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Birnam Wood  by Inkling 8 Review(s)
Alaura J.Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/19/2012
That was incredible! It was so richly realized, and moreover shows that the writer is intimately familiar with both 'The Two Towers' and 'Macbeth'. The Professor would be pleased with your rendition. I especially loved the part where Fangorn (for who else could it be?) thought that Dougan reminded him of Merry and Pippin. This work struck a chord.
Alaura

Author Reply: Thanks Alaura! Glad you think the Prof would have approved. In writing it, I remembered that Merry and Pippin had reminded Fangorn of young Entings, and figured that a human child might do the same. I also remembered that he was amused by the hobbits' ability to bow, as that kind of flexibility was foreign to Ents, and so have him alluding to this when Dougan bows to him.

So nice to know after all this time that readers are still enjoying this story!

CuthalionReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
Good gracious, this is stunning and absolutely brilliant. Brava!!!

Author Reply: Wow! *blushes* Thanks so much for your kind words, Cuthalion…they were a wonderful start to my day! :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
Oh my! Now this is just flat brilliant! And, don't you know, I think JRRT might very well *like* this particular birthday present!

Author Reply: Thanks, Dreamflower! I do hope he would have liked it, as it was truly a labor of love…(and WAY outside my hobbit box!)

CitrineReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
Wheee! I love this story! I can't say I'm a Shakespeare enthusiast, but as a kid I must have read MacBeth a hundred times, and you have blended both here so well. Somewhere Tolkien is rubbing his hands and chuckling a nice, fruity chuckle of satisfaction at seeing his Ents on the warpath again. Take that, Shakespeare;o)
I'll admit that when Malcom's men started to chop branches, I didn't give a darn for the course of history: I wanted the Ents to turn them all into mulch. Except for Dougan, of course.

Author Reply: Your review certainly gave me a chuckle, especially the thought of the Ents turning the soldiers into mulch! :D

Before reading Macbeth for this story I hadn’t read it in a looong time…and had forgotten what tough going the language was…some passages just left me scratching my head. But some of Macbeth’s soliloquies were just breathtaking! I glad you thought the blend worked…thanks so much for letting me know!

AlassielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
Dear Inkling,

A worthy birthday homage to our inspirer! Very well-crafted. Thank you.

Alassiel

Author Reply: And thank you, Alassiel! I’m glad you enjoyed it, and thought it worthy of the Master. I hope he would have liked it too!

ArielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
OOOO! This was EXCELLENT! I was really impressed with the skill with which you crafted this and the language that it was written in - and OH, that it could be so! I really love this, Inkling! Very, very well done!

Author Reply: Thank you, my dear! As you know from our past discussions, descriptive writing doesn’t come easily for me, and I worked very hard on it for this story. So your kinds words are much appreciated!

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
This was such a perfect story - I always wanted to see the trees really advance on the castle, and the eerie atmosphere within the forest was absolutely believeable. There are still a few areas of ancient forest in Britain and whenever I see them I find myself wondering if there are any Ents left to look after them. Lovely story - the Professor would have loved it I'm sure!

Author Reply: Oh, I would love to see those ancient forests…I can well imagine how they may have inspired Tolkien! Did you see the image of the Birnam Oak I linked to at the end of the story? An Ent if ever I saw one! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, and thanks so much for reviewing.


RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2006
Brilliant! Surely, this is exactly what Tolkien had in mind. ;)

Your Dougan is a darling young hero. I absolutely loved the witchy old woman with her warning them because the captain was generous. I really like that you held onto the faery (perilous) aspects of each encounter with Fangorn and his Huorns.

And thanks for not revealing what the devil was in that basket!



Author Reply: Reading your review makes me realize that this really is a faery-story…but then, so was Macbeth, really. The witch scene was great fun to write and yes, some things are better not revealed! ;)
Thanks so much, Redheredh!

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