Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Of Falcons and Mûmakil · Author: Lialathuveril · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 97
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-08-04 13:25:37
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - and perhaps the element that gave me
the greatest entertainment (perverted reader that I am) was what could
be described as 'the cheese knife incident'. Lothiriel's attempts to
defeat the bad guys through the application of excess water was good -
but Eowyn's use of the cheese knife was masterly! To reinterpret a well
known expression - those who don't eat by the cheese knife can still die
on them.

And the relationship between feisty princess and rather over-confident
king was delightful - culminating in the expected happy ending.

Good stuff - and I'm looking forward to finding out what you do to the
pair of them next!
-----------------------------------
Title: Merry Yules · Author: Marigold · Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length
Ficlet series · ID: 114
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-08-04 13:44:00
I really enjoyed these lovely glimpses of Merry and Pippin at Yule.
Merry is an excellent big cousin - so loving and supportive of little
Pippin. Then, over the years, I loved seeing Pippin increasing in
confidence and maturity - so that the balance shifted ever so subtly
from Merry protecting Pippin to the other way round.

These two make an excellent team - and I am pleased that they had each
other (alongside their families) in constant mutual support right up to
their eventual deaths in distant Gondor.

-----------------------------------
Title: Elven Braids · Author: viggomaniac · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 808
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-08-04 15:25:49
You achieve a high level of angst in this short fic. Best done, I think,
is the portrait of the Orcs themselves. You've captured their mode of
speech in a very Tolkienesque fashion. They are truly scary and I was
terrified along with Aragorn. And very relieved at the arrival of the
Elven warriors!

One small point: I do think an Orc could recognize a Numenorean when he
saw one. They called them "tarks."
-----------------------------------
Title: In the Woods · Author: Werecat · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond ·
ID: 119
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-08-04 15:34:04
I love this little story. It is so evocative of both Middle-earth and
the wonderful Irish tales of the Sidhe. Your portrait of Radagast is
moving and vivid. I wanted to cry along with the girl in the story as
the Fair Folk left.

One of the things I love most about your writing is its sound--and I
don't mean that I read it out loud to myself, but that I always HEAR
what is going on, because you evoke sound so clearly with words like
"whistle" and so forth. I understand that your first language is not
English, and so it is all the more remarkable. I would never know if I
hadn't been told.
-----------------------------------
Title: Desires Of The Hroa · Author: The Last Temptation of Homer ·
Genres: Drama: First Age Elves · ID: 623
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-08-04 15:45:22
I'm sorry this is so short. I appreciate your dilemma--how to criticize
Tolkien canon on sex and LACE in particular without using parody. In
fact, it cries out for parody, because it is itself a mockery of human
love, IMHO. The other option is high tragedy--the inevitable result of
trying to tie up in chains such unchainable desires. Thus comes Lancelot
and Guinever and all the other great "forbidden" loves.

Therefore I think you dodged the bullet by not having your character
(whoever he is) commit the ultimate sin and go for it. Maybe the lovely
maiden would have been interested. And THAT would have been a great tale.

I suppose canatics would object that I am giving myself away when I say
"human love." Well, even Tolkien said that the Elves are meant to
express a part of human nature (the higher part). I don't happen to
agree with him that sexuality is too debased to be "high" except within
the bounds of heterosexual monogamy. In fact, it is a large part of what
makes us human--sex is NOT just for procreation.
-----------------------------------
Title: Treasures And Momentos · Author: Marigold · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Pippin or Merry · ID: 220
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 15:55:27
In spite of the rather gloomy subject--a deathfic for Merry and
Pippin--it manages somehow, to be cheerful, hobbity and uplifting, all
at the same time. I like to think that this would be just how it was, no
real angst, except for those who were left bereft of their sweet
presence. We know that the last of the Fellowship are going to miss
their dear hobbits most dreadfully, but the important thing is that the
two of them are together.
-----------------------------------
Title: Tolkien's Use of Expletives · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 147
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-08-04 15:56:53
This essay made me laugh. You have indeed done an admirable job of
cataloguing "oaths"; it ends up making Tolkien look charming and rather
childish. I suppose it's because so many of these words are out of the
mouths of Hobbits.

It reminded me of Tyellas's "Lost in the Translation," where Bilbo
confesses to Frodo that he "cleaned up" the tales of the Elves so as not
to shock the respectable.
-----------------------------------
Title: Just Us Lads · Author: pippinfan88 · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 291
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 16:00:12
I really like the warm and loving relationship this author depicts
between Pippin and his father. Her Paladin is a wise, warm and
afffectionate parent, who somehow always manages to make time for his
children. It is easy to see how Pippin grew up to have such an open and
generous nature with a parent like that. This little vignette of a quiet
father/son evening is very pleasant and soothing, and I like it very much.
-----------------------------------
Title: Blood Brothers · Author: Elana · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 149
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 16:02:46
A very touching drabble; it's a shame that it has to be categorized as
"villains", as it is hard to imagine this mumak-rider as actually being
a "bad guy", even though he fights on the enemy's side. It really
depicts the cost of war, and the deep bond between human and animal.
-----------------------------------
Title: Distant Lands · Author: Acacea · Genres: Romance: Fixed-length
ficlet · ID: 76
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 16:05:32
-grin-. This drabble really made me smile. At this point in time, there
is only one distant land on Faramir's mind. I do love the many things
this shows in so few words: Aragorn's wish for friendship, Gandalf's
wisdom--and how much in love Faramir is.
-----------------------------------
Title: In the Shadow of Hope · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Men:
Vignette · ID: 715
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 16:16:37
This is a well-done little interior monologue for Eowyn, as she waits in
the Houses of Healing, her thoughts in turmoil, and feeling sad and
useless. I loved the little actions--naming the herbs, the ant, the
bee--those little things that can be a distraction from unwanted
thoughts. I also loved her musings on Merry. And the last two lines were
lovely and insightful.
-----------------------------------
Title: In a Heartbeat · Author: Piplover · Genres: Drama: Featuring
Pippin or Merry · ID: 928
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 16:40:36
This is a wonderful bit of classic Pippin hurt/comfort. Pippin is
wounded, heroically saving Aragorn's life, and then is taken care of by
all his dearest friends and loved ones. But there is more than just h/c
in this. The author depicts Pippin as brave and competent and proud of
his position as a Guard of the Citadel, and it's a delight to see the
love between him and his King. I loved this story when first it was
written, and am very glad for this chance to read it again.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Heads of One Thousand Goblins: A Love Story · Author:
SickleYield · Races: Dwarves · ID: 644
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-04 17:29:25
What a rare find! It's so unusual to find a Gimli romance, much less one
in which the love is requited! This is a delightful story of Gimli in
the Fourth Age, and of the resettlement of Moria. I enjoyed it very much
indeed! This is another tale I would never have found without the MEFAs!
-----------------------------------
Title: To Ride, To Will, To Fear · Author: Ellethill · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 841
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-08-04 21:17:04
This is a most unusual story written in the style of an ancient epic.It
gripped me from start to finish and lingered in my mind from amongst the
many stories I read.
It tells of Eowyn's abduction and rescue,while another theme is how
Faramir wins the respect of both Aragorn and Eomer who previously had
harboured some reservations about what manner of a man he was.By the end
of the story, both come to realise his true worth and Faramir and Eowyn
realise just how much they love one another.
The language of this story has a unique beauty and poetry.
-----------------------------------
Title: Night Rain · Author: permilea · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 792
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2006-08-04 21:17:56
A touching little story about Frodo's joy in rain after the
Quest.Aragorn,ever the healer wants to keep him warm and dry but comes
to realise how much Frodo needs to be in the rain, after the desert of
Mordor and having no water.

I can understand something of how he feels,for when the rain comes after
a heatwave, I always want to rush out to greet it and feel it on my face
like Frodo.
We often fail to appreciate the precious gift of rain.
This story is beautifully told and heartfelt..
-----------------------------------
Title: Birnam Wood · Author: Inkling · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond ·
ID: 917
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:31:34
Inkling answers the question I have wondered about myself: What if
Tolkien wrote fanfiction? If the anwer was yes, surely Birnam Wood would
(unintentional pun) have been it. This story applies Tolkien's love of
the natural world, without slavishly evoking the Professor's style, into
a number of pivotal scenes from Shakespeare's MacBeth.

Inkling moves the noise, textures, and terrors of Tolkien's Old Forest
into the Scottish Highlands of an age long past our modern times. Yet as
you read, you can tell that "Birnam Wood" is the remains of the same
forest that thousands of years ago was wandered by Tom Bombadil and some
adventurous hobbits.

The story trully evoked the atmosphere of an angry haunted forest, so
true to Tolkien that your thoughts are jarred when suddenly a strange
old woman appears. Though she fits so amazingly well into the forest now
bent on war, she still reminds us that she is one of Shakespeare's weird
sisters. MacBeth is ultimately the Bard's creation. Shakespeare
influenced Tolkien, not the other way around.
-----------------------------------
Title: Midwinter Rites · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 868
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:32:02
This is a touching drabble, all the more evocative as I write this on a
very hot evening in late July.
-----------------------------------
Title: Inheritance · Author: Acacea · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 524
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:33:39
Spare writing, as appropriate for drabbles, and a nice twist at the end.
-----------------------------------
Title: The One · Author: Linda Hoyland/Raksha the Demon CoAuthors ·
Races: Men: Featuring Aragorn · ID: 852
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:34:42
So often we read fanfics that show how a dying Faramir is rescued from
the dark dreams of the black breath by Aragorn, the long hoped for king
who has finally returned. But in "The One", Linda and Raksha turn the
tables on fanfic fables and on Tolkien, as well, by having Aragorn dream
of Faramir.

In their tale, Aragorn is so haunted by his youthful dream of receiving
the Steward's rod from a strange man that memory of the dream persisted
through the years as he met the Lords of Gondor. The thought that he had
a vision of Faramir practically a generation before Denethor's son was
born is quite touching.

"The One" is nicely written, tight and quick flowing, with lovely
language very much in Tolkien's style.
-----------------------------------
Title: Strange meeting · Author: Nesta · Races: Men: Post-Sauron's Fall
· ID: 93
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:37:03
This fine story deals with a subject about which many have
conjectured--what happened at the "true" first meeting between Aragorn
and Faramir, where the latter was awake and coherent. "Strange Meeting"
is a discussion of Gondorian politics, during which the King to be "wins
Faramir over" so that he "can win over Gondor."

One more highlight: the story begins with the seldom described
"cleansing" of the Pelennor Fields after the seige of Gondor. Nesta
makes the scene atmospheric and almost Gothic.
-----------------------------------
Title: Ignorance Is Bliss · Author: Eggo Waffles · Genres: Humor: Parody
· ID: 754
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:40:17
This is a clever tale, sez me who likes her Faramir red-haired and
red-bearded. (Note the use of "sez", which proves that those of us who
like red-headed Faramir can't spell.) Just kidding, but very much in
keeping with some of the themes in this cute story. "Ignorance is Bliss"
evokes the heyday of the Book Versus Film Faramir debate at its height.
But whatever 'Mir ya favor, or even if you don't care too much about any
'Mir's, you should get a kick out of "Ignorance Is Bliss."
-----------------------------------
Title: 17 Cunning Corsairs · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 244
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-08-04 22:52:22
My heart is all with Lothiriel in this one. I've always wanted to be
Black Sebastian, the Terror of the Seven Seas.

It's so dull to be a Good Girl.
-----------------------------------
Title: Lord of Werewolves · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Parody · ID: 255
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-04 22:57:46
The first time I read "Lord of Werewolves", I almost cried with
laughter. I love humor and parodies, especially those that take down the
"bad guys" of history and literature. "Werewolves" is a wonderful little
fic that fits this bill quite handily. It's almost the Silmarillion, as
Mel Brooks would do it.

The story was authored by Raksha, in whose hands the Darkest Lord of
them becomes a classic cartoon uber-villain, like SuperMan's Lex Luther.
As evil as he is, you gotta laugh at him. Morgoth's protege Sauron is
now a raging Metrosexual pretty boy and a hopeless failure at animal
training. Bad enough that Sauron has made a wuss out of Wolfie,
Morgoth's little pet, but surely Sauron should have housebroken the
beast before giving him proper behavioral training! Raksha turns
Thuringwethil the vampire bat into a leggy moll you'd almost expect to
have a stereotypical Brooklyn accent, even if she was originally created
by an Oxford don.

"Lord of Werewolves' is just hilarious. I hope I haven't spoiled the
story for you, lovely readers, by my review. Just go check out this
wonderful parody.
-----------------------------------
Title: Trivial Matters · Author: Thundera Tiger · Genres: Humor: Gondor
· ID: 839
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2006-08-04 23:16:58
Heh. I'm always a sucker for Faramir being clever, and this vignette is
a lovely example of that, as he plays both Legolas and Aragorn to
achieve his desired ends.
-----------------------------------
Title: An Empty Saddle to Fill · Author: Anoriath · Races: Men: Vignette
· ID: 752
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2006-08-04 23:24:22
Delightful irony in Theodred's last thoughts. The depiction of his
impromptu sparring match with Eowyn was very well done. There is an air
of suspicion and foreboding over the entire piece, though Eowyn herself,
as seen through her cousin's eyes, is a beacon of hope. Poor
Theodred-one definitely gets the idea he has some foreboding of the fate
that lies in store for him.
-----------------------------------