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Title: But the Scent Still Lingers · Author: Imhiriel · Times: The Great
Years: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 947
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-28 13:31:43

A wonderful piece answering a prompt for a drabble about aging - it
combines the physical burdens of age with Ioreth's memories of a happy
occasion in her youth, and ties it in beautifully with Tolkien's Houses
of Healing scene, and Ioreth's personal reaction to the scent of athelas.

And the pairing, if only briefly, of two LOTR characters never to my
knowledge linked in this way, is inspired, and, seen through the
crucible of long, hard, years, wistful.

This one is my favorite of its talented author's nominated works, which
is saying a lot.
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Title: Ships Passing · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Vignette · ID: 302
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-28 15:29:14
This is my favorite of Marta's pieces that I have so far read, and since
she is so prolific there are many more to go. The piece captures both
the personalities of the two central men, as well as a particularly
tense moment in time--the march on the Black Gate. Faramir does not know
if the West will prevail, and he has just been hit with the news of his
father's madness. He does not know if his love of Eowyn will succeed.

Of course, Faramir comes out most clearly, since it is an interior
monologue. But Halbarad--one of my very favorite characters--is
portrayed in a few deft strokes.
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Title: Strange Fortunes · Author: Tehta · Times: First Age and Prior:
Incomplete · ID: 81
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-28 15:36:18
A fascinating story that reads something like the bastard child of Oscar
Wilde and Jane Austen. Funny, and bitingly clever.

I don't find much of a Tolkienesque atmosphere here, but I'm too
engrossed by the narrative to really care.

Best moments, at least for me, are Maeglin's, written here as the
Teenaged Goth Misfit in sunny Gondolin, cool, acerbic and magnetic with
hints of hidden power and passion. He's also an emotional mess under the
dark beauty - it's easy to see how he will one day facilitate the Fall
of Gondolin. His musings about Idril are funny, sad, and a little
peculiar, not to mention confused with his feelings for his murdered
mother.

The best bit is Maeglin's attempt to convey his passion for Idril by
leaving her some of his nifty and decidedly unromantic little gadgets,
anonymously. Not to mention the atrocious, but hilarious, poetry where
he finds the weirdest rhymes with her name.

I would really like to see the story continued, and finally finished,
preferably with an appearance or two by Turgon.
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Title: Of All the Pretty Little Horses · Author: Oshun · Genres: Humor:
Gondor · ID: 736
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-28 15:44:10
A clever and charming turnaround of the usual horse-mad Eorling cliches.
Faramir and Eomer show hidden sides of themselves; and reveal that
things are not always as they seem. Excellent command of language and a
flair for humor.
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Title: Gimli's Tale · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Dwarves · ID: 934
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-07-28 16:12:58
This is a really cute story. It's nice to think of Gimli relating a
little piece of Dwarven history, and the way you made it applicable to
all of the races was nicely done.
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Title: Strange meeting · Author: Nesta · Races: Men: Post-Sauron's Fall
· ID: 93
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-28 16:13:22
This sequel to [Black Hour] is one of my favorite stories of King and
Steward.

Like [Black Hour], it proceeds on a possibly AU premise, that Faramir
did not remember being healed by Aragorn. The writer capably takes that
premise from the taut bleakness of the previous story to the pivotal
meeting between the last Ruling Steward and the King who will replace
him, and a hopeful future for them both.

Faramir and Aragorn are well-drawn here, as is the seamless progress of
their friendship. Aragorn's understanding Faramir's value and respecting
him is a welcome contrast to Denethor's poisonous treatment of his
secondborn. And Aragorn's completing Faramir's healing with words,
restoring what that had been missing in Faramir's life of late - a
compassionate liege-lord, and the knowledge that the desperate mission
to the outwalls had not lost men's lives in vain, it had helped save
Gondor - is a wonderful notion that is elegantly expressed.

I loved the metaphor of water and wine - what Aragorn gives Faramir is
as necessary as both to a thirsty man, even though Faramir had done
without for a long time.


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Title: Good Neighbors · Author: daw the minstrel · Genres: Adventure ·
ID: 818
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-28 17:09:32
Again, you have managed to write a highly original story and at the same
time incorporate canonical events that are often no more than a date in
the Tale of Years, and make them come to life. Obvious dedication to
details add depth and verisimilitude to the narrative (for example all
the information on arrows or tracking). It also shows well-done research
and the ability to combine it seemingly effortless into the flow of the
story.

You worked very well with your different perspectives, allowing the
reader to know more about particular details sometimes than the current
PoV-character.

The thoughts and observations regarding the twin's dealing with their
grief was particularly poignant for its resonance with Lorellin's death.
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Title: Lord of Werewolves · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Parody · ID: 255
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-28 17:12:39
This is absolutely hilarious! You can literally hear Morgoth's mounting
despair and exasperation with his incompetent minions. The details woven
into the narrative are one funnier than the next; from Morgoth's
slippers to the ["leggy strumpet"] Thurungwethil manicuring Sauron, to
Anfauglir's nickname and need to be housebroken. And now we know exactly
why Beren and Lúthien succeeded in Tol Sirion...
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Title: Paper · Author: Dawn Felagund · Races: Elves: Feanorians · ID: 492
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-28 17:46:47
Beautifully told. The family dynamics you show are extremely
well-developed in their complexity; full of conflicts and hidden
currents that are elegantly sketched, without dwelling on them overlong.
Wonderfully detailed yet restrained descriptions.
I love Curufin's observations on paper and how it relates to his life.
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Title: Counterpoint, Interfolio - Scherzo · Author: Daffodil Bolger ·
Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest · ID: 617
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-07-28 18:03:13
The strong narrative voice is mischievous and thought-provoking,
fanciful and practical all at once. Excellent, creative use and
application of descriptions and imageries.
I liked how Pippin's thoughts ramble, meander, and circulate, and he
constantly has to bring himself back to his current line of thought.

This had me laughing for quite a long time: ["They took a cart because
Frodo said Pippin's legs were still too short to walk all that way and
Pippin probably should have been put out with that but he didn't
complain - if he complained too much, Frodo might give in and then
Pippin would _have_ to walk and he preferred the cart because he would
be awfully daft not to."]
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Title: Father and Daughter · Author: Imhiriel · Times: First Age and
Prior · ID: 943
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-07-28 18:28:09
I think what I enjoy most about this story is the characterization of
Galadriel. She is so often portrayed as cold and aloof, very distant
from everyone else and in complete control of herself and her immediate
surroundings. It's interesting to see her as the
not-completely-in-control and uncertain daughter that she is here,
parting from her father for who knows how long. If ever she could let
down her guard, it would be now and with these two Elves.

I love Celeborn's quiet and sympathetic support, and that Finarfin is
able to appreciate him as a good match for his beloved daughter. The
final scene is wonderful, with Galadriel and Celeborn standing together,
their mingling hair a metaphor for the mingling of their lives - or so I
took it!

Poor Finarfin! A tough parting for any father, never knowing when or if
he'll see his daughter again, or if she too will die across the seas and
have to go through Mandos' Halls to see him again. And perhaps a
foreshadowing of the parting Galadriel and Celeborn will one day experience.

I always enjoy your writing style and characterizations, and I'm glad
you have plans to do more exploring of Finarfin and his family. He's not
looked at much by fanfic authors, but really is a strong and fascinating
character.
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Title: The White Tree · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 94
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-07-28 21:44:51
How does Linda do it? She manages to grab you right into the story and
hold you there. I enjoy how her stories continue to explore the dynamic
between Aragorn and Faramir,
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Title: Another Man's Cage · Author: Dawn Felagund · Genres: Drama · ID: 136
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-07-28 21:53:53
This is a stupefyingly ambitious effort, and deserves credit for its
scope alone - some 350,000 words devoted to a year in the life of Feanor
and Nerdanel and five of their seven sons, in Valinor, back before all
the trouble began.

I would prefer some trimming, but the texture is undeniably rich and the
use of language is excellent, as is the writer's ability to portray the
daily lives of probably the most famous family in Elvenhome.

I liked the occasional interaction of the Feanorians with the Valar; and
the portrayal of Rumil was fascinating.


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Title: Cacophony · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 929
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-07-28 22:39:09
Holy Eru, what an amusing piece this is, particularly for both
Silmarillion and music mavens. Gwynnyd teases us with musical references
from the classics to modern pop, to avant garde music, and assigns their
performances to comically appropriate Valar and Maiar.

As might be imagined, she saves the best moment in this story for
Melkor, but to reveal what Eru wanted him to perform--as opposed to
Melkor's own, ahem, independent choices--would spoil this little ficlet.
Better you read it yourself.
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Title: Recalled To Life - Alqualonde · Author: AWing · Races: Elves:
Feanorians · ID: 787
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-07-28 23:48:31
What I love most about this piece is the way that the long history of
the strife between the different Elvish clans is woven so subtly into
the events. I have only read the Silm a few times and so the characters
were not as vivid as they might be for some - but even so, this story
was really poignant. Forgiving for something that seems as unforgiveable
as a kinslaying is definitely a hard thing to do, and I was glad to see
that honoured.
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Title: Roots and Branches · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 611
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-07-28 23:55:06
A nicely captured moment in Faramir's readjustment to life after the War
and without his father and brother.
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Title: Blood Brothers · Author: Elana · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 149
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2006-07-29 01:13:34
An extraordinarily original story. Youve packed so much of the art,
folklore, military tradition, and cultural history of Harad into just
one hundred vivid, powerful words  the imagery of the Mumak and his
rider growing up together, sharing blood and tattoos and mothers milk,
is fabulous. Have you expanded this further? Id love to read more.
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Title: Sleep Easy · Author: shirelinghpc · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 992
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:20:06
I liked the repetition of that first line, it gave the poem a certain
beat, as if the line, like the river, is carrying Boromir on.
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Title: Gandalf returned · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 990
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:20:33
I love the phrase [he fell birthblind]; that opening line is fantastic,
as is the idea of Gandalf seeing himself reformed, seeing the lines of
age drawn back onto new flesh as if with a quill. And how very fitting
that understanding of his unique fate should be triggered by the sight
of Narya upon his hand.
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Title: Birthdays · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Drama: Remembering ·
ID: 988
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:21:03
A very touching father-daughter story, of Elanor growing up and learning
the tale of her father's struggles with the memory of the past.
Rabidsamfan has always been good at getting voices to sound their age,
without any apparent effort. This slightly distant third person
perspective and straightforward, narrative style convincingly gives one
the sense of seeing the world through a very young girl's eyes, who is
opening into a new sensitivity for others. With each year, she comes a
little closer to being able to understand something of Sam's traumatic
grief, not by booklearning, but by her own care for her father. Economic
and effective, Rabidsamfan! Kudos!
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Title: In a Heartbeat · Author: Piplover · Genres: Drama: Featuring
Pippin or Merry · ID: 928
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:21:46
Although the second half of the fic did not, to me, live up to the first
half, the first half is quite entertaining and amusing. I liked the
original character, Oren, and the game of getting a little relief during
the long hours of guard duty.
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Title: Lothlorien · Author: laiquendi · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 925
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:22:17
Lothlorien is nicely represented as the seasons turn, standing in for
the change of ages.
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Title: Seabird's Cry · Author: Primsong · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 898
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:22:59
I'm not familiar with concrete poetry, but the visual effect works well
with the theme and Legolas' swells like the tides he wishes to follow.
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Title: Dance Lessons · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length
Ficlet Series · ID: 888
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:23:29
An amusing and interesting set of drabbles. Love and devotion, in their
several articulations and ends, circle about the theme of dancing.
Dancing (or refusing to dance) is no simple matter of enjoyment--it's
political, amusing, distracting, finally desireable as formal dances
give way to one that needs no tutoring between lovers. Nicely done!
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Title: For Arda · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 885
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2006-07-29 01:23:58
This takes a step away from fanfiction into reflection upon it. I'm not
sure of the form (a dribble?), but it's visually interesting and allows
for a smooth delivery.
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