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Stirring Rings  by Larner 10 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/25/2012
Very sad to see all of Middle Earth impacred by Sauron's treachery. I love Blanco's verse. Still timely.

Author Reply: Yes, Sauron's actions were intended to cause death and consternation everywhere, increasing his creatures' chances of winning through should they make assaults on the nearest of the Free Peoples. And if his attempts to deplete populations should relieve a people or two of their proper leadership (as happened in Gondor when the water supplies were poisoned), then so much the better!

It was interesting to work in real-world diseases and conditions into Middle Earth and figure out how the Dunedain, Elrond, and Gandalf could think of dealing with them!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/10/2012
This is coming along very nicely! Did you get this far in your previous posting, or is this whole part new? None of it seemed familiar to me...

Author Reply: All of the chapters so far, except for the prologue, have been edited and reposted, so, no, this is not new. It's when I reach the battles with Angmar that I will be having to change things markedly as I look at the loss of Amroth and Nimrodel, consider Imrazor and Mithrellas, and look at the final confrontation between Earnur and the Witch-king. And from there on it will be all new material. Hopefully Fiondil will be up to betaing the next chapter soon.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/5/2007
Do you know what is odd? You mentioned incursions from Harad, and I was at first irritated, because An’Sohrabi would never do that. Had to firmly remind me that this story takes place centuries earlier. I have decicedly difficulties to see Harad as an enemy. Can it be that I have re-read ‚Lesser Ring’ too often? *shakes head*

Am glad these ships bearing the plague to Eriador didn’t reach their destiny – it would have had nasty consequences. I think it is important that mainly the Elves are searching for them and destroying them, as they can’t get ill with this, while the Dúnedain are not immune to the illnesses.

Loved the end! Oh yes, Modoc was only too right – one could wonder if he has some foresight.


Author Reply: You reread "Lesser Ring" so often? I'm so flattered! But, yes, in the days this describes Harad is still a serious problem to Gondor. And indeed it's best Cirdan's folk see to the plague ships.

And Modoc is only too right. He does have some Fallohide blood, after all, and so is likely to have some degree of foresight.

Thanks for the review.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/16/2007
Itis good to see that mortals are not abandoned in their plight.

Author Reply: That was why the Istari were sent, after all; and now all are beginning to work together, or at least in Arnor they are.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/14/2007
Nice view of the developing hobbit society in the Shire.

But the thought that lingers is of those plague ships. Horrible.

Author Reply: The thought that once they had a land devoted to themselves Hobbits might finally begin allowing their homes to be plainly recognized, even decorated, has been percolating in my head for some time. And now the ancestors of the Tooks and the Brandybucks are already beginning to establish family ties, ties that will remain for the rest of the life of the Shire.

As for the plague ships--I truly believe that Sauron never worried overmuch as to whether or not his own folk would survive his intention his enemies suffer badly. Yes, Sauron's actions were always horrible toward others, and even his own.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/13/2007
Sorry it has taken me a time to review but I was rereading the Acceptable Sacrifice, (again!) I ended up with tears streaming down my face!

Great chapter in this story. I am in awe of the detailed history that you are creating. Loved the way you are setting up the development of names. I find old maps fascinating so I am with Bilbo, Frodo and Merry there! Looking at a series of old maps in our local museum showed that the village I lived in changed it's name at least three times over time.

Sorry to hear about the laptop and concentration woes!

Author Reply: I'm humbled you'd read it again, one story that took hold of me and made it plain it intended it be told.

In spite of being detailed, yet this story still manages to leap gaps of years between and sometimes within chapters.

I, too, noted that many places in England have changed names frequently over the years, although we have, for the most part, little idea of what those who lived there before the Roman occupation called their settlements. York is absolutely my favorite place in the world at this time--Ebaracum, Jorvik, York--three of probably many names only it has held. Loved going into the undercroft of the Minster when they were first doing work on redoing the foundations back in 1983--at that time they had an open trench with a wooden bridge across it with an archaeological dig going on under us--a few feet out, and one was over the foundation of the church that predated the current Minster; a few feet more, and foundations of storage rooms for businesses or homes that predated the church; a bit more and storage rooms from the Viking settlement of Jorvik; a bit more, and the command post for the Roman fortress of Ebaracum; and beyond that, postholes for a Bronze Age bothie. Having read Sutcliff's "Warrior Scarlet" so many times, that bothie site meant a good deal to me. Last time I was over, just after my husband died, I visited the undercroft for the first time since our first trip together, and they don't mention the pre-church settlement or the bothie. But for me, back in 1983, knowing I went back in time each five feet I walked on that wooden bridge meant so much to me.

And believe me, I grieve not having the laptop.

Love to the folks and Jet.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/13/2007
Gandalf's friendship with the hobbits will indeed bear powerful fruit; and the Halflings, now overlooked, forth will stand. Excellent foreshadowing.

Author Reply: So glad you appreciate it, Raksha; but I do believe that those with any gift of foresight would begin to appreciate that one day these small folk will be more important than even they realize. Thank you!

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/12/2007
They're so clever, so determined, laying out and examining clue after clue, but they never quite make that connection. But I love seeing all of these characters working together, building their lives, and being so thoughtful and observant of the world.

Author Reply: I think even the earliest Hobbits in the Shire would show forth some of the personality traits that one day will lead Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Frodo to greatness. Thanks so much for the review, French Pony.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/12/2007
Oh what noble ancestors you have given our lads!

I really like this look at the beginnings of the Shire, and at the fathers of the Brandybucks and the Tooks (and Bagginses).

Author Reply: So very glad you appreciate this look, Dreamflower. But I doubt the Hobbits would truly change much in nature over the years, and I strongly suspect all four of our lads had far stronger Fallohide strains than any of them suspected.

Thanks!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/12/2007
This continues to be so fascinating, as you build a sturdy and convincing history. I love little details like "the Mirky Woods", and Modoc's foresight at the end.

Author Reply: Thank you for the swift response. Modoc has already begun building ties to the Tooks, ties that will continue through the next century and a half. And I do believe that changes would occur during the intervening years in how places are named.

Thanks again for the review.

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