News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Back to the Valley by Thundera Tiger | 12 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Envinyatar | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2004 |
| I've never really been able to re-read the Hobbit after reading LOTR. It always seemed so ... childish, and that song was one of the prime examples. Well, you have now completely rehabilitated it - you have a gift for sudden switches in emphasis or register that illuminate things I haven't been aware of before, and I thank you for it. Speaking of Vogon poetry, that was the first thing that came to mind when Treebeard began to sing... Author Reply: *snort* Now I have this strange image of Treebeard at an Entmoot debating the merits of a new hyperspace bypass and urging them not to be hasty and that they should put up a notice in case anyone on earth wanted to protest... Anyway, you're very welcome for the story, and I hope the sudden switches weren't too jarring. This story was meant to be a *little* jarring, though, just because I wanted the song and the Tra-la-la-lally to have a good entrance. Anyway, many thanks for the review, and also thanks for the image of Treebeard pondering the purpose of digital watches. | |
| Eruvyweth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2004 |
| Oh. So sad. I wonder what the Elf's name was. Poor little guy. (Sniff.) Love your title. Ah, me, well, that was my dose of tragic fanfiction for the day. Time to go and read some humor. Buh-bye. ~egf Author Reply: Glad you liked. I was rather fond of the title myself, and I'm curious as to whether anyone recognized what song he remembered by the title before he actually began singing it. There aren't a lot of "The Hobbit" scholars out there, but there are enough. Anyway, enjoy whatever humor you choose to read, and I'm glad I could provide you with your RDA of tragic fanfiction. ;) | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2004 |
| That was absolutely chilling. I can't get the poor elf out of my mind now. So, if you are through with the story, he perishes in the fall of Barad-dur. I realize that it would mean release for him but it's still so sad. It seems the more that fic writers explore Tolkein's world, the greater the extremes of beauty and sadness they uncover. What would be interesting, if you changed your mind and decided to go on and have him escape or be rescued, (nudge-nudge, wink-wink), would be how he recovered from the state he took on---if he could recover. It's a gut-wrenching fic as it is, though. Dang. Ouch. Bravo. TF Author Reply: *dodges nudges and attempts to ignore winks* Many thanks for the review, and I'm flattered you think this would be worthy of continuing. But in all honesty, I don't see how it could be. I really am very satisfied with how it was, so this is how it will probably stay. But feel free to continue it yourself if you feel so motivated! Thanks again for the review! | |
| Estel_Mi_Olor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Beautiful. Very harrowing to read about that poor Elf and how he was tortured. But I think the most piercing part of this fic was the fact that the Elf chose not to remember. How he tried to forget. I don't think people, generally speaking, can imagine a situation so bad that they would want to forget the memories of their past life. It is a human trait to want to remember. But then again Elves aren't human, are they? ;) Thank you and keep writing! Author Reply: No, elves are definitely not human, and I think that's certainly part of why he forgot. The fact that he *could* forget says something about him, too, and the fact that he was willing to in order to protect his home says something about his devotion to Rivendell and his kin. So he didn't forget because his situation is so bad. He forgot in order to protect, which I find to be an intriguing notion, especially since he still clings to his forgetfulness even though he can't remember why it's important that he do so. Thank you for the review! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Poor elf. I hope he finds peace before too much longer. Silly songs, poetry, times tables - I believe they have all been used in similar circumstances. Nuns and priests recite the Bible and prayer books to themselves and I would imagine Muslims could use the Qu'ran in the same way. Author Reply: You know, there are some out there who think the elf died at the end of the story. So I suppose it's possible that he's found peace. Then there are others (like you) who think he's still alive. And I find this all very interesting, because I wrote it with the idea that he's still alive, but I left it vague enough for other interpretations. I was actually wondering if anybody would view it a different way because in my mind it was absolutely clear that he was still alive. Interesting... Many thanks for the review! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| As I recall, isn't there a "Ha! Ha!" in there somewhere? This was chilling, and the juxtaposition of the silly song and the torment made it more so. Author Reply: O! tril-lil-lil-lolly the valley is jolly, ha! ha! Yup. In the first occurrence of the song, there are three lines with "ha! ha!" in them. There are also beards wagging and various other strange things. Thanks for the comments, and I'm glad you liked the inane song matched up against the grim and gloom of Mordor. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Very good. I wonder who the poor elf was, and how he was captured? I wondered if he had been captured with Celebrķan, but not if he was in Imladris when Bilbo returned with Gandalf. Jay Author Reply: Enter the oh-so-convenient plot device of making the elf forget everything. ;) Seriously, though, my own omnisicent authorial story involves an expedition with the Rangers around the southern boundaries of the Misty Mountains that went horribly wrong and resulted in several deaths and one or two prisoners. It would have taken place sometime after Bilbo and Gandalf passed through on the return journey, but not too long after because it's my impression that this elf has been a prisoner for a while. At least fifty or sixty years. *shrugs* That's just my theory, but as our unnamed elf has forgotten, I guess we'll never know for sure. | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| It is an effective device, I believe, and I think that the inanity of the song/ doggerel/thing reinforces the horrible situation of the poor elf. I'm not one for demanding updates, but that elf is just left hanging there .... Author Reply: If you're asking for an update on this particular story, I'm sorry to say that there's no more. That's it. It's one of those bittersweet endings where it's good for a while but you know it won't last. If you're talking about another story...ah, you'll have to be a bit more specific. I've got a few elves hanging in a few more stories. Anyway, thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked the contrast of song and setting! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Vivid pictures, strong emotions, defiant hope in the middle of hopelessness. I will never read those parts (the two times the song is song) of The Hobbit again in quite the same way. Thanks! Author Reply: Glad you liked it! I'm not going to think of the song the same way again, either, so I suppose I'll have very good company! | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Ah, very creative, Thundera! I will no longer cringe from inanity when I read that song. I will cringe from associating it with heinous torture. - Barbara Author Reply: ... Which one is better, do you suppose? The inanity or the torture? I think I actually prefer the torture... But at least now you have variety in your cringing! That has to count for something. | |