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Author: SilverMoonLady . ID: 343 . Books/Time: Post-Ring War (142): General
Reviewer: Space Weavil . 2005-09-24 08:33:32
SilverMoonLady ably demonstrates a deep sympathy and understanding for her
characters, with the result that even someone unfamiliar with hobbit lore (I
am more of an elf person) can understand and empathise with her stories. In
fact, she creates so real and touching a picture that she can readily reduce
her reader to tears. She has a true gift for capturing emotion with words,
in a way that is believavble and not at all fluffy. It is real and down to
earth, and extremely Hobbit-like, in my opinion.
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Author: Tanaqui . ID: 40 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Poem
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 13:55:41
The thing that impressed me most about Tanaqui's Silmarillion poetry is the
variety of styles offered. Whether it's mimicry or grim drinking songs,
Tanaqui shows an ability to write well in many different forms, and it's
that kind of versatility that marks a poet with a true talent for language.
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Author: Wild Iris . ID: 337 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Poem
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 13:58:39
In the poems "The Dead City" and "Sirion," Wild Iris does something very
difficult to pull off. She evokes silence. Stillness. And she does so in a
manner that moves the reader quickly through the poem. Essentially the
action is coming solely from the narrative because the rest the poem's
participants are quiet. It makes for a fascinating study in contrasts, and
it really sets off the silence in the story that's being told. "The Dead
City," in particular, is completely still, and while there's mention of
action in "Sirion," it's past and future. The present is quiet. Very tricky
bit of writing, and kudos to Wild Iris for being able to do it so well. I'm
more than a little jealous.
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Author: Finch . ID: 274 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Poem
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 14:04:14
Part of being a good poet is being able to work with the mechanics of
imagery, rhythm, and form, but another part is being able to tell a story
with these things. Finch demonstrates and ability to do both very well in
the poem "Melyanna." The nitty-gritty aspects of poetry are all there, but
Finch takes it one step further by applying it to a very unusual character
who has given up much and has just lost even more. It's the perfect subject
for such a besearching poem, and Finch makes the most of it, employing
images of stars, fire, light, and life. Well done.
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Author: Tanaqui . ID: 40 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Drabble
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 14:23:59
Tanaqui seems to be most at home during the turning points, and by turning
points, I mean most specifically the emotional turning points. Whether it's
Anarion thinking on what Isildur has done or Hurin voicing defiance against
impossible odds, Tanaqui gets right into a character's head and defines the
moment as they experience it.
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Author: Meril . ID: 293 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Drabble
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 14:29:00
In the drabble "Forsaken Kin," Meril gives us a very good sense
of...distance. Except that it's not distance, because Finarfin is clearly
connected to all that is happening. But I don't think he's able to
understand it all yet, so there's distance mixed with disbelief and
bewilderment. But despite this, Meril makes certain that the reader is fully
involved and understand exactly what is going through his mind. Good
juggling of feelings and emotions with a very coherent narrative.
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Author: picara . ID: 464 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): Drabble
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 14:31:24
Drabbles are such short little pieces that it's rare you find one in which
there is a progressive change of tone. Somehow, Picara managed to get that
effect in the drabble "Not Wholly Unwilling." There's a definite difference
between the bewildered start and the more certain finish, and that
difference is a gradual change. It's the kind of thing I would have expected
to find in a much longer vignette or chaptered short story. Certianly not in
a drabble, so my humble bows and kudos to Picara for proving that it can be
done and can be done very well.
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Author: Marnie . ID: 245 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 14:58:56
Marnie strikes again, but this time, the power for the story doesn't seem to
come from Celeborn's characterization (though that is, as always, flawless).
Rather, the most impressive thing about this story is the narrative. It's
filled with beautiful language, and Orome really feels like something more
than an elf. Once again, Marnie proves she can do it all, and I offer my
humble thanks that she has decided to share that with us.
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Author: AfterEver . ID: 202 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:15:49
AfterEver's brilliance really shines through in the two stories in the
Silmarillion category, and much of that brilliance is seen in fully
realized, complicated, and nuanced characters. These are not two-dimensional
figures but rather elves that leap from the pages, demanding recognition.
And because of such amazing characterization, AfterEver is able to give new
life to turning points, like the havens at Sirion or the AU possibility of
Elrond becoming High King. The reader can see the events unfoldening, and
feel their impact through the characters, and can sense the foreboding of
what is to come without having to resort to cheap narrative tricks.
AfterEver brings to life an entire world and makes the reader a part of it.
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Author: Space Weavil . ID: 235 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:20:57
Space Weavil goes out on a limb for the story "Once in a Fair Green Country"
and trumps all the odds. Gandalf romances are all but impossible to
visualize, yet Space Weavil does it and does it with plausibility. Olorin's
early characterization has so many seeds that will later bear fruit in his
incarnation as Gandalf the Grey and also Gandalf the White. And adding more
plausibility to the story, Space Weavil keeps a very firm sense of time
about the whole thing. The sections with Elrond and Gandalf are very clearly
in the Third Age and the flashbacks cannot be mistaken for anything other
than a story from the Age of the Trees. Great detail for place and time, and
brilliant daring pays off.
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Author: Nilmandra . ID: 444 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:39:52
Nilmandra's "History" series is one of the most elaborate and complicated
series I've ever come across. This isn't just a retelling of the events in
the Silmarillion. This is a series of memories framed by some very
compelling present day action. Nilmandra does a fabulous job of establishing
the different time periods and making them different. Perhaps most
impressive of all is that the people in the flashbacks are subtly different
from those telling the events. They're younger, and though none of them are
exactly innocent by the time the Second Age rolls around, they're not as
weary of the fight yet. They're still fresh. The differences are subtle, but
Nilmandra makes sure that they're there. And they make all the difference.
Beyond that, the "History" series is obviously a work of much time and
effort, including research into the events themselves and then exhaustive
outlining to make sure the history and the framing story match up. Fantastic
writing. Some of the best I've ever seen!
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Author: tyellas . ID: 155 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:45:34
Tyellas deserves several rounds of applause for "Magweth Pengolodh." First
of all, Tyellas is able to take a virtually unknown character and develop
him into somebody just as compelling, complicated, and nuanced as any of
Tolkien's better known canon characters. Then Tyellas took this character
and gave him other little known characters to interact with, making each one
distinct, memorable, and completely believable. After that, they were all
tossed into the politics of Numenor, and here Tyellas really shines,
bringing to light the fissures deep within this island society and
uncovering many of the feelings and attitudes that will eventually divide
the society completely. Nice foreshadowing, fantastic characterization, and
a very involving story.
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Author: Ithilwen . ID: 286 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:53:38
Ithilwen has my most humble thanks for some amazing writing that forced me
to take another look at Feanor and his family. And the Noldor in general,
too. I was firmly in the camp of the Sindar and the Silvan elves, and while
I'm still there, I find I can no longer ignore what Ithilwen has brought to
light. Ithilwen's care and balance in these stories reveal a fairly untold
side of events, and I've developed some sympathy for Maedhros, something I
once reserved only for Maglor. Beautiful characterization and wonderful
dialogue and narrative that mvoe the reader through the changes taking
place. What happens is not excused, but the motivations behind it are
explored in a depth and detail that is rare. And because of that, it takes
on a lighter shade of grey than what I had originally seen.
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Author: Joan Milligan . ID: 190 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 15:59:15
What Joan Milligan does so well in these Silmarillion stories is to find the
twist. The catch. And she does it in a variety of ways. She showcases the
other perspective in both "Alqualonde" and "The Song of the Rock," making
readers wince and think. Then in "Rejoin the Dance," Joan give readers a
different variation on the twist. She shows them the relationship between
Thingol and Melian and she works into it a fascinating dichotomy of awe and
confidence that is almost beyond understanding but somehow feels as though
it might be within reach. Great exploration of different takes on what might
be considered well-known Silm events.
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Author: Salsify . ID: 314 . Books/Time: The Silmarillion (67): General
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger . 2005-09-24 16:16:37
It's one thing to take an established canon character and give him a
slightly new perspective. It's one thing to take a little known character or
an original character and breathe into him new life during the course of a
story. But it's antoher thing entirely to take an established canon
character, rewrite his perspective entirely, and then present him as someone
that nobody has understood until now. Which is exactly what Salsify does.
It's one of the most daring characterizations I've ever seen, and it
succeeds on all counts. Eol becomes an accessible, understandable character,
who might not be entirely in the right, but no longer can he be seen as
someone altogether in the wrong.
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