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| Masters of Horses by Nesta | 17 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Darkover | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/11/2011 |
| Dear Nesta: You seem to have a talent for writing stories with quite original plots and perspectives, and none more than this one. You did a good job of writing from Elboron's POV, and this perspective on Faramir, Eomer, and the Rohirrim is very well written. This story was very enjoyable to read. Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Glad you liked this, Darkover and Wheelrider! I'm rather fond of my Elboron - he's no Faramir but he certainly knows how to appreciate his Dad. | |
| Wheelrider | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/17/2011 |
| One of my favorite stories! So many wonderful turns of phrase... | |
| Rian Steelsheen | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/31/2010 |
| '‘And what in Middle-Earth,’ moaned King Eomer, ‘am I to say to my sister?’' and a moment latter: 'Father [...] groaned and said, ‘What in Middle Earth am I to say to your sister?’' Well, they do have a point in common! =) I like Anborn and The Demon, as characters. Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing! Author Reply: Thanks, Rian! These two redoubtable men certainly have Eowyn in common. I can't see her ever being a meek or obedient wife, any more than she was a sister - but life would never be dull when she was around. I think Faramir would see their marriage as a partnership of equals. | |
| Rian Steelsheen | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/31/2010 |
| It is true that he's a good horseman, in RotK he is the only one who manage to stay mounted when there are Nazgûl in the sky... even the Rohirrim couldn't control their horse during the battle of the Pelennor field! Author Reply: He never seems to get the credit he deserves for that, does he? Any more than he gets credit for renouncing the Ring - I do think Gandalf could have dropped a word of commendation there. Perhaps he did do, in private. But it's clear that Faramir was used to being overshadowed by Boromir and the latter getting all the glory, and not resenting that is the mark of a really noble character. | |
| Rian Steelsheen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/31/2010 |
| Hello! I've read all your stories at fanfiction.net, but to my great shame never reviewed once! I truly loved them all (particularly Elboron's reminiscences, they are wonderful). I've been in love with Faramir for maybe three years now, and I've never found any author who portrayed him the way I feel he really is. Most people see him only as a sort of weakling who probably has been beaten by Daddy Dearest and lacks confidence. I often wondered if we have all read the same book! I was beginning to let myself be influenced when I found one of your stories. Your Faramir is my book Faramir, the strong perceptive garden-lover beloved captain Tolkien wrote! You're my favorite author ever! You are my hero, seriously, I love you. Ok, I'm finished telling you about my life, don't worry. I think the relationship between Faramir and Eomer is quite plausible and interesting; they are very different physically and mentally. But I don't imagine Eomer that jealous of Eowyn choosing a Gondorian husband, he does look happy for her in RotK. In fact I tend to think Faramir would be good friend with about anyone: Frodo and Sam, Pippin and Merry, Eowyn, his men, Boromir and Aragorn all have various personalities, but he seems to get on with all of them. I loved the banner-episode, it is so funny! "The banner was left, damp but triumphant, to proclaim the superiority of Ithilien" I see it the same way lol Author Reply: I'm so glad you think my Faramir rings true. I can't stand the wimpish film version - the real one is not like that at all. I've been in love with him for more years than I dare admit - he's one of the fixed points in my life. I'm sure Eomer was very pleased to see Eowyn married to the top man in Gondor (excepting the king, of course). Personally and politically it's obviously a splendid match. Still, I think he'd find Faramir a bit disconcerting, particularly as Eomer's notion of the ideal Gondorian is Boromir, whom he admires because he's so like one of the Rohirrim. To me this, among other things, suggests that Eomer has a certain difficulty in seeing past the end of his own nose. Not that he's stupid - far from it - but he isn't intellectual, whereas Faramir is. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/19/2010 |
| What a great story! No wonder Faramir finally gained serious respect among the Rohirrim. The Demon is a wonderful character on his own; and I loved the relationship between Faramir and Anborn. But the funniest bit was Eomer and Faramir's shared fear of Eowyn's reaction to Faramir's escapade. Well done! Author Reply: I always loved the way JRRT could hint at characters and relationships without distracting from the main narrative - like the pompous Herbmaster and the kindly Warden. Anborn comes over to me as a reliable but rather self-satisfied character who needs firm discipline, and only respects you if he gets it. Perhaps he's an echo of a sergeant-major Tolkien remembered! I think Eowyn probably could be pretty fearsome at times, but that's one of the things Faramir would love about her. He wouldn't want a meek wife with no will of her own. Many thanks for reviewing! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/19/2010 |
| Faramir doesn't get as much credit as he should in fanfiction for being an outstanding rider and horse-master; so I'm just beaming with delight at this chapter. I've always thought that Eowyn would get a lovely dowry of some half-Mearas and build on the strain to create some wonderful Ithilien breeds. And a mention that Eomer really is kind-hearted and loves horses - Yes! He may not be as complex and brilliant as Faramir, but I'm sure he was a good king and a good man (not to mention a mighty warrior as we all know!). Author Reply: I think Faramir being good with horses is one of the things that Tolkien 'bequeathed' to him. Tolkien apparently worked with horses in WW1, and very skilfully too. (Incidentally, I always get furious with critics who accuse JRRT of being unrealistic in his portrayals of warfare. He was writing a romance, after all. And whereas none of the critics has been within fifty miles of a battle, Tolkien fought in the trenches, so what he didn't know ahout the horrors of modern war wouldn't have been worth knowing. I think that's why he doesn't follow Faramir to Osgiliath. Instead he prtrays that battle as an ominous night with flashes and booms of artillery - something JRRT must have been very familiar with, during a big barrage. It's the total opposite of the Rohirrim galloping about in the sunlight, being ostentatiously heroic.) Eomer is really kind-hearted, I'm sure, and he's no fool; he just isn't flexible. I can imagine him trying to offer little sister Eowyn a sweetie or something, after refusing her permission to ride with him, and being totally astonished when she threw it back in his face. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/19/2010 |
| Family tensions can be difficult enough without throwing in different languages, cultures, and customs. This chapter vividly portrays the difficulties, beneath the great alliance between Gondor and Rohan, of a king who has trouble being reminded that his beloved sister preferred another realm and a man of that realm, and of the rivalry and confusion between the new generations of their families. Of course, I loved the bit about Eowyn reminding Eomer that Faramir had understood her better in five minutes than Eomer had throughout her entire life! Author Reply: Bringing Rohan and Gondor together can't have been that easy, can it? And I'm sure that Faramir had to do most of the politicking, because he's more capable of adjusting. Eowyn, of course, would have enough to do adjusting the other way. I think it's true that Eomer never understood her - he's obviously quite taken aback by Gandalf's words in the HoH. He seems to think entirely in straight lines, and while that may make a good warrior, it doesn't make for empathy. Do you know TOm Shippey's books about Tolkien? Far and away the best criticism of him ever published. The first one, 'Master of Middle Earth', has a brilliant comparison of Eomer and Faramir as representatives of their respective cultures. I think I had that in minda mong other things. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2010 |
| I loved your account of the rivalry between the boys. Good for Faramir!I could just imagine him taming the Demon. Author Reply: Yes, I think Faramir could tame anything short of a dragon! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/18/2010 |
| Faramir the horse whisperer! I just loved this. Author Reply: Well, it works, apparently! And there are certainly people who can just manage horses, just as there are people who can walk into a class of unruly children and command instant obedience. I could never do either, so my admiration for those who can is unbounded. | |