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| In the Hands of the Enemy by meckinock | 46 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Thundera Tiger | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/15/2004 |
| Oh good grief, I can't leave it at that! Please don't apologize for being a lurker. Especially to me! You are talking to someone who is quite possibly the queen of lurkers. (Bryn and I argued about it once, actually. I can't remember who won, but I'd like to think it was me.) Anyway, I just had to pop back in and tell you to completely get rid of whatever guilt you might be feeling and to forget about it. Not everybody does the review gig. Not everybody needs to. If you're not one of those people, that's fine. Don't worry about it! Right. Sorry to clog up your reviews here, but I really couldn't let you talk about not reviewing without jumping back in. (You see how good you are as a writer? You've prompted me out of lurking yet again!) Anyway, I'm flattered that you've heard of me and that you've taken the time to read some of my stories, but that's more than enough. Concentrate on your own life and don't give a second thought to lurkerdom. Believe me when I say that it's a great place to live! Author Reply: OK, then. If I can't apologize for being a lurker, then you certainly musn't apologize for artificially inflating my review count! | |
| Thundera Tiger | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/14/2004 |
| Holy cow!!! I cannot believe I missed out on this story. I heard about it, but I never got around to reading it when it was being written, and I would have missed it entirely had it not been on the MEFAwards. But I'm here now, and I couldn't leave without raving about just how much I loved this story. Okay, first off, your characterizations. I love Halbarad. There are so few fics out there with him in it, and I love the deft way you paint his character. The few snippets about home and family life are very enriching, his dedication to his horse Daisy is a very telling point, and his dogged almost dangerous pursuit of Aragorn speaks of a legendary friendship. I really enjoyed his views on other characters who never even appear in the fic, such as Elladan and Elrohir. With just a few words, you get Halbarad to characterizes them for us as well. I could spend pages talking about the way you paint Gandalf, too. He's definitely a wizard, he's got a sense of humor, he can be kind and gentle when he needs to be, but when it comes down to business, you don't cross him. He can more than take care of himself, and those blinding flashes of light were a great use of wizardly power without ever overextending Gandalf or making it unbelievable. The unusual team-up of Gandalf and Halbarad is one I'd love to see more often, because I thought they made a very good pair, especially given Halbarad's worn and slightly impatient frame of mind. And then there's Aragorn, who knows enough to keep his mouth shut even in the throes of delusions where Gandalf features prominently. I love how you kept him so off kilter throughout the fic and I love the brief glimpses we've been given into the awkwardness of his relationship with Elrond. He is every inch the grim, dour Ranger that Tolkien shows us, but you go even deeper and expand on his protective nature, his ability to sense when not all is right, and his persistent refusal to give up, no matter the situation. The fact that he was willing to sacrifice Rolly to keep his information a secret was a great characterization stroke that I agree with wholeheartedly. Aragorn knows what's at stake and he knows he can't sacrifice it. The gold mine bluff was brilliant, and I was actually laughing despite the situation. And let's talk about the plot. I love how you gave us just enough information that I expected the twist and I expected Rolly to be a pivotal role. But even knowing how he callously killed the other men, I wasn't expecting the full revelation when it came, and being surprised like that was really a treat! Not enough fics can do that. Not enough published stories can do that. Excellent work here, and great pacing. I love how you jumped back and forth between Aragorn, Gandalf, and Halbarad, and I love how all the characters seemed to be one step behind all the time. It was maddening and frustrating, but it made for a great ride. The wrapup at the end was perfect, and I agree with Halbarad's decision to remain in the dark. Thank you so much for such a wonderful tale! I'll be coming back for more just as soon as I find the time! Author Reply: *lies prostrate* Oh, man! I feel like I won the lottery and ran someone over in my car on the way to pick up my check. I don't know whether to thank you first or apologize. First, the thanks: I'm so humbled that you (Thundera Tiger; The) would read the story and write such a lovely review. The review was loads better than the story, and I think definitely there was more thought put into it...I am unworthy. Thank you. II A confession: There's nobody in this fandom who hasn't heard of you, and that includes me. And I love your stories ('cause you almost always feature Aragorn, and sometimes even my pal Hal.) I'm not sure if I've read them all, but "When the Ring Went South" was one of my all-time favorites, and I rush to read your updates of "Fear No Darkness" or "Land of Light and Shadows." The one with Aragorn visiting his mother's grave was beautiful, too. III Confession, Part II: I am a hopelessly lousy reviewer. Hopeless. Pathetic. I would rather sing "When a Man Loves a Woman" naked on live television than try to put together a review that sounds more coherent than "u rock grrll!@" Plus I have a job and a house and all that RL garbage we all have that cuts back on my fan fiction time. So I'm a shameless lurker. Well, not exactly shameless, I guess; since I do actually feel guilty about it. Which brings me to part IV: IV Apology: I don't think I ever left you a review. I'm sorry. Not that you need the endorsement; but it's always nice to let people know you enjoyed their work, as you're doing for me now. I was a heel not to. Dang. I think I'll go re-read your review again - I've depressed myself. Thanks, truly. | |
| Imrahoil | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/26/2004 |
| Ah, good idea, rub hard and write fast. | |
| Imrahoil | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/25/2004 |
| I'm depressed, nobody of my favourite writers - and that includes you - cares about updating - or starting a new story - anymore. I have to read the Mithril awards mess to see anything new written by you or Lindorien for example. I prefer stories. Couldn't you write one instead? Please, I'm waiting. Author Reply: LOL! It's probably a sad commentary, but tilting at windmills comes more naturally to me than writing fiction - and I have MUCH more experience at it! But thanks for the reality check. As it turns out, I am headed out today to a little informal writers' conference with Daw the Minstrel and The Karenator. Let's hope that some of Daw's indefatigable dedication to the craft will rub off on me... | |
| Aloysius | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/24/2004 |
| "To know Gandalf was ever to wander paths of one's own choosing, only to find oneself arriving at destinations of Gandalf's" - fantastic line! This is a really great story. Your characterisation of Tillfield, Halbarad and Rolly is wonderful, and the structure of the tale is very effective - you certainly had me gripped all the way through. I particularly like the fact that it doesn't end too abruptly - the extended conclusion is very satisfying, and it's clever how you connect it to the wider tale of the books. Very nicely done. Author Reply: It's funny -- you set out to write a story about canon characters, but it's the OCs you end up having the most fun with. I'm glad you found them entertaining. I also appreciate the comment about the ending - after a pretty action-oriented yarn, I winced a bit when the last chapter wanted to be nothing but a drawn-out series of gab-sessions. I didn't seem to be able to pare it down and still tie up the numerous loose ends I'd left lying about. It's reassuring to hear that you thought it was worth it! | |
| Timmy2222 | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/6/2004 |
| Yes, I really love this one! You delivered an excellently built story with its share of surprises; you set a good pace (though Aragorn's dreams/flashbacks are quite long); Gandalf is very much in character; Halbarad is a loyal friend with nice flaws; the boy is believable and a surprise in itself, and the hobbit is likable as well. There are only two minor things left to remark about: An ending should be an ending after the main plot is told (and maybe a short epilogue). And with all the imagination I was blessed I cannot see Aragorn to be so joyful (chuckling/snickering/with Halbarad 'like two schoolboys') after the ordeal he had just suffered and barely survived. - But this is just my humble opinion... Take care and keep on writing, Timmy | |
| Music2084 | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/29/2004 |
| Wow...what a great story....i really enjoyed reading it. Author Reply: Hi, Music, I don't know if you even remember leaving this review but somehow I missed the notice for it. Thanks very much for the review and I apologize for not replying sooner. | |
| j | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/28/2004 |
| excellent story!! I loved it! What about a sequal where Aragorn/Strider/Estel/Thorongil/etc goes to Rivendell to be healed? Please!! Pretty please and an elf on top! Author Reply: Hi, j, thanks for reading and for the enthusiastic review. I had been working on a sequel just as you described but I got a bit sidetracked. I'll do my best to see that it gets done eventually, but a scruffy ranger would be more effective than an elf as an enticement for yours truly... m | |
| turnipgoat | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 1/31/2004 |
| that was absolutely fabulous. Author Reply: Hi, Turnipgoat, thanks for the lovely review and apologies for the delay in acknowledging it. m | |
| xsilicax | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 1/8/2004 |
| This was truly excellent! It was very tightly plotted, well executed with a terrific grasp of setting and mood, but what impressed me the most was your grasp of characters. Aragorn's wearied sense of duty, and Halbarad's loyalty both to his chieften and his kin were, well, heart-warming is the word that comes to mind. Dudo brought in some humour, which made the tension seem that might tighter, and Gandalf, as ever provided the blend of wise man and concerned grandfather that we love. I also loved the parallel betewen Aragorn and samll bad guy (whose name naturally fails to spring to mind when I need it, making it look as though I didn't read, lol). It does make you wonder just what sort of a person Aragorn could have become had he not had the peace of Imladris and the steady hands of his mother and Elrond to guide him. The one thing that I felt jarred a little was Aragorn's response to the death of Baranuir. Having reached an age of well roughly sixty, and captained men in both Rohan and Gondor, I would have thought he would have become a little more accustomed to death. Not innured to it by any means, so I do think it would have hurt him deeply, but perhaps not in quite the same manner. In Gondor and ROhan though he was under the rule of others' and ultimately the deaths there were not laid solely on his shoulders. Perhaps that is why it makes it so awful for him. Either way, it works very well in the story, and didn't spoil my enjoyment in any way. It just made me wonder slightly. I sincerely hope that there is a sequel to this on its way? I would dearly love to read the return to Rivendell, and see Dudo's reaction to Aragorn's 'ranger family'. Cathy, xx Author Reply: Thanks for reading the story and taking the time to offer such a thoughtful and kind review. I am a bit of a dreadful reviewer myself, so I am always somewhat humbled by those who do it well, and yours is wonderful. There will be a sequel, but not for a while yet...I need to set aside some time for it, which has been difficult. I appreciate your thoughts on Aragorn's reaction to Baranuir's death - Well, I think maybe advancing age actually brings a deeper appreciation for the value of a single life, and a greater sense of tragedy at the loss of a life cut short, especially when the loss of an innocent is infused with guilt. In a deeper sense, I think that perhaps Aragorn's reaction to this one horrible loss is both a tribute to and a rejection of the enormous cost in lives that will accompany the coming struggle with evil which he reluctantly awaits. | |