Unlike others, I just can't seem to get to read and review quickly. But eventually, I do.
This was a very informative chapter about the purpose and goals of Greenwood Great. There were more than a couple of things that were particularly interesting besides the mate. Nice touch that.
Cyrus knowing about the off-spring communities and saying that very few were viable. That was not encouraging.
The planned obsolecence of seeds! A chilling thought because it is something quite possible even now. I think, the wide-spread use of genetically standardized seeds are endangering our food supply as it is. One mutant disease and entire states will be devasted.
Dubbing Maglor and Daeron the Bard and Poet was as amusing as their subversive global activities. ;) But, once again they make the best use of their artistic talents to assemble rafts of information whether tales,lays, or statistics.
The international, global exchange website complementing the analysis reminded me of current projects like the Genome and NASA projects.
The exchange between Silvertree and Cyrus about how what it is they were doing would not save the world was turning point for our hero scientist. Poor Cyrus! How disheartening for him. But even after that, he holds out and keeps faith with his cause. That was wonderful.
I hope he can continue to ally himself with Sivertree's later stated goals even if they are not so grand as his own.
"...we are gloriously ignorant about the subtle mechanisims of causality." Oh, how true. Call it fate or destiny or synchronicity, but thank God, meaningful things happen, both good and bad.
Enchanting picture of the elf-lords in the moonlight looking west with yearning. How is that the presence of elves, even though at times they are sorrowful, comforts the human spirit?
It's nice seeing Cyrus becoming part of this 'long defeat'. He has already made a great difference in one battle. I can't wait to see him proceed onto the next.
Author's reply
I’m doubly thankful that you took the time! Your thoughtful and kind reviews are always welcome as well as very much thought- provoking, no matter how long it takes you to r&r!
I’m glad you liked the mate touch. I seriously feared that people might find it disgusting, but it is so typical that it would have been a shame to let it out…
The seeds situation is, most unfortunately, going on nowadays. Most of the genetically reinforced, disease proof seeds are non-reproductive, too. This means that farmers have to spend money every year to plant a new crop. International prices for those crops (not seeds) have been going down steadily, so…
I’m glad that you noticed the quote. It’s from J.L. Borges, an Argentinean writer. I find it accurate and sarcastic.
Cyrus argued with Greenwood (Thranduil) who is a bit… blunt, about the usefulness of their project, and it is calm Silvertree who tries to ease his worries. But some paths one has to tread for himself, I suppose…
I’m truly thankful for your comments, Redha, and I hope that this keeps holding your attention and being worth your time!
phoenix23531
· 12 June 2005
· Chapter 1: Coming Home
Wow! I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to read something with both a social conscience and a wonderful insight and imagination, set with Tolkein's characters and concepts to boot! I truly enjoyed reading this chapter, particularly the keen insights and intriguing depiction of a future not too far away. Without being melodramatic or bitter, your depiction of the environmental future of both the natural and cultural changes that will likely result from our current apathy shows both keen understanding, a wealth of research already undertaken, and a tremendous marriage of current events and Tolkien's own environmental leanings. Congratulations! and may there be much more to come!
All the best,
phoenix23531
Author's reply
Well, thank you for kind words! I'm glad this is working for you! ;-) As you say, our current situation can very likely lead us to a similar situation, and the story tries to show how some poeple (and lingering elves!) still keep fighting their best despite the uselessness of the effort. That, to me, is very Tolkienish, together with his abiding love for nature, although a bit updated here... ;-)
I hope you keep enjoying, and thanks again for your suport!
daw the minstrel
· 12 June 2005
· Chapter 2: Unrest
I'm loving this story! The image at the end was very striking. The elves looking west like silver and gold trees. :-)
Are Bard and Poet Elladan and Elrohir?
I think Tolkien would have liked what you're doing with his elves in the our future. Surely that tie to Arda is what they were all about.
Author's reply
Are Bard and Poet Elladan and Elrohir? (Slaps forehead) Wish I had thought of that! Unfortunately, they aren't. We only have four remainig elves in cast, the four that meet in the prologue as the organization's board,that's it, Daeron and Maglor, or Maglor and Daeron. Anyway, I wouldn't have been able to play the six of them all along! I'm suffering enough with these four plus the good doctor!!! ;-)
I'm glad that you're enjying the story and what these elves are doing! I couldn't picture them doing anything else...
Bodkin
· 12 June 2005
· Chapter 2: Unrest
So they are still fighting the long defeat. This is very powerful. And the final vision of them - silver and gold, like the Two Trees, looking west with yearning.
'it kept Bard and Poet from other activities' - the hotheads, are they? The two who feel they have nothing to lose, so will go to any lengths to achieve their aims?
I like Cyrus and I am looking forward to seeing where this goes!
Author's reply
Hi Bodkin! honoured to have you on board!
Yes, they're still fighting their long defeat. That sentence, and the one I used for the title here seem to me terribly powerful in their simplicity.
Bard and Poet have nothing to lose, yes, or rather they have less to hold on to, so their approach, more "artistic" in a way, must be a bit embarrassing at times for his two more scientific-oriented colleagues. And poor Cyrus is there in the middle, hoping he has finally found the place from where to start recovering loss ground, only to be confronted with.... the greatest losers in earth history? we'll see.
Deep thanks for taking the time!
Redheredh
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 1: Coming Home
Transfering the milieu to future Paris and still have a contemporary protaganist was neatly done. This approach had a nice SF flavor to it.
It was great how this opening episode set up things so smoothly. The classic start, an invitation from a mysterious stranger to join a strange quest, was entertaining and well-written. Like the prologue, it explains the premise and hero without being slow or boring.
Dr. Feldman is a wonderful archetypal heroic-gentleman-scientist and yet remains an individual character. I can see why Claire likes him. I certainly do. Feldman's subconscious answer to Silvertree's question about where he lived was excellent. And the way you got the paper mail and notes and Feldman's old-fashioned sensiblities to work together, in what probably is a even more networked world than today, was well done. Silvertree knowing what kind of persuasion to use on the doctor was appropriately subtle.
However, what impressed me most was your background research. A good combination of real cultural myth to work in conjuction with Tolkien's and the scientific theories added more of the previously mentioned SF feel to the story. Call it speculative fiction or science fiction or science fantasy, it is a realistic and intelligent genre. Mix in a little supernatural or paranormal, in this case I guess supranatural, element and you have a fasinating adventure waiting to happen.
And having to wait for the next chapter to happen is the only bad thing about this story so far.
Author's reply
Wow! You like good Sci fi, too? I grew up with that. I love the classics, and Arthut C. Clarke is my all-time favourite.
I'd say taht the elves are the "overnatural" or even extra-natural element, here, in the sense that, being part of Arda, they have lived to see how the "guests" bring it to the brink f destruction, while they have the knowledge for living in perfect harmony with their environment. Sad, for them, as it is for those who fight relentlessly to make things happen and have good things going on. I'm glad you liked Dr. Fedmman, I'm so fond of him, too.
I can promise that it won't take too long to update, although it won't be before next weekend. Have a nice week, and thanks again for your support!
Redheredh
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 0: Prologue
This is a very promising opening. Doomsday stories are actually very hopeful if you beleive the protagonists with prevail and stave off the End-of-the-world. But, can *this* be stopped? And why try? Just for the sake of the good fight and noble defeat? - Nice choice of title.
Your quick introduction was very skillfully written. If you writing this in an effort to show how to do modern-times stories right, you have made a perfect start.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words,Redheredh! I suppose that some things are what they are, and how we face them is what matters, despite the result. That's what I love about Tolkien's approach in LoTR ( and can be traced in the Silm, too)
"If you writing this in an effort to show how to do modern-times stories right, you have made a perfect start." You made me blush! You se, the thing is I do not read modern-times stories as a rule, and then Whack! this hit me. I've had a couple of very busy months travelling qround and seeing thisng, and. I guess the elves were lurking there....I'm so happy you liked it!
daw the minstrel
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 1: Coming Home
OK. I'm in love with your Thranduil already. But then you probably knew that.
This is progressing wonderfully. I'd never before thought about the analogy between the drowning of Beleriand and the predicted effects of global warming.
Author's reply
OK. I'm in love with your Thranduil already. But then you probably knew that. :-) I'm not greedy, I can share! What about exchanging?
I'm not surprised you never made the connection, I'm yet to find someone who had, but then, this is part of my daily diet, so no wonder! I'm so relieved you didn't find it too boring, i feared it was a bit too Ocish and "scholarly"...
daw the minstrel
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 0: Prologue
This is exactly what I think the Elves would have been doing if they'd lived into our age! What a great start. You do this very well too, Perelleth. You introduce your characters and set up the situation without dumping a backstory on us. Lovely.
Author's reply
Welcome on board! Yes, I always expect to run into one of them out there, doing exactly this, althoguh I haven't yet succeded..:-( I particularly appreciate your comment on the Prologue, for the story is wholly drafted and almost finished, and the the whole prologue scene appeared before my eyes then, and I thought it would help set the tale. I'm so glad you think it worked, thanks, I'm so untrained in this thing...!
Nilmandra
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 1: Coming Home
Oh, a future story! I have been thinking about elves being in our world at the end of days, and suddenly here is a story. I like the four elves together, joking and teasing, and then the way that Celeborn presents himself in this second chapter. The elves would know and understand what is happening in the world, but they will understand better than anyone the undesirable melancholy that the good doctor finds himself under. I imagine being human and not tied to Arda as the elves are only makes it worse.
I look forward to seeing where you take this.
Author's reply
Well, thanks! I'm thrilled to see you all on board (and a bit impressed too!) I don't read future stories, and now I'm writing one! But I've often thought of these particular two sindarin lords in present days, mostly when I meet brave people doing their lot to improve things and caring for their environment, and always think that had they remained, elves would be found in these remote places, doing their part. I keep searching! :-) I think the poor doctor will feel better once he's allowed a god night sleep!
I hope you're recovering well, Nilmandra!
French Pony
· 4 June 2005
· Chapter 1: Coming Home
Awright! I'm going to like this story. I love stories where modern technology takes on ancient ritual and wisdom. This has a lovely science-fiction-y feel to it. The scientist is appropriately cynical (I love his apartment), and the Elves are so very Elvish, completely in control to outsiders, but still with four distinct personalities of their own. I am so going to like reading this story.
I hadn't really known that it was a drought in the 60s and 70s that made for the famine in the 80s. I remember being very little in the 80s and learning about how The Starving African Children Had No Food, and there was a sense that this was how it had always been, and how it would always be, no matter how many pennies we collected for UNICEF at Halloween.
Author's reply
So glad to hear from you! I...was.. a bit reluctant, for I do not usually read modern time stories and lo! I'm writing one! but this whole thing struck me some weeks ago, I suppose so many experiences have been brewing and then came out this way... Ancient wisdom,yes, but not outdated, as we sadly forget only too often, exchanging ancient practices for modern technology without knowing the inner meaning of the whole system..Geee. I could rant for hours about this.
I, too, love Dr.Feldman's apartment. Some things I lent to him, some others.. I covet...:-)It was fun to imagine this four elves as council members of their own company, glad it worked!
Well. the famine was caused by lack of food, which had been a constant through the sixties and seventies, due to drought, and aggravated by a revolution in the early 80's, which disrupted the distribution system for the already scarce food and caused the big catastrophe of the 80's. But the monsoon didn't came for ten years on row, and that's were it all started.
I so do hope that you'll enjoy it!