Zephyr Cove – Andylegate, Jishin, Nynaveve, PhilippH
This was the first Age I linked to, and it set a high standard to follow. I was impressed by the sense of space and distance, not only to seaward but to landward as well: I felt that there was more to this place than met my eye, in more than one sense. I was tickled by little touches such as the plaque and Maintainers' marker. But the real treat was the discovery of the cave, with its several doors (kept locked for safety reasons, no doubt) and the revelation that, in creating a (link to a) place where Maintainers could go for relaxation, the Writers had discovered an Age with history, a place that would reward further exploration. For me this was the most important aspect of the Age, as it is of any Age. I congratulate the team of Writers involved on their work.
Abysos – Trylon
I came to this Age with high expectations, perhaps a little too high. Superficially it is a similar place to Zephyr Cove, an enclosed beach giving on to the sea. There is a wrecked ship, or something that resembles one, though the scale seems a little off, and there is a fissure in the ground that leads nowhere, and a hole in the rock wall that leads nowhere. I came away, after walking around for a while, with a feeling that I had witnessed a work in progress, that perhaps with a little more time the Writer might be able to penetrate more deeply into the secrets of this Age and perhaps further development might open it up a little more. Sadly, though, I do not feel that it was quite ready to be submitted for the competition. (As does Trylon, apparently. I'll be looking forward to developments as and when.)
AhraPahts Shell 119 – Grogyan
The final two Ages are set within the larger Age of Ahra Pahts. Grogyan has apparently essayed the reconstruction of a temple of some sort, involving, as far as I can tell, some very sophisticated force-field technology. Having found a journal, which I unfortunately could not read, on a stand between three sloping pillars, I then climbed a ladder whose rungs were suspended in mid-air, and walked from a wire-strung framework on to an invisible floor set with studs of some unknown material. The first time, I fell through an invisible gap in this floor to the ground, fortunately escaping injury: the second time, I fell through one of the pillars into an underground area filled with water, from which I had no escape but to use my Relto book. Again, I have the sense that this Age is not yet quite complete, and while it may prove to be of excellent quality when it is finished, I have to judge it in the state it is in when I see it. (And I seem to have missed about nine-tenths of it--sorry, Grogyan.
Note to organisers: next time, choose better judges.)AhraPahts Shell 201 – Paradox
This Writer has offered an exercise in minimalism: a subtly shaped and flowing terrain bathed in changing coloured light from no obvious source. I found it intriguing, atmospheric and evocative. Since it, like its predecessor above, is a small area set within a larger Age, it would have been futile to seek for any deep history here, and yet I had the sense from this Shell that there might be a story to be discovered, given just a little more time for the Writer to perfect his vision.
Overall
I am aware that four people can achieve far more working in concert than one person on his or her own, and have tried to allow for that in my reckoning. Nevertheless, I am bound to say that in my opinion Zephyr Cove stands head and shoulders above its competitors, if all are reckoned as finished works. However, I believe that the standard of work overall is extremely high, and I hope that all our Writers will continue to develop these Ages and that we shall continue to benefit from the fruit of their labours. They are an example to us all.
