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| A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger | 8 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Ithil-valon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2007 |
| This story was recommended to me by Esteliel, and I'm so glad that she did. :) It was wonderful. I love stories that deal with aspects of LOTR that are often untouched or obscure. This conversation was so enlightening and entertaining, and yet at the same time rang of such realism that I could easily envision Elrond and Glorfindel having it. All in all, it was an excellent topic and excellent story telling! It's definitely one of my favorites! | |
| Lily-Annabeth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/6/2004 |
| I like your dialogue very much. Also, fascinating ruminations on each choice. Author Reply: Hey again! The dialogue was problematic for this story, so I'm glad you liked it. As for the choices, there were definitely good reason for each one, but put together, I'm not sure they make much sense unless you break it apart again. Definitely a difficult decision for poor Elrond. | |
| Sylvia | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/10/2003 |
| You know, this story really made me understand exactly how close Middle Earth was coming to ... well practically being destroyed by Sauron. When your very last hope lies in a hero that comes up only to your waist, you know the situation is desperate. Also, I'm glad to hear someone's voice (Glorfindel in this story) whose opinion contrasts that of Elrond's. In the book, you don't often hear the voice against the majority so to speak, or against the leader as in Elrond's case. From a critical standpoint, I completely agree with Glorfindel. The fellowship was comprised on a Fool's Hope. You portray this danger, this fear incredibly well, as always Thundera. The banter back and forth and the tiny emotional habits each has (like how Glorfindel rubs the bridge of his nose and how Elrond relies on humor to 'break the ice') is such a lovely trademark of your fiction -- it transforms your characters into real people I believe. I had a question though - Glorfindel describes how the passage over Caradhras will soon be covered in snow and therefore the Elrond cannot send troops over the mountains, but would that really be a problem for and elven army? Just curious on what your take is on that. Anyways, got to go. Thanks as always for the wonderful read! --Sylvia | |
| Ithilien | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/8/2003 |
| How many times have I questioned Elrond's choices? So nice of you to document it for us. A Fool's Hope. Oh, yes it is, but perhaps that is the best kind of hope for an endeavor like this. I doubt anything grander could have succeeded. Actually, in my own private musings, I had come to many of the same conclusions Elrond did, so his logic did not surprise me. The one that threw me was the choice of Gimli. I just always sort of concluded Gimli was the Dwarven equivalent of Legolas. Young enough by his race not to be so jaded, and with heritage enough to represent his people without anyone claiming he spoke out of turn. I snickered when you said Gimli won by default. I guess that was a little simpler than my brain had construed. I loved the easy banter between Elrond and Glorfindel. I would imagine the famed Balrog-slayer is the only one in Imladris allowed to talk to Elrond that way. And it seems that despite his critique, Glorfindel has no better suggestions to offer. So much for grumbling about choices. I think Glorfindel was just jealous he wasn't selected! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/25/2003 |
| This is marvelous -- truly excellent. The logic used by Elrond is wonderful, and yet we truly get the feeling that he simply made the best decisions he could, with the information he had. I can certainly see why Glorfindel would think that Elrond had lost his senses! I especially appreciate the parts about Legolas and Gimli being their fathers' sons, not their fathers. | |
| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/25/2003 |
| Wow, brilliant story. Glor has some valid concerns, and the cost of failure is steep for them all. I very much enjoyed this story, as I enjoy all of your work. | |
| Sphinx | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/25/2003 |
| Very well informed vignette, both geogrpahically and characterization-wise. I like how you described Legolas as one of the younger elves, who have still yet to descend into the sorrow and grief that the older elves get drawn into. On top of that, thank you so much for saying that he is a warrior, though not yet one to be feared. Very canon-based, and I havent seen that particular trait of his for a long, long time. :) And GLorfindel is perhaps the only Elf left who can call Elrond a fool at least six times and still live. :) Nice work! | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/25/2003 |
| Elrond's patience was a great virtue, I think. Glorfindel was a bit stubborn and ornery, and a what a great perspective to write from - a mighty elf-lord returning from the wild to find this had happened in his absence. A couple of things really struck me: The first, that Rivendell would need to prepare for a possible siege and be unable to send aid. Of course it makes sense, I had just not considered it before. Elrond's power in wielding Vilya was only so strong and could not hold forever. He was so busy thinking about saving ME, I forget he had to think about defending his own people, too. Glad to see Glorfindel was up to some good purpose during this time. The second, that should the One Ring fall into Sauron's hands, that he would possess the strength to take the elven rings and overcome their bearers. Again, we know the will to bind each race was made into the rings. I wonder if together the elven rings could have withstood him, drawn his power down. But that Elrond had to consider that if Frodo failed, then he and others would be tormented for a long time, if not forever. I saw written somewhere that the elves had the best of this - even if Sauron succeeded, they could still sail west and be free of the darkness. This gives another perspective. If Saruon succeeded, whatever elves remained in ME would fall into darkness with all the other races. That the elves of power did not seek to escape and save themselves just further shows their integrity and sense of responsbility. So, yes, a Fool's Hope. I heard that line made it into the third movie. I hope it is used well. | |