Review of Dreamflower's "Dragonsblood" by Himring

[hhimring]

B2MeM Challenge: Review a story...: based on the Hobbit (B6)
Format: Review
Genre: N/A
Rating: General
Warnings: Review contains SPOILERS.
Characters: Bilbo
Pairings: N/A
Summary: Review of Dreamflower's Dragonsblood (link to story on MPTT)

I am not really well read in Hobbit fic, but I’m sure this one is quite special. The underlying idea of this story very much appeals to the nerd in me, but not only that, it also reads well as a story! Dreamflower has delved into the depths of HoME and unearthed an early storyline for the end of the Hobbit, in which not only is the ring less important than it later became but also Bilbo, rather than Bard, is the one who kills Smaug. She has decided to see how it might have played out if Tolkien had stuck with this plot rather than striking it out. She is not only interested in the intricacies of plotting but also in the moral consequences.

The way details of the final version, the published Hobbit, are merged into the abandoned plotline (especially the dialogue) is very skilful and well done. Dreamflower manages to do so apparently seamlessly.  It is not her fault that Bilbo afloat in a golden bowl on a stream of dragon’s blood, for instance, isn’t one of Tolkien’s better ideas—and in  fact it doesn’t matter, for it is precisely Dreamflower’s point that there is more wrong with the whole idea than such gimmicks. It is not really compatible with the Bilbo we have come to know and love. And Bilbo himself in the story feels this: an increasing repugnance for his role that causes him to awake from his dream—a time-honoured way of having one’s AU cake and eating it, of course, but in this case, one with a special twist.

Comments

[dreamflower]

Thanks for the wonderful review! This story was so interesting to me to write, to explore the origins and possibilities of what "might have been"; and yet I honestly think the final shape of the story we got is the "right" one, and I tried to show that as well!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Excellent observations on how Dreamflower's explorations expose the reasons we rejoice that the Master chose otherwise for the final product!

[hhimring]

Thank you!