It was a Saturday, a day like any other day. I was in a small town, and the boys had come to play. It was my destiny. It's what we needed to do. They were telling me. I'm telling you.*

The Corsican Brothers came. They came to play. We led off with HeroQuest, which my wife had purchased for our family back in the early 90's, I guess. They were actually anxious to play what we've come to call Our Custom Game, but I persuaded them to try this game first to expose them to a new game system.

The thing about playing with the Corsican Brothers, is that there is an actual playing time of about 15-20 minutes for every 2 hours dedicated to the proposition. It all begins with a brief explanation of the rules. Of course, that brief explanation is expanded into a lengthy discussion about various aspects of play and the rules because: "Why?" Moss was particularly interested in the spells used in the game and why the wizard got three sets and the elf only got one set, and how they worked. He was particularly taken by one which allowed a person to pass through solid rock and another that allowed one to become mist and pass through enemies. We burned a lot of time throughout the session as he returned to question how that would work and why one would be trapped forever if he ended his move inside solid rock. 

Anyway, you may be able to glean a bit of their style of play from the photo of game board above. After carefully explaining that they had the greatest chance of success if they stayed together to help each other against the potential opponents, they immediately split the party. They opted to go about opening as many doors as they could find. If you look closely at the board, noting that their characters are the red figures, you can see that they are spread out and are all being attacked by bad guys. The big bad boss of the dungeon level has also been discovered. Now he can chase down the scattered adventurers and kill them individually. 

They did not get to taste the bitter fruit of their strategy because the ladies returned from doing their errands and such, and we had to put it away.

Their time with HeroQuest did bear fruit later when they came back for dinner and birthday cake. After the dinner, Roy drafted me into a game of chess. Following the clash on the checkered arena, in which it was determined that two knights and a rook were sufficient to topple a king, they insisted on playing Our Custom Game.

They took complete control in setting up the game, finding and placing monsters and men, and writing notes for the movement, combat, and other abilities of the pieces involved. Thus continued the adventures of Darth Vader and Eldon Zyrax or Eldon Zyron (I can't remember the name exactly). The two adventurers joined the longrad, the golden turtle, the black leeches, the Alien Scouts, the goblins, the trans, the Healer, the CPUs, the biome, and the building that might-or-might-not-be solid rock.

Did you catch that last one? You may be able to guess who wanted to incorporate the spells from HeroQuest into Our Custom Game. He knew what he wanted and pursued it. One of the Alien Scouts had the water spells. Moss made a beeline for that enemy and successfully resisted a sleep spell to slay the guy and pry the magic spells from his cold dead hands.

The picture here is how things looked when it was time for them to go. We always leave the game setup so that we can resume it when they next return.

Eventually, I'll let them see the D&D books; the Monster Manual will have them ecstatic.

*Yes. It's a song reference twisted to my own purposes. See Foreigner--"Long, Long Way from Home," first verse.

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Those of you who subscribe to the newsletter know I that I attended a funeral this week (Oops, I guess you don't. Even though I've written the newsletter, it doesn't go out for a few more days). My biggest fan wants me to include a character based on the dearly departed in a sequel to The Shrinking Zone. Of course, that's a fabulous idea, and one that I anticipated he would suggest. We shall see.

 

Author Interview with

C.T. Phipps

Author of: Space Academy Dropouts and The Rules of Supervilliany 

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

I am just about to release SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS, which is a humorous science fiction novel set in the Spiral. Vance Turbo, not his real name, is a recent drop out ready to take the universe by storm. However, he’s almost immediately dragooned into the service of a black ops division of Space Fleet and forced to save the universe. Too bad it’s with the worst crew in the galaxy.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

I am a lifelong fan of Star Trek and Star Wars, being part of both fandoms. I couldn't help but imagine what would happen if you combined them (and don't say Babylon Five). The Galactic Community is an idealistic and noble organization that also has its flaws. Vance is every bit committed to that ideal but doesn't feel he can live up to it, hence why he drops out. What follows is basically a (anti)hero's journey to figure out how you must thread the needle of practicality versus ideals.

Do you write in more than one genre?

Oh yes. I have multiple other books in other genres with The Rules of Supervillainy being a parody series about superheroes. It's my most famous work. I'm also the writer of Agent G, which is a combination of James Bond and cyberpunk science fiction. He's a dashing amnesiac super-soldier and spy who works for awful people. I have other works, but these are two that I'm most proud of.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I am very good at rapid fire dialogue and humor. As a fan of Clerks and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, I soon found I absolutely loved their referential sarcastic kind of comedy. I came to appreciate this in the literature I read as well. I adore the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and indie works by authors John G. Harkness, Rick Gualtieri, and Drew Hayes. For me, I absolutely adore making my readers laugh while putting my characters through hell. Every one of my characters is a wiseass and it’s hilarious seeing them play off one another.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

I, too, am a wiseass like many of my characters.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I am actually an uplifted panda a trench coat and fedora.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

I think neo-cyberpunk is an underrated genre and often considered to be dead when it's thriving on the indie market. As such, I recommend the works of Anna Mocikat (Behind Blue Eyes), Brian Parker (Easytown), and S.C. Jensen (Bubbles in Space). All three of them are fantastic authors that deserve a lot more attention for their work.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

I think that all my books have something for everyone. The Rules of Supervillainy is a hilarious romp from start to finish for fans of comic books and movie superheroes. Agent G has something for fans of thrilling spy adventures and action-filled sci-fi. Space Academy Dropouts is a delightful homage to stories that boldly go where no one really should. I don’t regret any of my books and try to make them fun for anyone who picks them up.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

I ran into some serious trouble while starting off my career. I didn't know how to navigate the complexities of the business, market, or even hire a decent editor. I got taken advantage of once or twice. Thankfully, David Niall Wilson of Crossroad Press gave me a hand up and helped show me the ropes. I owe him a lot. He taught me a lot about how to get my books polished, out there, and noticed. More authors should be so lucky as to have a mentor like him.

 

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

"Charles, you beautiful sexy beast, where can I buy your books?" :)

Do you have a catchphrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

Stay safe. Because, really, more people should.

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Thanks to CT for participating.

I've got great news on the writing front -- but first a truly stupendous event must be brought to your attention. You are invited to participate:

The give-away is live. Click this link for your opportunity to receive 5 fabulous free autographed books from 6 fabulous authors. These books are to die for -- but don't die, just sign up and share the link from the signup for more chances at success.

The offer is up for only a few days. Enter now and punch your ticket to adventure.

And speaking of adventure. Truths in Flame--Book 5 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series--is more than half complete. The action and adventure, intrigue and tension, colorful characters and new beasties are melding into another terrific tale. At the moment, I'm stumped on a special ability or disability a character is about to discover. I once knew what it was going to be, but have forgotten and can't find that I wrote it down anywhere. If you have any fun ideas, let me know. And get yourself to Mars signed up for the fabulous 5 book give-away.

 

While scanning through some of the highlighted passages from my reading over the last few years, I assembled these quotes wherein you may find a common theme. Feel free to react like Mr. Wilder here.

"History is not just a tale of men’s making, but is a thing tied to the land. We call a hill by the name of a hero who died there, or name a river after a princess who fled beside its banks, and when the old names vanish, the stories go with them and the new names carry no reminder of the past" -  Bernard Cornwell Excalibur p.123.

"A dragon will set up a complex system of rules and then attempt to impress you with how well he is following them. Of course, the rules are completely arbitrary and fashioned with the sole purpose of making certain the dragon gets what he wants. If you ever happen to catch a dragon violating his own rules, he’ll claim some obscure loophole, and if you back him into a corner, he’ll just modify the rules to accommodate his behavior."    - Robert Kroese - Distopia p. 65.

"When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it, and avarice possesses the whole community." - Montesquieu - The Spirit of Laws

"The Turks entirely understood the arts of suppression and extortion, which they defined as government." - Talbot Mundy

"“Keep a government poor and weak and it’s your servant; let it get rich and powerful and it’s your master." - H. Piper Beam

"There is also decivilization by erosion, and while it’s going on, nobody notices it. Everybody is proud of their civilization, their wealth and culture. But trade is falling off; fewer ships come in each year. So there is boastful talk about planetary self-sufficiency; who needs off-planet trade anyhow? Everybody seems to have money, but the government is always broke. Deficit spending—and always the vital social services for which the government has to spend money. The most vital one, of course, is buying votes to keep the government in power. And it gets harder for the government to get anything done." - H. Piper Beam

______________

On the writing front, both I and the blank page remained largely at a stalemate, entrenched in our respective positions. I was at a conference this week but did manage to scribble out a few words in the solitude of the hotel room. Solitude which included, wafting from the courtyard below my window, the unrestrained strains of guitar strings doing their ill-played best to drown the sound of ill-sung songs. At one point I found a pair of old earbuds and listened to my own music to throttle the nuisance noise. Unfortunately, only one of the earbuds was working properly.

As a result of the disappointing progress that I made against the blank page and its infinite siblings, I decided to read through the novel as it exists so far to scrutinize it for continuity and pacing issues. I'm almost back to the present location and have been pleased with what I've read. However, I can see that the great finale, the zenith of the book, has not been sufficiently foreshadowed. The rising tide of dread with the inexorable approach of the grand climax has been omitted. The various adventures of the characters are great, but I've neglected to make the promise that the gobsmacking wunderclash finale fulfills. An element of my threefold formula--The Trauma, The Drama, and The Dream--has been insufficiently costumed. Alas, the crescendo has no clothes.

In my defense, I've been researching and writing this particular event and a related matter, with the buildup to the resolution in isolation from the rest of the story, and have not yet incorporated it into the novel. So the streams will cross at the appropriate time, and tension will rise on every page until the reader shivers with delight at the promise delivered.

***

 Interview with Alma Alexander

Author of

Changer of Days, Fractured Fairy Tales, and The Second Star

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

Currently wibbling between several projects to embark on – a science fiction novel, an urban fantasy, a historical fantasy, or an epic fantasy follow-up story on my “Changer of Days” novel which has just been released as a 20^th anniversary edition. I am leaning towards the SF book mainly because one of the characters is turning insistent – but I haven’t made up my mind yet….

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

If we’re talking about the science fiction novel I mentioned in question 1…the roots of it lie in a dream. I’ve done that before, for stories – dreamed either the whole thing or a beginning which then gets embroidered on and expanded as I start to think more about it.

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes. Several. But mostly I swim in “fantasy” waters, with various subgenres coming into play.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I build good worlds, I am told. I am also told I create memorable characters who stay with the reader long after the book is over. I’ll take either as a massive compliment.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

A great writer and a literary idol of mine once told me that the fact that I read and write a lot of poetry makes my voice a unique one – there is a certain lyricism that translates through into the prose. My love of language shines through.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I truly enjoy hearing from readers who liked my stories. So don’t hesitate to contact me (there’s a helpful form to do so on my website…)

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

There is a book by a new author coming out very soon and all I can say is, keep an eye out for Colm O’Shea in 2022…

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

That would depend on what kind of thing you want to read right now. I would seriously suggest going to the Book Table on my website and browsing for whatever sort of thing takes your fancy at this moment. There’s sure to be something there that will qualify.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

There is a novel – “Secrets of Jin Shei” – that sold internationally in a dozen languages, and helped to buy my house with its royalties. That helped… with everything.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

I don’t know. Perhaps the perfect question hasn’t even been asked yet and I don’t know I miss it…

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

Something I am often quoted on: “If you want to be a writer, nobody can stop you. If you don’t, nobody can help you.” It all lies within you, your passion, your dreams, your faith. If that is something that a person wants, a life of words, then they should pursue it with everything they’ve got.

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Thanks to Alma for participating.

As for what I've got cooking: In two weeks I'll be participating in a give-away with D.J. Butler and some other fabulous authors. Watch for a link to enter.

If you haven't picked up the FREE prequel to my Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series you can get it by clicking here.

Or by clicking here.

I'm in the middle of book 5 of the series. If you're not familiar with the series yet, you are in for a treat, a surge of raw adventure with magic and dragons set during the American Revolutionary War. Let me share a review from another rabid reader for Clamorous Harbingers, the 3rd book in the series:

5 Stars 

A Thrilling Addition to a Fantastic Series!

August 1, 2022

Format : Paperback | Verified Purchase

The 3rd entry in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series continues the action and excitement of this series and builds to a crescendo. We see the introduction of the malevolent Stone Cats, a worthy addition to the mythical creature menagerie. Set in the time of the American Revolution, the fictional crew is joined by the introduction of George Washington to the characters in the story. The skirmish at Jumonville glen is detailed with grisly detail. Note that the historical references are there for atmosphere - as the story is primarily a fantasy set in an alternate history. The battles in this book are truly epic, I can't give too many details so as not to reveal spoilers. We see further development in the cast of characters and more magic and powers. The classics quoting outdoorsman, Lee, a personal favorite has an important part to play - as do the indomitable pair - Iago and Atu, a mute midget and his eloquent translator islander friend. i really enjoyed this book - on to the next book!

 

I was all primed to do a review of Top Gun: Maverick with an additional paragraph or two concluding with how I. Am. Maverick. 

Fortunately, I decided against that. You're welcome.

Yesterday the Corsican brothers were here and set up round two of a miniatures game. I neglected to get pictures. In this case they had to slay a dinosaur (a real challenge) from which they would take a key that would unlock a tumbling tower. At the tower they had to remove a block and make it fall down (no challenge at all), and find the block with the code that they would use to get into a secret room on the other side of the board. The rules they have made with only slight guidance from me allow them to move and also to move the creatures, which they have also created. The creatures, in addition to the two dinosaurs (actual plastic dinosaurs), included a plethora of black leeches (the ends cut from the legs of several giant, black plastic spiders), two giant spiders, a transparent (represented by the translucent insert from an Old Spice deodorant), a longrad (consisting of two pens placed end-to-end), and the golden turtle (a turtle keychain). In the game we had played a couple weeks ago, they had made the creatures too powerful and had been unable to defeat them. They trimmed back the excess power and played the first "level" again, and it worked out pretty well. That one was difficult, but they were able to win. 

This time (the second level), the game made a pretty terrible story. While one of them occupied himself with collecting leeches with which to tame the transparent, the other had the longrad attack the dinosaur, and then joined in the attack on the dino. In the fairly short game, the transparent was tamed, and the dinosaur slain. The tower was tumbled, the code block found, and the two simply transferred to the special room with the code to level up--all anti-climactic and nearly as exciting as watching a bathtub fill. Afterward, I tried to explain that stories--and games--are better when things are not too easy (and the rules don't constantly change to benefit them). The story is better when the characters don't succeed easily. I didn't explain how there should be tension on every page, or go into my little speech about "The Trauma, The Drama, and The Dream," but I did try to help them understand that stories and games are more interesting and satisfying if things are difficult to accomplish and success comes after a series of failures, or after overcoming several very challenging obstacles. 

I'm not sure they got it. They wanted to get right into the next game, but I assured them we didn't have time to make a new board, add new creatures, and to play before they had to go home. One of the brothers finally asked a question--and I don't know whether it was with regard to not starting a new game, or my lecture on making things more challenging. He asked, "Why are you stifling our creativity?" Either way, it was pretty funny.

 

Interview with J. E. Taylor

Author of

The Season of The Dragon Series, A Fractured Fairy Tale Series, and more

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

My current WIP is a fun foray into vampire hunting that goes wrong. It’s an Urban Fantasy and the first book in my Shades of Night series. My main character works for an agency that hunts monsters and she ends up being on their most hunted list. Whatever could go wrong, does.

I’m also working on my 9^th Fractured Fairy Tale, a beauty and the beast retelling where Belle is the beast and has to over come a vanity curse.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

For Wicked Heart, the idea came when I saw the premade set and has percolated for a bit while I wrote my Season of the Dragon trilogy.

I am an extremely visual person and covers do generate ideas for me. Sometimes the ideas grow fast and furious the way Silent Night did for me when I saw that cover last year. That one was immediate, and it took less than a month to write that short story. But others, like Belle have taken a while for the details to form.

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes. I write in Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers, Mystery, Suspense. Everything has a supernatural suspense theme woven through it regardless of the genre.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

My books hold my reader’s attention, and they are compelled to finish the story. They care about the characters I’ve created which is always good. I tell the kind of stories that I want to read, so that excitement and passion comes through on the pages.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Not that I am aware of, but my husband tells me he can see pieces of me in my characters. I guess my strong will may lend itself to my characters. I’m a bit stubborn on things I believe in and it takes quite a bit to sway me from a path that I’ve focused on.

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

Most people when they meet me can’t believe I write such dark stuff. I am usually the one in meetings that cracks a joke or makes people laugh to ease the tension.  And I smile a lot. I’m basically a happy well-adjusted person, but I do have a very dark imagination and I always have. The what ifs are my favorite muse to follow. I would be Alice going into that rabbit hole just to see what was on the other side.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

Katie Salidas. Her Chronicles of the Uprising series was an awesome take on vampires and supernaturals. And her Agents of Asset series is lighter than Chronicles of the Uprising, but it is just as entertaining.  She has other bodies of work, but these two series are some of my favorites. It also doesn’t hurt that we ended up co-writing a series after years of beta reading for each other.

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

This is a tough one because it all depends on what genre the reader is looking for.

For Mystery and thriller readers, Crystal Illusions is the easy answer.

For Urban Fantasy readers, Season of the Dragon because it has a kick ass female lead that wants to save the world.

For Paranormal Romance readers, my fractured fairy tale series because who doesn’t love a good fairy tale romance.

And for those that need a little Christmas spirit any time during the year – pick up Silent Night. You won’t be disappointed.

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

Backspace.org.  It doesn’t exist anymore, but there used to be conferences in New York City every year and I attended a couple of these. And I was even on a panel for one. Every single person I met in that online community from the big authors to the little fishes were all very giving of their time and feedback. Some of my long-time writing friends are from that group and I trust them with my unedited work.  Between Backspace and Margie Lawson’s writing courses, I was able to develop my writing to the point of getting my first acceptance with a small publisher.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

I am completely blanking on this. I’ve been in the writing business for fourteen going on fifteen years, and there doesn’t seem to be much I haven’t been asked or asked myself in interviews. I guess one that comes to mind now that I’ve babbled a little is “What’s your favorite supernatural power that you’ve written?”

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

It has been a while since I used a catch phrase, but I did have one for a while. After writing my first book Survival Games, my catch phrase became Game On. I got to resurrect that in The Death Chronicles II as well, which was the series that I finished before Season of the Dragon.  And it still applies. My character, Ty, said that phrase often and to this day, Ty is my favorite character that I’ve written. My catch phrase is his battle ready stance.

______________________________

Thanks to J.E. for participating.

In my own writing this week, things have continued to come together. The book is nearing the halfway point. I've long envisioned the climactic battle at what has become a famous landmark for the events that transpired there, and I know how the relevant protagonists and antagonists are going to converge in a fiery air and ground combat at a historically significant event. However, some characters have separate adventures that will take them elsewhere. Two of the parties will eventually intersect at a different location with a different antagonist, though whether they actually make contact with one another is a detail that hasn't yet become clear. Dragons, gryphons, stone cats, and a new beastie based loosely on Indian legend are prominent players in book 5 of the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series.

If you haven't picked up your free copy of the prequel to the series, In Death Bedrenched, you can get it at either of these two sites:

In Death Bedrenched at StoryOrigin

In Death Bedrenched at BookCave

 Minas Tirith and The Shire: Parallel Problems on a Different Scale

In reviewing my highlights from my reading of The Lord of the Rings, a couple years ago I struck by some parallels between Minas Tirith and the Shire. This isn't a full treatment of the matter, but some simple observations based on fuzzy memory and haphazard highlights.

The reader gets an impression of Gondor's great city of Minas Tirith as a mighty fortress which has long held against the dark lord and his minions. It sounds both beautiful and invincible. When Frodo sees the fortress from afar, atop Amon Hen, hope leaps in his heart. It is "white-walled, many towered, proud and fair in its mountain-seat," with battlements glittering with steel. He also sees another fortress, "greater and more strong," the Tower of Barad-dur, and all hope leaves him. (Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, p. 401).

Tolkien continues to dribble details and descriptive elements which reveal that Minas Tirith is even weaker than it appears. It is a city which has allowed many of its strengths to dwindle into weakness, retreating before the darkness, and hiding its own light.

-Yet even so it was Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees into dotage... (p. 678)

-domed tombs of bygone kings (p. 752)

-falling year by year into decay; (p. 752)

-dead tree, and the falling drops dripped sadly from its barren and broken branches back into the clear water. (p. 753)

-avenue of kings long dead. (p. 754)

-‘It is a black night, and all the blacker since orders came that lights are to be dimmed within the City, and none are to shine out from the walls.' (p. 772)

-'The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.’(p. 772)

-comes from Mordor, lord,’ he said. ‘It began last night at sunset. From the hills in the Eastfold of your realm I saw it rise and creep across the sky, and all night as I rode it came behind eating up the stars. Now the great cloud hangs over all the land between here and the Mountains of Shadow; and it is deepening. War has already begun.’ (p. 801)

-But soon there were few left in Minas Tirith who had the heart to stand up and defy the hosts of Mordor. For yet another weapon, swifter than hunger, the Lord of the Dark Tower had: dread and despair. (p. 823)

Sauron attacks a sick and moribund opponent. Nevertheless, good prevails. Brave men and manifestations of magical--even divine--power save Minas Tirith from the first onslaught of Sauron's armies, and the destruction of the ring unmakes the evil one himself. The great city is saved and restored to glory.

But what about the Shire? The oft-overlooked end of the tale with the hobbits returning to what was formerly a garden paradise delivers a poignant message. The small heroes left to fight evil in far away places to prevent it from consuming their homes. When they return, evil has arrived before them, and their homeland has, like decaying Minas Tirith, lost, or at least forgotten its strengths. While Gondor is restored, the Shire has become a police state instead of a paradise. The gardens are destroyed. The Party Tree has been cut down. A parade of restrictions, rules, and misfortune are presented to the arriving heroes:

-It’s like a bit of the bad old times tales tell of, I say. It isn’t safe on the road and nobody goes far, and folk lock up early. We have to keep watchers all round the fence and put a lot of men on the gates at nights.’ (p. 992)

-‘I am sorry, Mr. Merry,’ said Hob, ‘but it isn’t allowed.’ ‘What isn’t allowed?’ ‘Taking in folk off-hand like, and eating extra food, and all that,’ said Hob. (p. 999)

-‘We grows a lot of food, but we don’t rightly know what becomes of it. It’s all these “gatherers” and “sharers”, I reckon, going round counting and measuring and taking off to storage. They do more gathering than sharing, and we never see most of the stuff again.’(p. 999)

-and on every wall there was a notice and a list of Rules (p. 1000)

-‘But if there are many of these ruffians,’ said Merry, ‘it will certainly mean fighting. You won’t rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just by being shocked and sad, my dear Frodo. (p. 1006)

-‘This is worse than Mordor!’ said Sam. ‘Much worse in a way. It comes home to you, as they say; because it is home, and you remember it before it was all ruined. (p. 1018)

Fortunately, the heroes are up to the task.

-But if I may be so bold, you’ve come back changed from your travels, and you look now like folk as can deal with troubles out of hand. (p. 995)

-You must settle its affairs yourselves; that is what you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand? (p. 996)

They refuse to obey the oppressive rules, rally the good folks, and overthrow the tyrant and his minions. They throw off the yoke of tyranny largely on their own, without supernatural aid. Merry does blow the horn he had received from Eowyn, which struck fear into the hearts of enemies. It is in the restoration where the magical or divine power is manifest: Galadriel's gift to Sam, along with the hobbits' hard work, make the Shire blossom again.

It's interesting to note that we first heard the Horn-call of Buckland in the Shire to sound the alarm against the black riders in the early chapters of the story--and it had not been heard then for over a hundred years. Boromir had a horn. Aragorn was given a silver horn. A number of horns call to battle and assembly on both sides of the conflict. At one point, Merry wishes he had a horn to blow and could ride to the rescue like Eomer--and he does so in the Shire.

Both Minas Tirith and the Shire suffered from evil's attacks and their own failure to resist sufficiently when they were strongest. They allowed themselves to be weakened. They neglected their strengths, and fear and despair stole their hope. Gandalf and Aragon brought new hope and strength to Minas Tirith. Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo raised the Shire to remember their strength and provided hope for success amid fear and despair.