helofthewoods:

Dear @determamfidd,

So I’ve wanted to write this for a long time, but there’s so much I want to say that I’ve held off on doing it, and I’m sorry for that! Short version: Sansûkh means the world to me, and is one of the best pieces of writing I’ve ever read.

Long version: From language to music, characterisation to description, your world-building is immaculate, and I love your Dwarrow so much. Every part of your story-telling is compelling, complex, and so so evocative; I can’t count how many times you’ve made me cry, from sadness, frustration, joy… and how often I’ve come back to various chapters and moments. I know I’ve re-read it at least five times, and I find something new to marvel at every time.

Characters I previously felt little attachment to, or OCs who were totally new to me, have become incredibly special to me, and I feel like I know and love better characters I already adored. The artistry with which you weave this tale, and with which you work Tolkien’s original, is mind-blowing.

I’m kind of just ranting now, which is not the point. Sorry. Here’s the thing: I’m writing my PhD, very broadly speaking, on the politics of fandom (that’s such a rough summary, but eh…), and Sansûkh more or less makes all my theory and research look redundant. With Sansûkh, you take a world that is, let’s be honest, constructed with pretty racist, colonialist language, and with cis-heteronormative and largely patriarchal social norms, and create a world that is representative, full of wonderful diversity, and that directly challenges the narratives presented in Tolkien’s original… All whilst still honouring canon and celebrating all the wonderful things in it.

It’s masterful, and such a lovely way of looking at canon that both maintains and challenges, and to be honest Sansûkh is my favourite work set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, with Tolkien’s characters – including Tolkien’s originals.

Like so many others, I grew up on fan fiction, and I was ashamed of it. From the kid who hid their computer screen when someone walked through the same room, I’ve become the person who tells everyone who might be remotely interested that they really need to read Sansûkh, like, now.

Thank you so much for writing and sharing this wonderful story, with it’s wonderful characters and relationships, and for making my heart ache and break and heal in such beautiful ways. Thank you.

oh my goodness thank you, thank you so so much.

I can relate SO hard – I was also that kid in the late 90′s who hid my fanfic hobby from everybody. (Which was quite tricky when the computer was kept in a communal family area heh)

I am so, so thrilled you enjoy and like the story, and you are more than welcome to use and/or reference any part of it for your PhD! I really can’t thank you enough for this: it is so validating and amazing to hear that it spoke to you, thank you SO much for your kindness and generosity, reaching out to me to tell me ❤