News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| All the Tides of the World by Fiondil | 6 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Aiwen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/7/2009 |
| I just wanted to say that I've been reading some of your older works today (like this one) and I am very impressed by the sheer scope of the history you have imagined and fleshed out. I had completely given up trying to make middle earth's history mesh at all with real world history and modern science, but your version almost-almost works. It is also extremely interesting to read. I didn't think it could be done. Wow. Thank you for writing. I am enjoying your stories very much. Author Reply: Hi Aiwen. Whoa! I was so surprised (pleasantly so) to wake up this morning to find this review. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. Now, after all this time, I can't remember what inspired me to write this story except I had been reading about a theory that the biblical Flood and the Flood stories of the Sumerians on which the biblical story is based may have been a memory of when the last ice age ended, which would explain the existence of flood myths in many disparate cultures that had no contact with one another. Anyway, I enjoy trying to match present-day scientific knowledge with the mythos of the Legendarium (as far as it can be done without damaging the beauty of the mythos). That is why in my tale "Wars of the Valar" I take great pains to present the universe as accurately as possible but allow for the mythos to shine through at the same time (such as having the Valar 'Sing' Arda into existence but the Song is a string of mathematical variables). A very delicate balancing act that I think is mostly successful. I hope you continue reading my older works and if you are so inclined please let me know what you think of them, good or bad. Thanks for your comments on this one. I really appreciate it. | |
| Tira | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/31/2007 |
| Again, you amaze me. Though all this is fiction (right? right? lol) it is so well written that it seems quite real, or almost as if it is an extension of the Professor's works. You aren't Tolkien reborn, are you? This has undercurrents of Noah and the Ark, or that is the feel I got from it. Author Reply: This story is indeed based, in part, on the biblical story of Noah, with a Middle-earth twist, as well as taking into account real-world knowledge of geological history, i.e. the last ice age and how it ended and merely extrapolating from that. If you read the Noah story it specifically states that the storm presaging the flood is seen coming from the south and that is the direction from which any tidal wave would come if the ice shelf covering Antarctica slipped. I'm pretty sure I'm not the Professor reborn (I don't believe in reincarnation anyway *grin*). | |
| Hildigrim | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2007 |
| This is a remarkable story, which I enjoyed very much. In particular, I liked the sensitive treatment of Arwen and Aragorn together. Although Aragorn felt he could not share the contents of his dream with her, Arwen's seal was specifically included on the message to Olorin and the Valar. I don't know how you intended that to be understood by the reader, but it struck me as a symbol of her continuing faith and submission, as well as unity with her spouse. Author Reply: Thank you for your review. I was surprised to see it, as it's been so long since I wrote this story. You're the first person to equate the A-glyph seal with Arwen; I don't think anyone else even bothered to notice that there were two seals on the message. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. | |
| websterans | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/13/2006 |
| Brillant! Fascinating concept, this entire set of stories you have here. Author Reply: Thank you. I appreciate your comments. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2006 |
| I enjoyed this look at the deeper and wider themes of Tolkien. The details were well done, from the thousands year old box with parchment that did not decay only in the presence of the Valar; the fear before Namo, of Olorin being sent for once again, of the weaving of an ice age into the story, and of Elrond's sons being the keepers of that box. You actually made me go look in Tolkien's works to see if I had missed this. :D Author Reply: I wanted to write something a little different from the usual stories about Middle-earth and as I had already mentioned the war against Helcaran that ended the Ice Age before our present era, I thought I would expand on that theme somewhat. It wasn't until I was "shown" the letter written by Aragorn to the Valar that it all came into place. I thought it was fun to give a mythological version of why the last ice age ended that would actually be "truer" than our scientific versions (and far more interesting). Glad you enjoyed all the deeper and wider themes, whether they were actually in Tolkien's writings or not. | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/19/2006 |
| I remember that comment about the war with Helcaran in your other story, Fiondil. Just a brief comment that inspired a great many questions in my mind. This story answers many of them and to connect those events that happen thousands of years in the future to Aragorn was fascinating. I loved the fact that Elladan and Elrohir were chosen to bear Aragorn's letter to Aman and be its Keepers until the time was right to reveal it. That Eru's hand is guiding all, year after year, generation after generation - orchestrating His Great Song - should be an encouragement and blessing to all that recognize that wondrous fact. Linda Author Reply: Thanks Linda, I appreciate your comments. I was having trouble with this story because of a plot element that didn't belong (I finally gave it to Alassiel who said she could use it) so I was having trouble trying to fill in the gap, so to speak, and while thinking about it the image of Aragorn writing a letter addressed to the Valar came to mind and the rest of the story flowed from there. Yes, I wanted to show how Eru's plans continued even past the Fourth Age. Tolkien made a point of stressing the fact that both elvish and divine (maia) strains had entered into certain houses of the Edain. I always thought there was a reason for it and have explored that reason in my other tales. And I thought having Elladan and Elrohir be the Keepers of the King's Trust a nice touch myself. | |