Reviewer: Elentari (Signed) · Date: 26/05/06 - 08:02 am · On: Metamorphosis - 1

I will resist kicking your beta because I have not kicked you myself. Oh, the clash! It is rather infuriating for the elves to see the hi-tech abilities of 3170. And I am very pleased that they frustrate her just as much. Great tension, great storytelling. You know I love this fic to pieces. kuddos!

Reviewer: darkluck (Anonymous) · Date: 26/01/06 - 10:25 am · On: Metamorphosis - 1

(Amendment to review) This begins with a really interesting start and I like how you are trying to differentiate your sci fi aspects from more well known existing canon. Right away, the bothering has struck though. Elrond did build Imladris but there is no evidence that Glorfindel was around. I would like to have seen something more fleshed out regarding him so I knew where you were on the debate - new character or old character reborn? Why is you OFC ending up in Imladris anyway? What possible reason could there be for taking this shortcut in plot? Would it not have been more interesting and original to have the bodies emerge somewhere in the area instead? There was nothing particularly magical about Rivendell - just the protection of the ring. I wondered why a ring and the water element theme it controls for Elrond would attract futurific beings? Also if a mass of alien bodies just showed up one day, I doubt Elrond would be shouting for healers! Where are the security measures? These ppl resemble long orcs in their gear, so why is he scouring bodies to help? I dont know. I find this chapter cutting corners and already creating weak areas and plot holes. Not my cup of tea but I wish you well with this piece.

Author's Response: Greetings Darkluck and thank you for reviewing my story. I appreciate your amendments to your original response, but I will continue on with what my original reply to you was going to be. With slight modifications in answering your additional amendments. I feel the need to clarify several statements and concerns you have regarding this piece. I do not, as a rule, put so much effort into detailing a response for these stories, as all of what I write, be it fan fiction or original works, are fictional pieces after all, and as AU as they can get regarding my original characters in fan fiction. So, I shall begin by addressing each of your comments separately and as clearly as I am able. I apologize for its length. Darkluck: Original Review Segment: ?This begins with a really interesting start and I like how you are trying to differentiate your sci fi aspects from more well known existing canon. Right away, the bothering has struck though. Elrond and his chums did not build Imladris. It was originally for the Noldo refugees.? RESPONSE: Among other sources, the Encyclopedia of Arda specifically mentions, under the entry Imladris, that Elrond is the founder. In the entry 'Elrond', it says: ?After the invasion of Eriador by Sauron in the mid-Second Age, Elrond founded a refuge there in a deep hidden valley; this was named Imladris, or Rivendell in the Common Speech. After Sauron's defeat by Tar-Minastir of N?menor, Elrond remained in Rivendell, where he prospered with the aid of the Great Ring, Vilya.? APPENDIX B of ROTK, Second Age: 1693 ? War of the Elves and Sauron begins. The three rings are hidden 1695 ? Sauron's forces invade Eriador. Gil-Galad sends Elrond to Eregion. 1697 ? Eregion laid waste, death of Celebrimbor. The gate of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with the remnants of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris. Additionally, on page 288, in both the hard and soft cover versions of the Sil, of the rings of power, it states thus: ?Eregion was laid to waste and Celebrimbor was slain, and the doors of Moria were shut. In that time, the stronghold and refuge of Imladris, that men called Rivendell, was founded by Elrond Half-elven; and long it endured.? Darkluck: Amended Review segment: ?Elrond did build Imladris but there is no evidence that Glorfindel was around. I would like to have seen something more fleshed out regarding him so I knew where you were on the debate - new character or old character reborn?? My Additional Response: Just before the first chapter begins, there is a single sentence caveat that clearly states that the beginning of the story is set 30 years before the War of the Ring. Glorfindel is not documented in Imladris (or ME) before 1975 TA. So his being part of Imladris founding, even if he were an original character, born in the place, would require some acrobatics. Also, that fact is not really relevant to the story, though I understand why you'd be curious. Suffice to say he'll be introduced as the story unfolds. Darkluck: Original Review Segment: ?Why is you OFC ending up in Imladris anyway? What possible reason could there be for taking this shortcut?? RESPONSE: Author's choice. It was necessary that the OFC meet and interact with the Elves in particular. The Cyborg has a level of development that requires her to interact with more evolved beings. If she landed, say, at Bree, the humans would have freaked out at the battle scene when the dimensions overlapped (and there is a perfectly good reason for that, which is being slowly revealed as the fic unfolds); and also the Cyborg would likely have obliterated them all, as soon as her systems had regained a minimum level of energy and stability. Darkluck: Amended Review Segment: ?Would it not have been more interesting and original to have the bodies emerge somewhere in the area instead?? My Amended Reply Again, Author's choice. Darkluck: Original Review Segment: ?There was nothing particularly magical about Rivendell? RESPONSE: I tend to highly disagree, and have found numerous sources of information (including Tolkien's own letters) stating that there was indeed a great amount of magic surrounding the hidden valley, and various areas across Arda. Page 298 of the Sil describes the fact that there were enchantments, caused by the ring?s existence, that surrounded Imladris where no ...Orc or evil thing dared ever come... Lothlorien also enjoyed such enchantments as well. The Elves, per se, already had a magical 'air' about them ? count in cloaks that changed color according to the background and made the wearer nearly invisible, food that would not go stale for months, the ability to heal poisonous wounds with hardly or no touching of the patient, mind-to-mind speech, shaping precious stones, weaponry and other crafts with special properties, the ability to conjure water-horses to take on the nazgul...among other deeds common to their race. Of course, one could argue Gandalf had a hand in the water-horses, but he still required Elrond's and Glorfindel's aid. Also, Elrond himself was one of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth, in league with Galadriel and Cirdan himself. He had nearly all of Middle-earth's most important bloodlines, and we all know how fastidious Tolkien was about bloodlines. I had to go check the precise fractions and specifications in Encyclopedia of Arda, and here is what I found: ?Though he is known as 'Half-elven', Elrond's lineage is much more complicated than that title suggests. He could claim descent from all the main branches of the Eldar, each of the Three Houses of the Edain, and even from the Maiar. To be completely correct, he was slightly more than half-elven: actually nine sixteenths of his ancestors were Elves. A full breakdown of his descent works out like this: Three eighths Edain, through two lines: his grandfather Tuor of the House of Hador, and his great-grandfather Beren of the House of B?or. He was also descended from the third House of the Edain, the Haladin, through Tuor's grandmother Hareth. Five sixteenths Sindar, again through two lines: his grandmother Nimloth and his great-great-grandfather Thingol. Five thirty-seconds Vanyar, through his great-grandmother Elenw?, and also through his great-great-great-grandmother, Indis the second wife of Finw?. Three thirty-seconds Noldor, through his great-grandfather, Turgon (who himself had only three-quarters Noldorin blood). One sixteenth Maiar, through his great-great-grandmother Melian.? Don't you think the maiar blood would grant him 'magical' power (if we are disregarding the other great Eldarin lines, so be it, but that still leaves Melian)? MORE ON MAGIC: And let us not forget Elrond's ring, Vilya, which is described in RoTK, in The Grey Havens (right after the Gilthoniel! A, Elbereth! song), as ?...the mightiest of the Three...?, 'the Three' meaning the magical Three Rings of the Elves. It was originally held by Gil-galad, but he passed it on to Elrond near the time of the founding of Rivendell. All in all, Imladris had great magical power protecting it, and was as likely a location for dimensional overlapping as any; and more than most in actuality. From Tolkien's own letters (quotes taken from http://greenbooks.theonering.net/anwyn/files/060101.html): "Letter 131 states: 'Their ?magic? is Art, delivered from many of its human limitations; more effortless, more quick, more complete (product, and vision in unflawed correspondence). And its object is Art not Power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of Creation.' 'product and vision in unflawed correspondence.' In other words, if they could think it (vision), then they could do it (product). No tiresome mechanics, no industrialized machines?just pure, unadulterated Art: sub-creation. Ultimately, what we would call magic is not, in Middle-earth, any such thing. It is simply the natural powers of created beings proceeding from them in yet another spiral of creation. And we know this power is inherent because Tolkien stated as much. The same Letter tells us: 'By [the use of the word ?magic?] I intend all use of external plans or devices (apparatus) instead of development of the inherent inner powers or talents?or even the use of these talents with the corrupted motive of domination; bulldozing the real world, or coercing other will.'? Now, I have a plethora of information, in addition to the above, including direct quotes and such from Tolkien's own hand, that I can forward to you if you wish. Darkluck Amended Review Segment: ?There was nothing particularly magical about Rivendell - just the protection of the ring. I wondered why a ring and the water element theme it controls for Elrond would attract futurific beings?? My Amended Response The water is not Elrond's element, it was Galadriel's; Elrond commanded air.That he had the power to command water, even if with the help of other extraordinarily mighty characters, hints at a greater power being present in him; and also his ability to heal was something out of the ordinary. There were other major characters having a hand in the Bruinnen's incident. Now, it is Author's choice where characters are placed, or not. Futuristic beings were not attracted to this area for any specific purpose except to set up the storyline. Darkluck: ?...and if a mass of alien bodies just showed up one day, I doubt Elrond would be shouting for healers!? RESPONSE: Because they were lying wounded upon the ground, unmoving, and Elrond is no fool. Sensing little or no threat from the mass of bodies, and little or no life essence, he calls for help. Elves are benevolent beings and Elrond would never have reacted in such a way if he so much as felt an enemy threat from the creatures. Darkluck: ?Where are the security measures?? RESPONSE: Nothing is moving and there were indeed elven warriors present. They are always present. Some things I leave up to the knowledge and the basic understanding of the culture by the readers. Detailing every little thing can be bothersome to the LOTR officiando/reader. IMHO. Darkluck: ?These ppl resemble long orcs in their gear, so why is he scouring bodies to help?? RESPONSE: On the contrary, they do not resemble large orcs by any stretch of the imagination. I do believe I made it clear as to what they looked like in this chapter. If it was not clear, then I apologize. But, orc-like, no way. There is really no gear to speak of. They wear no armor of any kind and their body suits are silver in color. The only thing they wear, in addition to the suit, is a helmet, and some have a rifle lying by their sides. I believe I described the soldier's appearance as similar in kind to a large insect. Darkluck: ?I dont know. I find this chapter cutting corners and already creating weak areas and plot holes. Not my cup of tea but I wish you well.? RESPONSE: I respect everyone's opinion, as I believe that everyone is entitled to one, or several as the case may be. As a writer, I admit that I write to please, first and foremost, myself. It brings me great joy and is an expressive outlet. Secondly, I write for the reader who may find the story interesting and to their liking. If, in the process, they are able to find themselves lost in the storyline and taken to another world, away from the chaos of everyday life, then so much the better. I have attained my goal of making someone happy. Freedom of expression, a powerful imagination and the vast resources that the human mind is capable of drawing upon, are some of the greatest gifts we as humans possess. I appreciate your input and take your comments as part of the learning process. I can only become a better writer and story teller when those who choose to read my work, honor me with their thoughts, opinions and constructive criticisms. Regards, Wenont

Reviewer: Kwannom (Signed) · Date: 27/11/05 - 12:30 pm · On: Metamorphosis - 4

Finally the Elves realized 3170 is not human. I'm looking forward to see how they are going to deal with this situation and to read about the chat between the cyborg and Elrond. Update soon!

Reviewer: Katt (Signed) · Date: 09/11/05 - 11:54 am · On: Metamorphosis - 1

Elves and cyborgs. It's like chili and chocolate, two disparate tastes combined to make something utterly, utterly lovely. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Reviewer: Keek (Signed) · Date: 07/11/05 - 12:34 pm · On: Metamorphosis - 1

I am completely holding my breath to see how this turns out! Your unique approach to the girl falls into M-e is refreshing. I will be watching this story as it evolves. Well done. Keek