2006 Author Reviews for
Súlriel

This is a well-written, beautifully organized piece of work, serves as a first-rate resource for writers. For those of us who are not experts on horses, but who have multiple horses in our stories it is invaluable. I have looked at it many times for the pleasure of looking at these horses. It provides inspiration and understanding of the horses that writers necessarily must include in almost any Tolkien fanfic. Recently, I found exactly the horse I needed for my current work-in-progress. True I picked a stallion and turned it into a mare, but she would have been a far less interesting, and certainly less beautiful, without S?lriel?s guide. The photos and the horses? names are worth the read alone. If this past year is any indication, I will be looking at this piece of work for years to come. The horses, their personalities, and how to work with them are just a few of things one can learn. How lucky we are to have such a piece available to us and written especially for us and our needs. Anyone who has ever spent hours and looking for verification of some tiny historical, physical, or practical detail for a story, will certainly appreciation the value of this work?you will never have to do this again in regard to the appearance or personality of a horse.

Sulriel is a unique, amazingly talented voice in the fandom. Her excellent writing and sense of high drama produce a tale always worth reading, be it an epic saga or a drabble. Her current WIP, ?Sinde Envinyanta,? stands alone in its inventive use of the Tolkien mythology. With this wonderful piece on horses, Sulriel makes her very special and profound knowledge of horses available for all of us. It is a very generous and unique thing to do, and I for one have benefited enormously as both a writer and a reader because of it. In fact, the piece is so good that it is worth reading apart from the fandom, just for the sheer joy of horses and their personalities. I learned things I didn?t know before, and that is truly one of the best things any writer can give. I know I will return to this piece for information and inspiration many times. For those who are not interested in portraying horses in their stories: don\'t miss this piece anyway! It is extremely interesting, the horses are astonishingly gorgeous, and you will probably want to create a story just to use one of them in it! And there are many to pick from: not just noble steeds of the Shadowfax type, but comical ones who belong in Farmer Maggot?s stable. (The donkey is a story by himself.)

Sulriel knows horses, and generously shares from a wealth of knowledge. I know that my stories have benefited!

Sulriel joins her knowledge of the first age with her feel for writing villains in many of her works, to give us a portrait of what life would have been like for elves in the Elder Days. It?s just different enough to be really interesting. This year she shows us that she can write non-fiction well, too, and provides a useful resource for other writers.

I always get pleasantly distracted when I am browsing around on Sulriel?s site that I have to remind myself for what I was visiting it for. If you have the time, click on stories and you will find a lot more! Anyway, with ?A maera for me?, Sulriel gives us another great and insightful essay that we can use while writing. Who doesn?t have the ?Travel times in ME? or ?Rohirrim Grey? bookmarked for example? Her essays are concise, well structured and to the point, but most of all very handy when writing horses!

Last night I was reading Sulnur again and suddenly I realised that Sulriel has this talent to portray the thoughts and actions of animals in Tolkien?s world. From briskly and loyal horses in ?Sulnur? and ?Wicked Water? to the cattish ?Home Again?, she takes upon their point of view, pour them into a drabble and yet it feels so incredibly true to their nature. Now if you stop re-writing your story ?Sinde Envinyanta?? then I can finally read that one! ;)

Sulriel joins her knowledge of the first age with her feel for writing villains in many of her works, to give us a portrait of what life would have been like for elves in the Elder Days. It?s just different enough to be really interesting. This year she shows us that she can write non-fiction well, too, and provides a useful resource for other writers.