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The Last Messenger: A Tale of Númenor  by Fiondil 4 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/3/2008
Ah, they begin to fall into place as they come to stand against Ar-Pharazon, and Elendil's folk prepare for their return to Middle Earth.

Author Reply: Although that is another 24 years away, the signs are all there and the pieces are moving across the board as they must.

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/21/2008
Oh, you're in your own story now, eh? :) Very interesting chapter, I enjoyed the mystery and suspense that is building up here. I know so very, very little about Numenor that it just adds to my pleasure. I was looking at Unfinished Tales today for something I'm working on and there's a map of Numenor in it so I found myself studying it for a time - which totally took me away from my writing!

Anyway, I like these new characters and this conspiracy that is going on against Sauron and the king. I do hope that Fiondil will be all right. :)

Author Reply: Oh, you're in your own story now, eh?

Not really. *grin* I created the character of Fiondil long before I decided to use the name for myself. I just liked the name so when I wanted one for myself that's the one I chose.

I am glad you found the chapter interesting. I hope you continue to find the reat of the story as interesting. Keep a bookmark on the page with the map of Númenor, it will come in handy when reading this.

As for Fiodil... we will find out soon enough. Thanks for reviewing, Radbooks.

eilujReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/20/2008
The wind was blustery that day, sweeping along the streets of Rómenna like a proper housewife cleaning her front stoop -- Lovely image!

You’ve discovered how to be in two places at once -- China and Númenor both! [Now if you could patent that....]

I’m looking forward to seeing your take on the significance of the seven stars, since from what I’ve read, there’s no definitive explanation. 8-(

Hidden-in-plain-sight symbolic carvings, the gentleman’s library, forbidden weapons, being moved away from home so the King’s Men can more easily keep track of those believed to be disloyal, plots, dangerous missions, priests’ holes (well, maybe not yet, but I’m sure you’ll provide at least one), secret oaths, spies, derring-do ... I feel like I’ve strayed into a Tudor or Stuart epic.

I hope Eärendur has a good hiding place for that book....


Thus, Amandil is their great-uncle and Elendil their first cousin, making Valandil, Vandiel, Isildur and Anárion all first cousins once removed --

Sorry, but if I understand who’s who, that’s *not* the nature of the younger generation’s relationship.

Elentir and Amandil are brothers, so their children (Elendil and Elemmacil) are first cousins: they have the same grandparents. Because the twins are one generation away from their father Elemmacil, Elendil’s relationship to them is that of first cousin once removed -- they are one generation away (i.e., removed) from his first cousin Elemmacil. [First, calculate the relationship to the nearest person of the same generation -- in this case, Elendil and Elemmacil, who are first cousins. Next, count the number of generations difference on the one side: one generation from Elemmacil to his children. So Elendil and the twins are first cousins one generation removed.]

In the same way, of course, Isildur and Anárion are Elemmacil’s first cousins once removed.

Just as Elendil and Elemmacil are first cousins (sharing the same grandparents), their children are second cousins (sharing the same great-grandparents). [And as second cousins, both elves and hobbits would approve of them marrying -- though of course we don’t really know what sort of rules hobbit society had in the SA!]

For a slightly more complex example: Isildur’s sons will be Elemmacil’s first cousins *twice* removed.

http://www.genealogy.com/16_cousn.html


Author Reply: And of course, you're correct. I was reading the wrong generation when I wrote that and never thought to double-check. Thanks for pointing it out though you really did not have to go into such detail. I studied Estates and Future Interest in Law School and we had to learn our geneology there. *grin*

Hidden-in-plain-sight symbolic carvings, the gentleman’s library, forbidden weapons, being moved away from home so the King’s Men can more easily keep track of those believed to be disloyal, plots, dangerous missions, priests’ holes (well, maybe not yet, but I’m sure you’ll provide at least one), secret oaths, spies, derring-do ... I feel like I’ve strayed into a Tudor or Stuart epic.

Yeah, but the story of the Downfall almost reads like one anyway. LOL

AlquawendeReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/19/2008
>>As it is, Isildur probably had a time leaving Rómenna undetected himself."

should there be something to describe 'time' in the sentence? Like 'hard time' or 'difficult time?'

I really enjoyed this and can't wait for more. Thanks for updating and writing!


Author Reply: You'r probably right. Thanks for pointing this out. I'll go change it. Glad you liked the chapter.

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