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| In Empty Lands by Larner | 11 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| MlleGigi | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/17/2015 |
| I very much like the fact that in this story, the reason why Boromir insists he must be the one who undertakes the journey to Rivendell is actually because he perceives his brother as being better qualified to inherit the White Rod than he himself is. Sadly, Tolkien doesn't tell us much about what Boromir is really like until after he's dead -- and some of what he shows us at first is actually not always very likeable. Boromir comes across as being a little arrogant and more than a little stubborn -- but even though there's no way to deny the fact that Faramir (who helps fill in some of the gaps later on) cannot be completely objective about his brother, it's obvious that Boromir must have had fine good qualities or else he would not have been allowed to join the Fellowship. I also find it interesting that one of the reasons why Boromir claims the adventure for himself is because he has reason to believe that the one who goes on the journey will not be coming back -- and that Denethor will recall his love for Faramir before the end. Not only is is in character for him, it hints at a degree of foresight which -- whether Boromir is aware of it or not -- implies that the blood of Numenor is every bit as strong in him as it is in his father and brother even though it might not be quite as obvious. Author Reply: I will admit that the very first time I read LOTR I was forced to read it out of order, as the various volumes were not in the library as I finished with the last, so I read FOTR, ROTK, TH, and TTT in that order. By the time I started TTT I had completely forgotten who Boromir was just as we started the planning by the Three Hunters of how to show proper respect to his body! Hey, it was back in 1963 or 64 and I was only thirteen or fourteen years old. It took me several years to fully appreciate just what kind of person Boromir was, must have been, or ought to have been. Like you, I felt that in order to be counted within the Fellowship he must have been an exceptional individual, but far more vulnerable to the Ring's blandishments than the rest. As I learned more about the nature of the Dunedain I felt he, too, must have shared many of the gifts known by that race. If he, too, reported the troubling dream then he obviously shared the gift of foresight with Faramir, and what might he have known through the office of that gift that his brother might have not received? I know that his fall to the Ring's wishes led to Frodo leaving the Fellowship at the proper, needful time; he recognized at the end that it was the Ring's will that had taken him, after all. He deserves far more respect than many give him, and I try to make him the full person he was or ought to have been, had the Master's work been more detailed. Thanks so! | |
| Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/8/2015 | |
| Love this. Love, love, love! Author Reply: I'm glad you do! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 12/21/2008 |
| Yes, I'm finally getting to this one! Wow, I never thought of that; but it makes sense. The echoing horn call reminds me of part of the extended radio drama, only that bit had to do with the last one, not the first. Author Reply: Oh--yes--the summons for aid that came too late! But as Boromir indicated he sounded the horn whenever he set out, he MUST have done so as he left Minas Tirith. And a signal that in many ways THIS is the true beginning of the quest itself as all are moving now toward the Council of Rivendell! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/15/2008 |
| So, *finally* I find a bit of time to read this! Can't believe how long it took me! Sorry! That's a nice way to connect the people of the Fellowship at this early stage, to have them all hear Boromir blowing the Horn of Gondor! Author Reply: Now I've managed to miss your review somehow! I'm sorry! Yes, let the Horn of Gondor call them each to his place. The game is about to begin! Thanks, Kitty! | |
| Kara's Aunty | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/13/2008 |
| Oh excellent! The start of the Quest from Boromir's PoV... An interesting premise, that the as-yet-unformed Fellowship heard the call of the Horn of Gondor. I'm hooked already! Maureen :) Author Reply: Indeed--perhaps indeed the Valar's way of indicating that the latest round in the great contest between Light and Dark now begins. Thanks so! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 10/28/2008 |
| What a good idea to start the story from how they all set forth.I'm enjoying this. Author Reply: Thank you so, Linda. Yes, the quest begins officially when the first one heads for Rivendell. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 10/27/2008 |
| Interesting that they would all hear the horn. I think the way you've brought them all together like this. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: The signal that the quest is officially beginning as one future member of the Fellowship sets off for the meeting in Rivendell. So glad you like it. | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 10/27/2008 |
| Oh, I like the idea that the members of the Fellowship were fated somehow to be together. And Irmo warning Gandalf! Cool! I will enjoy seeing Boromir's perspective of how everything played out. (The board is set...the pieces are moving...) Yeah! linda Author Reply: I have always loved Gandalf seeing the war against the Enemy as a great, dreadful, dangerous game of chess; that he would see this true from the start just seemed likely. And as I've rarely included Boromir in my stories, I thought I'd try him--although I admit these first two chapters were written to lead to the third, and you can blame Raksha for that! Heh! | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 10/27/2008 |
| Bravo! Awesome beginning - needless to say, I'll be looking forward to reading more of this. I absolutely adored the thought that the members of the Fellowship might, indeed, have heard the Horn's call. *shivers* Excellent beginning. Author Reply: Oh, yes, the board is being made ready now, and the call for the game to begin given, sounded by Boromir himself! Those who will be part of the Fellowship are being warned, even if only Gandalf so far understands of what. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 10/27/2008 |
| I do love the way that you take a small snippit from the Master and run with it in all sorts of logical directions. Of course Boromir would have sounded his horn before setting out from Minas Tirith. Dying to hear more of this. Author Reply: Oh, thank you! Good to hear from you here! Hope all is going calmly with your folks. This all started with Raksha's birthday request.... Anyway, yes, Boromir said he'd sound his horn ere he started out, so I figured he must have done so then. And what might the others have been doing at that moment? Had to speculate.... | |