Yahoo Forum Archive

Author: Bodkin =C2=B7 ID: 411 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Gener=
al
Reviewer: Leaward =C2=B7 2005-08-16 13:19:22=09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09=
=09 =09 =09 =09 =09

Bodkin has a style that tells an entire story with layered characters and s=
tory using a minimum of words. It is refreshing to read, and I often tell m=
yself that I need to study her ability to do that and learn it myself. She =
remains true to her canon characters and keeps 'in-character' while staying=
true to the flavour of Tolkien's world and style.


-----------------------------------------
Author: Citrine =C2=B7 ID: 300 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135):=
General
Reviewer: Lindelea =C2=B7 2005-08-18 10:23:50
How I enjoy Citrine's stories! This author writes the sort of detail-rich-y=
et-never-tiresome scenes that give her work the sense of "realness" that I =
am always seeking after when I read. The stories balance between darkness a=
nd light, heaviness and humor--flashes of humor shine like sparks set again=
st dark background, keeping a serious story from miring in hopelessness. Ve=
ry deft at achieving a swirl of emotions: one moment you are smiling at a h=
obbity moment, the next brings tears to your eyes, and the next line brings=
a chuckle.

I can always count on this author for a "good read".
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dana =C2=B7 ID: 264 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135): Dr=
abble
Reviewer: Lindelea =C2=B7 2005-08-18 10:32:07
Dana has a wonderful gift for creating atmosphere and for getting inside th=
e heads of her characters, showing feelings more than just thoughts. When r=
eading one of her stories I often find myself settling into it just as I mi=
ght into a tub of steaming water--and enjoying it just as much!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dana =C2=B7 ID: 264 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Gap-Filler (58): General
Reviewer: Lindelea =C2=B7 2005-08-18 11:09:49
"Lightness" is a very nice picture of Merry waiting hopeful-hopelessly for =
Pippin to awaken at Cormallen. The words going through his head ring true; =
he is caught in regret and memory and even futility... and it is fitting th=
at Pippin wakens, just at the right moment, to lead him out of his dark tho=
ughts.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Lindelea =C2=B7 ID: 27 =C2=B7 Genres: Mystery (6): General
Reviewer: sulriel =C2=B7 2005-08-19 19:40:18
Lindelea is a caring and dedicated author, whose love of Hobbits and her lo=
ve of her work shines through in her fascinating details and carefully wove=
n plots and twisting subplots. Working within Tolkien=E2=80=99s Middle-eart=
h, she=E2=80=99s crafted an elaborate world within a world with her extende=
d hobbit families =E2=80=93 both their pasts and their futures in the Shire=
she=E2=80=99s built, so carefully crafted alongside Tolkien=E2=80=99s. Kee=
p up the good work Lindelea =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99ll try to be a better fan i=
n the future and be more consistent with my reading and reviews.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Marnie =C2=B7 ID: 245 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Gen=
eral
Reviewer: sulriel =C2=B7 2005-08-19 21:23:21
Marnie's Battle of the Golden Wood was the novel length work that hooked me=
on fanfiction. Surfing endless pages of - in my opinion, less than excelle=
nt works - I had almost lost hope of finding the quality reading I was look=
ing for when I stumbled on her Celeborn. Her dedication to her work shows t=
hrough in her consistency and attention to detail. Her skill is greatest in=
the depth of her brilliant characterization of individuals and races alike=
, and in her cleverly woven subplots that make the 'big picture' complete b=
y the end of the story.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Karri =C2=B7 ID: 107 =C2=B7 Genres: Movie-verse (21): General
Reviewer: sulriel =C2=B7 2005-08-21 10:06:09
I am delighted to discover Karri through the MEFAwards this reading season.=
She displays wonderful talent and emotion with her writing and I believe t=
hat she greatly enriches the fandom with her work. I will be watching and h=
ope to be reading more of her in the future.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Karri =C2=B7 ID: 107 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135): G=
eneral
Reviewer: sulriel =C2=B7 2005-08-21 10:07:17
I am delighted to discover Karri through the MEFAwards this reading season.=
She displays wonderful talent and emotion with her writing and I believe t=
hat she greatly enriches the fandom with her work. I will be watching and h=
ope to be reading more of her in the future.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67=
): General
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:32:01
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with Legolas, her ho=
bbits or her fabulous orginal characters. It is always a good read. Taking =
her time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, m=
aking them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they=
have to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace an=
d eagerness.

Isil=E2=80=99s explorations of her Silmarillion stories are always a ride. =
She clearly knows in which time period she writes, but dares to write gap f=
illing stories.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Rohan (37): Genera=
l
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:35:37
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous orginal characters. It is always a good read. Taking her =
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, makin=
g them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they hav=
e to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace and ea=
gerness.

Isil has a special spot in her heart for Rohan characters, even though ever=
ything is pretty much set in stone with Rohirrim canon characters, she yet =
manages to find an unique angle to write about.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Ring=
s (111): General
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:36:39
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous orginal characters. It is always a good read. Taking her =
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, makin=
g them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they hav=
e to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace and ea=
gerness.

Isil knows her Lord of the Rings and that shows. With care and eye for deta=
il, she spins a beautiful tale that leaves you craving for more.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Hobbits (90): Gene=
ral
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:38:13
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous orginal characters. It is always a good read. Taking her =
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, makin=
g them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they hav=
e to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace and ea=
gerness.

When she writes stories about hobbits, I am always amazed how she manages t=
o bring on a tinge of romance and yet gives you that hobbity feeling.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (=
135): General
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:43:27
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous original characters. It is always a good read. Taking her=
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, maki=
ng them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they ha=
ve to choose. Even if it is by means of dramatic changes in the stories. Is=
il is a great author that improves herself with grace and eagerness.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Genres: Romance (72): General
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:44:35
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous original characters. It is always a good read. Taking her=
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, maki=
ng them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they ha=
ve to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace and e=
agerness.

Romance and Isil, those two things go together very well. Sometimes her mus=
e let her write very detailed information about clothes, surroundings=E2=80=
=A6 but also feelings and passion.

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Isil Elensar =C2=B7 ID: 287 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Elves (66): Genera=
l
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:45:18
When I think of Isil Elensar, my first thoughts are: eye for detail and a s=
tunning narrative. Over the year I have read many stories of her and the mo=
re she writes, the more she improves in a natural way. Reading her stories =
is being taken on an adventure with her, whether it is with canon character=
s or her fabulous original characters. It is always a good read. Taking her=
time, she explores the thoughts and actions of her chosen characters, maki=
ng them more lovable and you truly feel for them with whatever path they ha=
ve to choose. Isil is a great author that improves herself with grace and e=
agerness.

Isil knows her elves and that shows. When she writes a story that takes eit=
her place in an elven realm or with an elven character: she has her own opi=
nion to share and writes it masterfully. Combine that with a tinge of roman=
ce and you are guaranteed of a good story!

Within a year, Isil has made incredibly progress and I am certain that she =
will only get better. Great work Isil! Keep on sharing your stories.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Minuialeth =C2=B7 ID: 427 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (13=
5): General
Reviewer: Rhapsody =C2=B7 2005-08-21 14:56:46
Minuialeth is an author with such an incredibly talent, with so many words,=
she conveys her stories so strongly. She has a natural way of writing that=
is captivating. Taking her time with writing her tales, she weaves many st=
ory layers that truly baffle you. Remaining true to her own writing style, =
reading Minuialeth=E2=80=99s stories stand out for me. They are gems that, =
in my humble opinion, should not be overlooked. I hope to see more coming f=
rom her and it is hard to imagine that with the level she writes now, she s=
till considers that she needs improvement. Which is of course a natural way=
of thinking for every writer. Keep up the good work!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Drabbl=
e
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:28:08
Alawa is one of those authors who takes brevity as a challenge and rises to=
the occasion. Whether it's a drabble or a poem, a vignette or a gap-filler=
, she has an unerring sense of where the heart of the matter lies and of di=
splaying it with an elegance and sharpness that don't take away from the ot=
her essential quality of her writing: polyvalent resonance. Despite the bre=
vity, or perhaps because of it, words and phrases signify in multiple direc=
tions, and they vibrate, resonate with the multiple connections they make, =
all of which contributes to the experience of reading the work. A poet need=
s this quality desperately, and Alawa has it in spades. Short pieces deserv=
e second and even third readings; Alawa's "Dandelion Clocks" is one of the =
trickier fanfics I've read, for all it's a mere one hundred words, and her =
Gr=C3=ADma doesn't need a sonnet to squick. Just give him a haiku and the c=
hill that's imparted is out of proportion to the length, unless we postulat=
e an inverse relationship of word count to impact. When it comes to romanti=
c poems, Alawa shows that spareness of verse can convey as much as a dozen =
longer fics, and is twice as suggestive of necessity.

In closing, Alawa is one of the few fanfic poets who can make me sit up and=
take notice, who can get through to even me with a stanza. I don't know ho=
w she does it, and I'm not equipped to do a more detailed analysis of what =
exactly makes her work turn, but whatever it is, it rarely fails to entice =
me onward.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Men (31): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:28:48
Alawa is one of those authors who takes brevity as a challenge and rises to=
the occasion. Whether it's a drabble or a poem, a vignette or a gap-filler=
, she has an unerring sense of where the heart of the matter lies and of di=
splaying it with an elegance and sharpness that don't take away from the ot=
her essential quality of her writing: polyvalent resonance. Despite the bre=
vity, or perhaps because of it, words and phrases signify in multiple direc=
tions, and they vibrate, resonate with the multiple connections they make, =
all of which contributes to the experience of reading the work. A poet need=
s this quality desperately, and Alawa has it in spades. Short pieces deserv=
e second and even third readings; Alawa's "Dandelion Clocks" is one of the =
trickier fanfics I've read, for all it's a mere one hundred words, and her =
Gr=C3=ADma doesn't need a sonnet to squick. Just give him a haiku and the c=
hill that's imparted is out of proportion to the length, unless we postulat=
e an inverse relationship of word count to impact. When it comes to romanti=
c poems, Alawa shows that spareness of verse can convey as much as a dozen =
longer fics, and is twice as suggestive of necessity.

In closing, Alawa is one of the few fanfic poets who can make me sit up and=
take notice, who can get through to even me with a stanza. I don't know ho=
w she does it, and I'm not equipped to do a more detailed analysis of what =
exactly makes her work turn, but whatever it is, it rarely fails to entice =
me onward.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings (111)=
: Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:29:32
Alawa is one of those authors who takes brevity as a challenge and rises to=
the occasion. Whether it's a drabble or a poem, a vignette or a gap-filler=
, she has an unerring sense of where the heart of the matter lies and of di=
splaying it with an elegance and sharpness that don't take away from the ot=
her essential quality of her writing: polyvalent resonance. Despite the bre=
vity, or perhaps because of it, words and phrases signify in multiple direc=
tions, and they vibrate, resonate with the multiple connections they make, =
all of which contributes to the experience of reading the work. A poet need=
s this quality desperately, and Alawa has it in spades. Short pieces deserv=
e second and even third readings; Alawa's "Dandelion Clocks" is one of the =
trickier fanfics I've read, for all it's a mere one hundred words, and her =
Gr=C3=ADma doesn't need a sonnet to squick. Just give him a haiku and the c=
hill that's imparted is out of proportion to the length, unless we postulat=
e an inverse relationship of word count to impact. When it comes to romanti=
c poems, Alawa shows that spareness of verse can convey as much as a dozen =
longer fics, and is twice as suggestive of necessity.

In closing, Alawa is one of the few fanfic poets who can make me sit up and=
take notice, who can get through to even me with a stanza. I don't know ho=
w she does it, and I'm not equipped to do a more detailed analysis of what =
exactly makes her work turn, but whatever it is, it rarely fails to entice =
me onward.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Genres: Romance (72): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:30:06
Alawa is one of those authors who takes brevity as a challenge and rises to=
the occasion. Whether it's a drabble or a poem, a vignette or a gap-filler=
, she has an unerring sense of where the heart of the matter lies and of di=
splaying it with an elegance and sharpness that don't take away from the ot=
her essential quality of her writing: polyvalent resonance. Despite the bre=
vity, or perhaps because of it, words and phrases signify in multiple direc=
tions, and they vibrate, resonate with the multiple connections they make, =
all of which contributes to the experience of reading the work. A poet need=
s this quality desperately, and Alawa has it in spades. Short pieces deserv=
e second and even third readings; Alawa's "Dandelion Clocks" is one of the =
trickier fanfics I've read, for all it's a mere one hundred words, and her =
Gr=C3=ADma doesn't need a sonnet to squick. Just give him a haiku and the c=
hill that's imparted is out of proportion to the length, unless we postulat=
e an inverse relationship of word count to impact. When it comes to romanti=
c poems, Alawa shows that spareness of verse can convey as much as a dozen =
longer fics, and is twice as suggestive of necessity.

In closing, Alawa is one of the few fanfic poets who can make me sit up and=
take notice, who can get through to even me with a stanza. I don't know ho=
w she does it, and I'm not equipped to do a more detailed analysis of what =
exactly makes her work turn, but whatever it is, it rarely fails to entice =
me onward.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135): G=
eneral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:30:36
Alawa has a particular talent when it comes to working with Aragorn and Bil=
bo, either together or separately. I'm very particular when it comes to Ara=
gorn fics=E2=80=94being a dyed-in-the-wool Aragorn groupie, I have my own v=
ery definite notions about his characterization and the will to write if I =
don't like what I'm reading or am simply unimpressed when it comes to Arago=
rn as he appears in the fandom. Alawa is one of the few who writes him in s=
uch a way that I never bat an eye; I just relax and enjoy the ride, and am =
never disappointed. She's managed to get inside the inside-ever-outside exp=
erience of a Ranger who would be king, who has the pedigree and the will an=
d ability to survive the rigors of a courtly existence, but who is at home =
among the lowest of the low, having been there himself as a Ranger. That te=
nsion is often missed by other writers, or overplayed, but Alawa hits it ev=
ery single time when it's called for, as we see in her stories involving ot=
her Rangers, be they OC or Arathorn and his relationship with Gilraen.

Undoubtedly, this is what makes her Bilbo so wonderfully alive, particularl=
y when she has him interact with Aragorn. These two characters are both con=
summately insiders in their own societies, but also absolutely outsiders at=
the same time. No wonder they're drawn to each other. They get it, and eac=
h other, and so they can relax around each other. Bilbo, however, never los=
es his hobbity down-to-earthness; his wisdom and outsider's eye are not the=
same as Aragorn's, so there's never collapse of one character into the oth=
er, either.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Alawa =C2=B7 ID: 103 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Hobbit (22): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 17:31:07
Alawa has a particular talent when it comes to working with Aragorn and Bil=
bo, either together or separately. I'm very particular when it comes to Ara=
gorn fics=E2=80=94being a dyed-in-the-wool Aragorn groupie, I have my own v=
ery definite notions about his characterization and the will to write if I =
don't like what I'm reading or am simply unimpressed when it comes to Arago=
rn as he appears in the fandom. Alawa is one of the few who writes him in s=
uch a way that I never bat an eye; I just relax and enjoy the ride, and am =
never disappointed. She's managed to get inside the inside-ever-outside exp=
erience of a Ranger who would be king, who has the pedigree and the will an=
d ability to survive the rigors of a courtly existence, but who is at home =
among the lowest of the low, having been there himself as a Ranger. That te=
nsion is often missed by other writers, or overplayed, but Alawa hits it ev=
ery single time when it's called for, as we see in her stories involving ot=
her Rangers, be they OC or Arathorn and his relationship with Gilraen.

Undoubtedly, this is what makes her Bilbo so wonderfully alive, particularl=
y when she has him interact with Aragorn. These two characters are both con=
summately insiders in their own societies, but also absolutely outsiders at=
the same time. No wonder they're drawn to each other. They get it, and eac=
h other, and so they can relax around each other. Bilbo, however, never los=
es his hobbity down-to-earthness; his wisdom and outsider's eye are not the=
same as Aragorn's, so there's never collapse of one character into the oth=
er, either.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Ellisande =C2=B7 ID: 261 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings (=
111): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 20:27:32
I hadn't read anything by Ellisande prior to these awards that I could reme=
mber, and I'm sure I would because as piece after piece went by, I grew mor=
e and more impressed by her poetry and began to look for her name as I went=
through category after category. She, along with Alawa and fileg, is one o=
f the few fanfic authors who strikes me as being genuinely a poet, someone =
whose entry into Tolkien's world comes through the vehicle of poetry.

Not only does Ellisande write stunning verse in her own right, but she exce=
ls as a filker, taking over Dies Irae and adapting it brilliantly to LOTR, =
or creating a fourth verse for Boromir's funeral lament (twice!) that felt =
as though it could've been (should've been!) among the verses sung if only =
Gimli were a poet. She gives Denethor a believably poetic voice and also ca=
ptures Finduilas, both from LOTR and the Silm=E2=80=94quite the accomplishm=
ent. She's obviously a fan of the Stewards of Gondor, so those interested i=
n that family should certainly take a look at her work.

Diversity doesn't seem to trouble Ellisande: she writes in whatever form st=
rikes her fancy, it seems, from triolets to haikus to villanelles to experi=
mental mixes of styles, which helps keep things lively for readers. She man=
ages to capture the emotional heart of things, but she can also use the poe=
try to tell a story, which takes some work. Many of us find poetry difficul=
t to deal with; I certainly am not a poetry buff. All the more should reade=
rs give Ellisande a try, for her lyricism and elegance.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Ellisande =C2=B7 ID: 261 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135=
): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 20:28:09
I hadn't read anything by Ellisande prior to these awards that I could reme=
mber, and I'm sure I would because as piece after piece went by, I grew mor=
e and more impressed by her poetry and began to look for her name as I went=
through category after category. She, along with Alawa and fileg, is one o=
f the few fanfic authors who strikes me as being genuinely a poet, someone =
whose entry into Tolkien's world comes through the vehicle of poetry.

Not only does Ellisande write stunning verse in her own right, but she exce=
ls as a filker, taking over Dies Irae and adapting it brilliantly to LOTR, =
or creating a fourth verse for Boromir's funeral lament (twice!) that felt =
as though it could've been (should've been!) among the verses sung if only =
Gimli were a poet. She gives Denethor a believably poetic voice and also ca=
ptures Finduilas, both from LOTR and the Silm=E2=80=94quite the accomplishm=
ent. She's obviously a fan of the Stewards of Gondor, so those interested i=
n that family should certainly take a look at her work.

Diversity doesn't seem to trouble Ellisande: she writes in whatever form st=
rikes her fancy, it seems, from triolets to haikus to villanelles to experi=
mental mixes of styles, which helps keep things lively for readers. She man=
ages to capture the emotional heart of things, but she can also use the poe=
try to tell a story, which takes some work. Many of us find poetry difficul=
t to deal with; I certainly am not a poetry buff. All the more should reade=
rs give Ellisande a try, for her lyricism and elegance.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Ellisande =C2=B7 ID: 261 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Men (31): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 20:28:43
I hadn't read anything by Ellisande prior to these awards that I could reme=
mber, and I'm sure I would because as piece after piece went by, I grew mor=
e and more impressed by her poetry and began to look for her name as I went=
through category after category. She, along with Alawa and fileg, is one o=
f the few fanfic authors who strikes me as being genuinely a poet, someone =
whose entry into Tolkien's world comes through the vehicle of poetry.

Not only does Ellisande write stunning verse in her own right, but she exce=
ls as a filker, taking over Dies Irae and adapting it brilliantly to LOTR, =
or creating a fourth verse for Boromir's funeral lament (twice!) that felt =
as though it could've been (should've been!) among the verses sung if only =
Gimli were a poet. She gives Denethor a believably poetic voice and also ca=
ptures Finduilas, both from LOTR and the Silm=E2=80=94quite the accomplishm=
ent. She's obviously a fan of the Stewards of Gondor, so those interested i=
n that family should certainly take a look at her work.

Diversity doesn't seem to trouble Ellisande: she writes in whatever form st=
rikes her fancy, it seems, from triolets to haikus to villanelles to experi=
mental mixes of styles, which helps keep things lively for readers. She man=
ages to capture the emotional heart of things, but she can also use the poe=
try to tell a story, which takes some work. Many of us find poetry difficul=
t to deal with; I certainly am not a poetry buff. All the more should reade=
rs give Ellisande a try, for her lyricism and elegance.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Ellisande =C2=B7 ID: 261 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79): Poem
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 20:29:23
I hadn't read anything by Ellisande prior to these awards that I could reme=
mber, and I'm sure I would because as piece after piece went by, I grew mor=
e and more impressed by her poetry and began to look for her name as I went=
through category after category. She, along with Alawa and fileg, is one o=
f the few fanfic authors who strikes me as being genuinely a poet, someone =
whose entry into Tolkien's world comes through the vehicle of poetry.

Not only does Ellisande write stunning verse in her own right, but she exce=
ls as a filker, taking over Dies Irae and adapting it brilliantly to LOTR, =
or creating a fourth verse for Boromir's funeral lament (twice!) that felt =
as though it could've been (should've been!) among the verses sung if only =
Gimli were a poet. She gives Denethor a believably poetic voice and also ca=
ptures Finduilas, both from LOTR and the Silm=E2=80=94quite the accomplishm=
ent. She's obviously a fan of the Stewards of Gondor, so those interested i=
n that family should certainly take a look at her work.

Diversity doesn't seem to trouble Ellisande: she writes in whatever form st=
rikes her fancy, it seems, from triolets to haikus to villanelles to experi=
mental mixes of styles, which helps keep things lively for readers. She man=
ages to capture the emotional heart of things, but she can also use the poe=
try to tell a story, which takes some work. Many of us find poetry difficul=
t to deal with; I certainly am not a poetry buff. All the more should reade=
rs give Ellisande a try, for her lyricism and elegance.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Altariel =C2=B7 ID: 181 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135)=
: Drabble
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:26:36
Like several of my favorite authors, Altariel has a gift for making brevity=
an advantage. She was the original brevity queen insofar as my fanfic read=
ing was concerned=E2=80=94ironically, since one of the first things I read =
of hers was "A Game of Chess"=E2=80=94no short fic, that!

But Altariel really is the master of the concise turn of phrase. I love the=
subtlety of her work, the absolute precision she strives for and often att=
ains, and the symmetry that governs the flow of many of her works. The drab=
ble form suits her very well, and she's given us some of the most gorgeous =
drabble sets I've ever read=E2=80=94series which have an incredible breadth=
in terms of the settings and possibilities covered and explored, but that =
aren't simply shallow evocations either. They are thematically powerful, ex=
ploring hope, despair, love, and the long links that tradition forms over g=
enerations and which help support the aforementioned themes.

At the same time, she's able to access obscure corners of Tolkien's world a=
nd make them feel full, alive, and significant in just one hundred words: I=
think particularly of her drabble on Malbeth in "Gloria Mundi". It doesn't=
get that much more obscure, yet she evokes a whole life, in its rise and f=
all, pride and folly, wisdom and fading; Malbeth acquires gravity and a per=
sonality and function far beyond what Tolkien gave him. And of course, no o=
ne writes Faramir like Altariel writes him, and in her AU drabble series ab=
out him and =C3=89owyn, she hits several major possibilities for the two of=
them in her characteristically understated yet forceful style. The cumulat=
ive effect of these individual drabbles is staggering and should do much to=
convince any skeptics that a drabble can be an effective form of fanfic.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Altariel =C2=B7 ID: 181 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings (1=
11): Drabble
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:27:21
Like several of my favorite authors, Altariel has a gift for making brevity=
an advantage. She was the original brevity queen insofar as my fanfic read=
ing was concerned=E2=80=94ironically, since one of the first things I read =
of hers was "A Game of Chess"=E2=80=94no short fic, that!

But Altariel really is the master of the concise turn of phrase. I love the=
subtlety of her work, the absolute precision she strives for and often att=
ains, and the symmetry that governs the flow of many of her works. The drab=
ble form suits her very well, and she's given us some of the most gorgeous =
drabble sets I've ever read=E2=80=94series which have an incredible breadth=
in terms of the settings and possibilities covered and explored, but that =
aren't simply shallow evocations either. They are thematically powerful, ex=
ploring hope, despair, love, and the long links that tradition forms over g=
enerations and which help support the aforementioned themes.

At the same time, she's able to access obscure corners of Tolkien's world a=
nd make them feel full, alive, and significant in just one hundred words: I=
think particularly of her drabble on Malbeth in "Gloria Mundi". It doesn't=
get that much more obscure, yet she evokes a whole life, in its rise and f=
all, pride and folly, wisdom and fading; Malbeth acquires gravity and a per=
sonality and function far beyond what Tolkien gave him. And of course, no o=
ne writes Faramir like Altariel writes him, and in her AU drabble series ab=
out him and =C3=89owyn, she hits several major possibilities for the two of=
them in her characteristically understated yet forceful style. The cumulat=
ive effect of these individual drabbles is staggering and should do much to=
convince any skeptics that a drabble can be an effective form of fanfic.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Altariel =C2=B7 ID: 181 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings (1=
11): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:27:39
Once again, Altariel shows us what you can do with the right words, even if=
there aren't a lot of them, and she tackles some tough moments: a ritual o=
ath of allegiance that might've occurred between the written lines, the nex=
t war after the War of the Rings, and the life of T=C3=BArin focusing on hi=
s final choice of death. Despite their brevity, these fics have gravity=E2=
=80=94Altariel excels at giving her fics weight. Fluff you will not find, b=
ut thoughtful reflection and works tight as a wire are her specialty, and s=
he doesn't shy away from heavy, potentially painful topics.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Altariel =C2=B7 ID: 181 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): G=
eneral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:28:11
Once again, Altariel shows us what you can do with the right words, even if=
there aren't a lot of them, and she tackles some tough moments: a ritual o=
ath of allegiance that might've occurred between the written lines, the nex=
t war after the War of the Rings, and the life of T=C3=BArin focusing on hi=
s final choice of death. Despite their brevity, these fics have gravity=E2=
=80=94Altariel excels at giving her fics weight. Fluff you will not find, b=
ut thoughtful reflection and works tight as a wire are her specialty, and s=
he doesn't shy away from heavy, potentially painful topics.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Altariel =C2=B7 ID: 181 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:28:39
Once again, Altariel shows us what you can do with the right words, even if=
there aren't a lot of them, and she tackles some tough moments: a ritual o=
ath of allegiance that might've occurred between the written lines, the nex=
t war after the War of the Rings, and the life of T=C3=BArin focusing on hi=
s final choice of death. Despite their brevity, these fics have gravity=E2=
=80=94Altariel excels at giving her fics weight. Fluff you will not find, b=
ut thoughtful reflection and works tight as a wire are her specialty, and s=
he doesn't shy away from heavy, potentially painful topics.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea =C2=B7 ID: 182 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War=
(142): Drabble
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:29:21
Isabeau doesn't usually do "short", or at least, that's not her reputation =
after "Captain My Captain", to say nothing of a few fairly lengthy WiPs sti=
ll out there. But she can, and when it comes to the Dol Amroth crew, there'=
s no one better at capturing, in a few lines, the mischief, the humor, the =
familial interplays, than Isabeau. Her drabbles are an excellent example of=
this phenomenon: they are witty, romantic comedies that have their timing =
down pat and which make the most of their one hundred words. Delightful, fo=
cusing on the human relations rather than the political ones, Isabeau's ski=
ll shines through in them.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea =C2=B7 ID: 182 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79)=
: General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-23 21:31:02
Original characters are Isabeau's strong suit. She has no trouble populatin=
g her fics with them, or even taking them on in the first person for fifty-=
three chapters. They have a depth that is often lacking, even in canon char=
acters=E2=80=94they are emotionally multi-faceted, even when one or two par=
ticular moods predominate (for example, Andrahar is certainly more or less =
given to cantankerous irrascability and proud distance, yet over the course=
of Isabeau's writings we've seen him as believably relaxed, amused, in lov=
e, gentle, paternal, enraged, sarcastic, and despairing, and it never feels=
false or forced).

Her characters are diverse: young children such as Brand or L=C3=BAthien th=
e instrument-maker's daughter, feel like children, yet are distinctly diffe=
rent from each other; the cynets of Dol Amroth are believable and well-defi=
ned (I include them as originals because they are only names in an appendix=
only) at various stages of their lives, from childhood through adolescence=
through adulthood; her healer character Cuilast is a delightfully irrevere=
nt personality; Andrahar, as I've said already, is emotionally complex almo=
st in spite of himself and certainly can't be mistaken for any other voice.=
Readers who want well-done interactions between canonical characters and o=
riginal ones should give Isabeau's work a try.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Villains (31): Drabbl=
e
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:29:38
Forodwaith's gift seems to be drabbles this year. She doesn't waste a word,=
and manages to find those moments that lend themselves to being expressed =
and shown in a short space. Unlike some other drabblists I admire, Forodwai=
th seems more consistently to capture an image for me=E2=80=94several drabb=
les are strongly visual or tactile, and if they aren't necessarily thematic=
, their lyricism and descriptiveness show a different facet of the form. Fo=
rodwaith is good at capturing characters, too, in her drabbles, which I fin=
d tricky. Either the space isn't large enough, or else the short space arti=
ficially intensifies the description, leading to preciosity often times; no=
t with Forodwaith. Writing a diverse range of characters, both canonical an=
d original, Forodwaith's drabbles rarely feel stale and have a vigor all th=
eir own.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Dr=
abble
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:30:31
Forodwaith's gift seems to be drabbles this year. She doesn't waste a word,=
and manages to find those moments that lend themselves to being expressed =
and shown in a short space. Unlike some other drabblists I admire, Forodwai=
th seems more consistently to capture an image for me=E2=80=94several drabb=
les are strongly visual or tactile, and if they aren't necessarily thematic=
, their lyricism and descriptiveness show a different facet of the form. Fo=
rodwaith is good at capturing characters, too, in her drabbles, which I fin=
d tricky. Either the space isn't large enough, or else the short space arti=
ficially intensifies the description, leading to preciosity often times; no=
t with Forodwaith. Writing a diverse range of characters, both canonical an=
d original, Forodwaith's drabbles rarely feel stale and have a vigor all th=
eir own.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Ge=
neral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:30:58
Forodwaith has a particular interest in Arwen, and it shows in her sure han=
d in writing her. As artisan and as teacher, or even as healer in some shor=
ter pieces and drabbles, Arwen acquires a depth and personality she never h=
ad in the books, testimony to Forodwaith's skill in taking rather bare outl=
ines and filling them in. Forodwaith does well to bring out the urgency of =
Arwen's relationship with Aragorn, the interweaving of the struggle against=
the Darkness and desire. But she can also write the calmer moments, when v=
ictory has been attained, and show Arwen as bridging not just a cultual but=
a class gap with style and grace that to me show the hope of the new Age.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Dwarves (13): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:31:39
It's hard to write Dwarves, I find, but Forodwaith seems to have no trouble=
with them. She captures that stubbornness and sense of place in the world =
beautifully, while avoiding the more comic or exaggerated extremes of Dwarv=
en characterization that we see in "The Hobbit". She successfully creates a=
n atmosphere and a sense of history and ancientry, of love of the works of =
their hands for them that feels believably LOTR without sacrificing "The Ho=
bbit", either.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Genres: Horror (8): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:32:13
Forodwaith doesn't forget the first rule of horror writing: be willing to k=
ill someone. Poor Mallor was doomed from the get go, but his death was not =
in vain: it most definitely was horrific, even while avoiding unnecessarily=
graphic descriptions. Forodwaith can really bring out the tension and fear=
.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings (=
111): Drabble
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:32:52
Forodwaith's gift seems to be drabbles this year. She doesn't waste a word,=
and manages to find those moments that lend themselves to being expressed =
and shown in a short space. Unlike some other drabblists I admire, Forodwai=
th seems more consistently to capture an image for me=E2=80=94several drabb=
les are strongly visual or tactile, and if they aren't necessarily thematic=
, their lyricism and descriptiveness show a different facet of the form. Fo=
rodwaith is good at capturing characters, too, in her drabbles, which I fin=
d tricky. Either the space isn't large enough, or else the short space arti=
ficially intensifies the description, leading to preciosity often times; no=
t with Forodwaith. Writing a diverse range of characters, both canonical an=
d original, Forodwaith's drabbles rarely feel stale and have a vigor all th=
eir own.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Forodwaith =C2=B7 ID: 50 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Gap-Filler (58): Drabbl=
e
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:35:04
Forodwaith's gift seems to be drabbles this year. She doesn't waste a word,=
and manages to find those moments that lend themselves to being expressed =
and shown in a short space. Unlike some other drabblists I admire, Forodwai=
th seems more consistently to capture an image for me=E2=80=94several drabb=
les are strongly visual or tactile, and if they aren't necessarily thematic=
, their lyricism and descriptiveness show a different facet of the form. Fo=
rodwaith is good at capturing characters, too, in her drabbles, which I fin=
d tricky. Either the space isn't large enough, or else the short space arti=
ficially intensifies the description, leading to preciosity often times; no=
t with Forodwaith. Writing a diverse range of characters, both canonical an=
d original, Forodwaith's drabbles rarely feel stale and have a vigor all th=
eir own.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Lindelea =C2=B7 ID: 27 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Gap-Filler (58): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:35:56
Lindelea is probably my favorite writer of hobbits. Her Merry and Pippin, i=
n particular, never cross over into the dreaded ickle sweetness that I've t=
oo often seen. They are close, they are the best of friends, but they are n=
ot children and their friendship, in all its courage and mischief, is never=
allowed to slide over into caricature or emotional hyperbole. This makes h=
er gap-fillers with these two a pleasure to read from beginning to end. The=
re's a sharpness and a particular quasi-euphemistic lightness to her dialog=
ue that fits the characters and helps open them and the canonical scenes to=
either side of her fics to us.

Likewise with her stories of the hobbits and the Shire after the war, she g=
rounds them in their native but transformed soil and in so doing, leads us =
to see everything differently without asking us to sacrifice our hand-hold =
on the characters.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Lindelea =C2=B7 ID: 27 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Gene=
ral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:36:38
Lindelea is probably my favorite writer of hobbits. Her Merry and Pippin, i=
n particular, never cross over into the dreaded ickle sweetness that I've t=
oo often seen. They are close, they are the best of friends, but they are n=
ot children and their friendship, in all its courage and mischief, is never=
allowed to slide over into caricature or emotional hyperbole. This makes h=
er gap-fillers with these two a pleasure to read from beginning to end. The=
re's a sharpness and a particular quasi-euphemistic lightness to her dialog=
ue that fits the characters and helps open them and the canonical scenes to=
either side of her fics to us.

Likewise with her stories of the hobbits and the Shire after the war, she g=
rounds them in their native but transformed soil and in so doing, leads us =
to see everything differently without asking us to sacrifice our hand-hold =
on the characters.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Aliana =C2=B7 ID: 208 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Gener=
al
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:37:18
Aliana is another author who excels at writing original characters, and isn=
't afraid to write a fic entirely populated by them to get at the sideviews=
of Middle-earth. Atmosphere is something one notices immediately in her wo=
rk: she can really set the tone and stay with it, so that it stains or tint=
s the entire story. There's no unevenness=E2=80=94she writes with great con=
fidence, and does very well to capture the anxiety and dread of Gondor at i=
ts most desperate hour. She also captures very well that transition from th=
e Third Age to the Fourth Age, the move from a magical to a mundane world. =
Aliana is also one of those author's with the enviable talent of being able=
to string together scenes without describing every detail. She's not a rea=
list in that sense=E2=80=94things hold together in the plot because the plo=
t fits the interior life of the characters often times, I think. It allows =
her to shorten the story and intensify the focus on whatever issue or emoti=
on she's trying to bring forward, but without doing a disservice to the con=
tinuinty of the plot.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Aliana =C2=B7 ID: 208 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:37:51
Aliana is another author who excels at writing original characters, and isn=
't afraid to write a fic entirely populated by them to get at the sideviews=
of Middle-earth. Atmosphere is something one notices immediately in her wo=
rk: she can really set the tone and stay with it, so that it stains or tint=
s the entire story. There's no unevenness=E2=80=94she writes with great con=
fidence, and does very well to capture the anxiety and dread of Gondor at i=
ts most desperate hour. She also captures very well that transition from th=
e Third Age to the Fourth Age, the move from a magical to a mundane world. =
Aliana is also one of those author's with the enviable talent of being able=
to string together scenes without describing every detail. She's not a rea=
list in that sense=E2=80=94things hold together in the plot because the plo=
t fits the interior life of the characters often times, I think. It allows =
her to shorten the story and intensify the focus on whatever issue or emoti=
on she's trying to bring forward, but without doing a disservice to the con=
tinuinty of the plot.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Thundera Tiger =C2=B7 ID: 86 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142)=
: General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:39:18
Just as when she's writing gap-fillers, Thundera looks to fill in the massi=
ve blank space that is the Fourth Age, whether it's within spitting distanc=
e of the Ring War, or the ultimate end of the Fellowship. Legolas and Gimli=
are her focus very often, even as they are during the Third Age fics, but =
there's always plenty going on to keep us from feeling caught in a world re=
duced to the Elf and Dwarf.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Thundera Tiger =C2=B7 ID: 86 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Gap-Filler (58): Ge=
neral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:39:59
As I've said before, Thundera Tiger was the first author I'd read who had t=
he ambition and ability to write a major gap-filler that wasn't afraid to l=
inger, to stay with the Fellowship over an extended period of time. She was=
, from the very beginning, an excellent ensemble writer, and especially whe=
n that ensemble is the Fellowship. I'd go so far as to say that gap-filling=
the Fellowship is Thundera's specialty, the fictional space where she real=
ly shines and is able to let her talents as a humorist, dramatist, and acti=
on-writer play freely. In fact, she doesn't so fill gaps, unless we're talk=
ing gaps the size of the one in Rohan; Thundera's work (much of it, at any =
rate) is nothing if not grand in scope.

Like many authors, she's a character writer=E2=80=94it's the interpersonal =
that drives things, and perhaps that's a part of why she's a great gap-fill=
er. With a basic structure given, she can focus on those interpersonal rela=
tionships to her heart's content, and she makes sure that each character ge=
ts his (or her) due.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Kielle =C2=B7 ID: 197 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:42:06
Kielle's other fanfictional habit is finding the obscure, "historical" char=
acters of Middle-earth and expanding them into personalities, rather than c=
hronological entities. Whether in Gondor or in Rohan, she goes where much o=
f fandom does not, and she has the skill and flare for drama and intrigue t=
o make the "dead" history of Middle-earth come alive. She does an especial =
service to the underwritten and often simply *un*written women of Middle-ea=
rth by finding space for their points of view. But as she deals with aristo=
cracy (the only people who make it into the history books) she wisely doesn=
't make them too sentimental, taken as a whole. They are emphatically not "=
nice" people=E2=80=94they're nobility, and they know it, and they are portr=
ayed appropriately. Even in her less "historical" fics, when she takes on D=
enethor, she holds that line and insists on his fundamental "cussedness", a=
s it were. In that, I think Kielle gets it right where many do not, and I g=
reatly appreciate that in her work.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Kielle =C2=B7 ID: 197 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Rohan (37): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:42:45
Rohan seems to have a particular soft spot for Kielle, who shows her abilit=
y to develop characters quickly and with confidence, whether they are child=
ren, adults, or adolescents. She's a solid dramatist who knows how to const=
ruct a scene and bring out a theme.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Kielle =C2=B7 ID: 197 =C2=B7 Genres: Humor (85): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:43:22
What's wonderful about Kielle's work is her willingness to get downright vi=
cious with the canon when it's warranted. There are authors who like to sho=
ck, and I'm not automatically against that, but Kielle knows how to make th=
at sense of shock stick and how to give it a thoughtful dimension that you =
can't just ignore.

Whether it's metafic or her unerring ability to find the particular point o=
f view that forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew, Kielle goes=
straight for the jugular. Sometimes she leaves you laughing, other times s=
he leaves you chilled, and sometimes she speaks to that frustrated reader i=
n you who was just dying to see point X made painfully clear. She's not afr=
aid to tackle subject matter that is, to say the least, unstable and hard t=
o handle=E2=80=94the metaphysical and moral implications of elven reproduct=
ion in all its gendered ugliness hidden behind a fair exterior, for example=
, or fandom clich=C3=A9s or the precise nature of Galadriel's penance and g=
uilt. She'll exploit the innocent for the sake of the perverse if it opens =
a new view of a particular canonical scene and she'll do it with style.

One may not always find Kielle's work appealing for its conclusions, but it=
's worth the read every time.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Kielle =C2=B7 ID: 197 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135): =
General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:44:07
What's wonderful about Kielle's work is her willingness to get downright vi=
cious with the canon when it's warranted. There are authors who like to sho=
ck, and I'm not automatically against that, but Kielle knows how to make th=
at sense of shock stick and how to give it a thoughtful dimension that you =
can't just ignore.

Whether it's metafic or her unerring ability to find the particular point o=
f view that forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew, Kielle goes=
straight for the jugular. Sometimes she leaves you laughing, other times s=
he leaves you chilled, and sometimes she speaks to that frustrated reader i=
n you who was just dying to see point X made painfully clear. She's not afr=
aid to tackle subject matter that is, to say the least, unstable and hard t=
o handle=E2=80=94the metaphysical and moral implications of elven reproduct=
ion in all its gendered ugliness hidden behind a fair exterior, for example=
, or fandom clich=C3=A9s or the precise nature of Galadriel's penance and g=
uilt. She'll exploit the innocent for the sake of the perverse if it opens =
a new view of a particular canonical scene and she'll do it with style.

One may not always find Kielle's work appealing for its conclusions, but it=
's worth the read every time.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Kielle =C2=B7 ID: 197 =C2=B7 Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Gen=
eral
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 01:44:51
What's wonderful about Kielle's work is her willingness to get downright vi=
cious with the canon when it's warranted. There are authors who like to sho=
ck, and I'm not automatically against that, but Kielle knows how to make th=
at sense of shock stick and how to give it a thoughtful dimension that you =
can't just ignore.

Whether it's metafic or her unerring ability to find the particular point o=
f view that forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew, Kielle goes=
straight for the jugular. Sometimes she leaves you laughing, other times s=
he leaves you chilled, and sometimes she speaks to that frustrated reader i=
n you who was just dying to see point X made painfully clear. She's not afr=
aid to tackle subject matter that is, to say the least, unstable and hard t=
o handle=E2=80=94the metaphysical and moral implications of elven reproduct=
ion in all its gendered ugliness hidden behind a fair exterior, for example=
, or fandom clich=C3=A9s or the precise nature of Galadriel's penance and g=
uilt. She'll exploit the innocent for the sake of the perverse if it opens =
a new view of a particular canonical scene and she'll do it with style.

One may not always find Kielle's work appealing for its conclusions, but it=
's worth the read every time.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Tehta =C2=B7 ID: 185 =C2=B7 Genres: Humor (85): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 13:46:09
Tehta's humor ranges from long, drawn out explorations of the hysterically =
suggestive lines that Tolkien actually wrote; to novella romances that are =
played straight up, as it were; to filking bad canonical songs and renderin=
g them even more outrageously awful; to giving canonical events that off-be=
at, in-canon humorous interpretation. She manages to make it all seem fresh=
, and her own commentary and footnotes just add to the humor.

Although her humor is pointed, it's not cutting or cynical, and it never de=
pends on cheap shots (almost never=E2=80=94that Orc-slaying Ditty will live=
in infamy) that diminish the characters. If at times, due to the slashy na=
ture of some of Tehta's humor, one finds the moralism a bit thick, the auth=
or's notes and extracts almost immediately overthrow that impression and, a=
s noted, just serve to make the serious bits funny/-ier. Nevertheless, in t=
heir own right, I appreciate the moralizing bits=E2=80=94not possible to ge=
t wholly away from them in the stories she tells, and she recognizes this.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Tehta =C2=B7 ID: 185 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Elves (66): General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 13:46:54
Although Tehta often writes humor, she shows she can do the heavy, angsty f=
ics, too, and do them well. She keeps us at a necessary distance from the c=
haracter's brooding, but paints an unrelenting image of bleak hopelessness =
kept at bay by a variety of masks.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Werecat =C2=B7 ID: 83 =C2=B7 Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): Gener=
al
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 14:21:53
Werecat's stories are scattered across so many categories, I can't find a w=
ay to group them terribly effectively to review her as an author within eve=
n a few genres. However, if there are two common motifs running through Wer=
ecat's writing I would name the following: reveresal of expectation and unu=
sual viewpoints. Werecat excels at finding space for points of view one nor=
mally wouldn't consider or use: her frequent use of animal narrators, or an=
imal characters to bring out some aspect of Middle-earth's denizens and the=
mes. She gravitates towards such figures as the obscure Tevildo, Lord of Ca=
ts; Radagast; and Ber=C3=BAthiel. If there's a cat to be found anywhere in =
Middle-earth, Werecat will find it and integrate it into a story. If she wr=
ites horses, it has to be horses who aren't those normally written about (t=
he warhorses); if she writes mounts, she will go for the fell beasts rather=
than the more usual and attractive steeds.

And in terms of reversing expectations, her Orcs are always more complicate=
d than they are in canon and bring out morally frightening points: the exti=
nction of the Orcs as a form of genocide, for example. Her fell beasts desi=
re to be loved, in their own way; and her Ber=C3=BAthiel is a genuinely sym=
pathetic character, in contrast to what one would expect. Werecat is unques=
tionably one of the more unique voices in the fandom.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Werecat =C2=B7 ID: 83 =C2=B7 Genres: Drama (includes Angst) (135): =
General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 14:22:35
Werecat's stories are scattered across so many categories, I can't find a w=
ay to group them terribly effectively to review her as an author within eve=
n a few genres. However, if there are two common motifs running through Wer=
ecat's writing I would name the following: reveresal of expectation and unu=
sual viewpoints. Werecat excels at finding space for points of view one nor=
mally wouldn't consider or use: her frequent use of animal narrators, or an=
imal characters to bring out some aspect of Middle-earth's denizens and the=
mes. She gravitates towards such figures as the obscure Tevildo, Lord of Ca=
ts; Radagast; and Ber=C3=BAthiel. If there's a cat to be found anywhere in =
Middle-earth, Werecat will find it and integrate it into a story. If she wr=
ites horses, it has to be horses who aren't those normally written about (t=
he warhorses); if she writes mounts, she will go for the fell beasts rather=
than the more usual and attractive steeds.

And in terms of reversing expectations, her Orcs are always more complicate=
d than they are in canon and bring out morally frightening points: the exti=
nction of the Orcs as a form of genocide, for example. Her fell beasts desi=
re to be loved, in their own way; and her Ber=C3=BAthiel is a genuinely sym=
pathetic character, in contrast to what one would expect. Werecat is unques=
tionably one of the more unique voices in the fandom.

-----------------------------------------
Author: Adina ATL =C2=B7 ID: 198 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Cross-Cultural (80): =
General
Reviewer: Dwimordene =C2=B7 2005-08-24 14:27:42
Adina ATL has given us a very unique cross-cultural vision in her Elf-Dwarf=
interactions. Whether it's Narvi, Celebrimbor, and Galadriel or Legolas an=
d Gimli, she pushes fandom expectations, occasionally going toe to toe with=
certain well-loved fandom characterizations. But she doesn't do it arbitra=
rily; she finds the right places and supports for her stories, and so is ab=
le to weave in the more unusual elements seemingly effortlessly. Her evocat=
ions of Dwarven culture are particularly well done.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Cassia & Siobhan =C2=B7 ID: 467 =C2=B7 Genres: Adventure (13): Gene=
ral
Reviewer: Ainaechoiriel =C2=B7 2005-08-24 16:59:38 Score: 5
I didn't get to read as much of this duo's stories this year, but the one I=
did was just as good as the first. These two never fail to deliver enterta=
inment and yes, torture, for those like me who admit they like stories of i=
t. But they can do more than that, as this story showed. They can build ano=
ther culture, make it seem real, put an unusual look on life in slavery and=
what it might be like to tend to oliphants. They did this with believabili=
ty and wit. Don't let their "entertainment value" fool you. These two can r=
eally write. And they are always a lot of fun to read.
-----------------------------------------
Author: elanor_of_aquitania =C2=B7 ID: 69 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79):=
Poem
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger =C2=B7 2005-08-25 01:45:00
One of my favorite poems from Tolkien is "The Lay of the Children of Hurin,=
" and the reason I like it so much has to do with the structure. In many pl=
aces, the poem can be read as several different poems because of the way he=
breaks up the lines, and Elanor does a brilliant rendition of that in the =
poems "Wait for me - Eowyn" and "Beregond's Prayer." The breaks also do a g=
ood job of drawing out emotions, which is needed as these are both emotiona=
lly charged poems. And that's another thing that Elanor does so well. Tappi=
ng emotions can sometimes be difficult, but Elanor makes it look easy and d=
raws the reader into both poems so quickly that it's never noticed how deep=
the emotions have become until the end is reached and the reader is left r=
eeling. That's the mark of a good poet.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Elen Kortirion =C2=B7 ID: 251 =C2=B7 Races/Places: Gondor (79): Poe=
m
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger =C2=B7 2005-08-25 01:51:05
Elen Kortirion does a brilliant job with metaphor in the poem "Forlorn Hope=
." This metaphor is bright and vibrant, creating pictures, sounds, and emot=
ions in<br/><br/>(Message over 64 KB, truncated)