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Wow, I got one in before the deadline! I hope I did it right : )

Marigold
*****

The Lord of the Rings
Official Voting Ballot

Drabble
LD1: "And get my pipe out of my pack, if it isn't broken&" by Lindelea
URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=371&cid=1532

This is a wonderful drabble, and says so much. The outwardly spoken words of Merry and Pippin are so calm and matter-of-fact, making their grim thoughts even more powerful and heart-wrenching.


Drabble
LD2: Fireside Chats by Lindelea
URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=371&cid=1536

Poor Frodo! Very nice drabble!


Drabble
LD3: I See the Moon, and the Moon Sees Me by Lindelea
URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=371&cid=1534

This is a very sweet drabble in the beginning, and I love this line: This one was graced with endless patience, perhaps in preparation to be older cousin to this younger one. I love that Pippin remembers Merrys words from that long ago night, and that they bring him comfort when he needs it. I liked the thought that Pippin knew that Merry was still there, that the Shadow hadnt completely taken his cousin. The bit from their childhood ties into the closing line perfectly. Lindelea manages to clearly show each characters personality here. I could see from this just how they grew up to be where they are at the point of the ending line, so very well done, Lin!


Drabble
LD6: The Moon Sees Somebody I'd Like to See by Lindelea
URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=371&cid=2568

This drabble compliments I See the Moon, and the Moon Sees Me perfectly. Once again I liked the glimpse that we have of the two cousins when they are younger, and this drabble really gives us a nice glimpse of their personalities. Merry, a bit bookish, and thinking of adventure, Pippin thinking of nothing but Merry - because Merry is his world, Pippin would of course want his undivided attention when he was younger&and probably even when he was grown, lol. The thought that Merry has in Cormallen, wishing to hear Pippins carefree chatter once more was lovely.


Incomplete
LI5: Recaptured! Ch. 93-x by Llinos
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/970288/1/" TARGET=_new>Recaptured! Ch. 1-92</A>, <A HREF="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/969855/1/

This is my favourite fanfiction story of all! It has been going for two and a half years, and I hope that it will continue indefinitely! The author started writing this as very short chapters posted daily, which I think was exactly the right way to present it at the beginning, but I really appreciate that she has adapted to the demands of the story and made later chapters longer and longer. True, they are now updated only every couple of months, but the length and content more than makes up for the wait. I enjoy so many things about this story. Llinos took a simple idea, what events might transpire if something happened just a little bit differently on the Quest, and has created a truly wonderful story. She writes the characters of Merry and Pippin, the main characters, wonderfully, and in such a way that the reader just falls in love with them. Their trials and tribulations and heroic deeds are like the wonderful old serials at the cinema, and each chapter is satisfying and still leaves the reader wanting more. The ever-expanding plot is fascinating! One of the things that make this story so great is the way every genre and emotion is to be found here. Hurt/comfort, humour, angst, romance, battles, drama, love, innocence, horror, mysticism, danger, lightheartedness, and adventure  it is all here, and in just the right amounts. The characters, of every race, hobbits, men, elf, orcs, dwarves, and even beasts, are written appropriately, and every character speaks with just the right *voice*, something that isnt easy to do. This is an incredibly enjoyable story, and I look forward to each and every chapter!


Vignette
LV1: A Gift for Pippin by Gwynnyd
URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2971
Rating: G

There are some very nice moments in this story. I especially like that Legolas comforts Pippin about what happened in Moria, as so many authors do blame him for waking the balrog and Gandalfs death, and I dont agree with that. The talk about the elves writing a song for Pippin is very nice, and the joke about Legolas making a comb for Aragorn was good. I did think that it was a bit out of character for Merry to leave Pippins side at this time, and that felt a bit contrived, but overall an enjoyable story.


Vignette
LV7: Sting by TreeHugger
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1233315/1/

This has been one of my favourite stories from the very first time that I read it. It is a gem filled with many smaller gems. Bilbo and Glorfindel are both in character and the dialogue is very well written. The whole plot idea is a very good one, as if Thorin and Gandalfs swords were famous blades, why not Bilbos Sting? And the origin of the blade is just inspired. I like the idea that this sword went on to serve the Fellowship so well on the Quest. The story flows so nicely, starting out with a very comfortable feeling, and then becoming more and more fascinating. The story has some wonderful canon details, and the author really knows her stuff.


L4: Answering Machines of Middle Earth by Lindelea
URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=409
Rating: G

Once again Lindelea uses her wit and has written a delightfully funny story! There are a few stories of this genre out there, but this is by far the best that I have ever read!



L13: The Gift of Iluvatar by Ariel
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1267180/1/
Rating: G

This story draws the reader in from the very start. It is written in such a style that I felt that I had an intimate view of what was happening. All of the details are wonderfully drawn, and I liked the attention to them. For example, the fact that Frodo and Sam were holding hands so tightly when found was a perfect touch. All of the characterisations were very good, and I especially enjoyed poor Peregrin having his bath!



L15: Waiting, Wondering, Wandering, Wishing by Gonzai
URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=308&SPOrdinal=1

This is a nice picture of Merry and Pippin, and I enjoyed it very much!


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

Drabble
LDA3: Lindelea
And get my pipe out of my pack, if it isn't broken&, Fireside Chats, I See the Moon, and the Moon Sees Me, The Moon Sees Somebody I'd Like to See

Drabbles are something that I really enjoy writing, and I know how hard they are to get just right. Lindelea manages to write drabbles that are multi-layered, and doesnt waste a word. I like the way that she often ties in past with present.



LA19: Lindelea
Answering Machines of Middle Earth

Always a sharp and witty author when writing humour!



LA21: Llinos
Recaptured!

Llinos took a simple idea, what would happen if something happened just a little bit differently on the Quest, and has created a wonderful story, my absolute favourite work of fanfiction. It is a labour of love for her, with a huge fan following, and I really appreciate the amount of work that she puts into it. I am very impressed by the way she has caused this, her main story, Recaptured, to evolve over the course of its writing. The chapters started as very short daily updates, and now are approaching 10,000 words, and are posted every couple of months, as she adapted her style to better encompass the scale of the story. It is like those wonderful old serials that they used to show at the cinema, and I admire the depth of enjoyment and reading satisfaction that she is able to put into her stories. In the course of this particular story she has come up with some wonderful and creative ideas, and come up with them when the fandom was just starting, and there was not much fanfiction out there. I love her imagination, and her skill in getting her ideas across, and in a way that entertains the reader. She is able to write hurt/comfort, angst, humour, horror, and drama equally well, and they are all present in just the right amounts in her work. She also knows her hobbits, and is able to write not only them incredibly well, but also Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Aragorn, Faramir, Eowyn and Gollum, and many others from the books  not too many authors are able to capture so many characters voices so very well. And she is skilled in writing her original characters as well, not just orcs, but also several characters among men. I love the way that she has created unique voices for all the characters, and keeps their voices true. I have no doubt that she will keep this story fresh and wonderful to its conclusion, and then I hope she will consider a sequel!





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


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Tales of The Red Book
http://www.livejournal.com/users/talesofredbook/

There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for awhile. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Sam, in Mordor, RoTK