when I am in a hurry.  And sometimes, my
interests need to be piqued by something new also.

Kateryn


From: SPaterson <sjpaterson at EASTLINK.CA>
Date: November 12, 2010 12:59:18 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

<<< In the days before the Internet and the World Wide Web,
the Known World Handbook was the best deal going.

Nowadays: why buy it? >>>

Believe it or not it helps remind me of other aspects of the SCA...the only time I ever tried brewing was because of the KWH...(mmm... Ginger Mead - but I suggest avoiding plastic pop bottles)

and

I love paper, tangible books over the www any day

Bess


From: Jim Myers <jim at SCHUYLERHOUSE.COM>
Date: November 12, 2010 1:01:52 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

Tibor,
 
I may have had a unique experience, but for the first several years after I joined the SCA (at least 5), the KWHB was something I referred to frequently as I slowly absorbed all the various aspects of SCA culture and activities. It gave me a reference for things I was unfamiliar with, and a resource to learn how to get started in many new things. It was also a sort of ‘link’ to the rest of the SCA, and made me feel like I was part of something more tangible somehow. One of the first things we pointed new people to was the KWHB.
 
That was back in the 1980’s, however, and we now have unfettered access to tons of diverse information and resources all over the internet (not all of which are completely accurate and/or helpful – there’s a lot of crap out there). I can imagine how such a huge volume of information (and misinformation) could be overwhelming to a new person in the SCA. Perhaps having a succinct, easily identified and readily available “official’ source for reliable basic information is desirable. It certainly isn’t likely to hurt.
 
Eringlin


From: Ted Eisenstein <alban at SOCKET.NET>
Date: November 12, 2010 1:35:15 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

<<< Nowadays: why buy it? >>>

Some us prefer hardcopy. And items that can be read while taking a
leisurely bath, or during lunch, or on the bus.....And for the Known World
Handbook specifically, it covers a very broad, basic swath of what we
do, a broad enough swath that it'd take quite a while to hunt down all
the information on the Web, even if you did know what you're looking for,
which a lot of newer members don't.

(Yes, I know there are Kindles and such - hell, I've got an iPad - but,
y'know, I still prefer books.)

Alban


From: Hywela <hywela91 at GMAIL.COM>
Date: November 12, 2010 12:49:05 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

On 11/12/2010 12:44 PM, Mark Schuldenfrei wrote:
<<< In the days before the Internet and the World Wide Web, 
the Known World Handbook was the best deal going. 

Nowadays: why buy it?  

    Tibor >>>

With much respect and affection (and not a little concern for you), Old and dear Friend, I still refer to my old Handbook on occasion -- there's a lot of useful information in it, subjects that I personally don't know much about, but will get asked about anyway.  If, after almost 29 years in the Society, I still have use for it, surely people who have currently put in a few less years will find something useful in the latest revision!  And I intend to get a copy of the newest one (I have students, after all!)

Hywela


From: john heitman <gottskrieger at GMAIL.COM>
Date: November 12, 2010 8:59:14 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 12:44 PM, Mark Schuldenfrei <mark at schuldy.org> wrote:
<<< I have a serious question.
Nowadays: why buy it? >>>

For the same reason we bought it when local newsletters were
mimeographed in purple ink.....

As the concept that is the SCA becomes more and more diverse, as we
gain more and more kingdoms each with its own way of doing things, as
we evolve with each new generation of participants.....

We *need* a single unifying reference as to the central concepts
inherent to the core of what we do. The KWHB is the one book we all
own, all refer to, and all accept as the definition of the greater
game.  It is the point from which we diverge into our own world, and
the point at which we come together again. Its what allows
interkingdom wars to remain "civil", and all "known world activity"
seminars to even be considered.

Which is why it is still published, still contributed to, and still
purchased in massive quantities.  Even by those who have every
edition.

In short, its the official "unofficial" rule book.

Franz


From: Ted Eisenstein <alban at SOCKET.NET>
Date: November 12, 2010 9:43:29 PM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

I've been in the SCA for 3 years (and fairly active) and did not even KNOW 
that there was a Knowne World Handbook...

The previous edition, the 3rd, came out about a decade ago, perhaps a bit 
more, and went sort of out-or-print four? five? years ago? I know I sold my
last copy two years ago (at the Kris Kinder in the convention center near the
KC airport), and couldn't get any more....so you probably haven't heard of it
because it stopped being sold before you joined.

Alban, who just realized he's got a complete set of all three editions....


From: Tara Foutch <tfoutch at STJOELIVE.COM>
Date: November 13, 2010 11:21:48 AM CST
To: CALONTIR at listserv.unl.edu
Subject: Re: [CALONTIR] Known World handbook bulk order

I agree.  There is some darn good information in there that I have shared with new people over and over.  There are also some good recipes in there that have gone to many dinners both SCA and in the modern world.  It really is worth owning.

Elspeth

<<< For the same reason we bought it when local newsletters were
mimeographed in purple ink.....

As the concept that is the SCA becomes more and more diverse, as we
gain more and more kingdoms each with its own way of doing things, as
we evolve with each new generation of participants.....

We *need* a single unifying reference as to the central concepts
inherent to the core of what we do. The KWHB is the one book we all
own, all refer to, and all accept as the definition of the greater
game.  It is the point from which we diverge into our own world, and
the point at which we come together again. Its what allows
interkingdom wars to remain "civil", and all "known world activity"
seminars to even be considered.

Which is why it is still published, still contributed to, and still
purchased in massive quantities.  Even by those who have every
edition.

In short, its the official "unofficial" rule book.

Franz >>>

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	KW-Handbook-msg	3 of 7