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| An Autumn Fair in Halabor by Soledad | 50 Review(s) |
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| Denise | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/23/2008 |
| I never knew anything about how vellum was made - that was fascinating! But why is it hard on the lungs? The smells of unfinished skins, or fumes from the lime baths? And my, could I ever relate to Yehan's last comment. An incredible gift, indeed. Author Reply: It is, isn't it? As for the craft being hard on the lungs, I think it's all those things you've listed together. Especially the fumes from the lime baths, I'd think. | |
| Denise | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/23/2008 |
| Awesome - another fully-fleshed and multi-layered character. I really like Mistress Betha even in her hardness and past regrets; every one of your individuals feel so real. Your descriptions are just wonderful, too. Detail person that I am, I love learning that different cloths require different looms, for example. I also love the connection back to Dol Amroth in this chapter, and the reference to trade secrets. It's easy to forget that people usually married within the family craft (or related ones) in part to keep their secrets methods intact, and how closely guarded it all was. foreign customers, indeed! *g* The beating poor Betha's self-image took upon seeing the lady Elves is exactly how I would feel! Her gaping menfolk made me wish your divine Gildor had paid a visit. Turn-about, and all. :) Author Reply: Too bad I haven't thought of *that*. But worry not, Gildor will appear later on, in all his glory. Re: inbreeding They not only married within the family craft, they also often married within the extended family, too. My grandfather came from a wealthy Saxon family, and they'd been marriages between cousins for so long that one of his sisters was a bit, well... dim. I had great fun writing Mistress Betha - I like writing characters who aren't young and pretty. They're a lot more interesting, honestly. | |
| Denise | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/23/2008 |
| Oh, my, did I enjoy this chapter! I think I mentioned in past reviews or journals that I used to do pottery myself, so much of this chapter really spoke to me. I can see why pottery was relegated to men; although we are lots freer with gender assignments these days, it still takes a tremendous amount of strength to manage the large amounts of clay required for truly big pots - even with the assistance of electric throwing wheels. Clear and excellent explanations for the preparation and creation! And as always, your characters are vividly realized. I particularly loved the potter's common-sense approach to marrying one of his daughters to his apprentice, and the same approach to the Elf over-paying for his wares. I also loved the bright spot of hope that visiting with an Elf brought to the family. Author Reply: Heh! I was thinking of you specifically when I decided to write about the potters. I've owed you this one for quite some time. ;)) | |
| Denise | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/23/2008 |
| What a nice prologue: everything set out well so that previous events are covered and the details of the fair worked out. I particularly like the addition of the Dunlending merchants, the reasons for their coming, and potential problems/successes that have been set up. Do the Dunlendings trade at many other fairs, or is Halabor's one of the few that welcome them? I can't imagine any trade in Rohan, and don't remember if there are any other towns you've established that would be within reasonable travelling distance... Author Reply: Thanks. :) The Dunlending part was something I've been planning for quite some time - we really don't know anything about them, and if we're not identifying ourselves automatically with the Rohirrim, they probably had a good enough reason to feel cheated... or, at the very least, they might thought that they have one. The prologue was necessary, as I can't automatically expect everyone to have read "The Shoemaker's Daughter" - or what's there of it anyway. Originally, I intended to deal with the fair in Chapter 8 of TSD, but then I realized the advent calendar potential in it and made it an independent story. *g* | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 1/3/2008 |
| First - many apologies for not having had the time (or energy) to read and review as you posted this. And for not reviewing each chapter as they deserve. For I love your Halabor. The complexity - the detail - the interactions of the individuals (some of whom lead very realistically cruddy lives) - your sheer understanding of the town, its inhabitants and the way they live ... it's just brilliant. I'm really not sure which of the inhabitants I love most - the carter, of course, doesn't make the list - but they are real people living medieval lives, obsessed with - well, making a living, I suppose. Providing for their families and setting up successful dynasties. I can't remember all the outcomes, but I am only too (unfortunately) aware that many of them aren't happy. I loved seeing them in conjunction with the passing elves ... making a few coins, setting up a few memories. I suspect that some among the elves were only too aware of the stink of tragedy in the near future - and maybe happily handed over a few extra coins to sweeten the present. I just love your detail. The way you know the background and destiny of all your characters. Halabor is a very real place. Beautiful, Soledad. I loved it. (Perhaps even more for having read it all in one go.) Well done. Author Reply: And here I thought you've gotten fed up with Halabor! *g* Seriously, thank you. It was a very hard series to write: to come up with new things and new characters from a place that has already been explored so thoroughly, while struggling with a really bad strech of Real Life. There were times when I've nearly given up the whole thing, as barely any people seemed to be interested... until Neilia came aboard and nudged me along for the next part. I'm glad that I've managed to write it to the end, after all - even though it's actually turned out 2 parts shorter than originally intended. But stubbornness can only carry a person so far. ;)) I'm glad you like it. I might add a short file later, revealing the fate of the characters, when I get around to do it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/26/2007 |
| An excellent sale on top of an excellent agreement--his day grows better and better! And a name we also recognize. Very nice. Author Reply: Thanks. :) So, you remember Master Suanach, eh? I tried to tie in a few charcters who've always featured earlier, so that people won't get too confused by all the new ones. Completely unrelated: will we see more from the tenant of Stadle any time soon? | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/26/2007 |
| Good--they've come to a necessary alliance that will see both parties doing better in the end. And with Elvish customers who would undoubtedly prefer to buy from open locals than from grasping corporate types, they'll do well in the short and long run. Author Reply: WEll, they were still in business ten years later, so I guess the alliance worked out. I greatly enjoyed doing something for the Dunlendings for a change, they are another shamefully underused race, put down summarily as "the enemy", who therefore have to be evil *and* ugly. As if things would ever be that simple! | |
| Neilia | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 12/25/2007 |
| Waaah! *sniffle, tears tracing down cheeks* Is this canon? :-( Author Reply: No. Halabor and all its inhabitants are entirely my creation. The whole thing started as a one-shot with "Shadows of the Past"... then I got interested, and see what has become of it! Of course, some things stated in "Shadows of the Past" don't match the current Halabor development one hundred per cent, like the exact circumstances of the destruction and the actual size of the town, but I couldn't bring it ower my heart to change it. Perhaps one day... | |
| Neilia | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/25/2007 |
| EEEwwww! Bloodletting is not one of those smart treatments that came from the middle ages. In your research, did you not find it did more harm than good? I like it that Loarne has so much freedom and usefulness. She is fortunate in her place within the family. Author Reply: Well, actually bloodletting does have its merits agains high blood pressure and a few other things. One of my great-grandmothers used it semi-regularly, at least so family legend tells. Not even Mum can tell whether it's true or not. *g* In any case, for Lord Peredur's mother it was surely useful. She had way too much "bad blood" in her, and other malevolent "humours", to borrow another medieval term. :)) | |
| Neilia | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/23/2007 |
| This is soooo interesting! I love things made of solid wood and stone. My family used to grouse about having to haul around 'the heavy stuff' when we moved; but, I or my daughter still have the pieces and I am 60 years old now. It pays to buy one thing at a time in solid wood. Then you have something to pass on that will be a reminder of you after your gone. :-) Author Reply: We have a cupboard of solid wood and a set of ceramic spice containers that used to belong to my great-great-grandmother. They're easily over 200 years by now, and I wouldn't give them up for the world. Perhaps beyond 50, I'm getting nostalgic at my old age, too. ;)) Of course, in the Middle Ages you *had* to acquire solid things. They were supposed to last for generations. | |