Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: For Love of the Lord of the White Tree · Author: Legolass ·
Genres: Drama · ID: 202
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:20:09
I am not usually a fan of Aragorn and Legolas stories but this one is a
notable exception.It even includes a long and convincing conversation
between Arwen and Faramir about why ARagorn and Legolas are such good
friends.

This is a story about the strength of a friendship which endures,despite
misunderstandings,doubts and misconceptions.

It begins with the King and Legolas having drifted apart to some degree
and only when Legolas is abducted and injured does Aragorn realise just
how much Legolas means to him.

There are some beautiful scenes in this story, Aragorn's pursuit of the
captured Legolas is one of the most beautiful descriptive scenes of a
ride I have ever read.I could feel the wind in my hair,it was so vivid.

I also enjoyed the healing scenes,though I would have liked to know more
about the Elf's recovery as Aragorn did not not discuss it with his
friend when he saw him later and that is maybe the only weak point in
the story.

Other characters are not forgotten and Faramir, Arwen and the villains
are all vividly portrayed.
I loved the way that we see a more vunerable ide to Aragorn who fears
that his friend will leave him and save to Valinor.Instead the Elf has a
wonderful surprise in store.
-----------------------------------
Title: Second Son · Author: Nesta · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor
· ID: 843
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:20:39
This is a creepy tale about Faramir's family and about bones.It reminded
me slightly of Hamlet in the casual way, Faramir's young son rumages
through a sack of bones.Faramir has a problem child in young Turin, and
the story shows how he tries to handle him,firmly but kindly and
tactfully and not to repeat the mistakes of his own father,Denethor.
Faramir's elder son is also portrayed here as a likeable and responsible
youngster.The younger son seems almost pyschopathic in his lack of
emotion and one can only hope that with his loving father's help, he
will eventually grow up to be a good man.
-----------------------------------
Title: Luck from the Ashes · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 142
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:23:39
A charming ficlet about Aragorn and Faramir's discovery of a family of
stray cats and how this discovery helps both King and Steward learn more
about each other's characters.This story show the enlightened attitudes
that King and Steward have, are not influenced by the story of the cats
of Queen Beruthiel, qwhich leaves the reader feeling Gondor is in
enlightened hands with a happy future to look forward to.As the kittens
are found amongst the tombs,a symbol of new life,so will Gondor's glory
rise again .A new King means a brighter future for all,not just Gondor's
people but also her animals.A cat may indeed now look at a king.
I especially liked the way that these two great men could find the time
to be kind to homeless kittens.I also liked the way Faramir felt he must
protect his King.It must have been hard for Faramir to walk in the place
where his father tried to burn him alive and met his own terrible end.
I liked the way that Faramir notes there is something untamed in both
the kitten and the King. Both will have to learn to adapt to a new
enviroment.
As a dedicated cat lover,this story won my heart.I am also a lover of
stories about Aragorn and Faramir becoming friends and this inncident
bodes well for a future friendship between them.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Healer and the Warrior · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 140
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:26:08
I came across this story quite by chance and was bowled over by it.The
writer has a truly outstanding talent and her work is better than many
published works.This story is a true rarity,a sexy ,funny
romance,without being in any way smutty or coarse.
This is the first in a series of stories dealing with Eomer and
Lothiriel and describes their first meeting in the Houses of Healing,
where Lothiriel works.
Eomer was wounded at the Battle of the Black Gate and has come to seek
help and finds more than he bargained with,especially when Lothiriel
insists that he takes a bath.I am certain most of the ladies reading
with share Lothiriel's reactions to the handsome warrior minus this
clothing ! The scene is the bath tub is is a wonderful mixture of
sexiness,farce and drama.Poor Lothiriel is almost throttled by her
future husband when she comes upon him unawares.
This was hilarious in some places and touching in others.For thse two it
is love at first sight and the passion makes the screen sizzle to read
it ! The writer's attention to detail and amount of historical research
is astounding.This story was very enjoyable indeed and is all the more
remarkable as English is not the writer's first language.
-----------------------------------
Title: A Bride for a King · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 777
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:33:41
This is another delightful installment in these delightful romances
featuring Eomer and Lothiriel.

Imrahil ,aided by Aragorn has pursuaded Eomer to propose and Lothiriel
receives a letter. She is far from happy that her her father has
arranged her marriage,despite having fallen in love with Eomer.

The bridegroom to be,has however mollified her feelings by writing his
own letter to say the decision must be hers. she accepts and embarks on
the complicated task of trying to discover what happens between a man
and a woman,something innocent, well brought up young ladies were
sheltered from knowing.

Her quest brings some surprising results,including a scolding from
Ioreth and a drunken picnic with her brothers.

A most enjoyable look at the intricies of royal marriage,centred on the
feelings of the bride who is swept away by her feelings for her groom.
-----------------------------------
Title: To Become A Queen · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 157
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-07-26 05:43:42
After all the waiting, Lothiriel is finally on her way to become Queen
of Rohan,accompanied by her brothers,father and Aragorn. Her first very
long ride,is not exactly,auspicious or likely to endear the future queen
of the horselords to horses !
When the weary bride arrives, she is greeted by her intended and any
doubts she might feel evaporate.in Eomer's embrace.

Lothriel years for a hot bath only to find one of Eomer's marshall's in
need of her healing skills. I admit to being puzzled why Aragorn just
stands there,as he is a trained healer who as well as curing supernatual
ills, tended Frodo and Gimli's wounds, and was not happy to leave Gimli
to the healers of Rohan.However, Erkenbrand's reactions to having a
young woman tend him are hilarious.

The wedding ceremony is beautifully described,especially Lothiriel's
freezing feet !The night that follows,is sexy,touching and hilarious in
equal measure.

I love the way Eomer lets his young bride take things at her own pace
and acts as a perfect gentleman.

The bridal night conversation about the mating habits of giant
tortoises,is one of the funniest things I have read anywhere.I could not
stop laughig at this delighful and hilarious scene.
-----------------------------------
Title: Servant of the Tower · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 95
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-26 12:58:09
This is an incisive and very effective look at one of the luckless
household servants who followed Denethor's orders in carrying the
unconscious Faramir to the pyre and preparing him for a terrible death.
Not too many fanfic writers have focussed on the servants' dilemma, the
choices they made, and their reactions to that choice, not to mention
how they fared after the Ring War ended. This drabble packs a lot of
emotional complexity into a mere hundred words; the narrator is
conflicted, defensive, and it's all very realistic.

What I especially like is that there is no easy response to the drabble,
just as there is no easy answer to the question of the servants' actions
on that day. Were they guilty, or were they just frightened men clinging
to the habit of obedience in a world about to go up in flames and blood?
The narrator is drinking alone and seems to be somewhat ostracized; and
one senses that for him, the world did end that day; and, unlike
Faramir, he was never able to awaken from horror and sorrow to a better
world.

-----------------------------------
Title: Such a Little Thing · Author: Ribby · Genres: Alternate Universe
· ID: 206
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 15:47:11
A chilling tale, well told. The image of Boromir's enraged face as
Aragorn's last sight is particularly compelling, as is the
blood-curdling image of Faramir screaming in the flames. *Shudder* Bad
times ahead for Gondor!
-----------------------------------
Title: Wizardry · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 179
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 16:04:28
Of course, I can't possibly be objective about this piece, since it was
so graciously written for my birthday. But why be objective? It's simply
splendid! A word-perfect portrait of both men (for Gandalf is in man's
form, after all, and feels the same aches and pains) at a particularly
excruciating moment in their toils. And breaking into laughter is so
characteristic of them both, as is shown by the two lovely quotations
that the author has included as footnotes. Reading between the lines,
one might think that Gollum knew they were on his trail by this point.
It's not clear from the way Tolkien tells the story whether in fact he
was locked up in Sauron's dungeons all those years they searched to no
avail. Thanks again, Dwim!

Gandalfs apprentice
-----------------------------------
Title: For a cause, a friend, a loved one · Author: Werecat · Genres:
Humor · ID: 120
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 16:18:53
Such a delightful piece, which only Werecat could produce! Each of the
animals is deftly drawn in a few strokes, and so well named! The cat is
perfection in her independence and her fierce motherhood. The mice are
very wise to flee, given what I've seen my cats do to mice (and birds,
for that matter). So we've got war in the human world and war in the
animal world!

Gandalfs apprentice
-----------------------------------
Title: Night Phantoms · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 696
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-26 16:35:39
Bittersweet vignette about Faramir and Eowyn dealing with her nightmares.

Eowyn and Faramir still have nightmares of past tragedies, and their
reliance on each other to help each other through them is a tribute to
their mutual love. Faramir's preparations to soothe his wife are rather
heartbreaking, in that they enforce the reader's knowledge that Eowyn
goes through this misery every year, yet indicative of Faramir's strength.

The writer shows Faramir's essential compassion and intelligence in the
careful but loving way he handles the wife who fears his touch while
gripped in nightmares of Grima and then almost begs it to cover her own
discomfort - his refusal to allow her [to cheapen herself] with actions
she might regret later, while continuing to provide comfort, would be
very typical of the character.

Good use of Old English for Rohirric.
-----------------------------------
Title: Healing the Healer · Author: SlightlyTookish · Times: The Great
Years: The Fellowship · ID: 935
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-07-26 17:07:30
This little story made me laugh. It is quite funny watching the hobbits
giving Aragorn their full attention with all the cold remedies. I love
it that they draft everyone to help procure the ingredients to the
different cold remedies. My favorite moment was Pippin exclaiming over
Aragorn's bald feet. So now that Boromir seems to have caught the cold,
Aragorn can pay him back ;-).
-----------------------------------
Title: Horse Thief · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 365
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-07-26 17:10:25
This is a nice little story about Estel growing up in Imladris. Estel
feels that Elladan was being unfair to him and runs away taking
Glorfindel's horse with him. I love the way you show young Estel in this
story and how Elrond, the twins, and Glorfindel deal with the young boy.
He grows up in a loving family. I love Estel's punishment for stealing a
horse, which seemed more like a reward. But don't tell Glorfindel ;-)
-----------------------------------
Title: Treasures And Momentos · Author: Marigold · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Pippin or Merry · ID: 220
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 17:22:01
Told in a quiet manner very appropriate to the situation, conveying a
mood of solace despite its sad subject. Little details show the deep
friendship between the survivors of the Fellowship, and especially
between Merry and Pippin.
-----------------------------------
Title: Tales of Life · Author: Ainu Laire · Times: Multi-Age: Incomplete
· ID: 235
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 17:25:11
This collection of small tales is charming and full of life indeed! They
touch on many scenes from Aragorn's life, and range in point of view
from his own to that of others. There are moments from the great story
(heroic deeds) and highly personal vignettes. Most of them are solidly
founded in canon; the others have no contradiction with canon. While
each one is worthy in its own right, taken together they paint a
portrait of more depth.

The author is young; I expect even better things from her as her writing
matures. Keep at it!

Gandalfs apprentice
-----------------------------------
Title: Scattered Leaves · Author: Aratlithiel · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 110
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 17:33:01
Haunting and disturbing images. Very good introspection, tense and
gripping right from the start. The use of black and grey versus colours
to contrast the inner anguish with the outside world is particularly
well done.
-----------------------------------
Title: Was It For This? · Author: aervir · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 204
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 17:34:00
Hauntingly beautiful, full of poignant, deeply resonating images, bitter
but defiant. The parallels drawn between Boromir and Théodred and their
respective deaths never feel forced, they enrich the essence of the drabble.
-----------------------------------
Title: Servant of the Tower · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 95
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 17:35:14
Very well-handled emotions, realistic and plausible. Unusual,
thought-provoking perspective. Well-structured narrative.
-----------------------------------
Title: At Crickhollow · Author: Dreamflower · Races: Hobbits: Merry &
Pippin · ID: 241
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 18:09:59
Packed with many little details, from sad to interesting to outright
funny. Lovely little song at the end.
-----------------------------------
Title: Hobbit Lessons · Author: Citrine · Races: Hobbits: Friendship ·
ID: 729
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 18:10:41
Vivid descriptions, good characterisations. The fact that the Fellowship
is only beginning to know each other is shown very well.
-----------------------------------
Title: Cierre, Min Heorte (Turn, My Heart) · Author: SilverMoonLady ·
Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length Ficlet series · ID: 108
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-26 18:11:25
Fascinating, charming premise, showing glimpses of many stories just
beyond the narrative. I especially liked the last section of the song.
-----------------------------------
Title: History Lessons: The Third Age · Author: Nilmandra · Times:
Multi-Age: Incomplete · ID: 167
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 20:34:59
This epic tale chronicles Elrond's very long life, thus many, many other
characters are also represented. The author does a good job fleshing out
the emotional reality behind some very complex events. A good story
about Elves.

Gandalfs apprentice
-----------------------------------
Title: Midwinter Rites · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 868
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 20:44:27
A good example of the art of the fixed-length fic. Concentrating on a
special day of the year, Aragorn's life and travels are described. This
is what a drabble should be: compact, concentrated, focused.
-----------------------------------
Title: Psychodiagnostic Evaluation - Subject: The Lady of Rohan ·
Author: Anoriath · Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 753
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-26 20:55:45
I really enjoyed this smart little piece. The literary device
employed--a mock modern medical assessment--could easily backfire and
descend into the mundane and the silly, but the author pulls it off. In
fact, it ends up being a very effect way to convey the real horror of
what both Eowyn and Faramir went through--and conveying it with humor.
This is the kind of story I like to read. The recommendation at the end
is a gem.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Long Road Home · Author: AmandaK · Genres: Alternate Universe
· ID: 743
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-07-26 21:50:37
This is an alternate universe fic as this genre should be written. It
departs from book and movie in that Boromir lives past Amon Hen, but
except from that it stays remarkably faithful to both canons. In a
"Boromir Lives" story one might expect the angst to overwhelm the piece
and it is certainly there, but never so much that it buries the piece.
This was as lighthearted a read as I can imagine this sub-genre ever
being, and the many original characters that populate it were all
lovely. I really liked seeing how this piece has evolved since RL forced
me to give up betaing it. You've carried it out nicely.
-----------------------------------