Henneth Annûn Story Archive

Adaneth,

your chief protagonists' relationship is exactly as close as I can possibly be comfortable with - It is good to see that Sút refrains from insinuating more. At the same time, you remind us of the utter poverty the men are living in which is as amazing to me as to any dwarf.

Your story keeps unfolding and I keep enjoying it - Thank you for your efforts!

Elrûn

Thank you for your kind comments on my interpretation of Dwarvish culture, Fantasia.

their point of view about women is so different, to an outsider, it looks that they are hidden and not respected, but you can see that they are equal to males and treated with great respect, very different of what happens in human society

I'm glad this is working for you, because figuring it out has been a real challenge.  There is a clear correlation in human societies between women's economic contributions and their status, and since Dwarves are such economic creatures . . . .

no favors allowed

Well, what do people often say when someone does them a favor?  "I owe you."  Debt can be oppressive, and since Dwarves were designed to resist domination, my view is that they have an abhorrence of debt.

And thanks to Elrûn as well:

you remind us of the utter poverty the men are living in which is as amazing to me as to any dwarf

I expected many readers would see it that way.    But since I will shortly head into the Wild to live out of a canoe for a week, I also appreciate how little of what I own is truly a necessity.

Cheers--

Adaneth

I am very sympathetic to Auð's worries - it is difficult to put such behind you when you cannot/will not go see a situation for yourself. Wise Sút indeed.

The whole conversation between Sút and Auð was just delightful (and informative: Murdag/Leod/Gaernath, etc.).  Their struggle to figure out the different "levels" of Men is interesting and somewhat understandable, although I kept wanting to whisper "Petty-dwarves" to them. Every race in M-e seems to have their examples of "high", "low" and in-between when it comes to breeding and/or behavior; Men's situations are perhaps more obvious to other races simply because they are not hidden away and are so darn prolific.

Your descriptions (may I say once again, ever repeating) are terrific; I can so clearly picture everything, yet the scenes never feel bogged down by details. Your highly-discriminating use of and economy with words has a lot to do with it, of course.

It is fascinating to hear their opinions of Veylin and Saelon's friendship and to know they have trouble with it as others do, even with Dwarven examples like Lukla and Fagr. No wonder interracial harmony is so hard to come by.