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Orcs

Official Voting Ballot



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O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

URL: http://www.theoriginalseries.com/orcframes.htm

Rating: R non-explicit torture, bloodlust, adult theme

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A First Age Sinda captured by Orcs in the Third Age manages to
survive capture and her initial torment to make a place for herself in their
society. ~ ~ Orcs, OFC, no primary canon characters. Cameos by Glorfindel,
Elrond, Celebrian, Maedhros. ~



O2: Hunger by Nath

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2225

Rating: PG-13 graphic portrayal of -- well, orcs being orcs

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An unpleasant little vignette showing that what goes on in a
standard bearer's mind may not always be all that lofty... [Nominator's
Note: The author feels this work is more properly considered filmverse than
pure bookverse]



O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/806842/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The last moments of Ufthak, an Orc of Cirith Ungol, in the Lair of
Shelob.



O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1309

Rating: PG blood-thirstiness

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The song of an orc-chieftain's spear awaiting battle.



O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=3247

Rating: PG violence, disturbing images

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An Orc patrol encounter.



O6: Resurrection by Jillian

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=210

Rating: PG character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas and an orc have an encounter.



O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=9

Rating: PG too many exclamation points and parenthetical asides; gratuitous
use of netspeak (OMG!1)

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Ambitious young orc torturer learns Dark Lord's deepest secret.



O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1057

Rating: PG-13 violence, character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Inspired by the film version of FOTR, and the confrontation of
Boromir and Lurtz (God bless Sean Bean and Lawrence Makoare for their
wonderful performances). Each time I watch that scene, I wonder what they
can be thinking when their eyes meet.... This is what I've finally decided.



O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=2092

Rating: R Violence, gore

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The tale of an orc with a literary interest.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

Orc Patrol



OA2: Jillian

Resurrection



OA3: Lindelea

In the Eye of the Beholder



OA4: Nath

Hunger



OA5: shadow975

The Eyes Of An Enemy



OA6: Sulriel

Adventures in the Ettenmoors



OA7: Virvatuli

In the Absence of Her Ladyship



OA8: Viv

Snorg: Letters from Mordor



OA9: Werecat

You will see them at night



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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

> O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

Very nice. I never thought much about this topic, how Elves became
Orcs, before I stumbled across Sulriel's story. I found the torture,
bloodlust, etc., to be well-handled. While the piece was definitely
adult, the adult parts were not just put in to excite but had a real
place in the story.

Sulriel also helped me, not a huge fan of the Silmarillion, gain a
glimpse into the First Age. This piece was highly enjoyable, and I
really am glad I read it.

> O2: Hunger by Nath

I'm not sure I'd say I "enjoyed" this one - who can enjoy this topic?
:-) - But it was a nice little snippet into the mind of an Orc. Well
done.

> 04: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Interesting point of view, here! We don't read much about Moria orcs,
even less about their love for their weapons. But this seemed
perfectly in-character, and was both intriguing and disturbing.

> 08: The Eyes of An Enemy by shadow975

I generally prefer bookverse or bookverse/movieverse blends to strict
movieverse so I was a bit unsure about whether I wanted to read this
or not. I'm certainly glad I decided to read it. The scene in the
movies is touching, and shadw975 really builds on it to make me
sympathetic to both Lurtz and Boromir. Very well done.

> OA3: Lindelea

I've read Lindelea's hobbit work (specifically "The Rebel") and was
always impressed with the depth and maturity she brings to the Shire.
This proves she can do it for other races as well - and not just the
"easy" races, like Men and Elves. Lindelea seems to have a real grasp
for the idea that every culture is made up of details, little things
that define who the individuals within that culture are. I look
forward to reading more from her.

Marta

Me again! Shorter category so a much shorter ballot. The counters should be
pleased. ;) Stories are first and then the author section.

------------------------------------

Orcs
Official Voting Ballot

------------------------------------

STORIES

------------------------------------

>>O2: Hunger by Nath

I think Iým now deeply disturbed. This was an excellent story, and part of
what made it so excellent is just how much it disturbed me. The complete and
callous disregard for life on the part of the Orcs and their need to satisfy
their hunger at any cost (well, except maybe the cost of their own skin) is
sickening. I can easily see this scene taking place within a group of Orcs,
and that doesnýt make for a pretty picture.

>>O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

I love this story because itýs soýdifferent. I donýt know how else to
describe it. The spearýs voice is wonderful. Harsh, ruthless, and strangely
poetic. The imagery of a treasure room filled with the skulls of dwarves is
conveyed very vividly, and the harsh comments of the orc-chieftain to his
spear on the subject are chilling. I love how this is interwoven with the
books and how the mithril coat foils the spear. The thoughts of chewing and
clawing its way through the metal are gorgeous, and I actually felt a pang
of fear when it mentioned the poison on its tip. One scratch is all it would
take, and we were left with no room for doubt on that count. Very visual and
very unique perspective for a story.

>>O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Orc speak at its best. Or worst. I donýt really know what to call it, but
the writing is superb. This is clearly an Orc and he is clearly reveling in
the fact that heýs got an alleged sixth finger trophy. The story doesnýt shy
away from the true nature of the Orcs, and as readers, we are treated to a
full retelling of a battle from an Orcýs perspective. The opening paragraph
starts us off with no apologies and no remorse by comparing the ease of the
Orc victory to a blade slicing through a babyýs neck. Tone and mood firmly
established, the fic takes off on a horrific narrative that describes the
deeds and actions of Orcs as well as their motivations better than anything
I can think of. The notes of characterization (such as the fact that the
Orc-chieftain is apparently blind on one side and has a lackey that can
approach from that angle) are splendid and very much in keeping with the
tone of the fic. A very disturbing and very vivid look at the world of the
Orcs. By the end, I was completely intimidated.

>>O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

Very powerful little piece that completely took me by surprise. I was not
expecting the emotional depth that I got while reading it, and I was
certainly not expecting it from Lurtz, of all people. Even more amazing was
that it was believable on his part. Boromir I could envision making these
last moment thoughts, but Lurtz was something else. Yet I found myself
nodding and accepting that this might go through his mind, which shows very
skillful storytelling on the part of the author. The ending line gave me
goosebumps and quick thrill, which I loved after the lull in the battle.
Back to the action weýre sent, and the story ends on that note. Great job!

>>O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

Wonderfully chilling account of what happens when a bad orc goes good. Well,
thereýs really not that much of a difference that I can see. He still uses
the same methods to pursue his goals. He still views elves as less than orcs
and he still seems to take pleasure in their pain. In fact, if anything I
would say that an orc with a literary interest is even more dangerous,
especially given what heýs done with his literary interest. It hasnýt opened
his mind to the possibilities offered by elven culture. Instead, he has done
essentially what Morgoth did when creating the Orcs: he has taken something
and ruined it to suit his own purposes. And heýs done it well. The poem he
writes at the end is wonderfully chilly and eerie. I had shivers. Amazing
story.

------------------------

AUTHORS

------------------------

>>OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

I canýt even begin to describe what Igenlode has done with this fic. First
of all, the Orc is clearly an Orc. No lofty elvish descriptions or wry
dwarven humor. This is an Orc, first and foremost, and the Orc is going to
tell this story the way that Orcs tell stories. It takes a very talented
author to write a style and a narrative this tightly. I couldnýt see any
spot in the story that strayed from the Orcýs perspective at all. The
imagery was frightening, the word choice brilliant, and the ending had me
quickly nodding in agreement with the Orc-chieftain. Great story.

>>OA4: Nath

Nath managed to nail down the idea that Orcs donýt really care for anyone
except themselves. No ties, no remorse, no regret, just hunger and anger and
rage. A very unnerving look at a very foreign perspective on life.

----------------------------

Whoo. That was easy. Now to tackle the much longer Hobbit ballot...

Thundera

Orcs

Official Voting Ballot


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

Oooh, this was wonderfully tense and nerve wracking. I wanted to cheer by the
end, of course. "...with blade drawn and crowned in fire, sudden and in fury
came the King." Very well done!





=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

My votes for this category are below,

Jillian

>O2: Hunger by Nath

I really enjoyed this little story, and I can't help but feel poor
Celebrimbor erased some of his 'sins' in making rings of power by his
unpleasant death, and his body being used a standard...it took this author
to think up what happened to Celebrimbor's body after the hoardes of Sauron
finished 'flying' it, and I hope all the Orcs who ate him suffered severe
indigestion!

_________________________________________________________________
Click here for the latest chart ringtones:
http://ringtones.com.au/ninemsn/control?page=/ninemsn/main.jsp

Voting by proxy for Anna (white.tower@gmail.com)

(Proxy voting can only be done through the Admin by prior approval. Anna
requested this during Nomination Season. She has 4 votes. I will be posting
them at the appropriate times. Anna e-mailed her votes to me 9/18/2004.)

-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Orcs--Official Voting Ballot

Orcs

Official Voting Ballot


O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

A very well-written vignette that manages to create convincing atmosphere
and horror in a short number of words. The language is evocative and
concise, accurately creating a picture of the situation and the character;
the scene is also one that I can easily imagine occurring in the canon. The
details of the Orcish mindset were credible and interesting and I felt the
character's predicament was very well crafted. The last line certainly
succeeds at sending a shiver down the reader's spine!

This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

[Not a comment: Cannot reach this story: URL not valid]

O2: Hunger by Nath

Poor, poor Celebrimbor. Or so I assume, unless hanging
arrow-perforated bodies on poles as standards was common practice
among the enemies of the Free Peoples. Orcish brutality at its most
basic: 'hunger', indeed.

O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

This story doesn't humanize orcs for me, although one might think it
would. Rather, it brings home to me the orcishness of humans. Absolute
egoism expressed in the belief that surely we are important enough to
merit something more than to die alone and unmissed, and being nothing
at all to the slayer but some mundane object—this is unbearable, and
Ufthaft cannot accept it. He is no hero. This is undoubtedly how most
of us would react when faced with any extraordinary and dangerous
circumstance—good job portraying it.

O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Interesting perspective, both the POV and the angle on orcish
aesthetics. Nice ending.

O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Just about what I'd imagine from orcs. Well-written, and I liked the
little bit at the end, when we realize that the orc captain is
actually narrating to us after all.

O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

Ok, this got a chuckle from me. Sauron with nail polish—yes, scarred
for life by this image.

Assorted grunts and kisses in your direction—Dwim


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

I can't quite agree with the interpretation but it's nicely written.
Boromir fans should enjoy it. (Are there Lurtz fans? God knows. If so,
come read!)

O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

I really liked this story. An orcwith curiosity—surely Grishnakh alone
could hold a candle to Grundush! I think Grundush's mother
underestimates her son, and perhaps she should watch her back later in
life. Curiosity speaks of intellect and an ability and interest in
looking to larger pictures, to strategy and a different kind of
cunning than mere gutter survival tactics. He could be more horrific
than she is capable of imaginaing (literally). All speculation, of
course, but anything goes once orcs start writing poetry.

OA7: Virvatuli

In the Absence of Her Ladyship

Virvatuli shows she can do both humorous and serious fics. She's
versatile, and that can only be good.

OA9: Werecat

You will see them at night

Werecat tries to find the unusual nitches in fandom, and I enjoyed
this glimpse into the life of an orc with a passion for something
other than blood.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Orcs--Official Voting Ballot

Orcs

Official Voting Ballot






O2: Hunger by Nath

Well, the summary does it justice. They were certainly acting like orcs!
Grim bit of fun this one is!


O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

Wow, Frodo escaped the spider's sting and lived, not so this poor Orc. If
one can feel sympathy for an Orc, this story will make you do it.


O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Very interesting personification here: the point of view of an Orc's spear.
It sings and drinks, and yearns for blood. And dies.



O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Definitely sounds like an Orc patrol to me. Poor captives. And poor Nidrak
as it happens. There's no security in an Orc patrol.



O6: Resurrection by Jillian

Interesting. Legolas and Gimli felt right to me, and I liked that the Elf
the Orc was was able to go to Mandos' Halls, and to be let out to greet
Gimli and Legolas on their arrival.



O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

This could have fit happily in the humor category, but I'm glad it's here.
It's cute, with no attempt to be overly serious. And what a surprise there
at the end!


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

I got goose-bumps as I read the last line. Goose-bumps. This was
well-done, taking that moment, so quick in the movie and slowing it down to
take a look into each of their heads.



O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

That was spooky. It teased one into thinking it would be humorous, but not
so. The young Orc isn't made into comic relief. And yet he isn't
altogether sympathetic either. He doesn't despise his race for what he's
read. And he writes something more glorious and frightening of them
instead.



AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):


OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

I'm impressed by the authors in this category and their ability to capture
the Orc characters. Igenload is no less able. Her Orcs sounded like they'd
fit right in with Tolkien's.

OA2: Jillian Baade

Jillian had very nice characterizations of Gimli and Legolas and their
friendship. And she offers a hopeful outlook on what may become of the
first orcs.

OA3: Lindelea

Lindelea did a good job with something that some writers struggle with:
personification. She gave an inanimate object human (or Orc)-like qualities,
and did so believably, and even poetically.


OA4: Nath

Nath writes her Orcs with a bit of humor. Of course they're evil and mean,
but they were also a bithumorous in their fights for dominance and such. So
she writes them well in character.



OA5: shadow975

Bravo! Shadow975 can write a moment better than some can write a novel.
Many of us try to get into the heads of the Fellowhip, but fewer take on the
Orcs and Uruk-Hai and fewer still do both with equal talent.


OA7: Virvatuli

Virvatuli's Orcs were not humorous at all. And she even managed to make me
sympathize with one. That's a pertty good feat.



OA8: Viv

Viv really has a funny bone! I wasn't expecting such humor in the Orc
category but I'm glad I found it.



OA9: Werecat

Werecat successfully wrote a very complex Orc character. Odd that he would
read, we might be led to think he could turn into a good orc. But Werecat
keeps him an Orc just the same. And leaves us chilled for the experience.



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Orcs

Official Voting Bal




O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975


This is one of the best Orc stories Ive read, to see into the mind of the Uruk in those last few seconds. The scene in the film makes me bawl my eyes out and this story fits so nicely into that... that one second in time when Boromir looks into his eyes. I love fics that fill in a second in time in either book or movie verse.





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