Author: LadyElaine
Date posted: 9/24/2002 8:28:33 PM
LadyElaine's Comments:

Holy smokes! That was just chilling. It leaves me wondering how long Vader must have stood there, staring at Padme's face....

Author: Sureamna
Date posted: 9/25/2002 11:36:46 AM
Sureamna's Comments:

Fantastic! I read so many FanFic's that are just neat ideas poorly executed. This is fantastic a strong, deeper yet not overly pronounced look into Anakin after the rise of the Empire. It is a fascinating idea to have him become interested in art as an extension of his remorse. Plus the ideas about art seem to come from some understanding of the author and not someone who really is foreign to thoughts graphic artists have. Palo's character is very well done his confusion and fear and wonder mixed into one is palpable. The endnote of the piece Palo works on is the perfect button as well. Great job!

Author: Knight-Ander
Date posted: 9/25/2002 3:42:46 PM
Knight-Ander's Comments:

Excellent story. And here I thought Palo was going to paint Vader's dead garden, and not the montage that he did. I'm quite impressed.

Author: jedi scholar
Date posted: 9/25/2002 6:34:28 PM
jedi scholar's Comments:

This one left me with chills. Your work on this piece is as excellent as always. God, I can so imagine Vader standing there staring at her image.

Author: Jeff 42  (signed)
Date posted: 9/25/2002 6:54:45 PM
Jeff 42's Comments:

This was a really interesting idea for a story, and it was executed wonderfully. You did a fantastic job developing Palo's character. Great story!

Author: Sache8  (signed)
Date posted: 9/26/2002 9:32:29 AM
Sache8's Comments:

Ah, one of the best parts of the EU is well-employed here: Every character no matter how small their cameo (or in this case- verbal reference only) has their story! I had wondered in passing if anyone would think about Padmé's crush.


I for one would just like to say that I would love to see that painting at the end!


I love how the painting reflected the entire truth about what was going on, even though Palo didn't even realize or understand it. And I loved his "reflection" at the beginning of the fic too.

Very well written and developed. And great title!

~Saché

Author: Mcily Nochi  (signed)
Date posted: 9/28/2002 10:05:08 PM
Mcily Nochi's Comments:

Oh my. That is one of the best fanfics I have ever read. Every moment of it was intense, and had me leaning forward, trying to figure out what was going to happen. It had real-life tension, not artificial, "oh no is he gonna die?" tension. The tone of the story wasn't dark enough for him to die at the end . . . though in a way he did worse. He denied everything wonderful about himself by destroying the artwork that came from his heart.

I love these stories that give a glimpse of what the Empire was really like. In a way the destruction of Alderaan is just too big for our minds to really grasp, yet the death of a single spirit is so tearfully poignant-- that's what the Rebellion was fighting for. For the artists.

This fanfic did what only the very best ones do. It made me move beyond the story and ponder human nature and life. Thank you.

Author: Frank
Date posted: 9/29/2002 8:43:46 AM
Frank's Comments:

WOW!!! Great job! I love the way you combine the facets of art with the entire story. The title is also strangely ironic, taken from the quote in AOTC. But I love it, magnificent, fabulous, amazing. Beautiful job of creating the characters, they all seemed true to themselves.

Good job! I hope you post more!

Author: Darth Sil
Date posted: 10/1/2002 6:22:36 AM
Darth Sil's Comments:

Excellent story Fern! Thanks for letting us see Darth Vader's "light side" once again.

Author: Barissa
Date posted: 10/2/2002 7:13:20 PM
Barissa's Comments:

Well, chilling. Wierd, slighly sychocit, and all around wierd. Did I mention wierd? I don't know, personally, I thought that Palo, was basically a goof, and that he had been slightly more involved with Padme, but hey, my opinion, but not bad over all.

Author: Mira
Date posted: 10/3/2002 3:34:35 PM
Mira's Comments:

excellent- one of the best fanfiction stories i have read so far. keep the stories coming!

Author: ArnaKyle
Date posted: 10/16/2002 2:20:40 PM
ArnaKyle's Comments:

What a fascinating piece! I am awed by your talent to turn one line in AotC into such a chilling and invigorating piece that ties Vader to Anakin and Padmé. That was beautifully executed and a very interesting story, I love the way that you were able to breathe life into such a character and still keep it related to the "big picture." Absolutely incredible!

Author: Stephanie
Date posted: 10/29/2002 8:03:17 AM
Stephanie's Comments:

Wonderful story!! Its was so realistic and the auther really brought out the good(?) side of Vader and his everlasting love for his wife.

Author: LadyVader521
Date posted: 10/29/2002 3:46:26 PM
LadyVader521's Comments:

This was just great it sent a chill down my spine. Its sortta funny how palo doesnt even know that vader is that boy.

Author: trin_chardin
Date posted: 10/30/2002 5:17:12 AM
trin_chardin's Comments:

i'm not certain if vader would be so emotional as to hunt down art pieces connected to padme. in fact, i think it more likely that he'd bury all memories of her. still, it's plausible and other than that, it's an excellent fic. keep up the good work. ^_^

Author: Dr. Ironic
Date posted: 11/5/2002 9:31:35 PM
Dr. Ironic's Comments:

Excellent story. Not to disparage the vast majority of the fanfics out there (which I am), but this story is one of the few that has both a clever premise and solid execution in realizing the story.

I was most impressed with how successfully you balanced Anakin and Vader. I can hear and see them both equally in this story.

I'm just really impressed. Great job. Prior to this story, it was only Brendon Wahlberg's stories that I have felt were worth my time. Now, I'm going to add you to my list and check out your other works.

Bravo!

Author: Caecil Xenn  (signed)
Date posted: 11/17/2002 7:00:35 PM
Caecil Xenn's Comments:

Truly Remarkable! I love the connection to Naboo and the relationship that Anakin and Padmé once had. This reminds me of how artists felt during the reign of Hitler, how they feared to express truth in the art, and so art did not truly exist. Excellent overall.

Author: Helen Vader
Date posted: 11/19/2002 1:29:23 AM
Helen Vader's Comments:

Ex-cel-lent. How do you do it, Fern? Every time you come up with a story, it's completely absorbing and original. And let's not forget the brilliant writing.

I love Vader-centered fics as much as I love fics elaborating on "minor" moments from canon, so I can't but love this story too. ;) Shame I can't write better reviews...

Author: Master Tyrael Xiltherion
Date posted: 11/21/2002 8:56:53 PM
Master Tyrael Xiltherion's Comments:

I...wow. I genuinely got goosebumps and even at the end, I cried. I just have this mental image of Vader after the artist leaves, staring up at Padme, the respirator's breath coming in quiet sobs as he cried, remembering her beauty...my god, that was sad. And it was also very eeire how he unconciously painted the truth of the matter in the end. I also loved the depiction of the Empire, becoming more and more corrupt, squelching individuals more and more.
I loved it.

Author: Bimo  (signed)
Date posted: 11/29/2002 5:58:54 AM
Bimo's Comments:

Though it comes along rather harmless, as a clever vignette about Vader's inability to emotionally disconnect himself from his past, the piece also is an astoundig reflection upon art. Its essence, its meaning, its function for the indivual. A lot of what Palo feels for his paintings and sculptures also seems to be true of writing.

Great job!

Author: Kenad
Date posted: 12/12/2002 8:28:06 AM
Kenad's Comments:

Great story

Fits well with the films, and half way through I realised that Palo was Palo ( :D )

A really good read, thanks

Author: yodalover
Date posted: 12/12/2002 1:47:29 PM
yodalover's Comments:

Excellent! The best that I have read... to tell the truth, I wasn't too into the conceptual idea of the story, until I actually read it. I was totally blown away... Kudos to you... IT WAS FANTASTIC!

Author: Destiny
Date posted: 12/27/2002 11:59:09 PM
Destiny's Comments:

I really enjoyed this story. I loved how it was filled with chilling irony. First off, anyone who's seen AOTC knows before they start reading who the story is about when they see the title, which was a nice thematic touch - good job, Fern! I also enjoyed the dramatic imagery. A single rose struggling through weeds and thorns marks a direct parallel to the good in the galaxy struggling to survive, beauty intact, when there is naught but evil around it. And the final picture, where little Ani and Lord Vader are both looking up at Padme's eyes - that was deep. I took the fact that they don't see each other to mean that neither would recognize the other as himself. They are both haunted by Padme's eyes, which, I believe, represent her far-sighted capacity for seeing the good in the galaxy, and everyone within it, and struggling for it. I also found it interesting that the picture itself was made from light, as if to say that, even now, Vader isn't beyond hope. I don't believe that he would have shrunk from appearing sensitive. His mind was seduced by the Dark Side, but his heart would forever belong to Padme Naberrie. I don't think he would have been easily cowed by the opinions of the ignorant masses.

Author: sidious618  (signed)
Date posted: 6/1/2003 11:24:38 AM
sidious618's Comments:

Extraordiarily original. Good job!

Author: Xanartos90
Date posted: 4/26/2004 2:07:02 PM
Xanartos90's Comments:

Awesome! It's great how author's can create a person and personality from someone only mentioned in the movies.

Author: Wendynat  (signed)
Date posted: 8/14/2005 2:11:28 PM
Wendynat's Comments:

This was absolutely wonderful - you captured Vader perfectly, and the characterization of Palo was realistic and utterly believable. Every time I read one of your stories I get lost in them completely - thanks for writing!!

Author: PinkRangerV
Date posted: 8/21/2008 4:41:02 PM
PinkRangerV's Comments:

Wow. I'm really, really impressed. As a bit of an artist myself (although I'm the only person who likes my art!), I understand his feelings. Eleven out of ten!