Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Discretion · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Humor · ID: 286
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 06:29:06
This is utterly hilarious! The idea of a joke, spanning nearly the
entire Third Age and well into the Fourth, and involving ultimately
almost every major character in the books, finally coming to rest is
more than merely amusing! It is side-splittingly funny! And it is just
the sort of joke Elves *would* find humorous!
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Title: A Woodland Prince · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length
Ficlet Series · ID: 303
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 06:33:48
A remarkable idea: a series of drabbles, exploring from differing POVs
the subject of Legolas. I was very taken by all of them, but most
especially by those of the hobbits--who were in their own ways very
shrewd judges of character, even of Elves. And Gimli's POV was very
funny and touching. Very well constructed as well! Not a word wasted,
and each drabble capturing the person it came from.
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Title: First Impressions · Author: Bodkin · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 806
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 06:36:29
Aragorn is very young and green in this story, and suffering a bit of
culture shock on coming among his parents' people after living his life
in Rivendell. Halbarad is wise and comforting in this, but soon helps
his young charge to an appreciation of his own people.
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Title: One Summer's Day · Author: Bodkin · Races: Men · ID: 765
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 06:39:36
The first time I read this I was very surprised to note the name of the
author! I am so used to her as being primarily an Elf-writer that it was
a revelation to me how well she could write of Rohan! I was very
impressed by the deep family feeling between Theodred and his young
cousins, and by young Eomer's worries and fears for his little sister. A
lovely tale, and a good exploration of the aftermath of grief.
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Title: Awaiting The Thaw · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance · ID: 953
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 07:06:53
This is a beautiful examination of what things were like for Elladan and
Elrohir right after their mother left, as they threw themselves
recklessly into fighting Orcs--seen through the eyes of the young healer
who found herself falling for Elladan. And it shows just how fated that
was, as eight hundred years later, she sees him once more. Very nice!
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Title: Fair, Strong and Cold · Author: Ellethill · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 751
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 07:37:58
This is a very interesting AU premise, and well executed. Often fics in
which the characters are forced to marry for political reasons don't
manage to set the situation up believably, but here the reasoning behind
it is actually believable, without the people who arrange the marriage
coming over as heartless, OOC manipulators, as in the more naive pieces
of the genre.

The softening up of the two characters for each other takes a long time,
but this makes the story even more realistic as we don't see a cliché
conflict-angst-and-solution build-up.

The language of this story flows very well. It is not trying to copy
Tolkien's lnaguage, yet it conveys a certain "ancientness". Many of the
scenes are gripping; my personal favourite being the one in which
Faramir teaches Éowyn some of his ranger skills.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this.
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Title: Work Detail · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 789
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 07:47:59
Clever, clever! This drabble manages to convey some erotic undertones
without getting in the least explicit.

I like how Arwen behaves in here. It's not a trait of her we see in the
books, but we learn very little about how Elves are in their bedrooms.
Why shouldn't they behave like that?
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Title: Teatime in Rivendell · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 373
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 07:59:07
How else would a Hobbit revenge himself than through food? Very funny,
and with Bilbo at his fiercest.
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Title: The Hobbit and the Man: "All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter" ·
Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 351
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 07:59:21
I have always wondered about Bilbo's and Aragorn's first meeting, and it
is good to see something written about this. The premise that Aragorn
needs information about Gollum is quite probable, as is the fact that
Gandalf steered things a little. Aragorn's way of making Bilbo feel at
ease through pipe-weed is a really good idea.

I really like the closing phrase: it ties the scene in with canon and
transports more than is expressed in words about Bilbo's opinion on Aragorn.
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Title: Tharbad Crossing · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Men:
Steward's Sons Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 253
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 07:59:29
We usually forget that Boromir had to make a voyage as long as the rest
of the Fellowship (although he could go through Rohan) all on his own.
This drabble describes the hardness very well, and also that even with
his doubts, he still feels his resposibility for Gondor, which is a
major trait of character for him.
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Title: Come When You Are Ready · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Alternate
Universe · ID: 795
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 08:00:01
A very creepy AU story: Denethor wandering through the halls of the
Citadel, following the voices of the Dead, without knowing what has
happened, hanging between the realm of the living and the dead. We also
see things from the side of the living, especially Faramir, who are
unable to help in any way.

This is a truly chilling story which still contains a positive note in
the relationship between Faramir and his father.

Nevertheless, it is somehow good that this is an AU, as Tolkien's
version is, I think, more gentle to the protagonists.

Very gripping story!
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Title: Suspicion · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 791
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 08:05:28
This really expresses Sam's dislike of Strider and its reasons
believably, as well as his resolve to protect Frodo, no matter how many
weapons that strange Man might carry.

To think that Sam himself will get to wear quite a lot of metal later...
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Title: King's Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Times: The Great
Years: Vignette · ID: 197
Reviewer: Nienor Niniel · 2006-09-16 08:18:18
This made me sniffle a little. I really like Halbarad, and it is great
when fic writers expand on the little that Tolkien gave us about him,
but the fact that we know he dies is just so sad.

This short scene shows so many things: the relationship between Aragorn
and Halbarad, the loyalty of the Dunédain towards Aragorn, and also the
resolve that Aragorn develops after his look into the Palantír.

Very well-written!
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Title: On the Fair Hill · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 946
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:07:30
A beautiful, lyrical and poetical setting of the scene on Cerin Amroth
when Arwen and Aragorn plighted their troth. I can just imagine how
perfect it was--the scene was absolutely clear in my mind, as the author
had so expertly sketched it.
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Title: For the love of the Lord of the White Tree · Author: Tanaqui ·
Times: The Great Years: General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 870
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:12:03
What a poignant set of thoughts from Legolas' POV. I have long admired
the sheer strength of character shown by Legolas in putting aside his
longings for the sea in order to remain by the sides of his remaining
mortal friends, and most especially his devotion, love and loyalty for
the King returned. Other Elves might fade, if faced with such grievous
choices--yet he refused to, and remained to give his friendship freely
to those he *knew* he would one day lose.
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Title: Roots and Branches · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 611
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:16:57
Yes, it would be Sam who would recognize that parallel. He knows plants
and trees and roots, none better. And he knew Faramir's quality as
well--at Henneth Annun he told him so. He's seen nothing to change his
mind, nor have the other hobbits. They may feel sorry for him in losing
two of his family members, but they feel no pity for someone who has
been dishonored--for the dishonor never touched Faramir. And good for
Sam in explaining it in such a way.
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Title: Earth, Water, Fire and Air · Author: Fileg · Genres: Drama:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Series · ID: 469
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:25:24
Very powerful and thought-provoking set of drabbles. I was especially
struck by Aragorn's. He came to his kingship on the sacrifices of others
as well as his own, and I think that his acknowledgement of that is what
made him great. Beautiful job.
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Title: Sixteen Singing Eagles · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 678
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:29:04
Oh this was funny! Poor Eagles! But perhaps they feel a bit better about
things now! LOL!
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Title: Drift · Author: Ribby · Times: The Great Years: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 203
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:31:44
How lovely, that even the fishes paid an homage to Boromir! I liked the
way they interpreted their sense of smell. Lovely image!
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Title: Pity · Author: Elana · Times: The Great Years: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 152
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:35:19
Oh how It knows him by now, knows that pleading for mercy is Its only
chance, knows that if, by his merciful nature he can be persuaded to let
down his guard for even an instant, It can pounce--yes, I've sometimes
thought that might easily be It's last temptation. Very well done!
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Title: Summoned · Author: Agape4Gondor · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 840
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:39:26
This captures very well the ambivalence Faramir must have felt in the
immediate aftermath of the War, still smarting and grieving from the
loss of his brother and father, and yet hopeful in his newfound love for
Eowyn and his newfound allegiance to the King, and his renewed love for
his Ithilien.
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Title: Rejection · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Aragorn Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 903
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:42:22
Oh dear! Yes, I can see that happening to him, in the long course of his
years, as he journeyed to learn what he needed to learn--not only as a
warrior, but also as an "ordinary person". But we know he's nothing if
not patient. Well done.
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Title: Unfolded · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Fixed-Length Ficlets
With Children · ID: 906
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:46:08
Bergil is such an intelligent and observant child--and he clearly loves
and is devoted to, Faramir. I can see him, slowing briefly to observe
the Man he admires so, and to marvel in the difference that being loved
and being free can make.
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Title: Call To Arms · Author: Space Weavil · Genres: Humor: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 857
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-09-16 15:48:36
This made me giggle. Now *I'm* wondering how Khamul could have some sort
of infection! Bad Guys just can never catch a break, can they?
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Title: Merry Yules · Author: Marigold · Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length
Ficlet series · ID: 114
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-09-16 20:08:35
Wow. What a beautiful series of stories within a story which is written
so strongly and so powerful. From the first line to the last, I am
captivated. In every double drabble we get insight in Yule for Merry and
Pippin. Sometimes it's fuzzy and leaves you with a warm feeling, another
is just utterly angsty. It feels that for every reader there is
something here: humour, romance, angst, fluffiness, a touch of the
Fellowship and the Quest..... One of the highlights is when Merry woke
up next to Pippin... naked. The conversation that followed was simply
priceless.

[Im hurt. I thought we shared something special last night.

Pippin!

Lawks Merry, your face! Stop fretting, nothing of that sort happened.

Thank Elbereth!]

Oh my goodness! Priceless! I had to laugh so hard because I could so
picture Merry's face. I love the interaction between those two in this
work. Another one is how Merry insists that baby Pippin sleeps with him
and that he falls asleep with the dream that his parents are dancing. So
lovely and so innocent: very hobbity.

The determination to go with Frodo on the quest is magnificently
written, even without naming the hobbit in question, Marigold writes it
in such a way that you simply know.

Ow and the end:
[Pippin looked at him fondly. Brandybucks. So emotional.]

Very Pippin! I admire the skill on how Marigold wrote this ficlet
series. Each piece can stand on his own, but once you read it all, you
get a good overview of both Hobbits personal growth, their special
friendship and strong bond they share. A great read Marigold!
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