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Much shorter ballot this time. I'm sure somebody somewhere is breathing a
sigh of relief at that!

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Numenor
Official Voting Ballot

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STORIES

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>>N1: Aglarrama by Zimraphel

Interesting story, and one that I enjoyed very much. Here we get a view of
Alcarondas from the perspective of the shipwright. And along with his
insight, we catch glimpses of other characters. Normal, every day Nýmenýrean
characters, not all of whom were caught up in the crazy worship of Morgoth.
I enjoyed seeing the pride that Indilzar had for his ship and contrasting it
with the pride that Ar-Pharazýn. Sauron made the most of his cameo, and in
the end, Alcarondas went off accompanied by an ominous roll of thunder.
Terrific foreshadowing.

>>N2: Celestial Quartet by Thevina

Intriguing tale that makes use of one of Tolkienýs favorite plot devices:
jewelry that simply refuses to stay put. Seriously, though, the blending of
the night with the ring was fascinating, and I enjoyed watching one of the
more obscure tails wend its way through other, more prominent tales.

>>N3: Confessions of a Queen Downfallen by Jen Littlebottom

A very disturbing piece that takes a long look into the mind of Tar-Miriel.
The veiled references to things that sheýs been through and things that
sheýs subsequently done make a greater impact than if theyýd been spelled
out one by one. By only hinting and never explaining, the readerýs
imagination is free to run wild, and mine did. Because just enough hints are
given that itýs easy to do so. And the narrative itself has that rambling,
half-crazed feel, and by the end, I was very uneasy. Which seems to be the
point of the piece, and I can only say that it did its work well. Short and
slightly sinister look at a Tar-Miriel who managed to save innocence from
Sauron but who paid for it dearly.

>>N6: Every Good and Perfect Gift by Nessime

This is a wonderful story and shows the Nýmenýreans at their best. I loved
the wise and enthusiastic portrayal of Silmarien, who would go on to found
the House from which Elendil, Isildur, and ultimately Aragorn would come.
The use of the word ýestelý was extremely appropriate, and I like how the
different types of hope were examined. One being a believe in things that
are good, and the other being a trust that things will work out with the
latter example being known as ýestel.ý Along with portraying some very wise
Nýmenýreans, it sheds new light on Aragornýs tale. Wonderful gap-bridging.
The other characters were also well drawn, even down to their gifts of star
charts and stars of Elendil. I also love how Finrod was pulled into this
story. A very appropriate link considering his friendship with men and
ultimately his preservation of Berenýs life, from whom Elros and the kings
of Nýmenor were descended. And I think thatýs what I really loved most about
this story: the way it linked to both the past and the present as well as
showing some very good characterizations of Tar-Elendil and Silmarien. And
their acceptance of Manýs Gift as a gift and not a curse was a great
contrast to the darker periods of Nýmenor.

>>N4: Renuvammet by Zimraphel

I always imagined the elves of Lindon giving support and supplies to Elendil
and the Faithful who washed up on shore, but for some reason, my mind never
made the jump from this to the logical conclusions that they would also help
those who grieved. Which is why I like this fic so much. Elrond comes as a
messenger of Gil-galad, and as one who has already lost much, he helps
Elendil with his own grief. Short, touching story that remembers the
Faithful were not alone in their loss.

>>N5: The Eleventh Hour by Zimraphel

Wonderful story about sacrifice and devotion. I love the reasons Tar-Miriel
gives for her decision to stay in Nýmenor, and I love that she sends her
youngest maiden in her place, a maiden that had apparently been thought lost
by the Elendili. Sauron was at his best, sly and almost coy in his words,
only giving hints of his ultimate plans. Elendil and Isildur were
surprisingly complete characters in their small roles, and their acceptance
of Tar-Mirielýs decision as well as their sorrow was heartfelt. A good
reminder that the lords of a land are by necessity not lords of themselves.

>>N7: The Sinking of Numenor by Jen Littlebottom

Not exactly what I read in the Silmarillion, but entertaining, nonetheless.
My favorite part was probably the message sheep. Something about that made
me laugh. And I think Elrond should have kept some of the fae around. They
could have been used as expendable forces when Sauron returned to
Middle-earth.

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AUTHORS

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>>NA2: Nessime

Nessime took a tidbit of history, found other tidbits of history, found even
MORE obscure tidbits of history, and then tied them all together in a lovely
tale of Nýmenor. I very much enjoy how the history of the past narrowed to
produce some of the greatest years of Nýmenor, and how the moment in this
story alluded to Nýmenorýs ultimate downfall but also to what would save the
remnants who survived: estel. Hope. But not just hope. Trust, also. Itýs an
intriguing concept that very much makes the difference between Tar-Elendil
and the last king, Ar-Pharazýn. One has hope in trust while the other has
hope in ambition. In one little scene, Nessime is able to distill and
compare the long centuries of Nýmenor, trace their respective philosophies
back through history to an obscure debate between Finrod and Andreth, and
then push them forward in time to the last years of the Third Age in which
Estel was once again needed. Nessime hides so much in what appears to be a
simple tale on the surface but is in reality a far-reaching epic. And that,
too, is very characteristic of Nýmenor.

>>NA4: Zimraphel

Zimraphel has the ability to find the other perspective angle in dealing
with Nýmenor. The three stories nominated here are always told with
something of a slant. A different way of looking at things, if you will.
Whether itýs a gifted shipwright watching his pride and glory sail into what
will become ruin or a simple maid reunited with his parentýs kin just ere
the storm breaks, weýre shown the other side of life in Nýmenor. The main
characters and conflict are there, but Zimraphel gives it an added dimension
that makes it that much more complete.

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Thundera

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Numenor
Official Voting Ballot

(No Subcategories)

N1: Aglarrama by Zimraphel
I'm not a sailor. Closest I've ever gotten in real life is a few
hours on a speedboad in a manmade lake. But even I could smell the
sea brine and hear the nautical pipe laments when I read this story.
The seafaring culture was so richly depicted in this piece that I
completely forgot, for a time, that I wasn't part of it.

N5: The Eleventh Hour by Zimraphel
There is plot here, of course, but the characterizations are really
what set this piece apart. All the characters, even the loathsome
Karbû, are carefully etched, easily recognizable. Sauron chilled me,
from his slither of dialogue, to his play on names, to his veiled
insults. And I never would have thought an ingenue character would
hold my interest beyond a paragraph or two, but Zaira did. Of
course, I can't say enough about the nobility of Elendil, either.
However, despite all these stellar examples of characterization,
Miriel is the centerpiece in this story. Italicized inner thoughts
show her soul within the shell, her necessary facade, and her deep
and hopeless desire for a different life. If she became a little
bitter there at the end, I can't really blame her for it. In fact, I
can only admire her and thank Elendil for giving her that poetic end
in the telling. She deserved it.

N7: The Sinking of Numenor by Jen Littlebottom
Special lembas, eh? I'll bet! This was hilarious, from hauty Gil-G
to the fable-esque "and that is why there are ..." message (utterly
brilliant). I won't ruin it for those folks who haven't read, but
this is elven marketing at it's height! Or rather, "Operation
Oropher's Cunning Plan That Proves Once and For All The Sindar Are
Better Shut Up Gil-Galad You Prick What Did You Just Say About My
Mother." In conclusion, I just have one substantive thing to say
about this story: Baaa.


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

NA1: Jen Littlebottom
Can a mere mortal fic writer turn something as tragic and high-drama-
esque as the sinking of an entire fnarking civilization into Comedy?
Oh, yes. This author can. And that takes skill. Of course, the
breadth of that skill can only be realized fully when you compare
the humour piece to her other work. Jen does it all.

NA4: Zimraphel
You know, when I think of Numenor, I see your kiss-stealing cutey
from a Ranga of Wool, your shipbuilder from Aglaramma, your thug
from The Eleventh Hour. These are the people who populate the
Numenor of my mind. What? Tolkien didn't write them? But, I was
certain... well, nevermind. I like your Numenor better, anyway.


This category ends on October 5th at 11:59pm Central US time