Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Alas, for the dying of the trees · Author: Gandalfs apprentice ·
Races: Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 788
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 02:46:15
Poor old Gimli, with all of his perfectly legitimate aches and
complaints must have been annoyed no end by that sort of thing after a
while, LOL! Very funny!
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Title: Such an Hour · Author: SlightlyTookish · Times: The Great Years:
General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 237
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 02:52:03
I don't think I've ever seen a fic from the barrow-blade's POV before
this one. It's very well done, as we see the small knife become a sword
in the hand of a small wielder. I love the way that destiny is written
in it.
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Title: But the Scent Still Lingers · Author: Imhiriel · Times: The Great
Years: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 947
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 02:55:12
What an incredibly fun notion: that Ioreth would have known Aragorn as
Thorongil, and that she would recognize him by his scent! And I love the
description of her as a young girl at a dance. This was beautifully done!
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Title: Great Heart · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: First Age and
Prior: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 64
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 03:02:58
Puppies! All right, after I get over the natural "squee" reaction to
puppies, I have to say this is a lovely little ficlet. We see how the
runt of the litter is the bravest and most determined, and has the
greatest heart. It is no wonder he becomes Huan, the Great Hound. One
wonders why Orome would give this lovely pup to someone as
unappreciative as Celegorm. This was a wonderful little story. And it
had puppies!
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Title: How Grima Lost His Eyebrows · Author: NeumeIndil · Times: Late
Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 800
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 03:04:33
Oh man! This was really funny! And it explains a good deal!
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Title: Rising Hope · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 873
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-02 03:07:22
What an interesting notion: that the names of Elendil's immediate
ancestors and of his sons would reflect the troubled times in which they
lived. But it makes perfect sense.
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Title: Those Also Serve Who Stand and Wait · Author: Haleth · Times:
First Age and Prior · ID: 293
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 05:13:59
Poor Lalwen. The role of females seems to be primarily one of support
and loyalty - but I wish she would seek healing. If nothing else, I'm
sure her mother would want to have her, at least, back by her side. But
some walls are too big to climb. A sad story.
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Title: The Age of Men · Author: Marta · Races: Cross-Cultural: With
Hobbits · ID: 401
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 05:18:40
The beginning of a new age - it's not surprising Treebeard can feel the
stirring of change. I hope that before it ends he does find Fimbrethil,
for things are bound to go downhill once the great years are past!
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Title: To Climb a Tree · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits: Children ·
ID: 646
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 05:40:38
I love the vision of happy, silver-tongued Ferdi, chock-full of charm
and blarney - especially knowing what will happen to him. I'm so glad he
had a happy cherished childhood. And his logic in getting Merry to learn
to climb is impeccable.

It's great to see Pippin in a caring role, too. He's so much younger
than his cousins that it is nearly always Pippin who needs to be looked
after - but I can just see him going after his Merry and encouraging him
to do for Pippin what he wouldn't do for himself.

And it's a jolly good thing they made it to safety when they did!
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Title: The Tea Party · Author: AngieT · Races: Hobbits: Children · ID: 633
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 05:48:30
Sweet, cross, little Pippin! It's probably just as well he let his mum
in on his plans to destroy Pervinca's tea party - and Eglantine managed
a very tactful maternal response! I love the way she rearranges Merry's
knitted face to make him smile. And finding Mr Badger's yellow waistcoat
is an inspiration! Although, perhaps, she had better knit a couple of
spares - in case of future accidents.

And even knitted Merry manages to offer good advice!
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Title: Was It For This? · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama: Remembering ·
ID: 88
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-10-02 11:34:17
Many of the Arathorn tales in fanfiction are maudlin or poorly thought
out or both. This one captures in rather few words one of the main
tragedies of Aragorn's life: the unknown father, made so impossibly
remote by the forced secrecy of hiding the identity of Isildur's Heir.
After all, his son does not even know his father's name until he is a
grown man himself, and he would not have grown up hearing tales of his
father's life.

Elrond, of course, is the best father a man can have. But it is the
unknown, lost Arathorn who makes Aragorn what he is: the heir of Elendil.

There is a lot of room for storytelling in this dramatic, wrought
situation. This one takes us from Aragorn's childhood, to young manhood,
to maturity, in an emotional loop with a fully satisfying ending. I
would add only one thing: his hope for a son of his own, some day, with
Arwen: he can have the son he could not be himself.
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Title: Of All the Pretty Little Horses · Author: Oshun · Genres: Humor:
Gondor · ID: 736
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 17:42:57
Delightful piece of misunderstanding here! Of course Faramir thinks the
Horse Lord is thinking about the horse - after all, Lothiriel is only
his cousin! (But I bet it doesn't take him long to start considering the
advantages of the attraction.)
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Title: A thing unheard of · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Dwarves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 905
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 17:49:37
Gimli's solid strength and determination must have been a great
reassurance to the Fellowship - and having decided on friendship, there
would be no shaking him!
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Title: House of Reeds · Author: The Bookbinder's Daughter · Races: Elves
· ID: 660
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 17:57:12
I love the style of this - and the way Glorfindel and Goldberry respond
to each other, together with the description of the forest and the
passage of time.

And the last line is a delight.
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Title: King's Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Times: The Great
Years: Vignette · ID: 197
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-02 17:57:48
Before I even begin my review of this breathtaking story, in all
fairness, I must add the disclaimer that I am pushover when it comes to
Halbarad and Aragorn. This story, however, is an exceptionally
well-crafted and moving account of Halbarad and Aragorn talking the
night before entering upon the Paths of the Dead.
In my particular view of Aragorn, if he is able to endure those long and
lonely years in the wild and maintain the emotional accessibility (his
ability to smile, to laugh, his sense of humor, warmth, tenderness,
etc.) which Tolkien takes great pains to portray throughout the three
books of the trilogy, there had to have been someone, in addition to
Arwen, with whom he maintained strong emotional ties. This story greatly
enforces the belief that this person must have been Halbarad. The
tradition of the Kings Man in literature encompasses the duality of a
deep emotional attachment and consummate respect which is necessarily
reciprocal. Halbarad and Aragorn in this story are depicted as a far
less-flawed version of such a relationship than, for example, that of
Arthur and Lancelot.
There are so many exceptionally well-drawn pictures in this story, that
is difficult to pick one or two. I particular liked Aragorns soft
sell to Halbarad and the Grey Company when he asks them to accompany
him on the Paths of Dead. But, most affecting for me were the last few
paragraphs, which ring devastatingly emotionally authentic. [They fell
then into the easy silence of intimacy, remembering the cold, rainy
nights as Rangers in the wild; quarrels both personal and political;
laughter; too few nights of too much ale and pipeweed at the inn in
Bree; the many times one had saved the life of the other. &
After, Aragorn thought of that night as his farewell to his best friend
and chief lieutenant. When Halbarad died at the Battle of the Pelennor
Fields, the life had fled from his eyes before any man could say
goodbye, even his own sons. Only then did the king's man lose hold of
the banner of Elendil.]

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Title: The Stone's Lament · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 53
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-02 18:05:19
That would disconcert Gimli, wouldn't it! And perhaps open eyes he
didn't even realise he had shut - and challenge his assumptions. The
start, perhaps, of that much-acclaimed friendship. Most enjoyable.


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Title: Was It For This? · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama: Remembering ·
ID: 88
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-02 18:13:16
It was hard to find any words when I first read this story, but this
re-read has been fantastic, again. Alawa brings us a simple story and in
clear language, she moves you deeply with gibing us insight in Aragorn's
estranged perception of who his father actually was. In swift pen
strokes it becomes clear that Aragorn at first never could place himself
in his father's shoes, but slowly and very delicate do we see a
character development to a man who knows the dire need of rangers and
the almost anonymous sacrifices the rangers brought, led by their
magnificent chieftain. The ending is extremely fulfilling and full
circle, when you read how Aragorn came to understand the life and
sacrifices his father made. Suddenly his father is no longer unknown to
him, but a part, which he will never forget. A gem of a story!
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Title: Bedtime Story · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor:
Children · ID: 355
Reviewer: Ghettoelleth · 2006-10-02 18:55:32
This was a very charming ficlet. I love the way you manage to maintain
everyone's dignity and character within a domestic setting, something
that is so rarely accomplished in fic. I could picture everything that
was going on and it painted a lovely picture of domestic bliss that I
enjoyed very much. The writing is solid and the dialogue is perfect, no
affectation whatsoever, another of my pet peeves. All in all, it was a
delight to read.
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Title: Dance Lessons · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length
Ficlet Series · ID: 888
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-02 19:08:32
Good combination of both requested issues: romance and politics. The
metaphors of the dance illustrate vividly the changing circumstances of
Aragorn's life, and also paint clear pictures of four different societies.
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Title: The Fords of Isen · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Adventure · ID: 41
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-02 19:09:12
A ghost story of best tradition, spooky, evocative and full of suspense.
The tale itself is imbedded very neatly into the surrounding story.
Vivid descriptions with excellent details (e.g. Boromir constantly
dripping water, Théodread casually ["reaching a bare hand into the coals"]).
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Title: A Bride for a King · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 777
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-02 19:11:02
The whole issue of having been betrothed without even being consulted is
handled very plausibly. All the participants act according to comparable
historical examples, but it's also a look "behind the scenes": the
reactions and feelings that might accompany such happenings.

At times I find Lothíriel a little melodramatic, but for the most part,
her confusion, being torn between desire and innocence is very endearing.

The dialogues and the careful descriptions of the surroundings continue
to be strong points of the series.
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Title: To Become A Queen · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 157
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-02 19:11:54
As ever, the portrayal of the characters, their emotions and their
relations towards each other are vivid, entertaining and engaging. The
palpable attraction between Éomer and Lothíriel is described very
sensuously, romatic and sizzling, without reverting to hackneyed phrases.

Very believable and thought-out descriptions of the events and
ceremonies connected with the voyage to, the preparations for and the
celebration of the wedding.

Their wedding night is wonderful, going from absolutely hilarious
subjects of discussion like giant tortoises to very tender, sensual
lovemaking, with warmth, laughter and caring for each other; I love
Lothíriel's courage and Éomer's consideration.

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Title: Half a Sticky Mile · Author: SlightlyTookish · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 940
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-02 19:12:24
Good feeling for the eerie atmosphere of the deceptive calm after the
battle and for the ruin that first Saruman and then Ents and Huorns
wreaked on Isengard.
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Title: Arwen's Heart · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance · ID: 139
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-10-02 19:22:05
The lovely scene between Faramir and Arwen at the end of his life, where
he is able to offer wise and compassionate counsel to the Evenstar,
would delight me in itself, but the rest of this beautiful story is
equally moving, a gorgeous tapestry of magic and romance and faith.

Excellent characterisation of Arwen, which is no easy feat, since
Tolkien's vision of her can be said to be less accessible to modern
readers than that of Eowyn or even Galadriel.
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Title: That Immortal Sea · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 265
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-10-02 19:34:24
Interesting treatment of Faramir's Numenor dreams. I liked the tie-in to
the waterfall at Henneth Annun, and the importance, and pre-eminence, of
water in Faramir's life.
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