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The Journal of Alatáriel, Missionary  by Clodia 6 Review(s)
Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/19/2010
Ooh, this looks nifty! I love Celeborn's foreward - Thank you, Lord Silver Tree, for clarifying that you were never the Teleri prince Teleporno....

Can't wait to read more!

Author Reply: You can't blame Celeborn for being rather firm on that point -- Teleporno is an *awful* name. :D

Thank you for reading, as ever. I hope the rest doesn't disappoint!

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/18/2010
What fun! I love your application of this literary style! And cannot wait to read the next installment!

The wryly affectionate voice you gave Celeborn was delightful. I can easily say that because he is one of my favorites. Although you allowed him some sarcastic self-effacing, I think he would have included Eriador and Harlindon in his credits for those were also realms he shared with his spouse, along with Eregion. But then, maybe they were too unhistorical of periods of rule to bother mentioning.

E&M's remarks were very entertaining too. I really like those two! Yes, I have read Blook and Fire and not left a review. Bad on me...

Lastly, I especially like your choice for this journal to be "published" during the Watchful Peace.


Author Reply: It's great to hear that you liked the literary style! I was afraid a piece of extended mimicry modelled on a missionary's journal from 1827 would be very much a niche interest, so I'll be so pleased if people other than me find this story amusing. The Watchful Peace seemed like a good time for whimsical literary distractions of this nature; also, of course, it had to be set safely after Amroth's removal from Lorinand to make any sense.

I'm very glad Celeborn's voice works for you -- the style was rather dictated by the preface to Mrs Jeffrey's journal, but you describe precisely how I wanted his meaning to come across, which is tremendously reassuring. Eriador and Harlindon -- oh dear, well, you're probably right and I'll confess to pinpointing here the realms that are most significant to my overall view of Tolkien's history, which tends to be biased towards the First Age. Uh. Also, tricolons are nice? No, it's not a very good excuse, I know; I hope you'll forgive me! ;)

And finally, thank you for saying that you like E&M! I'm always particularly interested in how they come across, because all my stories are arranged around their lives to some extent. It would spoil my fun if people disliked them.

Thank you for reading and reviewing! I do hope the rest of the piece doesn't disappoint you!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/17/2010
A most auspicious and intriguing beginning, I must say! Waiting for more, of course!

Author Reply: I'm so glad you think so! Thanks for reading; I do hope the rest of this rather peculiar piece doesn't disappoint. :D

ErulisseReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/17/2010
Oh joy! Another item by one of my favorite authors, and dealing with a subject whose long history in Middle Earth has grown from participant into mythology. This will be a fascinating and multi-faceted view of a complex and strong elleth peppered with commentary from two very beloved, acerbic, and honest editors. I am looking forward to every ensuing chapter in this saga and am sure that you will be handling it brilliantly.

- Erulisse


Author Reply: Your kindness is terribly humbling! Thank you so much for such lovely words -- really, it's going to be days before I stop smiling -- and I do hope the story doesn't disappoint you!

perellethReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/17/2010
Oh, you have such a talent for voices! I love the convoluted, rethoric style here, and the promise of the underlying story behind the wording.

That the Silvan loved the lady is a wonderful statement. That the lord puts disbelief on hold for the sake of love (theirs as well as his) and the well- known tools of ficiton and story telling is sobering and also dryly amusing.

And I'm in stitches looking forward to Erestor and Melinna's critical voices and side notes.

Author Reply: You always say such kind things! I hope you do enjoy the rest of this piece -- I have to admit, I've been writing it on the assumption that it would only amuse me, so I will be immensely pleased if it interests other people as well. And I'm so glad you liked the style -- it was rather dictated by Mrs Jeffreys' journal, at least for the journal entries, and that was written in 1827, which may account for some of the peculiarities.

As ever, thank you for reading and commenting!

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 1/17/2010
Okay, it's only the title page and preface and I'm already excited about this story--it looks as if you're going to do a lot of good stuff to explain away the various contradictory texts concerning Galadriel from UT.

Especially looking forward to the promise of the critical notes, which should help provide some important perspective to this particular iteration of the tale, and if done properly might rival C.S. Lewis' critiques on the Lays of Beleriand.

Seriously looking forward to seeing where you take this,
Celeritas

Author Reply: Oh goodness, now I'm nervous! I have to admit, none of my reasons for writing this story included the possibility that someone might really want to read it! Even by my standards, this is a fairly strange piece. I do hope the Journal proper (and its critical notes, though certainly I don't aim to rival C.S. Lewis' commentary on the Lays) doesn't disappoint you.

Many thanks for reading, and for the review!

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