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| Of Elves and Dwarves and Late Night Philosophy by Thundera Tiger | 20 Review(s) |
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| Shaan Lien | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/2/2004 |
| I think Gimli's question was rather vague and they talked in circles around the matter that couldn't actually have an answer because of the question's inate ambiguity. Oh well. It was amusing. Aragorn's random thoughts made me laugh out loud (or rather giggle or chuckle) especially with his counting. Author Reply: I'm glad Aragorn amused you. I was trying to put in something for the people who would like that kind of debate (specifically, philosophy students and ESPECIALLY religious philosophy students) as well as something for more practical people. Gimli's question in its first form _is_ rather vague, but I think he and Legolas narrowed it to the point where it became a fairly classic religious question of what is more important: agency or the influences that compel the acts of agency. Of course, I could be wrong about that, and I did try to rework it to fit into a LotR setting. So maybe that's part of the problem. *shrugs* I suppose it's how you look at it. I'm glad you liked Aragorn, though. Thank you for the critique and the review! | |
| docmon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/1/2004 |
| yay! "It still remains that dwarves would grow taller if they gave up their beards." ::cackle:: LOL! Indeed! monica Author Reply: Huh... Seems to me you might have seen this story in an earlier form... ;) I think I recall you liking that line earlier. | |
| Hildestohl | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/1/2004 |
| I'm impressed that you decided to write something like this because it was indeed a challange! I've never read a debate of legolas' and Gimli's that carried on that long. Great job. That was very fun. Excuse me while I check out other stories written by you. :) Author Reply: I hadn't read a debate that long, either, and I was incredibly nervous about posting the story. It seems to have gone over well, so maybe I'll embark on other "adventures" like this. I'm very glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for the review! | |
| Wantanelf | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/1/2004 |
| Well, you succeeded. What a great debate. I think you really hit all three characters on the head. I just love Aragorn counting in his head before Gimli and Legolas speak. I could just picture all three of them sitting around the fire drinking and talking. You really have a knack for getting in these characters heads. I hope you worked around your writer's block because I'm looking forward to more of your stories. Keep it up!!! Author Reply: Writer's block persists, but it's fading. Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed the debate and the characterization. I was trying to create something of a different "voice" for everyone just to reinforce characterization. I have no idea how well it worked, but I'm glad you think I got the characters down. That's a great relief. Thank you for the review! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/1/2004 |
| What a great story. Even the room has taken on a character of its own, and I can just see the participants. I can picture Legolas and Gimli turning, identical expressions on their faces as they combine against Aragorn - and feel his reaction. The theory? One of those really difficult ones - I don't know that any of the creatures of the dark really had any free choice. They didn't start off a blank sheet with the possibility of going either way - they were born corrupted and had little chance to alter that. Great story - good point to leave, Aragorn. Author Reply: Ah, but what about the _first_ creatures of darkness? Creatures, Maiar, and spirits that Morgoth corrupted? Did they choose to become corrupt? And if so, how much of an affect did Morgoth's influence have upon their corruption? Regardless, I'm glad you enjoyed the story and I'm glad you liked Legolas and Gimli teaming up against Aragorn. That was actually my favorite part. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2004 |
| I had to go back and read the beginning again to see how much mulled wine these guys could knock back and still carry on a philosophical debate about the nature of evil. Legolas and Gimli obviously had been saving up for this one for a long time; I don't blame Aragorn for trying to stay out of it. But he couldn't...quite...restrain himself, could he? The line about Legolas and Gimli's last argument being about the color of the sunset was great. This is how guys express affection! What I really liked about this story was the comfortable, warm sense of three old friends who know each other very, very well, and play each other like an old fiddle. Legolas and Gimli are like an old married couple - fighting like cats and dogs with each other but turning against anyone else who joins the fray. And poor Aragorn- he knows better, and he did it anyway! Poor guy, they were against him and he hadn't even figured out which side he was on! Oh, well, at least they let him off the hook when he'd quite had enough. I was glad to see the little nod to Halbarad, too. Great story! Author Reply: Thank you very much! Glad you liked the nod to Halbarad. That's actually a shout-out to a story I've got in draft form that involves a quick little debate between Halbarad and Erestor with a possible appearance by Gilraen. I'm not 100% sure of her involvement yet, though. Anyway, I love that you felt this was a plausible way for Legolas and Gimli to spend their time, and I love that you felt this was a scene between very old friends. I tried to get it to flow that way, but by the time I'm done, I'm usually too close to the writing to know if I've succeeded. The fact that you think it sounds familiar and close is very complimentary, so thank you for that! And after so many years of friendship, I imagine that Legolas and Gimli would turn into quite an interesting "couple," if you could call it that. They know how to push each other, they know when to do it, and they know when to back off, too. Works for me! | |
| Estel_Mi_Olor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2004 |
| Wow...I did not think it could be done. No offense, but I sincerely doubted that anyone could write a coherent argument between Legolas and Gimli in which something profound was discussed. But you did it. *Awe*. This is another example of your higher order thinking, I believe. That was a beautiful argument. *Sigh* wish it could be renacted on some debate team. Firstly, what a great question for them to debate! Let me see who I agree with...I agree with the fact that evil is a conscious choice-ie Legolas-and that the evil being must come first for it to radiate evil. I think that makes sense... Secondly, it was very amusing to have Aragorn as an impartial observer in the beginning, but then was forced to join the discussion by his own curiosity. It was even more amusing that Legolas and Gimli banded together against him. Hehe. But the crowning moment was when the King of Gondor actually won. But you see, he didn't win the entire debate. I believe he was disqualified from the first one, so he can't claim complete victory. :) Cheers and thank you for this great fic! I hope your writers block is cured! Thanks again! Author Reply: Many thanks! I wasn't certain I could create a coherent, profound argument either, but I really wanted to show that the debates between Legolas and Gimli weren't always silly, spontaneous, inane things. Sometimes they were meaningful discussions that could intrigue others. As for agreeing with one side or the other...Legolas is pleased to have your support. For myself, I fall somewhere in the middle. I basically gave Legolas and Gimli the two extremes of my own take on the matter of evil, so I can't side with either one. I think Legolas might make a better case for his side, but I also think Gimli got off some of the better insults, so they're pretty evenly matched. And poor Aragorn...I suppose he'll think twice about jumping in next time. And I agree that he couldn't claim complete victory. But partial is apparently good enough for him. Many thanks for the review! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2004 |
| I have to admit that this is exactly the kind of conversation that I avoid if I can. My practical mind looks at both arguers and says, "What are you talking about????" But I do like the interplay of the characters here. Poor Aragorn! Author Reply: I've had quite a few roommates who roll their eyes when I wander onto philosophical paths, so I can't blame you at all! In fact, part of my goal for this fic was to make it accessible to people who were more practical than fanciful, so the fact that you liked the interplay of the characters makes me very happy. Glad I could offer you something. ;) | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2004 |
| I loved this from Aragorn's point of view. Very well done. And I loved the topic of their debate and the development of it. Definitely a scene I can imagine all three of them taking part in. Author Reply: Glad you liked it, and I'm very happy that you could imagine the three carrying out this scene. I tried to make it feel as though this sort of thing was familiar to all of them by now and it had become a dance of sorts that they knew very well. I also wanted to make the topic of the debate interesting, so I'm ecstatic you liked it. Thank you so much! | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2004 |
| Yum, the endless-debate game! I have a special friend with whom I play this game a lot. Long-distance, over the phone. It's worth every penny. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? That's for tomorrow night, I suppose. And Aragorn will know better than to get involved with the pros until he's better at it. My very favorite line was this: Legolas made a show of considering that. "What causes you to think that the first Warg was a he?" Not only am I an ethnomusicologist, I am a feminist as well, and I'm behind Legolas all the way, just for bringing up that issue. Author Reply: And after the chicken and egg debate, I suppose our intrepid duo will ask the question, "How many Maiar can dance on the head of a pin?" Is there no end to the madness?! ;) Legolas is grateful for your support, incidentally, and assures you that he is now going to make every effort to identify the gender of spiders ere he shoots them so as to track males and females. He also gives you points for bringing up the ethnomusicologist tidbit again, as do I. Many thanks for the review! | |