By any other name

[altariel]

Thanks to the munificence of trixieleitz, you will notice that 'the annoying 1' has now gone from my user name, and I'm now finally, properly altariel. You shouldn't notice any difference at all at your end.

Who is Altariel? Altariel is the Quenya name for Galadriel, Tolkien's best female character. It means something about golden hair. My hair is more silver these days, nor am I stronger than the foundations of the earth (not every day, anyway), but (despite what the fanfic suggests) Galadriel was always my favourite character in Tolkien. She hung out with angels and was the boss of the White Council (the Good Guys' think tank and strategy-making body). She knew that apparent defeats can be transformed into great victories, if you play a long enough game. Also she understood that some victories are not worth the scorched earth that they would take. Wise woman.

Tolkien couldn't stop turning her into the BVM, but in my head she is more Jadis (without all the bad press Lewis gave her).

Plus - magic mirror!

Altariel is also the name under which I commit Tolkien fanfiction.

Thank you, trixieleitz!

Comments

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Tolkien's best female character

What, even ahead of Shelob? :) To be serious, Galadriel was my favourite until Eowyn appeared. I've always had a weakness for warrior maidens.

But Galadriel is great - and was magnificently portrayed by Cate Blanchett in the film. (To whom I'm sure that you bear a more than passing resemblance. :) I was disappointed that the film omitted the marvellous exchange between Galadriel and Gimli when the latter is given his gift, though.

Congratulations on losing your "1" - and congratulations on your birthday too.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I always identified with Gimli (though not in the film), so this probably explains my reverence for the glorious altariel - I'm going to have to train myself out of that 1 now. It's clever the way it's already gone from all previous references!

PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Do you think it would be really unforgivably rude to write to kalypso, who said in her last entry in April 2003 that "I never come here anymore, I should delete the account" that maybe she should get on with it?

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I can't remember now whether the original Altariel deleted her journal, or whether it passed some time threshold and got deleted for her. (I think it might be the former.) It might backfire and remind kalypso that her journal exists...

Re: PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't have lost anything. But the snag is that there's a completely different kalypso on GJ, who is even less active (no entries, no comments, no friends), though I'm not really in a position to complain about that (my corresponding stats being 1, 5, 12).

Anyway, it's a good thing Mr A didn't go for mraltariel1!

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

And of course there's not another mraltariel out there!

Re: PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

That's lucky, assuming you didn't fancy a bit of polyandry!

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Nothing could compare :-)

Re: PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I've got this vision, now, of aspirants to the hand of altariel lining up at a table bearing amazing gourmet dishes under those domed thingies for her to sample.

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Don't forget my obsidian throne.

Re: PS

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Does this mean Garak's on hand as your food-taster?

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Who would dare poison me?

Re: PS

[trixieleitz]

As I recall, she deleted, but the username didn't become available until LJ did one of their infrequent purges of deleted accounts some time later.

Re: PS

[altariel.livejournal.com]

The Gimli-Galadriel story is gorgeous, particularly with the backstory Tolkien creates about Galadriel refusing Feanor even a single strand of her hair.

It's clever the way it's already gone from all previous references!

It's very swish.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Gimli is a favourite of mine, too, and I was disappointed that the film turned him into almost a buffoon. My five favourite characters (not in any particular order) are Gimli, Merry, Faramir, Eowyn and Galadriel.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Shelob is what I'm like on a bad day, lurking around the house, gobbling up unwary postmen. Eowyn is another great favourite.

I bear a resemblance to Cate Blanchett in the sense that recognizably part of the same species (legs, arms, eyes, etc.)!

The whole gift scene - including the bit with Gimli - is in the extended version of FotR, and is beautifully done.


Congratulations on losing your "1" - and congratulations on your birthday too.

Thank you!

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

The whole gift scene - including the bit with Gimli - is in the extended version of FotR, and is beautifully done.

Maybe I'll weaken and by the DVDs, then. (Though I continue to buy DVDs faster than I watch them.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I think the extended edition of FotR is definitely worth it: it actually manages to improve on what was already a superb film.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I liked FotR by far the best of the three films, perhaps because it was by far the most faithful to the book.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That's the reason I like it best. Also the alterations that they do make (which are inevitable for a film adaptation, I didn't expect it to come to the screen untouched) work in a way that having Elves turn up at Helm's Deep doesn't work.

[kerravonsen]

Agreed on both points.