Walking Down Narrow Streets by Marta

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Fanwork Notes

Fanwork Information

Summary:

What if Tolkien's writings really were translations rather than original creations? Late one night, a certain professor wanders around Oxford, searching for answers.

Major Characters: J.R.R. Tolkien

Major Relationships:

Genre:

Challenges: B2MeM 2009

Rating: Teens

Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild)
Chapters: 2 Word Count: 2, 913
Posted on 16 March 2009 Updated on 16 March 2009

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Not A.U., not really, but not exactly a comfortable read either. Touches on themes of Christian belief and homosexuality (appropriate to the time).

Notes

Comments on Walking Down Narrow Streets

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I really have no idea to start what I liked about this piece. Perhaps with the genuine feeling that it reads as it was written around that time? The timeperiod, worries, law and people he encountered are so well depictured. Then there is also the writers thoughts and worries, how a piece of fiction will reflect on the writer, his family and career. Yet that inkling of doubt, the story he did found and how he ponders to go about it is so immensely well captured. And I very muchly like the idea that the story of the Silmarillion was found in a trunk, a history that did happen is making me squee inwardly a lot! I think if I read this again, many more impressions will come to the surface. What a wonderful piece Marta, I truly enjoyed reading this!

A writer's doubts and insecurity are immensely well conveyed here. The question what is more important: the truth or, let's say, customs, and how said truth will affect the writer's life in all aspects, is very well analyzed. And I'll second Rhapsy: I too would like the Silm to be part of history -- not fiction :)

Excellent piece of writing, and a treat to read, not only for the Silm fans :D Thank you!

Thanks, Robinka. I'm glad you thought I captured Tolkien's conflict well here.

 As it happens, I write Third Age stuff more often than Silmarillion-based pieces, and actually checked with Dawn on whether this fit at the archive. I do think it works well for all ages. Glad you enjoyed it.

Oh, this was not an uncomfortable read for me in the least, but that shouldn't surprise you, given my skeptic's nature to question everything. In this story, through a cleverly wrought vehicle -- the Man Himself -- you pose an excellent line of questioning.

Coincidentally, when I was waiting for my daughter at her physician's office recently, I read a fascinating article about the Gospel of Judas  in the May 2006 issue of National Geographic.  That, and the Gnostic writings in general, take Christianity in quite a different direction than the orthodox beliefs which took hold and shoved aside the Gnostics as "heretics." 

Your piece hits on strikingly similar themes: a decision made that changes "canon," which, in turn, causes one to question jsut what is canon and how objective are the decisions applied to declare something as canonical? 

The story is atmospheric and the use of historical sleuthing and accompanying jargon is effective.  I have to say, I wonder what Ramer and Lowdham would make of JRRT's revisionism. ;^)

Very nice, Marta! 

Well, I can be heretical when the mood strikes me, but I'm still a bit uncertain without a CYA move in the form of notes. It is one thing to write slash, quite another to insist that was the way it really should have been. :-) But I am perhaps more skittish on that note than I need to be.

 

In either  case, I'm glad for your review. Thanks for reading this piece.

Of course, in my fanciful semi-canonical view of the story of the dragon helm, I have always been fond of imagining it as a lover’s gift to Fingon. Now how Fingon would have been moved to present such a precious-by-association item to Hador was something I had not yet worked out in my head for my personal canon.

Oh, Marta! That was a terrific tale. Love the way it is written. Found myself reading it like a mystery novel (a very well written one at that!). The suspense was killing me all the way through it. I totally accepted JRRT as you portrayed him also.

And what a fabulous fantasy for a taleteller: to find out the stories one believes that one is inventing are actually true. And, in my case, that my own stubbornly "almost canon" concept of Fingon and Maedhros could be included in the reality warp of what is purported to be a true story was almost more than I could bear.

Giant squee for this one! What fun and what an appropriate occasion on which to share it.

Great use of the prompt and the Eliot quotations in general.

Thank you, Oshun. Your review gave *me* a little squee, too. I particularly am pleased that it read like a mystery novel; I will admit to having a noir-ish vibe as I was writing it myself.

 On your other review: he would only pass the helm along because the elves had exchanged enough gifts by that point that some achieved "mathom" status. It's the only way - proof that they were close, see? :-)