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StarFire  by Lindelea 6 Review(s)
Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 32 on 9/19/2004
I started reading this ages ago, then stopped because there wasn`t more Merry in it. And I did you wrong to stop I think. Because this story is just as great as your other stories - with love and action and familiar and loved hobbits and what not. I do adore your Pippin and I like your Ferdi too so I have just spent a whole day reading this.

You are excellent with the details that makes hobbits and society and relationshops almost spring out of the screen to come alive before me. There are so many details I should comment on, but that would take forever I think. :)

I`m happy to see that Ferdi is the center of their attention for a while. He`s been through so much. I love that the Gamgees adopted him. Those children are so cute. And brave little Farry!

It`s so nice to see the refrences to your other stories too! Like Ferdi`s sister and and her woodcarver family and Pearl and Isum. It`s like the stories are intervowen into a huge family saga that goes on forever. For example: Didn`t they force Merry to eat liver in one of your stories too or was it Pip? And doesn`t Ferdi rescue Farry at some point?

I`m not sure what it is with Ferdi but he does take some very big chances - whit taking that pony in the first place and now rigind the race when he should b ein bed. He has been in so much trouble before so he should know better, but some people never learn.

I`ll be back to read the rest later. Reading all first 32 chapters took me all day :)

Much hugs and thanks for writing these wonderful stories.


Author Reply: So glad you decided to give StarFire another chance!

It's interesting to contemplate this "huge family saga", like you say; the Shire and its history in my head is a quilt, spread out, and I just wander over a few squares whenever I tell a story. It's all connected together, which makes it more interesting even as it's more of a challenge, and sometimes I touch on the same square as I've already described in another story.

Yes, Merry had to eat liver in "A Small and Passing Thing", when a ruffian's arrow had caused him to lose a fair amount of blood during the scouring of the Shire. And I think someone else had to eat liver in another story, but I forget which one. I have a few hobbits in my stories who like liver (Ferdinand, Merimac and Isum), but most of the hobbits of my acquaintance, like most people I know, don't care for the taste of liver...

Ferdi rescues Farry several times, besides in this story. One you might be thinking of is "FirstBorn", and another is "Runaway". In an upcoming story (so long as the Muse keeps whispering) Farry will actually get to rescue Ferdi for a change.

You're right. Some people never learn. But what fun it is to write about their mistakes! (*g*) Ferdi's motto might be "I never make the same mistake twice." (Don't know how true it is, and besides, there are lots and lots of mistakes in the realm of possibilities...)

Thanks for the lovely long review!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 9/2/2004
Yes, Starfire!!! Serves Ferdi *and* Pip right!! And oooh, Ferdi's in *trouble*...

ConnieReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/17/2004
Well I knew no good would come of Ferdi trying to win that race. He just never learns. Now they're all in trouble. It's no consolation now, but at least years down the road they'll all laugh about the pony from Rohan joining the race.

Connie.

Author Reply: Well, he does learn, but this story is fairly early on the timeline. And with "Thain" I'm going even earlier, thus a younger Pippin and younger Ferdi and possibly stupider mistakes. Bear in mind that they do get wiser as they get older...

It was fun to write the race sequence and the Rohan stallion's intrusion after hinting at it in "Rain".

Thanks for commenting! Hope to "see" you Monday.

BeruthielReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/17/2004
Oops, it was Hilly who bet six months' wages, not Tolly. Looks like they're both in need of Gamblers Anonymous.

Author Reply: Yup, it was Hilly, though Tolly might have made the same mistake. Because he would have won his wagers, it isn't an issue in this story (though perhaps it ought to be).

BeruthielReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/17/2004
Yup, Ferdi's a fool, all right. He ought to be on liver rations for a month to teach him a lesson (now there's angst!).

It would have been fun to see the crowd's faces when the new pony showed up. Oh well, can't have everything.

Now if only these unexpected events could make Tolly stop wagering! How much did he bet on the race, was it six months' wages? There's a candidate for Gamblers Anonymous. Hopefully "Runaway" will scare him out of this habit.

So how long is Ferdi in bed this time? I know he's up and about by the big wildfire, but that's still a few months away. I'm having visions of his sister tying him to his bed and barricading him in his room until he forgets what a pony looks like.



Author Reply: Thankfully Ferdi didn't do as much damage to his leg as he might've. The tight binding bandage gave it needed support, and he didn't break anything loose, and he kept it clean, so it ought to heal despite his foolishness. A week, or less, I think, before he's hobbling about, and another before he's riding, giving him two weeks to prepare the Rohan pony for the All-Shire Race.

Tolly may well have wagered six months' wages on the race, and he didn't get the scare that Hilly did, so his wagering will continue, sadly, until "Runaway".

As far as seeing the crowd's faces, well, sometimes the reader's imagination is more fun than the best description a writer can supply.

Liver! Angst! Aargh!

I seem to have answered your comments in reverse order. Ah, well. Need to take a couple days' break and get a few other things in order (like the house. and the yard. and...)

Thanks for commenting!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/17/2004
Looks at Ferdi, shoulders shrugged, hands outstretched, words unnecessary.

Did he really think he would get away with such a silly scheme? Is he really surprised that all his friends and acquaintances are excessively miffed? Does he really not think that Hilly will now be in even bigger trouble?

The Tooks should have a double-barrelled surname. Fool-Took seems suitable. (There are some sensible Tooks. Most of them are female.)

Author Reply: Sometimes a look is worth 1000 words.

The really scary part is that they nearly *did* get away with it. Had it not been for the stallion of Rohan... and Pippin bumping Ferdi's leg...

Of course, it would have been bad for them, for their character, to let them get away with such a hairbrained (or is that harebrained?) scheme. (The Muse, in the corner, hides a smirk and sips demurely at her tea.)

Interesting comment about Tooks in general. I think you might have something there.

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