Imhiriel
· 24 June 2008
· Chapter 28: The Naming of Worlds
When I saw the list with the names, I just went "Waaaah!" for a moment. As another reviewer mentioned, I will never be able to remember them - so thanks for laying them out so orderly in one place to which we can refer to in subsequent chapters!
But I loved the names you found for them - very descriptive (and a great help in some instances where I know [part of] the root words and so can easier make the connections).
I was really lulled into the calm tone of the narrative (which reminded me of those loooong genealogical lists in the Old Testament), so the last sentence about Melkor had that much more ominous impact.
Author's reply
I had a lot of fun coming up with the names and trying to be descriptive about it. I was rather limited by the lack of real vocabulary for the Valarin names but I managed. *grin* I decided that even though Tolkien gives us the Quenya names for all the planets except Pluto the Valar would not have used those names initially, they would have had their own names for the planets and then would have adopted the names given by the Eldar later on.
Tari
· 20 June 2008
· Chapter 4: Hunting Through the Cosmos
A nursery of baby stars. I love it. It might possibly resemble the Milky Way.
I see a definite resemblance between Melkor and Sauroman. Creepy and yet understandable. Yuk.
Author's reply
Well, there are star nurseries all over the universe according to the astrophysicists... and of course the Children's galaxy is indeed the Milky Way.
Melkor and Saruman (and Sauron) are creepy indeed, though I'm not sure I can ever understand them or their motiviations.
Kitty
· 20 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
I love how the Ayanumuz can tease each other even in the midst of destruction and war. But other than that ... ouch. That didn’t go well, not at all! These Urushigasumaz were bad enough before, but the idea of two of them merged ... *shudder*
Very dramatic and exciting chapter, though a bit depressing, too. Deep down I know it can not have been so easy to defeat Melkor, but still ... it’s so frustrating to have him win even one round.
Hm ... Cosmoco is Gothmog? Wasn’t that the one balrog that died fighting Ecthelion in Gondolin? Somehow it is making me smug that a ‚mere elf’ in the end finished him off.
Author's reply
I'm glad you found this chapter exciting and dramatic. It is a bit depressing but we do know how it all ends, so there's a bright spot to this.
Gothmog is indeed the one whom Ectheliion of the Fountain fought against and defeated at the sack of Gondolin. It is rather ironic that a 'mere elf' does hinm in in the end, isn't it? *grin*
Thanks for reviewing, Kitty. I really appreciate it.
Agape4Gondor
· 20 June 2008
· Chapter 28: The Naming of Worlds
I truly thought this was brilliant to use the 'lesser' Mayar. Worked for me!
Author's reply
Thanks, Agape. We always hear about the named Máyar like Olórin and Eönwë and Melian but never about the rest. I thought it was time to honor them in some small way.
Agape4Gondor
· 20 June 2008
· Chapter 27: Repercussions
This was a beautiful chapter. Though it was hard to read, being a wee bit stubborn and proud myself, I enjoyed the ending! *giggles*
Author's reply
Hi, Agape. Coming to terms with one's foibles is not easy and in that regard I think we're all stubborn. Thankfully we have a very understanding Atar, as Námo finds out. Glad you liked the ending. Thanks for reviewing.
Nieriel Raina
· 19 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
GACK! What an exciting chapter! I think I'm literally shaking in my boots! Okay, so I'm not wearing boots, but still.... *trembles*
So, when does Tulkas show up? Hmmm?? *grin* I was kind of hoping it would be here, but I suppose Melkor will get some time to 'play' now. *shivers* He makes me ill. Ugh.
Love the banter between Vaire and Namo and their teasing of Orome!
Námo it was who answered her.
This sounds very Yoda-ish to me. *grin*
The Máyar wisely remained silent.
I love how they do this a lot. They know when to just shut up. How I need to learn that! LOL
We couldn’t stem the tide," Manwë said
You're missing an opening quote here.
Can't wait for more! This is an exciting tale.
Author's reply
Thanks, NiRi. I'm glad you found this chapter exciting, whether you were wearing boots or not. LOL If you know your Silmarillion, and I know you do, you know that Tulkas will be showing up soon enough.
Thanks for the heads up on the missing quotation mark. It's been fixed.
6336
· 19 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
Hey, gotta have a positive attitude! Manwe and Co. need all the good vibes they can get!
Lynda
Author's reply
A positive attitude does help. Let's hope Manwë & Co. can find something positive in all this.
6336
· 19 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
Oops! Think Namo miscalculated a little. Oh well back to the drawing board, a little R&R and Manwe and Company will be back in fighting form! Melkor ain't seen nothing yet!
More please,
Lynda
Author's reply
A bit optimistic there, aren't you? *grin* I think it'll take a bit more than some R&R before they're ready to face Melkor again. However, we'll see in the next chapter how it all turns out.
Larner
· 19 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
Ooh--nasty! And Melkor believes he has won? Oh, but he does not know, does he? And so the flat planet will substitute, will it? Interesting. And Melkor doesn't know about the tenth dimension and what awaits there. The day will come when the world will not be so much bent, perhaps, as replaced.
Author's reply
As to what Melkor knows or suspects and what he does not know or can imagine... we will see how it all plays out. Melkor may have dismissed Atar, but that doesn't mean Atar won't act, though not necessarily in the way everyone expects or hopes, as we will soon see.
Kaylee
· 19 June 2008
· Chapter 31: The Death of Hope
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sobs miserably* No, no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the hands of the enemy...But why?? Why hasn't Atar intervened???? What's to happen now??? They can't just give up like this...No!!!!!!!! Fiondil, meldonya! Please tell me this is going to get better...
~Kaylee
*sobbing*
Author's reply
All you have to do is read the Silmarillion to find out how it all ends.
Tari
· 18 June 2008
· Chapter 3: The Máhanumaz
“Being loved by Love” is the most wonderful thing I have read in your stories to date. What a beautiful thing to say and isn’t that how we should feel about God?
I know someone like Estë. A real fanatic about neatness among other things. No way could I live with someone that bad. I’d have to pulverize him.
It’s so sad that someone like Melkor (Satan) who is so gifted and beautiful could reject all that was given him in a lust for power. Actually, to me it ‘s tragic.
Author's reply
And all that you say is true, except maybe about Estë. I don't think she's quite as bad as all that. *lol* Glad you are enjoying this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Tari
· 17 June 2008
· Chapter 2: Beacons Lit
The four Valar forming a square and clothed in brilliant, colorful flames would be an awesome sight to behold. Their beautiful song, beyond our understanding. Now Namo must learn to trust himself. His instincts are good.
The extent of your knowledge amazes me. I listened to the different Pulsars. The last one didn’t last too long. It hurt my ears.
Tari
Author's reply
Well my knowledge isn't all that great and I do have people who have greater knowledge with whom I converse, so I am able to use them as resources. At any rate, I thought it would be fun for people to 'hear' what the Valar and Maiar heard and how they used the pulsars to 'keep time'.
I think it would have been an awesome sight to behold -- the four Valar clothed in their aurae singing their song of pure mathematics, beautiful beyond our understanding.
Námo has to indeed trust himself though unfortunately circumstances will arise that will make it difficult for him to do.
Tari
· 17 June 2008
· Chapter 1: Riding the Fireball
So, Melkor has started weaving his web of evil already. Good for Namo. Even at a young age he shows great wisdom by seeing thru Melkor’s ploy. If I had a favorite Valar it would be him. However, I love them all.
Playtime among the stars is good. Even they could use a little R & R every now and then.
I had a better reply yesterday, but my keyboard decided not to work and I lost the whole thing. I had to totally shut down in order for it to work again. Unfortunately, I can remember whit I wrote.
Tari
Author's reply
Well, what you wrote here is fine. *grin* Námo is indeed young (they all are to one degree or another) but he's not a fool and knows where his allegiance lies. And like all created beings even the Valar and Maiar need some "downtime" and 'play' is an integral part of any creature's make-up.
Calenlass Greenleaf
· 16 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Oh, I remember the nine suns story...think I heard when I was in second grade during some boring Chinese class on Saturday, whcih was the only thing I actually paid attention that day. But I never gave it much thought. Until now, that is. :) It's an interesting idea.
~Cal
Author's reply
In one of the six primary schools in Manzhouli (Inner Mongolia) where I taught third graders, on the wall outside the classroom they've painted the legend in a series of murals. My Chinese teacher told me the story and it just struck me as a neat concept to use for this story, so way back in chapter 4 when Melkor was fooling around in Varda's nursery, the germ of this present chapter was being planted based on that particular legend.
6336
· 15 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Hi Fiondil, I have received a New Chapter Alert for Wars, but all I get is an error message saying the chapter/story combination is incorrect, does Nilmandra have another glitch or did you miss stike a key?
Lynda
Author's reply
hit the wrong key. Sorry about that. Next chapter will be up later in the week so keep your eyes peeled.
eiluj
· 14 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Hi, Fiondil. It's me again. *Not* trying to harass you or drive you crazy or anything, but still curious. 8-)
Julie: Do we know what Dáhanigwishtelgun translates as?
Fiondil: The definition is at the end of the chapter. Perhaps you simply didn't see it.
[A/N at end of chapter: Dáhanigwishtelgun: (Valarin) The original name for Taniquetil.]
Julie again: Yes, I saw the A/N, and I understand that it was the Valarin name for Taniquetil. But did it mean the same as Taniquetil (which apparently means "high white peak")? Or did it mean something else (and if so, what?)? Or did Tolkien just not say what it means, so we assume it probably means "high white mountain"?
"From the top of the mountain on Erumëambar where Námo had had his encounter with Atar and which they were beginning to refer to as Dáhanigwishtelgun" -- If my list of planet names is correct (you know me: I made another chart in Word), they're on Mars. And Taniquetil isn't on Mars. So this was a different mountain. So I'm wondering if Dáhanigwishtelgun translates as something like "the tallest mountain on the planet" that would apply both to Taniquetil and to Olympus Mons -- because apparently the Valar used the same name for two different mountains. Which I would think would be confusing -- but then I don't have their IQ.
Sorry: very literal brain. (Blaming it on my genes.)
Author's reply
Dáhanigwishtelgun is the Valarin name for Taniquetil that Tolkien gives it. I merely transplanted the name to Olympus Mons as an explanation as to where the name originated. I didn't change the meaning of the word, simply gave a background to it. Olympus Mons is the tallest mountain in our solar system and Taniquetil was supposed to be the tallest mountain on Earth, taller than Mt. Everest. So when the Valar built Taniquetil they simply transferred the name from one mountain to the next. Taniquetil is merely the Quenya adaptation of the original Valarin word. Make sense now?
Kitty
· 14 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
It is fun to watch Námo and Vairë together, kissing and flirting even in the middle of the chaos and Vairë refusing to leave him alone :) That calls for a Valar wedding as soon as Melkor is out of the way!
This battle must have been quite the spectacle – Star Wars is paling in comparison.
These Urushigasumaz (argh, that word is nearly as bad as the password for the doors of Thranduil’s stronghold!) are nasty monsters, that’s for sure. How terrible for Ancalequirindë to realise one of them was her brother! And I wonder how she feels when she learns that they are all destroyed. Poor girl. But these monsters need to be destroyed, and I am anxious to know how Námo and Oromë are planning to do that. It is distressing to think they have to destroy Námo’s and Vairë’s world for this purpose!
Well, one good did come out of this whole mess – Námo’s uncertainty seems to have vanished; it was satisfying to watch him take charge and even tell Manwë what to do. And I have to agree that it is about time that they take action instead of staying in the defensive, always waiting what Melkor is about to do next.
Author's reply
Námo and Vairë are a real pair, arent' they? *grin*
Better than Star Wars, huh? I'm pleased. Yeah, Valarin is a real jaw-breaker. I'm glad the Valar adopted Quenya instead. LOL I imagine there were a number of Máyar who had brothers/sisters on Melkor's side... it must have been terrible for the Máyar to have to fight against them, but they made their choice and in the end that is what the Máyar had to keep in mind.
Námo has begun to reclaim himself again and become the great Valar we all know and love. *grin* Not that there won't be setbacks, as there are with any healing, but he's well on the road to recovery and is taking charge of his life again.
Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Tari
· 13 June 2008
· Chapter 0: An Explanation
This sounds so exciting. I can't wait to start. You know I can't not be reading one of your stories. I am totally hooked.
Tari
Author's reply
Happy reading.
Ces
· 13 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
While I know this is a serious chapter, I couldn't help but feel as if I was in a planetarium, gazing up and watching the battle took place. I was ducking right along with Námo and the rest!
Can't wait to see what Námo and Oromë have in mind! Whatever it is I'm sure it will be good.
Ces
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed the show, Ces! The next showing of 'Space Battles of the Valar will be at....' LOL We'll see soon enough what Námo and Oromë have in mind.
eiluj
· 12 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Do we know what Dáhanigwishtelgun translates as?
Trust Varda to recognize her stars!
I'm curious how you're going to explain why they decided not to neaten-up Tirisambar's orbit afterwards.
Also curious why Melkor will (I assume) eventually stop attacking the solar system and settle for simply trying to destroy the planet. (Though I suppose he and his People continue to lob comets and meteors at the planet, on general principle. They might get lucky someday....)
"her screams rent the very fabric of the universe" -- *shudder*
"Ambarhíni, however, has been ravaged by nuclear fire" -- Let me guess: the glassy plains in India/Pakistan that seem to indicate that the parts of the Mahabharata that sound suspiciously like nuclear warfare really happened?
Author's reply
i>Do we know what Dáhanigwishtelgun translates as?/i>
The definition is at the end of the chapter. Perhaps you simply didn't see it.
I will probably address the question of why the Valar didn't bother to put the solar system back the way it was before Melkor ruined it.
I think once the Valar are firmly established on Arda Melkor's focus will be just on that planet. He rather strikes me as being myopic (but Evil usually is) in that regard.
This is way too early in Earth's history for such places as the glassy plains of India/Pakistan but that's not to say that such did not occur later in history. Perhaps the Mahabharata is merely recording something that happened even earlier that what is suggests and the events have been placed in more historical timems. *grin*
Larner
· 12 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
The logistics of the battle sound pretty drastic. And here sister has had to face brother in the first internecine war. Horrible situation whenever it occurs.
Author's reply
The logistics of hte battle were a bear to plot out let me tell you. It's always a horrible situation when family members must face each across the divide like that.
Nieriel Raina
· 12 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Ah, what an exciting chapter! You had me really worried there for a moment. I don't like these new nuclear beings (I don't dare try to spell it from memory LOL). I hope Orome and Namo's plan works!
flames of pure star stuff - I LOVE this description!
Creating a diversion - Oh how history repeats itself, eh?
Pickie: Pain the like of which he had never experienced, not even under Melkor’s torture, coursed through him
Great chapter and as usual, great cliffie!
Author's reply
Thanks for the heads-up on the verb... I think I meant to ccrrect it and then forgot.
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and found it exciting. The next one should be even more so. Thanks for reviewing.
6336
· 12 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Just how does one beat a Super Balrog, Glorfindel is never around when you need him is he, though even he would have found one of these just a little beyond his capabilities!?
Namo and Vaire just don't seem to be able to keep their hands off each other do they , I wish them joy!
Yes,I expect Melkor would be a little upset that 3 of his creations have been distroyed. Oh well 3 down 9 to go, let's hope the plan works.(well we know it does, but still it's nice to know the details)!
More please,
Lynda
(Are you getting Review Alerts yet, it must be frustrating not knowing how your work is being received?)
Author's reply
Yes, I'm receiving Review Alerts, thank you. I just needed to contact Nilmandra and they fixed the problem on their end.
As for Námo and Vairë... well, young love... what can I tell you? LOL
We'll see in the next chapter just how successful their plans are to destroy the Urushigasumaz. Thanks for reviewing.
Kaylee
· 12 June 2008
· Chapter 30: The Battle of Twelve Suns
Ai, meldonya!!!
Things just keep getting worse and worse for Namo and Vaire and the other Valar!!! And now Namo and Vaire's world will have to be destroyed *hugs them* though I suppose I knew it would be. Still, I found some things to laugh at in this chapter...
Uranus being knocked on its side made me laugh for some reason. I've always wanted to know why it rotates that way. Now I know. :D
And I LOVED your rendition of the Chinese legend!!!! Here's hoping all goes well with Orome, Vaire and Namo's hunt!!
~KAYLEE!!!
Author's reply
And I'm afraid it gets even worse before it gets better...
I enjlyed giving reasons why the solar system is as it is today. *grin* And I'm happy you like my rendition of the Chinese legend. When I learned of it I knew it just had to incorporate it in this story somehow; it was too good not to. Thanks for reviewing.
Oh, my goodness. I know the world isn't destroyed so I have hope that it will all turn out okay in the end, but I'm worried about what the cost is going to be. Are those Balrogs that came out of the stars? It sounds like it, but I'm not sure.
It was interesting listening in on Namo and Orome's conversation about how they wanted to go on the offensive. I certainly hope they don't go and do something that Manwe doesn't want them to and get in trouble by being out of place.
When are Name and Vaire just going to tie the knot! :)
Author's reply
We'll find out exactly what came out of the stars in the next chapter and what effect they have on the war. As for Námo and Oromë... they may want to do one thing but they are both wise enough to obey Manwë, though that doesn't mean that in the heat of battle all orders will be forgotten. We'll just have to see.
As for Námo and Vairë... as soon as they tell me, I'll let you know. LOL
Thanks for reviewing, Radbooks. I really appreciate it.