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The Great Hobbiton Race of 1435  by Llinos 6 Review(s)
colbysgurlReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/8/2008
hmm...this sounds like it might get Pippin and the rest of Hobbiton in a peck of trouble. :D. Sounds like you're off to a great start. Looking forward to reading more!

MarigoldReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/8/2008
This is one of my favourite stories ever, as you know, and I have been very bad about leaving reviews, for which I apologise! I am rereading the story from start to finish and this time will review, as I should have done before.

I love the way that Merry is such a forward thinker and that Pippin always goes along with his plans – somehow I doubt that purchasing the "The Spindle Activated Vegetation Dissection and Lubrication Engine" was in any way Pippin's idea but I am equally certain that he was all for it once Merry brought it up! I think that it's spot on that he is always so supportive of Merry's grand ideas!

Merry's very technical recitation of just how the machine works is wonderful and it's clear that you researched it carefully. It's all beyond me and I have the feeling that it may be a bit over Merry's head too though he'd never let folks know it!

I could just picture Pippin and hear his accent from the films when he reads from the manual: "The Spindle Activated Vegetation Dissection and Lubrication Engine is a new combination and application of machinery for the purpose of cropping or shearing and irrigating the vegetable surfaces of lawns, grass-plots and meadows." and I love that this incredibly inventive name for a lawnmower!

Sam is marvellously written too and I like the way that you have portrayed Frodo-lad here; he is obviously Sam's son and yet you have taken him a bit further if you see what I mean, sort of a slightly more sophisticated next generation which I think is done just right. The mention that Sam had made sure that all of the local children had the chance to learn to read was just perfect – I'll bet that establishing the school was the first thing that he did as Mayor!

InklingReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/27/2007
*snort!* Why do I get the feeling Merry and Pippin will be peddling snake oil next? Funny stuff, Llinos!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2007
Aha! A steam-driven lawnmower! Now, that's something new! Heh!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2007
I read this part in the challenge but I decided to enjoy it here again. I love all of the guesses as to what the machine does.

("Does it make something?" Ralf Bolger peered underneath to see if he could find any clues there.) LOL

This is a great story idea and very original! I've not seen anything like it and Merry and Pippin would be the very ones to bring in something new.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2007
ROTFL! The whole scene of the hobbits scratching their curly heads still makes me laugh!

"Is it a horseless carriage?"

The first time I read this I thought is Llinos introducing the first Middle-earth steam-driven automobile?? Farmer Cotton is too funny!

"It's an automated gardening and farming machine." He scanned the expectant faces for some sign of understanding. "That is, you put the water in the boiler here," he indicated the large tank on the underside, "and here," he pointed to the even larger reservoir on the back.

...Merry ignored the interruptions. "Then you put coal in the firebox." He patted the furnace in the centre of the machine. "And that boils the water, then the steam pumps the pistons along the cylinders, which turn the turbines, which drives the engine and makes the wheels go round. The gear attached to the axle is then engaged, causing the spiral-cylindrical blades to spin on a horizontal axis."


LOL! Go Merry! He can repair my Jeep anytime. ;-)

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