Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Seeds of Old Trees  by Marnie 1 Review(s)
AmanielReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/5/2004
I enjoy your stories immensely, and I can tell that you work extremely hard on perfecting them. It shows in your attention to detail and impressive writing style. I usually do not have a problem with the way a writer portrays their own conclusions from Tolkien's work, and I normally agree with your interpretation. I do, however, have difficultly connecting your idea of the direction Middle Earth took to the focus of Tolkien. It kind of hurts the story a little in the way it connects to the real world. One of the reasons I enjoy reading these stories is the fact that they are in no way connected to the thoughtless destruction and stupidity of our own world. I have no problem with you inserting your opinions in the story, after all, it is your work, but I just wanted to let you know my reason for the sudden jolt out of your story. It seemed to injure the rest of the story for some reason. Do not take my comments as negative criticism. Again, I love reading your stories, and I am looking forward to reading the rest.

Author Reply: Many thanks for the review, Amaniel! I'm sorry this one doesn't work for you - I can understand what you mean about keeping Middle-earth out of the stupidities of our own world. :)

On the other hand there are several places in Tolkien's work where he did deliberately tie his stories in to our own world. (I'm thinking in particular of the bit in LotR when Frodo sees Galadriel as present, yet remote *as, at times, elves still are seen*). My feelings are that (a) I like to think it was/is all real, and (b) that not *all* the enchantment has quite left us even now; that somewhere still, even among our post-industrial hills, there may still be quendi lingering. Invisible, aloof, but still there.

Thats why I like to tie in Modern earth with Middle-earth :) But I can understand you not feeling the same. It's an interesting point. Thank you!

Return to Chapter List