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Concerning Sam  by Kara's Aunty 6 Review(s)
eefReviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/9/2013
I may not be a critical fan of Sam's, but I brood over the logic of the story and this was just splendid!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/16/2009
Poor Sam! What a horrible dream! For the Ring to have such a hold on his mind so many years later - clearly Sam has had these doubts himself and they are just now beginning to surface. I hope Merry and his friends can help to reassure him!

Author Reply: Hello again GamgeeFest,

Nasty Ring indeed! Using our beloved Hobbit's memories and insecurities against him. Grr! When I get my hands on it, I'll...I'll...er, probably succumb to its evil sway like the child of Men that I am. Or not.

But fortunately for our hero, his equally heroic friend has swooped in to save the day. Or has he? Whatever happens, he will not allow his friend to go down without a fight.

You've got to love a good old Brandybuck!

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/9/2008
Wow!! Your best chapter yet, very powerful! Poor Sam! How terrible for our dear to experience such a nightmare. So many lies he recognizes, and he recognizes the truth also - the visions of what really happened, but the Enemy knows us very well and will take advantage of every strength and weakness in his attempt to destroy us. He will twist the truth in order to torment us and make us doubt ourselves and our intentions and probe at wounds that haven't healed and make us nearly mad at wondering anymore is his lies are truth. They aren't but how convincing he can sound.

"But you were destroyed, and your Master with you!” cried Sam in denial of It’s words.

“And was your Master not also destroyed?” It asked.

Whoa! A dagger thrust right to the heart after so many others. Hold on, Sam!! Your master suffered greatly, yes, but he's not destroyed!

(Most of this was right to be in italics, the rest could have been in plain text and you really need to watch it's and its - most of the time you are saying it's when you mean its, a problem many people have. If you don't mean "it is", then use its, like its master, its words, its victory.)

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/8/2008
A deviation from canon?

Perhaps. But since it's never been done before it's actually quite enlightening. I really did like the AU dream, because whenever I come across one of those "Sam is the REAL hero!" tracts I always like to think of what would have happened if Sam had gone into Mordor on his own. (The final point being, of course, that both Frodo and Sam were equally necessary in getting the job done.)

There are four reasons that this potential deviation from canon works. The first one I've already said--it's original.

2. The possibility is not made anathema anywhere in published canon or semicanon or even by logically extrapolating Tolkien's opinion on it based on his ideology--it's just fans' perceptions. Challenging fans' perceptions = very good.

3. It's characteristic of Sam that something like this would take a while to manifest itself. If there's a problem that's of little or no consequence, he just brushes it off and keeps on doing what he's doing--but in this case it's only been allowed to fester.

and

4. You can read a lot into this and why it's happening. Residual Ringbearer Syndrome, guilt (my least favorite of all motivators, but there you have it), plain old missing Frodo, or any combination of the above and more besides. I personally favor the idea that missing Frodo has turned into identifying with him (certainly aided by Ringbearing!) has turned into having the same issues he had, over time. Of course, you may end up finally going in and explaining the reason yourself, but for now at least it's ambiguous enough that a reader can justify it according to his or her own interpretations.

And nice way to drag out last chapter's cliffhanger a little bit longer! XD

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/8/2008
Grrr...that nasty Ring! Poor Sam, having to contend with it NOW, after he think's all is behind him. I wonder what set it off?

But I don't think It will be any match for him in the long run...

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/7/2008
The italics were fine. I thought the premise was fine too - I liked the fact that Sam dreamt he held the Ring for many days. It took a moment to understand, but it still worked. I also liked the fact that, whether or not it's true, Sam still feels the Ring trying to control him. Nice job. Though I should say, Poor Sam!

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