Imrahoil
· 15 November 2004
· Chapter 27: The Court of the King Elessar at Lake Evendim
Finished! On the one hand that's good because it left such a contented feeling in my stomach, on the other hand what am I going to read now? But that's not your problem. About the story: you have achieved a creditable, convincing and very endearing Sam, he is luckily more complex than the Tolkien one, but all Tolkien has shown him to be is there, even the pompous and the jealous side, nice, nice, nice. I admire the way your storytelling blends with the book and the movie - is "Don't you loose him, Samwise Gamgee" anywhere in the book as well?, have to look it up, grrrrr - and I love the hommages to other fanfic authors - the Baylor's Gandalf/Pippin bit for example, fine, fine, fine. Thank you for a wonderful read.
There are a few things I'd like to suggest. Could you perhaps contact me?
Author's reply
Have done so private mail. And I am glad others recognize the nods I've given to our cohorts, and that they haven't been unhappy with the borrowing of their ideas and such.
Author Reply: And thank you so very much on catching my mistakes. Admit I do make them. Have both stories edited on almost all sites now. Thanks so much again.
Bodkin
· 14 November 2004
· Chapter 27: The Court of the King Elessar at Lake Evendim
That was fantastic. It has kept me gripped for hours. I love Sam's point of view and all the little observations. You have maintained his tone throughout with tremendous skill and - oh, it is just so good.
I feel bad for not reviewing each chapter - but I'm afraid it would take for ever. However, I have really enjoyed reading the whole story. Thank you.
Author's reply
Thank you for the review. I, too, find myself rereading it. As with Tolkien, I found it as if it had just come to me, and I just wrote down what was there already.
And I love trying to see things from Sam's point of view, and filling in the gaps in this way.
And don't be sad about not reviewing each chapter--would take forever. That the story spoke to you is what makes it worthwhile.
FantasyFan
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 27: The Court of the King Elessar at Lake Evendim
Oh, ignore my question in the second paragraph. I see in the prologue where you mentioned other writers that inspired you.
I wonder if you can look over the text to find the chapters where paragraphs are scrambled/repeated. Most of what you were saying can be determined from context, but I really would like to know what is said at the very end of the last chapter, where it appears a line or two may be missing right where the italics change back to plain text.
Author's reply
Have had three chapters pointed out to me that were fine in review when I posted them but got mangled, and have apparently fixed them. Need to go to work, and will try the others afterwards.
FantasyFan
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 27: The Court of the King Elessar at Lake Evendim
This is an absolutely beautiful story. It really takes that time, which Tolkien tells us so little of, and fills the bare bones with not just detail but with passion and grief and love. Every time I read about Frodo, his courage and his sacrifice, it burns and inspires. It is very well drawn here.
I wonder if some of the backstory of Frodo's heart condition might have been inspired by Lindelea's story, A Small and Passing Thing? Not that your story is the same, by any means, just things like Robin being the healer attached to Mr. Freddy seemed similar.
I love Sam's voice here, his wisdom and his strength are not often pointed out so clearly and lovingly. Thank you for writing this.
Author's reply
It's Frodo and Sam and Aragorn and Gandalf especially that keep me coming back to the books again and again and again....
And I like being able to reveal Sam a bit more.
Imrahoil
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 27: The Court of the King Elessar at Lake Evendim
Skimming is over, had a hearty pre-sniff over chapter 27 and am now enjoying the prospect of a quiet read on the weekend. But, alas, chapter 27 is scrambled too and so are a lot of the other chapters, I think. Sorry for cramming it into the review, but I couldn't find another way to contact you.
Author's reply
This has been weird, as these looked fine last night in review. Have fixed the final chapter, as well as seventeen and twenty, although it took three tries to get seventeen finally repaired. Kept putting the material after the diacritical marks at the end of the chapter.
Imrahoil
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 20: Shadows of the Past
Hello there, just skimming through your story. It's beautiful, I'm very much looking forward to reading it. But there has something gone wrong with parts of the text, have a look at chapter 17 and 20 - beware of the names of the Valar, SoA does not like them, it seems -. If I am premature, I'm sorry, I have never before raced an author in skimming while she is still uploading. :-)
Author's reply
Thanks. Think it is taken care of now. And it was because folks were already skimming the story that I worked so hard to get it posted tonight.
Glad you have enjoyed it.
Lindelea
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 5: Mr. Bilbo's Ward
I love the voices you've given the characters. I love Frodo's figuring out why the plants aren't thriving, and then helping Sam by letting him figure it out.
BTW, read somewhere that the flowers Americans call "nasturtium" are called "nasturtian" in England. There is such a thing as a "nasturtium" but I forget what it is.
Lindelea
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 1: Grieving
O yes. I remember this now. I reviewed it over at ff.net; at least I think I did. Sometimes I've written reviews over there and they've not posted properly.
Glad to see this over here, and I hope you get a number of thoughtful responses.
Lindelea
· 12 November 2004
· Chapter 0: Preface
A very thought-provoking preface. Mostly canon, eh? I must admit that those are the stories I seek out, even while confessing to having a few AUs on my shelves (and yet, sticking as closely as possible to canon; such a challenge!).
I'm with you on dates. I know that they are used in fanfic, but they always give me pause as I scratch my head and try to figure out from the context just what season it is. It gets in the way of my enjoyment of the story. I suppose if JRRT had used "Afterlithe" and some of the other less recognisable names (I have finally learned to use Highday in context!) I would make more of an effort.
Thanks for the nod. I recognise your name, I think, as a recent reviewer on ff.net, where reviews have all but dried up completely, and so I thank you for taking the time to leave feedback, as well.
Dedicated to your mother, with an interesting mention of bugs in the body of the preface. I'd imagine there's a story there. I dedicated my first major story to the memory of a brother. I sympathise with you on your loss.
Author's reply
Grow up surrounded by woods, fields, water of all sorts, and country, and you get acquainted with all kinds of bugs and creatures. Water creatures were always my favorite. Could have put diatoms and fairy shrimp in, too, but didn't! But our long-suffering mom saw all kinds of things go through the house. Caddis fly larvae and wooly bear caterpillars were just a couple. Always found both fascinating.