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The Wars of the Valar  by Fiondil 10 Review(s)
AiwenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/27/2008
I am glad that someone other than me finds themself winding up with modern scientific concepts trying to get into their stories in the Tolkein universe. I guess it means I'm not crazy after all... This story looks like it will be fascinating.

Author Reply: Hi Aiwen. Tolkien himself was an avid amateur astronomer. I don't think he would have found this story too out of place. I'm merely giving a 'scientific' explanation of the mythical concepts found in the Silmarillion. I hope you continue to enjoy this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

TariReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/17/2008
So, Melkor has started weaving his web of evil already. Good for Namo. Even at a young age he shows great wisdom by seeing thru Melkor’s ploy. If I had a favorite Valar it would be him. However, I love them all.

Playtime among the stars is good. Even they could use a little R & R every now and then.

I had a better reply yesterday, but my keyboard decided not to work and I lost the whole thing. I had to totally shut down in order for it to work again. Unfortunately, I can remember whit I wrote.

Tari

Author Reply: Well, what you wrote here is fine. *grin* Námo is indeed young (they all are to one degree or another) but he's not a fool and knows where his allegiance lies. And like all created beings even the Valar and Maiar need some "downtime" and 'play' is an integral part of any creature's make-up.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/9/2007
Melkor was a nasty piece of work from the very beginning, I see. How dares he to try and lead Námo astray *growls* But Námo’s discovery sounds hopeful for the Valar, even if I fear Manwë is right about the loyalties of some Máyar.

Author Reply: Melkor was indeed a nast piece of work but Námo is stronger than he thinks he is and will not fall to Melkor's blandishments so easily. Unfortunately, as history proves, there were indeed some Máyar who did indeed side with Melkor eventually.

ImhirielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/30/2007
I admit I have as good as no knowledge about astronomy, and also little interest (apart from liking the pretty pictures from the NASA site and others *g*), but your story has me fascinated from the beginning paragraph on! Such a beauty and splendour in the vast space, and what an original and creative idea!

You describe Melkor perfectly as the seductive Lucifer.

I enjoy this look at a younger Námo; I can well imagine that his gift is one that is difficult to deal with and accept.

I love the images of the Valar playing between the stars. And their personalities match this vastness of their "playing-field": you show them "human" and fallible, with tempers and insecurities, and yet there is always the sense of their power, and them being beyond human understanding.

Author Reply: Thanks, Imhiriel. I appreciate your review. This is rather a departure from the usual Tolkien fanfic, but I decided it was a story that should be and needed to be told. I'm glad you like how I portray the various Ayanumuz (even Melkor). Obviously, as created beings, they would have had an "adolescent" stage (pretty much like us humans *grin*) before they matured into the awesome beings we know from the Silmarillion, yet we see hints of what they will eventually become here. I think we tend to forget how "other" these beings are from Men and Elves (most of us wouldn't think of hiding in the middle of a star and holding onto the star's core like a security blanket *grin*). I hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the story.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/31/2007
SORRY - my review under the Prologue chapter should have been for Chapter ONE...

I guess I got too excited at the prospect of another tale!

Author Reply: That's okay. I figured you weren't paying attention to which chapter you were reviewing. *grin*

StefaniaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/26/2007
Hi Fiondil -

This is my first venture into one of your stories and I can't wait to see what you do with it. I always felt myself some sort of weird geek for loving Tolkien's creation myth in the Silmarillion--the King James Bible meets the Greek pantheon! Thank you so much for so ably doing the job of fanfic--giving us more of something we already love. I'm particularly tickled by the innocent, SciFi spin of this first chapter.

- Steff

Author Reply: Hi Steff, I'm glad you found one of my stories and found it to your liking. Hopefully you will continue to do so. I hope in the meantime you dip into some of my other stories, especially those that are complete. I look forward to seeing more comments from you in the future. Thank you for reviewing.

AglarendisReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/19/2007
Fiondil, this is beautiful! To think of Namo as a child, less weighed-down by cares, yet still himself. I wanted to take him in my arms and hug him as Manwe did. And there are the rest of my friends too! I loved the pictures of Aule and Ulmo, Nessa, Orome, Este and Vaire playing like teens. This is wonderful! I cannot wait to read further. But you know what a Valar addict I am, thanks to Alassiel and you!

Author Reply: Hi Aglarendis. Thanks for your review. I'm glad you are enjoying this so far. Even the Valar had to be young once, learning as they matured, just like any created being. I can't imagine any of them being "old" from the very first. I don't think Ilúvatar works that way.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/17/2007
I love the images of the Valar at play in the cosmos. This is a fascinating and, for Tolkien fanfiction, original story. I will definitely keep reading!

Author Reply: Thanks, Raksha. I'm glad you find this interesting. I realized that no one has ever attempted to write about what the Valar were doing before the coming of the Children so I thought I would give it a try.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/11/2007
"Oft evil will does evil mar" and "Sometimes what it shows comes not to be unless you turn away from your path to prevent it." Melkor always underestimates Eru's creativity, and so sows the seeds of the creation he would prevent.

Wonderful turn of the times.

Author Reply: Yes, evil always underestimates The One's creativity and the strength of good to resist however tempted otherwise. Namo thinks himself weak because he wanted to join Melkor in the Song, little realizing that "wanting to" and "doing" are two different things, as Eru Iluvatar points out.

EdlynReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/10/2007
Oh, what a marvelous idea for a story, meldonya! I loved it when Námo surfed the wave-front. It sounds like so much fun! But then to turn and find Melkor there...Bbbrrrrrr! My heart was in mt throat and I actually jumped in my seat!

Námo's fear was so very palpable and oh, I could sympathise with him. Wanting to do the right thing but also being so tempted... It's a state we Second-born are far too familiar with.

Beauty and pride and rebellion seem to go together don't they? Or at least they do when the owner of the beauty sees no point in obedience. Well, as we know, Melkor will get his in the end.

Actually, your scene between Melkor and Námo reminded me of something that I wrote back in high school about how Lucifer went about recruiting other angels to his cause. Not the same scenario obviously, but the intent and manipulation was pretty similar. Perhaps, I'll dig out that notebook and edit the piece. It will be interesting to see what I think of it after all these years.

I wonder if the reason Námo picked the blue-white star to huddle in was for the same reason I find myself wrapping myself up in my mother's crocheted bedspread when I'm upset. When there isn't anyone you love right there, enclosing yourself in something they made with love helps make things not so awful.

When I read the part where Manwë was comforting Námo I felt so good inside. THe love they have for each other is tangible and it is so obvious that Námo really relies on his brother. I also liked his honesty when he admitted that he really enjoyed surfing the supernova's plasma pulses. All in all it's not a horrible a vice as other's he might have (who would have thought Námo would be an adrenaline junkie ). I can just see the embarrassed, somewhat sheepish expression on his face as well as the resulting grin when Manwë talked about joining him the next time Melkor decided to set off another supernova.

I did enjoy seeing Ulmo and Aulë jumping off the planetary rings into the atmosphere and the others racing and playing catch. It really brings home the idea that the Ayanumuz are still young--indeed children of the Thought of Iluvatar--brilliant, precocious, and very powerful children but children nonetheless. I think it also points out that play is integral to all beings created by Eru and that age and power makes no difference. It was lovely seeing them enjoy the creation that they helped make tangible.

Oh, I definitely don't want Varda upset with me! I think I would have teleported elsewhere rather than face her wrath.

And as always great good can be made from the results of an evil action. Not that I'd want the evil to happen in the first place but if it does it's wonderful that the broken bits can be put together in a new way to create something wonderful and beautiful.

A wonderful beginning and I look forward to reading the rest of this!

Edlyn

Author Reply: I'm sitting here in the Beijing airport with nothing to do for the next few hours, so I figured I'd reply to reviews. *grin*

The Anyanmuz are indeed still "young", sort of like very precocious teenagers on the order of "Buffy", so they can still play but they can also suffer from angst like any teenager. Namo, being younger in Eru's Thought than Manwe, looks up to Manwe as an older brother who looks out for the younger siblings, sort of like "John-Boy". (Sorry, I haven't seen American TV in a year and it's beginning to show). Anyhoo....

Brian Swimme, who is a Catholic mathematical cosmologist, tells his students that the universe never repeats itself... it always brings forth something new out of the destruction of the old. We are the Original Fireball in human form. Eru tends to work the same way I find.

Thank you for your review. I really appreciate it.

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