News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| History Lessons: The Second Age by Nilmandra | 17 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| eokat | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/10/2004 |
| Loved it as usual. Your writing always makes me feel that I am there with them. Eokat. Author Reply: I love being able to crawl inside a story and feel as if I am there with the characters - so if this did this for you, I am very happy. Thank you. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/10/2004 |
| 'Memories of other young elves near the age of the twins came to mind, and he thought of how many of them he had watched die, and how many he had held until they answered Mandos’s call. He looked suddenly at his own hands, and thought of all the tears and blood that had fallen upon them.' What a fantastic telling of a tragic story - without making it sugar-coated, or dwelling unnecessarily on visions of gore. Erestor makes an excellent narrator of this part of the story. Living with the memory often seems to be a major part of having seen warfare, and the elves, of course, have more to remember and recall it more clearly than anyone else. Such love and loss and courage. The orc part was revolting - and I could see it affecting Elladan and Elrohir quite strongly after just hearing about their mother and grandmother's experience. Stories are one thing - but knowing the people who endured them is quite another. 'But I am grateful they are only hearing our stories rather than living their own.' Poor Elladan and Elrohir. Their friends and family longing to keep them safe, yet knowing they cannot - and the reader knowing of their loss, grief and long battles. 'he noticed Elrond fingering his tunic, a slight outline of a pouch visible beneath the fabric. “Elrohir will recover; it is only a matter of time,” said Celeborn firmly.' Poor Celeborn! It's like trying to fight the wind - both Elrond and Galadriel are on the verge of using those rings and there is nothing that he can do or say that will stop them. And the results might not (and here, weren't) bad, but once let out, nothing will be able to tuck them away again. Pandora's box. Typical Galadriel to do it anyway - and to help her grandson. Celeborn might be resigned - but I would like to see the confrontation with Galadriel where he put his point of view. I can see her, having got her own way, listening quite calmly to her husband's thoughts on the matter. I am glad Elrohir seems to be recovering - have I said that before? Let's hope this time he continues to get better! (I was going to say some stuff about over-expansionism of empires and Russian fronts, but I've wittered on enough.) Author Reply: Galadriel was strong willed, wasn't she? No apolgoies, no explanations. She decided and that was it. When I ask her if she had used the ring before, she just smiles indulgently at me and pats me on the head. These elven muses are quite frustrating at times. The parallels between the time Tolkien was living and this story are amazingly similar, aren't they? How must Europe have felt as the Nazi war machine plowed westward, eating up everything in its path, leaving people conquered and hopeless. And could the elves and men of Middle-earth have felt a little like Europe did when the Americans joined the fight, when Numenor showed up? I can already imagine it - just have to get it coherently typed on screen. And as Hitler overextended himself, fighting the war on too many fronts, so too will Sauron find himself with foes before him and behind him. Nothing like a common enemy to unite people. I took a lot of time on the motivations, timelines, geography and such - I have to have a clear picture before i can put the words together. And Elrohir - yes, he has informed me he is very tired of being an object lesson. Poor elf. I better go comfort him. :D | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/9/2004 |
| Nilmandra, Wow! I can't tell you how impressed I am with your knowledge and ease of story telling about the Second Age. I was just glued to the story, reading it slowly and trying to catch each word. I knew I was a little out of control when I found myself worrying about Celeborn getting killed. Duh. He's around later. You also did a wonderful job of showing the confusion of leaders trying to determine the right path when it looks as if war is coming, and the confusion of the elves themselves in trying to make the right decision about staying or sailing. The young father was heartbreaking. I could just imagine the questions he had to ask himself about priorities, loyalties and the simpliest, yet most difficult question often to answer, what is right and what is wrong. Erestor's mission was certainly a difficult one. He was still so young and innocent to war that the farm being burned was surely a difficult thing to see. I suppose that even seasoned warriors would never adjust to something that. I think Maecheneb reassured him well that somethings are never easy. He had a hint of Maltanaur in his personality, wise and patient, but not afraid to offer his direction to a younger elf. (You know what a sucker I am for Eilian's keeper. I think Maecheneb could be right up there with him.) Maybe it's just the older, wiser elf syndrome. :>) Poor Elrohir! Personally, I'm on Galadriel's side. I would have done whatever I needed to do, too. Celeborn will come out of the woods eventually. Even your notes at the end of the chapter are very interesting. I read them with the same rapt attention I read the chapter. This is just great, Nilmandra. I'm still enjoying every word. I'm looking forward to the next installment. Karen Author Reply: Oh, Karen, if that came across with ease, then I declare it a success! Poor daw has had more theories for motivations and battle strategies bounced off her than you can imagine. It is so easy to judge the past, and yet how hard to judge the information and make a good decision at the time. Celeborn was right about that - history determines if you're a hero or a failure. I wanted individual sacrifice, loss of innocence and the gravity of the choices people faced to come through - so I am glad if they did. Everyday heroes arise out of the trenches to do extraordinary deeds of courage - and I think they will rise up here too. I read WWII historical fiction and nonfiction and see so many parallels to this story. And Elrohir? well, yes, I think he is finally going to get a break, poor elfling. :D Thanks for the review - I appreciate it. | |
| Naneth | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/9/2004 |
| A new chapter. Oh, happy day! The foreshadowing in this chapter made it so sad. I cannot imagine how the very sensitive twins were able to deal with their mother's misfortune. It must have been awful. Thanks for updating. More soon, please! Author Reply: It is interesting how the 'events' of Celebrians capture and torment are outlining in my mind - I never intended to write it, but perhaps will do it as a flashback in HLIII. I don't think she was a helpless maiden carried off by orcs. I think in (my universe, anyway) we will find that she sent a few orcs to their deaths and acted courageously. The effect on her family must have been awful though - a terrible hopelessness that she could not find joy in anything afterwards. I think it must have been much that way with Frodo, too. More will come soon! I had to sort of write a few chapters together to get this straight. :D | |
| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/9/2004 |
| So Galadriel finally uses Nenya. It seems right that she would first use it to aid a loved one and would do so without consulting anyone or admitting that she had done so. Very in keeping with how I envision such a powerful elf. I liked seeing the SA from Erestor's viewpoint. I think the most touching moment in this chapter was the unnamed elven father, almost torn in two by his diametrically opposed duties. That little scene was heartwrenching. Good chapter, Nilmandra. Now, will you please stop doing bad things to Elrohir! Author Reply: Oh, I am glad you liked how Galadriel acted. I thought too, that she would be the type to neither ask nor question - but just do what she decided was right. Makes me wonder if she had not wielded it before this, but she just smiles at me when I ask her. I hate it when the muses won't talk. And poor Elrohir! You are right - and he is tired of being used as an object lesson too. Perhaps I'll go pick on Elladan for a while. :-) | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/9/2004 |
| I thought this was a compelling and terrible picture of war, told through the young eyes of Erestor. I liked watching Gil-galad confer with his advisors and decide to send, with great difficulty, to send Elrond. I am just riveted by this picture of the Second Age which has never before seemed very compelling to me. Author Reply: I was thinking about Tolkien writing this during the world wars, of seeing so much of Europe fall while corresponding with his son, who was fighting. How hopeless the fight against the Nazi war machine must have seemed to those in western Europe; and then the 'Numenorians' came and brought them hope. I am excited to write more of this - so expect more of my battle strategies :D | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/9/2004 |
| I think you did a terrific job of it, Nilm. There was enough detail to give an impression of the horror of the scene, without squeeking me. But, oi!, Galadriel used her ring...it was a given she would not be able to resist temptation, being attracted to power as she is, and with her grandmother instinct going full force....still Celeborn cannot be pleased, even if he is resigned, and Glorfindel's sadness is understandable. Author Reply: Thanks, Karri. I figured Galadriel was the 'no explanations, no apologies' type. But at least poor Elrohir might finally get well now; he informed he was quite tired of being an object lesson. :-) | |