News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| I don't believe in ghosts by DADGAD | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/2/2008 |
| Ah, so he gets a word in, too, does he? I'll have to check out that way if I ever get back to Britain again. It's been a long time since I was in Scotland last. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/2/2008 |
| Ooh, very well done--and so full of "atmosphere"! For someone who doesn't believe in ghosts he's sure spooked! And he's found Daeron, has he? Interesting! | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/31/2008 |
| This story was absolutely spine-tingling in the best sense. The truly frightening ghosts stories achive their aim by what they don't say in many ways, and this was one of the best. Just enough description for us to use our imaginations, and Scotland is one of the most atmospheric places. Certainly caused me to huddle against the wall and glance towards the window. Of course we all love to be scared! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/30/2008 |
| *Shivers* I like this - it's so atmospheric, and I really like the 'here and now' POV. I wonder, as the narrator keeps asserting I don’t believe in ghosts, who he's trying to persuade? Jay Author Reply: Himself of course! Definitely a case of protesting too much.... | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/30/2008 |
| A great story for Halloween. You build up the atmosphere brilliantly. Author Reply: Thanks Linda. Glad you enjoyed It! | |
| Independence1776 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/29/2008 |
| The atmosphere and description are perfectly chilling. The music just heightens the effect. The repitition of "I don't believe in ghosts" was very well done and sounds like someone trying to convince herself that she doesn't. But an experiance like that one... My favorite part is definitely the ending paragraphs. Shivers ran up my spine at the end, no matter that I know Daeron wouldn't hurt her. But it does beg the question: why's he following the car? Author Reply: 'The I don't believe in ghosts' repetition comes in very useful when I do this as a story, or a piece of reading aloud. I don't know whether Daeron is following the car or just wandering sadly. Perhaps he was attracted by the sound of the music playing in the darkness? | |
| Tanaqui | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/29/2008 |
| What a great story! I loved how you wove together the "real" and the "ghostly", and the speculation about where all those traditional ballads might have come from. Very nicely done - thanks for sharing. Author Reply: Thanks for the review! :) I've had the 'ghost' of the idea in mind for ages now, and used it as a story, but it was good to get it down in text finally. | |
| robnrun | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/29/2008 |
| Fun! If only because I know that area so well, and since the Sinclair family, their Orkney connections and southeast political network in the 1300-1480s was the focus of my Masters and Doctorate at Edinburgh. Sadly, for the Dan Brown fanatics, there is absolutly no evidence prior to the mid-1500s of any Templar/Free Mason connections. Although, one Sinclair does go on Crusade (the disastrous 1330s one headed by the Douglases that ends in Spain) and they do own the Pentland Hills (including Temple), but that was a standard crown grant. But the area is old, and there is a lot of history sleeping there. I know the feeling you describe, especially around All Hallows/Samhain. Maybe the weather, maybe our mental baggage, maybe something else? Author Reply: Robnrun What a fascinating subject to do a PhD in! (I studied rather more prosaic science, as the story probably makes clear). You're right though, you don't need Dan Brown to make the area interesting. What was the guy who built the Dryden Tower thinking? And did Tolkien ever see it I wonder? Anyone Daeron seems to like it, although I haven't seen him at Penecuik Folk Club yet..... | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/29/2008 |
| Holy cheese on rye! This turned from "moderately good" with all the evocative Scotland descriptions to "really really amazing" as soon as you got on the music tangent. The idea of a "universal composer" was really quite fascinating and entirely in keeping with Tolkien--especially since all the songs have just the right strain of loss and/or creepiness (necessary for Halloween) that they all could have come from the Elves, who experienced loss on an epic scale. And while I've seen considerable 7th-Age Maglor fics, Daeron seems to get left by the wayside a lot. The ending of this piece was heart-stopping. Kudos! Author Reply: Glad you liked it Celeritas. If you haven't already done so, have a listen to The Bramble Briar and you'll see what I mean about the sadness of folk song. It's not much of a step from Daeron to Anon really is it? | |