Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: The Stories of Our People · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Fourth
Age and Beyond · ID: 292
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 01:51:19
I love the speculation here that hobbits survived right on into our own
age, and that they sought out the Professor, to make their story known.
A very fun premise, and thought-provoking as well.
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Title: If I Had It All Again To Do · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Fourth
Age and Beyond: The Shire · ID: 226
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 01:53:15
Such a sad story, of what became of hobbits after they dwindled as a
people, losing their identity as a race. Almost frightening, but very
well written.
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Title: Gimli's Tale · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Dwarves · ID: 934
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 01:55:02
Gimli takes his turn at telling a sick Pippin a story. I love the very
authentic mythic quality of this. It really has the sound of an oral
tradition.
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Title: Elements · Author: Pearl Took · Times: The Great Years · ID: 667
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 01:57:24
This is a wonderful juxtaposition of two events: Gandalf's death and
restoration at Moria, and the moment in the film when he speaks to
Pippin of death. A lovely use of movie-verse and imagery.
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Title: Pippin's Hands · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: The Shire · ID: 130
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 01:59:39
I am a sucker for a musical Pippin. In this story, he is asked to
perform after his return home from the Quest. I love his thoughts and
doubts and his ultimate confidence. And I love the instrument he plays.
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Title: defining a circle shape through points · Author: Dana · Races:
Hobbits: Merry & Pippin · ID: 569
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:08:21
This author excells at progressive fics, that is, showing how a similar
scenario is re-enacted at different times, and how it is the same, and
how it has changed. This is Merry/Pippin, but it's very mild--the
important thing is how they have stuck to one another through all the
trouble, and how they comfort one another. The lyrical prose and the
depth of feeling are very palpable.
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Title: It's the Thought · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Men: Fixed-Length
Ficlets With Children · ID: 71
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:11:24
Beautifully spare. I love the characterization of Theodred, and how he
cares for his bereaved young cousins--and the sudden and subtle
characterizations of both Eomer and Eowyn at the end.
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Title: Homecomings · Author: Marta · Times: The Great Years: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 225
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:16:09
Beautiful set of drabbles about the reactions of the fathers (or
foster-fathers) of the Fellowship after they return. I like them all,
but I think my favorites are Gloin and the Gaffer. So very much in
character!
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Title: Stronger Songs · Author: Marta · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 688
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:22:50
I'd not much thought of Treebeard and Tom Bombadil meeting, but this one
makes sense.
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Title: Stigmas · Author: Robinka · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Series · ID: 105
Reviewer: LydiaB · 2006-08-18 02:24:36
Do you know, I hadn't read these for a while, and I had forgotten just
how very good they were. You provide a great interpretation of these
pivotal moments in Turin's life and a wonderful insight into his
troubled mind. The heavy and fatalistic atmosphere is skillfully built
up until the tragic climax, and the reader is left with a feeling of
disquite long after reading this series of drabbles, which is just as it
should be in the case of Turin Turambar.
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Title: For a cause, a friend, a loved one · Author: Werecat · Genres:
Humor · ID: 120
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:25:37
Wise mice! LOL! I really liked the way the author managed to make each
type of animal very true to its nature, even though they were speaking.
Well done!
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Title: We Shall Return · Author: Marta · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 650
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-08-18 02:33:29
I like the palpable tension between what the narrator says and what the
images he uses conjure up instead in the mind of the readers: his
apparent worry about Gondor losing her roots is shown in sharp contrast
to the allusions to Ar-Pharazon, reminding the readers how temporary and
deceptive this victory at Umbar was and, even more pertinent, reminding
of the folly and Fall of Númenor.

Clever, poignant use is made of Denethor's dismissal to Gandalf of
Aragorn's claim, found in RotK: an allusion to yet another case of
deluded pride and subsequent, inevitable fall.

The repetition of the nicely ambiguous... promise? warning? threat? ["We
shall return."] gives the drabble a gripping rhythm that adds to the
tension as well.
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Title: Awake · Author: Rabidsamfan · Times: The Great Years:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 837
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:34:17
Movie-verse Sam's POV, as he awakens from his ordeal. Rabidsamfan is one
of the few fic writers I know who can infuse movie-verse with the sort
of dignity usually found in book-verse fic. This is just gorgeous--Sam's
confusion, and his friends' gentle and loving concern come through so
well, and it all leads naturally to that one moment, of catching Frodo's
eyes from the doorway. Beautiful!
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Title: Half a Sticky Mile · Author: SlightlyTookish · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 940
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:50:27
I've often thought Merry and Pippin found more adventure during the
storming of Isengard than they admitted to their friends. This is a
marvelously suspenseful little gapfiller, and Pippin saves the day a
time or two.
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Title: Hidden on the Mountain · Author: Imhiriel · Times: The Great
Years: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 945
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:52:11
I don't believe I've ever read anything from the POV of the White Tree
before. Very evocative.
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Title: Old Man Willow · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 859
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 02:55:53
What a nice thought, that a Wood Elf would be able to heal the heart of
darkness of Old Man Willow. I find myself wondering about this
drabble--why is Legolas in the Old Forest, and how did he find Old Man
Willow, and did he meet Tom Bombadil?
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Title: Flotsam · Author: Salsify · Times: The Great Years: Vignette · ID: 85
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 03:01:49
This is a chilling little moment of realization, in which Merry sees
something disturbing in the ruins of Isengard. His sickened reaction,
and his attempts at rationalization, are very realistic. This is a fic I
read some time ago, and it still gives me a visceral reaction. Very well
executed.
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Title: At Last · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races: Hobbits: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 238
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 03:14:43
I really like the way the author goes back and forth between Merry's POV
and Pippin's. I have to say though, my favorite is the first, as Merry
confides in a silent "Dernhelm".
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Title: Better Than Frodo Baggins · Author: Inkling · Genres: Drama:
Pre-Fellowship · ID: 809
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 03:18:29
There have been many fics written about what a nasty bully young Lotho
must have been. This one however, takes a completely different tack, and
somehow makes it very plausible, not to mention sad.
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Title: Aglarond · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Dwarves: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 68
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-08-18 03:26:57
Gimli is turned into the comic relief side-kick in the films and is
often overshadowed by the other characters in the books, but in this
lovely drabble, annmarwalk gives him the center stage.

To Gimli the dwarf, the stonemason's art is an expression of love--his
love for Galadriel and his love of the creative process itself. There is
also a love and respect for his materials which he uses with great care.
One of my favorite passages in the LOTR is when Gimli tries to explain
to an uncomprehending Legolas the wonders of the Glittering Caves. He
describes the geological formations as if they are living plants, and in
this drabble, the writer picks up on that imagery of [glades of
flowering stone.]

I also liked Gimli's proud comment that his artistry is not inferior to
that of a poet; the applied arts are not inferior to the fine arts.

A very interesting glimpse into the mind and motivation of Gimli. I
enjoyed this very much!
.


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Title: Thirsty · Author: Elfhild · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 319
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2006-08-18 05:20:05
I like the chilling eroticism of this drabble.Thuringwethil's momentary
remorse was a good twist. Yet Elfhild's character is as much a
contemporary vamp as Tolkien's hazily sketched denizen of the undead.
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Title: Grey Havens · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves · ID: 708
Reviewer: LydiaB · 2006-08-18 05:24:03
Ive liked everything Ive read of yours so far, and this story was no
exception. You are amazingly consistent in the quality you deliver.
Oddly enough, I was actually doubtful that I would enjoy this story as I
read the first few chapters, because I could only see this tale ending
unhappily and thus predictably for all concerned. However, you drew me
in first with the beautiful descriptions of the settings and of these
important events, and then you rung the pity out of me with your
characterization of Cirdan and his struggle with these new-found
feelings of love. I loved the contrast between Cirdan, the older wiser
elf abiding by the formalities, and Ereinion, rushing in where bearded
elves fear to tread. I also think you handled the interactions between
the great lords present at the haven very well, as I can imagine such
powerful characters would have all been vying for their bit of the
limelight, and you tied up very neatly all the different paths that they
took from there. And finally, you surprised me at the end after all. I
couldnt imagine what was going to happen to this marriage. Would Elinel
stay with him but quietly in the background with no mention of her in
the records? Would you kill her off? No, instead you thought of a much
better solution than that, and it worked perfectly.
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Title: Jewels · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 790
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-18 09:30:42
A lusty look at the Evenstar and the White Lady taking the air on
horseback, as viewed by a very appreciative King and Steward.

Good ambience, with just enough detail to establish the physical
exuberence and beauty of this moment.


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Title: Elfstone · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Elves: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 252
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-08-18 09:47:33
Evocative and imaginative ficlet about the making of the Elfstone.
Beautiful use of words and Elven-magic; as the writer captures the power
of the moment and the power of the Elessar's maker.

I would have liked this ficlet to be a few times longer, but the piece
works at this brief length.
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Title: Demand and You Shall Receive · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres:
Humor: Children · ID: 159
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-08-18 13:54:47
This is such a hilarious bit of interaction, and so very realistic to
anyone who has ever had to deal with a determined toddler! Frodo's
exasperation, Merry's smugness, and Pippin's burgeoning skills as a
manipulator, and Esme's obliviousness to it are all delightful. But what
lifts it above ordinary fluff is the sweet ending, when we learn just
how much that coin purse meant to Pippin.
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