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StarFire by Lindelea	8 Review(s)
Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/2/2004
Whooops!! I never saw this one coming! Oh my goodness! Poor Pippin--literally, I guess. Seems your Pip could use some of that stipend my Pip has. Oh dear, no wonder he was so anxious to win that race! And I have to leave off now, it's getting late!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/28/2004
Pippin is generous indeed if he sells what's his to buy wood for others knowing that there is so little. I have read many fictions where Pip and Merry receive money from there Lords as payment for service. This is the first one that I have read in which the Thain is broke. Interesting. Great chapter.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/21/2004
Wow! What a shock to find out that the Thain's fortune is not all it's cracked up to be! It says even more of Pippin that he paid the woodcarvers for the wood that was given to the old Gaffers and Gammers! Looking forward to finding out about the races! Author Reply: Yep, Pippin has a servant's heart. He kind of takes after Frodo in more than looks, I think. Races coming up soon! (And don't let's forget the election!)

Lyta Padfoot	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/20/2004
The wealth of the Thain is an illusion. So where does the gold in your later stories come from? Did Pippin prove a finance-wizard? Was the gold simply moved and the location forgotten, or is it truly lost? No wonder Paladin was tight-fisted. I think Pippin showed Ferdi to impress upon him how important the race is and the truth of Tookland's financial situation. Author Reply: Fun to speculate on the gold in later stories, isn't it? You're right. It's why Paladin was tight-fisted. I think he chafed at living a lie, honest farmer that he was, but his Steward convinced him that ignorance (on the part of the Tooks) was bliss. I think Lotho might have suspected the truth, shrewd as he was, which is why he tried to court Paladin's favour ("with my money and your influence") -- and got thrown out of Tookland, early in the time of the Troubles. And right again, the reasons you gave for Pippin showing Ferdi were a big part of his decision.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/20/2004
That's quite a shocker - there's no gold! And there hasn't been any for a long time, so the Ruffians didn't take it during the occupation. Where does the gold come from that Pippin is going to use to pay for the food during the famine - there's waggonloads of it by then, I thought? Sort of gives all those grim jokes about the Thain's gold a whole different twist, and also changes my perception of Paladin not paying the laborers, and maybe even Lalia driving such a hard bargain. It's kind of ironic: Pip doesn't want gold, but everyone thinks he has it, and when he needs it, he can't tell anyone that it isn't there. It also explains why Pip can't just buy the farm outright, but has to win the money in a race. I suppose there is some sense to it - as insular as the Shire is, where would any influx of gold come from? I don't remember any mention of gold found within the Shire itself, or of mining as a trade by anyone other than Dwarves. Trading a few foodstuffs to the occasional dwarf is more likely to bring in ironwork rather than gold. But what gold had been accumulated over the years should be somewhere - has Buckland slowly eclipsed Tookland in wealth? I haven't thought much about how the economy of the Shire is run: most of the wealth would be in agricultural products (wool, weed, and wine sound like cash crops to me) and associated craftwork such as cloth and leather, I'd guess, since the hobbits don't really go in for industry. Up till recently, there hasn't been much of a market outside the Shire and Bree for pipeweed - I guess some of that could have gone to the Dwarves too, but not much as I remember quite a hue and cry when Lotho began sending significant quantities away. There are stoneworks at Scary, but I can't recall much else. The heads of families should have most of the coin and care for the hobbits of their families and those under their service. It could be an almost cashless society, with barter in foodstuffs for labor and services the actual main currency (though money is mentioned in the Hobbit, and gold of course), and only the odd Baggins really requiring books or other curiosities not produced locally (and fortunately having a store of dragon-gold to pay for them). Maybe the legend of wealth is more important than the gold itself, as far as the Tooks are concerned? Lindelea, there's always another twist to your stories. I wonder where you're going now. Author Reply: Actually, the Thain's gold is another story. On my timeline, the delving of the Great Smials started out as a gold-mine. Am going to try to make it work, anyhow. Would explain how the Thain gained such influence in the Shire, perhaps. Author Reply: p.s. Got interrupted before I got the chance to say it's nice to see you again! Hope this finds you well.

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/20/2004
Oh dear. Poor Pippin, inheriting the burden of running the Shire and nothing to do it with except rocks. I can see why Paladin didn't spend much. This was a good way for Pippin to prove he trusts Ferdi. Hopefully Ferdi will try to trust Pippin in return. Doesn't he say in "Runaway" that he never trusted Pippin after the incident of the ice storm? Eagerly waiting for more. Update soon! Author Reply: It's very inconvenient to have someone close to one who holds onto a grudge forever. And even after they say they forgive, they still have trouble trusting... kind of like they're waiting for one to fall on one's face once more, and without intending to do so they shove a stumbling block in one's way. Have seen this play out IRL. Difficult business, and painful. But enough musing. Thanks for the comment!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/20/2004
Brilliant tactics on Pippin's part. Once Ferdi believes he is a worthy hobbit, his loyalty will be absolute - not because he has to be loyal as a Took and Head of Escort, but because he believes in Pippin. I think we have come to the start of a partnership (except in Runaway). I just hope they win the All-Shire Races. First and Second would be good. Author Reply: Well, all I can say is that Pip must plead "temporary insanity" in Runaway. What else could explain it? (Ah. Lack of oxygen to the brain. That's it.)

Connie	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 7/20/2004
Oh, what a mess poor Pippin inherited. I knew things weren't great, but I didn't realize they were this bad. Pippin wants to do so much for the people of the Shire, but he has nothing to work with. He is going to have a tough time of it in the near future I would say. I know he deals with this adversity and makes things even better than they were before the whealth was squandered. Thanks for this chapter. Very ensightful. Connie. Author Reply: You're welcome! I imagine Pip can rise to the challenge... though it's been fun to figure the ins and outs of the end of the story. Thanks for reviewing.

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