Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: A Woodland Prince · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length
Ficlet Series · ID: 303
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 08:40:23
Each drabble in the series is appropriate to the observers, and I
especially liked Merry and Pippin's spot on conclusions about their new
friend. Nicely done!
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Title: Chivalry · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 374
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 08:48:34
Excellent drabble! I could vividly see Gandalf's patience and
Shadowfax's gradual acceptance.
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Title: Gandalf returned · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 990
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 08:52:03
This is beautiful. I loved the term ["birthblind"] and the description
that Gandalf was able to hear the song of the stars by watching them move.
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Title: Servant of the Tower · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 95
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 09:01:27
So much of the personality of the servant is conveyed in this drabble.
Though he insists that he was fond of Faramir his lack of noble
character in blindly following the orders of the Steward is plain. He
was more concerned with his own wellbeing than he was with the loss of
an innocent life, taken with his own assistance. Others likely would
*not* have done the same and there can be no justification no matter how
many times he tells himself otherwise. And this man knows that, and thus
he seeks to drown that knowledge with wine. Excellent drabble!
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Title: The Steward and the Wizard · Author: Acacea · Genres: Drama:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 522
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 09:06:46
I liked Faramir's wariness here - he knows his father. The jealousy that
Denethor has for Gandalf is plain. This drabble paints a very clear view
of Denethor, well done!
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Title: Birthday Kisses · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Late Third
Age · ID: 59
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-12 11:58:01
Cute. It's nice to see a functional family relationship between these
characters.
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Title: Shadows of a Nameless Fear · Author: Budgielover · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 640
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 15:13:26
his is a very exciting story, and a lot angstier than most of Budgies
stories! There are no holds barred in this, and the drama and terror is
gripping. The plot is riveting  evil lurks still in the wreck and ruin
of Minas Tirith after the completion of the Quest and is not forgiving
of the deeds of the Ringbearer.

I have many favourite bits already though the story is far from
complete, but by far my favourite aspect of this story is the heroism of
Pippin, who willingly offers himself to the evil in Frodos stead. This
is the Pippin that I know from the books; even though he is frightened
and knows he goes to torment and death, still he will do anything for
his cousin. He is facing his worst nightmare, for Frodos sake. His
youth and innocence, as well as his newfound maturity as a blooded
warrior shines through and Budgielover balances this seeming
contradiction beautifully.

Merry too is wonderful in this; his love and concern for both Pippin and
Frodo is palpable and his bravery, anger, and actions on their behalf is
spot-on.

The rest of the Fellowship are equally well portrayed, and the many
well-drawn original characters and descriptions add richness to the tale.

I eagerly await the updates to this story!

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Title: A Secret Gate · Author: Elanor · Genres: Drama: Incomplete · ID: 56
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 16:36:15
What an astonishingly wonderful story! It is full of rich detail, and
descriptions that make the scenes appear before the readers eyes as
though they were standing in the very places with the characters and
seeing their actions and hearing their words. This piece is awesome in
the strength, beauty, and content of the writing and I cannot recommend
it highly enough.

I especially like Pippin in this story  his characterisation and the
details about his life are just wonderful, from the descriptions about
his difficulties after returning from the Quest to the way he is loved,
cared for, and cosseted by his family and friends, and beloved by all of
the Shire. Merry fares equally as well, and there is no doubt that
Buckland is proud of their Magnificent Master.

I also like the way that Diamond is portrayed, as a farseeing sprite of
wondrous beauty who recognises Pippin instantly as the one whom she has
been waiting for, and unbeknownst to him, the one that he has been
waiting for as well, to calm his being torn in two and root him to the
Shire. But Diamond is gone now, and it is time for Pippin and Merry to
make their final journey South.

The original characters are excellent, especially young Jamy, who
reminds Merry of a certain Took. Jamys background is richly described
and I am intrigued by the riverhobbits, and would love to see more
stories about them.

This is a story not to be missed, complete with the added bonus of
sumptuously beautiful illustrations. A masterfully written tale by a
very talented author!

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Title: Fellowship of the Conkers · Author: Llinos · Genres: Humor · ID: 880
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 17:06:34
This is a favourite story of mine, and one of the funniest fanfics that
I have ever read! My husband loves it so much that he has printed out a
copy to reread often and to pass around to his mates!

When the hobbits find a horse chestnut tree on the Quest they excitedly
instigate an impromptu conker tournament. Having attempted to play
conkers myself I know what an intimidating and dangerous sport it is,
but the non-hobbit members of the Fellowship, apart from Gandalf, have
no idea! But they soon find out  Legolas proves to be a fast learner,
but Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir do not fare nearly so well. Gandalf has
wisely opted to keep score, an exercise that boggles the minds of the
non-hobbits as much as does hobbit genealogy!

It is the mishaps that befall poor Boromir here that make me laugh the
hardest. The noble Man of Gondor, initially feeling quite superior and
sure that there is nothing to this simple childs game, as he sees it,
soon is subject to a wide array of misfortunes that quickly have him
changing his mind and considering that battle might be safer.

One of my favourite parts in this story is the other three hobbits
preparing Sam for his final round, for the honour of the Shire!

I love stories that give such intimate glimpses of the Fellowship and
the beginning of their friendships and this is a truly wonderful one.
There is brilliant wit and humour here, very funny situations and
dialogue, and wonderful characterisations of all of the Fellowship. I
definitely recommend this story!

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Title: Treasures And Momentos · Author: Marigold · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Pippin or Merry · ID: 220
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-10-12 18:09:34
A moving portrait of a sad time. Aragorn became all too accustomed to
such losses in his long life.

I like that you leave it open to a slash interpretation of Merry and
Pippin's relationship.
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Title: The Lesson · Author: Lady Aranel · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Incomplete · ID: 298
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-10-12 18:33:29
This tease of the beginning of a story is begging to be completed. How
far will our heroine get in her pursuit of the gorgeous Gil? My
fantasies are just beginning. Please update soon.
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Title: King's Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Times: The Great
Years: Vignette · ID: 197
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-12 19:42:46
I like this transition from momentuous, grand proclamation to intimate
dialogue between two friends. Memories of the past, hopes for the
future, expressed in succinct, vivid lines. The final passage is, in
light of the preceding story, particularly poignant.
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Title: Here You Cannot Leave Me · Author: Alassante · Genres: Drama:
Poetry · ID: 356
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-12 19:43:56
Haunting. Arwen's grief communicates itself to the reader very well. Her
immediate thoughts interspersed into the slightly more neutral narrative
increase the overall effectiveness (however, the sometimes blurred PoVs
reduce the clarity/distinctness of certain lines).
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Title: The Letter · Author: Gryffinjack · Races: Hobbits: Post-Sauron's
Fall · ID: 955
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-12 19:44:24
Lovely idea. Pippin's "summary" is amusing and sobering at the same
time, also in comparison/contrast to the actual letter and the
circumstances in the Shire.
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Title: The Standard-Bearer · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Men:
Vignette · ID: 716
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-12 19:46:43
Excellent creation of atmosphere. Halbarad's loyaltay to and trust in
Aragorn are tangible, as well as his steadfast adherence to the duty of
the Dúnedain. But - Arwen as ["the Elven-king's daughter"]?
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Title: Brothers at Heart · Author: Radbooks · Races: Men: Incomplete ·
ID: 451
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-12 19:48:56
An engaging, exciting, entertaining story, detailing Aragorn's first
months of being Chieftain of the Dúnedain. His gradual maturing as he
comes to to get to know his people and his place among them is depicted
very believably and evocatively. As is village life in the Angle, and
the hard lot of the Dúnedain - Rangers and villagers alike (although I
do have some reservations regarding just how extreme those are portrayed).

Wonderful characterisations all round, with a host of original
characters that feel real, each with their own background and
motivations, and diverse reactions to their returned Chieftain with his
Elvish upbringing far from his people.
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Title: Demand and You Shall Receive · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres:
Humor: Children · ID: 159
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-12 20:36:31
I laughed and laughed when I first read this, and laugh just as much
every time I reread it!

The first part of this tale is told from Frodo's pov, and features a
quite wonderful Wee!Pippin and a very Brandybuckish little Merry. Frodo
has come to Buckland on a visit and isn't in the door two minutes before
sweet little Pippin, also on a visit, is relieving him of his shiny new
property. His manipulation of bemused Frodo is priceless, and you must
wonder if the little fellow is even aware of what he is doing, though
wise eleven-year-old Merry has no doubts whatsoever. Tiny Pippin also
has Esmeralda completely wrapped around his finger and it is so very
funny to see her indignation on the little ones behalf. I also love the
inclusion of Pippin's little bells, a wonderful Grey Wonderer invention
that appears in several of her stories and so beloved that it has since
been borrowed with permisssion by other authors for their own Wee!Pippin
tales.

The dialogue in this story and the images the author paints are great!
Tiny Pippin making calf eyes and delivering lines like, ['O, peas. Mine,
gif it me.'] just make me smile everytime I read this charming tale.

The second part is from Merry's pov and concerns Pippin's use of the
wheedled treasure throughout the years. Grey Wonderer has a real talent
for writing humour, and making it hobbity, but with the addition of this
epilogue she skilfully adds a seriousness to the tale, making very
evident the deep and abiding love of these three cousins throughout
their lifetimes.
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Title: That Which Remains Us · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama:
Remembering · ID: 749
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-13 06:02:07
This is a concise, powerful story that covers a lot of ground. Faramir
has glimpses of all his immediate (and deceased) family, but the
centerpiece is his discovery of a side of his father he had never seen
before. Like any deep and unexpected revelation about one we think we
know, Faramir is left wondering about this new stranger that Denethor
has suddenly become, and yet he manages a fragile forgiveness by the end.

I have read this story both on its own, and after reading ["Love Sweet
as Poison"]. Denethor's poetry was wrenching enough the first time, and
doubly so after reading that precursor tale of he and Finduilas'
relationship. I felt very sorry for both of them, and speculated about
what the poetry actually revealed of those last years they were
together. I wondered why Denethor turned specifically to poetry
apparently so late into his marriage (although LSaP does provide the
likely catalysts), and what exactly was behind the poetical reference to
Thorongil in connection to Finduilas. In short, the author made me think
on the relationships described long past the point at which the actual
story ended.
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Title: Lembas, Shmembas · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Non-Fiction ·
ID: 850
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:11:32
This is really interesting - food for thought!
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Title: More Lembas Thoughts · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Non-Fiction
· ID: 851
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:20:29
I am really impressed and intrigued by the questions that Rabidsamfan
has come up with here, and the concise and logical possible answers.
Very well researched!
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Title: Dana's Annotated Tale of Years · Author: Dana · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 274
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:23:47
Very extensive and well researched!
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Title: Tolkien's Use of Expletives · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 147
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:28:20
The amount of research that Dreamflower put into this is impressive. We
have become so used to reading and writing various expletives in
fanfiction, many of which have become fanon at this point, and this is a
very good reminder that to make our own stories sound more Tolkienesque
that we should follow the lead of the books when it comes to our word
choices.
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Title: Such a Little Thing · Author: Ribby · Genres: Alternate Universe
· ID: 206
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:31:46
This is utterly chilling, and the outcome is very believable.
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Title: Fugitive · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Drama · ID: 366
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:38:15
I enjoyed this story. It was a lovely glimpse of the love and care of a
father for his daughter, though that father happens to be a king.
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Title: Preparing The Way · Author: Lady Aranel · Genres: Drama: Elves in
Later Ages · ID: 284
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 06:39:41
This is a beautiful story, though sad. I am very glad that I read it.
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