News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Answering the Call by docmon | 28 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2006 |
| A truly disturbing what-if…and somehow the more so for being presented entirely through uneasy conversations. In one of Tolkien’s letters he described Gandalf in possession of the Ring as ultimately making good seem more loathsome than evil…and this vignette picks up on that idea, I think. Nicely done! Author Reply: Thank you for reviewing, Inkling! Yes, this vignette is one of the most disturbing for me. I'm glad you like how it's presented. I worried a bit that most of it didn't feature Gandalf at all, and it was supposed to be 'his' vignette. I didn't know what Tolkien had said about Gandalf's possession, but thanks for the reference. It makes me feel as if I was on the right track! Thank you! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/22/2006 |
| How horrible--and no hint as to those he betrayed getting the foul thing. Gaack! But this is much as I expected. Author Reply: yes, wouldn't it be? Even I like the 'real' version better - in that things don't go so horribly in the end. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/21/2006 |
| Except in this scenario those words are true, and not the acceptance that the quest was done and now were they also. How terribly grievous. But, yes, I too have seen this temptation used on Sam. Author Reply: I did think this sort of temptation made the most sense with Sam, and kept closest to book canon as well. It was hard to write Sam's, partly because it was so depressing to think of Sam succumbing to the Ring. It was a struggle sometimes. It's a near thing, too, because Sam did it all for the right reasons. A case of the wrong action for the right reasons, I'm afraid. Thanks so much for all your reviews! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/21/2006 |
| This has been the hardest to read in so many ways, to see my beloved Aragorn fall so, to fall so short of his promise. "To rise above the greatest...or to fall with what remains of your kin...." Author Reply: I'm glad you liked it anyway! Yes, the great fall far, and when Aragorn falls, it's a long drop. Though I didn't take it as far, I think this scenario would play out as terrifying and despairing as Gandalf's. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/21/2006 |
| Poor Pippin--Grishnak and his folk have taken him and the Ring? And again Aragorn seeks to protect as he can, knowing it is very likely hopeless. Yet he was not called Estel blindly.... Author Reply: That's right, Larner! Aragorn would not give up, even under these circumstances, I think. When do we break down and say he's just downright stubborn? ;-) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/21/2006 |
| How horrible a torment, to have to ask that forgiveness. As with Boromir, the Ring again sought to seduce through the initial image of It wielded by the strong present ruler, to be supplanted ere It reached that one by the victorious Son. So glad you didn't follow this one through to its possible conclusion as you did the first two. Author Reply: Yes, somehow, I didn't see Legolas keeping the Ring. I didn't realize, though, how similar it was to Boromir's story. That's interesting. Thanks for reading and for your comments! | |
| cher | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/21/2006 |
| Oh, no !!!!!! :( Author Reply: Oh, yes, cher. It all just falls apart. Quite depressing I'm afraid, even to write it! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/21/2006 |
| And I thought the loss of Gandalf was horrible beyond belief! Ah, this is heartrending! Poor Merry, facing just what Tolkien foretold for Frodo had he not had the Ring taken by violence by Gollum! And Aragorn again lost! Alas! Author Reply: Thank you, Larner. Yes, it was quite sad to see how this turned out. In fact, at times it was downright depressing to write. But I could only write what they told me. ;-) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/21/2006 |
| And the beRinged Gandalf would sacrifice even Aragorn, would he? Yet Frodo hides his suspicions from a wizard gone bad--he may yet prevail. Such a horrid possibility! Author Reply: Yes, Gandalf with the Ring is perhaps the scariest of all possibilities, I think. He would eventually get to the point where he could justify sacrificing Aragorn, I believe. And, yes, the question in the end is how much does Frodo suspect? Only that there are things he doesn't understand, or that there is a reason to not trust Gandalf, or even that Gandalf was behind the deaths of the Rangers? It could be any of these! Thanks for all your reviews! | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/19/2006 |
| I forgot to review this one! This one was not so much spooky as I could almost understand Legolas's reasons and so maybe even scarier than the other ones. I did enjoy how we clearly knew what he was thinking and why it made so much sense to him. When he choked Frodo, I assumed that was it, but then when you left it uncertain there at the end, that was even better. You write Aragorn very well by the way - he's my favorite LOTR character and I have liked him in each chapter so far. I am NOT going to like the one when he takes it! :) Author Reply: thank you, radbooks! I'm so glad that you're enjoying how I'm writing your favorite character. That is gratifying. And you're right, sometimes, the more realistic something is, the scarier, even if there is less Death and Destruction. I almost did end it after Legolas realized what he was doing. But then the characters kept talking... Can't wait to hear what you think of Aragorn's chapter. | |