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A Conspiracy of Hobbits  by Dreamflower 8 Review(s)
BitsayReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 7/28/2017
Wow! What a brilliant story. And i loved how you put that little clue at the start about how Gandalf knew Merry and Pip would probably be coming too. Thank you so much!

PSWReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 9/6/2016
Wow! This was impressive! I suspect you had to have this all graphed out or something, to remember who knew what and when... :-P But very nice job! Very enjoyable, thanks for writing!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 1/13/2016
I am having a Dreamflower fest starting with your earliest tales. I loved the way that you interwove the Red Book and filled in the details so faithfully.

Author Reply: Thank you, dear! It's fun to know my early stories stand up to re-reading. There are a few tiny things I might have changed if I were writing it now, but it's nice to know it still works as is.

I wanted to tie the story firmly into book-verse, and not movie-verse. It was quite a challenge to incorporate the quotations.

ImhirielReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 8/29/2006
The dynamics between the friends, the great affection, concern, banter etc. is depicted fabulously. The characters and their relationships are _so_ true to canon, nuanced, detailed. I also like that you included Fatty Bolger to such an extent (and I have become quite fond of "your" Freddy).
All those conspiracies running around, together and separate, are very "complicated" (to quote Pippin), and must have been difficult to keep track of during the writing. But you have pulled it off: every plan is distinct and easy to follow.
The passages from FotR you included flow very well with the original narrative, with smooth transitions.

Author Reply: Wow! Thank you! This was one of my earliest fics--my third, I think--and it influenced a good deal of my later fics, most especially my Freddy and Folco.

I could not imagine a Conspiracy fic that did not include a good deal of him. In spite of the fact that he did not *go*, he was obviously an important member of the group.

It *was* very hard to keep track of who knew precisely *what* and *when*! I was never so relieved in my life to get to the chapter where Pippin finally came clean to Merry!

And I am glad that you liked the transitions to the original material. That was very hard for me, to know how much to include and how much to leave out.

I'm very glad to know you enjoyed it, and that the fic still stands up well.

vinca_bReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 2/18/2006
No, I'm not systematically attempting to read all of your fics. Why do you ask? ;-)

Very lovely gapfiller. It was great to see how you (seamlessly, I might add) weaved canon through this fic (such as the quotes) while also putting your own stamp on it. Highlights: Frodo's gifts to them all, the stories of each other's young days (I must get a copy of the "Letters" some time! I didn't know that stuff), Merry's and Pippin's individual plotting (again, your hobbits know each other so well - Merry's sharp assessments of his older cousin, as well as Pippin's of both of his, come to mind), the tidbit of Sam/Rosie (hopeless romantic speaking!), Fatty and Folco being the "stay-at-home" equivalent of Merry and Pippin (I wonder, would that have been what they would have been like without their Tookish adventurous side?), and the very last scene with Merry and Pippin, together of course. One thing: the second 'chapter', also entitled "Prologue" - this seems more of an epilogue. Is it supposed to be at the beginning? *scratches head* Anyway, thank you once again for an excellent work!

Vinca

Author Reply: Actually, someone *is* reading them in the order of the chronology, LOL!

I am very glad that you think that it blended well with canon. This was my first attempt to write this sort of gap-filler, and I worried myself to pieces about getting that part right.

I like seeing the parts you enjoyed, though the stories of their childhoods did not come from Letters, but was my own device. However, the gift-giving customs did come from there. If you do get hold of Letters, the most interesting one on hobbits is Letter #214.

I feel as though these four particular hobbits, most especially Merry, know one another very well indeed, and it was only the stress of keeping their secrets from one another that kept Frodo and Merry from guessing that the others knew as well. I enjoyed the bits with Sam/Rosie very much--I thought it only fair that Sam at least got a farewell kiss! I have a good deal more to say about Fatty and Folco in later stories.

You are sharp eyed--that "second chapter" *is* the Epilogue, and I've no idea how it mysteriously moved from the end, where it has been for nearly two years, to near the beginning! Very strange indeed, and I am scratching my own head as to how it could have happened. I know a couple of weeks ago, when it was last reviewed, the chapter was in the right place. Oh well, I guess the gremlins are at it again.

I will have to go fix that right away!

Author Reply: All fixed now, and very glad you let me know. I had to fix the italics, too! They seemed to have vanished, but they are back now as well, LOL! Thanks so much for the heads up!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 2/9/2006
This is wonderful! I feel like I've read something that might have been taken right out of the Red Book for the sake of length. I don't know how you do that, but you always, always do, and it never ceases to amaze me! I hope one day I'm that good! :)

I really pity the families of our four travellers. What a horrible, horrible shock to find them suddenly gone and shortly after, their lives falling about their ears. And this story really brought home, for some reason, that during the war of the Ring, there were truly no safe places in Middle-earth, nowhere to go to escape the danger; it was everywhere.
An excellent story! I look forward to reading many more! :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Oh, my! What a wonderful compliment! *blushes*

Yes, it had to be a dreadful shock. And no, once the Black Riders had found the Shire, it was no longer safe. Although actually, its safety had been breached years earlier when Saruman began to import pipeweed--but no one could guess that part yet.

longcleeveReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 1/10/2005
another great story! i really enjoyed this one. so much detail it was wonderful.

well on to more of your fantastic stories :D

Lotrgirl1415Reviewed Chapter: 999999 on 9/12/2004
omg i feel so dumb!I saved the prologue to my computer and forgot to check up on the story!* feels ashamed*
i shall now save the rest of the story to my computer and read it!
just thought id let you in on some of my stupidity!lol
love,
Katie

Author Reply: Don't feel stupid. I don't even know how to save the stories to the computer.

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