Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Antiphon to Light · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 155
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 09:46:31
This was beautiful and I enjoyed it very much. Gimli's thoughts seemed
perfectly captured to me, and I thought that his interaction with Pippin
and Legolas very well done.
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Title: A thing unheard of · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Dwarves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 905
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 09:48:47
A wonderful drabble, and I loved Gimli's realisation that friendship was
the most important thing.
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Title: 'Til we meet again · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: Featuring
Mirkwood Elves · ID: 817
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:01:06
Very poignant and realistic. I loved Legolas' description of the Sea. I
usually read mostly hobbit or Fellowship stories, but I am glad that I
read this, I liked it very much!
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Title: Old Man Willow · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 859
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:06:25
A very interesting idea, well told. The thought that Old Man Willow's
evil stems from loneliness and abandonment is one that I had not
considered before, and it is a very credible one.
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Title: Truly Exposed · Author: Marta · Races: Elves: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 689
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:11:26
This is a lovely and very well written drabble. I liked this glimpse of
the private life of this noble couple. I could really hear these
thoughts in Galadriel's voice, and they seemed very true to her. Very
nicely done!
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Title: An Elf · Author: laiquendi · Races: Elves: Poetry · ID: 725
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:16:05
These verses about the life of Legolas are delightful and concise. I
liked the ones about Mirkwood and friendship the best.
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Title: The Sea Calls Us Home · Author: laiquendi · Races: Elves: Poetry
· ID: 724
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:17:51
I liked this very much! It is beautiful, and simply told in a way that
makes it easy to visualise.
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Title: The Singer · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits · ID: 979
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:20:44
There are some very tense moments here! I liked the bravery shown by
both Pippin and Faramir.
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Title: A Healer's Tale · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits · ID: 861
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:32:31
This is one of my favourite stories by Lin. Healer Woodruff is a
marvellous OC! I loved seeing the course of Pippin's life through her
relationship with him.
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Title: The Bond Between Us · Author: Lily · Races: Hobbits · ID: 963
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:36:13
A heartfelt look at the love between these cousins, told simply and
beautifully. Each section reads true to the characters. Well done!
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Title: Return Journey to the Mountain · Author: Dínossiel · Races:
Hobbits: Children · ID: 984
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:37:59
An fine effort from a budding writer! Write more soon!
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Title: SpiderWebs · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits: Children · ID: 783
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-13 17:39:32
I love little Celandine in this! A determined Brandybuck through and
through!
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Title: Bored · Author: Make It Stop · Genres: Humor: Gondor · ID: 779
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-13 18:35:49
Ouch! This piece is too viciously funny. So many great lines. The
introductory quotation is absolutely priceless. I really love my canon
Faramirso this fic was not set up as an easy sell for me. But you
hooked me in the beginning and kept me riveted all the way through.
Great characterization of Boromir as wellgotta love the poor clueless
guy shoveling in his peas, happily unaware of the possible unpleasant
personal consequences of his fathers and brothers special gifts. Makes
one want to reconsider who was truly Denethor's favorite son--seems like
he couldn't kept his mind off of the younger one. Wimpy Faramir: no sign
of him here. Hard as steel the way he stands up to daddys worst
insults. Favorite lines: [- Your scorn moves me to pity, thought
Faramir. - Your pity moves me to scorn, was the response.] Just one
question: Re: Weblog, the citadel guard? Is that name Sindarin? Or
something else?
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Title: Where The Shadows Are · Author: Kenaz · Genres: Drama: Elves in
Later Ages · ID: 776
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-13 20:52:44
Kenaz--I was looking at the MEFA site and writing some reviews when I
came across this piece. I had never seen ithad no idea it existed. I am
awed by your characterizations. Amazing stuff--especially Gil-galad. I
completely believe him. The amazing contrast between the dirt and grit
of realistic warfare, the distance and remoteness of the moment for
Gil-galad and, yet, how accurately Elrond reads him. You give the reader
a reflection of an entire lifetime of interactions and emotions that are
the backstory to your two main characters here in so few words. Anything
I can say about the story will necessarily skew it in one direction or
another for a reader--there is so much layered in here. Love the way you
paint so clearly the difference in age and station between the two men
and, still, through Gil-Galad's remarks let the reader in on Elrond's
magnitude in his life. Even though you stay firmly in Elrond's POV here,
I am not even sure that he gets it all--at least not within the time
frame covered in the story.

There are so many great lines, so different one from another in their
nature. For some reason, I particularly liked this one: ["A hand had
found his then, beneath the table.&until that surpassing length did give
the song its due, Gil-galad all the while maintaining his benign gaze on
the minstrel."] Very in-character for the Gil-Galad you have created
here. Wow! Elrond didn't have a chance of doing anything other than
completely falling for this guy. The entire story is so poetic and
gorgeous in the details. And you insert one of my favorite little poems
(Bilbo's Gil-Galad) that I recently quoted in a silly way in a WIP,
playing off the same double entendre. But you have used it so
differently and to such stunning effect. You amaze me, as always. (OK. I
also now officially adopt your view here for my personal canon of Elrond
and Gil-galad; you've even oh-so-deftly given Celebrian her due!) You
are still my queen of heart-breakingly beautiful, double-handkerchief slash.


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Title: Hope Eternal · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men: Featuring Aragorn ·
ID: 930
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:11:31
<Brrr>. This is a chilling tale and goes against modern sensibilities.
But Aragorn did what he could for them. The orcs in this little scene
were not redeemable. I don't think there was another solution, at least
not within the culture of Gondor. Although it does Aragorn and Faramir
credit that they tried.
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Title: Unmeant Bitterness · Author: Aramel · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor · ID: 171
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:12:15
That is an interpretation I hadn't thought of when reading the passage
in the book, and my opinion was reinforced through the movies. But in
fleshing out Denethor's thougths and showing how through circumstance
and Denethor's character(flaws) the fateful words fell that sent Faramir
to Osgiliath, the author manages to slightly change the meaning behind
the words and in a way this version is even more heartbreaking. Faramir
still interprets his father's words and deeds the way I also saw them in
the books, but now from Denethor's point of view the whole scene gets a
second meaning. Well done.
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Title: An Exchange of Views · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 931
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:12:36
Nice ficlet. Faramir can show his skill in dealing with people by
neutralizing the Northern Lord. I liked Aragorn's pride in Faramir's
handling of the situation.
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Title: On the Anduin · Author: Gentle Hobbit · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 619
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:13:09
Poor Frodo and his fellow hobbits, especially Pippin. Having to watch
Frodo's wound being treated was hard. I like it that they are not all
heroic and pretend that the treatment didn't hurt that much. I love the
way Pippin is portrayed in this little fic. His gesture of bringing
Frodo a flower was touching.
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Title: Untrodden Path · Author: Timmy2222 · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 308
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:14:17
This slightly AU search for Gollum prooves to be a very interesting
adventure. Aragorn catches Gollum as in the books but then has an
unfortunate encounter with the dead in the marshes which leads to him
losing Gollum again. The fishermen who rescue him heal him and he sets
out again with a young fisherman as a guide through the marshes. This OC
is a pretty ignorant young man in the beginning whose only worth for
Aragorn is his special knowledge of the marshes and the river. Aragorn
is not very considerate of his guide, his search is too important to
him. But the young man is willing to endure and to learn everything he
can. I love the way the reader gets to know more about Aragorn against
the background of the young fisherman, his observations and questions.

In the Mines of Moria they encounter dwarves and lots of orcs and
Daevan, the young fisherman, can show his worth and use everything he
has learned so far from Aragorn. I love the characterization of Aragorn
and the dwarves, who are every bit as stubborn and grumpy as Tolkien
shows them in The Hobbit.
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Title: The Blind Cannot See What the Mute Cannot Say · Author: Firniswin
· Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 134
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:15:10
This is a strange AU. Not my cup of tea.
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Title: Regret · Author: mistycracraft · Times: Late Third Age · ID: 232
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:16:03
This is such a sad story. But I think Aragorn is just the person who
wouldn't let go of his guilt. Timeline wise this might be slightly AU,
but still I think you explored here a situation that Aragorn had to deal
with. And he will have trouble with the whole concept of people
sacrificing their life for his. Aragorn is very well characterized and I
like the way Legolas is there to help him by just listening to his story.
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Title: The Hardest Lesson · Author: mistycracraft · Genres: Drama:
Pre-Fellowship · ID: 231
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:16:50
This is a nice little story about a young Estel learning one of the
hardest lessons of a healer: That he will lose patients. I like the way
Estel struggles with this knowledge, and it is touching how he sits with
the mortally wounded man to give him some comfort even if he cant help him.
-----------------------------------
Title: Fair, Strong and Cold · Author: Ellethill · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 751
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-14 01:19:23
This is a slightly AU story of Faramir and Eowyns first year of
marriage with the premise that this would be a marriage of convenience.
I love the slow way of their blossoming love. It just flows naturally,
and the author restrains from any spectacular events to bring the love
out into the open, which makes the final outcome even more touching. The
tone of this piece is melancholy in wide stretches which brings their
fears, doubts, hope, and longing into stark relief with the contentment
and joy they find at the end. The Tolkienesque style brings a dreamlike
quality with it, which serves this story well.
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Title: The Tenth Walker · Author: Lindelea · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 198
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-10-14 02:05:24
Lindelea presents a completely endearing narrator of the hobbits'
journey from Bree--Bill the Pony. She has done a wonderful job of
presenting the equine perspective on things. For example, I love how
smell-driven the story is...there is one amusing moment when both Bill
and Strider are sniffing the air. Even cliches are given a new twist, as
in this recollection: [Don't judge a book by its cover! my dam told me
once. Perhaps she was right. Someone left a book in our field, once,
some picnicker, and being young and curious, rather like Mr.
Apples-and-Mischief, I sniffed and sampled... and shook my head in
disgust. The pages smelled appetising, but the cover was of leather and
left a nasty taste.]

I look forward to the continuation of this tale.


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Title: Homecomings · Author: Marta · Times: The Great Years: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 225
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-10-14 02:10:09
A charming tribute to LOTR's fathers and sons (incidentally reminding me
of the book's striking absence of mothers). I especially liked Gloin's
drabble; it captured the Dwarvish mindset so well! Also liked the
Gaffer's plaintive wish that he had a ["plate o' bacon"] to fatten up
his son.
-----------------------------------