Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Shire: Beginnings  by Lindelea 4 Review(s)
InklingReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/31/2005
Lin! I have finally seen my way clear to starting this story, and just had to drop you a quick line to say how excited I am, and how much I love it already! It took less than 12 words for me to know it was my kind of tale…when I got to "Ah, best beloved," you had me! I’ve always been a huge fan of "The Just So Stories" and still have the ancient battered copy that was my mother’s—in which, unfortunately, at some tender age I decided to color half the illustrations with markers. But I digress…this is a wonderful beginning, and I’m already wondering just who this old gaffer is who has such a great store of knowledge, and who is the young ‘un he’s talking to. I’ll bet before this is over you tell us…

Author Reply: Glad you dropped me a quick line! O yes, "best beloved" -- wondered if anyone would pick up on that little tribute to a great storyteller.

If you don't guess who the Gran-dad and young'un are by the end, drop me another line and I'll tell you who I imagined them to be!

And of course, it'll be lovely to hear any comments you might have during the story itself...

Thanks for taking the time to write!

DanaReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/6/2005
No, yer Gran-da’s never seen mountains, and never will, I warrant. Green Hills are enough for this old gaffer. Anyhow, we’re getting off the trail.

That? Sounds so incredibly hobbity. I adore it, you know. And the way you tell your stories, too - I know I've seen this before, but it's refreshing, the style in which you're telling this prologue.

Author Reply: Ah, Dana, it's always heartening to hear from you!

khazar-khumReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/29/2004
This opening alone is fabulous.

Author Reply: Thanks! I like this gran-dad, he reminds me of my own long-departed grandfather.

LindorienReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/2/2004
Here I am reading a hobbit fic and nothing bad has happened to me! Well, there's another hobbit person hanging about here who has taught me not to fear them so. Now then, Lindelea. This is wonderful so far! You really have the narrator's voice down well. I BELIEVE this guy! Did the hobbits really start out in Greenwood the Great? Or are you fooling me?

Author Reply: Nope, JRRT says that they really did start "in the upper vales of the Anduin River" near the eaves of Greenwood. I extrapolated from the facts a little, since he also said the Fallohides loved trees. I postulated that they started out as farmers and were forced from the land into the forest by Men who were greedy for their rich farmland... and on it goes from there.

Return to Chapter List