Reviews of With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

fliewatuet · 10 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor, poor Sam! But I marvel at his persistence to not give in to the many suggestions for "improvements". A very entertaining read :-) Thanks for writing and sharing.

Author's reply

You're very welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll pass your sympathies on to Sam, who has finally gotten around to forgiving me. Took him long enough. Though I guess I did put him through quite a bit. Ah well. Thank you for the review!

Mairi · 8 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

I was amused and touched as only really entertaining writing can touch one. I've never read anything of the sort before, though I understand they exist. At one point, though, you end a sentance with ?! Please choose one or the other.

Author's reply

Thank you very much for the review, and I'm glad you found it amusing. I'm not quite sure what you meant when you said you hadn't read anything of the sort before, but if by that you meant parodies or crack!fic, then I encourage you to explore the genre. There are some really good ones out there. Concerning the ?!, thanks for the comments on that. Normally I don't combine the two, but when I venture into the more satirical writing, I tend to subscribe to its school of thought, which is fairly relaxed when it comes to punctuation. But I'll keep your advice in mind for the future. Thanks again!

Linda Hoyland · 4 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor Sam !I wonder what the characters would say to us about how we depict them?A delightful story.

Author's reply

Huh. What would the characters say about our depictions? Actually, it seems to me as though somebody wrote that one. Lindalea, maybe? If not, I know somebody out there did a quick little story about the characters discussing fanfiction writers. If you're interested, try Lindalea. I think it might have been her. And thank you for the review!

Redheredh · 4 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

This was excellent! I really enjoyed how you played with the whole idea of each hero’s concerns about their reputations and bad press! I laughed out loud at how things escalated out of control for our poor editor/publisher Sam. Everything that led up to his headache was a good set up for the result. The end with Faramir so gallantly and flauntingly coming to his rescue - and then taking advantage of the opportunity to have his own say - was very very amusing! But, the further along I read (and laughed), the more it struck me that you weren’t just having a bit of humorous fun with these guys. Now, I mean this as a compliment and in the most admiring way possible, but you were actually saying something about fanfiction authors and their readers! Sometimes, their betas! So much of what you had the guys saying fell in line with the gloriously satisfying activity of gap-filling and rationalizing! I could just hear a fervent author’s voice behind her favorite character’s protesting abuse from the pens of others. ;) And, offering more appropriate supplemental bits to Tolkien’s tale. Which was indeed written from Frodo’s pov! “Mr. Frodo didn’t intend to leave those things out...” “... don’t know how Mr. Frodo learned about it. But, I am sure he thought it was good to include.” :D And oh, how we love to enhance! “... for in the portrayal of various battles... ” “... a ranger worth his star... “ Loved that clever turn of phase! “... quite talented when it came to elven phrases.” “... few dwarven words in the text... ” Also, tinker with those neglected, mysterious, and unfinished ideas. “... the West Gate. They elected to call it the Black Pit... It was certainly not called such at the time.” Ha! “... the war against Dol Guldur?... Lonely Mountain and Dale... ” “... the road from Imladris to Moria... Why is so much absent?” “... as though her change of heart happened in but a moment.” Of course, these are... ”... the part that I am attempting to correct... ” *G* Exactly! My goodness, what author - at the hands of their beta or their reviewers - has not felt like Sam, at some point? There was a whole underlying layer to this story, whether you intended it or not, that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Author's reply

Hey Redheredh, First of all, thank you so much for such an insightful review, and in particular, kudos to catching the throwback to real authors and their own work. :) I actually don't have many complaints on that score because I've been blessed with VERY good betas and readers, but I do know others who haven't been nearly as fortunate. And once in a while, they vent to me about it. So in a way, this story goes out to them. Of course, on some level, I think anybody who writes can sympathize with Sam, because even if you haven't had the Three Hunters nitpicking their way through your story, the fear that something like this might happen is still very real. Anyway, on more specifics, I'm glad you liked Faramir's entrance at the end as that was one of my favorite parts of the story. And ultimately, I think you do have to wonder how this would have been different had Gimli or Boromir taken a stab at writing it. Well, I guess it would be substantially shorter in Boromir's case, but you get the idea. :) Thank you again for such a thorough review!

Agape4Gondor · 4 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Oh my goodness!!!! I don't think I've ever read anything of yours before - now I must scramble and find and read it all. This was absolutely a delight. Hysterical to the nth degree. I'm here at work on a quick break and I am stiffling - yes stiffling my laughter. Excellent account. Poor Sam - mayhap this incident is what drove the man to seek out the West??? Again - delightful. Thank you for sharing.

Author's reply

Thank you so much for taking the time to review! Sorry I happened to catch you at work with this story, though. I've been in that situation before! :) Anyway, I'm glad it gave you a laugh, and I'll join your sympathies to mine with poor, poor, Sam. I really did feel sorry for him while writing it. Anyway, thank you again for the review! Hope I didn't get you into trouble at work!

anonymous · 4 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Fantastic!! I can't wait for the next chapter!

Author's reply

Thank you very much for the compliment, though I have to say that this was the only chapter. I hadn't planned to write anything on this story beyond what is already there. So sorry about that!

Naledi · 3 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

A very enjoyable story! The humour works really well and I liked the way you had the characters quibbling about statements that actually occur in the books. Your characters always come across as real people rather than 2-dimensional heroes.

Author's reply

Wow. What a compliment! Thank you for your remarks on characterization. That means a lot to me, especially since I wondered just how far OOC I was pushing the boys for this particular story. So your comments meant a lot, and once again, I thank you for them!

Ziggy · 3 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

WooHOO!! WE HAVE GOT YOU BACK! Another story so quickly- yey(is that how you spell it?) I LOVE this- like a postscript to the Ring goes south and Journey in the Dark- two wonderful stories I keep returning to again and again when I need cheering up! I loved the interaction between the characters- and poor Sam left to clear up Frodo's mess -AGAIN! My favourite bit is Aragorn trying to get the book from legolas and Legoals shouldering him out of the way.Yes- I have always felt that Tolkien left out some VERY important bits and really focused on the hobbits- I am with Gimli and Legolas. Oh- and Aragorn complaining he looked weary- love that! And Lewgolas completely failing to appreciate Sam's sense of delicacy in not revealing it was he who told Frodo about Gimli's hesitation. What is wonderful is your way of completely undermining (in a most affectionate and appreciative way though) the whole 'heroic' genre. Faramir's deception I saw coming but enjoyed it all the more becasue Sam did not realise and I waited for his momnet of realsiation - brilliant. PS Happy to hear you are working on updating another story- even though you are VERY cruel to porr Gimli in the desert! Just so pleased you are back with us!!

Author's reply

Hey Ziggy! Thank you so much for your very kind review. I especially like the idea that I can undermine the heoric genre. That wasn't exactly what I set out to do, but I do enjoy taking the heroes down a notch or two. I guess it makes them more accessible to me, which is probably cheating, but I guess that's okay. I was also thrilled to hear you liked Legolas shouldering Aragorn away. That had the potential of being cut from some of the draft versions, but in the end, it was decided that the imagery was too amusing to let it go. And I was a little too attached to it, too. So it's good to hear that there are some out there who really enjoyed it. So thank you very much again! You made my day. As for Gimli in the desert...well, I'm working on it. He's not being very cooperative, though.

Raksha The Demon · 3 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Oh, poor Sam! Everyone's a critic, even Faramir! Loved the Legolas/Gimli one-upmanship; and Aragorn disputing that he had been tired during the journey to Rivendell. Very original and amusing.

Author's reply

Thank you so much for the review, and I'm glad you liked the discussion. I was rather fond of Faramir's appearance in the end, so I'm glad you liked it, too. As for Legolas and Gimli...well, what can I say? They're my weakness and I have to let them fight it out now and then, so it's good that they were enjoyable. Thank you again for the review!

tnt2b2 · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Sam is in need of a disclaimer: This book has been edited for time and content. I also loved how Faramir put his own two cents in under the guise of Sam's savior. Enjoyable story! As I said before, it is good to read one of your works again.

Author's reply

Thank you for the review, and I'll definitely pass along the suggestion of a disclaimer to poor Samwise. He's still reeling slightly. Glad you liked Faramir's inclusion, too. That was one of my favorite parts in the story, so I'm thrilled that others enjoyed it. Thank you again!

Armariel · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Delightful! Wow, poor old Sam...and then Faramir gets in on it too! What a great touch! *tosses Sam a bottle of Advil* ~~~~{~@

Author's reply

Sam gratefully accepts the Advil and wonders where he can get more of it. Aragorn has become a bit stingy with the willow bark tea. :) Thank you for the review, and I'm thrilled you enjoyed Faramir's part. I couldn't quite let him get away, so I had to doom poor Sam in the end. Hopefully he'll forgive me one day. I think your Advil might help with that...

Antane · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor Sam! But fun to read and I love Faramir's rescue, at least until he compounded Sam's headache. The poor dear. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author's reply

Thank you very much for the review, and I'm glad you liked Faramir's inclusion. I just couldn't let Sam off the hook, though, so Faramir had to have some gripe. But I was rather fond of his rescue, too, so many thanks for the compliments on that!

Larner · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor, poor Samwise Gamgee! He's in for it now, isn't he? And a whole bunch of complaints he can't do a thing about! Wonderful laughs! Thanks!

Author's reply

You're very welcome for the laughs, and thank you so much for taking the time to review. Yup, I think Sam should just lay low for the rest of his stay in Gondor. That would definitely be the wisest course of action. Thank you again!

Elentarri · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Hi This was a rather amusing bit of fluff :-) Very nicely written though. Please post more goodies :-) Thank you Happy writing Tanya

Author's reply

Yes, VERY fluffy. But I enjoyed writing it, so I suppose that counts for something. :) Thank you for the review, and I'll work on "goodies."

Dreamflower · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor Sam!! I bet now he knows why Frodo left before anyone else could read the book! LOL! *shakes head* I do love the way your mind works!

Author's reply

Ah, so that's why Frodo headed for the Undying Lands. I hadn't thought of it quite that way, but I think you may be on to something. Maybe that's why Sam ultimately left, too. :) Thanks for both the insight and the review!

Jay of Lasgalen · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor Sam! I can imagine how he feels - all these heroes of the Fellowship wanting their moment of glory to be shown - but not their weariness! I particularly liked the images as Aragorn tried to snatch the book from Legolas, and Legolas's attempts to thwart him :>) Jay

Author's reply

Hey Jay! Thank you so much for the review, and in particular, thank you for commenting on Legolas hiding the book. There was some discussion during the drafts as to whether or not that was too OOC, but in the end, it was decided to keep it in. I liked it a little too much to let it go, anyway, so I'm glad you liked it, too. I wasn't entirely sure that it would go across. So thank you again! You've made my day.

mistry89 · 2 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Poor Sam! I can see this being one Good Idea Turned Bad he never forgets! Thank you :)

Author's reply

Hey! I sent you a reply via FF.net, but just in case you didn't get it there, I'll add a quick note of thanks here, too. My sympathies also go out to Sam. :)

Adrianne · 1 September 2007 · Chapter 1: With Many "Fond" Acknowledgments...

Patience, thy name is Samwise. I think I would have told them all, including the King, to shut the heck up long before Faramir entered the mix. Beautifully done, Thundera. Your knowledge of Tolkien truly shines when you are weaving canon with your own brilliant twist on things. What a nice little end of the day treat this was! Thank you. Adrianne PS: I didn't know that Legolas and Gimli were counting coup at the Morannon either! Hahaha

Author's reply

Thank you so much for this review, and I agree: Sam has more patience than I would have had. As for Legolas and Gimli...well, if they went so far as to have a contest at Helm's Deep, I figured it wasn't too big a step to carry that contest on, especially since Legolas lost the first round. Thank you again!

Reviews (18)