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On Solid Ground  by Lindelea 3 Review(s)
HaiReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/10/2004
Wow! An earth shake! I hope there wasn't too much damage! That coule be really bad! I hope all the engineers are okay, I suppose they got the worst of it! Looking forward to more, and it is wonderful to see Gimli and Legolas enter the story! Thank you!

Author Reply: Now that I have posted chapter 5 I can answer this without giving away plot points. Yes, the engineers are okay as they were all outside the diggings to be safe from the blast. No, they didn't get the worst of it.

Gimli and Legolas are fun, aren't they? I used to be so afraid of writing them, but they're getting easier the oftener we take tea together.

Thanks for reviewing!

Lyta PadfootReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/10/2004
Nice to see Legolas and Gimli in the Shire. I've been in several minor earthquakes, the word "quivered" certainly described what the ground was doing! So next are the aftershocks - both literal and metaphorical. As everyone who has ever been in an earthquake knows, they actually do the most damage since everything has been "softened up" already.

Author Reply: Have only been in minor earthquakes (thankfully) and have only read about big ones, or seen them on television, so please let me know if I make a gaffe.

I knew that rivers could run backwards, but little more than that... that lake that was formed when the Mississippi ran backwards, was it a permanent lake or a temporary one? What happened to boat traffic that was on the river at the time? And it really ran backwards for a whole day? Fascinating. I'd love to find more information on this, but haven't as yet. Got any suggestions?

Haven't quite got to the aftershocks yet, as the quake is happening differently in different places in the Shire, depending on how far people are from the epicenter. I could have made one huge chapter five times as big as one of my usual chapters, but such is so difficult to edit... takes such time to load... I split it into several parts instead.

Thanks for reviewing!

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/10/2004
This is the second quake; the first being noticed by none but Ferdi. Clearly it was stronger at the new diggings than in the Southfarthing where Legolas and Gimli were. Is it likely that the blast had anything to do with the quake, or was it just coincidence of timing? I hope there were no hobbits caught in collapses. And I hope that Gimli helps somebody rethink the wisdom of digging during earthquake season. But I did like the farmer finding the bit of good in the quake.

It's wonderful to see Gimli and Legolas again. Are they expected for the wedding or is it a surprise visit? Legoals and Gimli are perfect examples of the way hobbits and their gentle ways just get under your skin. Of course, they were noble beings to start with, but Elves can tend towards aloofness, and dwarves towards truculence. Association with hobbits has such a mellowing effect! Legoals and Gimli have become very hobbity indeed, stopping for elevenses and worrying about arriving before tea. I don't know if you have brought them here for a specific plot point, but having non-hobbits in the Shire certainly creates a nice mirror for hobbit culture.

Author Reply: Actually, I don't think there is an earthquake season in England. My research turned up a handful of powerful earthquakes, widely scattered in history, which is why I could write the hobbits being bewildered as to what was happening. Everard with his training by the dwarves will know, of course, and those of the engineers who have been to the Lonely Mountain.

Though I doubt the Lonely Mountain dwarves have experienced earthquakes themselves, their kindred in the South undoubtedly have told them about such things.

Gimli and Legolas are invited for the wedding. I'd imagine Arwen and Elessar and Prince Faramir might be invited as well (at least a ceremonious invitation), but not sure the King would break his Edict so casually, not to mention the Thain who is in full agreement.

Sorry, I'm very distracted this morning, don't know if I'm making sense.

Author Reply: p.s. forgot to mention that the timing of the earthquake and the blast was mere coincidence

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