Yahoo Forum Archive

For the past hour, I have been unable to access the MEFA site - is my
computer being obnoxious, or has anyone else had similar trouble? At
any rate, I certainly hope the situation is temporary.


RAKSHA


<<<<--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "aure_enteluva" <melayton@...>
wrote:

>
> Hey guys,
>
> As many of you may have noticed, reviews are now visible at our
> website. Go to http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/ and log in. Or if
> you don't have a password, click on "log in as guest". Once logged

in,

> click the "Read Reviews" link, and you'll see all of the final

reviews

> that have been entered. That's 930 reviews available for your

browsing

> privilege, at the time I'm writing this email.
>
> There's been some confusion on whether you can still enter reviews.
> The answer is YES. Reviewing is absolutely allowed until these

awards

> end on DECEMBER 30. The only difference is that you'll no longer be
> able to *edit* final reviews. You can enter new reviews, and edit

the

> draft and hidden ones. I hope everyone will continue to do that.
>
> Annmarwalk has volunteered to post the reviews to the MEFAwards

Yahoo

> group. (LJ folks, she'll be giving you guys links to the Yahoo posts
> where the reviews are posted, so you won't miss out.) She'll be
> posting 50 or so reviews a day until we're caught up. This means

that

> for a while, the reviews she posts every day won't be the ones

posted

> on that day. In the past people have been confused by that. We

stagger

> posting the reviews so people don't come home to 900 reviews in

their

> inbox. If you want to see the most recent reviews you can find them

at

> the website.
>
> Authors: While it is by no means required, sometimes authors have
> wanted to email their reviewers to thank them for their comments.
> You'll notice that members' emails are not visible on our webpage.

If

> you would like to send an email to a reviewer, please email it to
> mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will forward it along to the
> reviewer (along with your email address in case they choose to reply
> back). Of course, if you know the reviewer's email address, feel

free

> to email them on your own.
>
> Occasionally you may find a review that you think needs correcting

for

> some reason. Sometimes a review is accidentally entered for the

wrong

> story, or it does not follow the award rules (for instance, quotes

are

> not blocked off.) Other times, the reviewer composes reviews in a

word

> processor and just made a mistake coopying and pasting into the

review

> form. If a review seems off, email mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com to
> discuss it.
>
> I think that's it! Happy reviewing guys!
>
> Marta
> (MEFA Admin.)>>>>
>

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "PGF" <PGail99@...> wrote:

>
> For the past hour, I have been unable to access the MEFA site - is my
> computer being obnoxious, or has anyone else had similar trouble? At
> any rate, I certainly hope the situation is temporary.
>
>
> RAKSHA

I;ve been trying to get into MEFA as well with no luck. Usually when I
can't access a website it means that the Chinese gov't has blocked it.
But I can't imagine why they would block this site. There's nothing in
it that is detrimental to the Chinese gov't. Not like Wikipedia. I hope
this is just a temporary glitch.


Fiondil

Hi Marta!

I just want to say how excited I am to finally be able to read reviews, not
only for my own story but also for my friends'. It is thrilling!

That's what makes the MEFAs so extraordinary -- and so inspiring.

To all the volunteers who make the MEFAs possible each year: thank you! ;-)

- Barbara, whose contented muse is raising a glass of fine Dorwinion to the
MEFA volunteers

On 9/30/07, aure_enteluva <melayton@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
> As many of you may have noticed, reviews are now visible at our
> website. Go to http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/ and log in. Or if
> you don't have a password, click on "log in as guest". Once logged in,
> click the "Read Reviews" link, and you'll see all of the final reviews
> that have been entered. That's 930 reviews available for your browsing
> privilege, at the time I'm writing this email.
>
> There's been some confusion on whether you can still enter reviews.
> The answer is YES. Reviewing is absolutely allowed until these awards
> end on DECEMBER 30. The only difference is that you'll no longer be
> able to *edit* final reviews. You can enter new reviews, and edit the
> draft and hidden ones. I hope everyone will continue to do that.
>
> Annmarwalk has volunteered to post the reviews to the MEFAwards Yahoo
> group. (LJ folks, she'll be giving you guys links to the Yahoo posts
> where the reviews are posted, so you won't miss out.) She'll be
> posting 50 or so reviews a day until we're caught up. This means that
> for a while, the reviews she posts every day won't be the ones posted
> on that day. In the past people have been confused by that. We stagger
> posting the reviews so people don't come home to 900 reviews in their
> inbox. If you want to see the most recent reviews you can find them at
> the website.
>
> Authors: While it is by no means required, sometimes authors have
> wanted to email their reviewers to thank them for their comments.
> You'll notice that members' emails are not visible on our webpage. If
> you would like to send an email to a reviewer, please email it to
> mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will forward it along to the
> reviewer (along with your email address in case they choose to reply
> back). Of course, if you know the reviewer's email address, feel free
> to email them on your own.
>
> Occasionally you may find a review that you think needs correcting for
> some reason. Sometimes a review is accidentally entered for the wrong
> story, or it does not follow the award rules (for instance, quotes are
> not blocked off.) Other times, the reviewer composes reviews in a word
> processor and just made a mistake coopying and pasting into the review
> form. If a review seems off, email mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com to
> discuss it.
>
> I think that's it! Happy reviewing guys!
>
> Marta
> (MEFA Admin.)
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well, something happened while I was out shopping. Now I can get in. Thanks
to whichever Maia has duties over the internet.

So now I better go and see which of the reviews I've done so far are ready
to be posted. *grin*

Fiondil

On 10/1/07, Elena Tiriel <ElenaTiriel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Marta!
>
> I just want to say how excited I am to finally be able to read reviews,
> not
> only for my own story but also for my friends'. It is thrilling!
>
> That's what makes the MEFAs so extraordinary -- and so inspiring.
>
> To all the volunteers who make the MEFAs possible each year: thank you!
> ;-)
>
> - Barbara, whose contented muse is raising a glass of fine Dorwinion to
> the
> MEFA volunteers
>
> On 9/30/07, aure_enteluva <melayton@gmail.com <melayton%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hey guys,
> >
> > As many of you may have noticed, reviews are now visible at our
> > website. Go to http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/ and log in. Or if
> > you don't have a password, click on "log in as guest". Once logged in,
> > click the "Read Reviews" link, and you'll see all of the final reviews
> > that have been entered. That's 930 reviews available for your browsing
> > privilege, at the time I'm writing this email.
> >
> > There's been some confusion on whether you can still enter reviews.
> > The answer is YES. Reviewing is absolutely allowed until these awards
> > end on DECEMBER 30. The only difference is that you'll no longer be
> > able to *edit* final reviews. You can enter new reviews, and edit the
> > draft and hidden ones. I hope everyone will continue to do that.
> >
> > Annmarwalk has volunteered to post the reviews to the MEFAwards Yahoo
> > group. (LJ folks, she'll be giving you guys links to the Yahoo posts
> > where the reviews are posted, so you won't miss out.) She'll be
> > posting 50 or so reviews a day until we're caught up. This means that
> > for a while, the reviews she posts every day won't be the ones posted
> > on that day. In the past people have been confused by that. We stagger
> > posting the reviews so people don't come home to 900 reviews in their
> > inbox. If you want to see the most recent reviews you can find them at
> > the website.
> >
> > Authors: While it is by no means required, sometimes authors have
> > wanted to email their reviewers to thank them for their comments.
> > You'll notice that members' emails are not visible on our webpage. If
> > you would like to send an email to a reviewer, please email it to
> > mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will forward it along to the
> > reviewer (along with your email address in case they choose to reply
> > back). Of course, if you know the reviewer's email address, feel free
> > to email them on your own.
> >
> > Occasionally you may find a review that you think needs correcting for
> > some reason. Sometimes a review is accidentally entered for the wrong
> > story, or it does not follow the award rules (for instance, quotes are
> > not blocked off.) Other times, the reviewer composes reviews in a word
> > processor and just made a mistake coopying and pasting into the review
> > form. If a review seems off, email mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com to
> > discuss it.
> >
> > I think that's it! Happy reviewing guys!
> >
> > Marta
> > (MEFA Admin.)
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Auta i lýmý! Utýlie'n aurý! ý Battle Cry of the Noldor at the Dagor
Nirnaeth Arnediad

Aurý entuluva! ý Battle Cry of Hýrin at the Dagor Nirnath Arnediad

Utýlie'n Estel ý Hope hath come


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title: For Every Evil 2 <http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3477152/1/> ý Author:
Mirrordance<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=757>ý
ý ID:
119<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=119>
Reviewer: juno_magic<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=358>ý
2007-06-01 13:16:45
This modern day AU story is original, refreshing and unique.

Plot and especially pacing are superb. In some ways the action-packed story
can be compared to the best aspects of thrillers written by authors like
Grisham, Clancy or Dan Brown. Just like these stories "For Every Evil 2" is
impossible to put down. The flow and the rush of the story are simply
perfect. A definite page turner!

If anything, the chapters and scenes are a bit on the short side. However,
they are still well within the limit of what can be considere an average
chapter length for fanfiction.

Description and setting are generally sparse in the style of modern novels,
with a few glorious exceptions (such as the chaos in Legolas' apartment -
that was hilarious, very well done). A bit more description, a bit more
setting might make the story an even more pleasant read, but it is already
very balanced, so that this is no detriment to the quality of the story in
general.

The characterization of the story relies heavily on the general vision of
the characters of the Fellowship as generated by the movies. But while it
sometimes seems that the LOTR characters are used like easy "labels" -
because it's simply clear how readers will react when "Gimli" or "Boromir"
act in a certain way - this is done adroitly and skillfully, always
achieving the best possible effect.

And there are - sometimes very tiny - scenes that really let the LOTR
connection of the characters shine dramatically and highlight stories that
run deep into the past of Middle-earth. That way the story always stays
close to LOTR in spite of its modern setting and plot.

Additionally, the characters of this story are extraordinary and compelling,
namely Chandra, YinYang, Julianna and Montes. They are fleshed out and feel
very real.

Although details concerning style and language (especially the use of
tenses) can still be improved, there is nothing that keeps the reader from
enjoying the story.

All in all, "For Every Evil 2" is definitely one of the best and most
original modern Tolkien fan fiction stories available.
Title: Strange
Stars<http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=6954>ý
Author:
Jael<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=685>ý
Races: Cross-Cultural ý ID:
120<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=120>
Reviewer: juno_magic<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=358>ý
2007-06-01 14:01:07
This is one of the most unusual Tolkien fan fiction stories I have ever
read. Most of all, it proves that even the most extravagant "Alternative
Universe" ideas can be written well.

The author finds a way to create an absolutely believable background for
Legolas' unusual mission of travelling to the court of the Haradric emperor
in the guise of a courtesan. The reader quickly suspends her disbelief and
readly accompanies Legolas on this chancy diplomatic errand.

Jael's Haradric "býthnaru" is not a prostitute. The "býthnaru" is a figure
with the same cultural depth as a geisha. Indeed, in some ways the story
reminds of "Memoirs of a Geisha" in its compelling, bittersweet strangeness.

The plot moves along easily, alternating tense and more languid chapters,
following a winding path between political and sexual intrigue. Every
chapter has its own plot within the plot and highlights an aspect of the
Haradric culture, of Legolas' mission and of Legolas' character.

What is most remarkable about this story is how the author uses sexual
situations as a stylistic device. These situtations show cultural
differences, drive the plot of the story, and give insight in the various
characters in a masterful way.

Some scenes will make some readers very uncomfortable, although they do not
cross the verge to NC-17. But this effect is obviously intended, and very
successful: no scene will leave the reader unmoved!

The setting of the story is rich and deep, the descriptive passages allow
the reader to taste the sweet wine of a far away country and to hear the
lament of peacocks. The country and the culture of the Haradrim really come
to life in this novella. Alien, sometimes strange, but absolutely authentic.

In addition to the unusual, intriguing plot this story has truly unique and
impressive characters.

Most of all, Legolas always remains true to the Elf we know from "Lord of
the Rings", in spite of certain changes due to the "alternative universe"
approach of the story. He remains a steadfast, loyal friend, and in spite of
the sexual situations into which he is drawn (almost) never loses that air
of Elvish aloofness. The author imbues Legolas with a sweetness of character
that gives an amazing warmth to the story and helps the reader to stick with
the story even through unpleasant, tense scenes.

Last but not least, the original characters are amazing. Tolkien once said
something along the lines of how the mountains glimpsed in the distance are
what makes a story a really great read. Concerning the orignal characters in
"Strange Stars" this is definitely true. Every character has a life, a
history, a story of his or her own, sometimes only hinted at, and always
compelling.

It is to be hoped that many readers and reviewers will be willing to give
this story a chance in spite of its unusual premise. If they don't, they
miss an intriguing and memorable story.


Title: Not Fade
Away<http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=6416>ý
Author:
Jael<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=685>ý
Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages ý ID:
127<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=127>
Reviewer: juno_magic<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=358>ý
2007-06-01 14:28:45
This is a wonderful, lighthearted modern day Tolkien fanfic story. But in
spite of its humourous touch, it connects to canon in a believable way, thus
creating an outstanding AU.

By showing how Elves might have come back to Middle-earth, and how they
might have endured even today without fading away certainly alleviates the
keen disappointment felt at the end of LOTR.

Concerning the main characters of the story, it's very satisfying to get
such a unique and sane glimpse at the family dynamics of Legolas' family.
The protagonists, their stories and their behaviour feel real and
believable. One charm of the story is how unnamed or less well-known elves
get their say in this story, granting the reader delightful new
perspectives.

The protagonist is really well done. She's neither too good nor too bad to
be true, and spectacularly real, which makes her very easy to relate to and
to root for.

One of the highlights of the story is definitely that it doesn't go
mainstream concerning the romance sub-plots. Here we have definitely unusual
relationships - very believable, and funn.

Many stories that belong to the genre "humor" end up not being very funny at
all, but rather silly. This story is different. Well-handled emotions and a
fast-paced plot make it difficult to put the story down.

Little details delight the reader - the occupation of Elves in the modern
world, the dangers of the modern world for Elves ... always original,
refreshing, and a lot of fun.

Last but not least the style of writing is thoroughly enjoyable. Clear,
engagine prose, an eye for the hilarious without overdoing it, and dialogue
that perfectly fits characters and scenes make for a great read.

Fluffy and funny, this is not filling, but makes the reader long for more!

Title: The Course of
Love<http://aranel-took.fancrone.net/stories/col_contents.php>ý
Author: Aranel
Took<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=600>ý
Times: Fourth Age and Beyond ý ID:
179<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=179>
Reviewer: juno_magic<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=358>ý
2007-06-02 10:10:46
"The Course of Love" is a wonderful sequel to "The Roots of the Ivy",
Aranel Took's story about the half-hobbit Ivy, daughter of Merry and ýowyn.
This story follows Ivy's children as they grow up, come of age and find
love. It is a entertaining, epic story that presents the culture of Hobbits
and Rohirrim in a very realistic, loving way.

But although "The Course of Love" is generally a lighthearted, romantic
comedy, there are also darker moments that show clearly that Hobbits are not
happy fluffy children, but real people. The plot and perspective of the
story are unique, original and refreshing, because the author dares to move
beyond canon characters to many strong original characters. That is what
makes Aranel Took's stories so very enjoyable: no matter if she writes about
Hobbits, dwarves, or even Legolas, her characters are never flat, cardboard
characters, but always real, full of life.

While the story is epic enough to satisfy readers who prefer novels, the
pacing never lags, and the individual chapters are crisp and clear-cut.

The story's forte is undeniably brilliant dialogue. Witty and funny, it is
also used as a stylistic device to give depth to the various characters.

Last but not least it's a very moving, touching story that will elicit many
"Awww's". But it's also wise to keep the door closed, because other scenes
will have the reader roar with laughter!

All in all: perfect summer reading for everyone who loves Hobbits and
original stories!

Title: Stirrings of
Shadow<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=5257>ý
Author:
Fiondil<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=743>ý
Genres: Adventure: Incomplete ý ID:
233<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=233>
Reviewer: dancingkatz<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=770>ý
2007-06-03 16:48:29
This is a wonderful story in both plot, writing style, and
characterization, particularly of the younger Aragorn and King Thengel. I
have always wondered what my favourite Ranger had gotten up to during his
years in Rohan that would give him such a shining reference from Thengel to
Ecthelion when he went to Minas Tirith. I was very pleased to find that the
Aragorn in this story, while eventually warranting that excellent reference
is still young, making mistakes and learning from them at the same time he
is clever, brave and honourable. So many stories make him out to be more
perfect than can be believed regardless of his age or experience (or lack
thereof) that he can't possibly be the same character in Tolkien's books. I
can very easily see that the Aragorn in this gap-filler story will
eventually be the man who becomes the King of the Reunited Kingdoms.

The depiction of the Rohirrim as a race, culture and as individuals sets
this story apart from many others concerning Gondor's allies. It is very
clear that the author has a good knowledge of the Anglo-Saxons on which
Tolkien based this culture. The naming conventions and use of Old English as
well as the smoothly integrated descriptions of people, places, horses and
so forth make the Rohirrim real, not flat stereotypes. Thengel and the other
inhabitants of the Riddermearc are real, interesting and not just names in a
longfather tree.

The mysteries and intrigues, the interactions of Aragorn and the Rohirrim,
the intrigues and humor amidst everything else make this an unforgettable
story to be read again and again,
Title: Fruition<http://community.livejournal.com/sons_of_gondor/371588.html>ý
Author:
EdorasLass<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=299>ý
Genres: Alternate Universe: Gondor or Rohan ý ID:
7<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=7>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-03 17:10:20
We know that EdorasLass, well known as the author of the charming
Nanny-and-bitty-'Mir stories, can also do drama, suspense, and creepiness ý
we've read ["Come When You Are Ready" and "Love Me And Despair"]. So it
shouldn't come as any kind of a surprise at all that, in this startling AU,
she can twist favorite characters up and down and inside out, to give us a
whole new and slightly horrifying world to consider.


With her skillful pen, she' s turned Middle-Earth's favorite Madonna figure,
Finduilas, into a two-faced witch, lecherous and demanding, with language
[more suited to a dockside whore]. She's given us the the swoonworthy
Imrahil as a Machiavellian prince, a corrupt and devious tool in his
family's long-standing plan to achieve control of Gondor. It's almost enough
to make you pity poor, besotted Denethor, willing to sacrifice his life in
defense of his wife's honor. And bewildered, unfortunate Thorongil ý locked
in his chamber, his world turned upside down within a matter of hours. His
moment of realization comes almost a split-second too late, and it is his
reflexes and training that save him. But even he is unable to thwart these
long-standing plans.

What I particularly love about AU's is that we * can * stop imagining when
we want to. It's a good thing ý I'm not sure what would have become of young
Boromir in this newly-imagined world, one where Faramir doesn't exist at
all! Ouch.
Title: Celebration <http://tanaquilotr.livejournal.com/29416.html> ý
Author: Tanaqui<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=40>ý
Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Drabble ý ID:
139<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=139>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-03 20:04:58
I first read this drabble on a warm summer's day, hay-cutting time where I
live, and was enchanted by the warm, pastoral feel. It must have been
tremendously satisfying to Faramir and Eowyn, and to all the goodfolk of
Ithilien, to take a day to rest and celebrate the good life they are working
so hard to provide for themselves and their children. There's a festive,
Brueghel-esque feel to the tale ý I can almost hear the shouts of the
children, the good-natured taunts and laughter of the archers, and the
breathless hush of the crowd as Faramir begins to tell his tale.


Title: Remembering
Anew<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=5094>ý
Author: Pearl
Took <http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=72>ý
Times: Fourth Age and Beyond ý ID:
88<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=88>
Reviewer: Cuthalion<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=407>ý
2007-06-03 20:21:14
I discovered "Remembering Anew" a few months ago... plus the fact that it
originally had been meant as a longer sequel to three small stories posted
before. Those three little tales ("Remembering", "Remembering More" and
"Remembering Aright") tell the story of Jebbin and Other Brandybuck,
descendants of Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took 400 years after the Ring
War; during a "Hide and Seek"-game in Brandy Hall the two little boys
discover a messy mathom room - and two ghosts. They have no idea that this
is the beginning of a thrilling adventure...

Though the three little vignettes are beautifully written and a delight to
read, the longer sequel "Remembering Anew" was what really captured my
heart. Jebbin and Other have grown up meanwhile... in a Shire that has
entirely forgotten about the truth of the Quest. Frodo Baggins is only
remembered as an addle-brained old fool, Samwise Gamgee's glory has faded
during the centuries and the "true" heroes are Meriadoc and Peregrin. Their
- ridiculously exaggerated - adventures are common "knowledge" in every
hobbit school. But Jebbin and Other know the truth (because they actually
know the "true" heroes), and when Jebbin discovers the original tale of the
Ring War and dares to write an own book about his new revelations, a
dangerous avalanche of slander and deceit breaks down on him.

The style is wonderful, the author has a palpable, deep love for hobbits and
their society (including all strenghts and weaknesses). The idea that
historians might mess up with the true story of the Ringbearer and his brave
deeds (with the evil "assistance" of a very unexpected villain) is more than
original, and the twists and tribulations of the intricate plot keep the
reader hooked from the first word up to the last. This is one of the most
amazing and interesting tales I've read for years. Well done!

Title: Brothers at
Heart<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=4512>ý
Author:
Radbooks<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=428>ý
Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA ý ID:
330<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=330>
Reviewer: runnerbeast<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=712>ý
2007-06-06 04:08:51
I really loved this story. I was quickly pulled into Aragorn's journey
from Rivendell and away from his elvish family as he takes up residence with
his dunedain family. I thought it was fun reading about all the struggles he
had, big and small, to over come as he grew accustom to living with humans,
and discovered this new and capable side of himself. It was amazing how the
author, slowly took him and us from seeing him as Estel, and from his roots
with the elves, and emerged him as Aragorn the Chieftain to the Dunedain. It
was so creatively and smoothly done amidst all the daily life, relationships
and heartaches going on in the main part of the story.

Every turn in this story left me waiting for the next part to see what would
happen and to see how and if Aragorn could handle the situation, which made
the story very exciting and fun to read. I wondered if the dunedain men that
had never met him before would follow him as their leader. The author made
the situations in the wilderness believable and realistic as darkness
started to cover Middle Earth. She brought out things that I had never
thought of before and it was very interesting and fascinating.

I think the way this adventure brings together the close friendship of
Aragorn and Halbarad is my very favorite part of this story. The major
crisis in the story brings them ultimately to a better understanding of
themselves, the trust they know they can have in each other, and the start
of their deep life long friendship. They truly become brothers at heart.
Title: Relaxation
Techniques<http://edoraslass.livejournal.com/95033.html>ý Author:
EdorasLass<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=299>ý
Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring War ý ID:
283<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=283>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-07 00:50:58
It's a very simple story, really: Thýodred is angry and overwrought from a
difficult encounter with Grima and the King's Council; Boromir helps him to
unwind. The result, from the skilled and loving hands of EdorasLass, is
neither smut nor schmoop but a heartening tale of honesty, affection, and
trust.

What I've always loved about EdorasLass's writing of these characters is how
she vividly portrays them as perfectly matched in power and strength, and
the affection and regard of their people. But they are also in complete
understanding of each other's burdens and insecurities, more so than anyone
else in the world. Their rare meetings provide opportunities to relax and be
themselves without self-consciousness, allowing them to set aside for a time
the Alpha-male personas they must continually present to the world. Although
physical intimacy, past and future, is implicit in the story, the focal
point is the emotional intimacy that exists between Boromir and Thýodred,
which draws and binds them far more firmly than simple passion.

I would certainly be remiss in my comments if I did not dwell a bit on the
imagery here: Theodred pacing the room like a restless lion; the bemused
Boromir ordering him to sit down; the moment when it seems their whole
relationship hangs in the balance. [ý"Sit. Down." Boromir repeated
forcefully, crossing his arms over his chest and facing Thýodred squarely.
"You need to calm yourself, and you cannot do that when you are stalking
around the room in such a manner."

Thýodred's eyes narrowed dangerously at the unmistakable note of authority
in Boromir's voice. A heavy tension suddenly hung between them, but Boromir
ignored it and only continued to stare at the other man as he might a new,
impertinent recruit. He hoped that he had not pushed Thýodred too far ý
Boromir was aware that he stood a chance of having that anger turned on
him.]

And certainly any Boromir fan will appreciate the loving detail with which
EdorasLass describes of the skillful use to which our hero puts those hands!
A very satisfying addition to the chronicles of Boromir and Thýodred's
relationship.


Title: Miss Dora Baggins' Book of
Manners<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=4819&cid=19283>ý
Author:
Dreamflower<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=115>ý
Genres: Humor: The Shire or Buckland ý ID:
239<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=239>
Reviewer: Marta<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=16>ý
2007-06-07 01:25:56
This piece is neat, not just for it's insightful world-building about
hobbit society but also becasue of the voice. It sounds like the perfect
hobbit goodwife. I enjoyed the read.
Title: No Man's
Child<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=4835>ý
Author:
Anoriath<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=354>ý
Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete ý ID:
198<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=198>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-08 00:49:54
In this richly detailed story, a gravely wounded Aragorn is recovering "at
home" in the Angle, the northern lands traditionally occupied by the
Dunedain. The seriousness of his injury reiterates to companions and
counselors a burdensome fact: the line of Elendil will fail unless Aragorn
can produce an heir. Amid the burdens of constant warfare in the North, the
fate of Gondor seems a far-off dream, and so Aragorn consents to take a
woman of the Dunedain to wife. Nienelen, his bride, soon realizes that
another holds his heart, but her duty to her Dunedain heritage is no less
than his, and she accepts her responsibility to bear his children, order his
household, and protect and lead the folk of the Angle in his absence.

Anoriath is an artist, no less than Brueghel the Elder, and her pen brings
the extraordinary tapestry of the Angle to life just as vividly as his
brush. No detail is too small for her meticulous and loving examination:
cooking, dyeing, and herblore; animal husbandry; Dwarvish visitors;
agricultural economics of the mid-Third Age. She has created a world rich
beyond even the Professor's imagining.

When her view moves inside though Aragorn's house, though, Anoriath's
wordcraft takes on the cool northern light of a Vermeer painting. Voices are
muted to the barest whisper, and words are of the coolest courtesy, for the
anguish that underlies this tale is the desolation of Nienelen and Aragorn's
relationship. It's a heartbreaking tale to read, yet we cannot help but be
transfixed by the exquisite telling of that tale.


Title: Flame Rekindled <http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3048804/1/> ý Author:
Istarnie<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=816>ý
Races: Elves: Incomplete ý ID:
370<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=370>
Reviewer: Ellie<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=768>ý
2007-06-08 16:41:40
You have so wonderfully captured the tortured soul of Feanor and I am in
awe of your take on what a spirit must go through in order to heal. You have
done fantastic job of portraying Feanor and how torn he is between hatred,
jealousy, pride, and love. I really like the way Mandos shows up every now
and then and prods along the healing process. I love the way you have built
this up with the early jealous thoughts on the arena and then the way you
tie it all together at the end.

I also loved the part where Feanor is realising how he and Fingolfin should
have been there together to face Morgoth, fighting shoulder to shoulder as
the proud sons of Finwe and in that way they would have overcome MOrgoth
instead of Fingo0lfin having to face him alone and Feanor never facing him
at all.

I had never before considered the two of them standing together to face
anything. They truly would have been a united front difficult to overcome.
It is so very sad that this realization never came until too late for either
of them.

Your Nerdanel with her soothing words and her ability to calm his agitated
fea is absolutely wonderful. WOW!

This truly is powerful writing and I ma enjoying this sotry very much. Keep
up the most excellent work!

Title: The Waves' Song <http://lady-branwyn.livejournal.com/40828.html> ý
Author: Branwyn<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=240>ý
Genres: Drama: General Drabble ý ID:
6<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=6>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-09 15:26:39
So very beautiful and sad. I love the way you've used seafarer's terms:
[waves, mast, sail] to deftly evoke Arwen's melancholy, the sea-longing of
her people superimposed upon her anguish over the loss of her beloved spouse
and companion. Your imagery, as always, is extraordinary: the lone
elf-woman, the streaming hair, the skittering leaves. There's such an
aching, autumnal feeling of loss and desolation. What a heartrending figure
she must have presented to any of those who chanced to see her thus. I
wonder what stories were told about her by those who watched from the
village below.
Title: The Lesson <http://lady-branwyn.livejournal.com/60087.html> ý
Author: Branwyn<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=240>ý
Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ý ID:
29<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=29>
Reviewer: annmarwalk<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=177>ý
2007-06-09 15:38:59
[How gently men are schooled in war, so gently that they see not the
lesson.]

Another thoughtful tale from the pen of Lady Branwyn. Faramir ponders how
effortlessly, yet efficiently, men are taught to kill. For the most noble of
reasons, of course: to feed themselves and their families, to protect their
wealth, for the survival of their homeland. All quite necessary purposes,
yet to the insightful Faramir, there's a melancholy undertone to the lesson.
I wonder what he would think of our age, where killing is glorified as
recreation and entertainment; yet we cry out in dismay when madmen take that
fateful step from fantasy to reality.


Title: Romance<http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?stid=6648&SPOrdinal=7>ý
Author:
Greywing<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=739>ý
Genres: Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet ý ID:
375<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=375>
Reviewer: Oshun<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=589>ý
2007-06-09 21:02:02
I'm an idiot that somebody else actually nominated this story and I did
not, since I feel at least in some small part responsible for forcing you to
write it (as part of the coterie of writers who made you endure those
endless Eomer/Lothiriel romances!). Anyway, the best revenge is a good
offense--I'm sure I got that wrong. Nevermind, this is an awesome romance.
One of the best ever, and, as a dear friend often tells me, the most
exciting eroticism is that which leaves EVERYTHING to the imagination. Loves
those lines: ["]They kissed in the darkness, and did a great many things
besides. Imrahil found them.["] You are a naughty girl, Greywing, and people
think you are so innocent. I know better! Congratulations on a great small
piece.
Title: Perchance To
Dream<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5295&cid=21890>ý
Author:
Cathleen<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=579>ý
Genres: Drama: The Fellowship ý ID:
386<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=386>
Reviewer: tracyboo<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=819>ý
2007-06-10 01:34:54
Cathleen,
Oh yeah, I'd say this winter has proven inspirational to somebody! LOL! This
is definitely written by somebody who is less than enamored with the cold!
LOL!

I enjoyed the interaction amongst the Fellowship and the thing with the
frozen frog was both sort of creepy and kind of sad. Poor critter! I loved
the dream sequence. It felt very powerful and prophetic and I think that it
helped give Pip what he needed to go on. Wonderfully creative story hon!

Tracy
Title: "A Cat Of A Different
Color"<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5229&cid=21662>ý
Author:
Cathleen<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=579>ý
Genres: Mystery ý ID:
385<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=385>
Reviewer: tracyboo<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=819>ý
2007-06-10 01:37:07
Cathleen,
This story was not only great fun, but I felt it was very much in keeping
with Tolkien's style of story telling!
Tracy
Title: A Million Little Stars To Light Their
Way<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5193&cid=21457>ý
Author:
Cathleen<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=579>ý
Genres: Drama: The Shire ý ID:
387<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=387>
Reviewer: tracyboo<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=819>ý
2007-06-10 01:39:20
Cathleen,
Oh, but that was heartbreaking to read! Merry and Pippin will always
remember Boromir with nothing less than love and respect. What a loss!
Tracy
Title: May It Be a Light to You in Dark
Places<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5134&cid=21167>ý
Author:
Cathleen<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=579>ý
Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan ý ID:
388<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=388>
Reviewer: tracyboo<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=819>ý
2007-06-10 01:41:06
Cathleen,
Loved this story hon! Of course you know that already! LOL!
Tracy
Title: Youngest
Son<http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=5207>ý
Author:
Bodkin<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=411>ý
Genres: Romance: Second Age or Earlier ý ID:
406<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=406>
Reviewer: Ellie<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=768>ý
2007-06-11 19:35:10
I love this interaction between Finarfin and Earwen. The way Finarfin
admires Earwen from afar and the way she looks upon him from the distance,
egged on by her amused and highly amusing girlfriends is so cute! I liked it
when her friends points out that Finarfin is much more muscular than he
first looked after he takes off his shirt and his saving of Earwen's little
brother from his unpleasant encounter in the waves was charming. Finarfin
handles the annoying little brother very well and tries to be a gentleman
toward Earwen especially after the pleasant distraction of her clingy wet
dress. The dark foreboding at the end was a nice touch and a reminder of
what is to come for them both. I always enjoy your stories and your deep,
often clever insight into the characters you portray in them. The settings
are so well described that I feel as if I am really present with the
characters as they interact. Good work and well done!
Title: Decorum<http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=6291>ý
Author:
Larner<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=242>ý
Genres: Humor: The Shire or Buckland ý ID:
59<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=59>
Reviewer: Dwimordene<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=8>ý
2007-06-15 19:08:40
Dora Baggins and her reams of good advice ý I had vague memories of this
very minor character from Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday preparations.
Having had an excellent fic experience when somebody retrieved Angelic
Baggins and her mirror, I decided to give this a try. I was not
disappointed!

The story turns on the outward and the inward, or the appearance and the
absolute heart of the thing: what is decorum? Dora Baggins thinks she knows,
and her precise, proud, critical, and primly pompous observations of her
book-binding relatives' manners are priceless. They are as precise as they
need to be in order to convey that slightly petty, anal-retentive character,
even as we know from Frodo's thoughts that his good manners are a show. Of
course, one might think that that's exactly what manners are for ý for other
people, not to be idolized in themselves.

Dora's shock to find her relatives a little later on indulging in terribly
non-decorous ways is the repayment on a virtue that has perhaps begun to
ossify.

But perhaps even that was a good thing, or else her appreciation of decorum
went deeper than was apparent. When it matters most, she recognizes true
gentility and decorum and honors it. She may not be one of those
revolutionary characters ý she doesn't have enough of the fire in her for
that, I think ý but she's good people in the end.

And of course, a model of decorum.
Title: Passages<http://www.tolkienfanfiction.com/Story_Read_Head.php?STid=723>ý
Author: Isabeau
of Greenlea<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=182>ý
Genres: Drama: Incomplete ý ID:
60<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=reviewsBrowse&show_all=no&form_story_filter=60>
Reviewer: Dwimordene<http://mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=authorDetails&form_id=8>ý
2007-06-15 19:08:55
There is something about that awkward stage between being a child and
becoming a (young) adult that rarely fails to pique interest. Perhaps it is
because we have all been there before (or will be there eventually). The
process of disillusionment with parents, of finding out they, too, have
their secrets and their regrets, and that we do not always understand these
or agree with them is certainly universal.

Isabeau's fanfic universe continues to grow more elaborate, and this story
focuses on the OC bastard son of Boromir, as he starts that passage from
childhood to adulthood and begins to discover some content for long-sensed
secrets about his late father. What he does not expect is that gaining
insight into those secrets will place him at odds with his adoptive father,
another of Isabeau's OCs, Andrahar.

From there on out, there's intrigue, slave-trade, rescues, and relationships
to be mended. While the story reads best and make most sense to those who
know the backstories, I think it is still possible to enjoy it without
having these things.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title: Graceful and Green · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 62
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:09:13
The traumatic experience of warfare calls for some of the most
strenuous and difficult works of mourning. It is not just the others
who are lost, but we ourselves as we had been who are lost, and both
losses require to be laid somehow to rest - memorialized.

Mourning and remembrance are the very substance of this stylish story,
with the two hobbit narrators  outside the ranks of those whose
rituals they share in, and yet brought inside them, enabled to
integrate their own loss of self, their own traumatic transformation
from ordinary hobbits of the Shire to the sacrificial deliverers of an
entire world.

Sam's drama is most interesting, and rightly central, I think: the
Sam-Gollum relationship was not only antagonistic, but between it and
the demands of the journey to Mt. Doom, Sam has been brought to see
parts of himself that he did not know existed, parts of himself that
Gollum brought out, and which now have a claim on him in the grieving
process. ["He's still here isn't he?"], Sam asks Mablung, and the whole
story to me turns around what to do with what is still here, and yet
must be in some way left behind.

["Rosemary for remembrance. Isn't that how it goes?"], Frodo says, and
so gives the key to the work undertaken throughout the story, by
various characters as they come to terms with the selves they have left
behind in the crucible of war, the selves they are not yet, and the
many who have been lost.

Title: Truce · Author: meckinock · · ID: 65
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:09:35
Meckinock has a deft hand at characterization, which is definitely
needed when writing Denethor. Very few Denethors get my attention as
having that combination of haughtiness, confidence, envy, and latent
fragility, all wrapped up in a sharp intellect. Meckinock's does, and
shows himself to have not simply intelligence but a genuine, ironic wit
where appropriate.

Denethor's general dislike of Thorongil, his recognition of an eerily
kindred soul in his least favorite captain, is well portrayed, right
down to the moment of weakness when dislike combines with insistent
curiosity to provoke deception. Denethor is out to learn the truth of
the man, who fascinates him as only a puzzle can, whether mechanical or
living. At the same time, it's a disavowed fascination, but one that
breaks through uneasily at times. No doubt this is why Denethor ends up
on the path to discussion of love lives with Thorongilwell, that, and
the fact that for the moment at least, Thorongil is at his mercy and so
in a way, less threatening.

I'm also quite intrigued by Denethor's characterization of Finduilas 
I've seen many different presentations of her, but this one stands out.
It's only a portrait, and given at one remove, but it is revealing and
also tantalizing. Denethor clearly does know himself and also her, and
knows in some sense that it would be a mistake, perhaps, to marry
herbut as with his little white lie to Thorongil, it is a mistake he
will be unable to avoid.

All this, and there are only two chapters. Hurry up and post more of
it, please! I am curious to know who will make it out alive, in what
the conversation about love will issue, and how Denethor is going to
resolve the fiction his curiosity has landed him in.

Title: A Time for Joy · Author: meckinock · · ID: 66
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:09:55
Meckinock tends to have an eye for the mortal perspective, and her
Halbarad has always tended to be the representative who gives it its
full due: no longing for what is impossible, nor bitterness that others
have what human beings do not, namely immortality.

Here, we find that Halbarad is the occasion for another airing of that
view, this time from the perspective of his wife. We begin with the
call, the arrival home of riders in the present day, after the Ring
war, but so quickly enter a flashback that the reader finds herself for
a moment out of joint, and then simply moving with the flow of memory:
another ride home, Eirien's fears, and the threatened, fragile
existence the Dúnedain eke out on their long watch, and which she sums
up in the following exchange:

[Pausing only long enough to pull the shutters closed and get a sword
in my hand, I ran for the door&. Three of them carried Halbarad into
the house, moving in discordant unison like some great, multi-limbed
insect. On their heels followed another group carrying my husbands
father. As I turned to follow them, a hand caught my shoulder. It was
one of the sons of Elrond; in the dark I could not tell which one. "The
time for swords is over," he said, and moved to pry mine from my
clenched fingers. "There will be no pursuit."

I stared at him. "The time for swords is never over," I replied, and
went to help the other women fetch bandages and water. ]

There is no reprieve and no time lived outside of watchfulness, of a
sort of waiting on death, which in this instance claims Eirien's
father-in-law but not her husband, despite his wounds. This
lack-of-reprieve, the fact that their time is a time of swords,
dictates a certain attitude towards life and death, towards joy and
grief. Meckinock paints an adept and sensitive picture of these poles
of human lifecompassion in mourning, and the refusal to denigrate it,
or to repress it, even though life goes on, and in the aftermath of
tragedy, there is always much to do. As Eirien puts it, as she sits and
watches over her wounded husband:

[Once we were alone his smile faded and he fell into silence for a
while, grieving for his father, and I held him quietly, happy for the
warmth of his body, the sound of his breathing. I badly wanted to tell
him of the baby, to bring joy into this joyless day, but I held my
tongue. Both Halbarads grief as a son and his joy as a father required
their full due, and should not be mingled in memory lest neither be
clearly recalled.]

One way of approaching this story is to take it up as a sort of
meditation on the Biblical phrase, [To everything there is a season],
including grief and joy. Paradoxically, though there is a season for
all things, Eirien herself, in order to respect the space of death and
life, grief and joy, in others, puts herself out of step with the
proper time. We get perhaps a hint of this in the blurring of times in
the opening of the story, and in the lines quoted above: she takes up
the sword when the moment for swords is past; she holds in joy for the
sake of grief that should be felt in full; and in the end, when her
turn comes to be the widow, she is out of step with the joy of others.

[Truly my grief must be an unwelcome guest at this gathering of joy.
Even Brandol looks guilty, and with bitterness I see that he is as
exuberant as the rest. Of course he is. For him, Halbarad has been dead
for two months or more. The grief of the Grey Company has been steadily
fading, while the promise of this joyous reunion has sustained them
through the journey home and trials so bitter I can scarce imagine
them. They will miss Halbarad, honor him, drink a toast to his courage
and get on with the business of living. It is the way of life.]

And so, as she has ever done, she puts herself out of step with her own
season of grief:

[I resolve for the sake of my husbands love of this people that as I
once held back my joy to give grief its due, so now I will do the same
for joy. ]

But she does it, strangely enough, in an effort to respect a disruption
of the proper order of things. For the king has been crowned, and so
she declares that ["The time for swords is over."]

In the end, it is perhaps Eirien's place to show us that despite there
being a time for all things, it is a human, mortal truth that we are
always out of step with this cosmic or 'proper' time, too early or too
late in our joys and our griefs, that we are in some way condemned to
be untimely creatures. But this untimeliness, which imposes its own
trials, is what makes Eirien a humane character, someone who suffers
and endures and who knows how to take a wound without bitterness, and
so faithful to the essence of a mortal life.

Title: Come Back to Me · Author: Marta · Genres: Romance · ID: 67
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:10:11
All right, mea culpa  yeah, I put her up to this by requesting
tree-sex with water spirits. It was a moment of desperation. And Marta
answered the call.

I had never thought about exactly how this sort of scenario might work
(that's the beauty of crack!fic nuzgul: *you* don't have to think about
how they might work; that's some other poor sucker's job); and in point
of fact, I try not to. Marta, however, plunged right in and found a way
of writing this story so that not only did the water-spirit/talking
tree dynamics seem plausible and sexy, she made it convincingly work as
a lesbian encounter. This despite the marriage-like arrangements both
Goldberry and Fimbrethil are currently in, despite certain problems and
uncertainties.

In fact, it's because of that uncertainty on Fimbrethil's part that
this relationship becomes possible. That by itself is not necessarily
enough, however, since I've seen any number of slash stories that make
space for the possible without yet taking care of the charge of
"arbitrariness." Why should this *have* to happen, now, and between
these two? What is it that is driving them and that makes this a good
story? It's a sort of branching out (no pun intended) by Fimbrethil,
her efforts to make sense of her situation at the moment, and the need
for companionship that a water-spirit, not truly bound by her form or
her gender, can provide.

Goldberry's own description of her relationship to Bombadil plays on
themes Tolkien wrote for them, but turns them to purposes that do not
as easily find a place in Tolkien's story:

["And what would my love mean," Goldberry asked, "if it came out of
fear or mastery and not from free will? For us children of the West,
love is not such a simple thing as it is for you. Tom and I are
partners, certainly. He brings me lilies and I remind him of all in the
world that is worth saving. But does he love me? My kind does not love
each other as yours do; that is for ents and elves and everything else
made from the bones of Arda. I certainly do not feel bound to him."]

Originally bodiless, there is a sort of boundlessness and bondlessness
to the love of a minor spirit  and this perhaps is precisely what
attracts Goldberry to Fimbrethil, along with, perhaps, the opportunity
to find another thing in the world worth saving.

So give this one a try  it's an unusual look into an obscure chapter
of Middle-earth's history.

Title: Divine Intervention · Author: Meril · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 68
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:10:30
I had not seen the original poem until this year's Back to Middle-earth
Month, letter "V". I was delighted, and even more so when Meril added a
new verse from Yavanna's point of view.

Meril takes these two Middle-earth semi-divinities and gives them
wonderful, deificially catty personalities -- a sibling rivalry worthy
of and able to last the ages& in free verse poetry, no less. Varda's
poem has the ethereal precision that matches her position as the firer
of stars and cosmic observer: she plays the long game, notices disorder
in one time and place and redeems it in another time and place. Her art
is perfection, and there's a satisfying coolness to this poem  like
cut glass.

For Yavanna's poem, however, Meril takes the divine and the earthy and
combines them to yield a luscious, insouciant, mercurial mood, all
overlaid with the sleepiness of an ancient forest. Where Varda's verse
is cool, Yavanna's is all summertime warmth. Her divine sister is shone
in a less favorable light, and the mortal that commonly interests them
is subjected not to the even balances of inscrutable divinity, but to
the caprice of an irate, playfully vengeful spirit, whose love changes
with the seasons. Yavanna is the wildness that ancient societies used
to fear in elemental goddesses, and Meril captures this perfectly,
leading us to wonder: just what would happen in Middle-earth if Yavanna
were awake more often?

Title: The Sword of Elendil · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres:
Drama: Incomplete · ID: 69
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:10:46
I got hooked on this story by the promise of a sustained telling of the
story of Aragorn's return to the Dúnedain, after his long stay under
the faery hill, as it were. It's been a lot of fun to watch it unfold 
Aragorn has that mixture of confidence, but also of doubt, and of
displacement as he returns 'home' to a place he has never known. It is
a coming of age story that is slowly unfolding towards the man Aragorn
must become.

Naturally, therefore, throughout the story, the shadow of Aragorn's
father lies heavily upon him: Arathorn is the ghost standing at his
shoulder, like an ethereal yardstick against whom he is measured by men
who had served his father, and who have had to struggle to keep the
Dúnedain alive in the absence of the Heir. That Aragorn and his mother
have been completely inaccessible to even Gilraen's family does not
help, for it has bred wariness and bitterness against Elrond among the
Dúnedain. When all one has of one's real father is a name and a
standard, whereas one's adoptive father has all the substance of
reality and much to do with the man one is, this sort of conflict is
both painful and difficult to handle.

At the same time, Aragorn is struggling to come to terms with his
tempestuous relationship with Arwen, trying to balance between the love
he desperately hopes may await him in the future and the past that
propels him onward, whatever he might desire. Halbarad's companionship
through it all is both welcome to readers who love the idea of
exploring that relationship further, and provides a unique viewpoint on
Aragorn, since all the other characters with whom Aragorn interacts are
either much older or else much younger than he is. Halbarad is a peer,
and their different lives provide another sense of the difference
between Rivendell and the Angle.

So, Ranger fans  give this story a read through, I think you'll enjoy
it.

Title: The Dryad · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: General Drabble · ID: 71
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:11:01
Drabbles are so very touch and go  one wrong word, and it can throw
the whole thing off for me.

This drabble tackles a single suggestive line in Tolkien's work, and
transforms it into a story of the essence of Ithilien. I love the
opening, with its three quick words that seem to make "Ithilien" just
another word * for * abundance and beauty.

The dryad who emerges as Ithilien's last defender, growing more shrubby
and earthy with the passing years, bringing color and new greenery to
the land, is a wonderful character. She is as stubborn as a weed in
refusing to give up the fight for her home, and although I just said
she seems to grow shrubbier with the years, she also paradoxically
seems to lose a bit of her substance as she goes about, slinking from
root to root. It's a long, hard fight, and she gives in the manner that
I imagine plants do  unstintingly, and perhaps not without cost, dryad
though she is. Her affinity for our favorite Ithlien Ranger is
unsurprising  she recognizes a kindred soul in him, someone to
protect, in order that he, too, could protect her home.

A lovely, imaginative piece, Imhiriel!

Title: Seen in the Halls of Dwarrowdelf · Author: Aruthir · Races:
Dwarves · ID: 73
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:11:19
I read this story on the strength of another reviewer's well-chosen
quotations, and felt I had been well-rewarded for following the link.
Desire and darkness come together here, and transmute into a kind of
obsession that leads to the death of an entire civilization.

Aruthir's look into the heart of the Dwarven soul, in its desire to
know, to master, and to create is effective, but I especially like the
point of view. The poem is a sort of warning from beyond the crypt, the
ghosts of Dwarven miners chanting their litany of foolishness,
self-reproach, in a sort of sign-post to travelers, as the poem itself
says: beware!

Sometimes, writers attempt this perspective and it just comes off flat,
as if we can see a little too well the pretense; this effort I think
works. Perhaps it is in part because it's a little too tempting to
apply the lesson to contemporary situations; perhaps it is the poetic
stylization, which I quite like. Whatever it is, it works very well to
keep this feeling genuinely eerie. Give it a try!

Title: A Boy and His Lob · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Humor · ID:
162
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-15 19:11:42
"Charlotte's Web" is one of my childhood favorites  it's almost an
inherited taste. My mother used to read it to the first-grade students
she taught thirty years ago, and would get all teary-eyed and weepy
about poor, self-sacrificing Charlotte.

Imagine my surprise to find this story, which is sort of like
"Charlotte's Web," except crazier and with more sexual innuendo (or,
you know, *any* sexual innuendo). I know someone out there in fandom
has written a story about Legolas taming one of the spiders of
Mirkwood, but this takes it one step further: Legolas acquires his very
own arachnid pet, on which he lavishes affection, though of course he
doesn't tell anyone about the spider. In Mirkwood, having a pet spider
is probably like owning a pet skunk that hasn't been de-skunked 
likely to get you run out of town and the pet taken away to a Tragic
Fate.

Anyhow, Legolas discovers that his pet is smarter than it looks, and is
able to make webs that have words in them  words it has heard Legolas
say, no matter how inflammatory or revealing. I'm sure readers can
imagine the comic potential this sort of pet brings with it&

In any case, IgnobleBard's sense of humor shines through in all its
irreverent glory  this story is maybe not for the kids, but for
everyone else who's ever loved "Charlotte's Web" and laughed 'til it
hurt over a parody of a favorite book, you might give this one a try.

Title: Regrets and Consolations · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 430
Reviewer: HonNVin · 2007-06-15 19:20:28
Oops! I'd left the review in the other section... uhh...
Well, I'll say here what I said there... this story is just full of
vibrant, colorful visuals, as is always with Mews' work. She paints us
a perfect picture of a mother's thoughts and emotions. It's written
with finesse and clarity, ending on a sweet note. Love it, I do. :)

Title: Mettarë · Author: Galadriel · Races: Men · ID: 34
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-06-16 09:01:07
By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe,  Boromir cries
out, in anger and frustration, in the film version of The Fellowship
of the Ring. Many authors have focused upon his jealousy and suspicion
of Aragorn, but Galadriel instead has chosen to examine Boromir's
carefully veiled despair for his people, and how Aragorn is able to
provide him an unexpected measure of comfort and reassurance.

It is Mettarë, the midwinter holiday, and the hobbits are trying to
recreate in Rivendell at least a semblance of what they would be
experiencing at home. Boromir watches wryly, torn between condescension
and envy, comparing his own recent experiences in winter campaigns to
the unconcerned celebrations common in less troubled lands. He expects
Aragorn to commiserate with him, as a fellow warrior, and is startled
and somewhat insulted when Aragorn instead joins the halflings to sing
an ancient Mettarë hymn. (The imagery that this always brings to me is
that of the Psalmist: How can we sing the Lord's song in a foreign
land? When will the anthems of Numenor be sung again in Gondor?) Even
though the words of the song are strange to Boromir, the ages-old
message of death and rebirth and hope are clear.

The story ends with Boromir begging Aragorn to sing the song again, a
powerful depiction of the beginning of his empathy for his companions,
and his growing acceptance of Aragorn's lineage and leadership.

Title: Burning Son · Author: Aruthir · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA · ID: 436
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-16 15:44:24
This set of inter-connected vignettes falls into two halves for me. The
first is a portrait of Wulf, in his relationship to his father and the
destiny he believes is his. It provides a certain framing for what I
think is the second part, but also in many ways the heart of the story:
namely, the story of how wars end, and the relationship that the end of
war has with those who began it.

Wulf is a classic megalomaniac, with an eye that is sharp where the
weakness of his father is concerned, but blind where he himself is
concerned (a trait he seems to share with his father, though he does
not recognize this). Freca, the drastically overmatched challenger of
Helm, was a fool in the eyes of his son, but a fool who made one worthy
gesture: he dared to try to give more to his son than he himself had.
Wulf therefore treats the invasion of Edoras as a moment vengeful
justice -- the accomplishment of his father's dream at the hands of the
more worthy son.

When the tables finally turn, and the Rohirrim return to drive Wulf and
his people from the city, Wulf is paralyzed by failed dreams. He has
failed to mold the wills of his people into a conquering force that
would bring all Rohan into his grasp; he has failed to rule
effectively. He claims that all common concerns - such as cold and fear
- are beneath him, and he exacts the ultimate price from those about
him who, as it were, feel these things on his behalf. His is the end of
a MacBeth, if we follow Levinas's reading: Wulf's greatest pain is that
the world does not end when he does - that his own callous defiance
(his madness, as others, even his own people call it) of the world is
not in the end the sustainer of the world, so that destroying him does
not bring down darkness.

We see this point driven home, among others, in the second part, where
we discover how the war ended. Helm's daughter and her warriors come
upon Wulf's wounded young cousin, Reth, alone. The lad does try to defy
them, but Feanwen convinces him to put down his sword, with the fateful
words: ["In another world, we could have been friends. In another
world, I could have been your Queen. Put down your sword."]

And the boy at last does. But when he does, and Feanwen approaches, he
discovers that he, too, has a blind spot, just as his cousin did. But
where his cousin's blindness concerned his own invulnerability and
greatness, Reth's blindness is the blindness that marks a man still
human - he trusts that the enemy, too, can weary of war, can act
sincerely towards another, and so discovers the kernel of truth falsely
presented in Feanwen's words. War ends with the extermination of all
those who could raise it again - the cousin of Wulf, one imagines,
could not be allowed to live, for he might become a symbol, and a spur
to action - if not of his own will, of the will of others who dream as
Wulf does and wish, through the chance position that others have
occupied, to advance their own vainglorious wishes.

The world doesn't end with Wulf, but he would have been most affronted
to learn that not even the war ended with him - that it ended with a
cousin he would have deemed too weak to be allowed to live (and who,
alas, was slain by taking advantage of that 'weakness'). This, Aruthir
intimates, is the price for the innocence of the children of Rohan, who
listen to the loremaster's tales of this time without understanding
their significance.

And sadly, while the war may have ended, wars continued - we know that
in the Third Age, the Dunlendings will rise again to continue the cycle
of hatred. So Wulf's cousin, in a sense, dies in vain - and Feanwen's
honor, too, is wrecked for no reason. Who knows what might have
happened had trust won the day in that one moment? Might history have
been different? Who knows?

Title: The Essence of Fire · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 278
Reviewer: TrekQueen · 2007-06-16 17:14:40
I get shivers each time I read over this drabble! The inner monologue
is so true to the "fire within" from intense Curufin. I love how you
describe it as an element that is a part of every fiber of his being
and experiences. Ambition, love, anger, revenge... so many themes here
all down to the one moment he sees the flames of the ships. Intense!

Title: Property Rights · Author: Salsify · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID:
74
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-16 18:55:01
Salsify's Dwarves are always a wonderful read: she captures their sense
of place and displacement, their sense of the importance of belonging
and of belongings.

Here, we have the confrontation between Thorin and Bard at Erebor
redone, so as to examine what might have been driving each one. Old
history, barely a note in the Appendices, is brought to bear in the
form of ancestral tales passed down among Men and Dwarves, but passed
down differently.

Bard, frantic to protect his people from weather and starvation after
the destruction the dragon had wrought, can think only of the way the
Dwarves approached Fram: demanding goods, taking, apparently, no heed
of the fact that Fram had risked his life to rid them of the dragon,
and surely deserved recompense. Instead, Fram was slain by the Dwarves,
who were outraged with what he was willing to give them. Thus he comes
to the negotiation wary already, needing recognition first from the
Dwarves that he has a claim on their treasure as the dragon-slayer, and
also as the newly-made king of the destitute people of Esgaroth.

Thorin, however, remembers the story of Fram and the Dwarves
differently: coming out of the tradition of craftsmen, who had poured
their labor into the creation of the treasures of Erebor, the problem
is not the greed of Dwarves but the glory-besotted, might-makes-right
attitude of Men, who are blind to the sort of careful work of the
craftsmen and the way that such work connects it to its maker. It is
the craftsman who owns the goods, and the family when he dies, owns the
memory of what he was in the goods that are passed down. These are not
merely things that are useful or decorative; they are a record of
generations of labor and skill and identity.

Thus the meeting is at an impasse before ever the first words are
spoken  not out of ill-will or any particular malice, arrogance, or
greed, but out of caution, out of different ways of understanding the
connection of persons and things that never are given an explicit
voice.

It's a wonderful look at cross-cultural misunderstanding, which
requires a solid portrayal of each side of the dispute, and Salsify
delivers. Recommended for any fan of "The Hobbit," of Dwarves, or of
Bardings and little-explored corners of Middle-earth.

Title: The Turn of the Tide · Author: Altariel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 72
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-16 21:15:23
Once upon a time in Tolkien fandom, there was a real 'thing' in the
Alternate Universe category, for substituting Faramir for Boromir on
the quest. Obviously, the real killer would be the Parth Galen scene 
if Faramir is immune to temptation, then just what would happen there?
How would the quest go forward? How would he and Frodo get along? He
and Aragorn? Would Denethor go out in a despairing blaze if Boromir
were in 'safe' in Gondor? All these questions were certainly waiting to
be explored, and quite frankly, once I encountered Altariel's work, I
expected she would eventually succumb and write her own version.

Well, it's been several years since that initial reading of "Fire
Sermon," but finally, here we have it! Faramir goes to Imladris in
Boromir's stead!

Except, you almost miss it in the opening paragraphs  it isn't until a
little later that you realize that 'the Steward's son' isn't Faramir,
but Boromir, and then we see the unique focus Altariel brings to this
AU scenario: the relationship that is set up between Eowyn and
Denethor.

At this point, obviously Eowyn is at a low point herself: she has slain
the Witch-king, but that has not made her feel any less the prisoner.
She is, in many ways, Denethor's match  two people badly scarred by
their encounter with the Enemy's malice. And so there is the danger of
a new mauling, on one side or the other, for badly wounded people are
not always safe to be around.

I love the way Altariel aligns youth and anger, and the confused
uncertain defiance of fate over against the hardness and bitterness of
age that knows too much. I also love the way that Eowyn's swift meeting
and loving of Aragorn is effectively redirected: a chance encounter
with Faramir on his ride north to Imladris is all it takes to impel her
towards Gondor, when there seems to her to be no hope beyond simply
seeing the land for which Faramir may well have given all.

The relationship with Boromir in the first part of the story, as we
learn how Eowyn met and loved Faramir, and how she came to Gondor, is
beautiful in its spareness  a virtue Eowyn gives to Boromir, which
strikes me as fitting in its way. It raises so many questions that must
be left unanswered, suggests so much that will not be fleshed out in
this vignette, and so leaves one with the sense of loss and worry for
Boromir, who seems also to have been hurt along the way, though free of
the Ring's spell, he lacks the drivenness of bookverse!Boromir. Anyone
who has wondered what Boromir might have been like had he not gone on
that quest should definitely read this story!

Actually, anyone who loves the Steward's family of Gondor should read
this, or who finds Eowyn an interesting character. It's a lovely AU,
done in very few words, none of them wasted. Beautiful work, Altariel!

Title: Reflections of the Past · Author: shirebound · Genres: Alternate
Universe: The Shire or Buckland · ID: 359
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-17 21:42:41
The story takes place in the author's "Quarantined" universe, and
introduces a new character: a puppy named Scamp, who becomes as fully
rounded and known as the other characters in the story. There is
humour, tenderness, even a bit of adventure with the discovery of a
treasure in Bag End that has nothing to do with Smaug's treasure. The
find is amazing, and believable, in the author's capable hands, and
leaves the reader wishing to be able to descend the stairs to Bag End's
deepest cellar, and view the ancient and precious beauty which resides
there. A gentle pleasure of a read.

Title: Wings · Author: ErinRua · Genres: Romance: With Rohirrim · ID: 9
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-06-17 22:07:08
This was a really nice story. It's nice to see Eomer out of his
element, but he seems to adapt well. Nice start to a long friendship
between him and Imrahil.

Title: Alone and Forsaken · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: Vignette
· ID: 466
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-18 13:50:50
'Brilliant!"

I could have cried at the paragraph about Aragorn and the City...
omg... wonderful writing... Indeed, it felt as if Aragorn WAS
belittling all Gondorians... because Boromir was unaware of the
Rangers' part in the battle should have been used to help him see, not
to berate him!
And the ending was perfect.... Though It is sad to know how the whole
thing ends! Though I almost choked on the last line - so incredibly sad
- he needed every ounce of strength to help him battle the Ring!
Again BRAVO - briliant!

Title: A Message And A Bottle · Author: Larner · · ID: 467
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-18 14:21:50
Excellent - I had such fun reading that I noticed nothing but the story
- which is the best way to read. I stink as a reviewer of details... I
had to read through tears at the part in the tavern... and when Frodo
found the bottle. And the tension you created as the returned bottle
was opened by Sam - intense and wonderful. Milky tea - I loved it! The
burned vineyard - yes - a good vine can live through anything - as I
found out just this past week while visiting a vineyard in New Zealand!
Wonderful tale!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Longing · Author: Larner · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond · ID: 468
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-18 14:31:15
An excellent tale - gripped me from the moment I started reading.. I
loved your thoughts on lembas, leaving loved ones, and all kinds of
such... I just re-read it before sending it off for nomination and,
again, found myself in tears as I read your description of Pippin's
longing. It spoke of so much - the feelings were raw - Brilliantly
written part... Thanks for sharing this.

Title: South · Author: Aliana · · ID: 469
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-18 14:45:59
This was beautiful - hauntingly peaceful, yet poignant. It all means
very much to me. Beautiful.

Title: Marking Fours · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 1
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-18 20:37:53
The connecting theme of four and father-son relationships works well in
these (appropriately) four drabbles. Faramir comes full circle,
achieving in the final drabble, in the presence of his own son, what he
could not in the first of the four: grief for his father. In between
there is forgetfulness and an almost-defiant indifference towards
Denethor: as Faramir discovers he loves Eowyn, he forgets himself; and
as he begins to make the first steps towards a new life with her, he
puts his old one aside, and Denethor and all of the concerns he can
imagine his father might have about this new life, are among those
things set aside. But grief eventually does have its day, as Faramir
begins a new chapter in his new life that recalls the old one in ways
that cannot be ignored or set to one side  it is in Elboron that he is
reminded that he himself was once someone's son, and is finally able to
grieve for his father. Nicely done, Raksha! Faramir and Denethor fans
should like these.

Title: Blooded · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Youth · ID: 3
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-18 20:38:22
Faramir's first experience of warfare is one I have seen done before,
but a well-written 'first blood' story is always a welcome addition to
the fanfic corpus (no pun intended). Faramir here is contrasted with
Boromir, and there is an interesting element of deceit implied here,
when Faramir silently and accusingly thinks that Boromir should have
told him what it would really be like to kill another person. He feels
the mismatch of pride and horror  his pride attaches to his own
survival, but he can only feel numbed and horrified by the slaughter of
his enemies. I love in particular Faramir's horrified memory of his
enemy's death, of ["the quivering end of him."] I found that an apt
turn of phrase. And the fear that finally haunts Faramir seems
appropriate, the sort of thing that might well haunt someone newly come
to war in the lull after the first battle, as well as suited to Faramir
in particular.

Title: Beneath a Gibbous Moon · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 4
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-19 05:47:05
These conversational vignettes link together nicely over generations,
as Man and Elf ponder similar questions of hope and acceptance of fate,
of faith and necessity. The first one, between Elros and Oropher is in
many ways the most interesting to me: Elros's sense of his place in the
world, and of the relationship between all bodily beings and the Valar
is dead on the money, I think, and it is interesting that youth and
mortality should teach something to elven age and immortality. Yet I
think it is exactly the sort of lesson that a mortal creature can,
potentially, understand far better than one for whom death is an
unnatural fate.

By the time we reach Legolas, the general flow of advice goes in the
other direction, from Legolas to Aragorn, although the there is a
common sense of trying to come to terms with what may come, with the
chances of fate and possibly of divine intervention.

The middle episode marks an interesting interlude in that it seems to
me at least that both Man and Elf share a common self-confidence, in
many ways, or a trust in the wisdom and abilities of one's * own *
species or abilities that marks both Isildur and Thranduil, and which
sets that set of interactions apart from the other two, where, despite
the fact that lessons are learned, there is a greater sense of the
universality of the struggle and frustration with fate.

An interesting set of vignettes, all told.

Title: The Waves' Song · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 6
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-19 05:55:02
Elegantly crafted, as is usual with Branwyn's fics and ficlets, this
drabble gives a grey, lonely image of Arwen at the end of her life.
There's a sense of a return to the elemental, a disintegration as Arwen
stands in the face of a storm beneath Lorien's boughs, with her hair
streaming out behind her. I love the opening line: ["Winter swept from
the north on grey gull wings."] For some reason, authors can basically
buy me for a line or two with seagulls in it  I don't know why. But
this was lovely, as is the notion that in the winter winds that make
the trees sway, there's a hint of the sound of the sea that suggests
that Arwen shall soon, as it were, 'go home.'

PGF wrote:

>
>
> For the past hour, I have been unable to access the MEFA site - is my
> computer being obnoxious, or has anyone else had similar trouble? At
> any rate, I certainly hope the situation is temporary.
>
> RAKSHA
>

Hi Raksha,

I'm not sure what happened. I've been able to access the MEFA site when
I've needed to all this afternoon and evening. Are you still having
problems?

Marta

Hi Barbara,

You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoy the reviews. It's far from a
single effort, as many volunteers and reviews work hard on all of this.
*cheers for all the MEFA peoples*

Marta

Elena Tiriel wrote:

>
>
> Hi Marta!
>
> I just want to say how excited I am to finally be able to read reviews, not
> only for my own story but also for my friends'. It is thrilling!
>
> That's what makes the MEFAs so extraordinary -- and so inspiring.
>
> To all the volunteers who make the MEFAs possible each year: thank you! ;-)
>
> - Barbara, whose contented muse is raising a glass of fine Dorwinion to the
> MEFA volunteers
>

Title: South · Author: Aliana · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 8
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-18 14:45:59
This was beautiful - hauntingly peaceful, yet poignant. It all means very much to me. Beautiful.

Title: A Life Between - No Secrets · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races: Men: General Drabble · ID: 446
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 16:50:15
I had a difficult time trying to get to this - I'm not familiar with LJ - but this was well worth the difficulties. Sensuous, to say the least, and in so few words. Very well done. I especially liked the ending. Something that is known - something that is dreaded. Very, very nice!

Title: Sweet Memories · Author: PipMer · Races: Hobbits · ID: 272
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 17:01:35
I had to laugh because I usually don't like flowery descriptions, but I loved how you immediately sequed into Frodo's total disinterest in it. I love the simplicity of the moments that you bring to mind; they are delightfully told. I love the short, quiet telling of the tragedy, and Frodo's gently leaving the river behind.

I was a little disconcerted with the ending. It seemed too 'pat' for me - but loved the idea of the 'bond' between the two - not that I'm a great thinker or such - but it never dawned on me that the two of them were orphaned right around the same age. I think I would have enjoyed a little more of their friendship. Perhaps there is a sequel?

Title: Fruition · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Alternate Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 7
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-19 17:02:26
EdorasLass seems to be making a tradition of AUs that raise the hair on the back of a reader's neck – first [Love Me and Despair], and now this story, which shows a far more ruthless crew of Dol Amroth nobility than anyone would have imagined. Imrahil is perhaps the hardest to believe, given that we actually see him, hear him speak, and glean something of his character in Tolkien's work. Imrahil's characterization is the one point I'm not truly able to swallow – I'd believe this far more easily if Imrahil, too, were the unwitting victim of manipulation by sister and father.

That said, it's an almost perfect power play – and it leaves one wondering indeed how the battle for Minas Tirith and for Gondor would have turned out some half a century later. How would the thorny issue of succession play out when Aragorn knows he has enemies in Gondor who would literally kill for power? Even before then, however, would Boromir even come north? Would Boromir be alive at all? Who knows? And if anyone from Gondor did appear in Imladris, no doubt Aragorn would be on his guard from day one, even assuming that person – Imrahil's heir? Boromir? Faramir? – were ever chosen to accompany Frodo.

This is a story that raises far more questions than it answers, for all it is a very short story. Read it if you like political thrillers or are feeling the need for something dark and disturbing.

Title: Divided · Author: Pen52 · Genres: Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 223
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 17:09:42
Wow! This was good. The level of tension surprised me. I liked Boromir's anger and frustration. I liked Pip's questions, though it took me a bit to get used to your style, and I liked Aragorn's character. I think you did very well here. But, as I said, I especially liked the tension. It still has me tingling in a slight fear.

Title: The Gates · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Dwarves · ID: 70
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-19 17:16:09
Every so often, Gimli hijacks Isabeau's creative side, and it's always to good effect: from ["Repairs"] to ["The Old Dwarf and the Sea"], Gimli consistently shows up as a well-written, strong personality who gives a unique look at the lives of Elves and others. In this story, Gimli once again demonstrates that he has more sides than many give him credit for, and this time, there's no Elf in view to draw his attention: this time, we see Gimli working among his own people to make good on the promise he had made to Aragorn, namely, the rebuilding of the gates of Minas Tirith.

Gimli knows himself to be no master craftsman, but he does want a part in the crafting of the gates, and he even extracts -- very humbly, very politely, for this is a Dwarf whose courteous tongue even Galadriel has praised as enabling him to ask the most audacious favors -- a promise from the dwarven mastersmith, Snorri, that he will have some small part in their making. Snorri swears that Gimli's name will be placed on the gates among those of the other smiths who will be involved in the making of the gates. This is enough for Gimli, who settles into negotiating all the necessary matters for the upkeep of the smiths, content with the idea that at some point, he will be asked to help craft the gates.

Two years later, the gates are finally complete, after a lengthy creative process, involving much negotition, research, customs inspection and arguing with penny-pinching and occasionally penny-thieving merchants, community public relations and reparrations, and the occasional bailing out of Dwarves from city cooling pens for rowdy, drunken artisans. Gimli has managed to shuffle everything and everyone along, and keep all the balls in the air, but he hasn't been able to lay finger to hammer or any other crafter's tool, which grieves him.

Snorri, however, is unmoved, and he has kept the literal terms of his promise -- Gimli's name is on the gates, and a wise old dwarven craftsman bids Gimli look again at the role he has played that none of the craftsmen could have. It's a good old 'know thyself' moment for Gimli and satisfying to see him come into his own beyond the two skills he admits he has -- killing orcs and prospecting.

Definite must-read for Gimli fans!

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 17:22:25
Delightful tale - this was so well-written that I honestly believed the incident was from the book. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was not - but part of the author's imagination. This was my first 'taste' of 'fanon' - for that is what it is to me now. This incident is forever part of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring.

I loved the descriptions you used, the characters were spot on, and the level of tension great during the avalance itself. The dialogue was fun too - love to see these two working together.

Excellent tale.

Title: A Million Little Stars To Light Their Way · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Drama: The Shire · ID: 387
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 17:40:18
I'm writing as I'm reading - pay no attention! This is great so far. I love the fact that you have Pip & Merry still suffering from the effects of their journey. I cannot imagine that they were unscathed. I love that you have the Hobbits remembering Boromir with grief... I like the flashbacks, you write them well... they are easy to see what is the present and what is the past... I always thought one of the hardest things for the Hobbits would be the lack of a fire and nice warm food - you bring this out nicely.I almost cried at Pippin's anguish - he asked the same question I have too often asked - why did Boromir have to die - and then, I got chills as I read of their discovery of 'Boromir's constellation!!! Great idea. Excellent ending! *sighs*

Title: "A Cat Of A Different Color" · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Mystery · ID: 385
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 17:57:50
I love the ease with which you write your descriptions and your dialogue. I love how Boromir prepared to tell his story, his easy laughter, the Hobbits teasing, Aragorn's wonder. And I liked Sam feeling so at ease that he could pop in with his own little thoughts. I loved the diagram and the fact that the cat, I should have thought of it, could not speak! And I loved Boromir's tale, much better than the one about Queen Beruthial!

Title: South · Author: Aliana · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 8
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-19 18:07:30
Aliana has a way of finding just the right words, and of drawing them all together into a sort of collage made of memories and (often enough) music: songs and tunes are recurring motifs, as if they are the stuff that hold memories together. Perhaps they are, in a way. Songs and silences – moments of memory that hold characters and a story together.

In ["South"], Merry's dreams of horses lead him from a full life in which nothing apparently is lacking back to Gondor, to a visit with Eowyn in Ithilien. All along the road, Merry finds himself seeking after some sign of old memories, something to make them perhaps real once more, though he always pulls back, always stops his questing with the realization that one cannot love the present journey for the way it evokes a past one. It's the hobbit, or rather, the Brandybuck in him that saves him: ["you must love the road for the road."] And one's wife for being who she is, as Merry wisely does.

Once in Ithilien, he stays with Eowyn, whose husband is negotiating with Harad, hoping to avoid a new war to the south. He finds that seeing the horses of his dreams does not answer to whatever it was that drew him out to Ithilien. This is, in many ways, I think, the key to the whole story: what place does the dream of horses have in this? I really love Aliana's portrayal of the dream: the easy way out is to make the dream's content have a direct meaning, a one-to-one correspondence with whatever it is that troubles Merry.

But dreams don't work that way: they are indirect; it's the dreamwork that is important, that translates whatever unconscious desire or anxiety vexes Merry into these images of horses. And so we find it isn't really about the horses, or even about Eowyn * insofar * as she is associated with horses. It's about loss: the fading of horses into the distance in his dreams repeats the fading of memories or the reduction of the fullness of Merry's life to a [strange knotty tune]; it repeats or represents the peculiar shrinking of Merry's world:

["He once thought that leaving the Shire, seeing all the wilds and wonders and terrors of Middle-earth would make his world larger, and it has. But in some ways his world is also smaller, now, shrunk down to the roomful of people with whom he can sit in silence and not feel the need to explain."]

Eowyn is one of those people, one of those to whom he can say ["Frodo's gone," Merry murmurs without really realizing], and who can reply, [from across the table, across mountains and oceans and cities.

"I know," she says. "I know."]

This is the difference between Eowyn and Estella that matters:

[He sits and listens to her breathing beside him, and he realizes that he's come because he needs her. He needs Estella, too, of course, and he loves her, loves her and their son more than anything else. But Éowyn understands a small obscure piece of him, a strange knotty tune playing itself out always at the back of his mind. And so he needs her like he needs Legolas and Gimli and Éomer, like he needs Strider—not that he's really old Strider very much anymore, it seems. Like he needs Faramir and Sam and Pippin. Like he needs Gandalf and Frodo.]

This is why in the end, Merry, like Pippin, cannot remain in the Shire, but must eventually pass south to end their days among those who understand the strange melody that time and war and hardship have introduced into their lives. Merry needs such people in order not to be alone, and perhaps that is what this story is about in the end: the recognition, the proof that Merry is not alone. And so the dreams cease, as that one anxiety, perhaps, finds an answer and so is able to be laid to rest.

Beautiful story-telling, Aliana, in every conceivable way. If you love Tolkien's work, read this story, you won't be disappointed.

Title: Drawing Straight With Crooked Lines · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Drama · ID: 76
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-19 19:03:26
It was brilliant to start out with Boromir's death scene - and wonderfully told too - just that short little bit set the stage for the 'meat' of your tale... and drat! I found it difficult to know that Boromir did not hear and feel Aragorn's final farewell.
Boromir's sense of not caring where he was or what was happening - because he was so burdened by his guilt - gave a beautiful, poignant start to the rest of the tale.
When I first read this on SoA, it was my first introduction to 'your' Namo - I still am in awe of this character - the beauty, peace and just ease of presence of the Vala is comforting. Though I know he can be fearsome!
I loved Boromir's reaction to him - though his body was reacting totally different than his mind.
I loved the sense of pure shame that came out of your writing of Boromir's admission of guilt. And I loved even more that, after the first hesitant admission, Boromir took ownership of it, and declared it more firmly. That is what I would have expected of him.
I loved Boromir's discomfiture when he realized what he already knew - that he stood (sat) before one of the Valar. And which Vala it was!
I love Namo's reasoning - and making Boromir walk that path himself - it explains to the Man of Gondor exactly why he did what he did - and what a great thing it was - though the cost - in the end was horrid. [Fulfilled his destiny] - I do like the sound of that - makes his death a little easier - though still pain-filled.
And I so love the argument for Faramir's cause - and the reason why he could not go - and Boromir's quick defense - as always - of his brother!
I'm glad Boromir finally had a moment to grieve, though it was unnessary, for Gondor and for Minas Tirith.
I love the fact that Namo helped Boromir see the worth that he held in Boromir's eyes! That was a true gift for Boromir.
I absolutely ADORE (well almost) Namo's regard for Boromir and that he lets Boromir see that regard, that love, that acceptance.
I loved the ending - that Boromir decided to stay and wait - and I absolutely loved WHO he was waiting for!
This was such an incredible tale - so totally out of what I would consider mainstream Tolkien fiction - you are truly gifted. As a writer and as a man!
Lastly - I must comment on the title - it is perfect. It tells so much in so little words and gives such hope to all of us. Thank you for the gift of that and for the gift of this tale. I am blessed to have read it. *stops as tears fill her eyes*



Title: Through the Eyes of Another · Author: grey_wonderer · Races: Hobbits: Merry and Pippin · ID: 136
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-20 01:59:45
Although it is difficult to imagine Merry and Pippin as very old hobbits, this story presents them in such a way that they are easy to see as the elders they were when they left the Shire to go and be with Eomer in his last days, and it is even easier to believe they are still the Merry and Pippin we came to know and love in the books and the movies. Their banter is true to the characters, and so are their motives and actions. Pippin is still Merry's "little cousin", and Merry is still the protective older brother to his young cousin. It is heartwarming and touching to read about them in this setting and context, and the author writes them with the warmth and humor that suffuses so much of her fanficiton.

Title: A Life Between II · Author: Elen Kortirion · Genres: Romance: Drabble · ID: 445
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-06-20 03:32:43
Congratulations on an extremely effective use of the true drabble format: to create an entire story in 100 words. Like the foreshadowing and the the sentiment conveyed without resorting to sentimentality.

Title: Turned Earth · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland · ID: 26
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-20 20:47:44
At first glance it seems impossible that this story could work. Hobbits and Zombies? The terms are antithetical. And yet, in this author's capable hands, the concept not only works, it is extraordinarily believable. Grounded in the solid soil of the Shire, peopled by the hobbits we know and love, it gives us a truly horrible premise and makes us believe it's happening, because the hobbits are so real, their reactions and their emotions are so real. The events unfold in a carefully paced and rendered chronology, as the characters come face to face with things so terrible they can scarce believe them, and yet they must, in order to survive. It is the love they bear for one another, Merry for Pippin, Rose and Sam for each other, Frodo for all his kin and friends, that gives them the strength to fight and survive. In the end, the story returns to canon, and that too, adds to the believability of the tale.

Title: Golfing Fever · Author: lbilover · Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest · ID: 75
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-20 22:21:49
I am not a golf fan. And, it turns out, neither is Frodo Baggins. But Sam is very much a fan, one who has the deepest admiration for an excellently played game. And a hobbit named Mungo Baggins, a cousin of Frodo's, is superb golfer. When Sam displays what Frodo considers an inordinate admiration for Mungo, to the point of wanting to caddy for him in an upcoming Four Farthings Gold Tournament, Frodo becomes alarmed by the thought that his cousin may have insidious designs on his gardener. This brings him to the realization that he himself is in love with Sam, and he must do something to keep Sam from Mungo's clutches. But Frodo needs Sam to caddy for him, and to help him practice his game. The story relates the progress of their practices and Frodo's growing awareness of Sam's attractive and lovable qualities, and an account of the Tournament play and the aftermath. A delightfully entertaining read.

Title: Lost in Translation · Author: sophinisba solis · Races: Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 31
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-21 19:48:26
"Lost in Translation" takes the reader deeply into the mind and heart of Peregrin Took, in the days after the hobbits arrive in Rivendell. Pippin feels left out and alone because no one seems willing to take the time to tell him and Merry about their beloved cousin's condition. Even Merry is acting like someone Pippin doesn't know, and Pippin feels lost and helpless. Only afterr Frodo awakens are Pippin's questions and concerns answered. The scene between Pippin and Frodo is poignant and touching, and reveals a relationship of trust and love that is believable and wonderful to contemplate.

Title: The Archives Incident · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure: Minas Tirith · ID: 38
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-21 20:19:50
An exciting tale that takes place after the quest, when Frodo and Pippin, on their own in the Citadel, decide to explore the Archives. Led by curiosity, they go even deeper, into an old underground section, where they find many ancient scrolls, including one with Isildur's account of the taking of the Ring, and the inscription on the band. Accidentally locked into the ancient place, with creeping dangers surrounding them, the two hobbits must make the best of their situation and keep themselves alive and unharmed until their friends can come to find them. There are humour and cousinly banter, thrills and supsense, and loving h/c in this story, and a very satisfying conclusion.

Title: Mistaken · Author: Fawsley · Genres: Humor: Drabble · ID: 490
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-06-22 02:19:34
This drabble so simply, yet so effectively conjures up this scene which we all know, but Fawsley spins it around, turns it on its head and makes it into a small, beautifully polished gem of understated comedy. There is no setting, no 'he said...', but it works so well, because be we book fans or movie fans - we can all visualise the exchange - and smile.

Title: A Moment Lost · Author: Fawsley · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 491
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-06-22 02:26:45
The tone of this drabble is just right; that quiet, slightly rueful introspection from someone who perhaps undervalues himself, but actually has all the strength of character that's needed. And it has such a great final line! So economically written, without frills yet so telling in its affirmation of Aragorn's kingship in spite of his personal doubts.

Title: Returning the Favor · Author: cpsings4him · Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring War · ID: 340
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-22 20:23:28
This story reveals a Pippin who is quite different from the little Pip who started the quest with his cousins and Sam. More mature and thoughtful, he comes to bring something beautiful to Frodo in Minas Tirith, but, finding him sleeping, he lingers to watch over Frodo and to contemplate the ways in which the quest has also changed Frodo. He recalls happier days, when they were both young, and perhaps he grieves for those days, but his deepest feeling is gratitude that Frodo remains with them. The story is full of love and tendeness and gentle regret for what might have been.

Title: An Unexpected Party · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Humor: Drabble · ID: 16
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-23 04:32:10
Oi, this was entirely too funny! We know Tolkien was not fond of diminutive Elves, but neither was he fond, I believe, of Dwarves who had not enough dignity to manage being terrible or frightening, no matter how much they might otherwise appear as irritable and somewhat pompous bumblers at times. Disney Dwarves really should be anathema, and here we have poor Thorin stuck in a roomful of cartoon bumblers, forced to hear them out as they apply for the position of companions on the quest for Erebor.

The idea that Gandalf put Snow White's hapless crew up to this just makes it better, though I suppose Branwyn might have meant that Gandalf was instrumental in getting this quest off the ground, hence anything that goes wrong-ish on the way to Erebor, including ridiculously unqualified companions, is in some way the wizard's fault.

Short, sweet, and funny – this is for anyone to enjoy!

Title: Wings · Author: ErinRua · Genres: Romance: With Rohirrim · ID: 9
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-25 02:28:19
["Wings"] is a sweet vignette, a nice scene between Eomer and his future father-in-law. Eomer's sincerity and wonder are clearly portrayed, as is Imrahil's appreciation of these qualities in his soon-to-be son-in-law. What I loved best, though, were the descriptions of the landscape, and the sense of the continuity of the sea and the plains of Rohan – their mutual airiness and freedom that Eomer finds and adores in his beloved, though it took a journey to Dol Amroth for him to realize what it was about Lothiriel that he responds to.

Title: No Man's Child · Author: Anoriath · Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 198
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-25 02:59:44
Being the shameless Aragorn groupie that I am, a story that proposes to test what happens when Estel fails of hope and marries a woman of the Dúnedain in order to preserve the line of Isildur is of course going to get my attention. It's a theme I've explored in different ways, but I've never aimed to do something 'irreversible,' as it were: I've never tried to think out what would happen if Aragorn deliberately chose not to marry Arwen. Fortunately, I will never have to now, thanks to Anoriath.

The title, ["No Man's Child"], is also its basic premise, which is sort of like "no man born of woman shall slay MacBeth" or "No living man" prophecies: it is not to be taken literally, as we see in the prologue, where we learn why Nienelen is 'no man's child' (anymore). So we know immediately, if the first-person perspective didn't give it away, who will be chosen as Aragorn's bride. Despite this, there was a bit of a red herring thrown in with Halbarad, which worked well in context.

Anoriath brings to this story a detailed account of life in the Angle – the tone and style fit the perspective of someone immersed in a feudal economy. There are dynastic obligations, household obligations that go far beyond the nuclear family I think many of us (me too!) tend to write, tithes to keep track of, fields and grain-yield calculations, the need to pay attention to seasons, husbandry, trade, and of course, politics. Anoriath builds up a rich picture of life in a quasi-Mediaeval, rural setting, and her characters move in it as easily as they breathe. As a city-dweller, I appreciate the ability to bring that setting to life without it seeming labored.

But if the characters move in their setting naturally, this is not the same as saying there is no struggle to cope with the world as it presents itself. Nienelen is thrown into the role of Lady of the Angle, and must fulfil the obligations of caring for the people of the Angle, and find her allies among the women and certain of the men, even as she struggles to deal with a marriage that she knows is not a love-match at all, but a feudal obligation. Worse, she knows full well that there is someone Aragorn loves still, but about whom he will not speak.

The relationship between Aragorn and Nienelen is presented as respectful, good-humored, tinged with sadness, but also extremely formal, which I found striking: Nienelen never calls Aragorn by his name or any endearment. He is her lord, and she thinks of him as such; likewise, I think Aragorn calls her by her name only once or twice throughout, and only in rather late chapters comes up with something like a pet name for her. Otherwise, she is his lady, and he calls her as such. Theirs is a match mediated by ritual, courtesy, and affection, but they both love someone out of reach. Getting children on Nienelen is a chore – one that has its pleasant side, granted, but sex, and especially a sexual expression of affection, is clearly an issue:

["Should I brush my fingers upon the lids of his eyes and down the line of his nose, or press a kiss to the corner of his mouth where lip and cheek meet, what would my lord make of it? Aye, in taking me to bed, I was reminded naught so much as his first act as my husband, when, despite the pain it cost him, he stood between me and the threat of flame. Should he have the power to prevent it, he would ne'er allow pain or fear to threaten me. Could I do no less for him? Should I not burden him with a yearning he had not wished from me?"]

And then there is the devastating reunion episode, where after they end up joking with each other, there is an accidental reference to the Beren-Luthien episode that sobers them both and leads to this line:

["When the task is done, and he stands before me wound in a sheet, his hair dripping onto his shoulders and his skin flushed and warm, my lord leans to me and presses his lips upon my cheek. It is a chaste kiss, rich in affection and dismissal."]

Anoriath doesn't overplay these moments; they unfold quietly and naturally, so one feels like an intruder on an intimate scene, but also feels the break in that intimacy, the way in which this is simply not what either Aragorn or Nienelen hoped for.

Aragorn throughout maintains a robust sense of humor about their situation, and treats Nienelen with all the kindness and respect one could ask, given the way men and women interact in the society Anoriath has built up. He makes her his partner and his friend, and the mother of his children, and even his lieutenant, in a way – she is his eyes and ears and representative in the Angle when he is away on his frequent long journeys. He teases her and tries to make the best of the marriage, including some hysterical, half-serious jokes touching on their own need to have children – he does as Gandalf advises, and tries not to continue looking over his shoulder at the road not taken. This doesn't mean he doesn't have his regrets that fundamentally shape his relationship with his wife.

The story is not yet finished, so are left waiting to see where Anoriath will take us with the next chapter. We're getting closer to the events of LOTR, which, I imagine, may be where the choice for amdir, hope grounded in the world, instead of estel, hope that transcends all grounds the world may or may not furnish for it, may become important.

Dúnedain fanciers should definitely give this one a try!

Title: The Harper · Author: juno_magic · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 10
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-25 03:21:58
Juno Magic has a uniquely dialogical way of telling a story – the interlocutor is present, asks questions, but we hear only one side of the conversation, which is put together by the respondant, who tells us, at stylistically appropriate intervals, what the other person has said. I enjoy the form in its own right, following the speaker over themes and time.

The harper for the royal house of Rohan tells of his (I assume) coming to the world 'down below,' the flatlands beneath the high, lonely mountain village where he was born. It is the coming of an old, blind, tormented bard to the village, after the Ring-war, that sparks a child's curiosity and courage. Of particular interest is the harper himself, rather than the songs he sings. For the blind old bard does not care for the songs themselves, and as the story unfolds, and we see more and more the bitter contempt, entwined with self-loathing, the bard has for the subject matter he sings of, and his reasons for it, one begins to think that there is more to this bard than is apparent. That perhaps he is someone we ought to know, though there is nothing so specific to his account of himself that would tip us off definitively.

But by the time the young prince of Rohan decides he knows who the bard was, the reader has probably come to a similar conclusion. It's very well done, and the mystery remains. Well done, Juno! Another lovely side-view on Middle-earth.

Title: The Spear of the Lily · Author: The Bookbinder's Daughter · Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 11
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-25 04:10:38
Evocative and poetically descriptive – there is an appropriate tenderness in the careful description of a husband deeply in love with his wife, and eager to know her every look. The Bookbinder's Daughter shows us Eowyn come into her own, as it were – the lily in bloom, rather than dying of frost, as she puts it.




________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at marwalk.com

Title: Hossis · Author: Fawsley · Genres: Drama: Youth · ID: 520
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-06-25 15:44:43
This begins almost anonymously and as such is a delightfully constructed mystery that seems to be completely AU, before it twists and resolves itself into a heart-achingly poignant piece of canon literature. The characterization is fresh and delicately delineated, so that we can all read and look and say – yes, it could have been that way. I do not want to give the game away to anyone about to read the story, but I do urge you to read it with a completely open mind, all the more that your breath will hitch as you read the final lines. It is an exquisite piece of misdirection that never makes the reader feel fobbed off with irrelevances designed to make you misconstrue the events – simply, the writing is focussed and spare, and in its simplicity carries more weight than many much lengthier tomes.

Title: He Came To Meet Me · Author: sophinisba solis · Genres: Romance · ID: 33
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-26 18:47:33
This is told from the pov of Diamond of Long Cleeve, and it gives a powerful portrait of a hobbit lass who is strong and independent, one who knows her own mind, and is believable and lovable. It tells of how Diamond and Pippin fall in love, and have their first kiss, and is surrounded by Diamond's memories of the year that the Travelers were away, and the Shire was occupied. Elegant prose and a tender, emotional love story

Title: Mettarë · Author: Galadriel · Races: Men · ID: 34
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-27 03:23:42
I loved this story. The poignancy of Boromir's predicament... the horror of it all... really comes through very well. I found his opinion that Orc attacks and ambushes cause the day not to be one of joy as incredibly telling and sad. The terms you use, like [grief nursed like a living thing] hurt so much! Accurately describe what I would think would be the feelings that rend this great man's soul. And the constant reference to blood in places where it shouldn't be... [unvoice pain glittering in his eye] broke my heart. Very well written.

Title: Foray · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA · ID: 55
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-27 03:30:14
I really liked this. I liked Boromir being solicitous of his brother... that he went to farewell him, knowing their father would not be there - and that you used the excuse that he was too busy instead of the tired 'he hated/loathed/despised' Faramir. The phrase that you use for Rangers - I could believe it was slang for Rangers. I liked that Boromir would like Faramir to remain in MT where it is safe... happened to 'go that way' in a story of mine. I like that Boromir can already see that Faramir will be great.

Title: Despair · Author: Silivren Tinu · Genres: Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 171
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-27 03:36:56
This was a dark story, but well written. I wasn't sure Aragorn would call Boromir a fool - I think he had a bit more self-control than that. But the rest of the story was very good. I liked that Boromir thinks the Ring follows orders. Good thought there! Legolas' need to make Boromir understand for Aragorn's sake and for the mission's. His sharing his thoughts on watching his people die. Legolas' feeling the evil and hearing the whispers - very good! The final [be safe] was perfect... for those in Mirkwood and in Minas Tirith.

Title: To Light the Way · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: With Mirkwood Elves · ID: 12
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-27 04:38:24
Admittedly, Mirkwood is not my favorite locale, but this is a well-told story, with a point that no doubt Tolkien would agree with. I have certainly had many a conversation with a fandom friend who * is * a Mirkwood maniac about the very topic of the relationship between war under the Shadow of Dol Guldur and the festive, if also somewhat secretive, revels and merry-making of the Mirkwood elves that we see in ["The Hobbit"].

Dot draws in Elladan and Elrohir to make the point that celebration is a necessary renewal of spirit, and so also of hope in times when whole peoples were powerless to do more than hold the line (and slowly lose it) against Sauron's forces. Elladan's comparison of the Mirkwood Elves with Men was met with amusing reactions, but the point is not without merit. Fans of the twins and of Mirkwood Elves in general should enjoy this.

Title: The man in the woods · Author: Dot · Races: Men: Eriador or Rivendell · ID: 13
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-27 04:57:15
Dot takes characters from meckinock's version of the Angle and deploys a pair of them in an adventure of her own crafting. And it's not an adventure in the way that children usually mean it – which is precisely the point of the story.

Halbarad's young son Alagos and daughter Falathren creep out to play one morning, after their father goes off on some unknown but urgent errand with Aragorn. The usual children's games occur, and Dot, carefully constructing this as a memory narrated to an unknown other by a much older Falathren, uses that reflective distance to point out the ways in which Falathren at that point was an innocent, who understood neither the nature of her father's duties, nor her own place within the community of the Angle:

["Though unaware yet that my birthright as a Dúnedain woman was not to fight for our future but to sacrifice my loved ones to it with a resolute heart, I nevertheless did not mind that Ada never told me I’d be a good Ranger. Besides, I was still young enough to need a father’s company, not his approval"], Falathren tells us.

But this day's Ranger-play turns out to be truer than imagination (even that of ["a girl with a boy’s imagination"]) had ever intended. They happen upon a body, dead by some violent, unknown hand, and Falathren, in a fit of hysteria, refuses to follow her brother home for help. Instead, she waits by the body, covers it with her cloak, and stands a sort of vigil, out of the conviction that the young man, whoever he was, should not be alone.

Later, when Aragorn and a few others come to rescue her from the task, we understand that this was the very errand that had taken Halbarad away early, the search for the missing man. Falathren has unwittingly done a Ranger's duty, though it is in the patient, resigned acceptance of loss that Falathren sees in the faces of the women of the Angle that she recognizes her own future – that she recognizes her own place vis-à-vis Rangering, rather than in her play-time fantasies.

Unsettling and sad, but poignant and all too real – well done, Dot! Ranger fans will surely enjoy this one.

Title: Crossing towards Sunrise · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond · ID: 14
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-06-27 05:17:37
The quays of Tol Eressëa are ripe for stories of reunions, for the making or breaking of hopes and dreams as the Elves who have left Middle-earth come home to long-lost loved ones, to say nothing of those whom they have done an injustice.

Elrond's arrival in Valinor is logically placed under the list of people he has lost, both those who left him earlier, to strange (or mortal) fates or otherwise, but also those whom he has finally left behind. The key figure in his arrival is Celebrian, whose fate he cannot know until he reaches Aman, but to whom he must explain the absence of their children.

Imhiriel picks Gandalf as her pair of eyes – a daring choice since Gandalf can be difficult to write, especially given the first person perspective. The figures who play into Elrond's anxiety as the ship approaches the Blessed Realm are carefully enumerated, while those who play a roll in supporting him are shown in that capacity. Well-constructed – fans of Elrond should give it a read.

Title: Not Fade Away · Author: Jael · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages · ID: 127
Reviewer: Cuthalion · 2007-06-27 12:25:17

I found "Not Fade Away" through a rec in Live Journal, started to read it the day before yesterday and finished it yesterday afternoon. The prologue takes place in the fourth age of ME, but the rest of the tale is entirely set in our modern world, introducing a heroine of a very unusual kind.

[She looked at her mirrored reflection dispassionately, telling herself that this was the face of a born patsy. Nondescript brown hair, eyes somewhere halfway between blue and grey, tall, thin, no bosom or butt to speak of.(...)She was no raving beauty -- a good solid six out of ten, assuming she was in a generous mood with herself, which she wasn't at the moment.]

Not the perfect Mary Sue, hm? But guess what her name is: M. Susan Walker (the M. stands for Mariposa - no Mary anywhere to be seen. *grins*). And she couldn't be more different from any of those annoyingly perfect ladies blushing teen authors flood the fandom with. After her divorce she finds a new job she'd never hoped top get: A company called "Dale Toys" offers her a position as designer and illustrator, and her new boss, Aaron Rivers, is one of the most attractive men she has ever seen, married to a stunningly beautiful wife who seems practically ageless, and father to a son called Leif who looks like he's barely five or six years younger than his dad.

[Posey gasped. He was too gorgeous to be true. A man this delicately beautiful had to be as gay as the day is long, and what a waste, she told herself. He held out a hand that would have been the envy of her piano teacher mother - those long fingers could span eleven keys easily.]

Oh, and did I mention that the FBI and the IRS think that Aaron Rivers is a "commie", supporting civil rights, looking for his employees among immigrants, and sharing his fortune freely with those who are in need - he must be planning crimes against the US, that's for sure. *grins* Plus that Mariposa draws the background for a new video game called "The Quest for the Lonely Mountain", without having any idea about hobbits, elves and Middle Earth whatsoever... one of the many details that made me fall for this funny, thrilling, original tale.

When she finally finds out why all those gorgeously looking men and women constantly cover their ears, and when she meets an elder man all clad in brown who finally takes it upon him to explain the mystery of Dale Toys to her, we land right in the middle of one of my favorite scenes:

[Wendell sighed. "Linda, hold her hand," He smiled at her, took a deep breath, and the friendly middle-aged brown man disappeared as the veil lifted. She saw light and beauty and something young yet unimaginably ancient.

"Stop it, please stop," she whimpered.

"Mariposa, put your head between your knees," she heard Linda saying, and she immediately obeyed, until the buzzing in her head stopped. "I wish you wouldn't do that, Aiwendil, "Linda continued sharply. "It unnerves even me."]

Love it to pieces. And if you really would like to see a "modern day woman meets elves"-story with beautiful characterizations, wildly original (but believable) ideas and a great plot, go and read Jael's tale. She deserves it, for she fueled my enthusiasm for fanfiction once again, and she's a gorgeous writer.

Title: Like Falling Asleep Again · Author: lbilover · Races: Hobbits: Merry and Pippin · ID: 299
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-27 17:43:33
A story of ravishing tenderness and beauty. It tells of Merry and Pippin, grown old, but still deeply in love and as inseparable as ever they were, after they have left the Shire and come to Minas Tirith to spend their last days there. The dialogue is spare and alive with the light-hearted spirit of the two hobbits, as they talk about their lives together and their undying love for each other. There is melancholy in this tale, but it is a sweet melancholy that makes one smile through tears.

Title: Force of Nature · Author: shirebound · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland · ID: 360
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-27 19:20:43
This story is a lovely addition to the author's Quarantined universe. It's a wonderful place, a pleasure to visit with hobbits and rangers and that sweet little rascal, Scamp. It always makes me feel good to read about Frodo and Estel and Bilbo, and having Merry and Pippin, and Halbarad and Thalguron along just made it a happier time for all. There is h/c and a mystery concerning the Old Forest, and the experience furthers the trust and understanding amongst Aragorn's rangers and the hobbits of the Shire.

Title: To Sleep, Perchance to Dream · Author: Blackbird Song · Genres: Drama: Ithilien · ID: 301
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-27 21:20:29
A powerful tale of nightmares that come to Pippin and Merry first in Buckland before the quest begins, and later in Ithilien, after the final battle before the Black Gates. It is also a deeply emotional exploration of the bonds between them, of a love that binds them closer than either even realizes.

Title: Letting Go · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring War · ID: 230
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-27 21:36:11
This story gives a powerful portrait of a strong, loving father who only wants what is best for his son, and slowly comes to the realization that he cannot provide that for him. Paladin's anguish on behalf of Pippin, who is suffering terribly from nightmares, is believable and touchingly portrayed. The relationship between father and son is shown as sympathetic and one of mutual respect and caring, as Pippin tries to spare his parents the knowledge of the horrors he and Merry, and Frodo all endured in the quest and the war of the Ring. It presents a compelling and logical reason for Merry and Pippin moving to the Crickhollow house to live.

Title: The Long Winter · Author: Baranduin · Races: Hobbits · ID: 159
Reviewer: Mews1945 · 2007-06-27 21:59:41
This story is based on an old legend called "Saving Spring". Sam tells the story to Elanor one cold, snowy night, seated by the fire, the perfect place and time for telling old tales. It concerns a long, hard winter in the shire, as recalled by an old hobbit who once told the tale to small Samwise. Sam and Elanor's conversation frames the story, but gives a very clear portrait of a loving father-daughter relationship, deeply based in the prosaic world of the Shire hobbits. The legend itself is a weaving of myth and fairy tale, with magic, enchantments, talking beasts who were once hobbits and men and elves, a wicked sorcerer and a lovely maiden imprisoned in a dungeon. The writer guides us from the cozy fireside of the hobbits to a lonely castle made of ice, and brings us back again with assurance and deftness. A beautifully told tale.

Title: Gathering the Pieces · Author: Ellisande · · ID: 543
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-28 19:11:53
A beautiful rendering of a span of Finduilas' life. I am most impressed with the simple beauty of the words. And Imrahil's part. And Denethor's love. And Boromir. And, especially, the ending. Nicely done!

Title: The Dark Night of the Soul · Author: Ellisande · · ID: 544
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-28 19:22:44
I can't even begin to express how beautiful and haunting this series of vignettes/poems is. It really undid me as I read them; my heart broke for Denethor. His love is so tranparent, so fragile, and yet he sees himself as a poor substitute for what she could have, in fact, have had. I adore the one where he berates himself for what he considers his selfishness. I love the technique of crossing out some of his words, as if he actually were writing these. The sad part is - if that is so - did he ever speak to her of the love he had? Incredible beautiful, sad, and heart-rending pieces. Thank you!

Title: Elements: Dreams of the Dead, Visions of the Living · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland · ID: 202
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-28 19:32:11
I had to laugh by the time I was finished with this because I write little notes in the side margins and there were FOURTEEN 'Oh My!'s'

This is a beautiful telling. I loved having Pip's carving be such a focal point. You caught me well when you had Boromir say that [the best dreams are the ones in which I am dying] - of course, I had to read on. And he was right. You had me biting my nails, in tears, nodding my head in agreement, and mourning those whom I love... Merry's death was beautifully written and who would I not love to die in Aragorn's arms!

But of course the best, for me, were the Boromir parts! *sobs* One thing that amazed me - I just finished writing a chapter in a tale I'm working on - and I put what the collar might have meant to Boromir. My idea and yours are not the same - but I love your idea and I love the obscure line that you base it on. Not many people remember Boromir's collar. I made the stone a White Opal from South Harad.

Again - glorious tale - very much appreciated your sharing this!

Title: Comes Now The Plaintiff, Frodo Baggins · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 17
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-06-29 20:12:22
This was a really fun read. Besides being true (!)--Frodo really did have a hard go of things on the Quest to destroy the Ring--and in our modern lawsuit-happy culture I don't doubt for a moment that he would have won a pretty gold-piece or two. I am not overly familiar with legal language, but what you have here seems realistic, and somehow that made it all the more hilarious.

On one level this piece works as pure humor. All of the names given for Gandalf, Aragorn, and Faramir at the beginning are simply hilarious, and the reference to other fictional cases was similarly chuckle-inducing. And it was all so hobbity! This reminded me of Tolkien's references to convoluted Shire legal customs, and I could very easily see this happening. It also strikes me as a particularly hobbity way of dealing with being forced to go off on a (horror of horrors!) adventure. Yet under all of that, there seems to be a biting commentary on honour and its place in Middle-earth versus our modern world. Even so, it doesn't forget its humorous roots. Quite a nice piece of comic writing all around.


Title: Gifts · Author: Acacea · Genres: Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 500
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:14:01
Delightful little moment. I have a granddaughter who is eating everything right now and I can sooooo commiserate with Denethor. And I loved the ending!

Title: Behind Every Great Man... · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 52
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:17:21
Very nice, indeed! I'm glad Denethor had someone looking out for him at least at some time. Mormegil must have died sometime before 3019!

Title: 13th Birthday · Author: stefaniab · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 138
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:30:26
Oh! My! The first chapter - I love Boromir pouncing on his brother to surprise him, I love him hiding the fact that he's on a plain old regular soldier's leave! LOL - and I love the part with Denethor and the stone and Faramir's fear for his father. *chills*
I love Boromir's buying the horse, but I'm doubly pleased with Faramir's concern with funds - and Boromir's troubling thought that Faramir was becoming too much like their father. *chills*
I loved the comaraderie between the troops! I had forgotten that Boromir too is still green.
The scene in the 'Home' was perfect as was the matrons obeying Denethor's law and Faramir discerning a 'use' of the moment.
It made me happy to see that Denethor chose Faramir's horse.
Oh my goodness! The last part - you saved the best for last - when reading things about Denethor and Faramir - I tend to cringe and wait for the worst - but you saved the best for last. I loved the ending. I loved the gift. And I loved the advice given. For Denethor to know that Faramir will have to use the stone... to help Boromir govern Gondor. Such a hideous thought - when one knows the price paid for such use - but so right of Denethor to offer it to his son... how odd!
And, of course, the very last part was delightful
Thank you for a great read - I had not expected this and if you could see my beaming face - you would be happy!

Title: Duty and Devotion · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 411
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:35:07
Ah ha! So the Dark Lord is the one ultimately who 'saves' Faramir - nice way of writing this chilling event!

Title: Could Will Have Its Way · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 286
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:43:08
I liked this very much - a very good reason for the Steward to look into the Palantir.

Title: A Useful Skill · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor: Children · ID: 46
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-06-30 02:52:18
Very nicely done. I love that you have Denethor take a part in F&B's lives... and not an unkind one!

Title: Duty Bound · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring War · ID: 212
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-01 04:25:57
Wow - knocked my socks off with this one. Love Pip - love the question - first and last - and am stunned by the answer. Though Denethor did not marry till he was in his late 50's.... I'd expected the same for his sons.... But I like the idea - Bittersweet tale but beautifully written. Excellent tale. Thank you so much for sharing it. *wipes tears from her eyes*





________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at marwalk.com

The problem persisted for altogether about 90 minutes I think; so I'd
thought it a temporary glitch. But alas, I have the same problem
again right now - I can reach this site, and even the page with links
to MEFA 2007 and 2006, but when I click on the link to 2007, I'm
redirected to AOL's search page, where it says "Error Gateway
Timeout", just like last night.

I have no difficulty going to any other website; so I think the
problem is at MEFA. Hopefully, I'll eventually be able to access the
site again, but in the meantime, it's inconvenient.


RAKSHA






<<<<--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta Layton <melayton@...>
wrote:

>
> PGF wrote:
> >
> >
> > For the past hour, I have been unable to access the MEFA site -

is my

> > computer being obnoxious, or has anyone else had similar trouble?

At

> > any rate, I certainly hope the situation is temporary.
> >
> > RAKSHA
> >
>
> Hi Raksha,
>
> I'm not sure what happened. I've been able to access the MEFA site

when

> I've needed to all this afternoon and evening. Are you still having
> problems?
>
> Marta>>>>
>

Hi Raksha,

The hosting company appears to be having some trouble, so it's out of our control.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

Aranel

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "PGF" <PGail99@...> wrote:
>
> The problem persisted for altogether about 90 minutes I think; so I'd
> thought it a temporary glitch. But alas, I have the same problem
> again right now - I can reach this site, and even the page with links
> to MEFA 2007 and 2006, but when I click on the link to 2007, I'm
> redirected to AOL's search page, where it says "Error Gateway
> Timeout", just like last night.
>
> I have no difficulty going to any other website; so I think the
> problem is at MEFA. Hopefully, I'll eventually be able to access the
> site again, but in the meantime, it's inconvenient.
>
>
> RAKSHA
>

Hi everyone,

There's been some trouble with accessing the MEFA site since yesterday, where you may get
a timeout error when trying to access the site. As far as I can tell, this is a problem at the
hosting company. If you get a timeout error, wait a while and try again (one outage lasted
about 90 minutes).

Sorry for the inconvenience,

Aranel

Hi,

Newbie here again. Just wondering. I got a couple reviews that made
some suggestions that I thought were worthwhile. Can I make changes now
that the tales have been nominated?

Many thanks,
Agape

Gee, I hope the answer is yes, because I am constantly finding typos and
pickies I want to change in my stories--post in haste and regret at my leisure
is my motto.

Oshun



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Agape,

I make changes, especially if they're fairly small ones. There's no real
problem with that. If (when the story's nominated) you expect to make
significant changes, you might want to nominate it as a work-in-progress.

But that's obviously not what's going on here. Go ahead and make the
changes. :-)

Marta

Agape wrote:

>
>
> Hi,
>
> Newbie here again. Just wondering. I got a couple reviews that made
> some suggestions that I thought were worthwhile. Can I make changes now
> that the tales have been nominated?
>
> Many thanks,
> Agape
>

Whoops! I just realized that I think I do have a problem. A drabble series
of mine has been nominated, that I still am adding to--thought of it as a
complete set when it was entered, but realize I have added a chapter or two since
then and might add more. Perhaps it should be changed to a WIP.

It's number 388 "It Gives a Lovely Light"

Oshun





************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey guys,

Now that several reviews have been made public, it seemed like a good
idea to review some reviewing issues. Some of this may seem basic, but
bear with me. :-)

First: how reviews are scored. The length of your review works out to
a point value between one and ten. The longer you write, the more
points your review is worth. This means that you want to try to give
your longest reviews to the stories you liked the most.

There is no such thing as a negative review. If you don't like a
story, you should just not review it. Even if you write something very
short, that's giving the story points.

On the topic of negative reviews.... the MEFAs do allow constructive
criticism, but reviews that are entirely or even mostly negative may
be inappropriate. This doesn't mean you can't talk about aspects of
the story that didn't quite work for you, but it's important to mix
these concerns with things you *did* like. Since you're reviewing the
story you must like it enough to want to give it a few points in a
competition. Be sure to talk about why you liked the story enough to
review it.

The difference between constructive criticism and negative reviews is
discussed more fully at

www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=FAQvoting#vot_4

There may be a few reviews that really are too negative for the
author's tastes. If you think a review is too negative, you can email
the admins to discuss it. If we agree with you that the review needs
to be removed we'll contact the author and ask if they'd like the
review taken down. (If a review's removed the author does lose the
points from that review, but it's also no longer visible at our
website.) For more information on how this works, see

www.mefawards.net/MEFA2007/index.php?page=FAQvoting#vot_8

Occasionally someone will submit a review for a wrong story. They'll
just click on the wrong link, or copy the wrong paragraph from the
word processor where they compose their reviews, or whatever. If you
see something where it looks like this has happened, please email
mefasupport(at)gmail(dot)com so we can look into the problem.

One other issue that's come up once or twice is quotes. Quotes from a
fanfic story, from Tolkien, or some other source don't count toward
the length of the review used when determining how many points a
review is worth. So our website counts things correctly, please
include any direct quotes in square brackets. For example:

[In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.]

HOWEVER. Other things that appear inside quotes-marks – like the title
of a story or chapter – don't need to be marked off in
square-brackets. You're free to do so if you like, but it isn't
necessary. The only thing that *needs* to be in square-brackets is
when you're quoting a passage from either the fanfic story or some
other source (like one of Tolkien's books).

If you need to change a final review to mark off quotes-marks, email
mefasupport@gmail.com and I'll change it for you.

And really, these are things that are easy to get wrong. I've been
reviewing for four years now, and I can't tell you how often I've
forgotten to mark off a quote, or pasted a review into the wrong form.
These are easy mistakes to make, and not too hard to correct if
they're noticed before the end of voting on December 30. So if you see
anything fishy, please just send up a flare.

I think that's it. :-)

Marta
(MEFA Admin.)

Hi Oshun,

Tough call. :-) Let me talk this over with the other volunteers and get
back to you in a day or two, okay?

Marta

heartofoshun@aol.com wrote:

>
>
> Whoops! I just realized that I think I do have a problem. A drabble series
> of mine has been nominated, that I still am adding to--thought of it as a
> complete set when it was entered, but realize I have added a chapter or
> two since
> then and might add more. Perhaps it should be changed to a WIP.
>
> It's number 388 "It Gives a Lovely Light"
>
> Oshun
>

Title: The Steward's Archives · Author: dancingkatz · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 337
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-01 04:35:02
Beautifully written and I loved the titles. I have the darndest time
with titles, but yours were perfect. Every little tale bore such
wondrous meaning and emotions and the last - of Finduilas meeting him,
holding him, kissing him to healing - was gorgeous!

Title: Snare · Author: Ruby Nye · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA ·
ID: 539
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-01 16:54:47
Oh! Oh! Oh! Here he is again, that very creepy Man from Ruby Nye's
drabble Never Lack. This ficlet was a revelation to me  I admit to
the slightly patriarchal, condescending Mannish viewpoint of hobbits,
that they are cute and jolly and childlike (Hobbit members of the
Fellowship excluded, of course  they must have been the only ones with
any gumption.) I believe there is a history here, a backstory that I
shall have to investigate to broaden and widen my understanding of The
Troubles, and how some hobbits fought back against their oppressors
before the Travellers even returned.


In this chilling scene, Pervinca Took is actually in the Ruffian's
grasp; she has orchestrated her own capture to distract him while her
compatriots escape. Being a Man, and somewhat stupid, he is gloatingly
examining her at his leisure, caressing her arms and cheeks and chin,
before moving further south. We see her fighting her disgust and fear
and more than a little bit of worry that something might go wrong with
the plan [Over his shoulder and twenty yards up she saw a hobbit's foot
vanish into the bushes. She could do this, she repeated in her thought,
as she swallowed against the heaving in her belly. She could.].

The tale ends abruptly, a deliberate (and masterful) choice by the
author. Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm still worrying about
Pervinca, and hoping that everything went as planned, and the Ruffian
got his just desserts. I 'm hoping they hurt him a lot.




Title: Letter to Frodo · Author: AmandaK · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 540
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-01 18:21:06
Although Boromir has spent many years seeking to expiate his guilt over
his actions at Amon Hen, there is still one person from whom he seeks
forgiveness. In this story, a missing scene from her novel The Long
Road Home, AmandaK shows us how Boromir is able to express his remorse
and attain a measure of absolution.

One of the outstanding strengths of AmandaK's writing is her ability to
elevate the slightest details of action, or description, or
characterization to such a mesmerizing level. She sets her scene her so
well that we can feel the summery white-heat of the City and the warm
dusty dark of the Pelennor at night. We can easily visualize Boromir as
he wipes away the sweat, both from the heat of the day and the
emotional tension of writing the letter. We can taste that [wicked
barley drink] Faramir offers him, to both soothe and hearten him. The
details lend a rich sense of immediacy to the events and conversations
unfolding around us.

AmandaK does not share the contents of Boromir's letter with us, and
this is wise, for the sacrament of confession should be a private
matter. She has already shown us his acts of penance, during the long
years depicted in her novel; now we are able to share in his
absolution, his sense of peace in letting go of the past and moving
with clear sight and purpose into the future.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 01:58:23
This is a sweet little double-sided vignette  the tale of an
encounter, told from two sides. Elboron, the perpetually tardy, vaguely
absent-minded, guard-in-training with an adolescent's speed and
corresponding lack of agility; and Elanor, who seems to have become a
self-possessed, down-to-earth young woman with a good sense of humor.
They don't know each other, but they know each other's fathers, and
unwittingly provide a measure for the truthfulness of the tales their
fathers have told of each other.

These matching vignettes each provide a nice glimpse into the world of
Fourth Age Middle-earth, and we find that the next generation is
growing very nicely into their more peaceful inheritance.

Title: Comes Now The Plaintiff, Frodo Baggins · Author: EdorasLass ·
Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 17
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 01:58:58
Rather than take aim at fanfic writers, this time Frodo is going after
his erstwhile companions for damages inflicted during the course of the
Quest. And he's suing for change of venue, given the obviously high
possibility of an unfair trial in Gondor or Arnor. I'd like to see the
Haradric court take this one up without inciting Armageddon III in
Middle-earth. Cute  has all the style of a court document (in this
context, a compliment, rather than the usual curse), although I think
Plaintiff Baggins might want to make sure he's getting a movieverse
court for charges 19 and 20 at least, or the bookverse one may find him
guilty of PTSD-induced memory loss. ;-)

Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 01:59:38
I was very glad to see a companion piece to Branwyn's lovely ["The Road
Not Taken"]. Both evoke the uncertainty and mystery of the unknown, and
in this one, suggest the heaviness of a past that remains alive for one
Lord Faramir, though his raven hair have turned white as the snow lying
mixed with the leaves on the side of the road.

Branwyn's language is, as always, precise, poetic, evocative  I always
have a clear image in my mind reading her stories, and it is inevitably
a beautifully drawn image at that. Here, I can see the milestone rising
out of a drift of golden leaves and snow, besides the pale, bare birch
trees  skeletal reminders of other and more cherished dead. Boromir's
journey, still riddled with gaps and perhaps haunted by the questions
of a brother who wonders still whether anything might have been done to
change the end of Boromir's tale, colors the entire emotional
landscape.

Yet Faramir is not overwhelmed by the loss  he is, despite his age,
still full of promises for the future  to go and follow his brother's
trail one day, and to make an end of the evening in more congenial
Yuletide company than the snowy woods can provide.

Well done, Branwyn! Very enjoyable!

Title: Bliss and Beauty · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Romance: Drabble ·
ID: 20
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 02:00:12
Nice encapsulation of Tuor's relationship to Gondolin. The drabble
quite literally builds up to the final section, each new paragraph
begun by a number, climbing ever higher until we reach the climax, when
Tuor fully experiences the bliss of Gondolin in his marriage to Idril.
The reader can feel anticipation mounting, which works well for a love
story, even one so quickly told as this one.

Good use of a short space, Imhiriel.

Title: Escape · Author: Bodkin · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA ·
ID: 24
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 02:19:13
Every so often, the essentially anonymous character game works well 
it gives you just enough information to anchor the perspective, and
denies you the rest, forcing you to fill out the words and actions of
the character with general ideas, suspicions, hints  hoping that
perhaps at the end there will be a name revealed, and all the guesswork
you've invested in trying to tie the story and the nameless character
to an actual name or event will be vindicated.

Bodkin doesn't go in for vindication, not for her Ranger or for her
elven patrol leader: they remain merely "Ranger" and "patrol leader,"
although one could fill in a couple of names and there would be nothing
in the books to contradict the guesses. But part of the reason one
would want to do this is that these two nameless characters, dutifully
about their business and slightly irritated when said business
intersects with someone else's, are well-drawn. They have their own
personalities, and the reader wants them to have names.

The bit about the message being 'in' the Ranger's head was a classic
bit of literalism trumping the figurative and made for a good laugh
over the elf's hopes of learning its contents. Neat trick, that!

Readers who enjoy Rangers, Elves, Mirkwood, or a well- (if briefly)
written Radagast, should take a look at this story. Good job, Bodkin!

Title: Signs · Author: permilea · Races: Hobbits: Children · ID: 384
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-07-04 02:24:29
A very cute little bit of mischievous wee Pippin, as an amused Frodo
tries to be stern. I liked Pippin's logic in this.

Title: Turned Earth · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 26
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-04 03:03:40
Once upon a time, I was far too squeamish to watch anything labeled
horror, but thanks to the intervention of friends with well-loved tapes
and entirely too much interest in finding bizarre B horror movies, I've
come to see the fascination of it. Plus, hobbit zombies. Even if I were
not friends with the bad horror night filmfest crowd out here, there's
no way not to read this story.

Dana's characteristic style, a lace-like structure that gets all the
important emotional strands together in a minimum of description, is
evident, and it works surprisingly well. Or rather, there's no surprise
that it works well, except one really REALLY does not expect hobbit
zombies to come wandering up the drive. And in daylight, at that. But
moving on&

The story exploits a canon occurrence I would never have thought of in
order to slot the appearance of hobbit undead into a believably
bookverse story. The curse of Saruman, overturning the bounty of
Galadriel's gift and poisoning the very earth of the Shire, sending
back the dead to destroy the living, was an inspired point of
departure, even if it doesn't come out 'til near the end of the story.
It turns an otherwise inexplicable occurrence into the last revenge of
a wizard gone bad, and a moral struggle for Frodo, who becomes once
more a sort of sacrificial figure who can, as it were, 'negotiate' with
the evil power at work.

Dana's Rose is a wonderful figure  I really like the voice she gave
her: sturdy, solid hobbit sense, and a lot of native guts, but
certainly able to be overwhelmed. Her Merry and Pippin are as they ever
are  splendid. And her hobbit zombies are creepy and disgusting and
make for some memorably understated gore.

The summary may suggest a strange tale  and it is that, but it is an
excellent story to read with the lights out. Give it a try!

Title: The Lesson · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 29
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-05 02:40:51
This drabble actually made me cry. I *know* that's not Branwyn's
intent, but it did. While I am something of a pacifist in my "real
world" life, I do recognize that our options for diplomacy would not
have been realistic in Tolkien's Middle-earth. This is how I reconcile
myself with the glamorization of heroics in war--within Middle-earth,
it truly was self-defense, no matter what I think about it outside of
fiction.

But the way Faramir is schooled in the ways of war in this drabble was
heart-breaking, because I know that it would be all too easy to fall
into this trap. While I think Faramir would very rarely have to hunt
for his dinner in Minas Tirith, certainly if he was ever expected to
travel in a reasonably small group (which seems like a real
possibility), it would be a useful skill to have. And arguably it's not
"wrong", at least not in the way that killing a human could be. And so,
step by step, Faramir is gently eased into the ways of killing until he
can aim his arrow at an enemy soldier (who is still a man). Truly this
is the captain who does not ["slay man or beast needlessly, and not
gladly even when it is needed"], yet he is not so over-ridden with
angst that it paralyzes him. It's a very nice, almost quiet, commentary
on how war might affect a sensitive soul like Faramir.


Title: A Middle-earth Mary Sue Tragedy · Author: Lily Baggins · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Incomplete · ID: 595
Reviewer: Baranduin · 2007-07-06 19:25:13
A modern girl drops into Middle-earth right in the middle of the Quest.
Think you've seen that tired old thing before?

Well, you haven't if you haven't read Lily Baggins' masterpiece of Mary
Sue comedy. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll ... well mostly you'll
laugh. I know I do every time I read this story!

Title: A Little Knowledge Can Be A Dangerous Thing · Author: Tanaqui ·
· ID: 616
Reviewer: Tiana Luthien · 2007-07-07 18:08:51
This is a delightful drabble series about the far-reaching effects of
Arwen's dowry. You've nailed the characters of Aragorn and Faramir, and
I love the way you've shown them dealing with some of the more
"irritating" facets of becoming King and Steward. Humourous and
well-written, I look forward to more in the series :) (ok, that was
shameless).

Title: A Little Knowledge Can Be A Dangerous Thing · Author: Tanaqui ·
Races: Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 352
Reviewer: Tiana Luthien · 2007-07-07 18:08:51
This is a delightful drabble series about the far-reaching effects of
Arwen's dowry. You've nailed the characters of Aragorn and Faramir, and
I love the way you've shown them dealing with some of the more
"irritating" facets of becoming King and Steward. Humourous and
well-written, I look forward to more in the series :) (ok, that was
shameless).

Title: Lost in Translation · Author: sophinisba solis · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 31
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 03:10:02
Language is such a difficult thing to present well in a story 
obviously, we all use and abuse and play with language when we write,
but making it a theme and attempting to write a drama around it is a
little more difficult. Sophinisba uses Pippin as her vehicle for
conveying how the failure of language to communicate anything (because
one party can't understand a word of it) requires a different approach
to language  a different way of understanding how one gets put in a
place and relationship with other speakers.

Pippin's perspective is such an excellent choice precisely because he
is a young and inquisitive hobbit, the youngest person going on the
quest, and when Frodo is being healed at Rivendell, and there is no one
who will speak to the hobbits in their own language or tell them
anything other than what seem like platitudes or put-offs, his
frustration and sense of being totally out of control with no one about
who cares even to try to help him regain his footing is visceral.
Imagine having a relative hospitalized in a foreign country where
people will only use your language to say "We're doing everything we
can. Surely your (insert relative here) will be fine." Sophinisba
portrays that sense of being deliberately shut out of something that
concerns you most intimately extremely well.

Even names become an issue: the fact that all the names Pippin has for
the people he knowseven himself!are different from the ones he is
familiar and comfortable with (Gandalf is Mithrandir, Aragorn has too
many names that aren't either Strider or Aragorn for him to keep track
of, and Rivendell, to his exasperation, isn't actually called Rivendell
in Imladris).

It takes a discussion with Frodo to help Pippin come to appreciate the
way in which the Elves (and other speakers of Elvish) enter essentially
into a different way of thinking and dealing with other people. Frodo's
advice to Pippin  don't try to learn the language  isn't meant to be
obscurantist or the like, but is essentially advice to stop trying to
be in control all the time. Stop insisting that others use your
language and enter into relationships with you on your own terms;
listen for how they say, not what is said, and that will do more to
keep frustration at bay than all the (fruitless) time Frodo spent
attempting to make sense of Sindarin declensions.

Pippin, being young and curious, and so essentially open to the world,
is able to absorb the lesson, which means he has overcome the first
hurdle to entering a more cosmopolitan perspective. Very well done,
Sophinisba! I quite liked this, and I suspect Pippin fans and those who
love the collision of cultures will enjoy it as well.

Title: Exploring the Wild · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 30
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 03:10:33
Another in the Nanny series, and a delightful little tale. Boromir and
Faramir may live in wild and untamed lands by comparison to what most
readers of fanfic, decked out with computers in homes replete with
climate control and electronics, but by comparison to how most people
of less than noble rank live, they are quite sheltered from the weather
and the land. It is easy to forget this, given our own perspective, and
this story, about Boromir and Faramir camping out for the first time
with some off-duty Rangers in the gardens of Minas Tirith, does a good
job of bringing out what a difference class makes in Gondor's
stratified society.

The two Rangers are great characters  Halhigil seeking to escape
boring precautionary confinement in the Houses of Healing after an
illness, Elchim apparently just off-duty, and neither of them,
apparently, with children of their own  prove well able to handle the
two young boys, with only a minimum of warnings and coaching from
Nanny. Nevertheless, even they have to admit that looking after the
energetic brothers, who are eager and curious to know anything the
Rangers care to tell them about the art of Rangering and living off the
land, is a full time job and not an easy one at that.

The brotherly dynamic is well-portrayed: EdorasLass writes Boromir and
Faramir with voices that are appropriate to children of their age and
class, and she shows their closeness very well. Nanny's sense of the
quiet of her nursery, and her anticipation of 'empty nest syndrome',
provide a sobering counterpoint to an otherwise light-hearted story.

Well done!

Title: The Lesson · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 29
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 03:11:02
[How gently men are schooled in war.]

Faramir's reflections here give an insight into the way that the
slaying of one's fellow human beings forms a continuum: from the
playing at war that a child does, to the active hunting of
progressively larger, more dangerous animals, and there is never any
reason to think that one is doing wrong in any of those situations.
Whether or not any of them are wrong in themselves, the way in which
they are used, a training ground for the far more morally ambiguous (at
the very least) act of war is surely troubling. The steady wearing away
of horror at the thought and then the sight of death that you wreak all
comes to a head when you have an enemy soldier at the point of your
sword or in range of your bow.

Title: He Came To Meet Me · Author: sophinisba solis · Genres: Romance
· ID: 33
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 03:41:49
I've read a couple of Diamond-Pippin romances, and Diamond does seem to
get cast relatively often as a sort of spitfire wild child. I don't
mind that, but I do like the way Sophinisba's Diamond is simply very
much taking things on her own terms  she doesn't push unduly, but she
won't be moved if she isn't willing. She is a bit like her wayfarer
rock: she knows where she is, she stands out to herself in her own mind
as this sort of person, not another sort. She seems to know, more or
less, what she wants, and to do just that, without ostentatiousness.

The brief depiction of life on the moors and out in the stony,
treacherous lands of Long Cleeve during the Time of Troubles was very
well done. I loved the matter-of-factness of life as viewed through
Diamond's eyes  she doesn't trouble herself unduly with the fact of
desire, though she allows it to trouble her, which is to say she lets
others into her life and lets them go, too, and expects to feel the
sting and keep going.

Pippin respects that in her, it seems, and certainly his own
experiences of war suit him to understand her own contribution to the
resistance of her own folk. She is not a rebel in the full-fledged
sense, but more an opportunistic guerilla who tries to keep her own
business out of the way of dangers. He can appreciate that, and her
love of the land, and she appreciates his seriousness, and the way he
seems to fit so into her own dreams and fantasies  as if there has
always been a place prepared for him, though she did not realize for
whom she was preparing it until he showed up one day on the moors after
the Troubles.

A very understated, well-written romance  quite enjoyable!

Title: Thirst · Author: sophinisba solis · Races: Hobbits: Vignette ·
ID: 32
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 03:42:18
A lovely set of interlocking vignettes, all centered around water in
some way. They could as easily be centered around something else  it
is much more the character interactions that are being aimed at than
anything that has to do with a simple need for thirst.

The dynamics among the cousins in strange places like Bree, for
example, are at issue in the first vignette, as the strains of the day,
the need for caution, and the fear of pursuit lead to the brink of an
argument. Is this or isn't it home, and who gets to answer that
question, finally? gets fought out over the ostensible choice of ale in
quantities measured for Men versus water. The questions of what should
we do and expect on the quest gets covertly argued over with Boromir
around the idea that there simply isn't any drinkable water in Mordor
(and therefore everyone should really go to Minas Tirith). The
pre-festivities Cormallen scenes are scenes that are returned to again
and again by many writers, but Sophinisba made it fresh as Merry
dribbles water into injured friend's and cousins' mouths.

But I liked most the encounter between Merry and the nameless woman of
Minas Tirith. A woman who may likely become a war widow in the days to
come, she and Merry talk about pipes and the need to repair them for
water to flow, as a way of (not) talking about the agony of not knowing
whether their loved ones will live or die, of being so utterly
powerless to impact even the simple decisions of others as to who will
stay in Minas Tirith and who will go. Powerful writing in a very short
space.

Merry fans will most certainly appreciate these, but really, they are
recommended to anyone liking a good vignette.

Title: Irreverence · Author: Aratlithiel · Genres: Humor · ID: 619
Reviewer: Budgielover · 2007-07-08 04:54:36
This quiet moment between Frodo and Pippin perfectly captures their
relationship, their personalities, and their love and affection for
each other. It is a heart-warming story filled with quiet humor, and
makes the reader feel as if she has been given a gift, a momentary peek
into a loving relationship that we all cherish.

Title: Mettarë · Author: Galadriel · Races: Men · ID: 34
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-08 23:32:17
Much has been written of the innocence of hobbits in comparison to
other members of the Fellowship. Boromir in particular usually is a
marked contrast to them, as he is here. Here, he and Aragorn know very
well that ["War makes soldiers of us all" & "And widowers& and
orphans."] Aragorn, however, isn't only a soldier; Boromir seems caught
in a bit of a rut, that breaks only at the very end of the story,
suggesting how stifling the roles of soldier, orphan, and (potentially)
widower are.

Title: And We Will Travel North · Author: bewize · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 39
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-09 00:31:33
The brother dynamic between Elladan, Elrohir, and Aragorn has been the
subject of numerous stories, but I do like this one for its unambiguous
'transformation' of the brothers. Their love for their human brother,
who will leave them in so short a space of time as Elvenkind count such
things, leads them to put off the Elf-lords for a time and to become
["for a short time that which we are not: Men of the North."] It has a
sort of House of Ruth flavor to it that I like. Fans of the twins,
Elrond's family, or those interested in mortal-immortal interactions
should like this one.

Title: The Archives Incident · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 38
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-09 00:32:11
For some reason, I can't think of many post-Quest Pippin-and-Frodo
stories, so this was a nice change of pace, and written with
Dreamflower's usual good style.

As someone who spends a lot of time in libraries, and who is not wholly
convinced that the universe's sense of humor would be beneath creating
an earthquake in Illinois just so I could get buried in the stacks, I
can appreciate the idea that libraries contain unknown and lurking
dangers. City-dweller that I am, rats are not something I'm used to
thinking of as a threat, but Dreamflower successfully made them
menacing, and who would want to be locked in a library without a light?

The story moves from a humorous discovery that Minas Tirith's library
keeps a fair share of godawful poetry on its shelves, some of it about
one Captain Thorongil, even, to the excitement of discovering
little-used passages and rooms and old scrolls, to the terror of
becoming locked into those little-used spaces with nothing but rats for
company. Frodo and Pippin work well together, and Frodo as caretaker
post-Quest is always a good thing.

Of course, they are finally rescued before the rats can get at them,
and fortunately they keep a hold of the bad poetry. While I regret not
seeing Aragorn's reaction to it, the last line was a perfect end to the
story.

Title: It's No Mystery, Really · Author: grey_wonderer · Races:
Hobbits: Merry and Pippin · ID: 36
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-09 00:33:04
Grey Wonderer can write a marvelous Merry and Pippin, and usually
there's humor aplenty. This story features the dreadful duo in a
domestic dispute  specifically, Pippin, having caught Merry's cold,
proceeds to be stubborn and foul-tempered about it.

The device of the book is cute and smoothly executed, allowing Merry
and Pippin, under the very thin guise of pretending to talk about the
plot of a book, to discuss their own slightly strained relationship at
this very moment, in all its predictability. Some harmless name-calling
is thereby able to be slipped in without further wounding pride, and
catharsis is achieved.

Nicely done!

Title: Three Turnings of the Year · Author: Ruby Nye · Races: Hobbits ·
ID: 37
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-09 01:11:25
Given that I am a sad, sad angstbunny addict, the Occupation of the
Shire has to be one of my favorite Shire fic-themes ever. No
disappointments here!

I love Ruby Nye's casting of Pervinca  first, the tween-aged,
devil-may-care lass out to have a bit of fun where there's fun to be
had, even if it takes a bit of trickery and shadows to get it. Poor Sam
is classically confounded, but in the end, I liked his
mortified/dignified response to Pervinca's efforts at a second
seduction. And I liked that she respected that, that she knows there
are some things that "a little harmless fun" cannot answer to.

The transformation of Pervinca into wife and sentry, resenting the loss
of her freedom to roam, and yet taking up the responsibility of it is
also well done. She's been hurt badly by the disappearance of her
darling brother Pippin, and the losses and confinement to Tuckborough.
She and Everard struggle with their marriage and their fears for absent
loved ones, and in a warm, funny turn, decide that they will have a
child and name it after Pippin if he doesn't come back. And if it's a
girl, it'll be "Pippette," which makes both them and the reader laugh
hysterically for the little moments of defiant humor that break into
the grueling reality of resistance.

For the final turning of the year, after the Troubles, Pervinca heads
off to enjoy the pleasures denied her  disguising herself, pretending
to be somebody else, visiting old friends and lovers, enjoying the
party and the freedom. It's as if she's going to slide right back into
her pre-Troubles ways, when an unexpected meeting with a lass she never
knew before brings out the maturity she has gained, and which she
cannot simply divest herself of now that the Troubles are over. Lovely
and touching, sad and triumphant at once.

Well done, Ruby Nye!

I've seen a very few stories that attempt to give Gandalf a romantic
interest. They are usually well-written, and I can see how it might
happen, but there's an essential something that's missing  intuition,
I guess, whatever it is that makes you go, "Aha, so that's how it
works!" Juno's story supplies me with that "Aha!" moment.

Juno's writing is strong, and features her usual story-within-a-story
frame, the narrator speaking directly to the reader to frame the
locale, the history, put the question in the reader's mind, invite the
reader in. And then she switches to her primary character, who tells
the rest  Juno has that enviable gift of telling a fully lived out
life in just a few words. She doesn't need many, for all are well
chosen. One gets a strong sense of the isolation of Himling, of its
being a waymarker, a boundary stone (not just having one)  it stands
on the borders between myth and reality, permanently linked to
legendary Himring, between one world and the next. It is a place where
a wizard does not simply come, but in some way dwells, on the border of
any map of Middle-earth, forgotten and forgetting, and imbued with its
own curious remembrances.

Tamer's acceptance of her place in the life of this tiny society, and
her devotion to her master, the Grey Wizard who occasionally comes for
a respite from carrying the rest of the world's burdens on his
shoulders, is well-portrayed. We watch her fall in love in a way that
makes sense in the context of her life, and requires no questions nor
any extraneous declarations of love or the sorts of courtly romantic
episodes one often sees deployed in romance stories.

Gandalf's reactions, too, make sense, and I love the ending  the way
in which Gandalf has to sacrifice something for a love he will never be
able to settle into. Juno gives an explanation in author's notes of
what is at stake, and what this episode in his life could mean in terms
of canonical events, but really, it isn't needed. The story makes sense
on its own terms, and I think the thing that cements it for me is that
Gandalf does not fall in love with someone who is like him, or with
someone who is classically beautiful, or one of the Eldar  in some
sense, they are too much akin. Gandalf is attracted and bound
eventually to that which is different from him  he goes out of himself
quite literally here, becoming something that no other of his kind has
been  save, perhaps, Melian. And so he is able to understand, not just
know, human love and human grief in a way that no other Istari ever
shall.

Beautiful story, Juno, and beautifully told. I'd recommend this to any
Tolkien fan.

Title: And Not To Yield · Author: Lady Marshy · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 117
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-10 02:47:58
Dark, terrifying, brutal  I've never read anything quite like this
story. Faramir and Eomer together have led the last small bands of
Rangers and Rohirrim fighting against those who wield the Ring. These
two, the only survivors of the bloody siege in the far recesses of
Henneth Annun, have been captured and brutalized, and are now awaiting
execution. This tale chronicles their last days, their steadfast
loyalty and devotion to each other and to the memory of those who have
already given their lives for the honor of Rohan and Gondor, and the
impact of their courage upon those around them.

Some imagery has been drawn from historic accounts of the Fourth Age
(the execution of Charles I, the actions of Resistance fighters
imprisoned during World War II) and skillfully integrated into the
story. The slash elements are understated: this is far, far more that a
tale of desperate, anguished men seeking solace and brief escape from
the dire situation they share. It is clear that their devotion to each
other transcends the physical nature of their relationship, allowing
each of them to face death with unblemished honor and dignity.

The startling conclusion left me shaking with shock. An absolutely
unique and riveting tale that readers will long remember.

Title: Strange Stars · Author: Jael · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 120
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-10 13:09:15
I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this story. Legolas
going to Harad as a courtesan? The premise seemed preposterous and
totally outlandish. This story could have been a farce, but while it
has it's humorous moments, the overall tone is more serious. The story
drew me right in. Through Legolas' mission at the court of King
Khorlai, the reader gets to know the members of the kings household and
through them the cost of the war for the Haradrim. Legolas has to do
some quick thinking to pull off his role without sacrificing his
dignity, and he is put to the test for how much he is willing to do for
Elessar's sake. I loved his first encounter with the king's sister who
had some very surprising ideas of how to spend an afternoon with the
new bethnaru.

Title: The spaces between two silences · Author: illyria-pffyffin ·
Genres: Drama: With Aragorn · ID: 677
Reviewer: Cuthalion · 2007-07-10 20:55:21
Stories about Arwen Undómiel are increasingly rare in this fandom, and
I appreciate each (really good) one I'm able to find from the bottom of
my heart. This one is a pure jewel. Illyria has always been able to
paint pictures in lush colors with her words, and this is a fine
example. When she describes the wedding ceremony of the King and Queen
of Gondor, her imagery is intoxicating:

[The ladies of Khand lined the path for some distance, waving their
arms and stamping their feet so that their bangles and ankle bracelets
jingled like a hundred rattles, their shrill ululation drowning out the
music. Southron fire dancers and knife dancers leapt onto the street
before us, tossing and twirling their torches and daggers in a wild,
whirling dance to the alarmed and awed shrieks of the spectators, then
retreated, bowing deeply when we rolled past.]

Before the reader's eyes unfolds the tapestry of a deep and unerring
love, embracing the present and enduring even the bitter consequences
of the decisions a man and a woman once made. And Arwen won't regret
her choice, even in her darkest hour:

[Here my Estel walked forever. I could see him, young and grave and
beautiful, walking among the trees. I could hear his voice, his
laughter, his tales, his songs, hidden like treasures in the gurgling
of the springs and the sighs of the breeze. If I closed my eyes I could
feel his hand wrapped around mine, a warriors hand, a healers hand, a
lovers.]

This is marvelous, nearly poetic storytelling... and a tale that moves
the heart and soul.

Title: Rock and Hawk · Author: Adaneth · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 221
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 03:05:32
Adaneth brings to bear a wealth of research into a way of life that
frankly, I can only look at from the outside and imitate. She gives a
strong sense of the world her characters inhabit, and their
relationship with it, which has the happy effect of placing the reader
in a fictional space that immediately has its own feel, its own unique
image, and a sense of solidity  of its having its own rules.
Subcreation, anyone?

With the sea and its nearby shore all washing around the reader's
imagination, we then meet the characters, and begin to see the
unfolding of a fascinating encounter not only between the sexes, but
between different races. The Dwarvish point of view, shown primarily
through the Dwarf Veylin in his interactions with Men and his own
people, is a difficult one to write well, I find, but Adaneth does it
effortlessly (or so it seems; the measure of the author's skill is that
it always looks effortless when done well). One falls into the Dwarven
world and discovers that it is not quite like ours, and the differences
grow more pronounced as we get a better feel for the Dwarves.

Saelon, our primary human touchstone, is also well-portrayed, given a
strong personality against which the Dwarven characters can come up and
interact. Her isolation from her own people, her independence as a
woman, and especially as a woman of the Dúnedain, living in their
decline, makes her quite singular and startling. Yet she fits with the
sea and shore that she loves, thereby providing many opportunities for
those less rooted in it to grate against her.

The force that brings the Dwarves and Saelon together is a set of
mysterious creatures  fiends or demons, who knows?  that no one can
seem to kill, and which become progressively bolder as time goes on.
This is a threat that seems a cross between the Grendel of Beowulf and
the legendary Beast of Gévaudan: it dismembers what it kills, preying
upon the outliers of settlements and their animals at first, taking
victims without warning and often leaving no traces behind. As time
wears on, they eventually attack houses, driving the people of Srethan
Brethil, Saelon's original home, right onto the doorstep of her
isolated sea-cave, where she is thrown into the role of Lady and
liege-lord all at once.

By the end of the story, the beasts still remain at large  the need
for vengeance among both Men and Dwarves remains strong, but it has
also become a more real possibility, due in large part to the slow
growth of something like friendship between Saelon and Veylin. They do
not fully understand each other, but they do respect each other and the
distance between them, as well as the possibility of a more substantial
set of ties. Time and another story will tell whether vengeance is
claimed and a neighborly relationship achieved, and I quite look
forward to it.

Highly recommended reading for anyone with any interest in Tolkien's
Middle-earth. Well, well done, Adaneth!

Title: A Mother's Touch · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 44
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 03:22:17
Smaug and his mother  what a pair! The image of fearsome Smaug as a
pink-and-white-scaled wriggling little wyrm who plays in the mud is,
quite frankly, hysterical. I think, however, that my favorite
incongruous 'image' is this:

["Mama, I'm back," chirped her son]

Dragons chirping. Like sparrows, maybe? I love it, and it makes me
smile every time, thinking of Smaug as chirping.

Title: Inroads · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 45
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 03:31:32
Eowyn in the Fourth Age is something of an enigma  we all wonder, can
the shield-maiden really become a gardener, healer, and consummate
diplomat? War is so much simpler in many ways, when the solution is the
simple elimination of whoever stands in your path.

Raksha takes on one aspect of this question in this short ficlet,
showing the trials and tribulations of being unable to confront the
enemy head on and offer no other terms than death or surrender. The
ladies of Minas Tirith, defeated in the matrimonial game by Eowyn's
capture of Faramir, are not all gracious losers. Nor do they forget
that she isn't one of them.

It takes a young girl with heart but no falsity to break the strain of
the evening and remind some of the resentful ones that Eowyn has, after
all, earned her joy and is worthy of respect.

Title: A Useful Skill · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor: Children ·
ID: 46
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 03:40:51
Ok, I admit it, this one just makes me go "Awwwww!"

I love the father-son dynamic here  Denethor, usually so very on top
of matters, gets to do a classic double take:

[Faramir, not surprisingly, was sitting on one of the couches, his head
bent low over a 

Denethor blinked, sure he must be mistaken. But he was not; it was no
book which held Faramir's attention, it was a sock.]

Surprise, and confusion, plus a confrontation with boundless, innocent
childish enthusiasm, have him a bit set back on his heels. This, alas,
comes off as irritation with Faramir, who, in the manner of young
children, senses that he has somehow offended the Order Of Things, but
isn't sure how or why his newfound abilities rouse paternal wrath.

Fortunately, Denethor does back down, after getting a reminder that
even for the highly born, soldiering demands the ability to take care
of one's own things. Nanny, Faramir's teacher in this as in other
matters, gets a brief appearance and is understandably slightly
flustered to find Denethor presiding over his son's efforts. That
Denethor finds her relief amusing is telling of his rather imposing
personality  a comic but revealing end to the ficlet.

Title: A Thankless Task · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Drama: Youth ·
ID: 49
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 03:51:03
& and this one makes me smirk slightly and imagine a very nasty road
for Boromir to tramp upon, which would require the mending of many an
article of clothing.

Boromir's efforts to get Faramir to sympathize with him, or else to
agree to do his sewing for him, are typically elder-brotherly, when
brothers discover what their siblings are for (the doing of the chores
they don't want to do themselves). Faramir's willingness to stand up to
his brother, whom he adores, and argue with him, suggests he ought to
be able to do so with his father  a subject that is briefly discussed,
though only as a hypothetical possibility at this point.

Alas, we know that when it counts, he isn't able to do it  he'll still
ride out to defend Pelennor, and without having challenged Denethor's
will about it. That casts a shadow over an otherwise light-hearted
story.

Title: Sunshine and Roses · Author: shirelinghpc · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 531
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-11 22:28:02
A very sweet and touching story of how the hobbits and other walkers
spent their time in Minas Tirith. It could probably benefit from a beta
for mechanics (things like sentence fragments and punctuation, for
example), but the underlying gap-filling is excellent. I enjoyed it
very much.

Title: The End of Dark Days · Author: annmarwalk/EdorasLass CoAuthors ·
Genres: Drama: Minas Tirith · ID: 56
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 22:59:43
The heroines of Ann and EdorasLass finally get a story together, it
seems. Despite the slight sense of jarring to find that everyone
including her friends calls Nanny "Nanny", it is a lovely little set of
scenes, as Nanny and her girls return to Minas Tirith to discover what
has become of her menfolk and, of course, Faramir.

And while I really should have seen it coming, the only
half-acknowledged tale of just how Denethor died, and how close he came
to taking Faramir with him, was appropriately shocking when seen
through Nanny's perspective  Nanny, who had no idea of what was
waiting for her in the cryptic hints of strange happenings where 'her
rabbit' is concerned.

A mix of mourning and remembrance and laughter, all laced with a strong
undercurrent of nervous exhaustion, gives this a tone appropriate to
the circumstances. An enjoyable read  well done, both of you!

Title: Better Days Ahead · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 51
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 23:00:10
Shagrat gets a voice in this little ficlet, and a very orcish voice it
is, one part arrogance and bravada, another part lusting after ghoulish
fantasy that would certainly have consequences in the world should they
manage to carry out their 'plans.' Apparently, Shagrat has either heard
of Saruman's experiments in Uruk-hai eugenics, or else something
similar was going on in Mordor, and they mean to continue it. In either
case, ew.

Nevertheless, for an orc, it is at least a vision, even if one that no
one really wants to contemplate except other orcs. Rape and murder,
terrorism and human trafficking are nothing new in the world,
unfortunately, and if anyone would think of them as an escape from
trouble and way to rise in the world while taking revenge on their
enemies, well, orcs would certainly be the ones to think of it!

Title: Measures of Time · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 50
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 23:00:41
One of the interesting things about couples like Faramir and Eowyn or
Aragorn and Arwen is the different rate of aging. Raksha takes up this
theme, and the pains it imposes on the partner who ages more swiftly,
in this case Eowyn.

Jealousy can become a problem  jealousy, and nostalgia, which can sour
a relationship. It requires much more sensitivity on the part of the
younger (or more youth-ful) partner to handle the way in which time,
flowing differently for each in a radical way, does not enable them to
share certain things at the same time, and seems to make them in some
way unsuited to each other.

Faramir is in this instance able, by force of sincerity unmarred by the
slightest hesitation, to help Eowyn forget the difference in vigor
between them, and to feel loved and desirable rather than a burden.
It's a sweet little vignette, and I am sure fans of Faramir and Eowyn
will enjoy it.

Title: Getting Away from it All · Author: Bodkin · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 63
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-11 23:37:02
Everyone has to take a little time off, even if that time is in between
allowing the plots of courtly enemies to ripen to the point where they
become vulnerable to one's own counterplotting.

I like the lazy, bantering tone of this, although there is one point
where the swing to the serious seems to come out of nowhere. Otherwise,
however, an enjoyable day off for the king and queen, prince and
princess!

Title: Keeper of the Jewels · Author: Cuthalion · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 64
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-12 03:46:54
There must surely have been some in Gondor who were less than pleased
that there was a claimant to the throne after all, and perhaps even a
few who would take that displeasure further than opposition in council
rooms. Cuthalion sets up a plausible scenario in the Prince of Lebennin
and in his meek, desperate daughter, Artanis.

One suspects that the flaw in the Prince of Lebennin's plan will be the
way he treats his daughter, and in fact, that is the case. This allows
poor Sam to be rescued before his captors can dispose of him along with
Aragorn. It also allows for the redemption of Artanis.

I like the depiction of the relationships among the hobbits, and
between them and Aragorn, and loved that Ioreth got a few moments of
triumph, even if only in a recounting. A quick, enjoyable read.

Title: Foreign Ways · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Gondor or
Rohan · ID: 54
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-12 04:02:22
Mag the cook is indeed a cook at heart, willing to taste-test anything.
And also, an apparently adventuresome young woman once upon a time,
willing to be lured into taverns by strange blond strangers with no
Westron who want to stand her and her best friend drinks. It all turns
out well, however, and Mag gets to add another few culinary items to
her list of enjoyable things to eat.

Eowyn, newly arrived from Rohan, and eager to accustom her Gondorian
staff to Rohirric fare provides an entertaining reminder to Mag of that
earlier encounter, which Mag handles with grace and a bit of a white
lie, but Eowyn is delighted with her enthusiasm. Plus, Mag can now
enjoy certain Rohirric delicacies once again, secure in the new
knowledge of how to make them herself, thanks to Eowyn. A cute bit of
cross-cultural interaction, Ann!

Title: Sea Food · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Children · ID: 53
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-12 04:02:47
This reminds me of the old sea food diet joke  see food, eat it.
Except this time, it actually works the other way around: see food,
don't eat it.

Young Boromir and Faramir show themselves to be still on the sensitive
side when it comes to the difference between what is served on the
table and what they have to catch for themselves. The crabs got lucky
this time, though Boromir's last comment shows the truth of the old
'out of sight, out of mind' (and conscience) truism. Cute story!

Title: Behind Every Great Man... · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid
Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 52
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-14 02:09:14
Oh dear! I can sympathize with Denethor in his floral confusion 
telling flowers apart has never been a strong point, I'm mostly content
just to look at them and admire. But Mormegil makes such an effort to
make Denethor look good, even to the extent of signing Denethor's name
to the inquiry as to Finduilas's favorite flowers, that now the poor
bridegroom will have to keep track of flower names when clearly he's
already somewhat flustered. An amusing ficlet!

Title: Drawing Straight With Crooked Lines · Author: Fiondil · Genres:
Drama · ID: 76
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-14 03:15:54
Fiondil draws out clearly what Boromir's failure can and does in the
end help to facilitate, when perhaps nothing less would have done to
set things on a path where there was hope of victory. I liked the
calmness of the hall, and Boromir's initial reactions to Mandos  both
nicely detached, and the latter also amusing. Maybe a touch too calm
for me in the end, but then, I like the turbulence of Boromir's
character and find him to be most interesting when he's at crisis
points. It's a nicely written story, though, and those wanting
redemption for Boromir will surely appreciate it.

Title: Golfing Fever · Author: lbilover · Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest ·
ID: 75
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-14 03:20:18
I admit that I had a serious moment of hesitation over this story. In
the first place, while I enjoy well-written fanfic, usually my
interests run towards other areas in Eriador (ones with Rangers in
them, more precisely). In the second, however, and more importantly: I
HATE golf. I do not see the point. At all. I am very much with
Ibilover's Bilbo on this one.

But I did end up reading it, and was hooked from the first chapter.
This one goes up with Daffodil's story about soccer-playing hobbits  a
hysterical, sexy combination that you never saw coming. Given my hatred
of golf, I found myself quite in accord with Frodo: who knew that
golfing terminology so leant itself to innuendo? Ibilover does not miss
an opportunity, or at least, I couldn't spy one she didn't pounce on,
but it never feels overdone, has a light, humorous touch, and the story
goes quickly, with the reader chortling and shaking her head all the
way.

Sam's apparently single-minded focus on golf is a source of much ironic
humor throughout, as is Frodo's running distracted commentary on the
joys of golfing (with Sam), and in the end, we discover that turnabout
is most definitely fair play. Merry makes for a funny interlude  I was
glad to see him, and his wicked sense of golfing style trotted out for
the occasion of his cousin's mysterious demands.

So thank you, Ibilover, for your careful interrogation of your father 
I appreciated it! Give this one a chance if you're into amusing,
light-hearted romantic comedy, even if you absolutely despise the game
of golf.

Title: The Captain and the King · Author: plasticChevy · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 738
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-14 03:25:32
This absolutely boggles my mind that this tale has not been nominated
before this. I went to the log from previous tales - and lo and behold
- it was not there. Imagine my joy to think that I, undeserving lover
of Boromir and plasticChevy's wondrous tales, am able to nominate this
glorious story.

I usually don't read AU's - but this one grabbed at my heart and held
it - I have read it at least five times and not once, not once, have I
been disappointed. Even though I know what is going to happen next... I
am still on tenter-hooks waiting, biting my nails. Never have I found
such a touching, heart-wrenching, tension-filled, angst-overflowing,
wondrous tale of what might have been. The premise was perfect and
believable.

I don't think one moment went by that I did not have my heart in my
throat as PC took these two wonderful, stalwart men through terrors and
trials unimaginable. Their growing friendship and love was just a
delight to read. Their courage and fortitude exemplary.

The characters are all true to Tolkien's world - Aragorn is perfect as
King, Boromir is absolutely gorgeous as Steward, and those in the
perifery are splendid.

I absolutely adore this story! I do not even have the words to say how
much I love this tale. Thank you, PC, for sharing this monumentous
work.

Title: Geometry · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID:
80
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-14 03:28:28
A brief, poignant representation of Denethor and Faramir, after
Boromir's death. The childhood image of a clumsy, lopsided triangle,
points for people joined together, is undone and one can imagine the
gaping division between Faramir and his father quite clearly.

Title: The Steward's Tale · Author: plasticChevy · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Incomplete · ID: 739
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-14 03:35:16
From the moment this tale opens with Boromir and Faramir working out,
my heart was taken by this story. I loved the brothers' interaction. I
loved Gil's place in this.

My heart went out to the little creature that has so been so profoundly
touched by the erstwhile Steward of Gondor. I love how she must work so
diligently to earn the respect of those around her. I love the group of
'spies' that she pulls together so that her lord, her Steward and his
King are protected. - Ah! It's a great tale - and well-written too!

Oh! and the pictures are awesome too!

As for Boromir and Aragorn - the friendship that grew in her previous
tale, The Captain and the King, is even stronger and purer... if such
could be the case. The two of them have grown into a fiercesome duo -
fighting for Gondor against all who would harm her.

And there are those there - besides the known Orcs and such - the inner
terror that tries to rules the halls of Minas Tirith are potent and
nasty.

Boromir's captivity is horrid... and his dearest servant and faithful
companion, Borlas is so sweet...

Incredible tale - I sit and wait for each installment. Thank you!

Title: Free and Gay · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 81
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-14 03:35:27
Ah, poor Boromir, prisoner to the covetous looks of the ambitious
mothers of Minas Tirith! Very understated slashiness, and the brotherly
banter was fun. Faramir has no idea of what awaits him, once the ladies
of the court begin to notice him. Boromir does, and finds more than one
reason to wish to spend Yule in the field, in the company of soldiers
and such celebrations as they can arrange for themselves.

Title: The Rose in the Courtyard · Author: claudia6032000 · Races:
Cross-Cultural: The Fellowship · ID: 560
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-14 19:31:41
Damrod finds Frodo contemplating the single blooming rose in the
gardens of the Houses of Healing and finds each wonderful, and begs the
Ringbearer's pardon for possible rough treatment in Ithilien.

Some slight grammatical errors, but a pleasing story.

The beginning of the first review in this set was inadvertently cut
off. Sorry, Juno!

Title: Tamer's Tale · Author: juno_magic · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID:
41
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-09 01:15:49
I've seen a very few stories that attempt to give Gandalf a romantic
interest. They are usually well-written, and I can see how it might
happen, but there's an essential something that's missing  intuition,
I guess, whatever it is that makes you go, "Aha, so that's how it
works!" Juno's story supplies me with that "Aha!" moment.

Juno's writing is strong, and features her usual story-within-a-story
frame, the narrator speaking directly to the reader to frame the
locale, the history, put the question in the reader's mind, invite the
reader in. And then she switches to her primary character, who tells
the rest  Juno has that enviable gift of telling a fully lived out
life in just a few words. She doesn't need many, for all are well
chosen. One gets a strong sense of the isolation of Himling, of its
being a waymarker, a boundary stone (not just having one)  it stands
on the borders between myth and reality, permanently linked to
legendary Himring, between one world and the next. It is a place where
a wizard does not simply come, but in some way dwells, on the border of
any map of Middle-earth, forgotten and forgetting, and imbued with its
own curious remembrances.

Tamer's acceptance of her place in the life of this tiny society, and
her devotion to her master, the Grey Wizard who occasionally comes for
a respite from carrying the rest of the world's burdens on his
shoulders, is well-portrayed. We watch her fall in love in a way that
makes sense in the context of her life, and requires no questions nor
any extraneous declarations of love or the sorts of courtly romantic
episodes one often sees deployed in romance stories.

Gandalf's reactions, too, make sense, and I love the ending  the way
in which Gandalf has to sacrifice something for a love he will never be
able to settle into. Juno gives an explanation in author's notes of
what is at stake, and what this episode in his life could mean in terms
of canonical events, but really, it isn't needed. The story makes sense
on its own terms, and I think the thing that cements it for me is that
Gandalf does not fall in love with someone who is like him, or with
someone who is classically beautiful, or one of the Eldar  in some
sense, they are too much akin. Gandalf is attracted and bound
eventually to that which is different from him  he goes out of himself
quite literally here, becoming something that no other of his kind has
been  save, perhaps, Melian. And so he is able to understand, not just
know, human love and human grief in a way that no other Istari ever
shall.

Beautiful story, Juno, and beautifully told. I'd recommend this to any
Tolkien fan.

Ann,

The header info for the first review here is missing. What story is it and
who reviewed it?
Thanks!

Vorondavý ar linalmiý,
Rhyselle

Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative
mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and
likeness of a Maker. -- J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories, 1939

On 10/3/07, Ann Walker <ann@marwalk.com> wrote:
>
> I've seen a very few stories that attempt to give Gandalf a romantic
> interest. They are usually well-written, and I can see how it might
> happen, but there's an essential something that's missing ý intuition,
> I guess, whatever it is that makes you go, "Aha, so that's how it
> works!" Juno's story supplies me with that "Aha!" moment.
>
> Juno's writing is strong, and features her usual story-within-a-story
> frame, the narrator speaking directly to the reader to frame the
> locale, the history, put the question in the reader's mind, invite the
> reader in. And then she switches to her primary character, who tells
> the rest ý Juno has that enviable gift of telling a fully lived out
> life in just a few words. She doesn't need many, for all are well
> chosen. One gets a strong sense of the isolation of Himling, of its
> being a waymarker, a boundary stone (not just having one) ý it stands
> on the borders between myth and reality, permanently linked to
> legendary Himring, between one world and the next. It is a place where
> a wizard does not simply come, but in some way dwells, on the border of
> any map of Middle-earth, forgotten and forgetting, and imbued with its
> own curious remembrances.
>
> Tamer's acceptance of her place in the life of this tiny society, and
> her devotion to her master, the Grey Wizard who occasionally comes for
> a respite from carrying the rest of the world's burdens on his
> shoulders, is well-portrayed. We watch her fall in love in a way that
> makes sense in the context of her life, and requires no questions nor
> any extraneous declarations of love or the sorts of courtly romantic
> episodes one often sees deployed in romance stories.
>
> Gandalf's reactions, too, make sense, and I love the ending ý the way
> in which Gandalf has to sacrifice something for a love he will never be
> able to settle into. Juno gives an explanation in author's notes of
> what is at stake, and what this episode in his life could mean in terms
> of canonical events, but really, it isn't needed. The story makes sense
> on its own terms, and I think the thing that cements it for me is that
> Gandalf does not fall in love with someone who is like him, or with
> someone who is classically beautiful, or one of the Eldar ý in some
> sense, they are too much akin. Gandalf is attracted and bound
> eventually to that which is different from him ý he goes out of himself
> quite literally here, becoming something that no other of his kind has
> been ý save, perhaps, Melian. And so he is able to understand, not just
> know, human love and human grief in a way that no other Istari ever
> shall.
>
> Beautiful story, Juno, and beautifully told. I'd recommend this to any
> Tolkien fan.
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, heartofoshun@... wrote:

>
> Whoops! I just realized that I think I do have a problem. A drabble

series

> of mine has been nominated, that I still am adding to--thought of it

as a

> complete set when it was entered, but realize I have added a chapter

or two since

> then and might add more. Perhaps it should be changed to a WIP.
>
> It's number 388 "It Gives a Lovely Light"
>
> Oshun
>

Hiya, Oshun!

I've discussed this with some of the other volunteers, and I think it
will be best if it stays where it is. I don't like to move stories
around this late in the competition except for WIPs that are
completed, and I think it will just be simpler all around if we leave
it in its current main category. Obviously you can't anticipate
situations like this; I was only saying for people to label their
pieces at WIP if they *expected* to be adding to them, situations like
yours will pop up and there's not much we can do to say "no" to the
muses. :-)

What I can do, if you like, is add a line to your summary saying your
piece is an ongoing serial - that the individual ficlets are finished
but you are still adding parts. Would you like for me to do that?

Marta

In a message dated 10/3/2007 11:45:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
melayton@gmail.com writes:

What I can do, if you like, is add a line to your summary saying your
piece is an ongoing serial - that the individual ficlets are finished
but you are still adding parts. Would you like for me to do that?




That would be so kind! Thank you so much.

Oshun



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title: Reunion · Author: Fawsley · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Drabble · ID: 489
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-14 19:35:33
As one who delights in reading and writing Thorongil recognition
stories, this is wonderful! A gem!

Title: Twice blessed is help unlooked for · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 631
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-14 19:39:24
Imrahil is shocked to find that not only do the black ships coming up
the river disgorge not allies for the enemies of Gondor, but instead
more troops of defenders led by a far too familiar form from his past,
recognizing Thorongil in the form of the Man who leads them.

A wonderful story for those of us who love to see Thorongil reflected
in the form of our favorite Ranger of Eriador and King.

Title: The Slave of the Ring · Author: Linda hoyland · Races: Men · ID:
418
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-14 19:52:05
Boromir is already somewhat resentful of Aragorn taking command after
Gandalf's fall; but when they stop by Nimrodel to tend the Ringbearer
and Sam's wounds he finds a new glimpse of the Ring captures his
attention and imagination. One can certainly see the beginning of the
obsession that in the end will lead him to entreat Frodo to bring the
Ring to his city and then to command him to give it over.

Good use of mood and images, and a nice contrast between Boromir's
feelings and those of Gimli looking a the mithril corslet and Aragorn
ignoring the Ring to attend to Frodo's bruises.

Title: Come Back to Me (Drabble) · Author: Marta · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Drabble · ID: 538
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-14 20:00:28
Some time long after Elessar's reign, apparently, the Ents themselves
are diminishing once more--gone treeish; aging remarkably; being
accidently slain by men in their wars on one another. And Treebeard
decides it is time once again to seek the Entwives.

A nice one with excellent images and thought behind it.

Title: South · Author: Aliana · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or
Rohan · ID: 8
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-15 00:25:58
It's the custom, over at LiveJournal where I first read this achingly
beautiful story, to quote favorite passages from the story in our
comments. In a sense, it's a lazy way to respond; but on the other
hand, it provides quick and rewarding validation to the author that the
words and phrases she labored over with such loving care did, in fact,
resonate with her readers. It's probably a good thing the custom is not
used to great extent here at the MEFA's, else my review would consist
mostly of lines and phrases and oh, single words, because each word
Aliana has chosen is, quite simply, perfect. Can writing be both warm
and cool at the same time? The Meriadoc that Aliana has written here is
not the irrepressible Merry but the mature, thoughtful Meriadoc, and
her Eowyn is not only the loving Princess of Ithilien, but also
Dernhelm, the same companion of the road, the battlefield, who
journeyed with him to the edge of life and back.

The premise of the story itself seems familiar, uncomplicated: years
after the War, Meriadoc dreams of the great horses of Rohan [dreaming
bits of horses, manes and tails, fetlocks and hooves ... dreams of
their hoof beats passing off the edge of something] and travels by
himself to visit his comrade-in-arms Éowyn in Ithilien. Their reunion
is not so much full of recalling old war stories as it is the need for
communion with one who has shared a life-changing experience, the only
one who can really understand *how it was* at Dunharrow, at the
Pelennor.

What I found so heartrending about this story is that it gave me a
glimpse of the future, our future, when men and women who served
side-by-side in war will meet, not to reminisce, but to take comfort in
each other's quiet strength once again. It's really the story of There
and Back Again, for those who were not granted escape across the Sea.

Title: Exploring the Wild · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 30
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-15 00:45:53
EdorasLasss Bitty stories are always overflowing with laughter and
color and pure joy. This delightful excursion had its origins in a
single drabble, now seamlessly incorporated into the story of Boromir
and Faramirs first field trip, a day of introductory skills training
with two Ithilien rangers and a night spent under the stars.

This tale is a bit longer than many of the others, and introduces
several new characters, each of them perfectly realized for their
purpose. The rangers who volunteered to lead and guide the bitties
are both impressed with and amused by their young charges, taking back
with them an appreciation both for the constricted lives of city
children, and an understanding of the youngsters who will grow to
become their commanders and leaders. The young guardsman who sings them
to sleep with a ranger lullaby is boyishly endearing, and a fine foil
for Nanny. Events in the rollicking tale are alternately hilarious and
winsome: the boys wide-eyed disbelief when Nanny reveals the planned
adventure; Boromirs banishment of Nanny from their tent because
["There aren't any girl Rangers, Nanny, and you are a girl, so you
can't play."]; bittyRanger!Faramir refusing to go to sleep without his
beloved stuffed rabbit.

ELs love for, and understanding of, young children shines throughout
with vividness and affection. Its such a treat to read these tales and
see the beginnings of the men our heroes will become.


Title: Chronicles of Blood · Author: Aervir · Times: Mid Third Age:
2851 - 3017 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 390
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-15 00:58:46
A very nice interlude between Faramir and Mithrandir. Faramir is bored
with his studies of dry military history and tactics, and would rather
be reading something livelier, more epic. Aervir has given us a bit
of a different view of Faramir, showing that he can be just as whiney
and petulant as any other schoolboy, a wonderfully realistic dimension
to his character  I don't think we've seen him too much of him at this
gawky, difficult age. It's very telling, too, that he's too tired and
restless to make the connection himself between the dry official
accounts, tallies of supplies and troop movements, and the very
personal tales behind the military actions. I also really like the way
he almost becomes embarrassed when he realizes he's sounding childish
and complaining - certainly it would be painful for him to imagine
himself somehow diminished in Mithrandir's sight. The warmth and
affection of their relationship shines through clearly, a theme I
always enjoy reading.

[These dry chronicles were not written with ink, but... with the blood
of ordinary men.]

Although this tale is short, it is powerful. It's very easy to imagine
Faramir remembering and internalizing those words to share with his own
children, that they might recognize and appreciate the sacrifices made
for them.


Title: Never Lack · Author: Ruby Nye · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: General Drabble · ID: 453
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-15 01:02:24
This drabble is horribly creepy in a creepiness-creeps-up-on-you sort
of way. It's not so ominous in the first reading, but oh, the second,
and the third - it just made me hunch myself up and look over my
shoulder worriedly. I'm frightened for the hobbits who had to bite
their tongues and move very gingerly around this character. If there's
an entry for Creeps of Middle-Earth in the Encyclopedia of Arda, this
guy's picture would be in it, right next to Gothmog The Potato-Headed
Orc and Grima Wormtongue.

All joking aside, probably the most disturbing aspect about this
drabble is that's it's so very plausible. We've seen this in our own
age: persons who consider themselves insulted and abused, either in
actuality or in their imaginations, who somehow manage to find the
opportunities to exact their revenge upon the world. We saw them at Abu
Ghraib and Virginia Tech. It's timeless, and universal. The Dark is
still with us.



Title: Brotherhood · Author: Bodkin · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017
TA · ID: 733
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-15 17:46:12
I've always enjoyed this series of tales, and the exploration of the
developing relationship between Elladan, Elrohir and Estel.

It seems typical of Estel in the last tale to apologise for spoiling
the day. I liked Elladan's comment: 'Adar never let Naneth come back in
until after he had finished the splint. The 'never' speaks volumes for
the amount of practise Elrond has had!

His later comments about watching and loving over and over are
desperately sad. How many chldren like Estel have they watched grow -
and then seen them die like Arathorn?


Jay

Title: To Represent the Elves · Author: Nieriel Raina · Genres: Humor ·
ID: 810
Reviewer: Wimsey · 2007-07-15 22:14:20
This story set during the first part of the Fellowships journey
captures perfectly the spirit of the Hobbit Pippin, and the elf
Legolas. It represents so well the essence of what I think Tolkien
envisioned their personalities to be. I particularly loved how much of
the Legolas from the books was represented in the dialogue and in the
actions that happened during the tale.

Title: Poking The Badger · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres: Humor: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 209
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-16 02:22:43
A delightful story dealing with the consequences, to Merry and Pippin,
of drinking the ent-draughts, when it comes to settling back into Shire
life. Some things will never be the same!

Excellent characterisation and dialogue. The allusions to the past are
very natural, and add to the sense of connection and family.

Title: For the Dwarves, Gimli · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 155
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-16 02:25:14
There's no doubt that Tolkien's works are male-heavy and female-light.
I don't think he was particularly sexist, at least for his time, and he
did create some outstanding female characters. But it's only in
fanfiction that we get to explore, and read, more about the female half
of those lengthy family trees.

Here is one such story, that introduces Nandi, mother of Gimli. She is
seen not as a warrior or craftswoman, but as a mother - fiercely
devoted to her son, and practical, sending him on his way to Imladris
with extra treats and supplies.

An intriguing slice of family life among the Dwarves, as well as a
chapter dealing with the ramifications, in the Fellowship's quest, of
Nandi's generosity to her son.

Very entertaining!

Title: Rohan's Future · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Humor: Gondor or
Rohan · ID: 79
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-16 04:07:21
I am glad that I am not in a position to be thinking of having
children. This speaks precisely to the horrific fantasy of parenthood
that would be guaranteed to make one begin thinking that birth control
is a great and glorious thing and should be employed ruthlessly.

I can quite imagine that between Lothiriel's personality, with its
ruthless logic, and Eomer's enthusiasm and energy, you would end up
with Aelfwine, Eomund, and Hrothgar as offspring: beautifully innocent
little sadists in the Freudian sense  never intending harm, yet
single-mindedly in pursuit of requiring their environment to answer to
their desires and interests, to the disadvantage of anything qualifying
as 'environment.' You can't but love them& from the distance of perhaps
a few miles. From up close, as Uncle Amrothos discovers, maintaining
one's sanity and composure is a constant battle that only the King and
Queen seem capable of managing with anything like serenity.

Rohan's future will most definitely be in smart and eager hands, but as
Eomer notes, the kingdom has to survive the growing pains of its three
young princes, to the point where some active concern for the welfare
of others, rather than a benign neglect, begins to take hold. Of
course, one might argue Amrothos has not entirely learned that lesson 
what on earth was he thinking in deciding that having his nephews build
a siege engine was a good idea?  but then again, temporary insanity is
a plea that would, if it were able to be used, have a lot of mileage in
the royal court of Rohan, I suspect.

In any event, a hysterical story, brilliantly written  well done,
Madeleine! Highly recommended to any Tolkien-lover.

Title: Merry's Wedding · Author: Larner · Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest ·
ID: 84
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-16 04:23:08
Given the opening paragraph, with its premise of Merry marrying Estella
twice, one halfway expects some madcap prank gone wrong or something of
that sort. What the reader gets instead is a glimpse into a very
intense bit of imaginative play by the younger hobbits of Brandy Hall,
inspired by a real wedding that is soon to come. They decide to stage
their own, as realistically as they can, and everyone sets to work to
make it happen, including Merry, drafted as the bridegroom to Estella
who has been talked into playing the part of the bride. With Frodo
dragged in to play the part of Mayor and officiator, the tweens even
get permission from Rorimac to borrow a priceless heirloom that is
traditionally used in weddings.

Some of the adults get wind of it, and even sneak out to watch, but
they respect both the play and its seriousness. Lovely little tale,
Larner!

Title: The Dwarf Dagger · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Drama: The
Shire · ID: 85
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-16 04:49:33
A thoroughly unpleasant tragedy, spurred by the spiteful, arrogant
behavior of one Lalia and tweenish hurt feelings that come of it. It is
the sort of thing that leaves one wondering how this disaster managed
not to be averted  it seems like it so easily could have been. And
yet, fortune doesn't follow logic and angry, upset hobbits don't
either. Bilbo is right  never neglect the courtesies, or at least,
don't trample on them in such a way as to indicate that courtesy itself
is unimportant.

The ending felt a bit rushed, but then again, there is nothing, in a
sense to dwell on  the senselessness of the tragedy is appropriate to
the circumstances and requires no dwelling.

Title: A Useful Skill · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor: Children ·
ID: 46
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:12:22
This is a lovely scene between young Faramir and Denethor, and much
more like what I had always imagined their relationship to be before
war came to Gondor. The child's voice is very strong and rang true to
my minds' ear. Denethor, too, seems very in character with canon (as
little as is directly stated about him). A particularly strong moment
is the one in which Denethor realizes his son is not obsessing over yet
another book; his surprise and confusion, combined with his
canon-assisted reputation for impatience with his younger son, make
that quite an exciting moment for readers who are automatically
cheering for Faramir to be worthy of his father's praise.

Title: Could Will Have Its Way · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men:
Gondor Drabble · ID: 286
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:12:53
A very nice, though dark, piece. The repetition and variation of the
refrain-type line gives this drabble a very musical, or at the least
lyrical, quality. While not truly the ravings of a mad man, there is a
certain desperation implied here that increases toward the end and
accelerates the tone from despairing and lonely to utterly hopeless and
obsessed, as well as a feeling of foreboding and the constant memory of
an old ache woven in between the words. Very nicely done and well worth
the reading, particularly since giving so much in so short a space is a
skill I find difficult.

Title: Perturbation of Fate · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 428
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:13:31
This is a very vivid drabble, a story form I find very hard to do well.
Sound works hard to set the scene and make this vignette come alive,
and while the noises the ocean makes were never directly mentioned,
they are what came to mind as I read and stay with me now as I write.
The melancholy of Maglor's vigil comes through very strongly as well,
grouped as it is with anger and frustration. As I've come to expect
from Rhapsody's writing, this is an excellent characterization of one
of the sons of Feanor and his relationship with the silmaril, handled
delicately with a caring master's touch. No one theme is over used or
underplayed, but all are woven together neatly and securely in a small
space and time.

Title: Seen in the Halls of Dwarrowdelf · Author: Aruthir · Races:
Dwarves · ID: 73
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:15:59
Wow. It even reads dwarf-like: bold, rhythmically, hammering on the
point that pride and vanity always go before a fall, strong. Mature,
but still a little rash in its sorrow. The images I saw as I read it
were very vivid, very colorful, which surprised me considering it's set
very very deep underground. My room nearly echoed with the hammers and
voices of dwarves. An excellent piece.

Title: Youngest Son · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Second Age or
Earlier · ID: 406
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:17:13
Very nice! And a wonderful reminder not to overlook the physique of the
"scrawny" lads either. ;) I think, though, that Earwin's change of
demeanor seems a little sudden. A bit of insight into her thinking
about Finarfin as he deals with her brother's injury and subsequent
mischievousness might ease us into the transition along with her. He's
***WONDERFUL*** with the younger boy, and suddenly as smooth and
charming as his eldest brother or a couple of his nephews once he
relaxes. Funny how that happens in human interactions too. I'd like to
see your Finarfin with Amrod and Amras as boys, perhaps a companion
piece as they are swept up into the quest for the Silmarils? I'm so
glad I clicked that story link. :)

Title: Lord Námo's Yule Gift · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Humor · ID: 335
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:18:15
How wonderfully sweet and funny a story this was! I think this is the
first piece I've seen delve into the realm of Tolkien's afterlife, and
it was an interesting look with a surprising cast of characters. I was
glad to see that, in your Halls of Mandos, rest awaits even the most
troubled of Middle-earth's inhabitants. The characterizations of Merry
and Pippin were spot on to the goofy lads from the book and I was very
impressed with the way their relationship seemed to mesh well with the
immortal inhabitants of the Halls. The descriptions of the rooms were
lovely, but I believe my favorite part was the discussion of Yule and
Yavanna's generosity with decorations. It was, indeed, a lovely gift
for Namo, and an equally lovely one *from* Namo as well. Bravo.

Title: Seeking to Please · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 193
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:18:55
This was quite an interesting character piece in many regards, most
notably of Elrohir, whom I've often read as less than enthusiastic
about his sister's mate. I appreciated that Aragorn/Estel/the
Dunadan/Thorongil/whatever his name is, respected warrior though he
was, never got so arrogant that his mate didn't make him nervous. This
also seems a good prequel to the scene in the films when Arwen arrives
in Gondor. I enjoyed it very much.

Title: Journeys in High Places · Author: Illwynd · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 259
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:19:56
The relationships between these men are very well done, described
vividly with very few words and none of those wasted. Your Denethor
reads much like the one I pictured in my mind, without his madness
corrupting his love for his children. What is/was his reaction to
knowing his children were nearly taken from him by an avalanche? My
other unanswered question is, did they make their goal and finish the
journey in the time they'd decided? It was a very nice "how Boromir
learned it all" situation as background for the canon trip up the
mountain in Fellowship, and a good gap filler for the relationship
between elder and younger son.

Title: City of Trees · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Elves: With Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 641
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:20:22
Very clever. I don't suppose two such formidable elves could live year
after year without quarrels. Luckily they have plenty of time to get
over them as well. A very nice idea, and a very telling character
piece-- in which one character never appears at all!

Title: Dissonance · Author: EdorasLass · Races: Cross-Cultural: Gondor
· ID: 450
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:20:32
I hope it will not seem harsh of me to say that at first glance, I
hesitated to read this story. I've read very few good works of fiction
that use the present tense well. Having finished it now, I will say
that this is not one such. The draw into this story is slow, with just
enough details to pique the curiosity without being too telling.
Surprisingly little of the character is revealed until she encounters
the man behind the door, but the details we are given appeal to all the
senses. I was especially impressed with the excellent use of scents and
odors, which it seems are often overlooked in favor of visual details
even though the sense of smell triggers so many memories. Reading this,
we experience along with the character her meeting with the man behind
the door. We don't just see what happens and observe her reactions; we
feel and smell and see through her perspective. Very excellently done.

Title: Escape · Author: Bodkin · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA ·
ID: 24
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:20:39
Ooh, a Radagast story! The Dunadan grew on me quickly, and I was most
impressed with his ability to win over the elvin captain without ever
humbling himself more than necessary. At several points I laughed aloud
at the dialogue, which flows very naturally. My beta-reader's eye
caught a typo ["I picked up my escort no more thaT a day or two after
parting from Mithrandir and my captain."] and there was a bit of
pronoun over use as the first word in the sentence, but aside from the
latter being a common error of my own, it fits with the speaker voice,
making it an understandable decision.

Title: A Passing Troll · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Humor: The Shire
or Buckland · ID: 210
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:21:38
Oh that's terrible! And yet I laughed, so I suppose it wasn't
unbearably so. I like Sam's solution for the situation (very practical
and straightforward, just like him), and Pippin's boasting falls well
in line with his mischievous nature. The mix of practicality and jest
feels quite Tolkienian. Well done.

Title: Signs · Author: permilea · Races: Hobbits: Children · ID: 384
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:28:51
How darling! There's Frodo's characteristic patience and Pippin's
mischievous nature, and with a healthy dose of humor besides. Frodo, it
seems, is a hobbit with quite an understanding of children, or at least
of that particular child. It's easy to see, with this sort of basis,
how their friendship could continue through their adult lives.

Title: Cophetua · Author: Jael · Genres: Romance · ID: 242
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:34:16
Wow. What a wonderful way to spend an evening! You wrote very strong
women in this piece, not the least of which is Aunt Asa. In spite of
the short amount of time she is before us, her life and choices leave a
lasting impression. Your Thranduil is quite a man in many respects, and
it is easy to see why Sigrid loves him so... twice. Similarly, your
Legolas is very mature and the relationship between the two follows
more closely with my impressions of canon than some other stories I've
read. Also, thank you for the thorough author's notes. I always find
such things very helpful (and I shall remember 'gweth' for the future).
A lovely piece.

Title: Field of Dreams · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama · ID: 374
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:37:31
This piece reminds me, a bit, of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books that I
read and re-read countless times as a child. It is heartrending, the
picture of a manless Gondor you've painted. The character voice is
great and does so much for the story, but I'm afraid the last two
sentences really don't add much to the ending. I think a stronger image
to end on would be, instead of simply restating that her husband is
dead, to fill him into the memories she's seeing, so we as readers will
feel the hole he has left for ourselves, closer to the way she does. It
is always better to see than be told. I teared up as I read, I enjoyed
this so much. Thank you for it.

Title: More Than Just Years · Author: Llinos · Genres: Adventure: Minas
Tirith · ID: 362
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:47:39
How wonderfully sweet! A great look into the relationship between the
wizard and the youngest hobbit, disturbers of the peace both of them.
I've never given much thought to baby hobbits, but Pippin was adorable
and it was heart warming to see Merry, even then, looking after him so
well. I'd have a hard time climbing a 50 foot hay wagon too, the poor
little lad! I find myself wanting to hug all three of them, and even
more so at the end when the faith Pip put in his gift from the wizard
is revealed. A very nice little piece.

Title: Tamer's Tale · Author: juno_magic · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID:
41
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:48:03
And very nicely done wizard romance it is! Aside from a few typos that
my beta's eye caught, this was an effortless read with a distinctive
poetic feel all its own. I am impressed to see a short piece answer the
"how" of Gandalf's humanity so well. Bravo.

Title: Not Fade Away · Author: Jael · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later
Ages · ID: 127
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:49:25
Wow, wow and again I say thee wow! I love your play with names. I love
the puns. I love how the Rivers corporation celebrates the winter
holidays, costumes and all, and I most overwhelmingly adore the cast of
characters and how they've adapted to the times and places in which
they live. You've created such a plausible and happy world that the
elements of Mariposa's life before the job change stand out like dirty,
smelly sore thumbs. I think it helps that I've been to Chicago and,
while I don't know it exceptionally well, memories of the dirty snow
and joggers at the lake were readily available for me to fill in as
moving wall paper for your story. One of the best modern girl meets
elves stories I've ever read. This was a GREAT way to spend an evening!

Title: Crossing towards Sunrise · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 14
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-16 05:50:07
Very very nice. The catalogue of Elrond's losses is, once one sees it
all listed, quite devastating. I appreciate the way, even with all
those sadnesses on his mind, you've let the Hobbits help him smile. His
bitter-sweet reunion with his wife, though, is the master stroke here.
I must confess I thought the narrator to be Cirdan for a while, but
when Shadowfax was mentioned I realized who it must be. A very nice
read. Thank you for it.

Title: Five Things That Never Happened to Theodred and Boromir ·
Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 545
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2007-07-17 23:47:40
One of the greatest delights I've found in fanfiction is how a skilled
writer can take a minor canon character and breath such life into him
that, in retrospect, it's difficult to imagine Tolkien's world without
him. Such is the case with Théodred, son of Théoden: when we first hear
of him in The Two Towers he is already dead; in Unfinished Tales he
did manage to live for three pages. In the films he was robbed of
twenty years of his life even before he died (for he was of an age with
Boromir, not younger and prettier than Éomer and Éowyn). Yet in the
hands of writers like Kortirion, Scribendi, and EdorasLass, Théodred
lives life to the full, with loyal and devoted companions at arms, an
affectionate family, a steadfast lover. Despite the Shadow that, to
some extent, oppresses all of Middle-Earth, Théodred's life is rich and
full of joy.

Well, mostly. In this chilling series, EdorasLass kills Théodred three
times, breaks his heart once, and forces him to live to a ripe old age
before he is able to snatch any happiness at all. (Thank heaven for
small mercies.) In the course of wreaking such havoc she also
instigates war between Gondor and Rohan, slaughtering the leaders and
ruling families of each nation and clearing the way for the triumph of
the Dark Lord. Alternately, she adds a Tenth Walker who must watch with
growing fear the changes in his beloved before dying valorously at his
side.

* Happy sigh * Of course it's all angsty, and heartbreaking, and
relentlessly wibble-inducing. But it's also a marvelously satisfying
read, especially to those who know that this AU is AU to her standard
AU, where Boromir and Théodred and Théodred's children and Théodred's
cat all live in blissful ignorance of the future that canon holds for
them.


Title: God of Wrath · Author: Katzilla · Genres: Drama · ID: 369
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-18 05:31:17
Wow! This is remarkably close to being a romance from a writer who says
she cannot write such things. Yet it isn't the usual "boy meets girl"
scenario. As always, Katzilla's images are stunning; vivid, graphic and
dark but not overly worked or handled with kid gloves. She is certainly
never afraid to delve into the darkest parts of human minds and hearts,
or the depths of cruelty the forces of the Enemy could conjure! Eomer
here seems to me a very good mix of the film's brash, angry young man
and the mature, responsible warrior of the books. The narrator, too, is
a warrior in her own way, soldiering on through the trials of daily
life after horrible loss-- and horrendous torture-- and that warrior's
spirit seems to be what binds the two, even if it's for only a short
time. The conflict between the two, the universal argument of ending
conflict once and for all versus being a compassionate victor, is very
well balanced within the narrative, and in history as well. The
problems that plague Katzilla's characters are not those of a specific
story or fandom; they are as real for us as they are to her characters,
making each work of fiction seem far more realistic than many would
dare hope.

Title: My Treasure · Author: Armariel · Genres: Poetry: With Hobbits ·
ID: 332
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-18 15:13:33
Of all the writers of poetry focused on the times and characters of the
World of Arda, Armariel is the one who almost always evokes the
greatest emotional response in me. This poem, looking forward to the
coming of Samwise Gamgee-Gardner to Tol Eressea, is one I find
especially moving, and the imagery evoked by the word choice is
exceedingly powerful. This isn't just an incipid arrival anticipated,
but one that has the two of them foreseeing the type of greeting that
one expects when new worlds are born. It will be a collision of joys
enough to light the skies of the Undying Lands with the delights of
renewal both shall know as they come together once more. Images are
powerful, words dripping with anticipation and eagerness.

I am proud to nominate this free-verse poem for the perusal of all
others.

Title: The Three Hunters · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure ·
ID: 333
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-18 15:55:42
In this story we don't see much directly of the familiar Hobbits of
which Dreamflower usually writes, but more the thoughts and memories of
Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas as they follow the trail left by the Uruks
who captured them at Amon Hen and carried them across Rohan to the
eaves of Fangorn Forest. As each remembers incidents in which the
abilities, charm, and determination of Merry and Pippin to do all that
could be done for Frodo's sake were best displayed to them before they
set out from Rivendell, each of the three hunters binds himself to the
search for these two young cousins, finding the alternative
unthinkable. Then at Isengard they meet with the quarry and all seems
so very hobbity--food, drink, shelter, and means for comfort
found--save these have clearly been driven, beaten, and savaged--as
well as having grown both physically and emotionally as a result of
their experiences.

A wonderful story to illustrate just how special was the creation of
Hobbits....

Title: Ours · Author: Queen Galadriel · Races: Hobbits · ID: 334
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-18 16:11:10
All Hobbits appear to have a magnetism to them, drawing those of good
will to champion them and seek out all that can be done for them; but
this capacity is especially strong in the person of Frodo Baggins. In
spite of (or perhaps because of) his apparent fragility Frodo draws to
himself the love and protective instincts of those who come under his
spell. In this story we see Sam accepting Bilbo's inclusion of himself
as one of those who sees Frodo as "ours," then another vignette in
Gondor where Sam recognizes Aragorn has come to love the younger
Baggins as deeply as himself, and so Sam is willing to accept that
Frodo is "ours" as much as far as Lord Strider is involved as is true
for himself. Then in the final thoughts, the "ours" shifts to Merry,
Pippin, and himself hoping that this leaving of Middle Earth grants the
healing their Frodo so clearly needs.

Queen Galadriel is a young writer who has yet managed to find her feet
in her writing; and in this story she has managed to clearly and
convincingly communicate the love these all feel for Frodo and share it
with the rest who have come to the conviction that Frodo is equally
"ours."

Title: Lord Námo's Yule Gift · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Humor · ID: 335
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-18 16:44:51
When Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took arrive in the Halls of
Mandos just before Yule of the year 70 of the Fourth Age, it appears
that the ancient edifice will suffer greatly at the event. After all,
who else would enter those hallowed halls to set the souls of the
departed mortals among whom they find themselves wishing after Yule
decorations and perhaps setting off a minor revolt? When the rest of
the Valar look on this advent with amusement and seek to give the two
Hobbits what they wish Namo finds it both amusing and embarrassing as
he finds ropes of balsam and wreaths of candles shining everywhere and
himself under the mistletoe....

But when our irrepressible two seek to make certain that Namo himself
isn't alone at Yule they find he is willing to allow them to join his
own Yule plans as he sits by the sleeping Turgon, who is nearly ready
to know the Judgement that is his by rights. And all learn more of the
nature of ineffible joy and delight.

Fiondil's ability to portray so many characters, including the Valar
themselves, so beautifully, with humor and love, make his stories ever
a joy to read, and this one a true delight.

Title: Yours to command · Author: Lialathuveril · Genres: Romance: With
Rohirrim · ID: 129
Reviewer: Cuthalion · 2007-07-19 19:29:45
"Yours to command" by Lialathuveril is her third big Éomer/
Lothiriel-saga so far. The first one, "Of Falcons and Mûmakil", set the
theme the author feels dedicated to ever since, and "Yours to command"
is the most surprising variation so far. When Èomer of Rohan ponders
the thought where he should search for a suitable wife and queen, he
remembers Prince Imrahil and the fact that his noble battle companion
has a daughter. Perhaps she might be the right choice... but when he
makes the first, careful steps in this particular direction, people
seem to be rather uncomfortable with the mere idea. And when the young
Rohan King finally gets to know the Princess, he suddenly understands
why... for Lothiriel is blind.

I doubted for a while if I should really give away the special twist of
this tale, but Lothiriel's very unique perspective of a woman who has
to rely on her ears, her fingertips and her sense of smell to find her
way through a dark world is one of the aspects that make this story so
special and thrilling. Since the accident that took her sight away her
father is overly protective, and Éomer is like a fresh, unexpected wind
in a universe that keeps her firmly in place, an obedient daughter, a
noble woman constantly in need of a helping hand. Their love story is
delightfully told, full of humor, sizzling passion and wonderful
characterization. Lothiriel is strong, clever, courageous and utterly
believable, and Éomer is the hero every woman with a heart dreams of.
There is even a villain thirsting for revenge, and the reader spends a
lot of time biting fingernails and sitting on the edge of the chair
while a dangerous conspiracy unfolds. I guess I don't give too much
away if I reveal that in the end the lucky Rohan King actually gets his
girl... for "Yours to Command" is firmly rooted in canon, giving
delightful, strong-colored glimpses of rohirric life and Dol Amroth
nobility. completely with ballads, poems and a hysterically funny
"bride manual" for noble women by a certain Belector - the quotes from
that gloriously uptight and prude tome alone give the reader a good
snicker every time they appear.

If you love Éomer (and Lothiriel) and really good romances, this is the
choice for you.





Title: Moira · Author: illyria-pffyffin · Races: Hobbits · ID: 676
Reviewer: Cuthalion · 2007-07-19 19:33:08
I have followed Illyria's writing for years, and she included the
thoughts and plans of the Valar once before, in her amazing story
"Divinity". Here she takes even a step further, and she describes the
creation of elves and men in wonderful, shining images, like this one:

[I am reminded of the red tinge in the eastern sky as I watched my Lord
kindle the light in the spirits of Men, a finite incandescence so
bright it nearly blinded me. Wake up, my children, my Lord had spoken,
to the sound of a deep, solemn chord that somehow trembled with
restlessness, an undertone of cries of glory, paid full in blood, and
laments of great loss, fierce with pride. Wake up, my Lord had said,
your time is brief, while the new song suffused the bones of the earth,
humming in the rivers, taking root.]

This time the Vala telling this astonishing tale watches the making of
an entirely different kind - not the Firstborn, not the race of Men or
dawarves (though each of them has its own, shining appearance in this
story) but the coming of... hobbits:

[They are hidden, my Lord, from the eyes of the enemy, because they
neither rise up against him nor do they have aught that he might wish
for himself, power and knowledge and craft. It is in their weakness
their strength lies.]

As a great hobbit fancier I was (of course!) delighted to find here
what both the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings refused to tell:
how did the halflings come into being, what made Ilùvatar create them
in the first place? Of course this is fanfiction, of course this is a
tale from Illyria's imagination only, but I can't help thinking that
even the Professor would have approved of what she does here - finding
the words to sing of Eru's plans for the Little People, of their
rustic, earthy way to celebrate life and to enjoy what they have been
given. The author has written many beautiful tales, but this is perhaps
the best and most "tolkienesque" tale she ever told.

Title: No Escape · Author: Aranel Took · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 324
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-19 19:51:43
This is a vivid and poignant snapshot of the brave Dwarves on the edge
of doom, about to fall to the orcs and Balrog in Khazad-dum. The
tension is palpable, as is the unnamed dwarf-woman's grim resolve.

Title: A Time to Reap · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Adventure:
Incomplete · ID: 415
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-20 07:23:49
In the story previous to this one, Aragorn was kidnapped and tortured
by disgruntled lords who thought they desired to return to the
government under the line of Stewards, and to rescue him Faramir was
forced to pretend to be one of the rebels, even to the point of
branding his beloved King on the shoulder to convince the rest that he
was indeed part of their plans. Now King and Steward need to undergo
reconciliation and to let go the fear and anger and guilt each bears in
his heart of hearts. The Queen and Princess Eowyn are able to convince
the two of them to leave the city for a time to find peace in the
countryside about the White Mountains and the farms at their bases.

An excellent depiction of how guilt and fear can override our good
sense, and the psychological aspects of seeking healing for these
maladies of the spirit.

Since Linda and Raksha began their partnership, LindaHoyland's writing
has markedly improved, becoming more intense and powerful; and her
choice of quotations to open each chapter is inspired.

Title: To Light the Way · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: With Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 12
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 18:12:25
I really like the teasing between the twins. Moments like this say so
much about their closeness: I have been foolish, brother, Elladan
said once they were alone.

Elrohir grinned at him. I can well believe it.

Elladan slapped him lightly. Try not to discourage me from my moment
of self-discovery, please, Elrohir. Those moments are few enough.
I like the differences between them too - Elladan is so much more
impatient than Elrohir. You can feel his tension and exasperation with
the wood-elves, and their apparent obliviousness to the encroaching
shadow.

Thranduil is right, though - he can do no more at this time than to
offer hope, but it is so vital. If his people despair, they will never
win the battle. I liked the twins' realisation of this at the end.

This line made me laugh out loud: 'Elrohir spat his mouthful of cider
back into his cup as discreetly as possible. Choking could be an
ill-advised move.' Poor Elrohir - there is nothing worse than suddenly
laughing in the middle of drinking something!!



Title: Journey Home · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: With Mirkwood Elves ·
ID: 102
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 18:15:26
Nendir is a wonderful OC! He seems so young and vulnerable at first,
but his injury makes him realise the comradship of an elven patrol.

Legolas is wonderful as the patrol's captain, and I like the simple
expression of his worries about his father. Thranduil ... Thranduil is
just marvellous. Such a short walk-on part, but he steals the show! The
way his presence fills the chamber despite his humble dress, and his
gratitude for Nendir's words about Legolas.

A lovely story, Dot - I'd like to see more of Nendir!



Title: The man in the woods · Author: Dot · Races: Men: Eriador or
Rivendell · ID: 13
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 18:17:17
This is lovely, Dot. The small, incidental details you've included are
great - the little girl tucking the frayed end of her skirt into her
knickers; the children climbing over the fence the neighbour had put up
to stop his goat eating the washing. These tiny snippets add so much
life and colour to the story!

Little Falathren is so brave as she sits beside the dead warrior to
keep him company, but I feel sorry for her as they return to the
village - she sees that her job will always be to sit and wait, while
others do the great deeds. She could be a great warrior and Ranger too!


Title: Youngest Son · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Second Age or
Earlier · ID: 406
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 18:52:29
I really liked this story, and I rarely read anything much to do with
the Silmarillion!

The opening scenes on the seashore were beautiful - I loved your
descriptions here. Drowning elflings seem to be a very good way of
bringing hesitant couples together!!

Title: Escape · Author: Bodkin · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA ·
ID: 24
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 18:58:50
You have some wonderful characters here, even though they're unnamed.
The man - Isildur's heir, since he hails from Imladris and knows
Elrond's sons so well; but he's not Aragorn or Halbarad. The elf
captain - wonderful leadership, and I like the interaction with his
patrol. And his brother receives the reports? There's the guardian as
well.

Wonderful characterisations, Bodkin. I love this tale.

Title: And We Will Travel North · Author: bewize · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 39
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 19:05:31
I really like this, especially anything with the twins and Estel :>)

Love the last line: 'becoming for a short time that which we are not:
Men of the North.' I've always liked the image of Elladan and Elrohir
with the rangers, especially the idea that they only joined them to
support Aragorn.

Hi Oshun,

It's done. Let me know if anything needs correcting.

Marta

heartofoshun@aol.com wrote:

>
>
>
> In a message dated 10/3/2007 11:45:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> melayton@gmail.com <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com> writes:
>
> What I can do, if you like, is add a line to your summary saying your
> piece is an ongoing serial - that the individual ficlets are finished
> but you are still adding parts. Would you like for me to do that?
>
> That would be so kind! Thank you so much.
>
> Oshun
>

Thank you so much.



Oshun


-----Original Message-----
From: Marta Layton <melayton@gmail.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 4:23 pm
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: Question? Re-writing.







Hi Oshun,

It's done. Let me know if anything needs correcting.

Marta

heartofoshun@aol.com wrote:

>
>
>
> In a message dated 10/3/2007 11:45:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> melayton@gmail.com <mailto:melayton%40gmail.com> writes:
>
> What I can do, if you like, is add a line to your summary saying your
> piece is an ongoing serial - that the individual ficlets are finished
> but you are still adding parts. Would you like for me to do that?
>
> That would be so kind! Thank you so much.
>
> Oshun
>

________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Title: Beneath a Gibbous Moon · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 4
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 20:23:35
Wow - this was brilliant, Bodkin - perhaps your best yet. I'd come to
the conclusion that it *couldn't* be Legolas and Aragorn, or you
wouldn't have been so vague - but I never guessed Thranduil and
Isildur. That gives the story a whole new layer of sadness for them
both, because we know what happens. Very, very well done.


A tomorrow built on Hope as well.

Poor Aragorn is so despondent - knowing there is such a very slim
chance of any of them surviving, and knowing that he brought them all
here. He's right, it takes a special kind of courage to face almost
certain death against such odds.

Legolas is very elvish here - so calm and accepting, at peace with
whatever will happen despite his regrets and might-have beens. It would
be good to have someone like that at your side, I think.

Title: Great Oaks · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance · ID: 319
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 20:38:06
I love it when other people have birthdays! There is such a rush of
wonderful stories for us all to enjoy.

I simply loved Thranduil here. He seems so very elfy - yet quite
different to the Silvan elves. I like the way they simply up sticks and
move, without leaving a trace behind.

Love at first sight - that seems very elfy too. The moment Thranduil
saw the face among the leaves, I knew who she was, and that he was
lost.

The ending was great. I loved Faroth's astonishment when this totally
unknown elleth appears, and Thranduil immediately asks her to marry
him!


Title: Day and Night · Author: Peredhil lover · Genres: Drama: Youth ·
ID: 190
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 20:43:22
Poor Elrohir. His desperate determination to reach his brothers is
driving aside all his own exhaustion and pain - no wonder Glorfindel is
so concerned. I'm not surprised that Elrohir ignored him though, and
I'm glad Glorfindel saw the sense in a compromise. Trying to reason
with either of the twins at a time like this seems a *very* wasted
effort!

I loved the final scene with E3 all sleeping peacefully. Very nice, and
very sweet.

Title: Fell and Fair · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 526
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 20:50:33
This is wonderful! I love the idea of a series of drabbles from
different POVs before, during, and after the battle. You chose such
unusual characters, too - the widow, the wolf, and the warg for
instance, which make this so interesting.

Most of all I love the legend of the Grey Ghostriders sweeping to the
rescue before riding off again. A pity they weren't there for Eomund.

***

["She is our grandmother."]

*Grin*

I wish I could have seen Eorl's face at that!

I love this collection of drabbles - and the subject matter. I really
liked the twins' appearance described from the horse's POV.

Thank you for this wonderful update! There are two parts I particularly
love - Galadriel's musings on the fate of the males in her family,
destined to be warriors; and Elrohir's thoughts as they cross the
Anduin that all their training was focused on that moment. It's a
chilling thought.

I love the lembas blessing too - the qualities and strengths it confers
seem to sum up the twins so well!


Title: Lighting Fires · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Adventure: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 95
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-07-20 22:42:17
I felt very sorry for Estel here - he tried so hard and didn't give up,
but he still couldn't solve the problem. He should have asked Elrohir
to start with - his brother was injured, but not unconscious; and he
has far greater experience.

Estel is learning some harsh lessons - like the one about leaving
injured companions till last to ensure the message gets through. Mind
you, I can't see either of the twins abandoning the other in these
circumstances!

Elrohir was too hard on Estel. Yes, it was an important lesson he had
to learn, but he's only 11! It was funny when Estel began to argue the
point Elrohir had been making though :)

This has been a lovely tale. I like anything with the twins, but this
one with just Elrohir and Estel was a refreshing change.

Title: A Queen Among Farmers' Wives · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Humor:
Drabble · ID: 635
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-21 19:00:38
A very jolly drabble about Farmer Maggot's cheerful return from a night
of pleasant inebriation with Tom Bombadil and Mrs. Maggot's initially
less than cheerful greeting. [Ring a dong dillo!] indeed!

Quite well written and down-to-earth - I could easily see it happening
in Tolkien's Middle-earth.



Title: Stricken From the Book · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: The
Shire · ID: 348
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:13:43
I love Larner's hobbits  they are so solid and real, and occasionally,
grumpy, as Benlo Bracegirdle is! Benlo Bracegirdle, who seems to be a
rather sour, not terribly pleasant or congenial fellow, for all he
appears to be staunchly honest and scrupulous, is tasked with the
equally unpleasant job of overseeing the legal business left behind by
the demise of Lobelia and her son Lotho. It is quite the mess! Lobelia,
trying to right a few wrongs, has left, as we know from the books, all
her assets to be used to help the hobbits made homeless and harmed by
the Occupation. This leads to all sorts of funny legal business, with
some trying to claim redress for things that never happened, and all
manner of shady Sackville-Baggins dealings that have now to be
addressed by the survivors and the struggling acting-Mayor, Frodo.

The striking out of names from the family book is less central, in many
ways, than the Benlo-Frodo relationship, although it is, ironically,
Benlo who might well have put the idea in Frodo's head. Broken families
and broken spirits sometimes try to cast out parts of themselves in an
effort to escape the trauma.

Benlo and Frodo aren't friendly  but as the story goes on, and the
toll of the Ring on Frodo's spirit becomes more and more evident, Benlo
begins to warm to him. We see, through his eyes, and his shock as he
begins to learn, little by little, just what Frodo and Sam and the
others actually did in the last few years, resonates painfully with the
line in RoTK, where Sam laments to himself that no one seems to know
Frodo's story, or to appreciate him as he deserves. A few loyal
lieutenants do  Isumbard and Berilac, Rose and a few others  but
Benlo (and many like him) have not the faintest notion. As Benlo
becomes acquainted with what Frodo has endured, he becomes, quietly,
one of his supporters, if from a distance.

A satisfying story, Larner!


Title: Requesting Mercy · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 681
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:14:07
When Frodo woke up at Rivendell, and heard what Gandalf had to tell him
about the effects of a Morgul-blade, he was extremely grateful that at
the time, he had not known what he faced.

Larner, however, gives Frodo the knowledge, gleaned from Aragorn's
hesitant, reluctant (and highly edited) explanation of what
Morgul-blades do to their victims, and how he knows of their effects.
Poor Frodo, on top of facing a strangely colorless world, save for the
differently colored auras his friends are beginning to show, and severe
pain, cold, and lassitude, now has to deal with the ultimate choice:
should his struggle against the Morgul-blade fragment take a definitive
turn for the worse, will he become a wraith or will he ask for mercy
and a quick death? And if the latter, who should be entrusted with the
task?

While I'm not quite sure I buy Frodo's reasoning for excluding Aragorn,
who has, after all, done this before for other mortally-stricken
comrades, the interesting debate is the choice between Sam and Merry.
We also find that Frodo can and does have a will of his own, and one
that he will successfully oppose to even future kings  he has a
ruthless side, in the way he gets Sam to agree to take responsibility
for ensuring Frodo never becomes a wraith and that Aragorn isn't
required to step in.


Title: If You Should Die Before I Wake · Author: PipMer · Genres:
Drama: With Merry · ID: 277
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:14:40
The Fields of Cormallen, post-Black Gate and pre-celebration, seem to
be a popular story locale for those who like stories about the hobbits.
PipMer shows us Merry's journey to Cormallen and anxious waiting by
Pippin's bedside. I liked the way Gandalf's voice was used early in a
letter to set up the situation, and the notion that the Black Breath
lingers, even after the downfall of Sauron, is intriguing. Poor Merry,
for a little while absolutely certain Pippin had died because unable to
distinguish dream from reality!

Title: Mushrooms · Author: claudia6032000 · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 561
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:15:09
This is one of those misadventures that could all too easily have
occurred, and it is a credit to Claudia's descriptive skill that I felt
vaguely ill myself after reading this, and then went hunting for
information on mushrooms. The fruit of this research has been a firm
resolve never to eat any mushroom that was not grown in a mushroom
farm, for they seem entirely too likely to be poisonous!

I do wonder what poor Frodo ended up eating, though. Given the symptoms
and the time delay, I have to wonder whether he shouldn't have needed
some sort of organ transplant before the end of it! Ugh! The failure to
warn against picking foreign mushrooms, however familiar they may seem,
is one of those little things that slip the mind, to everyone's regret
 I am sure it is an episode our heroes will not forget for some time!


Title: Where There's Life, There's Hope (and in need of vittles) ·
Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 463
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:15:38
I think this will resonate more if one knows annmarwalk's Mag the Cook,
but even for those who do not, there's something primordially joyful
about the idea that after such an ordeal as Aragorn and Minas Tirith
have endured, the scent of a cook's ordinary activity should bring hope
and relief. In all the chaos and horror after battle, when one is most
exhausted and disoriented, the idea that somewhere, someone is carrying
out the ordinary task of cooking a meal can be a sign of the endurance
of the human spirit.

Title: Answers and Questions · Author: Peredhil lover · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 189
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:16:12
The Elladan-Elrohir influence on young Estel's life is often the
subject of fanfiction, either tangentially or directly. Usually, I have
seen the twins acting together, in accord with each other on how to
care for and train their mortal adoptive brother. Peredhil Lover
presents a twist on that, giving Elladan and Elrohir distinctly
different approaches to Estel  so different, Estel can't recognize
Elladan's reaction as remotely stemming from love.

Elrohir's explanation, coming at a pivotal moment for a young man of
Aragorn's lineage and station, seems to blend with a general
coming-of-age, where responsibility and knowledge are both taken up in
a way for the first time.


Title: Blessed by Ilúvatar · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Drama: Elves
in Later Ages · ID: 485
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:16:40
White Wolf shows us the labor and loss of the Elves of Mirkwood,
toiling against the Shadow and losing their sons to its malice. Even
the royal family is not immune, as we begin the story at the funeral of
one of Thranduil's sons.

What we discover from this, and from the long, hard watches, and the
many other funerals that must be attended, is that Legolas is the
result of Thranduil's wife's desire for a new child. Not to replace the
lost brother, but there is a sense in which it is Narilal's death that
prompts that desire and gives the royal couple the will to act upon it.


Title: Stone of the King · Author: Rowan · Races: Hobbits: Drabble ·
ID: 309
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:17:06
An excellent moment in Frodo's development. Rowan gives a plausible
voice to the Ringbearer, as he begins truly to appreciate just how
heavy the burden of the Ring can be. One wonders what Frodo must have
thought of Isildur, and as he passes the Argonath, Rowan takes the
opportunity to show us, and to show us Frodo's essential compassion.
Feeling the weight of the Ring and its treacherous ways of worming into
the hearts of its bearers, he cannot find it in him to condemn Isildur,
despite all that has come from Isildur's failure to destroy the Ring.
Perhaps only another Ringbearer can have so visceral an identification
with Elendil's doomed son and accept just how little choice the Ring
leaves its bearers.

Title: Erestor and Estel: Hidden · Author: Pentangle · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 167
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:17:31
A cute little vignette, featuring a confrontation between and young and
active Estel and a serious scribe of Imladris. Nice banter between the
two, and despite Erestor's frustrations with Estel, we note that he
seems to know exactly how to handle him, suggesting that he has spent
more time with Estel than one would expect, given his rather forbidding
demeanor. Even other Elves are not quite so wise to Erestor's ways as
one young boy, apparently. But in some sense, that doesn't matter: the
important point is that Estel knows Erestor well enough to befriend
him.

Title: Divided · Author: Pen52 · Genres: Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 223
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:18:38
Pen52 takes up the difficult topic of prejudice, division, and
forgiveness, using Pippin, Aragorn, and Boromir to good effect in this
interlude within the Mines of Moria.

It begins innocently enough with Pippin's enthusiastic (and
never-ending, it seems, harking back to Gandalf' comment in TTT)
questions to Boromir about the Swertings, aka the Southrons and
Haradrim, as Aragorn is forced to explain when it seems that Boromir
initially does not recognize the name. Pippin, of course, is simply
curious  wanting to know who they are, whether Boromir has ever
encountered any of them, how they dress, what they look like, how they
talk. Boromir is quite clearly taken aback, and one begins to wonder
whether his initial failure to respond to Pippin did not have more to
do with his consternation that light-hearted Pippin should have any
interest in the Haradrim than with any failure to understand the
reference.

This episode serves to highlight the fact that Men, unlike hobbits (so
far as Pippin and the others are aware), face the Enemy divided, with
some bowing to Sauron and others refusing him. Nor is this the only
division among Mankind, for where Aragorn refuses a wholesale
condemnation of the Haradrim, pitying the many who are moved by fear
rather than love of their master, and by fear of Gondor, rather than
anything else, Boromir cannot see beyond their service to the Dark
Lord. Whatever their motives, those motives cannot excuse their
opposition in Boromir's eyes, nor cover over Gondor's dead.

Had Boromir lived to be Aragorn's steward, one wonders what would have
become of this division between them over the Haradrim. It seems clear
from the way Pen52 ends the story that a cure and rapprochement would
have been hard to come by: there is something about killing your own
kind that wounds the killer, as Aragorn intimates. There is something
lethal in the very divisiveness of war between Men that makes every war
a civil war that cannot but profoundly wound even the victors.

An interesting and thoughtful story!


Title: A Mother's Wish · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 429
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:19:06
Maglor is such a tragic figure in many ways  the only brother whose
fate remains unknown in the end, and so he is the subject of many a
tale that tries to write an ending for him. Rhapsody shows his story
from a different angle: from the perspective of a Mother still grieving
her child, yearning for him, who finally responds to his song. One
hopes something comes of her answering to his singing, some
reconciliation and reunion.

Title: The Gaze of the Lady Galadriel · Author: Aprilkat · Genres:
Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 600
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:19:36
This ficlet is a snapshot of a moment, more a mood piece than a fully
articulated moment. One feels its incompleteness and the anxiety of its
ending. What it is that the Lady Galadriel showed to each member of the
Fellowship remains, for the most part, a matter of pure guesswork, with
only a few characters even giving hints of what they might have been
shown. Boromir's sense that they are being tested or tempted is here
borne out by Frodo's testimony, careful though Frodo is to leave silent
what specifically he was offered.

Aragorn's troubled silence, as he and Frodo sit together in Lorien, is
enigmatic, and leaves the reader wondering as to his thoughts, or what
he saw. Brief, but intriguing.


Title: Last Light · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Drama · ID: 194
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:20:06
This is a fantastic evocation of Orthanc, written believably from the
perspective of one of the trees of Fangorn Forest. The picture at the
beginning makes for a moving and compelling image of a tree in its
anguish  helpless before 'the quick ones', whom we realize after a
time are human beings and orcs. The tree (a Huorn, perhaps?) is
anything but quick  it is, however, all too aware of its helplessness
and the slow sense of doom building and marching upon it is very well
portrayed.

The tree, the last of its stand, remains alone amidst the ruin of its
kind, overlooking Orthanc, spared only because it chanced to be the
favorite perch of Saruman's spybirds, the crébain whom we later see
flocking over Eregion. The tree hears their news, enduring the
sharpness of their claws that seem to sap the life out of it quite
literally in a way.

There can be something tragic about trees, and about the natural world
when faced with the relentless march of inventive human beings and
wizards who use them for their own ends. Here, these ends are wicked,
and the tree seems to suffer from that knowledge. Orthanc here assumes
a menacing mien that it did not have previously  for it is one thing
to read Treebeard's reaction, and another to glimpse the power of
Orthanc from the perspective of one of its immediate victims  one of
the ones who will not survive to tell the story.

Well done, Ignoble Bard!


Title: In the Hours of Joy · Author: Spindle Berry · Genres: Drama:
With Merry · ID: 289
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 15:49:16
Ive noted before that the period between wounding and Pippins (and
the other hobbits) waking at Cormallen seem to be fertile fields for
writers. Usually, the perspective is that of Merry, occasionally of
Aragorn, and even more occasionally, other Fellowship members. Spindle
Berry takes us through this period of anxious waiting and uncertainty
from Gimlis perspective. Gimlis love of the hobbits, and his anger at
their condition, the sense that this is utterly undeserved  a
desecration  finds expression in a few different ways. His anger
towards Gandalf, whom he silently accuses of failing to value the
hobbits enough to leave them safely behind, for example.

But he also finds himself waiting and watching Merry, as Merry keeps
his seemingly interminable vigil over Pippin. It is almost as if
Gimlis own friendship for Pippin and concern are displaced onto Merry,
as if he must watch Merry only because Merrys unique friendship with
Pippin must not be violated  as if Gimlis own grief for Pippin should
not intrude, and so instead it fixes on the effects of Pippins
wounding on Merry. At least, this is the sense that I get.

Legolass brief and more or less quiet appearance is well-played, as is
the moment when Pippin wakes. Then only does the title lose its ironic
quality, as Elf and Dwarf, assured now that Merry and Pippin will be
well, experience their own catharsis and a rebirth of interest in each
others unique perceptions of the world.

Nicely done!


Title: The Undiscovered Country · Author: Wimsey · Genres: Drama: Elves
in Later Ages · ID: 715
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-07-23 16:10:47
Wimsey takes a look at the difficult ending of Arwens and Aragorns
marriage. This is one of the most painful parts, in my opinion, of that
story, and the enigma of Arwen at the end is one that has attracted
many fanfic writers to attempt to fill in what she was going through.
Wimsey uses the classical stages of grief in an attempt to portray
Arwens frame of mind, as she goes through the sense of unreality and
isolation that intense mourning brings.

I think I liked best that when she meets with her grandfather and
brothers, at the edge of Lothlorien, she does not have to convince
them. They are able to allow her to go with dignity and with grace,
which suggests their own process of mourning differs from hers.
Bittersweet in the end, as one might hope, and well-written.


Title: Leaf Subsides to Leaf · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Drama:
Elves in Later Ages · ID: 105
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 06:50:02
Sad and beautiful vignette about the last meeting between Thranduil and
Legolas, as Legolas prepares to leave Middle-earth forever. I find it
very reasonable that Thranduil refuses to leave his home, and equally
reasonable that Legolas refuses to stay in the changed world where he
was born. The prose is simple and elegant, befitting the starkness of
the moment of eternal farewell between a loving father and his son.

Title: Green · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 461
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 07:31:21
Lovely, evocative account of Faramir's awakening to hope...I continue
to stand in awe of Annmarwalk's vocabulary; her ability to bring forth
physical sensations so vividly in short pieces like this.

And the last line is utterly gorgeous.



Title: Love Story · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 273
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 07:32:35
Cute ficlet that presents a most unusual version of the classic tale of
Beren and Luthien. I love the way that the most beautiful, high-Elven
episode of the Silmarillion has been transmuted into a legend, and now
a play, for a different race. It shows the power of both stories and
storytelling.

Innovative and amusing!

Title: Don't Be Deceived · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 351
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 07:33:11
A wonderful double-drabble chronicling an encounter that if it did not
actually happen in Tolkien's world, should have.

Imhiriel takes skillful advantage of the similarity between
descriptions of Bard of Esgaroth and Strider, in this story of an
encounter of Gandalf and a young friend with an enigmatic dark-haired
grey-eyed Man.

The identity of Gandalf's hungry, whining companion, juxtaposed with
the mysterious attitude of the man they encounter, strikes me as quite
funny as well as ironic. Well done!

Title: Fissures · Author: Thundera Tiger · Races: Dwarves · ID: 804
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:19:24

We do not hear too much, in LOTR and its Appendices, about what Gimli's
people thought of his becoming an Elf-Friend. Thundera Tiger addresses
the problems and possibilities that the changes in Gimli can cause,
through a Dwarf OMC who is unsettled by Gimli's new appreciation for
other cultures and races.

Well-written and credible. Gimli is characterised as both something of
an opportunist and a future statesman desirous of maintaining fragile
alliances.

Title: Matriarch · Author: Aervir · Races: Men: General Drabble · ID:
449
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:20:37
A vivid snapshot of a formidable woman - Morwen Steelsheen - as seen
through the eyes of the child Eowyn.

I adore the phrase [her voice being the sound of horns on the wind];
not only does it fit the profile of the woman called Steelsheen, but it
ties in with the stirring moment of the Rohirrim's arrival at the
Pelennor in 3019; a fitting literary leitmotif as it were.

And the last line is terrific!

Title: The Turn of the Tide · Author: Altariel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 72
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:21:52
A truly stellar AU that left me screaming for more.

The story is short and ostensibly simple; in this Alternate Universe,
Faramir went to Rivendell while Boromir took his place in Ithilien; and
Faramir met Eowyn on his way, and they fell in love and spoke vows.
Now, Boromir, having allowed Faramir and Frodo and Gollum to procede
from Ithilien to Mordor, prepares to accompany Aragorn's host to the
Black Gate; and Eowyn and Denethor stay in the City, waiting for the
people they love to return or die.

The moods are sketched subtly, with elegance and perception. There's a
curious sympathy between Denethor and Eowyn; it is lovely to see him be
the one to give her the starry mantle. And it's fascinating to see an
Eowyn who has never thought herself in love with Aragorn, whose heart
is fixed on Faramir.

The language is occasionally Tolkienish; at least in beauty of
expresson - the bit about the world seeming to exhale is awfully pretty
and perfect for that point in the story.

And I love the last paragraphs, particularly Eowyn's triumphant mention
of Denethor's sons returning after great deeds!

Title: Conjuror · Author: Branwyn · Races: Men: General Drabble · ID:
432
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:24:10
This drabble is a fascinating study in power, opening questions as to
who wields power, and how power should be wielded. The dialogue between
Denethor and Mithrandir is beautifully written, and could come straight
from LOTR. Denethor's need, and desire to dare things that are beyond
his ken for the sake of his people, are succintly brought into the
piece, in vivid contrast to Mithrandir's more avuncular (and to some
degree, patronizing) approach to the disposition of supernatural power.

The air seems to crackle with the conflict of these very powerful
individuals. One cannot blame Denethor for wanting to save his land by
any means possible, and one sympathizes with his impatient reaction to
Mithrandir's cryptic utterances. Denethor craves answers, not riddles
and enigmas. And yet, the use of Power against the natural order of
things, to bend it to one's will in all manner of weaponry and
regardless of consequences, is a two-edged sword. Sauron has done so,
Saruman is doing so; Mithrandir has good reason to warn Denethor
against this course, and to explain why he will not employ the same
means as their Enemy.

An intriguing drabble, subtle but very thought-provoking, that asks us,
as well as Denethor and Gandalf, about the fine line between Power and
Desecration.



Title: A Boy and His Lob · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Humor · ID:
162
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:32:03
Here's Legolas as a bratty teenager. A REALLY bratty teenager!

This is certainly one of the more unusual variations of the
young-Legolas-and-his-pets stories I've seen. Outrageous and punkish;
but it works as a story, and is funny.

Title: Sea Food · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Children · ID: 53
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:36:45
This is an utterly charming slice of life of the sons of Denethor, in
childhood and sharing carefree moments with their Uncle Imrahil in Dol
Amroth.

Lovely descriptions of the seashore and tidal pools. Imrahil's
tenderness and fondness for his young nephews shines through in an
understated way. The boys' fondness for the unforeseen adventure is
typical of youngsters everywhere, and their reluctance to cook the
creatures they've caught shows their essential good nature, as well as
their innocence and privileged status. I loved little Faramir's
farewell to the crabs.



Title: The Unbearable Smugness of Being Feanor · Author: Ignoble Bard ·
Genres: Humor · ID: 164
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:39:09
An enjoyable and somewhat nasty romp through an AU scenario pitting the
disembodied souls of two of the biggest egos in Tolkien's works -
Melkor and Feanor - against each other in a war of words within the
Void. And a surprise ending that makes a lot of sense, actually.

Wonderfully apt title! Melkor certainly is right that Feanor is just
too smug.

Title: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony · Author: Marta · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Drabble · ID: 163
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:41:39
Very hobbity little piece from the POV of someone we hardly ever see in
Tolkien fanfic. The drabble rings quite true and could have come from
the Professor's own pen. I love the image of hobbits moving with
greater speed and agility than cloddish big folk; and Nob's cheerful
determination, despite his nervousness, to succeed in a new endeavor.

Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:43:52
Perfectly beautiful, and yet tinged with an overlay of age and regret.
This is a winter story, set in the winter of the land, and the winter
of Faramir's life, a bittersweet paean to his lonely, ironic effort to
retrace Boromir's journey forth from the lands of their youth. It is
sad and yet somehow fitting that a young Rohir, to whom Boromir would
be only a legend, accompanies Faramir. For Faramir, Boromir is a
memory, a brother perished in his prime. Faramir himself was fated to
live to an old age that, while not decrepit nor bitter, seems
regretful. And yet, Faramir, as ever, acknowledges the sorrow of his
brother's loss, and turns from contemplation of the dead to thoughts of
life and the pleasure of feasting in a nearby landholder's hall.

I love the ending, with Faramir initiating a Rohirric song in which his
young companion joins, welcoming whatever joy remains to be taken.

An excellently structured and scripted piece that flows easily but
never takes the easy way...And of course, a great tribute to both
Tolkien and Robert Frost.


Title: Burden of Guilt · Author: Linda hoyland · Races: Men · ID: 123
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:48:19
[Burden of Guilt] is a worthy sequel to Linda's earlier epic [Shadow
and Thought].

The tale takes the reader into somewhat darker territory. A chain of
events is set off by a letter that Eowyn wrote but never sent in the
earlier story, that somehow reaches Eomer and triggers an escalation of
misunderstanding, violence, and injuries with nearly fatal consequences
to Eomer, Faramir and others, as well as the possibility of a
Gondor/Rohan war. In a counterpart to the main plotline, Arwen bears
her and Aragorn's first child, attended by the pregnant Eowyn.

There are few writers who can match Linda in the delineation of
hurt/comfort, angst, and Gondorian and Elven medical techniques, most
of which are well and plausibly described and used here.

My favorite scenes, for sheer heart-thumping pulse-pounding drama are
those chronicling Eowyn's own traumatic delivery of her and Faramir's
firstborn.

In the course of the story, Faramir and Aragorn solidify the friendship
that began to develop in [Shadow and Thought]. Linda is a comparitive
rarity among Fourth Age Aragorn writers; she concentrates more on the
relationship of Aragorn and Faramir rather than the more frequently
written friendship of Aragorn and Legolas. Tolkien's intent seems to
have been that Aragorn and Faramir would work together and like each
other as well as respect each other, and a line mentioned in HoME that
was omitted, but never contradicted, in ROTK, portends close friendship
King and Steward.



Title: A...Like An Antagonistic Arwen · Author: Linda Hoyland/Raksha
the Demon CoAuthors · Genres: Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID:
758
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-24 14:35:06
Each of these drabbles stands fine on its own, but together, as a
series, seems rather repetitive, although I realize those repeated
elements were likely compulsory. I also found myself somewhat
dissapointed that Arwen's predominant response was indignation; perhaps
a way could be found show her greater range within the scope of the
challenge.

Title: Growed · Author: agape4gondor · Races: Men: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 218
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-24 15:11:49
Interesting idea - that everything that takes place in the books
relating to Boromir is tinged with the knowledge of his own death.

But I thought this quadrabble was problematic - the experientiual
story, though charming, is really extraneous to the climax (Boromir's
foresight), and the confusion of formal and childish language ("I am
growed, are I not, Boromir?") was unfortunate.

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 18:59:06
A bracing adventure that is an extrapolation of the scene in FOTR where
Boromir leads Aragorn in forcing a path through the snows of Caradhras.

Boromir and Aragorn are both well-served here; the characterisations
are good; both Men are heroic and yet human as they pit their mortal
strength against the winter's fury. The irony of Legolas' graceful,
easy path across the same snow through which the Men are trudging holds
true here as in the passage that inspired the story.

I liked the mutual respect and determination that is apparent between
Boromir and Aragorn.

Title: More than Meets the Eye · Author: Dadgad · Genres: Humor: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 128
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 20:02:45
A splendid tale of the event mentioned only in a few lines in The
Hobbit: the Battle of the Green Fields, where Bullroarer Took killed
the great goblin king Golfimbul with a club and, in so doing, invented
the Game of Golf.

A straight story of the battle would have been good enough, but Dadgad
takes a more interesting track, of having the tale told through the
eyes of Elladan and Elrohir, reporting to their worried father, about
the doings of the goblin horde and the not-so-hapless halflings.
Elrond's concern for the hobbits, who he fears would have been
destroyed by the rampaging goblins, leaving a broken, refugee
population, is touching; and the Elves' lack of greater knowledge of
the halflings well integrated into the story.

The Elf-twins' point of view increases the gosh-wow effect of the
story; the charm and appeal of the hobbits is emphasized by the growing
admiration of the Elves, who witnessed such strange and unexpected
occurances.

The tenacity, courage, imagination and capacity for stealth of the
hobbits is brought out superbly in the story; as is their
provincialism.

The story has some marvelous touches of humor, such as the apparent
invention of the Shire Horse breed, and the genesis of the game of
golf, and the priorities of the Dunedain Chieftain Arasuil.

This is a hidden gem of a story - I can only hope that it is not the
last Tolkien fanfic tale that its author will write.


Title: In Aragorn's Safekeeping: Life in the King's House · Author:
Radbooks · Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 416
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-25 13:10:11
Perhaps the one "Mary Sue" I have felt was truly well done and mature,
the original "In Aragorn's Safekeeping" was a wonderful find. Now we
are continuing to follow the lives of Rebecca and Thomas, the two
teenagers found dropped into Middle Earth following a tragic bus
accident in 1940s America as the two families were headed west into
Washington State. Having been adopted by Aragorn and fallen in love,
these two now prepare for their upcoming wedding as they continue to
adjust to life as the King's Wards and with Arwen as their foster
mother, and to the loss of their own families. New traditions need to
be made; and understanding how their own familiar Christian upbringing
contrasts with the belief in the Valar held by the Dunedain among whom
they now live are explored. We see the new family relationships form
and strengthen and the two of them weather their first major
disagreements.

It's as fascinating a look at how such a relationship would impact the
household of the new King and Queen of Gondor and Arnor as was the
original tale, and I look forward to seeing it continued and brought to
closure.

Title: Domestic Crisis · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men: Eriador or
Rivendell · ID: 729
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-25 13:36:58
There is quite a contrast between Aragorn's favorite kinsman, Halbarad,
and his brother Thalguron. Halbarad is constant, the lover of one woman
only--his wife Serinde the surgeon and healer, is the height of
responsibility. Thalguron is promiscuous and a bit of a ne'er-do-well,
and generally knows the amazement of his brother, cousin, and
sister-in-law. As for the day he left his weapons where Halbarad and
Serinde's small children could get their hands on them---- Well!

But there comes the day when Thalguron manages to do everything right,
and both his brother and his sister-in-law are approving of him, seeing
the reflection of the man he could and should be, and he finds the
approval almost more than he can bear....

Quite an amusing look at how some work at promoting an image of
irrespectability, and a lovely addition to Surgical Steel's universe.

Title: Tales of the Innkeeper · Author: Allee · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 237
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-25 15:00:24
I imagine the hard part about writing a series, is to keep growing the
story while keeping it from becoming repetitive. This author does an
admirable job, but, collectively, the image that emerges of Elessar did
seem to me a bit overly virtuous, even in his faults. And - a nitpick -
having the Inn Keeper continually address both King and Steward by
their names I found annoyingly informal.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 05:49:34
A great story about a meeting I've never seen chronicled before - that
of Elanor Gamgee and Elboron of Ithilien, the children of Samwise and
Faramir.

Young Elanor and Elboron are both beautifully written - children of the
peace of the Fourth Age, they have an appealing appreciation of beauty,
the courtesy that marks their fathers, and a certain recklessness
stemming from joyous spirits. The reader can see traces of their
parents' influence, and the changes that the events chronicled in LORD
OF THE RINGS have wrought - young people can enjoy their childhood even
while paying attention to duty, and there is more communication and
interaction between the different races of Middle-earth.

Annmarwalk imbues Elanor and Elboron with appealing traces of their
parents: Elanor has both the practicality and instinct to reach for
greater things that makes Sam such an appealing and interesting fellow;
while Elboron's musing on the significance of words during a mad dash
from the library shows that he is indeed Faramir's son.

Sam is also brought into the story, in perfect characterisation, via
the advice he gave to Elanor and she quotes back to Elboron.

The story promises that the legacies of such different, but powerful
characters, as Samwise Gamgee and Faramir of Gondor, will be well
cared-for by Sam's daughter and Faramir's son.

Title: Free and Gay · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 81
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 06:04:19
An unusual ficlet dealing with burdens and the difficulty of escaping
them. Though the summary mentions slash themes, the tale can be read,
in my opinion, without inclusion of the idea that Boromir is a
homosexual - or with inclusion of that premise.

The story presents the most famous Gondorian brothers in Middle-earth
seizing the opportunity to relax and celebrate Yule with the officers
of the other military companies. It's like a big, happy, Boyz Club - no
women allowed, or at least no women present. The soldiers are
coordinating strategy, and also feasting on good, fresh food, and
dancing.

But Boromir is still tense and apparently burdened. His words, and more
importantly his thoughts, reveal that more conventional social
gatherings, where lords' daughters and their mothers stalk him
relentlessly, feel like traps to him. He is in no hurry to sample the
maidens' charms; far from it, he can't wait to escape them.

Whether Boromir's revulsion for the particular young women whose
mothers look him over like the butcher's goods stems from homosexuality
or a dislike of the pressure to bed a maiden and produce an heir, can
be left to the reader to decide. Tolkien's description of Boromir as a
man who had no interest in marriage or women, favoring a soldier's
life, could indicate he was homosexual, or could mean he just preferred
army life and had a low sex drive.

This is a good story whichever way you read it. I particularly loved
the description of the group dancing - the image of the men dancing in
circles is beautiful and powerful, there's an earthy, almost ritual
feel to it. And Boromir's being out of step in the center of the rings,
is a rather poignant image that one can also take as sinister
foreshadowing of his eventually coming under the sway of a different
ring. Boromir is a strong man, but even a strong man can feel trammeled
at the center of the forces that rule his life and also threaten to
destroy his world.




Title: Elements: Dreams of the Dead, Visions of the Living · Author:
pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland ·
ID: 202
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 06:17:03
Intriguing and sensitively written variation on the connection between
Pippin and Boromir. I like the relationship that is established between
Pippin and Faramir, and then their sons. And the death of Pippin is
beautiful and sad.

I loved the ending.

Title: For the Dwarves, Gimli · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 155
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:42:34
Very well done. As a series should, with each of these three ficlets a
little more of the story becomes clear, well linked one to the other
but never repetitive. The loving interplay between Gloin and his wife,
Gimli's later forthrightness about his mother's insistence, and then
how Nandi's only interest is in the world that is her children ring
true and touchingly.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:48:21
Very well done. Both these characters come leaping off the screen (as
well as flying across the courtyard), full, unique, and charming, but
it is there similarities which make the story work past its ending, and
how it leads you to imagine the warmth of their next meeting.

Title: No Escape · Author: Aranel Took · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 324
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:51:23
Hmmm ... this one is complicated. The feelings of this mother, trapped
with her young ones - valliant, desperate, and brave come through clear
and strong. And the ambiguity I read in the ending only heightened the
tale, but I have to wonder what families were doing there then, and the
wondering almost spoiled it.

Title: Jewel · Author: Aranel Took · Genres: Romance: Drabble · ID: 325
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:53:30
I enjoyed this thought very much. I appreciate plausible departures
from the actual text, and the idea that craftsmanship among dwarves
would be used to woo seems wonderfully appropriate. I thought the very
last phrase, however, could have been modified to take the story a mite
further, rather than repeat what we had already been told.

Title: The Lesson · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 29
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:58:11
The language of this drabble is lovely, and it is formed very nicely of
those successive paragraphs, each one taking something from the one
before and moving forward with it. But the end is, sadly, poorly done.
It was a wonderful idea, but the content of the drabble belies it, as
each example clearly demonstrated Faramir got the lesson all along.

My story "Heart's Blood" is now complete. Does it need to be moved to
a different category? Not sure of the process...let me know what I
need to do. (I'm ChristineX at the MEFA site.)

Thanks!

Hi ChristineX,

First things first - CONGRATULATIONS! Finishing a story is always such
an accomplishment.

Now, what will happen is we'll move your story to a different
subcategory (one with completed stories) so it will compete against
them. Whatever votes were entered for this story while it was a WIP
will carry over. The other admins and I are still discussing where the
best place to put it will be, so please watch this group for the next
day or so for where we'll put it.

In the meantime, I have changed your story information so it says it's
a completed story, not a WIP. I'll change the subcategory when we make
a decision, obviously. I'm pasting the story information below. Is
there anything else that needs to change? Like, are there new warnings
or characters, etc.?

Marta



Heart's Blood
(Story: Novel) Rating: Mature · Enter New Review
Story Author: ChristineX
Nominated by: ChristineX

Award Category: Genres: Romance: Incomplete
Story's URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3510800/1/Hearts_Blood
Romance Partners: Sauron/f
Story Summary:
Lithiníel wanted to die. Therefore, Sauron desired that she should
live. What happened next defied all expectations.... Set approximately
40 years before the War of the Ring.
Reason for Rating:
This story focuses on a dark romance and is fairly intense in places.
Also, future chapters will contain content of a sexual nature.

(Story: Novel) Rating: Mature
Genres: Romance | Races: Villains | Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA
Story Setting: Mordor · Characters: Sauron, Original Female
Character(s), Other Villains
Characters for Categorization: Sauron
Events and Time Periods: N/A · Sub-Genres and Poetic Form: N/A
Source Material: N/A

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: christinex1001 <christinex1001@yahoo.com>
> Date: Oct 5, 2007 11:41 AM
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Story now complete
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> My story "Heart's Blood" is now complete. Does it need to be moved to
> a different category? Not sure of the process...let me know what I
> need to do. (I'm ChristineX at the MEFA site.)
>
> Thanks!
>

The only thing I can think of is that the Mouth of Sauron is also a
fairly significant character in this story, but I'm not sure if that
really affects the categories or not. Otherwise, everything is still
the same. It should probably still be rated mature, even though it
turned out there wasn't quite as much sex as I thought there would be. ;-)

Thanks!

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta <melayton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi ChristineX,
>
> First things first - CONGRATULATIONS! Finishing a story is always such
> an accomplishment.
>
> Now, what will happen is we'll move your story to a different
> subcategory (one with completed stories) so it will compete against
> them. Whatever votes were entered for this story while it was a WIP
> will carry over. The other admins and I are still discussing where the
> best place to put it will be, so please watch this group for the next
> day or so for where we'll put it.
>
> In the meantime, I have changed your story information so it says it's
> a completed story, not a WIP. I'll change the subcategory when we make
> a decision, obviously. I'm pasting the story information below. Is
> there anything else that needs to change? Like, are there new warnings
> or characters, etc.?
>
> Marta
>
>
>
> Heart's Blood
> (Story: Novel) Rating: Mature � Enter New Review
> Story Author: ChristineX
> Nominated by: ChristineX
>
> Award Category: Genres: Romance: Incomplete
> Story's URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3510800/1/Hearts_Blood
> Romance Partners: Sauron/f
> Story Summary:
> Lithin�el wanted to die. Therefore, Sauron desired that she should
> live. What happened next defied all expectations.... Set approximately
> 40 years before the War of the Ring.
> Reason for Rating:
> This story focuses on a dark romance and is fairly intense in places.
> Also, future chapters will contain content of a sexual nature.
>
> (Story: Novel) Rating: Mature
> Genres: Romance | Races: Villains | Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA
> Story Setting: Mordor � Characters: Sauron, Original Female
> Character(s), Other Villains
> Characters for Categorization: Sauron
> Events and Time Periods: N/A � Sub-Genres and Poetic Form: N/A
> Source Material: N/A
>
>

Title: Enter the Fourth Age, Hastily · Author: Dwimordene · Times:
Fourth Age and Beyond: Drabble · ID: 140
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 18:00:40
This is a lovely idea, but the form - the extraneous dashes and the
painfully run-on sentence - made it almost impossible for me to read.

Title: Sticky Sweet · Author: SheBit · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 196
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 18:03:19
This is interesting, but there's a step missing - the reader must
infer that it was the color which reminded Aragorn of berries, which
reminded him of the pastries; the connection itself is not in the words.

Title: Celebration · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Drabble · ID: 139
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 18:06:08
Nice! This was well done and, as a only good drabble can, appeared
effortless and in no way constricted. The contrast drawn between Eowyn
and Faramir - she involved, he standing back until requested, and then
shining - was lovely, interesting, and enhanced both characterizations.

Title: The Undiscovered Country · Author: Wimsey · Genres: Drama:
Elves in Later Ages · ID: 715
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-27 00:29:33
A sad, haunting look at the last months of Arwen's life, from the
death of Aragorn to her own passing. Arwen's reactions are very
credible; particularly in the 'anger' phase, when she rages against
the Valar and begs them for respite from the pain she feels.

Arwen is also written as a queen, whose words and desire still carry
weight, even in her decline, rather than a fragile fading flower. She
makes a decision and sticks to it.

A thoughtfully written story...

Title: Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush · Author: Isabeau of
Greenlea · Genres: Romance: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 512
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-28 06:28:49
A delightful piece focussing on Pippin's reacquaintance with the
feisty and passionate young Diamond of Long Cleeve, after he has made
his heroic return from the Ring War.

Pippin seems to have met his match here, and hasn't yet figured out
whether to be puzzled or pleased - which is very much in character for
a hobbit who has matured, but has not completely grown up yet. I like
his mention of Diamond's cooking skills as well as her physical charms
- that seems very Hobbitish. And the story is a wonderfully
appropriate response to the "P Like A Pink Pippin" Challenge!

Title: The Departure of Boromir · Author: Narnian Sprite · Genres:
Drama · ID: 622
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-28 20:49:00
Yes, this piece is short, but it has a beautiful, poetic quality about
it. Boromir's transition from his last moments on Middle-earth to his
last journey to the unknown future is described in a touching way. I
like the Halls of Waiting as a place to reflect on one's life and a
place to heal and get ready for the last journey over the sea.

Title: Foreign Ways · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Gondor or
Rohan · ID: 54
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-28 20:50:14
This is a nice little story. Getting some familiar food in a foreign
land is really important, I can say from my own experience. I like the
way you describe Mag's experience in the tavern.

Title: Drawing Straight With Crooked Lines · Author: Fiondil · Genres:
Drama · ID: 76
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-28 20:50:54
Boromir dies and has a very interesting conversation with Namos. I
love the way, how you answer some questions I always had about
Boromir's death in the book. What he did was betrayal, but if he
didn't do it, what would have happened then? The whole story is
touching and spreads a sense of peace and calm. I loved the
conclusion. A solution worthy of Boromir.

Title: Force of Nature · Author: shirebound · Genres: Alternate
Universe: The Shire or Buckland · ID: 360
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-28 20:51:57
The Quarantined universe is slightly AU since Aragorn gets to know his
companions on the quest already as children, but I don't mind, they
all can keep a secret. The characters are true to how I imagine they
would be at their age, and in this story Halbarad gets introduced to
the hobbits. After a little Angst because of the strange poison
Halbarad and Frodo get exposed to all ends well. I love the addition
of the little pup who hides in Halbarad's boots. Luckily Halbarad was
in no condition to need his boots.

Title: The Undiscovered Country · Author: Wimsey · Genres: Drama:
Elves in Later Ages · ID: 715
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-07-28 20:52:59
In this story we follow Arwen from Aragorn's death to her own leaving
this world on Cerin Amroth. It is a sad story, but it describes the
stages of her grieving realistically. The part about her stage of
depression was the most touching to me. It was described so true to
what I know of depression. But at the end there is a ray of hope.

Title: Family Jewels · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 464
Reviewer: dancingkatz · 2007-07-29 04:44:22
This is a lovely piece, with so many connections between Faramir and
his family and the Feanoreans from Chapter 9 of the Silmarillion. In
other hands the parallels and the point where Faramir chose a
different way than Maglor could have been unwieldy and so
in-the-reader's-face obvious that it would be a difficult and
uncomfortable read. However, you handled this so well that the
parallels are more than apparent while the writing and storytelling
remain beautifully smooth.

Additionally, it was lovely seeing how a grown-up Faramir who is a
parent has a different understanding of the events and actions of
Feanor than he did as a child and even a young man with no family.
Even better was his choice to forgive Denethor instead of following
Maglor's refusal (or failure) to forgive Feanor.

Even the naming of Faramir's daughter, Miriel, while a somewhat more
obvious parallel to the reader, doesn't jar. It's a perfectly
appropriate name in my opinion given that Faramir considers his
marriage and family to be gifts he had never expected to have.

An excellent read, touching, thought-provoking and well-crafted.

Title: Returning the Favor · Author: cpsings4him · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Ring War · ID: 340
Reviewer: dancingkatz · 2007-07-29 04:47:19
This is one of the loveliest character pieces regarding Pippin and his
relationship with his cousin Frodo, that I have ever read. Unlike so
many stories that I have read, Pippin here is an adult, not a faunt in
an adult's body. He's still under age and still gets so excited or
enthusiastic that he ignores the rules of common courtesy, but what
goes on in his head is definitely the thoughts and feelings of a grown-up.

I'm not usually fond of stories written in first person but when the
muse says that's how it needs to be done, there is little an author
can do but comply and do his or her best. And your best here is
absolutely superb. The characterization, the hints of how the people
of Minas Tirith see the Ringbearer (and Pippin, for that matter), the
descriptions of a hobbit attempting to adapt to a physical world made
for people nearly twice his size all add to the texture and atmosphere
of this piece.

I highly recommend Returning the Favor to any fan of Pippin or Frodo.
Most excellent work!

Dancingkatz

Title: Coda · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Second Age: Drabble · ID: 627
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-30 05:41:47
That this token of Maglor's love for his foster-son should end up in
the sea as wreckage is heartbreaking, both for the loss of the
sentiment it represents and the lore itself.

A sad testimony to the power of nature, and angered gods, to destroy
some things, and doubtless people, of worth.

Title: The Case of the Purloined Mushrooms · Author: Inkling · Genres:
Mystery · ID: 298
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-30 05:43:27
A fine hobbit mystery, set in the youth of Frodo Baggins, and making
wonderful use of the hobbit fondness for mushrooms, and Frodo's
history of having purloined them in his childhood.

There's an angry farmer whose mushrooms are being stolen, intrusions
by the well-meaning but rather pushy Dora Baggins, the usual bad
behaviour of the Sackville-Bagginses, an unusual black watchdog who is
not entirely what he seems, and a very well-written Frodo at the heart
of the mystery.

I liked the unassuming but crafty and good-hearted OC hero, Abelard
Archer, hobbit postman, quite a bit. He is both quite hobbitish and
rather Sherlockian in his skill as a problem-solver and amateur detective.

I love the allusions to Austen and Doyle, too!

Title: In Aragorn's Safekeeping: Life in the King's House · Author:
Radbooks · Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 416
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-30 05:46:40
A worthy sequel to [In Aragorn's Safekeeping], with the consistent
characterisation seen in the first story. I liked the fact that Thomas
and Rebecca have not become instant Gondorians; that although they are
happy, they miss many aspects of the home to which they cannot return.
Their determination to have an American/Gondorian "Christmas" is
touching and quite reasonable, considering their origins.

Title: Wind of Change · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Crossover · ID: 669
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-30 06:00:57
Maglor's presence in modern times or known history is a fairly common
subject for Tolkien fanfiction, but I have never seen him brought into
this particular event.

Maglor's involvement in the celebration of a great event in recent
German history is well and credibly written. I could just picture the
ancient and beautiful Elf, standing apart from the common humans, but
drawn into their joy.

Imhiriel paints some lovely word-pictures, in particular this one, of
Maglor's voice raised in song:

[It was borne on the wind like seeds, like gleaming snowflakes, like
scintillant, flaring sparks of fire, like nourishing drops of rain. It
made the melody, made the other voices transcend their simplicity, to
be transformed into an overwhelming expression of joint celebration.]

The excitement of a wonderful event is brought to life here through
the onlookers and through the presence of our friend from so long ago...





Title: A New Reckoning · Author: Dreamflower · Races: Cross-Cultural ·
ID: 308
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-07-30 09:34:35
Wow. What an epic undertaking this was, but what a wonderful outcome
it gave! I thoroughly enjoyed the pure Hobbityness of this story, and
all in one sitting. I simply couldn't make myself wait to finish it.
(I also find myself inexplicably craving a mushroom and cheese
omelet...) I did find the odd typo or awkward spot here and there, but
with seventy chapters those are expected, and were very *very* few.
Your beta should be proud as well.

I truly love your Legolas; a perfect mix of the inquisitive and
mischievous with the wise and regal. He is, to me, the Legolas of the
books. And speaking of the differences in movie and book canon,
Pippin's chagrin about the song in the Green Dragon was a perfect
touch! I wept my way through the wedding from the moment Gaffer Gamgee
saw his son until Pippin went off to MC, so to speak. The only real
disappointment I felt as I read was when I realized I could find no
meaning or Old English equivalent for the name Pybba. It has always
been one of my favorite of Tolkien's little jokes that the
underestimated mount of an underestimated hero was named "Stumpy".

Finally, but most remarkably to me, is the entirety of Chapter 29. I
once discussed with a fellow college literature major friend the
possibility of telling a story in print through lines of interrupted
dialogue. I have not yet found the courage to attempt it. It was
excellent. Seamless transitions from speaker to speaker, location to
location, with very good flow. It was truly a joy to read, and I
smiled through the whole chapter. So, so well done. I will be
recommending this to my friends outside of the awards as well. One of
the best hobbit pieces I've read to date.

Title: Golfing Fever · Author: lbilover · Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest ·
ID: 75
Reviewer: GamgeeFest · 2007-07-31 01:34:09
This is an absolutely charming fic that focuses on an area of canon
often overlooked by fan fiction writers: golf in the Shire. Just as in
present day, golf was all rage for obsessed hobbits everywhere,
including our very own Sam Gamgee. As he slips further and further
into the golfing madness, doting on about his wonderfully amazing
golfing mentor Mungo Chubb-Baggins, the usually level-headed Frodo
comes to the slow determination that in love, war and golf, all is
fair game. The high jinx that ensue will keep the reader giggling with
delight, and the number of innuendos scattered throughout is just
amazing - who would have thought that golf would lend itself to so
many arousing images! The tournament is surprisingly action-packed and
nail-biting and kept this reader on the edge of her seat. And the
author does all this while keeping our wonderful hobbits in character.
This is a Frodo I can very much see going on to carry the One Ring
some day. The author also does a marvelous job of explaining all the
confusing golf terminology and rules for us laypeople while keeping
the reader entertained with this delightful screwball comedy. I have
read this story many times, and it always leaves me chuckling and
feeling all warm and sappy inside. This story is a definitive hole-in-one.

Title: Circumstantial Heroes · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Minas
Tirith · ID: 684
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-31 02:35:45
A really lovely tale. It seems perfectly clear to Pip that Aragorn
needs protecting. It's a shame, for Denethor. Really quite lovely.

Title: Exploring the Wild · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 30
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-31 02:41:55
Delightful tale. I loved Denethor's part in this. Putting a tent in
the garden turned into such an adventure for the boys. And the Rangers
who came to help them 'grow' were just perfect. As I said, a
delightful tale.

Title: Respite · Author: Linaewen · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017
TA · ID: 389
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-31 02:45:06
An incredibly beautiful picture calls forth an incredibly beautiful
tale. The woman looks like Finduilas might have, the boys are lovely
in their innocense. The sense of 'peace' and 'respite' is enchanting.
Evocative image, gorgeous words.

To have lived under the Shadow with two young sons - how incredibly
horrifying - especially in knowing that they might very well die
defending Gondor. She has probably already seen too much death and
destruction.

And yet, the peaceful scene that you and the painter portray gives one
hope!

Title: Honor Unabated · Author: Linaewen · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 570
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-07-31 03:02:58
This was absolutely delightful. You had me in tears during many parts
of it. Finding Theoden, seeing Faramir, and Pippin - so beautifully
written. My heart went out to Denethor; how glad I was to see Boromir
come to his 'rescue' and help bring him peace. Each part was
wonderfully described and full of such emotion that it sometimes
became difficult to read.

I did so wish that it could end otherwise, for I agree with Boromir's
assessment - that Denethor loved his people and did the best he could.
Both men needed to hear what Boromir had learned.

Very well done indeed.

Title: Even Quicker Than Doubt · Author: Keiliss · Genres: Romance:
Second Age or Earlier · ID: 365
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-07-31 05:23:38
I had read this amazing piece "Even Quicker Than Doubt" earlier and
lost it! Was thrilled to find it again recently. It centers on an
infrequently covered time frame of the early-Second Age immediately
before the departure of Elros for Númenor. Is chock full of great
characterization, setting and mood. Its youthful Elrond is absolutely
adorable. One cannot help but love this character.

The way the author casts the differences between Elrond and Elros: the
elf side flightier and the man side more stoic and solid, but nothing
black and white--is a refreshing departure from the more common
noble-elf routine. I was able to accept the setup of Elrond's and
Elros's choice/separation as a heartless crime of the Valar--or at
very least really badly done.

A most wonderful little dog is developed as a real character and
serves as a catalyst for important reflections on the personalities of
others. Galadriel is presented as a believable pain-in-the-ass, while
still retaining her dignity and remaining one of the "good guys."
Gil-Galad is kingly, masterful and lovable; of course, Glorfindel is
incredibly appealing and Erestor is a priceless gem with his own
well-documented history.

The story is visual in a seemingly effortless way--which, of course,
as a writer I realize is actually quite difficult. It makes me want to
film it.

(I love the differences between the early-Second-Age and
late-Third-Age versions of all of these characters--making implicit
that a lot of life and living goes on in the interval.) I also love
the way the writer distinguishes the bred-in-Aman elves and those that
awakened at Cuiviénen from the ordinary born-and-bred-in-Middle-earth
elves. Congratulations to Keiliss on a wonderful achievement.

Title: A Boy and His Lob · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Humor · ID: 162
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:37:58
This was one of the first stories by Ignoble Bard's that I've read,
and it captured my interest right away. It is hard to write humor that
does not feel cliched or forced or modern, and this story captures so
much of that. It never becomes too adult, but parts of it feel
delightfully naughty. Yet there is more to this piece than just that.
When Legolas is sulky because his last pet ate a chambermaid, it made
me chuckle out loud. My own brother might have reacted the same way
(had we grown up to Mirkwood), and it gives the piece a quirkiness
that really, really pops (to borrow a phrase from the author).

If you like to laugh at things that are just a little risque without
completely leaving PG territory behind, this piece is a nice fun read.


Title: Friendship of Their Kind · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Early
Third Age: 1-2850 TA · ID: 425
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:39:08
I have read nearly all of the pieces that Dwim has posted in recent
years (save the sprawling WIPs), and as I've read them I've noticed
that there is always a nugget of deep thought buried somewhere in
them. Even in her humor or drabble, or (in this case) what might have
turned into a simple adventure story in less capable hands. It has all
the qualities, and it certainly works on that level. She caught my
attention immediately with Belendir's opening cry of ["Faugh!"] and
her use of details within the cave was both horrifying and
gut-wrenchingly, wonderfully graphic. Just as it should be.

But then she moves into what might be called deeper territory. Not
convinced to give us a simple tale of rangers destroying a dragon's
nest (which would be fresh territory in fanfic and good in its own
way), she gives us a piercing portrait of what is the difference
between the rangers and the type of men that characters like Barliman
Butterbur might mistake them for. Her experienced ranger Halandur has
his two green recruits prepare final rites not just for the dragons'
victims but also for the dragons' young. When Televur and Belendir
question this, she has Halandur explain, ["because you are Rangers,
not brigands and not beasts, and this is often that little distance
that makes the difference"]. In a way this reminds me of Christ's
statement, ["You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies. (…) If you love
those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? (Mt 5:43-44, 46)] We like to think of our
rangers only doing nice things, but in the wilds when facing darkness,
I think that their hands might get a little dirty at times.
Distinctions like this come to make all the difference. Statements
like that make this story more than just a thrilling adventure tale,
or an engaging gapfiller, or a coming-of-age fic. They give the piece
lasting depth.

Title: Relaxation Techniques · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Romance:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 283
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:39:49
Ah, the many facets of Theodred. We've all seen in-luv!Theo and
hott!Theo, but here he gets to develop some rather nice sides of his
personality. And he is an rascal, that's all there is for it. Even
peeved, he is great fun, and Boromir met him point for point. I love
seeing our boys in real situations like this; the passion (and not
just the erotic sort) was tangible in the room, and Boromir was very
skilled at the relaxation techniques. Nice work, EL.

Title: The Gates · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Dwarves · ID: 70
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:40:03
It's so nice to see the One Dwarf (or at least the only one that
really matters :^P) get some much-needed character development here. I
loved the idea that Gimli's gifts might be different from those
typically prized by dwarves, but that they were very much needed for
the work he's going to do in Aglarond. Yet he still seems very
dwarven, just as I imagine from canon. Very nice work.

Title: Transformation · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Men: General Drabble
· ID: 185
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:40:27
What I love most about this drabble is the keen sense of imagery that
seems to pervade it. It starts with Imrahil's clothes: sailor's pants
and half-open linen shirt, and especially that leather thong. It makes
him seem almost roguish, but it hearkens back to a simpler day before
he had to be prince, and I think it captures an awful lot about the
fourth age, that duties of command and duty in general, need not blot
out everything an individual enjoys.

But the imagery does not stop there. There's the [silver swan-ship
glinting in the sun], and the [sleek lines] of the ship, and not least
the sound of Imrahil's carefree laugh. It's all so vivid, the scene
just jumps off the page.

Title: Sarn Gebir · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 398
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:48:04
Ah, this was delightful! Boromir really is in his element here; the
whole passage (up until the very last line) reminded me of the line in
the appendices that he prefers the company of men-in-arms. I do think
he thrived when there was something to protect, a simple plan of
action he could implement and see doable steps to achieve some end.
All of the cloak-and-daggers of the Fellowship just would not suit
him, and it's easy to see why the Ring would wear him down.

But then that last line. Ah! It put such an edge on the entire piece.
Even when action is required, he can't have lasting peace from the
Ring trying to wedge its way into his heart, which is sad, tragic
even. That last line transformed this vignette, and it left me thinking.


Title: Elladan and Elrohir's Not So Excellent Adventure · Author:
Fiondil · Races: Elves · ID: 97
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:52:58
I love this! The situation seems like it should raise all sorts of red
flags for plausibility... but I found myself buying into it
completely. Elladan and Elrohir are so like teenagers about to leave
for college, so sure they can do anything they might want to, and
their elders are not without their foibles, which keeps the whole
story moving along.

Title: An Unexpected Party · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Humor: Drabble
· ID: 16
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:00:23
*snickers* Even the infallible wise old man archetype character has to
have a sense of humor, and clearly Gandalf has just that. As does
Branwyn--not that she is old, or a man, but the sense of humor bit she
definitely has down. Surprisingly, I've never seen this irreverent
take on the dwarves, and it works really well. This had me chuckling
before I'd finished my first cup of coffee, which is saying something
(as I can be dead to the world). It's quite a feat in 100 words. Read
this, you won't be disappointed.

Title: And Thought How Blessed He Was · Author: Imhiriel · Genres:
Romance: Drabble · ID: 670
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:12:53
First, I have to say just how delightfully *hot* this piece is.
Writing erotica is always a tricky business and never more so in a
drabble where word economy is at such a premium, but Imhiriel
accomplishes it with incredible sensuality. The author somehow makes
the needed brevity work here, tantalizing snapshots that create a
really intense scene.

But this piece isn't just about the erotic content. There is a deeper
meaning about how Aragorn adjusts to a life at peace. Rangers have no
home, but kings can, and Imhiriel investigates it brilliantly here.
This was one of the best drabbles I've read in quite a while.




Title: Lost in Translation · Author: sophinisba solis · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 31
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:36:35
Sophi, you really caught the frustration a non-native speaker in a
land where they don't really speak the language. I understand German
better than Pippin does "Elvish", but even I have similar moments when
I visit my family over there. And Pippin wants some information that
is so desperately important to him, I find it remarkable how well he
controls himself. And of course there are those other issues of trust
and the need to understand precisely. Nice work!

Title: The Scars of Stone And Sky · Author: Lady Elina · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 719
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:45:39
This was a really interesting piece, told with great use of detail and
a gentle touch that brought this alive. Not only do you handle the
attraction and the physical sensations well, but also the despair is
effectively established for the reader. I do not generally like
Aragorn slash stories--not because I dislike slash in principal, but
in my interpretation of canon I have a very hard time seeing him
loving anyone but Arwen--but this is one of the few that convinced me
of the relationship's plausibility.

Title: He Came To Meet Me · Author: sophinisba solis · Genres: Romance
· ID: 33
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:01:58
This has a nice pastoral feel to it. It's a nice gap-filler for the
occupation of the Shire, as well as a nice character piece of the kind
of hobbit Pippin might fall in love with.

Title: It's No Mystery, Really · Author: grey_wonderer · Races:
Hobbits: Merry and Pippin · ID: 36
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:07:06
As with most of GW's pieces, this one left me chuckling a little under
my breath. I don't know that I'd really call it properly humor, but
the tension and the quiet jibes between cousins are very well done,
and even more importantly they added to a sense of comfort and ease
that I am sure these two would have in GW's universe. Also, Pippin
seemed duly irate for someone a little under the weather. This was a
fun read.

Title: Crossing towards Sunrise · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 14
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:22:15
What really made this piece remarkable to me was what the author does
with Gandalf's character. Too often he is portrayed as without doubts
or weaknesses, but here he does not know what to do. (And in truth,
there's nothing much he can do. Bilbo is well-drawn, too, and Elrond's
tension is palpable. This has some very nice character-writing, and is
well worth the read.

Title: Alone and Forsaken · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: Vignette
· ID: 466
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:30:09
Sometimes a character's mindset is not the prettiest place to be, yet
it is necessary to crawl into his headspace to understand why he does
what he does in the canon. And Boromir's handling of Frodo's and
Aragorn's rejection of his argument is just such a case. This piece
gives us very nice glimpse into the desperation Boromir might have
felt. It doesn't make what he did right, but maybe it makes it a
little more understandable. I particularly liked the thought that of
course a country who had been tested so thoroughly would have no
strength left. It makes sense, and more importantly, it makes
Boromir's desperation believable.

Title: The Waves' Song · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 6
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:31:03
This brought on a real *sniffle* moment. The writing is so
atmospheric, and you can almost feel the ennui and lethargy in your
bones. Poor Arwen indeed. Yet as a reader I really liked it; it was
very affective.

Title: Left Behind · Author: Elanor · Genres: Drama: With Merry · ID: 28
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:02:43
This is such a fun story. I love all of the details, especially the
bit about Finduilas setting up the garden in the Houses of Healing.
But what really stands out is the insight into Merry's and Faramir's
character. They both seem completely reconcileable with their canon
selves as well as exemplars of their races, while still the story
added to how I understand them. I don't know if a story with this much
angst can be properly "enjoyed", but I certainly found myself thinking
for quite a while after I'd read this story.

Title: Tamer's Tale · Author: juno_magic · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 41
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:07:46
There are some things, it seems, that just should not work even in the
hands of the most skilled writer. Gandalf is and always will be a
stodgy old man, and before I read "Tamer's Tale" I never would have
thought that a Gandalf romance would have worked. Yet this story does
it. The erotic content and the tension between Gandalf and the OC here
is very nicely told, never getting too explicit but creating a
meaningful relationship that I could esily relate to.

And this story is sensuous in more ways than just that. Juno creates
an entire world, built around the concept of the last remnant of
Maedhros's fortress and tells the story of a whole family. Yet the
story did not feel weighed down by the backstory, and everything I was
told was both interesting in its own rite and pertinent to the larger
story. That's not something that's always easy to do here, but Juno
pulls it off marvellously. This is a must-read for fans of convincing
and well-rounded original characters.


Title: Respite · Author: Lindelea · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 303
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:12:53
This story is both truly sad and truly beautiful. It is beautiful in
the use of details. Drabbles often suffer for them, but this drabble
has a topic that is well-chosen and does not try to tell too much, and
so can tell what snippets it chooses to focus in on in a fuller way
than I seem able to accomplish these days. It's an admirable tale, and
while I still want to know more about Faramir in Ithilien, I was not
left feeling like there had to be more to the story in order for me to
be really satisfied.

The beauty of this piece also lies with the theme the author gives us.
I find it telling that Faramir makes his intellectual development a
priority even in Ithilien. We would excuse him if at the end of a
day's hiking he collapsed and didn't do anything cognitive if he could
help it. Or even if he drunk himself into a stupor to drown out what
he saw. Yet this drabble drives home the point that Faramir, and
Gondor by extension, is still more man than animal.

But there is also the darker underside. Because there are always more
raids to plan, and Faramir is dragged away from what he might enjoy.
That's the reality of Ithilien at this point in history, and the
contrast with bookish!Faramir really drives home the depth of the
conflict between Mordor and Westernesse.


Title: The Perfect Girl · Author: nikara · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 232
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:23:28
This is an interesting look at the Mary Sue phenomena. Your thoughts
about why young authors write Sues was intriguing. I agree, creativity
should be encouraged and I'm not crazy about the common reaction to
these stories.

Title: Unstrung · Author: Tehta · Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 161
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:31:03
This piece is, quite simply put, brilliant. Beyond brilliant,
actually, but I fear that English fails me here. As with a ll of
Tehta's work there is an understated quality to it that sneaks up on
you until it hits you like the proverbial ton of bricks. But the piece
is so understated that I am convinced my epiphanies are my own, not
the author's theme. That's just part of the brilliance.

Tehta includes author's notes at the end of this piece to explain some
of these references, and I'm glad she did, obviously, but I also found
that I did not need them as much as I thought I would. Without giving
away any of the surprises, I will say that I do not read much Silmfic,
have only read the Silmarillion twice, and even I puzzled out *most*
of what she hints at in the text before I got to the notes. But
because it was only suggested instead of told outright, it made me
think about what was going on much more. A similar thing happened for
me in "Gathering the Pieces". And ironically, the titles of both
pieces reflect just how I feel about the pieces. Here I was unstrung
in my own way; when I finally saw the extent of the Feanorians' fall I
had to cry, because it felt like I was experiencing it with them.
That's quite an accomplishment given my self-professed ignorance of
the Silmarillion.

But where Tehta really shines is in her description of the artists'
craft. I was completely blown away by her description of what art
takes out of the artist and the demands it has. The bits about the
difference between falsity and truth in art reminded me of some of my
favorite passages in _The Handmaid's Tale_, and affected me in much
the same way. Interestingly, all art (and I include fanfic in this) is
an imitation of Tolkien's original books (or Jackson's movies, if
they're movieverse), and so to affectively mimic them the author must
first have the qualities Maglor needed to mimic his brothers. Tehta
truly understands, pities, loves, (and perhaps fears?) her beloved
Feanorians, and it shines through here. Of course, she goes beyond
that by commenting on areas where Tolkien didn't go (at least not that
I've read), but that mimicry is the foundation that makes this piece
so strong.

"Enjoy" isn't the right word for this piece. It unsettled me, it moved
me, it made me think, and it connected me with the First Age Elves in
a way I don't think I had previously. At least not these Elves. I
eagerly anticipate more short pieces like this from Tehta.


Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:41:28
Oh, this is simply beautiful! "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening"
is one of my all-time favorite poems, and you have brought it to life
in Middle-earth. What really shines through this short tale is the way
that even I, being as fond of this poem as I am, did not realize just
how closely you had followed Frost's formula until I reached the
verses you quoted at the end. It was seamless, and seemed so natural!

But let's not just stop with the way you took charge of a beautiful
and poignant poem and made it say something new; because this story is
about much more than that poem. I love the imagery of Faramir with
white hair seeking out hints of his brother's last journey. The word
"relic" comes to mind, because he really does remind me of a medieval
Christian making pilgrimage to a saint's shrine. The fact that this is
set so late in his life makes me wonder just how much of all those
years since the War of the Ring he has given over to finding peace
about Boromir's fall, and understanding his conquering. I don't think
it dominated his entire life to the point that it blocked out
everything else good he could have enjoyed, but I do think his grief
would buoy up from time to time.

What I really admire about this story, though, is the way you look at
the "road" Faramir cannot yet travel. At first I thought he was very
literally going to follow in Boromir's footsteps by riding to
Rivendell, but it's more than that. He is old, and tired, and I can
see him maybe being ready to die (he did live so long), but after
Denethor despaired of life, I think that might be the promise he has
to keep: that he will not give up on life too soon, and that he'll
always find joy and not let himself be weighed down too deeply.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this! But even so, it made me think
and that thinking proved remarkably fertile ground, especially when
you consider the vignette's short length. Really, really brilliant
job, this piece.


Title: Concussion · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure · ID: 711
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:49:16
This is a charming tale, with lots of neat interactions between
characters I wish Tolkien had written more together. You found an
interesting canon accident, and the healing and the injury itself was
realistic as I understand the times and cultures. Nice work.

Title: The Burning of the Year · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 2
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:51:28
This is a great piece. There is so much detail, the first part of the
scene just leaps off the page. And there is a historicity to the piece
developed through the reference to the old sacrifices of the King's
Men on Numenor's sacrifices to Morgoth that call to mind Tolkien's
intricate backstory. It gives the characters and Gondor's larger
situation a depth that creates a more compelling story, not that the
simple Denethor-Faramir conflict is lacking for poignancy.

Yet what really does it for me is that final line: "[fire will cleanse
the final sacrifice]." At least as far as I understand Greek
philosophy, water is the element that cleans, and fire that devours. I
think it is a sign of how desperate Denethor has gotten that he sees
cleansing in the pyre's obliteration. Telling, and tragic. Well done
getting the point across.


Title: Blooded · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Youth · ID: 3
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 02:51:49
This is a very nice portrayal of the young Faramir first coming into
his manhood. The battle scene is told engagingly but without
overwhelming the story (as it could have), and the focus is kept
squarely where all of us Faramiristas love it: on the angst that makes
the young man into the aptain, steward and prince we all come to love.
Faramir is very realistic here, almost stoic, and he knows his duty
well; yet that does not mean he has to like it. It's a sober and
realistic portrayal of Gondor's peril and Faramir's character.

Title: The Accidental King: Five Reasons Why Finarfin Deserves an
Appreciation Month · Author: Dawn Felagund · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 5
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:07:42
This essay is really well put-together; it does for Finarfin's
character what Marnie's fiction and essays did for me for Marnie (that
is to say: made him a WHOLE lot more accessible, and pretty sexy to
boot :-P). Kidding aside, I had always thought of him as something of
a non-starter, canonically: great fodder for fanfic, but not a lot to
go on. Yet in what is unsaid and in the nuances of what is said, Dawn
shows us a side of Finwe's youngest son hat I never imagined. And he's
a really interesting and intriguing character, with all of the alure
of Faramir's nobility or Frodo's insistence that he will not use a
sword that has so captured the imagination of us Ring War fanatics.
I'm glad this essay gave him a bit of limelight.

Title: Fruition · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 7
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:21:22
Ooh, AU indeed. You are indeed the master of the short and dark AU; I
couldn't stop reading, and while my head kept protesting that no, no,
this could never in a million years happen, my heart is less sure.
Truly things were on the edge of a knife, and one ruthless lord could
have toppled so much.

Title: Relaxation Techniques · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Romance:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 283
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:39:49
Ah, the many facets of Theodred. We've all seen in-luv!Theo and
hott!Theo, but here he gets to develop some rather nice sides of his
personality. And he is an rascal, that's all there is for it. Even
peeved, he is great fun, and Boromir met him point for point. I love
seeing our boys in real situations like this; the passion (and not
just the erotic sort) was tangible in the room, and Boromir was very
skilled at the relaxation techniques. Nice work, EL.

Title: The Gates · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Dwarves · ID: 70
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:40:03
It's so nice to see the One Dwarf (or at least the only one that
really matters :^P) get some much-needed character development here. I
loved the idea that Gimli's gifts might be different from those
typically prized by dwarves, but that they were very much needed for
the work he's going to do in Aglarond. Yet he still seems very
dwarven, just as I imagine from canon. Very nice work.

Title: Transformation · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Men: General Drabble
· ID: 185
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:40:27
What I love most about this drabble is the keen sense of imagery that
seems to pervade it. It starts with Imrahil's clothes: sailor's pants
and half-open linen shirt, and especially that leather thong. It makes
him seem almost roguish, but it hearkens back to a simpler day before
he had to be prince, and I think it captures an awful lot about the
fourth age, that duties of command and duty in general, need not blot
out everything an individual enjoys.

But the imagery does not stop there. There's the [silver swan-ship
glinting in the sun], and the [sleek lines] of the ship, and not least
the sound of Imrahil's carefree laugh. It's all so vivid, the scene
just jumps off the page.

Title: Sarn Gebir · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 398
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:48:04
Ah, this was delightful! Boromir really is in his element here; the
whole passage (up until the very last line) reminded me of the line in
the appendices that he prefers the company of men-in-arms. I do think
he thrived when there was something to protect, a simple plan of
action he could implement and see doable steps to achieve some end.
All of the cloak-and-daggers of the Fellowship just would not suit
him, and it's easy to see why the Ring would wear him down.

But then that last line. Ah! It put such an edge on the entire piece.
Even when action is required, he can't have lasting peace from the
Ring trying to wedge its way into his heart, which is sad, tragic
even. That last line transformed this vignette, and it left me thinking.


Title: Elladan and Elrohir's Not So Excellent Adventure · Author:
Fiondil · Races: Elves · ID: 97
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 22:52:58
I love this! The situation seems like it should raise all sorts of red
flags for plausibility... but I found myself buying into it
completely. Elladan and Elrohir are so like teenagers about to leave
for college, so sure they can do anything they might want to, and
their elders are not without their foibles, which keeps the whole
story moving along.

Title: An Unexpected Party · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Humor: Drabble
· ID: 16
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:00:23
*snickers* Even the infallible wise old man archetype character has to
have a sense of humor, and clearly Gandalf has just that. As does
Branwyn--not that she is old, or a man, but the sense of humor bit she
definitely has down. Surprisingly, I've never seen this irreverent
take on the dwarves, and it works really well. This had me chuckling
before I'd finished my first cup of coffee, which is saying something
(as I can be dead to the world). It's quite a feat in 100 words. Read
this, you won't be disappointed.

Title: And Thought How Blessed He Was · Author: Imhiriel · Genres:
Romance: Drabble · ID: 670
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:12:53
First, I have to say just how delightfully *hot* this piece is.
Writing erotica is always a tricky business and never more so in a
drabble where word economy is at such a premium, but Imhiriel
accomplishes it with incredible sensuality. The author somehow makes
the needed brevity work here, tantalizing snapshots that create a
really intense scene.

But this piece isn't just about the erotic content. There is a deeper
meaning about how Aragorn adjusts to a life at peace. Rangers have no
home, but kings can, and Imhiriel investigates it brilliantly here.
This was one of the best drabbles I've read in quite a while.




Title: Lost in Translation · Author: sophinisba solis · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 31
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:36:35
Sophi, you really caught the frustration a non-native speaker in a
land where they don't really speak the language. I understand German
better than Pippin does "Elvish", but even I have similar moments when
I visit my family over there. And Pippin wants some information that
is so desperately important to him, I find it remarkable how well he
controls himself. And of course there are those other issues of trust
and the need to understand precisely. Nice work!

Title: The Scars of Stone And Sky · Author: Lady Elina · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 719
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-07-31 23:45:39
This was a really interesting piece, told with great use of detail and
a gentle touch that brought this alive. Not only do you handle the
attraction and the physical sensations well, but also the despair is
effectively established for the reader. I do not generally like
Aragorn slash stories--not because I dislike slash in principal, but
in my interpretation of canon I have a very hard time seeing him
loving anyone but Arwen--but this is one of the few that convinced me
of the relationship's plausibility.

Title: He Came To Meet Me · Author: sophinisba solis · Genres: Romance
· ID: 33
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:01:58
This has a nice pastoral feel to it. It's a nice gap-filler for the
occupation of the Shire, as well as a nice character piece of the kind
of hobbit Pippin might fall in love with.

Title: It's No Mystery, Really · Author: grey_wonderer · Races:
Hobbits: Merry and Pippin · ID: 36
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:07:06
As with most of GW's pieces, this one left me chuckling a little under
my breath. I don't know that I'd really call it properly humor, but
the tension and the quiet jibes between cousins are very well done,
and even more importantly they added to a sense of comfort and ease
that I am sure these two would have in GW's universe. Also, Pippin
seemed duly irate for someone a little under the weather. This was a
fun read.

Title: Crossing towards Sunrise · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 14
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:22:15
What really made this piece remarkable to me was what the author does
with Gandalf's character. Too often he is portrayed as without doubts
or weaknesses, but here he does not know what to do. (And in truth,
there's nothing much he can do. Bilbo is well-drawn, too, and Elrond's
tension is palpable. This has some very nice character-writing, and is
well worth the read.

Title: Alone and Forsaken · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: Vignette
· ID: 466
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:30:09
Sometimes a character's mindset is not the prettiest place to be, yet
it is necessary to crawl into his headspace to understand why he does
what he does in the canon. And Boromir's handling of Frodo's and
Aragorn's rejection of his argument is just such a case. This piece
gives us very nice glimpse into the desperation Boromir might have
felt. It doesn't make what he did right, but maybe it makes it a
little more understandable. I particularly liked the thought that of
course a country who had been tested so thoroughly would have no
strength left. It makes sense, and more importantly, it makes
Boromir's desperation believable.

Title: The Waves' Song · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 6
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 00:31:03
This brought on a real *sniffle* moment. The writing is so
atmospheric, and you can almost feel the ennui and lethargy in your
bones. Poor Arwen indeed. Yet as a reader I really liked it; it was
very affective.

Title: Left Behind · Author: Elanor · Genres: Drama: With Merry · ID: 28
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:02:43
This is such a fun story. I love all of the details, especially the
bit about Finduilas setting up the garden in the Houses of Healing.
But what really stands out is the insight into Merry's and Faramir's
character. They both seem completely reconcileable with their canon
selves as well as exemplars of their races, while still the story
added to how I understand them. I don't know if a story with this much
angst can be properly "enjoyed", but I certainly found myself thinking
for quite a while after I'd read this story.

Title: Tamer's Tale · Author: juno_magic · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 41
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:07:46
There are some things, it seems, that just should not work even in the
hands of the most skilled writer. Gandalf is and always will be a
stodgy old man, and before I read "Tamer's Tale" I never would have
thought that a Gandalf romance would have worked. Yet this story does
it. The erotic content and the tension between Gandalf and the OC here
is very nicely told, never getting too explicit but creating a
meaningful relationship that I could esily relate to.

And this story is sensuous in more ways than just that. Juno creates
an entire world, built around the concept of the last remnant of
Maedhros's fortress and tells the story of a whole family. Yet the
story did not feel weighed down by the backstory, and everything I was
told was both interesting in its own rite and pertinent to the larger
story. That's not something that's always easy to do here, but Juno
pulls it off marvellously. This is a must-read for fans of convincing
and well-rounded original characters.


Title: Respite · Author: Lindelea · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 303
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:12:53
This story is both truly sad and truly beautiful. It is beautiful in
the use of details. Drabbles often suffer for them, but this drabble
has a topic that is well-chosen and does not try to tell too much, and
so can tell what snippets it chooses to focus in on in a fuller way
than I seem able to accomplish these days. It's an admirable tale, and
while I still want to know more about Faramir in Ithilien, I was not
left feeling like there had to be more to the story in order for me to
be really satisfied.

The beauty of this piece also lies with the theme the author gives us.
I find it telling that Faramir makes his intellectual development a
priority even in Ithilien. We would excuse him if at the end of a
day's hiking he collapsed and didn't do anything cognitive if he could
help it. Or even if he drunk himself into a stupor to drown out what
he saw. Yet this drabble drives home the point that Faramir, and
Gondor by extension, is still more man than animal.

But there is also the darker underside. Because there are always more
raids to plan, and Faramir is dragged away from what he might enjoy.
That's the reality of Ithilien at this point in history, and the
contrast with bookish!Faramir really drives home the depth of the
conflict between Mordor and Westernesse.


Title: The Perfect Girl · Author: nikara · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 232
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:23:28
This is an interesting look at the Mary Sue phenomena. Your thoughts
about why young authors write Sues was intriguing. I agree, creativity
should be encouraged and I'm not crazy about the common reaction to
these stories.

Title: Unstrung · Author: Tehta · Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 161
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:31:03
This piece is, quite simply put, brilliant. Beyond brilliant,
actually, but I fear that English fails me here. As with a ll of
Tehta's work there is an understated quality to it that sneaks up on
you until it hits you like the proverbial ton of bricks. But the piece
is so understated that I am convinced my epiphanies are my own, not
the author's theme. That's just part of the brilliance.

Tehta includes author's notes at the end of this piece to explain some
of these references, and I'm glad she did, obviously, but I also found
that I did not need them as much as I thought I would. Without giving
away any of the surprises, I will say that I do not read much Silmfic,
have only read the Silmarillion twice, and even I puzzled out *most*
of what she hints at in the text before I got to the notes. But
because it was only suggested instead of told outright, it made me
think about what was going on much more. A similar thing happened for
me in "Gathering the Pieces". And ironically, the titles of both
pieces reflect just how I feel about the pieces. Here I was unstrung
in my own way; when I finally saw the extent of the Feanorians' fall I
had to cry, because it felt like I was experiencing it with them.
That's quite an accomplishment given my self-professed ignorance of
the Silmarillion.

But where Tehta really shines is in her description of the artists'
craft. I was completely blown away by her description of what art
takes out of the artist and the demands it has. The bits about the
difference between falsity and truth in art reminded me of some of my
favorite passages in _The Handmaid's Tale_, and affected me in much
the same way. Interestingly, all art (and I include fanfic in this) is
an imitation of Tolkien's original books (or Jackson's movies, if
they're movieverse), and so to affectively mimic them the author must
first have the qualities Maglor needed to mimic his brothers. Tehta
truly understands, pities, loves, (and perhaps fears?) her beloved
Feanorians, and it shines through here. Of course, she goes beyond
that by commenting on areas where Tolkien didn't go (at least not that
I've read), but that mimicry is the foundation that makes this piece
so strong.

"Enjoy" isn't the right word for this piece. It unsettled me, it moved
me, it made me think, and it connected me with the First Age Elves in
a way I don't think I had previously. At least not these Elves. I
eagerly anticipate more short pieces like this from Tehta.


Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:41:28
Oh, this is simply beautiful! "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening"
is one of my all-time favorite poems, and you have brought it to life
in Middle-earth. What really shines through this short tale is the way
that even I, being as fond of this poem as I am, did not realize just
how closely you had followed Frost's formula until I reached the
verses you quoted at the end. It was seamless, and seemed so natural!

But let's not just stop with the way you took charge of a beautiful
and poignant poem and made it say something new; because this story is
about much more than that poem. I love the imagery of Faramir with
white hair seeking out hints of his brother's last journey. The word
"relic" comes to mind, because he really does remind me of a medieval
Christian making pilgrimage to a saint's shrine. The fact that this is
set so late in his life makes me wonder just how much of all those
years since the War of the Ring he has given over to finding peace
about Boromir's fall, and understanding his conquering. I don't think
it dominated his entire life to the point that it blocked out
everything else good he could have enjoyed, but I do think his grief
would buoy up from time to time.

What I really admire about this story, though, is the way you look at
the "road" Faramir cannot yet travel. At first I thought he was very
literally going to follow in Boromir's footsteps by riding to
Rivendell, but it's more than that. He is old, and tired, and I can
see him maybe being ready to die (he did live so long), but after
Denethor despaired of life, I think that might be the promise he has
to keep: that he will not give up on life too soon, and that he'll
always find joy and not let himself be weighed down too deeply.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this! But even so, it made me think
and that thinking proved remarkably fertile ground, especially when
you consider the vignette's short length. Really, really brilliant
job, this piece.


Title: Concussion · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure · ID: 711
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:49:16
This is a charming tale, with lots of neat interactions between
characters I wish Tolkien had written more together. You found an
interesting canon accident, and the healing and the injury itself was
realistic as I understand the times and cultures. Nice work.

Title: The Burning of the Year · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 2
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 01:51:28
This is a great piece. There is so much detail, the first part of the
scene just leaps off the page. And there is a historicity to the piece
developed through the reference to the old sacrifices of the King's
Men on Numenor's sacrifices to Morgoth that call to mind Tolkien's
intricate backstory. It gives the characters and Gondor's larger
situation a depth that creates a more compelling story, not that the
simple Denethor-Faramir conflict is lacking for poignancy.

Yet what really does it for me is that final line: "[fire will cleanse
the final sacrifice]." At least as far as I understand Greek
philosophy, water is the element that cleans, and fire that devours. I
think it is a sign of how desperate Denethor has gotten that he sees
cleansing in the pyre's obliteration. Telling, and tragic. Well done
getting the point across.


Title: Blooded · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Youth · ID: 3
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 02:51:49
This is a very nice portrayal of the young Faramir first coming into
his manhood. The battle scene is told engagingly but without
overwhelming the story (as it could have), and the focus is kept
squarely where all of us Faramiristas love it: on the angst that makes
the young man into the aptain, steward and prince we all come to love.
Faramir is very realistic here, almost stoic, and he knows his duty
well; yet that does not mean he has to like it. It's a sober and
realistic portrayal of Gondor's peril and Faramir's character.

Title: The Accidental King: Five Reasons Why Finarfin Deserves an
Appreciation Month · Author: Dawn Felagund · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 5
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:07:42
This essay is really well put-together; it does for Finarfin's
character what Marnie's fiction and essays did for me for Marnie (that
is to say: made him a WHOLE lot more accessible, and pretty sexy to
boot :-P). Kidding aside, I had always thought of him as something of
a non-starter, canonically: great fodder for fanfic, but not a lot to
go on. Yet in what is unsaid and in the nuances of what is said, Dawn
shows us a side of Finwe's youngest son hat I never imagined. And he's
a really interesting and intriguing character, with all of the alure
of Faramir's nobility or Frodo's insistence that he will not use a
sword that has so captured the imagination of us Ring War fanatics.
I'm glad this essay gave him a bit of limelight.

Title: Fruition · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 7
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:21:22
Ooh, AU indeed. You are indeed the master of the short and dark AU; I
couldn't stop reading, and while my head kept protesting that no, no,
this could never in a million years happen, my heart is less sure.
Truly things were on the edge of a knife, and one ruthless lord could
have toppled so much.

Title: South · Author: Aliana · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor
or Rohan · ID: 8
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:33:01I already knew that this author
could write hobbits from her Eowyn-and-Frodo vignette from I think the
2006 awards, but in this piece her skill really shines. They are adult
and have weighty concerns that must be addressed and dealt with, yet
they still have that buoyancy I love so much, and it hits the reader
all the harder because Merry is so very weighed down by his wartime
horrors. Excellent character writing, Aliana.

Title: To Light the Way · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: With Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 12
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:41:26
This piece runs on a risky tension that could have descended into
sentimentality if handled by a less skilled writer, or simply
cancelled each other out and left the reader feeling "blah". On the
one hand, there is the high energy of the Mirkwood elves and even at
times the twins. This is well developed and even through their
melancholy we see moments that calls to mind the ["pretty fair
nonsense"] of the Rivendell Elves in _The Hobbit_. But there is also
the darker undertones of the weariness and the general grief the elves
have had to suffer, and the hopelessness of their general situation.
It reminds me a bit of Eowyn's hopelessness of finding a death worthy
of song, only without the hopelessness. Because the elven (or perhaps
Sindarin/Avarin) joviality wins through, giving us a glimpse of a
people that are too buoyant to be held down. It's a remarkably
effective way of characterizing a people, and it works marvellously
well here.

Title: The man in the woods · Author: Dot · Races: Men: Eriador or
Rivendell · ID: 13
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 03:47:46
This was very well done. The little girl and her brother were so
realistic, and I think this is just how life might have been in the
North in those years.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:00:03
In "Multicultural Interactions" Annmarwalk puts her gift for
characterization to extremely good use as she has to deal with two
minor characters who are barely names in the canon, and from very
different cultures. Elanor could not be anything other than a hobbit,
really, and the curiosity tempered with common sense that Ann infuses
her with are just what you'd expect from Sam's and Rosie's daughter.

Yet the character who really stole my heart in this tale is Elboron.
He is a bit like Bergil in his way, and also has characteristics that
remind you of any teenage boy: tripping over himself with excitement
at the things happening around him. But there's also Gondorian pride
and a touch of how Faramir treats the hobbits in Henneth Annûn. It's a
lovely portrait of a boy growing up in a time of peace.

Really, this pair of stories made my birthday week when she wrote it
for me. Some of my favorite work by her; I doubt it will disappoint.


Title: Bliss and Beauty · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Romance: Drabble
· ID: 20
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:06:33
This is really nice. The imagery you use is exquisite, and the use of
the numbers creates a very poetic look at their love, which I found
fitting.

Title: Escape · Author: Bodkin · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA
· ID: 24
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:12:00
This was really nice work. I love stories where we only figure out
peoples' identities slowly, when they're done well, and this
definitely qualifies. You also do a good job of developing the
tensions between men and elves. It reminded me somehow of the Battle
of the Five Armies, where the so-called "good guys" would have been at
each others' throats if the baddies hadn't shown up.

Title: Exploring the Wild · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 30
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:13:55
This was a lot of fun to read. Your young Boromir and Faramir are
always so full of life, and Nanny was laugh-out-loud funny at points.
And I got a definite giggle at the revelation that even Haloth doesn't
know Nanny's real name. I guess nobody does. Nice work, EL!

Title: Thirst · Author: sophinisba solis · Races: Hobbits: Vignette ·
ID: 32
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:14:09
What I most liked about this set of vignettes was the subtle way the
theme of water was used. It's not always obvious, but it always felt
natural and the different ways it connected Merry to other people he
met seemed to mirror his changing experiences quite well.

Title: Mettarë · Author: Galadriel · Races: Men · ID: 34
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:14:25
Oh, this was beautiful. What I like most about this is the theme that
you develop here about the price that Gondor must have paid to resist
Mordor so long. There is a taint that settles on them, much as they
might fight against it, and you portray it really well, first by
Boromir's disdain for the holiday and then by his need to hear the
song again. If Aragorn's treatment of Boromir is any indication, I
think he'll be a good king for Gondor.

Title: Three Turnings of the Year · Author: Ruby Nye · Races: Hobbits
· ID: 37
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:14:51
These vignettes were delightful. It doesn't surprise me given the
author that she should capture the pastoral quality often associated
with hobbit life, without them seeming that childish. That's a hard
quality to get at (innocence but not childishness), and the author
sidesteps the problem by giving the hobbits real problemms. Vinca's
concern for Pippin and the after-effects of the Shire Occupation in
particularly give these encounters weight, but they are still holidays
and they never descend into angst. Good work; I think anyone who likes
serious but not overly depressing stuff will enjoy these.

Title: Outmatched · Author: Tiana Luthien · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 132
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:15:08
LOL! Great interaction between Eomer and here, I can see a
friendly-antagonistic relationship working good between those two. It
really seems to fit their character, and the humor here was very sharp
and in-character for the two of them. I really liked this, Ti!

Title: Gentlemen's Night Out · Author: Oshun · Genres: Humor: Gondor
or Rohan · ID: 181
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:15:25
This story is a really fun read--I love imagining the gradual dawning
of realization on Legolas and the twins' revulsion about not wanting
to know who Legolas has slept with. And that line, [The Edain consider
such things a virtue?], really had me chuckling. You had some good
characterizations, and an innovative approach to LACE as well.

Title: Seeking to Please · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 193
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:17:04
This was really nicely done, Gwynnyd. It always seemed odd to me that
Aragorn and Arwen parted the way they did, then came together again
and were betrothed with nothing happening in between. Very mythic, but
also rather unrealistic. You've done a good job of filling in this
pocket of time when they might have been less comfortable with each
other.And having Elrohir give a more distanced view of things was a
touch of briliance, I loved his observations.

Title: Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush · Author: Isabeau of
Greenlea · Genres: Romance: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 512
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:17:25
Hee! This was a fun little read. It's fun to see hobbits in their
element, and you certainly wrote them there. Pippin had best watch
himself around that lass.

Title: Fell and Fair · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 526
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:17:49
Oh! This drabble series took my breath away. I have always loved Elena
Tiriel's drabbles for both their excellent writing and deft use of
canon. As with all of her stuff, "Fell and Fair" uses what little
canon we have about the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant to great
use, and in fact the whole series is inspired by a rather obscure
quote in HoMe. But the series is not stultified as many gapfillers can
be, and it tells us a whole new side of canon. It reminds me of
nothing so much as Marnie's "The Battle of the Golden Woods", one of
my favorite fanfic stories--only this is in drabbles, which makes the
accomplishment all the greater.

"Fell and Fair" has another thing in common with Marnie's novel: the
Sindarin elves are really in their element, and Celeborn especially.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a Celeborn fangurl, but it
has to be a certain type of Celeborn. For one, he has to be passionate
and wise at the same time, and have a good sense of humor. Check on
that count; his interactions with his lieutenant and their remembrance
of Doriath was absolutely hilarious, and the (rather misleading….)
tension of the fencing match with Elrohir was…. well, passionate is a
good word here, as the author knows from my previous comments. :-D I
most love Celeborn when he is not only Sindarin but very central to
Doriath's politics, and Celeborn & Galadriel also need to be in
balance, with Celeborn neither being overwhelmed by Galadriel's power,
or vice versa. Again, check on both accounts; F&F definitely succeeds.

The making of the lembas, the departure of Celebrian, Elrohir's and
Elladan's connection to the Edain, fleshing out the Gondorian
history…. there is *so* much to love in this series, and the only
regret I have is that it's not finished yet.


Title: Moira · Author: illyria-pffyffin · Races: Hobbits · ID: 676
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:18:06
This is a neat look at the hobbits, and their place in the Song. It
was nice to see how they were not forgotten by the PTB, even if the
other races didn't take much notice of them.

Title: A Kingly Discussion · Author: GamgeeFest · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Grey Havens · ID: 780
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:18:28
Oh, this was really fun to read, Gamgee Fest. The hobbits' reaction to
the Big Folk was perfectly believable. You really captured that
hobbity sense of humor well here, putting a unique spin on the
canonical facts about both races.

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-08-01 04:19:07
This is a nice little moment. I always wondered what happened when
Boromir and Aragorn left the Fellowship at Caradhras, and you've
filled that gap well.

Title: Perturbation of Fate · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama:
General Drabble · ID: 428
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-01 04:57:05
Effective, but sad, Maglor drabble. The piece presents a good reason
for Maglor's not returning to the West; but it's also a terribly
tragic one; that he still feels bound to his oath and to its object,
the Silmaril.

Rhapsody presents a haunting portrait here of an Elf bound too much to
a past as horrible as it was glorious, and his refusal to leave it behind.

Title: Marking Fours · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 1
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:06:36
This amazing drabble quartet densely packs a whole gamut of emotions
and ideas into just four hundred words. I was especially impressed by
the themes of the good/bad father,light and darkness and the
progression of time and grief.
It is ironic that Denethor who as his father gave Faramir life, should
seek to take that life away. I see Aragorn as becoming a symbolic
father to Faramir, by his healing of him. Faramir has a rebirth by
again coming forth from the darkness at his King's bidding.

For a man of Faramir's character, knowing the manner of his father's
death must have been a cruel blow. I like the author's idea that he
met Eowyn the day he heard the dreadful news.

I like the way Lothiriel helps and advises her cousin on preparing a
home for Eowyn. Faramir is finally starting to shake off Denethor's
shadow when he realises he no longer cares what his father would have
thought.
I always imagine Faramir as a good father, but having some issues to
overcome in being able to be the father that Denethor was not to his
own children. it is fitting that Elboron's first word,and hearing
himself addessed as "father" should finally unleash Faramir's long
supressed grief.

These drabbles are a fine writing acheivement and I highly reccomend them.

Title: The Burning of the Year · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 2
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:06:54
This is a haunting and somewhat chilling tale, which seamlessly blends
ancient myths with Tolkien's world.

Mettare is being celebrated in what will eventually prove to be one of
the most momentous years in Gondor's history. As Boromir is seeking
the answer to the riddle that he and his brother dreamed, it is
Faramir's place to lead the New Year procession.

The Steward's younger son tries hard to keep up his spirits, despite
knowing that the hour of destiny is at hand and badly missing his
elder brother.

It is heartrending to see how hard Faramir tries to win his father's
approval but always to be compared to Boromir and found wanting.

A sense of foreboding overshadows this story and what should be a
joyous celebration for Faramir and his father is overshadowed by the
knowledge that none may live to see the year out.

The writer skilfully uses the sacrificial rituals that form part of
our history and culture to show Faramir as the chosen victim, albeit a
symbolic one

Faramir hopes for some show of warmth from the father he admires but
can never please but is given only grudging praise.

The author uses a variety of symbols, which strike a chord in the
reader, light and darkness, life and death, old and new, fire, two
wreaths, one living and one dead.

The story is dark with foreboding throughout and ends with a chilling
foreshadowing of what Denethor will eventually do to his son. The
symbolic sacrifice, almost becomes a real one.


Title: Blooded · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Youth · ID: 3
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:07:17
What must it be like to kill? That is fortunately a question we most
likely will never know the answer to.. For a sensitive young man like
Faramir, Killing must have been a traumatic experience, especially for
the first time.

I would think killing with a sword would be especially nasty and
gruesome. Maybe the reason Faramir became an archer, was that is a
more distant method of despatching an enemy?

This thought provoking and well-written story explores the young
Faramir's feelings on making his first kill. Unlike his companions he
does not boast of his deeds, neither does he rush off to be sick.

The other young men hasten to give their swords heroic names. Faramir
has only a dagger to name, the sword being an old one of his father's
already named, ut can only think of a very prosaic title.

Reading this moving story made me realise how hard it must have been
for someone like Faramir who would rather play a lute or become a
scholar, to embrace the destiny that Sauron had forced on Gondor's
young men.

Faramir fears being unable to do his duty. We knowing, Faramir, know
he will but at what cost?

This story shows Faramir as a man apart, set at a distance from the
other young men, both by his rank and his qualms about killing. Unlike
Boromir, he is not a natural soldier, but the fact he has to overcome
his revulsion and fear, makes his triumph over it all the greater.


Title: Keeper of the Jewels · Author: Cuthalion · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 64
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:21:04
This story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish,eagerly
awaiting each new chapter of this exciting adventure.

I love the way the Fellowship show they can still work together when
Sam is kidnapped in a case of mistaked identity.I especially enjoyed
the writer's portrayal of Aragorn and his devotion to the missing Hobbit.

It is always a risk to use original characters in a work of
fanfiction, but the original character is a highlight of this story.

Lady Artanis begins as one of the villains, but shows herself more
than capable or redemption.Neglected by her family, she is drawn into
their scemes against Aragorn, but gradually comes to see his true
nobility. Aragorn ,for his part, shows true greatness in his treatment
of her when all is revealed.

A most enjoyable read.

Title: The Tides of the World · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 101
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:34:42
This is a beautifully written and bittersweet vignette which shows
Aragorn's greatness and also his humanity.

I read of his exploits on March 15th 3019 with awe, as he raises the
Army of the Dead,overthrows the Corsairs sails to Gondor, fights in
the battle and then instead of resting,spends all night healing the sick !

This touching ficlet explores the aftermath of Aragorn's exploits on
that memorable day. When the weary soon to be King is finally able to
seek his tent, he is so exausted that he can hardly walk and Elladan
and Elrohir anxiously escort him and tenderly care for their foster
brother. They give him wine and try to coax him to eat, but he cannot.

Finally, they undress him and put him to bed. I loved the image of
shirtless Aragorn, while wondering if he would not be cold despite the
fur covering in March !

Now free to rest,as so often happens, Aragorn's mind is too
overwrought to sleep and he mulls over the events of the momentous
day, the victories and the deaths,most especially the loss of
Halbarad. This brave warrior is all too often overlooked as his death
must have been a grievious blow indeed for Aragorn, who obviously
cared deeply for his kinsman and friend.

This ficlet is a delight for anyone who loves Aragorn as it gives a
welcome glimpse into the humanity and frailty of this wonderful man

Title: Adolescence · Author: Larner · Races: Cross-Cultural: Gondor ·
ID: 143
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-08-01 05:35:31
I think every parent will identify with this story about the problems
of raising teenagers, be they human, Hobbit or Princesses who are part
Elf !

Aragorn and Arwen's teenage daughter and Samwise's Elanor are weary of
parentel restrictions and like teenagers everywhere, decide to see if
they can get round them and slip out unnnoticed.

The young Princess had not reckoned with her royal father's
considerable tracking skills from his Ranger days and he catches up
with her and Elanor, just in time to save them from getting into trouble.

The King had fears he was growing apart from his daughter as she grows
up,but her escapade,does at least allow them to enjoy an afternoon
together,as it does for Sam and Elanor.

I loved this charming and delightful story and the way the friendships
between the families are obviously spanning the new generation.

Hi ChristineX,

I have moved your story "Heart's Blood" from Romance/Incomplete to
Romance/General. The new categories are listed below.

I saw in your other email that the only other change you thought should
maybe be made was listing "Mouth of Sauron" as a character. There
weren't very many MoS fics, so we combined it with some other minor
villains into "Other Villains". Your story does have that listed
already, so we can't really add Mouth of Sauron.

I think your piece is set now! Look over it and let me know if I need to
change anything so it has the right information.

Marta

--- Genres: Romance: General
33 He Came To Meet Me (Story: Short Story) sophinisba solis
67 Come Back to Me (Story: Short Story) Marta
242 Cophetua (Story: Medium Length) Jael
319 Great Oaks (Story: Short Story) Bodkin
499 Taters and Thyme (Story: Short Story) Cuthalion
601 Torn from a Map (Story: Short Story) sophinisba solis
608 A Tale of Elrond And Celebrían (Story: Novel) Nemis
667 Harvest Bonfire (Story: Short Story) Cuthalion
678 February Bride (Story: Short Story) Cuthalion
709 Heart's Blood (Story: Novel) ChristineX

--- Genres: Romance: Incomplete
267 Sons of the Stars (Incomplete: Medium Length) TrekQueen
465 A Hidden Hope (Incomplete: Novel) dancingkatz
559 Unexpected (Incomplete: Novel) Madeleine
698 The Allure of the Dark Angel (Incomplete: Novel) white raven
699 To This My Love Hath Come At Last (Incomplete: Medium Length)
Roh_wyn



christinex1001 wrote:

>
>
> My story "Heart's Blood" is now complete. Does it need to be moved to
> a different category? Not sure of the process...let me know what I
> need to do. (I'm ChristineX at the MEFA site.)
>
> Thanks!
>

I hesitated to ask this because I figure the answer is obvious, but I
haven't figured it out yet, so here goes!

When it says "Mark all reviews on this page.: Mark & Load" -- what
does that mean, and how does it affect the reviews?

Possibly related to that, why am I being told I have not read a
review? Do I have to mark it for it to count as being read?

Just want to make sure I do everything right!

Linaewen

Hi Linaewen,

When you mark a review you're telling the website that you are done
looking at it and don't want to see it when you look at reviews in the
future. When you go to look at reviews, the website's "default" is to
show only those reviews that you haven't marked before. (You can click a
"show marked reviews" link to see all the reviews.

When you click "mark & load", it marks all the reviews on that page, and
displays the next page of reviews.

And yes, an unmarked review is considered the same as an unread one.
Until you mark a review, the website doesn't remember that you looked at
it. It's kind of like saving a file after you've made changes - hitting
"mark & load" is like hitting save; if you close the window without
doing that the webpage won't remember that you read the reviews.

But marking a review doesn't affect anything about the review itself. It
doesn't change the review or give it more points or anything like that;
it just means the web page won't show it to you again unless it's
somehow edited (like if an admin goes in and adds square brackets to
mark off reviews), or if you tell the webpage to display the marked
reviews to you.

Does that answer your questions?

Marta

linaewen0 wrote:

>
>
> I hesitated to ask this because I figure the answer is obvious, but I
> haven't figured it out yet, so here goes!
>
> When it says "Mark all reviews on this page.: Mark & Load" -- what
> does that mean, and how does it affect the reviews?
>
> Possibly related to that, why am I being told I have not read a
> review? Do I have to mark it for it to count as being read?
>
> Just want to make sure I do everything right!
>
> Linaewen
>

Yes, that clears things up wonderfully. Thank you!

Lin

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Marta Layton <melayton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Linaewen,
>
> When you mark a review you're telling the website that you are done
> looking at it and don't want to see it when you look at reviews in the
> future. When you go to look at reviews, the website's "default" is to
> show only those reviews that you haven't marked before. (You can
click a
> "show marked reviews" link to see all the reviews.
>
> When you click "mark & load", it marks all the reviews on that page,
and
> displays the next page of reviews.
>
> And yes, an unmarked review is considered the same as an unread one.
> Until you mark a review, the website doesn't remember that you
looked at
> it. It's kind of like saving a file after you've made changes - hitting
> "mark & load" is like hitting save; if you close the window without
> doing that the webpage won't remember that you read the reviews.
>
> But marking a review doesn't affect anything about the review
itself. It
> doesn't change the review or give it more points or anything like that;
> it just means the web page won't show it to you again unless it's
> somehow edited (like if an admin goes in and adds square brackets to
> mark off reviews), or if you tell the webpage to display the marked
> reviews to you.
>
> Does that answer your questions?
>
> Marta
>
> linaewen0 wrote:
> >
> >
> > I hesitated to ask this because I figure the answer is obvious, but I
> > haven't figured it out yet, so here goes!
> >
> > When it says "Mark all reviews on this page.: Mark & Load" -- what
> > does that mean, and how does it affect the reviews?
> >
> > Possibly related to that, why am I being told I have not read a
> > review? Do I have to mark it for it to count as being read?
> >
> > Just want to make sure I do everything right!
> >
> > Linaewen
> >
>