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| History Lessons: The Second Age by Nilmandra | 13 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Aramel | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/16/2004 |
| Ooh, this is funny. I wonder what dare Celebrian lost, though? She doesn't seem to want to tell. >:) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/9/2004 |
| History has always been my favourite subject - and I am looking forward to some more Lessons! Author Reply: Its coming, its coming! Daw has it, beating | |
| Del | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/27/2004 |
| *looks at blank review for she just accidentally sent in* Well, that was stupid. Moving on, indeed I did read HL and HL 2 in three days. Twice. Each. There went my two days off from work. At least I don't have school right now or I would be grievously far behind after that little adventure. I continue to be impressed, both with your skill at intertwining established canon and original narrative and with how thoroughly you cite passages and note when you deviate from them. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that. Lovely work, ma'am. Yours, Del Author Reply: Thank you, Del! I thought I answered this review immediately, but apparently I missent it, but I amazed you read all of that in two days! I am glad you like it. I think one of the challenges of writing fanfiction, vs original fiction, is trying to stay to true to Tolkiens themes and concepts, in line with his timelines, and keep the plot true with characters motivated by appropriate things. Writing the war has been interesting - and the next chapter is currently having its dangling modifiers modified and its commas beaten into place and will be up today sometime. Thanks for the review! | |
| Del | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/27/2004 |
| paranoidangel | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/26/2004 |
| I love that Galadriel and Celebrian can fight as well as the male elves - I'd have expected nothing less. I can definitely see Arwen growing up to be just the same. Author Reply: I really had fun writing that part of the chapter - I like strong female characters and any daughter of Galadriel's was unlikely to be a wiliting maiden. Arwen stowing away for the journey and then stubbornly hiding her presence..well, I think she is of their ilk as well :D Thanks for the review! | |
| Marnie | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/26/2004 |
| Ooh - dwarf children! She was funny and cute - I loved the way her fascination with Celebrian's hair was interpreted as having a good eye for mithril; she'll grow up to be a surveyor :) Durin managed to be both curt, dwarvish and a little sinister. I can't say I liked him much - I wonder if the ring's already getting to him? I enjoyed seeing the girls get a chance to show their quality in the scouting and fighting arena. I'm sure after living through the War of Wrath C+G would have made certain to train Celebrian to look after herself, even if it was something of a shock to her to use the training for real. Even the greatest warrior can be overcome by superior forces - just because she was captured by orcs doesn't make her a wuss. I also enjoyed seeing Amroth son of Amdir. Great job of conveying the 'less wise, more dangerous' nature of the Silvans. I'm looking forward to meeting Amdir, who also doesn't get enough press, IMO :) Author Reply: I have my own little theory why the dwarves were not enslaved to Sauron by their rings :-) I plan to work in it somehow. But that the ring is affecting Durin is *exactly* what I meant to show there, so I am thrilled you think that. His desire for the ring as a gem exceeded any concern he had for Sauron. I admit that writing Galadriel and Celebrian was great fun. We know Galadriel's flaws, but she was an elf who could take care of herself, according to Tolkien, and I agree that their daughter would know how to take care of herself too. And Tolkien tells us very little about Celebrian's capture and torment - but I in no way associate that it happened with her being weak. Thank you for the review! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/26/2004 |
| Galadriel's and Celebrian's adventures were exciting, though I doubt they felt it at the time. I liked their encounter with the dwarves, and the fight scenes were well described. It's good to see Celebrian so feisty - Tolkien portrays her as a victim, I think. I have one complaint - there's not enough Third Age. How's Elrohir doing? ;) Jay Author Reply: One of the things that I enjoy most about writing these characters is that so little is known of them, you have sort of a blank slate to work with. I just cannot imagine the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel as some shy little maiden! More third age? Heh - I'd have put you all to sleep, that chapter was already so long! Elrohir is feeling no pain, Adar made sure of that. :-) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/26/2004 |
| Just great. I love the way you have Galadriel - who is so much more than long golden hair, a white dress and soft focus - and Celebrian being tough and prepared to fight. I also love the idea that they won't mention their activities to Celeborn - I do so agree with the 'need to know' principle here, although, of course, by the time they see him again this is all ancient history. I adore Elrond and Celeborn's reaction to the story (- and that of the children). What did Celeborn think Galadriel and Celebrian would be facing on this journey? I suspect he put it out of his mind - rather preoccupied with large enemy hordes. I am also rather enjoying Celebrian as whatever the female version of a 'babe magnet' is. Everywhere she goes, drooling elves are following her - Elrond might even find this more distressing than picturing her slicing up Men and shooting Orcs. Lovely chapter - I'm just going back to read it again. Author Reply: I think Tolkien said that Galadriel had fought in battle. In HL, I mentioned that in the War of Wrath she helped defend Balar and led the formation of the settlements at Lindon. She is a strong character to work with, and I am glad she came across well here. There was a job to do, and nothing was going to keep her from it. LOL at the 'ellon magnet' - well, and Narvi was a bit head over heels too :D. Celebrian is young and bright and innocent. That she loves someone like Elrond makes that all the better. :-) | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/25/2004 |
| Ah, beautiful chapter, Nilmandra. There are so many parts I like, but I'll highlight one that I'm not sure anyone else will mention: I don't think I've mentioned before how much I like one of the major characters of your story: the landscape. I love how skillfully you weave the parts of the (sometimes breathtaking) landscape that Tolkien described into your story, and then seamlessly add in the landscape that your story needs that he left out. I noticed this especially in this chapter, because I've been doing a lot of reading recently about the Dimrill Dale/Stair/Gate and environs. But I have a complaint: I always thought that the glory of Durin's Crown was that it was visible during the day (one of *many* impossibilities that Tolkien got me to believe in), and you made Galadriel and Celebrķan pass by there at night! That's cheating! *Ahem* Okay, sorry for the geek attack. I admit it... I've been spending too much time writing HASA Resource Library entries for Gandalf's battles with the Balrog, and the War of the Dwarves and Orcs... and Durin's Bridge, Tower, Crown, Stone, etc.... Anyway, carry on! I can't wait to hear Erestor's part of the story! - Barbara Author Reply: I admit I write with maps spread open in front of me :/ I think the glory of Durin's crown *is* that it is visible during the day - that the stars were visible all the time. Gimli spoke of it twice as stars - once in his song of Khazad-dum and once when he was telling Legolas of the glittering caves - both of those times he referred to the crown as stars, and when talking to Legolas he said something about the glory of seeing it at night. But when Gimli took Frodo and Sam to see the crown after they left Moria, he described how he saw it - how the mountain peaks reflected with their snowy peaks etc. So, I used them both! It is sort of cheating, but I try to be careful of the time it takes to do things and I wanted them leaving at night. Glad you picked up that detail! I admit I didn't pay much attention to Tolkien's descriptions of the land and geography when I first read his books, but now when I am writing, I find I need to visualize where the characters are and I go back over and over to read what he wrote. Thanks for the review! | |
| Naneth | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/25/2004 |
| Wow-Celebrian, Warrior Princess! No wonder her children are so brave and strong when needed. This story continues to be wonderful. Please give us more soon, soon, soon! Author Reply: LOL at the warrior princess! I had to go make my Celebrian take the Mary-sue test, but I think she still passed! As daw reminded me, she is with her mother, someone Tolkien said fought in battle, and her father prepared her for this. I am glad she came across well. I love Celebrian :D | |