News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| The Tenth Walker by Lindelea | 788 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 128 on 4/1/2025 |
| Well, it's happened. As of now, Bill has been separated from the Fellowship and is all alone. And now that April has begun, I look forward to the sequel's first chapter! Author Reply: (Good things he has those words of guard and guiding to fall back on...) The continuation is coming soon! The Rescue is coming close to the end of the story, and after I've posted the last chapter of that one, I'll start posting Bill's journey home. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to leave an encouraging word! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 117 on 3/31/2025 |
| It will be lovely for all of them to rest at last. Poor Pippin--the youngest and smallest of the bunch, and so desirous of being respected as an adult. At least we know that day WILL come. Author Reply: Rest – what a lovely concept. I'll be so glad when (and if) we've passed through these stressful times. Hopefully to something better. And justice. That wouldn't be too much to hope for, would it? Alas, poor Pippin, this year of adventure is probably equal to a lifetime of growing up in most hobbits' experience. But you're right. It's nice to know he'll survive and thrive and even prosper in the coming years. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 116 on 3/30/2025 |
| I love Gandalf's compassion toward Bill, as well as Bill's constant concern for the safety of his Hobbits. And it appears that Gimli has more care for Bill than his father's companions had toward Merrylegs and his fellows. Author Reply: I love the framework the Professor provided for us to build upon, where one of Gandalf's talents (is that the right word?) is kindling courage and confidence in others. (Courage is right, at least, while confidence is a guess since I don't remember exactly how he described Gandalf's effect on people, like when he was walking through Minas Tirith during the siege.) Perhaps the company he's currently keeping is rubbing off on Gimli? It's possible that other Dwarves might look at him funny if he were to strike up a conversation with a pony, but he sees the other Walkers doing so all the time. :) Thanks! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 115 on 3/30/2025 |
| We know that Gimli is, in his way, more sensitive than other Dwarves, although it will take the journey through Moria to close the rift between Gimli and Legolas. Love the thought of Merrylegs so advising and instructing the younger pony. Author Reply: I'm not sure what to make of Gimli and Bill, since they have no interaction in the book – except for Gimli riding him down the mountain. And you're right – I think the journey through Moria is a life-altering experience for him, giving him a new perspective, especially considering his expectations and the reality of what the Nine Walkers discovered in the darkness. Thanks! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 114 on 3/30/2025 |
| A thoughtful look at the mutual care Frodo and Sam have for one another. Bill is so observant! Author Reply: It's always such a delight to catch a glimpse of Frodo (or Bilbo) taking care of Sam! They must have given him good reason to be so loyal and devoted. Good to hear from you! (((hugs))) | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 69 on 3/25/2025 |
| And just when I said that, Merry acts not at all sensible and pragmatic. Oh, well... Author Reply: Ah, well. We all have our bad days... Thanks for reading and pausing to share your thoughts! | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 3/25/2025 |
| How about "repast" as a time-neutral term for a meal? Further on Merry: What first impressed me about him is that he is getting the whole move to Crickhollow and the "conspiracy" organised. He is sensible, and practical, and competent. Author Reply: Your suggestion make sense. Of course, I have the impression that hobbits like talking about food and will seize upon any opportunity to center their conversation around that topic! The argument over whether to call the meal "breakfast-supper" or "supper-breakfast" suits their preferences quite well in that light! LOL! Your description of Merry as competent and good at organizing rang true to me from the first time I read the book decades ago. In addition to his organizing the move to Crickhollow and the ponies and supplies for the journey from Crickhollow onward, his organization of the hobbits' resistance in the Battle of Bywater struck me particularly. He even organized Frodo's explanation of why he was going away when the conspirators were gathered at Crickhollow! (‘I think I could help you,’ said Merry quietly, ‘by telling you some of it myself.’) For that reason, I've written him as a natural leader, organizer and worrier, even though the last doesn't quite fit with "Merry" as his name. (I thought I'd read in the book that people forgot his name was Meriadoc and called him "Merry" because he was so cheerful all the time, but I couldn't find that idea later, just 'his real name was Meriadoc, but that was seldom remembered'. So maybe I read it in a fanfic rather than in the original.) Author Reply: (That was supposed to read "makes sense". My keyboard seems to be sticking a bit, and what I *feel* I've typed isn't always appearing when I go back and read it later. Ah, well. Hopefully it makes sense anyhow.) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 128 on 3/25/2025 |
| 'Look!' Youngest whispers, pointing at the wall. And it seems that his poor head is out of danger Those are the sweet little details I love. So, the Dread Moment has come for Bill. What a marvelous story, my friend! And of course Part II is eagerly awaited after you catch your breath. Author Reply: I love it when you point out the details you love. It helps me see the story through new eyes. I'm very glad you've enjoyed this story, and I really hope that the second part will work without much input from Bill's hobbits for the first half or so! (((hugs))) Thanks for coming along for the journey and for the encouragement you've so generously shared along the way. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 128 on 3/25/2025 | |
| Hi! I'm back from midterms :) 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤. 𝘕𝘰𝘵-𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺-𝘢𝘵-𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥! Lol. Not that it will do him any good, the Tooks have thick skulls. 𝘋𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦? 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 Don't worry Bill, we know Aragorn is the master of understatement... '𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘯,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦. Who does Bill refer as the old pet? I'm guessing... Bilbo? 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 Poor Bill, may the stars always light his path. Looking forward to the next part. Take care Author Reply: Good to hear from you! I'm glad to hear that midterms are behind you. I think you're right about the Tooks' thick skulls! As to the "old pet" – that's what Merrylegs calls Bilbo. Good guess! Poor Bill indeed! But Tolkien had a habit of sending help unlooked-for and unexpected (or do those two terms mean the same thing? My brain is tired.). Bill may yet benefit from the grace JRRT included in his world-building. Chapters from the next part of Bill's story are scheduled to start appearing in April. The Rescue is almost finished posting, opening space for the WIP Thain to resume in mid-April (to coincide with a friend's birthday) and run until the final chapter is posted. I also have another "Tolly" story ready to go, the sequel to In the Greening of the Year. Because it's relatively short, I'm considering whether to start posting chapters of that one this weekend now that Tenth Walker is finished. Finishing WIPs is so motivating! Of course, centering a story around an OC is risky; it's possible that nobody will read it or feel moved to review. In this case, I may be writing for my own satisfaction; that story explains a large plot hole (or whatever it might be called, that Tolly's older children in later stories are much older than his marriage to Meadowsweet!). I try to be consistent, so that inconsistency has been distressing. Or annoying. Or [insert negative emotion here]. I hope this reply finds you well. Take care, yourself! ...and thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts. I really appreciate it. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 127 on 3/23/2025 |
| Oh, boy! And the minute when Bill has to be left behind approaches, if not in the next chapter, then possibly the one after. How many chapters will this story consist of, before you start posting Part 2? Author Reply: You've guessed right: the next chapter concludes this part of Bill's story. Part 2 will probably be much shorter, LOL! Thanks for coming along for the journey and stopping to share your thoughts. I appreciate your feedback. | |