News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Cities and Wilderness by Larner | 45 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/14/2026 |
| Of course he's curious and wants to hear some facts from someone much closer to the action. I can only imagine the rumors that must have circulated in the Shire... And gone (beyond the bounds of the Shire) must be unfathomable for Shire-folk in general. (He asked the Gaffer four times, LOL!) I smiled to see Freddy and Estella staying at the Cottons'. I wish I'd thought of them taking in Hamfast and Marigold, too... And when Freddy and Estella walked in together, the description, One was taller than most Hobbits, and was far, far too thin for his build. There was a feeling to him as if he’d lost a good deal of substance.... By his side was a lass, one whose hair was shamefully short, well, that arrested me, and thank you for that nod to my imagining of the aftermath of the Scouring, but it was the fact that everyone rose in respect at their entrance – it was that detail that brought tears to my eyes. And of course, the story ends with appropriate hobbity humor. Pipped the Pimple, indeed! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/14/2026 |
| What a difficult farewell this must have been. It is painful to imagine. I should think Eldarion and his sisters are fully aware that he will lose his mother soon after Elessar lays down his life. This slice-of-time tells so much in so few words. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/13/2026 |
| Then he realized that everyone in the common room was rising to his feet, including the Gaffer. I just love that image. Good old Gaffer, it must be so satisfying to be the storehouse of so much news. Author Reply: If only he realized what heroes his son and his former employer were, not to mention Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin! But all in the Shire can appreciate the hero whose deeds were done there in the Shire for all to see. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/11/2026 |
| Ohhh, this is so moving. Eldarion may rise to greatness, but there will never be anyone like Aragorn. And Faramir Took is there! What a lovely detail. Author Reply: Eldarion will be a great King, I'm certain, particularly as he's known the gift of Elven instruction from his uncles and daeradar. But Celeborn in my-verse is already gone, not wishing to see his granddaughter's grief and ending, leaving so few other than Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas who will continue to visit Minas Anor in the future, and the last not that much longer. With Elessar gone and Arwen having fled Gondor in her own grief, there is little holding Legolas and Gimli to Middle Earth any longer. The wonder of the Eldar World is gone with the King Returned, with only its echoes to be known by Eldarion's subjects. | |
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/11/2026 |
| Nice! Glad to see Faramir Took decided to die in Gondor with friends. Three cheers for Eldarion, as well as Aragorn, Author Reply: I thought it only proper that Aragorn should be blessed by the company of at least one Hobbit at the end. I've written of his coming and his company for Aragorn in other tales.... Thanks so! | |
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/11/2026 |
| I liked the "born by the winds of Manwe" part. Author Reply: Both sails and arrows are concerned with air and wind, after all. Here Manwe is the Power involved. Thus he is instrumental to both of Cirdan's primary concerns--both providing transport for 5hose going Home, and guarding those under his protection. Thus Manwe would receive his attention equally with Ulmo. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/9/2026 |
| This snippet might be short, but it bears a powerful impact. One of the small details I noticed was that Galdor avoids speaking the name of Sauron, but Círdan does not shy away. the smile of one who had lived through too many assaults and sieges in his long life, from the shadowed Hunter of the days before Days to Melkor’s vast armies of twisted Maiar, Eldar, and Edain; from assaults by the Kinslayers to Sauron’s goblins and wolfriders... You convey a long, eventful lifetime in so few words. I remember the first time I delved into Círdan's background; in my mind, he went from merely a name with a novel description attached – an Elf lord with a beard – to someone whose story I would love to hear in full, no matter how long it took to tell it. Preparing ships and sharpening blades; arrows and ships; the combinations struck me in my first reading as "belt and suspenders" thinking, but I think it goes beyond that. If Círdan had a coat of arms, the motto would likely be something that translated to "Stand ready" or "Ever prepared" or "Always faithful" or something like that. Well done! And now that I have finally powered up the laptop to read, I see you have posted another work since we last talked. So, onward and upward... on the SoA homepage, that is. (And wishing you a happy early birthday, and safe travels! If I can manage my energy properly, look for a little something to be posted next week in your honour.) Author Reply: Thanks so much for your response to this ficlet. I, too, was taken by the brief description of Cirdan in the books, and enjoyed imagining how he might respond to the threats from Mordor. We know he faced many threats over the ages of the Sun he'd spent in Middle Earth. He knows that this threat is also likely to pass away as they had done so many times before. I hope that your energy remains properly managed in the near future. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/9/2026 |
| I like the idea that Círdan has a "famous smile". Happy early birthday, my friend! Author Reply: As old as he was, I'm certain that Cirdan had a good deal about him that was famous, including his smile. And I certainly hope that my birthday will be a happy one! | |
| periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/7/2026 |
| Tolman looked up at him with that expression Frodo had become familiar with in his younger brothers and sisters, who all seemed to look up the same way when they felt the answer to a question was far too obvious to need answering, but they would answer it at least just this once to have it over with. “Well, Unca Leg’las is a wood-Elf, right? So him has lots and lots of trees. And Unca Gimli don’t need more stones, does he?” The logic is so right. THis is such a sweet story about the future generations knowing about Frodo and what he did for Middle-earth and it's so great to hear all the familiar characters in here reminiscing via reading the story. Loved Gimli and Tolman in here especially. | |
| periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/7/2026 |
| Such an encouraging thought to feel and know that Frodo knows what goes on still in the Shire even though he is so far away. :*) I loved the detail about the flute! Author Reply: I love that the Elven trees might serve as conduits of information between the Mortal Lands and the Lonely Isle. | |