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

Okay, NOW Panic!  by Boz4PM 15 Review(s)
Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 45 on 7/1/2007
So much to morn. How would it be to know you've left your family behind, with no explanation, and might very well never see them again? Or them you? Life is a heavy burden at times.

You capture it all so well, Boz.

Author Reply: Thank you, that means a lot. I'm thrilled that you felt I did. :D

KreestuhReviewed Chapter: 45 on 6/26/2007
This needs to be updated. Hardcore. I'm missing my Penny fix!

Author Reply: Just updated today. :) My apologies - RL has been very insane of late, hence the LONG delay - but also I needed to write a good chunk of the chapter that follows the one I've just posted before I could post this one. You'll understand why when you read it. ;)

JoReviewed Chapter: 45 on 5/29/2007
I just have to say that I'm loving this story. I usually don't read this type of LOTR stories, but a friend really recommended it and I'm glad she did!

Author Reply: Thank you, I'm so glad you've enjoyed it, and thank you also to your friend for reccing it. :D

TathrienReviewed Chapter: 45 on 5/14/2007
Wow! After about a week, I have just recently finished reading all of Don't Panic and Okay, NOW Panic! It's ironic how I always find such addicting stories around exam week when I can least afford to spend hours reading them...Oh well, it was worth it. ;)

I have so enjoyed both of your stories. I'll admit, I usually avoid such stories (girl being dropped into Middle Earth), but your mention Nilmandra's recommendation caught my attention. I decided to check this out and I am so glad I did. You're style is refreshing and fun to read, and the plot is so original. You are a very talented writer!

I have so much I want to say but I think a review covering all sixty something chapters of both of your stories might just be over doing it a bit. :) I do want to say, though, that I love your characters and how you portray them, especially all the Dunedain and, of course, "Pen-ii."

I look forward to your next update!

~Tathrien

Author Reply: I'm forever in awe of people who read this thing new from the very beginning all the way through, since it is so very huge now, and also manage to do it quickly! So thank you for putting in that effort (just hope it didn't affect your exams! :\).

I'm so very glad that you found the effort worth it, and enjoyed the stories so far. Thank you! New chapter just posted (apologies for the long delay it getting it up).

paranoidangelReviewed Chapter: 45 on 5/11/2007
I've just caught up and read five chapters in three days, and they were so angsty too, it's very depressing (in a good way). I love the protective relationship between Halladan and Penny.

Author Reply: Thank you, glad you enjoyed them (if 'enjoyed' is quite the word). :)

TiraReviewed Chapter: 45 on 5/9/2007
I have spent tha last two days reading both of these, and frankly any story that can make me laugh and cry in turn is what I consider a good -if not great- story to read. You did absolutely wonderful in your descriptions, particularly the Latrines of Doom, and I love your description of elvish sensibilities. Kudos to you.

Author Reply: You managed it in two days?! Goodness me! *lol* Well done you - kudos to you, in fact, for not only braving it all but doing it all so fast! Thank you for doing so, though, and I'm so very glad you enjoyed it all.

Ah, the Latrine of Doom. I did so laugh when I thought of inflicting that on her. ;D

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 45 on 5/1/2007
I'm not surprised that Helm's Deep is almost too much for Penny. If she had been there at the time, it might have held more personal memories - but, as it is, she knows both too much and too little. And that's bound to be tough.



Author Reply: but, as it is, she knows both too much and too little
Yes, which is, I think, a large part of the dilemma she faces. It was much the same in Gondor as well. She knows enough, both of the story and war in general from her own time to be able to imagine all sorts of things. Ignorance is only bliss if you are truly ignorant, otherwise knowing, for all it might be horrendous, is easier to deal with in some ways because it's the not knowing, the imagination coming up with all sorts of horrors that is infinitely worse and more stressful. Goes for many situations, not just Penny's.

Thankfully she has an excellent support system around her.

MopsyReviewed Chapter: 45 on 4/22/2007
Sweet Percy riding naked on a unicycle! That was an impressively quick update. One almost falls behind. (But one doesn't because one is obsessed.)

Dear old Halladan. He's such a soldier. His and Penny's positions have reversed...yet in supporting her he's supported, too.

Penny's friends are so marvellous...Lindir and Mireth are such rocks. I really hope Penny will tell Mireth the truth, she's being pretty omissive, and Mireth cares so much.

I loved the descriptive passages of Helm's Deep. I really felt it...the atmosphere was just right, as were the details. The film's version fell short. (But then, the films fell short in general, grand though they were.) :P Your level of care and research really shines through in chapters like this one.

Keep up the marvellous work, and be well. :)

Author Reply: Yes, I was surprised myself, to be honest! ;D I managed to find a little more time than usual and much of what was in this chapter was stuff I've had in my head for a very long time, so it was able to flow out at my 'normal' writing rate (which is very fast, though not always that way with this fic, I have to say).

His and Penny's positions have reversed...yet in supporting her he's supported, too.
Exactly so. Often one can find a diversion or the distraction one needs from ones own pain by occupying yourself with another.

I'm so glad the descriptions of Helm's Deep seemed believeable and true. Thank you. :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 45 on 4/22/2007
An amazing chapter. You have managed to so wonderfully convey the sense of oppression that Penny is feeling, the heavy weight of it beating her down. It's clear that she, herself, may not quite realize how bad it is. But those who are with her do, and it's reassuring to know she'll have plenty of love and support.

You have captured the massive awesomeness of Helm's Deep wonderfully. As you described things, the images were clear. I think the juxtaposition of the weight of stone with the weight of grief was very well done.

Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower. Yes, she is very low right now, but given everything she's been through it is to be expected. And you're right, she doesn't really know how low she is (though I think subconsciously she might have some inkling - she has matured enough to, I think).

When I began on this sequel fic, the more I thought about it, about where she would be going and what she would see, let alone considered the experience of being thrown into an alien culture and world, entirely cut off from everything you've known and loved, I realised that the immediate shock would indeed wear off at first, but that deeper trauma would have to be explored and expressed as she saw the effects of the War and considered her own role within that, let alone compared it to her own personal loss. These last couple of chapters have been the culmination of a long, slow build-up to this point, and I'm so very pleased that you found the oppressive darkness of her state to be believable and well expressed. Thank you. That means a lot.

AelfwineReviewed Chapter: 45 on 4/22/2007
I was so surprised and pleased to see a new chapter up so soon! (this does not mean it is ok to take longer on the next one lol)Can we say addicted? You have truely caught the flavor of grief in penni. You are one fantastic writer and I look forward to the next chapter.

Author Reply: Ah, well, consider this a suprise bonus. ;P Can't say how long the next one will take. When things are flowing well, I do naturally write very fast. Penny takes longer because I fine tune and really have to be concentrated to write it - it takes a lot out of me. Also these last several chapters have been quite complicated to think through thanks to the umpteen threads and interwoven layers. That combined with RL limiting writing time anyway... *lol*

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading! :)

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List