for The Mariner's Woe2/18 c1 
7Freya's Valhalla
Wow. You know what's the most fascinating thing about this work? That I had never, ever, conceived this side of Earendil. When I read the Silmarillion, it did strike me to learn that Earendil had actually desired to choose the fate of men, but in the end had refused for his wife, since one would usually not imagine that Earendil, one of the most reknown figures of elven history, had wanted to be counted among his mortal kin.
Your point of view makes total sense, in fact, it's absolutely fascinating how it makes so much sense. And the last phrase says it all.
7Freya's ValhallaWow. You know what's the most fascinating thing about this work? That I had never, ever, conceived this side of Earendil. When I read the Silmarillion, it did strike me to learn that Earendil had actually desired to choose the fate of men, but in the end had refused for his wife, since one would usually not imagine that Earendil, one of the most reknown figures of elven history, had wanted to be counted among his mortal kin.
Your point of view makes total sense, in fact, it's absolutely fascinating how it makes so much sense. And the last phrase says it all.
6/8/2012 c1 43Virtuella
Ah, thanks for directing me here. Yes, I can see this, a rebellious mind like those we find in ancient Greek myths. The tone and cadence of this piece is very well done and fitting for the topic. I would take out "Correspondingly" in the first paragraph, though, because it is unnecessary and it jars.
I found the long paragraph about Numenor a little dull, probably because it only tells us what we already know. For something like that to work, you'd really need to bring out the stylistic fireworks. ;-)
43VirtuellaAh, thanks for directing me here. Yes, I can see this, a rebellious mind like those we find in ancient Greek myths. The tone and cadence of this piece is very well done and fitting for the topic. I would take out "Correspondingly" in the first paragraph, though, because it is unnecessary and it jars.
I found the long paragraph about Numenor a little dull, probably because it only tells us what we already know. For something like that to work, you'd really need to bring out the stylistic fireworks. ;-)
3/17/2012 c1 1Iggyandwolf11
Let's play a game! Guess why I'm reviewing!
:;`*\/*`;:- I was born of a midget clown with diahrrea
`:;\-/;:`-B. I got hit while playing 52 pickup
-_"."-My editor-in-chief turd out of my ass says I need to review your story to improve.
1Iggyandwolf11Let's play a game! Guess why I'm reviewing!
:;`*\/*`;:- I was born of a midget clown with diahrrea
`:;\-/;:`-B. I got hit while playing 52 pickup
-_"."-My editor-in-chief turd out of my ass says I need to review your story to improve.
3/13/2012 c1 hixto
Nicely done. I can see Eärendil growing weary after all his time in the skies, weary of his task and weary of watching the world through the ages. You captured the history and the emotions very believably here.
Nicely done. I can see Eärendil growing weary after all his time in the skies, weary of his task and weary of watching the world through the ages. You captured the history and the emotions very believably here.
3/6/2012 c1 10Thranduil Oropherion Redux
That was very dark - an interesting insight into Earendil and the possible motives of the Valar. I never thought of wearing the Silmaril and captaining Vingilot as a reward. It was more like a punishment.
Kudos to you for that subtle reference to 'Invictis'. Nicely done!
10Thranduil Oropherion ReduxThat was very dark - an interesting insight into Earendil and the possible motives of the Valar. I never thought of wearing the Silmaril and captaining Vingilot as a reward. It was more like a punishment.
Kudos to you for that subtle reference to 'Invictis'. Nicely done!
3/5/2012 c1 The Lauderdale
"or, looking to an evil higher authority, the will of Eru"
...I actually didn't mean to write "evil" there. Um. Freudian slip?
"or, looking to an evil higher authority, the will of Eru"
...I actually didn't mean to write "evil" there. Um. Freudian slip?
3/5/2012 c1 14The Lauderdale
It looks like you've edited between now and when I read this story a few hours ago, and I think they were good edits - I can already see that several of the points I was going to make are now obsolete. So I'll stick with the premise. The Eärendil of this story is a potential Judas figure, preparing to loose Morgoth on the world. There's nothing here to really contradict Tolkien's prophetic words on Morgoth's escape from the Void, so far as I know (I don't have access to HOME at the moment), although it is said that Eärendil will descend from the heavens to take part in the battle against him. Nothing says he can't do both, ie. free Morgoth and then fight him. He doesn't want Morgoth to win: he wants to get the final battle over with.
That said, what are we to make of Eärendil's mindset, or his actions? Are these the thoughts of a madman, or a sane man who has truly considered the implications and believes he is doing the right thing? It's one thing to know a confrontation is coming: it is another to consciously choose to bring it about. Even foreseeing a happy outcome to the Dagor Dagorath, does he really think he would be permitted to see his wife and children again? Or would not this not be looked on as the ultimate betrayal - of Middle-earth, of life, of the Valar - and an invocation of his own damnation?
And how would his deed be assessed: as that of a Man or an Elf? For Eärendil chose the fate of the Elves, because Elwing wished to be counted so, but Tolkien says that he would have preferred to be a Man. Someone in-world could make the argument, then, that this great betrayal stems from a fundamentally Mannish quality he still harbors in his heart, making this the final and greatest betrayal in a long line of betrayals by Men.
Not even touching the part about whether this is secretly the will of the Valar - or, looking to an evil higher authority, the will of Eru ("God, I'll never ever know why you chose me for your crime.") The cosmological implications for both Eärendil and for Tolkien's larger creation are really fascinating.
So, a question: in the Silmarillion Elwing is able to fly out to her husband, but the implication in this story is of a man who has been shut off from his wife for sometime - and therefore, presumably, from what stability and wisdom she might have been able to offer him. In other words, I get a sense that Eärendil's thoughts and plans are as much a product of his isolation as anything else. Am I write to think this? Has Eärendil really not seen his wife in a long time? If he and his wife *were* still in contact, would he be thinking this way? If he were thinking this way, would he tell her? And what would she think, and what would come of it?
14The LauderdaleIt looks like you've edited between now and when I read this story a few hours ago, and I think they were good edits - I can already see that several of the points I was going to make are now obsolete. So I'll stick with the premise. The Eärendil of this story is a potential Judas figure, preparing to loose Morgoth on the world. There's nothing here to really contradict Tolkien's prophetic words on Morgoth's escape from the Void, so far as I know (I don't have access to HOME at the moment), although it is said that Eärendil will descend from the heavens to take part in the battle against him. Nothing says he can't do both, ie. free Morgoth and then fight him. He doesn't want Morgoth to win: he wants to get the final battle over with.
That said, what are we to make of Eärendil's mindset, or his actions? Are these the thoughts of a madman, or a sane man who has truly considered the implications and believes he is doing the right thing? It's one thing to know a confrontation is coming: it is another to consciously choose to bring it about. Even foreseeing a happy outcome to the Dagor Dagorath, does he really think he would be permitted to see his wife and children again? Or would not this not be looked on as the ultimate betrayal - of Middle-earth, of life, of the Valar - and an invocation of his own damnation?
And how would his deed be assessed: as that of a Man or an Elf? For Eärendil chose the fate of the Elves, because Elwing wished to be counted so, but Tolkien says that he would have preferred to be a Man. Someone in-world could make the argument, then, that this great betrayal stems from a fundamentally Mannish quality he still harbors in his heart, making this the final and greatest betrayal in a long line of betrayals by Men.
Not even touching the part about whether this is secretly the will of the Valar - or, looking to an evil higher authority, the will of Eru ("God, I'll never ever know why you chose me for your crime.") The cosmological implications for both Eärendil and for Tolkien's larger creation are really fascinating.
So, a question: in the Silmarillion Elwing is able to fly out to her husband, but the implication in this story is of a man who has been shut off from his wife for sometime - and therefore, presumably, from what stability and wisdom she might have been able to offer him. In other words, I get a sense that Eärendil's thoughts and plans are as much a product of his isolation as anything else. Am I write to think this? Has Eärendil really not seen his wife in a long time? If he and his wife *were* still in contact, would he be thinking this way? If he were thinking this way, would he tell her? And what would she think, and what would come of it?
3/5/2012 c1 6OldStoneface
Holy cow! The overall concept and idea is simply incredible and deliciously dark. I can't say enough great things about it. I have some suggested tweaks to wording to keep the overall tone of language consistent, but other than that it is a fantastic short read.
6OldStonefaceHoly cow! The overall concept and idea is simply incredible and deliciously dark. I can't say enough great things about it. I have some suggested tweaks to wording to keep the overall tone of language consistent, but other than that it is a fantastic short read.