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| Stirring Rings by Larner | 18 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Kitt Otter | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/3/2013 |
| Taking a pause here to say that I am really enjoying this. Such a wide cast of characters! And all so vividly depicted! How like Finrod to set his case before the Valar - and not forgetting his sister. And how inevitable it looks (for us with hindsight) for Curumo to become Saruman of Many Colors! Author Reply: Again, thanks for the comments. I don't know how long it will take me to catch up to the ending to the story. Actually, the last few chapters have been written truly for years--but getting through the intervening chapters takes a LONG time, for some reason I just don't fully understand. Finrod is a character I'd not paid a good deal of attention to before Fiondil began posting here on SoA, so I'm glad that you find him well portrayed here, as I felt at the time I wrote this that he was almost an incidental character. And I finally have another chapter posted! I wish it didn't take so long to get these chapters written! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/28/2012 |
| The plot thickens! I am very glad to see this story back; and hope that it will be finished. Nice dialogue and Valar interaction. It makes sense that Aule and Ulmo would be able to sense the Ring, but not know exactly where it is. (little Ring, big River!) Author Reply: Oh, yes, it thickens indeed. And am so glad you like the interaction. And I do hope this time to finish this story. I have a couple chapters to rework, and then to get past the Battle of Fornost. At least now I have an idea of what to work on next! | |
| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2012 |
| I don't recall Tolkien saying how Gandalf and the other Maiar happend to be sent to Middle-earth. This is an excellent interpretation. "freedom is a careful balance between obedience and free will,could easily be applied to us today. Author Reply: At one point Tolkien debated with himself as to who Gandalf really was, and considered having him be Manwe himself, or so Christopher indicated in HoME. At last he settled on the Istari or Wizards being Maiar being sent to help fight Sauron, and so I decided to look at the decision as I did. As for that quote--it's true for all times, I believe. Thanks so, Tari! | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/27/2009 |
| Very interesting start to this story! 1st and 2nd Age are areas that I'm only just now starting to feel like I halfway understand. I've often wondered why the Vala and the Maia didn't just sweep down and take care of Sauron, and the reasons you have them giving here make perfect sense, as does the reasons the Maia came in rather "ordinary" form. Really thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to reading more. :) Author Reply: I hope you continue to appreciate it as you read. Eventually, probably after I have the rest all written and posted, I'll be adding a prologue as well so that the final chapter (which has been written for a year or better) will come full circle from the beginning. I've hinted at the ending in chapter one, but not made it clear why the story will end focused as it will. Now, to get the rest of the MIDDLE chapters written! Thanks for the feedback, Cairistiona! | |
| Kara's Aunty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/7/2008 |
| Hello, this looks very interesting.... I reakky enjoyed this chapter - I've never thought before about how the Istari came to be sent to Middle Earth so this is going to be a very enjoyable read. I may not be able to get through as much of it as I would like each evening as I'm posting my fic here now and spend a few hours each evening 'tweaking' each chapter in preparation, but I'm very glad to have this to look forward to when I'm sick of the sight of my own. Will read more tomorrow. Goodnight! Author Reply: Fiondil and I have similar views on how the Wizards were sent, although his are distinctly different in some details. But it's been fun trying to think how this would be done. And I know what you mean about getting sick of seeing one's own work! Heh! Will try your story again in a while just to see how it got tweaked. Thanks so! | |
| elanor winterflowers | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/3/2007 |
| I have just started to read this, having only recently arrived at SoA, but I am really intrigued by this story and by the wonderful characters you have brought into being here. This has a great sound--very compelling--and obviously a wealth of research behind it. It is quite breathtaking to find oneself in the presence of the Valar, and to see the Istari BECOME. I'm looking forward to coming back for more! Author Reply: Welcome to the board. This is the first story I've written that goes significantly before the days of our heroes, although by the time I'm done it will include them as well, of course. To explore the Valar has been interesting, and I've always wondered why the Balrog they faced in Moria didn't look at resuming its former nature as a Maia. What if, having taken a particular shape, a Maia can begin losing himself in that shape? And, if that is true, could that be a clue as to why Saruman fell? And so this story was begun--and all because in Unfinished Tales I'd been reading of Saruman finding the Elendilmir and the locket in which Isildur kept the Ring.... Hope you find many new friends here on SoA, and read a number of compelling tales. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/15/2006 |
| This is an incredible beginning. I've seen this tale a few times as I've gone thru this board - but just didn't feel it was something I would enjoy reading - and I do need SOME enjoyment in life what with the RW so 'interesting.' But the disagreement between the two factions is great, the dialogue is excellent, and I really could see this happening. Also - I very much liked the fact that you give reason as to why the Valar would not come in with 'guns blazing' to save Middle-earth. I can accept that now. It is a mind-opener. Thank you for that. Author Reply: Glad you decided to give it a try, Agape. There had to be a reason why the Valar chose not to return to fight again alongside Men and Elves, and considering the devastation left in the wake of their last "visit" this seemed most logical. To have the gods themselves fighting and to then look at the aftermath--Belgeriand sunk beneath the waves and the whole coastline of Middle Earth utterly changed--hopefully they learned from their mistakes. And now Middle Earth begins to sort itself out slowly to what it will know when the final confrontation with Sauron comes.... | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/1/2006 |
| Just found this story yesterday. This is an interesting reason behind why the Valar sent the Istari rather than going to Middle Earth themselves - to try and minimize the destruction. Author Reply: According to the Silmarillion, after the horrors of the War of Wrath when at last Morgoth was thrown down the Valar refused to enter Middle Earth again. I could think of no better reasons than these to send the Istari from among the Maiar. Am glad you've found this, and hope you check out some of my others as well. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/22/2006 |
| My goodness, you are ambitious! I glanced at this only, tonight, and will have to set it aside for later reading. My eyes are closing even as I type. But look forward to reading, and knowing how you research, I'm sure I'll learn quite a lot along the way. Did you say you were coming down our way again soon? We have found the most wonderful little pizza place, right in our neighbourhood. Author Reply: I hope the week after Labor Day. I'd hoped to come down for Meesh's birthday the first, but can't, as I have to work, durn it anyway. But there's no question I NEED the extra pay. Do they serve anything besides pizza? Sorry, but I have the digestive system from unmentionable places, and it just doesn't bear well with tomato sauce and cheese mixed together for some reason no one's been able to fathom. Some places do have chicken or something similar, and I could handle that. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/19/2006 |
| A different and unique story.I'm interested where you will take this. Have just turned off the other site ads.Thanks for the warning. Author Reply: Glad you approve of how it begins. Now, if I can just keep it going.... Good luck with keeping viruses off your machine--need to do a system restore on the Dell, and until that's done and I have my blockers and virus checker back in place I am still apparently unable to get my email, which is a royal pain. | |