2006 Author Reviews for
Marta

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Not only does Marta write a good story, but has given unstintingly of her time to make the MEFAs happen this year. Thanks, Marta, for all you\'ve done.

Marta usually employs a somber approach to Tolkien fanfiction, so it is a delightful surprise, as well as an indication of her range as an author, to see her flavor a tale with a bit of light, romantic mischief; as in \"Hidden Wonders\", or the artistic sensuality of \"Spirit of Fire\". She is also one of the most skilled drabblists in the ranks of Tolkien fanfictioneers; able to pack a powerful emotional punch or capture a Tolkien Moment in a snapshot, all in 100 words. And her longer pieces are sophisticated and perceptive.

Marta writes beautifully, and has a range to be envied in terms of characters and genre. Her short story of Boromir\'s naming is a good example: she writes sympathetically and well of both Aragorn and Denethor, a real challenge. Her knowledge of canon shines. I would also note that she has made a remarkable contribution to fanfiction not only as a writer, but as a commentator and critic of the work of others. I always pay special attention to Marta\'s comments on my own and others\' work, because she is so perceptive. Her critical intelligence infuses her own work as well.

Marta usually employs an approach of somber gravity to Tolkien fanfiction, so it is a delightful surprise, as well as an indication of her range as an author, to see her flavor a tale with a bit of light, romantic mischief.

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

Whether it be wholesome young love or heated ardour, Marta is able to capture romantic, emotional themes skilfully and with lovely use of language.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

Though Marta devotes a good portion of her writing time to the men of Gondor; she branches out to the other beings of Middle-earth with equal skill, painting pictures of Tolkien\'s varied characters, often in a minimum of words, with subtlety and grace.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Marta usually employs a somber approach to Tolkien fanfiction, so it is a delightful surprise, as well as an indication of her range as an author, to see her flavor a tale with a bit of light, romantic mischief; as in \"Hidden Wonders\", or the artistic sensuality of \"Spirit of Fire\". She is also one of the most skilled drabblists in the ranks of Tolkien fanfictioneers; able to pack a powerful emotional punch or capture a Tolkien Moment in a snapshot, all in 100 words. And her longer pieces are sophisticated and perceptive.

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

I find Marta\'s ability to show forth the characters she portrays in her short stories and drabbles wonderful. She brings out the ability in me to empathise with them, and the desire to add my own comfort.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Marta has the ability to find highly resonant quotes and incorporate them in her stories, often in a fresh context, making the original context ring through and adding additional depth to the story.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

Marta has the ability to find highly resonant quotes and incorporate them in her stories, often in a fresh context, making the original context ring through and adding additional depth to the story.

Marta\'s writes some exquisite drabbles! I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical they can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. I think that this is definitely the area of writing in which she has the strongest talent, though I do enjoy her stories as well.

Marta is so good at evoking the feelings of the characters she depicts. Her imagery is sharp, and the tellings crisp and satisfying.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

Marta has the ability to find highly resonant quotes and incorporate them in her stories, often in a fresh context, making the original context ring through and adding additional depth to the story.

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Marta has the ability to find highly resonant quotes and incorporate them in her stories, often in a fresh context, making the original context ring through and adding additional depth to the story.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

Whether the Men of Gondor or the North or Rohan, Elves, Dwarves, or Hobbits, Marta is able to capture their thoughts and express them well in short vignettes and drabbles.

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

I am always impressed at how lush and lyrical Marta\'s stories and drabbles can be, or how stark and angsty. The language is always beautiful. She also unfailingly chooses thoughtful topics and writes her characters in perfect voice!

The breadth of Marta\'s subject matter never fails to amaze me. She handles a wide range of races, lands and time periods with equal aplomb, although her strength undoubtedly lies in writing about hobbits and Gondor. What I particularly value in Marta\'s writing is the philosophical perspective she brings to her works. Her drabbles send me away deep in thought and pondering the insight she has given me on Tolkien\'s works, particular characters, or life in general. I am very glad Marta is one more enriching the fandom with her writing.

I find Marta\'s ability to show forth the characters she portrays in her short stories and drabbles wonderful. She brings out the ability in me to empathise with them, and the desire to add my own comfort. And in none of her stories is this so true as it is in this one.

Marta is one of the most sophisticated writers, in addition to having a wide range of writing skills, in Tolkien fanfiction. She easily handles political drama, family drama, romance both bitter and sweet, and the subtleties of illuminating characters of which Tolkien did not tell the readers as much as we would have liked. But I never knew her capable of composing Rohirric war-poetry until this year\'s competition - another feather in Marta\'s cap.

Last year I believe I said something like \'Marta tends not to write angst\' or something to that effect. I take it back. This year (and even last year), she began moving into that particular fic flavor and has given some very fine, carefully written meditations on how the world seems when it\'s seen through the lens of different forms of political or personal despair. Some others hover around melancholic. Some of her efforts are a little rougher than others, but I think this is due more to a shift or stretch towards something else--growing pains, perhaps, and a passing thing. Her characterization skills are solid and continue to evolve, and she writes a variety of characters, allowing her to explore different moments from different perspectives very nicely. Her explorations of some of the more historical characters of Tolkien\'s world are interesting and open up parts of the political dimension of Middle-earth in unexpected, intriguing ways.