Yahoo Forum Archive

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Title: Elements of Ithilien · Author: Tanaqui · Races/Places: Gondor: Drabble · ID: 536
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2005-09-06 02:04:44
Ah, Liz, this series is just extraordinary. In the first one, 'Earth', Faramir is in such intimate contact with the soil that we, the readers, can smell it and feel it on our hands. Yet Faramir chooses to momentarily note the beauty of the waving fronds and the iridescent beetle wing – the nature lover shines through! Yet the warrior is acutely aware that this might be his last living moment.

'Air' shows him in the throes of battle – yet the Darkness from Mordor makes it difficult to even breathe. I had always thought of Sauron's Darkness as being oppressive psychologically, yet you show it as a physical handicap – a very different idea, and completely appropriate.

'Fire' is my favorite, I think. I love Faramir watching the sparks travel toward the stars – and "ever-present embers high above" is such a beautiful metaphor. And on fireless nights, he watches the constellations, remembering their stories from ancient lore – and takes hope and strength to persevere from them.

In 'Water', I love how you relate the roar of water at their refuge in Henneth-Annûn to Faramir's recurrent prophetic dream of the downfall of Númenor, another connection that I had never made. It is so in-character for Faramir to realize that succumbing to the Ring's lure would cause a downfall for Gondor – a thought as chilling as the icy water.

Ah, 'Spirit' has such joyful, lyrical, and hopeful images of a restored Gondor, burgeoning with new life. I especially love the image of a bright necklace of new hearths and homes along the hills of Emyn Arnen. And Faramir has found a new home in the arms of the woman he loves…

After reading this series, I feel enriched and infused with joy for the exquisiteness of your works of word-art, Liz. Your drabbles truly inspire me. Thank you for sharing them with us all!

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Title: His Own Wisdom · Author: Nessime · Races/Places: Rohan: Drabble · ID: 493
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2005-09-06 03:07:39
Ah, Nessime, I really like this! You do a lovely job of weaving canon into
fascinating vignettes. Háma is steadfast in his duty as doorwarden, and very
observant of the weapons being laid at the door (must be a "guy" thing LOL!).

But I love how you've interpreted Tolkien's words here, and allowed Háma to
apply them to himself. Yes, indeed, he holds something (or rather, someone) very dear -- and he is very clear about who deserves his loyalty and protection and who does not. The phrase "Worm-eaten directives" is absolutely brilliant! And I love the humorous punch at the end, when Háma is vindicated in a loudly dramatic fashion. Very nice scene!

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Title: Quarantined · Author: Shirebound · Genres: Alternate Universe: Pre-LOTR · ID: 877
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2005-09-06 13:57:25
This is a very sweet version of the Shire and the occasional passing Ranger - I love Frodo's relationship with Estel and Bilbo. I enjoyed reading this and its sequels.
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Title: Alchemy · Author: Branwyn · Books/Time: The Silmarillion: Poetry · ID: 168
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:21:17
This is a stunning piece of work - I am always in awe of people who can write free verse, without any of the frameworks of rhyme and meter helpfully laid down for "traditional" forms, be they sonnet or triolet or whatever, and yet make that verse feel structured and controlled, with the satisfying "rightness" which in a more traditional form comes from the pre-determined rhymescheme or rhythm falling into place. Here the sense of structure comes from the use of repetition with variation ("before there was glass, there was.."), but there's also a dynamic, a sense of moving towards a goal, as we wait to see how the glass will come from the elemental ingredients.

The whole *idea* of the alchemy, a blend of craft-with-magic, seems very fitting for Arda, and the use of the ingredients that would be found along the seashore is just right for an Elf of Valinor (albeit not a Teler!) Each ingredient seemed to foreshadow something about the Feanorians' doom as well - "scoured and sifted" their future hardships, "deep-drowned" the fate of Maglor's Silmaril, "empty houses,
holding the distant echo of Eldamar" their exile from Valinor, and as for fire - well, the burning of the ships at Losgar, the Dagor Bragollach, Maedhros's end, take your pick! (It's entirely possible, of course, that the author didn't consciously intend any of these. But I think that's a mark of most good poetry - images are used which open up the reader's mind to possibilities sometimes richer than even the author could set out to list).

There are many effective uses of imagery, alliteration and so on - "scoured and sifted", "deep-drowned grasses", and the beautiful description of the seashells as "cups of bone". Although the last verse speaks of "smoothing" and "soft words" there is an air of menace about the last two verses which seems entirely apt for Feanor, for the palantiri, and of course for the Silmarils, which are never mentioned in the poem but which, given its subject, are I think ever-present in the subtext.

The fact that this was all accomplished in exactly 100 words as a birthday drabble makes it, I think, all the more awesome. I was very very jealous at the time both of the recipient and of the author's skill, and still am on both counts!
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Title: Unspeakable · Author: Dwimordene · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Drabble · ID: 254
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:26:07
Ewwww. The title says it all, really. Brutally effective and horrible.
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Title: Religion · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama (includes Angst) · ID: 248
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:26:46
Dwim writes fabulous Aragorn and Halbarad, and I liked the awkwardness that lay between them here and the reasons for it - names matter. Nice use of the constellations. The encounter with the wights is creepy, and Halbarad's moment of foresight is terribly poignant.

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Title: Mering Market · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): Gondor · ID: 238
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:27:07
I do like fics which acknowledge and use the fact that Tolkien filled Middle-earth with different languages as well as cultures. Dwim has great fun here playing with the different linguistic and literary traditions of Rohan and Gondor - and using them neatly to illustrate the relationships between Theoden, Aragorn (who is both Thorongil and Aelric as diplomacy demands) and Denethor, who as usual turns out to have more sides to his character, and to know a good deal more about other people, than he likes to let on.
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Title: Mathesis · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): Gondor Drabble · ID: 532
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:27:35
'Mathesis' was a revelation to me; a take on Denethor (who's something of a mystery to me) which, like many of Dwim's character studies, made such perfect sense that I always have to remind myself now that it's Dwim!verse rather than canon. The love of accuracy, precision, patterning; a genuine emotion and yet a reductive one, as music, for example, becomes "third, whole, sixth, ninth" and, apparently, nothing more. Nicely dismissive, at the end, of Mithrandir, Faramir's enthusiasm for him, and his subject - the messy, subjective, annoyingly human one of history - all in one go. Lovely work.
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Title: Love's Labours · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama (includes Angst) · ID: 71
Reviewer: Azalais · 2005-09-06 14:41:03
Not enough LoTR fanfic deals with the concerns of the women of Middle-earth - not the high-profile heroines but those whose business is home and hearth and healing under, sometimes, the most emotionally draining of circumstances - and Alawa fills a gap beautifully here. Gilraen's strong and loving relationship with her husband is evoked with affection and humour as well as moments of deftly handled eroticism, as is the awakening relationship with her new-born son - I particularly like the "one slightly unfocused, but oddly familiar, grey eye", and also the comparison of the weariness and bruising of childbirth with Arathorn's regular travails in the wild!

There's poignancy, inevitably, given what we know of the fate of both parents; it's particularly sad to see Arathorn happily contemplating the prospect of more children, a Spare, perhaps daughters; but as the final line neatly reminds us, this is ultimately a piece about Hope.

There are little reminders throughout both parts of the piece of who this baby is to be - the cradle, Gilraen's musings on the need to postpone desire for duty, Arathorn's thoughts to his son as Isildur's Heir - and yet it is also absolutely universal, new parents adoringly contemplating their baby. Delicate without ever being over-sentimental, evocative and descriptive, it's a lovely little diptych.
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Title: Creature of Fire · Author: daw the minstrel · Races/Places: Elves: Mirkwood · ID: 1218
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2005-09-06 19:19:33
This is the heartbreaking story of how Legolas lost the love of his life and explains why he appears unmarried during the Lord of the Rings. Legolas's love interest is an OFC, an elf. The reader doesn't really get to know her before she dies in an accident, but her character is well described. The reader feels there would be much more to learn about her if there would be more time.

The whole story is from Legolas point of view and the reader goes with him through the stages of shock and mindnumbing grief before, with the help of his family and friends, he can start to heal.

Legolas and his father Thranduil are the only canonical characters in this tale. There are a host of original characters the reader gets to know and love easily. All characters are fleshed out well and feel like they belong into Tolkien's world.
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Title: Kingly Gifts · Author: Dreamflower · Books/Time: Post-Ring War: Friendship · ID: 831
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 21:42:37
I do love Cormallen fics. This one gives us much about the preparations which Aragorn and Eomer made as the days passed and fills in many gaps.

I particularly like it that Dreamflower has explained, in logical ways, things like the speed at which Pippin heals and the way that Sam awakens in a grove of trees, rather than under cover. I also like some of the small pieces we see about the other members of the Fellowship, Faramir and Eowyn.
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Title: Swords Returned · Author: Leaward · Races/Places: Men: Eriador · ID: 172
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 21:46:27
This is an interesting glimpse into the lives of the Ranger's families through the long years of protecting without praise. I like the idea of the swords being handed down, and of the understanding that dawns on the boys as they realize what it means.
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Title: Forgotten Casualty · Author: Thundera Tiger · Books/Time: Gap-Filler · ID: 591
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 21:50:16
This gapfiller sets one of the Nazgul (Khamul, the Easterling) against the fox which observed the hobbits as they left the Shire. The horror of the fox, as it is made into prey, and the unexpected insight into the Nazgul's discomfort at being so far from Mordor make for good, if chilling reading.
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Title: A Destined Reckoning · Author: Gaslight · Genres: Movie-verse · ID: 391
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:00:37
This is a fascinating what if -- Lurtz and Boromir encountering each other before the Council of Elrond. It begins with Boromir still drained by his encounter with the Shadow and trying to consider the dream and the verse, and continues with an insight into Lurtz' ambitions which gives him depth and interest that the movie couldn't offer. A nice blend of both universes. Well done.
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Title: The Naming · Author: just_sphinx · Races/Places: Gondor: Drabble · ID: 518
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:03:03
Who but Aragorn would have so many choices before him when it comes to considering posterity? A good insight into why he chose what he did.
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Title: Death Awakening · Author: Luna · Races/Places: Gondor: Drabble · ID: 647
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:06:41
An interesting take on the scene in the film!
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Title: In Defense of Denethor: A Closer Look at Peter Jackson’s Misrepresentation · Author: Cadiliniel · Genres: Non-Fiction: Men · ID: 991
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:14:25
This is an excellent essay. It not only manages to catch most of my own complaints about the changes to Denethor's character (and Gandalf's!), it also articulated things I hadn't yet considered.
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Title: Anticipation · Author: LOTR_lover · Genres: Humor: Elves · ID: 1092
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:16:11
Poor Glorfindel. It's a good thing that Elves live long enough to make up for lost time!
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Title: Reunion at Cormallen · Author: Shirebound · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Post-Ring War · ID: 1116
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:23:17
This is an old favorite of mine, and I loved having the excuse to read it again. During the weeks at Cormallen, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn take a chance to go to the cave behind the falls of Henneth Annun. And try the wine...

Marvelous dialogue, deft characterization, a bit of hurt/comfort and to top it all off, a delightful poem from Pippin about all of Aragorn's names make this a story to read again and again.
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Title: Counting · Author: Piplover (aka Pipfan) · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): War of the Ring · ID: 1162
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:28:19
I think that Piplover must have made up the counting rhyme that gets turned on its head by Pippin's distress in this story about a rainy morning in Minas Tirith. I've never heard it before, and yet it sounds like something from the Shire. Which makes the twisted version all the more of a creeping horror, of course. The echoes of the quest will take a long time to die away.
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Title: Go to Sleep · Author: Piplover (aka Pipfan) · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Post-Ring War · ID: 1136
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:33:40
When Pippin falls ill on the ride to Edoras, all of the Companions, and Arwen, seek to help him, but it is a vision of Boromir which helps him begin to heal.

A strong sense of character carries this fic, along with some glimmers of humor that leaven the tension. I particularly liked Pippin's reaction to the notion of riding with Arwen!
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Title: Ernil I Pheriannath · Author: Marigold · Genres: Humor: Hobbits · ID: 1174
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:35:33
This small story left me laughing out loud, as Merry helps Pippin understand just why he's being called "Prince of the Halflings."
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Title: Parting Gifts · Author: White Gull · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): The Shire · ID: 1212
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:39:16
Ah! This brief encounter between an Elf and some hobbits left a smile on my face. There are some beautiful implications here of a story left untold, which will be fun to ruminate upon.
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Title: The Journey of the Lady's Phial · Author: Claudia · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Hobbits · ID: 1278
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:45:27
For Frodo, and for Sam, the light of Galadriel's gift was a piece of hope in the darkness, and here in these vignettes Claudia takes each crucial moment when the star glass made a difference and expands on what we already know, weaving new details deftly in to the story.
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Title: Selfless Love · Author: FrodoBaggins_88 · Genres: Romance: Vignette · ID: 1342
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:47:30
Here is a Frodo I haven't often seen -- one who sees the good qualities that Rosie has and still graciously steps back to make way for Sam. And interesting take!
Poor Glorfindel. It's a good thing that Elves live long enough to make up for lost time!
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Title: Reunion at Cormallen · Author: Shirebound · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Post-Ring War · ID: 1116
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:23:17
This is an old favorite of mine, and I loved having the excuse to read it again. During the weeks at Cormallen, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn take a chance to go to the cave behind the falls of Henneth Annun. And try the wine...

Marvelous dialogue, deft characterization, a bit of hurt/comfort and to top it all off, a delightful poem from Pippin about all of Aragorn's names make this a story to read again and again.
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Title: Counting · Author: Piplover (aka Pipfan) · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): War of the Ring · ID: 1162
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:28:19
I think that Piplover must have made up the counting rhyme that gets turned on its head by Pippin's distress in this story about a rainy morning in Minas Tirith. I've never heard it before, and yet it sounds like something from the Shire. Which makes the twisted version all the more of a creeping horror, of course. The echoes of the quest will take a long time to die away.
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Title: Go to Sleep · Author: Piplover (aka Pipfan) · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Post-Ring War · ID: 1136
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:33:40
When Pippin falls ill on the ride to Edoras, all of the Companions, and Arwen, seek to help him, but it is a vision of Boromir which helps him begin to heal.

A strong sense of character carries this fic, along with some glimmers of humor that leaven the tension. I particularly liked Pippin's reaction to the notion of riding with Arwen!
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Title: Ernil I Pheriannath · Author: Marigold · Genres: Humor: Hobbits · ID: 1174
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:35:33
This small story left me laughing out loud, as Merry helps Pippin understand just why he's being called "Prince of the Halflings."
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Title: Parting Gifts · Author: White Gull · Genres: Drama (includes Angst): The Shire · ID: 1212
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:39:16
Ah! This brief encounter between an Elf and some hobbits left a smile on my face. There are some beautiful implications here of a story left untold, which will be fun to ruminate upon.
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Title: The Journey of the Lady's Phial · Author: Claudia · Books/Time: The Lord of The Rings: Hobbits · ID: 1278
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:45:27
For Frodo, and for Sam, the light of Galadriel's gift was a piece of hope in the darkness, and here in these vignettes Claudia takes each crucial moment when the star glass made a difference and expands on what we already know, weaving new details deftly in to the story.
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Title: Selfless Love · Author: FrodoBaggins_88 · Genres: Romance: Vignette · ID: 1342
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2005-09-06 23:47:30
Here is a Frodo I haven't often seen -- one who sees the good qualities that Rosie has and still graciously steps back to make way for Sam. And interesting take!

End