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Pearl of Great Price  by Lindelea 3 Review(s)
FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 29 on 1/15/2004
I had just been re-reading the early chapters to see if the dog had been named, when I came across Pip being excited at the description of a wild boar hunt. That's a pretty cruel turnaround for Pip to have memories of laughing with the Thain and his escort mixed amongst the terror of this desperate chase. It also reminds me to read carefully - there are few idle words in your stories. But I didn't find a name for the dog.

Now I see Pip is being taken back to the Smials, where he will be re-united with his father and sister if not the rest of the family. It had been in the back of my mind that this story was so close to completion, the action must go back there since from the beginning the teaser intro has pointed to the death of Lalia. Accidents are not likely to have a drawn-out buildup, but there will be plenty of fallout to deal with, including the reprecussions on Pearl and the establishment of the sucessor to Ferumbras.

I've been thinking a bit about that in light of your reply to the previous review. I've always assumed part of the reason Merry and Pip were so close was because they were little princes to two of the most important positions in the Shire: the Master of Buckland and the Thain, as well as cousins, and thus they would naturally socialize. But of course, Paladin wasn't Thain when Pip and Merry began their relationship, he was simply brother-in-love to Sara, who was heir to the Master. How did Eglantine as a farmer's daughter end up married into such an important position? Yet she was not simply a farmer's daughter. By blood, she was gentry despite her father's choice to leave the Smials, and the match would be 'suitable'. Paladin has to know how close he is to the Thainship by blood, but he seems to totally disregard it, save to think sending Pearl to the Smials will allow her to make a better marriage than she would as a 'farmer's daughter.' As Ferumbras ages with decreasing chances of producing an heir, did it not begin to weigh on Paladin's mind - or was it a case of the cares of the day being sufficient? And then, to compare with Ferdi, he is of fairly similar social standing, I think, until the fire. He's close in age to Merry, and visited Paladin's household nearly as often, but the relationship of the children is not as close as that of the fathers. Simply personality? Pip and Ferdi are very different, and perhaps in his visits Ferdi has been too distracted by Nell to pay much attention to the young brother - or is it more than that? I admit is is difficult for me to wrap my brain around the class issues of hobbit society.

Author Reply: The dog actually was named a couple of chapters ago ("Missing"); his name is "Lop", probably because one of his ears does not stand upright but has a tendency to fall over.

In my imagination he is a wonderful creature--engaging, intelligent, curious, with that sense of humour some dogs seem to have, brave, loyal, and loving--and it was difficult to write his death, knowing him as well as I have come to know him in the back of my head. Don't know if there is a "boy and his dog" story in the bag or not, at this point. Isn't writing wonderful? You can climb in a virtual time machine and go back to where a (already written as deceased or decrepit) character is vibrantly alive.

Socially, Paladin and Ferdinand were "on a par" before the fire, and even though Ferdinand and his son went to live as beggars "on the charity of the Thain" the enormous social gap between them did not open until Paladin got his nose rubbed in the Thainship.

Part of Paladin's attitude towards Ferdi has to result from the emotional trauma he witnessed. Ferdi is "damaged goods", to be helped (patronised?) but certainly not material for a future son-in-love. When Ferdi becomes "crippled" in the Battle of Bywater (would we call it "physically challenged" today?), that's the final nail in the coffin of Nell and Ferdi's love, as far as Paladin's concerned. He wants his daughter married to a husband who will be able to support her and their children. It is a very patriarchal society, from what I've read.

Friendship, as far as Pip and Merry or Pip and Ferdi, is influenced more by personality than any other factor. I see Pip and Ferdi having more of a brotherly relationship, whereas Merry and Pip are friends. Ferdi "takes care" of Pip because that is part of his personality--he's a caretaker (!), and I think that deep down, Pip resents this. I don't see Merry "lording it over" Pip or "big brothering" him; perhaps a little, but not as much as Ferdi does. Though the current movies have him ever-protective of Pippin, in the book "The Two Towers" (for example) Pippin actually takes the lead and saves Merry. Pip and Merry are "equals" (I'm talking relationship, not age and not social status). Pip and Ferdi are not, and even when circumstances change their social standing, Ferdi never quite loses that "big brother" attitude.

Lyta PadfootReviewed Chapter: 29 on 1/15/2004
Poor Pippin! I imagine that was a pretty traumatic experience. And Ferdi... the bit with Pippin's cloak was heartbreaking. I cheered when Ferdi spoke to him and got him out of the tree.

Author Reply: Yes, Ferdi has recovered his power of speech at last. Whew. I think he loves Pippin as the little brother he never had.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 29 on 1/15/2004
I am so sad about the poor dog but so relieved about Pippin. I should think it will be quite a while before he goes running off on his own again. Poor child. I know Paladin will be relieved and as he is under enough strain at this point, he deserves good news. I will be waiting on the next chapter.

I just thought of something! Seems so funny to be rooting for Paladin in your story while rooting against him in my own. Total opposites, but the same character. I love fiction!

Author Reply: I don't know how long it'll be before he goes running off on his own again. I don't think he'll take a dog with him next time. Wonder if part of his resistance to an escort, as Thain, stems from his feeling responsible for Lop's death? If he's going into danger he doesn't want anyone else to get hurt... of course, part of it is that he doesn't "need anyone to take care of" him, he can take care of himself just fine, thank you very much!

Of course, you can get into a lot of mischief without running off...

I love fiction, too!

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