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To See A World  by Nightwing 2 Review(s)
French PonyReviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/15/2003
Oh my goodness, lookee what I just found! This one's got it all! Thick plot, rich characterizations, an evolving relationship (as opposed to static), a plausible explanation and realistic expansion of a sudden handicap. . . .

It is indeed interesting to watch Legolas adjust to his blindness, from the initial panic and awkwardness to the beginnings of independence. Rather like what happened to Mary Ingalls, in a way. Now, thinking of Mary, I wonder if this blindness is reversible. High fevers that cause blindness do so either by frying the optic nerve, which is not one that really regenerates, so as to make the blindness permanent, or by causing something to swell up and pinch off the nerve. If the swelling goes down in time, the nerve might recover, but it may die from being pinched off anyway. I wonder. I shall have to see about that as this story goes on, for I am sure that it isn't over.

I like the cat. She is sweet and soft and cuddly.

I, too, am intrigued by the trap, partially for the mystery of who set it and why, and partially because I'd never heard of such a device used in Middle Earth before. I've seen spring traps like that, and they're rather more complex machines than generally seen in Middle Earth, I think.

And finally, before this review starts going pages and pages and I start writing a novel of my own here, the title was what really caught my eye. Your use of the phrase comes from the Blake poem, but my initial thought was that it was an adapted line from the hymn by Charles Wesley that goes

"O what hath Jesus bought for me,
Before my ravished eyes?
Rivers of life divine I see
And trees of paradise.
I see a world of spirits bright,
Who taste the pleasures there,
They all are robed in spotless white,
And conq'ring palms they bear."

The tune by J.P. Reese is a big powerful thumper with a fugue beginning on the line "I see a world of spirits bright," so your title immediately brought that hymn to mind.

Orophins DottirReviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/15/2003
I am now officially "de-lurking"! This is one of my favorite stories, despite the fact that it often makes my heart hurt. Again, our beloved prince is being dragged through the wringer, but I admit that the blindness is quite effective. It just grabs hold of you to have the elf robbed of what has always been one of his greatest strengths. "What do your elven eyes see, Legolas?" etc. I thought it was quite perceptive of Orlando Bloom when he said that it was his interpretation of his role that Legolas was the "eyes" of the fellowship and would see danger first. Chilling that in your story he no longer has this gift.

The elvencats who own me also approve of Squeeky and are glad that she will survive. Perhaps Master Elrond could use a good mouser? (Much as I love my own liege lord, I would not trust Thranduil with a cat!)

Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil


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