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Title: Tharbad Crossing · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Men:
Steward's Sons Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 253
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:12:03
This so very skillfully conveys Boromir's determination and
singlemindedness - he is Gondor and whatever happens, Gondor will see it
done.
But you still just wanna give him a hug!
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Title: Suspicion · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 791
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:14:42
Dear Sam, so loyal and so unworldy when they start out on that great and
terrible journey. You have caught him very well here in a lovely little
character sketch.
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Title: Following Orders · Author: EdorasLass · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 54
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:15:20
This is all so very true and something so seldom reflected on - the
'only following orders' defence may not have been something that Tolkien
himself was familiar with, after all in his day orders really were not
to be questioned - but that was then. We are entitled to critique
Faramir from our perspective and the reaction you show is real and human
and valid - this man was not and could not have been a milk and water
saint. Yes, he would forgive but that doesn't prevent him from being
bitter, if only in private.
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Title: Claws · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 835
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:16:23
Very nicely realised look at what it means to be a dragon. I don't know
if you need to add the notes - the fine detail of the singed claw
disinte0grating beneath him really brought home the concept of dragonish
obsession nicely.
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Title: Show his quality · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 875
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:30:48
What a lovely evocation of Faramir's wisdom and understanding, the
epitome of 'good people skills' as they say today, and eloquent proof of
why his men loved and followed him
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Title: Inheritance · Author: Acacea · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 524
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:33:43
Very nice and such an economic character sketch that is still so telling
of what makes Faramir his father's son but his own man.
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Title: History Becomes Legend · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Men:
Steward's Sons Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 737
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:39:50
One can see the logic and the very 'rightness' of this idea, that in a
culture based on the Anglo-Saxons, that the emphasis would be on the
aural tradition of heroes being commemorated in stories and songs. And
to hear his brother's name coupled with the valour of the Rohirrim, I am
sure, would have delighted Faramir.
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Title: A bit of garden · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Hobbits: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 901
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:46:01
Wonderfully true! If you are a gardener, you can not resist doing the
odd bit of dead-heading when you see something that needs it, and I love
the notion that Elrond too has a gardener's heart.
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Title: Truly Exposed · Author: Marta · Races: Elves: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 689
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 20:55:21
So much depth and sensuality in this, it simply oozes romance and
simmering passions, without being the least little bit explicit or
vulgar. One is made aware of their love and and physical attraction to
each other, which makes a novel change from the intimations of cold
cerebralarity that is usually evoked when their relationship is written
about.
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Title: The Household Accounts · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 50
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:01:50
I love that something so simple as checking the nature of her household
can bring forward such memories for Eowyn. The lines about her not
caring to use the cloth woven for a deadman are particularly telling.
Overall the concept is starightforward but in its simplicity it is
amazingly original - I have certainly never seen an evocation done on
this subject and in this way before.
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Title: It's the Thought · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Men: Fixed-Length
Ficlets With Children · ID: 71
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:05:26
This is such a charming and understanding characterization of Theodred.
He realises he has to do something to encourage the young orphans that
this is a new home that will love and welcome them - even if he doea
have to be prompted by his nurse's advice - and it is a lovely little
piece of foreshadowing that Eowyn is envious of her brother's sword!
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Title: Thus Are Legends Born · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Men:
Fixed-Length Ficlets With Children · ID: 732
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:12:45
I very much like the observational quality here; this has such a ring of
truth about it that when a child with a good and prolific imagination
finds something they only half understand, they will make their
explanation fit the facts as they see them. It is a charming insight
into Faramir's character that he knows the tales of old so in his mind
this strange creature could be a small part of them - and even if it is
not, the chance to create a story that might become lore is innate
within him.
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Title: The Fading of a Star · Author: Minuialeth · Genres: Drama:
General Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 219
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:19:29
A very delicate and poetic imagining of what may have been said to Arwen
before her departure. One forgets that there would be many others
besides her father and brothers who would be regretfull of her leaving
them - in her case leaving forever.
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Title: First Night · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: War of the
Ring · ID: 400
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2006-09-23 21:21:18
Pippin spends his first night in Minas Tirith, and oh, I felt his
lonesome little heart aching for a familiar face. How he wanted his
Merry! He missed him terribly, and could barely think about their
separation. And his thoughts for Frodo and Sam were so sad. I found
myself thinking about Pippin's stay in Rivendell, when he wondered how
anyone could be so depressed in such a wonderful place. Now he is
feeling the opposite in Minas Tirith, and it is so sad to watch the
little guy be depressed about his circumstances and surroundings. Cold
stone does not do well for a young hobbit who loves his family, green
grass, and lavender.

Pearl Took is magnificent in depicting her character's melancholy, his
heartache and misery. I was immediately immersed in her world of
Peregrin Took. That is her gift; to get inside the mind of her
characters. And she does it very well! All in all, a very beautiful and
touching story!
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Title: Gaiety in Gondor · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 563
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:25:00
Wonderfully mischevious - it certainly brought a smile to my face!
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Title: That Which Cannot Be Put Into Words · Author: Pearl Took · Times:
The Great Years: Vignette · ID: 230
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2006-09-23 21:30:05
A very, very beautiful story of Pippin in Lothlorien, walking the
pathways alone...but we soon learn that he is not alone. Someone is
watching over him. It is sweet faerie that married a Took so long ago
that the good Professor vaguely touches on in his prologue. Music is the
universal language--even here in Middle-earth. It goes beyond all
boundaries of language, including Elvish and Westron. Even Galadriel
makes a small appearance in this lovely tale, but the author's original
character, Cullassisul, and her little Tookling--child of my child,
which is Pippin, steals the scene hands down. Here, the author is
telling a delightful story in which the characters really are reluctant
to speak to one another, however, finally do so through song, yet Pearl
unwittingly is the channel through which we can see and read the wonder
of their hearts. Again, this is a very beautiful story.
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Title: Just a Little Shove · Author: Inglor · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 798
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:32:26
This makes me grin, particularly the last line - there is a wonderful
and pragmatic logic there! While I have read other considerations,
mainly from Elrond's point of view, and his angst at not being able to
act at 'that' moment, this is the first time I have seen this reasoning
- it's so very true, not too honourable maybe... but true! *g*
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Title: The Will · Author: LydiaB · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 770
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:42:51
I like Fourth Age stories that equate Middle-earth with our world, and I
love the intimations that this gives of 'what if it were all true?' In
such a limited space you sew the seeds of so much speculation, this is a
simple and expressive delight.
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Title: Seeing Stars · Author: Budgielover · Races: Hobbits: Children ·
ID: 399
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2006-09-23 21:44:10
A wonderfully sweet story about how Pippin can wrap two beaudacious
lasses around his finger at the Green Dragon at the tender age of
eleven. Merry is green with envy, being nineteen years old, and Frodo
really wants nothing to do with the tavern--trying to keep a safe
distance from any lass at the moment. he even entertains the idea of
running to Buckland, but Merry explains why that is a bad idea. As we
know, hobbits do love their food, so eventually, Frodo's appetite--and
Merry's conniving--wins out--with very comical results! In the end,
everyone is happy, though--and with a flavourful recipe to boot! Wjere
else can a reader find fluff, comic relief, and a delicious recipe all
in one smack? I absolutely enjoyed this story. The author, as usual,
paints a lovely portrait of the relaionships between the main
characters, and makes the reader feel quite at home while "sitting" at
the Green Dragon watching everything unfold. I thought it was an utter
delight to read, from beginning to end.
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Title: Drift · Author: Ribby · Times: The Great Years: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 203
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:47:54
I liked this very much for its sheer originality - so many viewpoints
have been written about this moment, but this is the one and only one I
have ever read that cmes from this particular perspective!
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Title: Midwinter Rites · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 868
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 21:56:50
I like the passage of time recorded in his memories, and the thought
that although his circumstances changed so much over the long years, he
was still able to experience joy in the midwinter rites that are common
to all.
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Title: The Beauty of Memory · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Races:
Cross-Cultural · ID: 652
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2006-09-23 22:02:17
A beautiful story surrounding the aftermath of the Battle of the Black
Gate. It tells of how Faramir is coping with the sad news of his
brother's death, now that he has the luxury to think on such things, or
to properly grieve. The new King summons his youngest Soldier to help
his new Steward in coping with his sorrows, to remember his brother, the
mighty soldier, Boromir. Faramir sees his brother again in the bearing
and the manner of this young halfling. He sees his brother smiling
again, the mirth he so enjoyed when times allowed it. Faramir once again
saw the courage, the loyalty Boromir unknowingly bequeathed to the
hobbits he so dearly loved and gave his life to protect. Indeed--the
beauty of memory, and a very lovely story!
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Title: Gondor Needs No King · Author: Ribby · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 207
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 22:02:45
Oh this is so wonderfully creepy and filled with delicious what might
have beens! One can visualize it all so clearly when you imagine the
actor's faces from the movie seeded into this situation.
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Title: Safe and Sound · Author: Anso the Hobbit · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 664
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2006-09-23 22:06:29
This is a beautiful story where Gimli, Legolas, and Eowyn share their
thoughts on the young hobbit in their company, who is asleep, safe and
sound. Much of it surrounds a very homesick Merry, his nightmares, and
the author even touches upon that the Dwarf is missing home just a
little bit. I rather liked that--I can't say that I've read a story that
depicted Gimli as missing his kin. A very delightful tale and I
absolutely enjoyed reading it!
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Title: Alas, for the dying of the trees · Author: Gandalfs apprentice ·
Races: Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 788
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2006-09-23 22:13:22
This made me giggle - it is such a lovely and well observed reflection
of growing old and also such an 'in character' response to the trials
and tribulations associated with this process; laid out here with
splendid economy - I can see it all!
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