Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Dragons and Sailboats · Author: Acacea · Genres: Drama:
Remembering · ID: 74
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-08 22:56:52
This is a reflective piece. I like the dreamlike quality. I found it a
strange conversation between Aragorn and Faramir. A lot is left unsaid
and has to be read between the lines. Sometimes the meaning is too
veiled for my taste, but that might just be me. But still I could feel
the same peace descend on me as on Aragorn.
-----------------------------------
Title: Boromir's Song · Author: Rhiannon Merdon · Times: The Great
Years: The Fellowship · ID: 695
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-08 22:57:27
We never knew what happened to Boromir after the three hunters sent him
on his way over the Rauros Falls. In this little vignette, his boat
encounters Frodo and his companions on the way to the West. Frodo can
come to tems with his last meeting with Boromir, and Boromir can get the
forgiveness he never got in life. I like Bilbo composing the song for
Boromir and claiming it is from Strider.
-----------------------------------
Title: I can only manage One · Author: Lady Bluejay · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 766
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-08 22:58:12
This is another light-hearted story of the arranged marriage variety.
Poor Lothiriel has never even seen Eomer when she is promised to him.
But as dutiful daughter she does her father's bidding. Under the thumb
of her father and her brothers, she plays the dutiful, biddable
Gondorian princess but the first impression is deceiving. She has some
spirit in her and because of the war, and encouraged by Eomer, she comes
out of the shadow and grows up to the considerable consternation of her
family. I love the way she out manouvers her family and goes her own way
despite what Gondorian customs and traditions require, supported by
Arwen and Eowyn who are not Gondorian traditionalists anyway.
-----------------------------------
Title: Don't Panic! · Author: Boz4PM · Times: The Great Years · ID: 908
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-08 22:59:31
This story is hilarious and was my first foray into the category of
modern girl falls into Middle-earth stories. Once found, Penny is
brought to Rivendell and discovers that she arrived at the time the
Fellowship assembles.

Penny's heroic efforts to accept and learn to live in ME, once she
realizes where she is, are hilarious and heartwarming to read.
I love the way the author alternates between Penny's pov of judging and
rationalizing the behavior of the people around her, and the people of
ME looking at her and her actions. Both come to the same result: the
other is mad/insane/unreasonable. In the end they come to an
understanding, but it is a hard road.

In this tale Penny doesn't miraculously speak the languages of ME and
has to learn the hard way (without dictionaries or tapes). So, a lot of
misunderstandings and agonizing hand signal conversations ensue.

I loved Penny's list of suitable skills for ME (very short) and her
attempt of explaining the concept of marketing to Gandalf. Poor Gandalf
doesn't know what to make of it and it sounds utterly ridicoulous in the
setting of Rivendell.

I can heartily recommend the story to anyone.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Singer · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits · ID: 979
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-08 23:00:00
Interesting concept of having the magic to sing fog and mist and clouds
into being. Unfortunately, the lady couldn't grasp the idea that there
are creatures that can do great deeds without magic. A narrow mind was
the downfall of many powerful people.
-----------------------------------
Title: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes · Author: juno_magic · Races: Men · ID: 698
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-08 23:12:32
This story has such a quiet poignancy about it! It reflected a lot of my
own somewhat uncomfortable feelings with religion -- unable to believe
in the supernatural as I would like to and those around me seem to be
able to do, but at the same time equally unable to *not* believe. I see
a lot of that in your unnamed original character, but it does not feel
like it was just a modern problem transferred into Middle-earth because
the situation is derived from some very specific things that JRRT wrote
about the history of religion in Numenor, and the Numenoreans'
relationship to the indigenous men of Middle-earth. It seems to flow so
naturlaly out of canon that it never feels the least bit foreign.

And those tensions, both between the "true believers", those for whom
religion has become folklore, and those who can't quite believe as well
as between the Numenoreans and non-Numenoreans, is what makes this piece
work on a fundamental level. That all of these distinctions existed and
yet the men of Gondor still held back the much more focused and
homogenous might of Mordor is a telling point that we'd do well to
remember in this modern world.

But the moment that really stayed with me the first time I read this
piece. When the narrator returns to the camp just in time to relieve the
guardsman who has to rush off to something as normal as the birth of his
child... well, it brings the mundane into full contact with the holy (in
the purest sense of that word, "set apart"). And that recalls the ending
of LOTR, with Sam's ["Well, I'm back"]. It's powerful, and escapes being
nailed down into some neat meaning -- which makes it all the harder to
forget.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Oathbreakers · Author: Branwyn · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 42
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-08 23:17:40
I'm not sure I buy this as 100% canonical, but it still touches on
interesting possibilities! Even with my doubts, the character of Aragorn
especially is particularly true to form.
-----------------------------------
Title: In This Silence I Am Sinking · Author: Ghettoelleth · Genres:
Drama: General Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 222
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-10-09 13:08:39
I can imagine how hard that must have been for Tulkas to stand by,
knowing the depth of evil inherent in Melkor. You have to wonder about
Manwe. I've seen it debated that Manwe himself had so much good in him
that he couldn't really comprehend the fullness of the evil of Melkor,
but also, as you've presented, that he was held from action, and that he
kept Tulkas from action because of his knowledged of what was needed for
the fullness of the song.
-----------------------------------
Title: The gift · Author: Jael · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages ·
ID: 807
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-10-09 13:31:12
I have read this before and the depth of emotion present in this work
never ceases to move me. It's not a pairing I would have expected, but
it does tie in nicely with the strength of Legolas and Aragorn's
friendship through the War and of the Ring and after, and what we know
of Legolas staying until after Aragorn's own death before he sails West.
The writing is smooth and virtually flawless, the characters full and
well-drawn. I especially love the said/unsaid converstation about the
tapestries and the story.
-----------------------------------
Title: Lossarnach Yule · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Men:
Gondor · ID: 677
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-09 13:37:58
I was a bit sceptical about whether I'd like this piece because I
haven't read the other stories where these OCs feature. But it's a
well-developed world that reflects what I imagine the reality of life
for the working class would have been, and is pretty comprehensible on
its own. A nice read.
-----------------------------------
Title: Immortality · Author: LydiaB · Genres: Romance: Fixed-length
ficlet · ID: 494
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-10-09 13:43:24

I love this evocative drabble. It immediately draws the reader in with
heartrending sadness, showing a depth of love that transcends time and
being, but also provides a full and satisfying ending with the belief
that he has found her an that they'll be together, at least in some way,
until the end of Arda.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Lost Hunter · Author: tuxedo_elf · Times: First Age and Prior
· ID: 721
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-09 18:56:25
The pairing's a bit odd, but I did like the description of Celegorm at
the beginning.
-----------------------------------
Title: History Lessons: The Third Age · Author: Nilmandra · Times:
Multi-Age: Incomplete · ID: 167
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-09 18:57:03
I have loved and enjoyed all of Nilmandra's ["History Lessons"] series,
and this has been an impressive and suitable third installment (and
hopefully *not* the culmination/ending!). She seamlessly blends her
flashbacks within the current time of the story, mirroring events in
each time period beautifully and adding to our understanding of Elrond
and his family and friends in both.

This is a difficult time period and PoV to represent well: The final
events of the Third Age, from the perspective of Elrond and his
household as they send off the Fellowship and then wait for the Quest's
completion, for good or ill. It is no longer Elrond's place to travel to
war, but to be the support for those who must go in his stead. Far from
being static or dull, Nilmandra manages to keep me in tension with the
characters as they wait for news, even though I know how it will all
turn out. On an individual level, Elrond's struggle with the loss of
Vilya's power and Arwen's choice of mortality are particularly
well-portrayed. From a wider perspective, Nilmandra does an amazing job
of showing how bittersweet the end of the war was for the Elves.

Nilmandra has created some wonderful relationships between her
characters, among my favorites in fanfiction. I love the development of
the deep friendship between Glorfindel and Elrond, and the elaboration
beyond G's role as Elrond's protector to being his "keeper" as well -
the one who will, if needed, kill Elrond should Sauron ever be able to
overcome his mind through Vilya. However, what I love most is the
beautiful and loving marriage that Elrond and Celebrian share, which
makes her eventual capture, torture and lack of healing in M-e all the
more painful.

The ending is satisfying as it has both joy and surprise for Elrond -
and I am glad that there will yet be at least a little more to come!
After the relentless series of losses and struggles that Elrond has
suffered through over two ages, it would be wonderful to see his healing
and return to joy.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Gift · Author: Dawn Felagund · Times: First Age and Prior ·
ID: 131
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-09 19:01:21
I wish I had more familiarity with the Silm, but I know enough to be
able to follow this story, which is about love and pride and loss on a
number of levels. And yet the end of the story is more sweet than
bitter. Very insightful.
-----------------------------------
Title: The White Tree · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 94
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-09 19:04:04
This story, revolving around Faramir's uncertainty about his
relationship with the new King, a misunderstanding, and his sudden
assertion is an interesting take on what the early days of Elessar's
reign might have been like.
-----------------------------------
Title: Curious Mind, Noble Heart · Author: Nilmandra · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 270
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-09 20:03:11
This was an entertaining story about young Estel/Aragorn and some
important early lessons learned. Nilmandra an excellent job of capturing
the psychology and thought processes of a child  especially that of a
boy! The entire perspective was seamless and in character throughout.
The explanation about the pop-gun was brief but reasonable. I had to
laugh about Glorfindel and the twins, though  after centuries of
mentoring and helping to raise the heirs of Isildur in Imladris, how
could Estels actions be at all unexpected? If I had a young boy who had
just discovered a fascinating new toy like Pop, Id have been sitting
in the armory just waiting for him to show up&

I loved the relationships between Estel and his mother and foster
family. Gilraen in particular was well portrayed. There is a paragraph
in Nilmandras [History Lessons: The Third Age] where Elrond describes
Gilraens life to Aragorn. I was thinking of this throughout the scene
with Elrond, Gilraen and Estel. She had such a difficult life, and I
love that here she is able to laugh, and we see her handling her
circumstances with grace and competence.
-----------------------------------
Title: Beech Leaves · Author: Redheredh · Races: Elves: Featuring
Mirkwood Elves · ID: 165
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-09 20:50:27
A fascinating take on what it might mean for an Elf to leave the Halls
of Mandos and to be reborn. We follow one such, mysteriously bereft of
memory, in his quest for identity.
-----------------------------------
Title: Call yourself Thorongil · Author: Nilmandra · Times: Late Third
Age · ID: 731
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-09 22:08:08
Nilmandra comes up with some of the most plausible explanations and
interpolations in fanfiction. After reading this story and her author's
notes listing the relevant quotes she is drawing from, I thought, "Well,
of course that is how it happened..."

Her Aragorn is shown as a young man, still learning, but his growing
feelings of restlessness strike me as the very beginnings of wisdom. He
is starting to realize that he will need to travel to the rest of his
potentially one-day kingdom, see the people that he would be ruling, but
is not able to put the "why" of it into words. Enter Gandalf, subtle
mover and shaker of M-e. Nilmandra's characterization of the wizard is
wonderful - his evasive responses, wily questions and gentle
manipulation and prodding of the future king could have been lifted from
the books. Aragorn also fits his canon portrayal well, and I loved his
bewildered reaction to Gandalf keeping him slightly unbalanced.

A very well done telling of this first meeting and the beginning of a
long friendship, with several points of laugh-out-loud humor and keen
moments of insight on my part (especially on the origin of Thorongil as
an alias).
-----------------------------------
Title: A Matter of Honor · Author: meckinock · Races: Cross-Cultural ·
ID: 208
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-09 22:17:41
Gripping story, exciting, funny, and moving in turns. I liked that, like
in the books, there are many ["unexplained vistas"], stories only
briefly alluded to, or simply mentioned in passing.

Excellent descriptions, painting scenes and characters not only
visually, but also with details of smells, sounds and touch. The serene,
pristine beauty of Rivendell is contrasted poignantly with life outside
it, with its grime and sweat, danger and toil and then again with the
still harsher culture of the Dunlendings (I appreciate the fact that
Aragorn is so respectful - to a degree - towards the latter).

The characterisations are wonderful all around (although I do have
reservations about Elrond's view of Arwen as ["too young and sheltered"]
to comprehend her choice). I particularly liked the portrayal of
Aragorn, Halbarad and Gandalf, because you show not only their
strengths, but also when they have weaker moments, are weary, dispirited
or doubting. The Dunlending Dugaric was also a very intriguing character.
-----------------------------------
Title: To Ride, To Will, To Fear · Author: Ellethill · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 841
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-10 01:11:41
I was very impressed with this story. Eowyn, Faramir, Aragorn and Eomer
were all very much in character, as the author maintained the high epic
tone JRRT used in the latter part of RotK. I loved the larger than life
endurance and bravery Faramir showed, and Eowyn's determination. The
only thing I wish is that we had learned a bit more about the villain.
But this was a very *good* story!
-----------------------------------
Title: The Secret of Dog Lake · Author: Karenator · Races: Elves · ID: 819
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-10 01:27:40
This was cute! The bedtime story had the authentic feel of a real
legend, and was just the sort of scary story that is found in all
cultures--apparently even Elven ones!
-----------------------------------
Title: Mirrors of Numenor · Author: Dostoevsky's Mouse · Races: Men:
Incomplete · ID: 242
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-10 04:28:37
This is a really nice read. I think you captured the relationship of
Denethor and Thorongil so well, and the politics of the realm in general
- Denny's suspicions were right on. But what was *really* refreshing
about this piece is the chapter length. Your chapters are to the point,
they are manageable in a single setting, but they do not feel unduly
constrained. The descriptions are nice and the emotional impact is
there, but for a slow reader like me I really appreciated the way I
could read such an enjoyable without a huge input of time and energy on
my part. Not that that's the only thing worth praising, by a long shot!

I recommend this to anyone interested in this era. It's a good read, a
realistic and true to canon portrayal of these characters. And both
Denethor and Aragorn are so well developed -- it was recommended to me
by a hard-core Aragorn fan, and I am similarly devoted to Denethor (and
picky about the fanfic involving him that I enjoy). The fact that both
of us enjoyed it so thoroughly is high priase of this author's ability
to write a well-rounded story.
-----------------------------------
Title: In the Shadow of Hope · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Men:
Vignette · ID: 715
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-10-10 05:10:57
Good vignette about Eowyn chafing at the bonds of her injury and
inactivity in the Houses of Healing. Her restlessness is well-described
and almost palpable. I especially liked the ending - Faramir's voice,
his very appearance as a sign of hope.


-----------------------------------
Title: Notes and Observations by Frodo of the Shire · Author: Lurea ·
Genres: Drama: Featuring Frodo or Sam · ID: 971
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-10 08:18:06
Frodo's writing of his memoirs starts innocently enough - Bilbo asked
him to take notes, he stumbles over a journal with blank pages, and so
he begins to record what happens to the Fellowship now that they are
together once again, in Minas Tirith. As he writes, however, the journal
quickly becomes a psychological journey for him, a way to acknowledge
what happened during the last part of the Quest and perhaps find some
peace within himself.

Lurea does an excellent job of leading us through this, weaving her
story among canon references and good characterizations. I especially
loved Pippin and Merry's interactions, and Merry's painful confession to
Frodo of his own discovered weaknesses.

The more lighthearted interludes in Minas Tirith make Frodo's painful
flashbacks bearable for us and not overwhelming. For Lurea aptly
compares Frodo revisiting his memories with the changing of the bandage
on his wounded hand: Reliving the horror is as exquisitely painful as
ripping off the old dressing, but only by doing so can proper healing begin.
-----------------------------------
Title: In The Pits Of Utumno · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves ·
ID: 164
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-10 14:29:25
Well done. Very scary details--especially the possibility of being
caught by the hideous Melkor. And how brave the Elven rescuer was to go
right down into the Pits of Utumno. The entire story rang very true for
me. (But then I come from a large family of imaginative siblings!)
-----------------------------------