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| Beech Leaves by Redheredh | 6 Review(s) |
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| Kitt Otter | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/23/2008 |
| Ach, the Elf kindreds give me a headache. I could stare at the tree in the back of the Silm for hours and still not understand it. With oversimplification, it is divided between those who went on and Journey (with the many branches of slackers and the few who actually arrived) and those who had refused?? I almost would think that he was killed in the kin-slaying but I guess his being in Greenwood, nope. (I think I am catching on now! :)) Rostaro’s crafty: Not yet met his spouse! I thought it was interesting about the reborn children– I had just wondered about that yesterday when reading this and am glad you addressed it. I must admire Aramille and her sisters’ patience and persistence - A really, really strange job they have, reintroducing the reborn into their lives. -Kitt Author Reply: *g* I totally understand. There are actually only three important groups: Calaquendi/Amanyar - lived in The Uttermost West in the Light of the Trees, Moriquendi/Umanyar - lived in the West(western ME) blessed by the presence of Thingol and Melion, Avari/Unwilling - never left the East. The first two kindreds made it practically en total to Aman, and the Noldor became the writers of history so it is from their perspective. The Avari never truly came into ME history. It is the diversity within the Teleri that causes the most confusion; for everybody, even the Noldor. See? Solving this was easy. ;) Rostaro craves order and uses his cleverness to that goal. I think the Professor was not as concerned about the question of children in the matter of elves. Ulbanis and her community are based on medieval hospital orders. These orders are one reason you will hear a nurse addressed as 'sister' in long established British hospitals. I appreciate the reviews very much. :) | |
| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/13/2005 |
| It just occurred to me that I haven't yet reviewed chapters 3 and 4 of this story. I got the bad news I was expecting right in the middle of doing so, and haven't had a chance or the heart to finish it. But this story certainly deserves it! -- You've got me intrigued by Rostaro, and reborn infants. I'm wondering about his backstory, which I'm absolutely sure you've got scribbled down somewhere or another. Yet again, you show your great skill in creating a world populated not just by the characters we know, but by the realistic, behind-the-scenes people who make the world run. -- "She had heard very little of the grey princes’ doings since the muddled rumors that Finarfin wanted to be rid of them, especially his son-in-law." Ha! I'm wondering how much of that is truth, and how much is the rumor mill. - "However I think, for most of those that do, at their heart’s last beat and falling into final unconsciousness, they concede. The very thing that preserved them cheats them of their chosen End. Their orë will not let them expire." I loved that explanation! It is very Silvan. That they would wish to remain, but that their own stubbornness will not permit it. -- "Sunburn was not the worst that had happened to those first eldar returned to life." Great line! Author Reply: Bejai, I hope things work out. Thanks for being so kind to review each chapter. I am surprised, but a lot of people have expressed curiousity about Rostaro. Yes, I do indeed know exactly who he is. However, I really do not know where he is going from here. Maybe, Bodkin will want to take him along for a while. A lot of 'rumor mill' actually, as you suspect. But, when you think about how the movement in 'Far Horizons' both stirred and smoothed the Amanyar political scene, it is easy to understand why Ulbanis might hear such things. If you mean they would rather remain a part of ME and forego Aman, but they instictivly choose life (hope) over death, you're right. And life for an elf is dying to be reborn, to live until the End. I see the Silvan as tenacious survivors. Only those with great willpower could 'cast their spirits on the wind' as Bodkin likes to describe it. These people are not unhoused spirits or ghosts. I think of them being somewhat like the Little Mermaid - the way Hans Christian Anderson wrote it. Ya know, I have a few stories about the first reborn in mind and they are not all forgivness and peace stories. To pass beyond the circles of the world is a great gift. I am glad you found something of interest in this chapter. ;) | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/10/2005 |
| Wow! The politics here seem to be as entangled as they were in Middle Earth! Finarfin wanting to get rid of Celeborn and Galadriel? Now, that puzzles me a bit… Well, knowing how much you appreciate certain... Sindarin elf... I can grant you your heaetd praise of the third kindred ;-) I believe I can guess where this is leading.... ;-) Rostaro is wonderful. He’s such an interesting character…he has all the sincerity one would ascribe to a Valinor born elf, and their playfulness, but with a soft touch of his uncertain, second upbringing. He’s kind of a singularity, too, isn’t he? IT is a most curious thing, too, for in fact this is his first life… I wonder how he died and what happened to know… we’ll never get to know, I suspect, but it’s a nice back story! Author Reply: Politics or just society? Not even close to raal politics yet. Now, those were muddled rumours after all. News will get distorted depending on who is repeating it. Yes, perhaps I was projecting onto Rostaro a little bit...but then, I would not write about them if I did not think them worth some words. Thank you for liking Rostaro. But, he not so unusual, I think, except that he had a childhood interest in the Sindar that was fed by the reborn coming through his amille's house. Lots of little boys are fascinated by wild indians, but how many become knowledgable experts in their cultures and civilizations? I think he is singular in that. I always have a backstory... ];} | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/9/2005 |
| Your use of description in these first chapters is amazing - the reborn elf's senses reawakened, renewed - and how much he noticed speaks to his Teleri past...or more particularly, his Silvan past. His fall into despair, his guilt, the way he is hung in time and unable to move on is just heartrending. I suspected Oropher last chapter, and now I am more strongly sensing it is him. He is Sindar by birth, Silvan by choice. He died an unneeded death, perhaps, due to his pride. He likley died in his son's arms. And he probably feels like he deserted his people, even to the point of not staying as an unhoused spirit to be among them. Now I shall read further and see if I am correct. Author Reply: It is amazing to me how people pick out the same details and find different clues in them. ;) I am so glad you find this interesting! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/8/2005 |
| Sounds like a good choice of guide for this quest. Lovely use of the languages. Wish I knew them better myself. Author Reply: Yeah, Ulbanis knows her job and how to get it done. Thanks for reviewing! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/7/2005 |
| I had never really thought of the difficulty of babies being reborn. But of course it must be complicated - unless their mothers died in childbirth, I suppose, and they are reborn together. And they have no memories to regain, so it must be like being born the first time, only with no mother. I wonder if the Doomsman has enough common sense to send a message ahead so that a lactating mother can be found to act as wet-nurse. Somehow, I think not. 'She had heard very little of the grey princes’ doings since the muddled rumors that Finarfin wanted to be rid of them, especially his son-in-law.' Surely not! I'm sure Finarfin loved having Celeborn and Galadriel in his court. I do like the Third Kindred being so resilient, yet needing their kin so intensely. Feren can be difficult? Surely not! (And I do like Rostaro. And his Amille.) Author Reply: Well, not in Rostaro's case it seems. The fate of children who die young is a dilemma for many cosmologies. What sins have they to be forgiven or punished for? It seems unjust for them to be deprived of their chance at life. Heh! They were muddled rumors after all. You know how news gets distorted depending on who is repeating it. What good is the good life if you have no one to share it with? What good is bounty if not as a reason to generously celebrate? The Lindar do know how to party. ;) As for retreating so often - when they do take a stand, they do not budge. Hmm, resilient or just plain stubborn? I am very glad you like Rostaro and Ulbanis both. | |