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Title: For the Dwarves � Author: Tanaqui � Races: Dwarves: Fixed-Length
Ficlet � ID: 894
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 08:55:01
Gloin shouldn't be surprised that Gimli wants to go - for the dwarves.
He's a chip off the old block, after all!
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Title: The Heads of One Thousand Goblins: A Love Story � Author:
SickleYield � Races: Dwarves � ID: 644
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 09:09:04
What a charming dwarven love story. It would take something remarkable
to distract Gimli from the golden haze of Galadriel's memory - but Wiri
is at least as obstinate as he is! I'm glad they have a happy ending.
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Title: Gimli's Tale � Author: Pearl Took � Races: Dwarves � ID: 934
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 09:11:57
Gimli makes a good minder for Pippin - dwarves and hobbits seemed
designed to get on well with each other. And I love his story. Which
doesn't, by any chance, suggest that elves are a bit shallow - and too
overwhelmed by surface appearances, does it? Immortals really ought to
be rather more discerning!

And the beauty stone being shared between Pippin, Merry and Gimli is
very symbolic. They seem to have a bond, those three.

A most enjoyable story.

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Title: In Frodo's Hands � Author: Mews1945 � Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest �
ID: 62
Reviewer: Inkling � 2006-10-15 09:12:48
This gentle, charming story presents a side of young Pippin we don't
often see in fanfic. Here he is not overly rambunctious or out of
control, but a bit shy and even intimidated (at first) by his tall,
serious Cousin Frodo who, as Pippin notes, seems not much used to children:

[I think I see a smile tug at his mouth, but his eyes are still very
serious, and I think he could get very angry, very quickly, if I should
make a mistake of that kind in his kitchen.]

In a completely convincing, natural way, Mews shows how the kindness and
understanding Frodo bestows on a lad who is more used to being scolded
and in disgrace lays the groundwork for the adult Pippin's devotion and
loyalty to his older cousin that we see in LOTR. Very nicely done!

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Title: Just Us Lads � Author: pippinfan88 � Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire � ID: 291
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 09:35:40
That's a very sweet bit of male bonding between Pippin and his father. I
can imagine that it must have been - at times - a real pleasure to have
Eglantine and the three sisters off on ploys of their own, leaving the
two lads to enjoy peace and pipeweed and a good book.
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Title: The Stories of Our People � Author: Pearl Took � Times: Fourth
Age and Beyond � ID: 292
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 09:46:04
Tooks and Brandybucks! Well - it would have to be, wouldn't it! And I'm
glad the professor found the library and was able to liberate all those
stories. And that he was met by Luthien before he came to experience the
joy of taking tea with hobbits. Charming.
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Title: To Follow an Elf � Author: etharei � Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete � ID: 816
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-10-15 09:53:57
I love Gimli and his determination to cope in this rather hostile
environment - and that his qualities are winning over some of those who
have their doubts about a dwarf as an honoured guest.

This is such an enjoyable story - and I'm hoping to see more of it soon!
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Title: A Little Thing � Author: Acacea � Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet � ID: 75
Reviewer: Marigold � 2006-10-15 10:33:48
Nice drabble, with a perfect creepy feel to it. I loved that It kept the
fern alive and unaging to suit Its own purpose.
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Title: Tokens of Sorrow � Author: Tanaqui � Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet � ID: 874
Reviewer: Marigold � 2006-10-15 10:35:54
This gives a lovely sense of their weariness yet determination, and
finally their despair. So much said in 100 words!
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Title: Alas, for the dying of the trees � Author: Gandalfs apprentice �
Races: Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet � ID: 788
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-15 13:56:31
This is sad, because the subject being addressed is serious, but also
hilarious in its own way. That last line, ["Spare me, Elf(...) another
endless lament whining about the sad passage of the years."] is so
entirely dwarvish that it could come from only a small set of gruffy
characters: Gandalf the Grey, maybe Eomer or Bilbo, but certainly Gimli.
And I think he would have used humour as a way to deflect his fears
about this issue. Very nicely handled overall.
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Title: Great Heart � Author: Raksha the Demon � Times: First Age and
Prior: Fixed-Length Ficlet � ID: 64
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-16 03:52:17
This is certainly a unique view! I like the idea that Huan knew he was
fated for something great, just like the other people involved.
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Title: The Parting Gift � Author: Imhiriel � Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet � ID: 948
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-16 03:55:37
This is so sad. There are some scenes that can't really be put into
words, and I think Maglor is right to remain silent here. I hope some
day that the twins understand, and the use of the canon quote at the end
makes me think Elrond at least did. For all Maglor's faults, with Elrond
and Elros at least his motivations were in the right place and that bore
fruit, and it's really nice to see that honoured. And so beautifully!
This is a nice little snippet into that relationship, told with economy
of words and grace that befit the minstrel of the Noldor.
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Title: Second Son � Author: Nesta � Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor
� ID: 843
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-16 04:09:47
Nice glimpse at Faramir's younger son - I'm sure the parallels between
father and son would have been unsettling, and it's a good way to reveal
something to the reader about Faramir's personality, and the new age the
characters find themselves in.
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Title: Lesser Ring � Author: Larner � Genres: Adventure � ID: 184
Reviewer: Marigold � 2006-10-16 10:06:47
This is a tale astonishing in its richness of detail. I was completely
drawn into it. I liked the story covering the second visit to Harad the
best, as it included several of the surviving members of the Fellowship,
as well as some well known OCs created by this author. There are
numerous references to the Quest as well, and to Frodo, and I was
intrigued by Aragorns revelation that he considers Frodo and Sam to be
the spirits of his own lost twin and brother.

There are numerous sub-plots, intrigues, historical references, and
backstory.

There are several dangerous moments for the party from the North, and I
was of course pleased that Pippin had a chance to show what he is made of!

Upon the return to Minas Tirith I particularly enjoyed learning about
the various shrines and monuments to the Ring-bearers and the Quest,
especially the statue of the four hobbits. We also get a lovely glimpse
of life at the Court of Elessar and Arwen.


-----------------------------------
Title: Boromir's Journey Home Amon Hen to Minas Tirith � Author:
majorbee � Genres: Alternate Universe � ID: 690
Reviewer: Marigold � 2006-10-16 10:12:36
A very impressive story about what might have been! Lots of great
detail. This is a very satisfying read!
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Title: Notes and Observations by Frodo of the Shire � Author: Lurea �
Genres: Drama: Featuring Frodo or Sam � ID: 971
Reviewer: Marigold � 2006-10-16 13:01:00
This is an almost unbelievably impressive work. The premise is a simple
one; that Frodo spends his time in Minas Tirith trying to come to peace
with himself by making notes about his journey across Mordor to the
Cracks of Doom.

But there is nothing simple about this tale.

The journal entries are flawlessly in Frodos voice. Frodos words
describing his innermost thoughts, perceptions of events, his terrible
suffering, and his gradual and inevitable ensnarement by the Ring are as
I would imagine them to be if Tolkien were setting them down himself,
and I mean that in all seriousness. Almost I could believe that I was
reading a supplement to LoTR itself.

His thoughts and the events that took place are reported in great
detail, and leave nothing to the imagination, and yet they are not
falsely overly dramatic  a true scholar and above all, a hobbit, a race
to whom deceit is for the most part alien, Frodo writes exactly what
happened, the whole bitter, painful truth. And yet his words are
uplifting at the same time, for if he cannot see his own nobility in his
desperate struggle, we can.

There are many parts to his journal entries that stand out; when he
awakens to find Sam and Gollum arguing and perceives that somehow a
significant moment has passed which offered two quite different
outcomes, the desperate trek across Gorgoroth when the cadence he has
been whispering in his mind to help him stagger onward slips into the
Black Speech, when he claims the Ring for himself. There are far too
many striking passages to name here.

The framing story is also well written, the day-to-day activities in the
City. There are many wonderful bits here, with Frodo interacting with
the rest of the Fellowship (save Aragorn). The dialogue rings true and
everyone is in wonderful character. I could just imagine Gimli, hewing
away with his axe, carving furniture down to hobbit size, or the four
hobbits exploring the delights of the Market.

There is a stunning scene between Merry and Frodo, and Frodos quiet
talks with Gandalf were spot-on.

This story has left me filled with new insights that will richly enhance
my next re-reading of that section of the book. I cant recommend it enough!

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Title: Necessity and Desire � Author: Gwynnyd � Times: The Great Years �
ID: 173
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-16 14:58:17
This story shows off so many of Gwynnyd's great talents: strong
characterizations all around, compelling three-dimensional world
informed by real-world historical models, finding gaps that had never
occurred to me and filling them in such a way that rounds out Tolkien's
world magnificently.

One of my favourite scenes is right at the beginning, where Arwen is
trying to arrange the seating for the feast that night. How do you
honour all the nobles who would be there, with only so many seats at the
head table? This wasn't anything that had ever occurred to me, but Arwen
really shines in this. She is the epitome of a gracious hostess but so
much more than that, and it really fits how Tolkien portrayed her: so
much more than a house-wife, but also content enough in her own role not
to need to do something flashy (like *cough* rescue Frodo from the
Nazgul...)

The way the twins find Boromir, their first reactions to him, and the
way he is described by the elven guard who has been observing him is
spot on. I also love the fact that the Twins recognize him as Gondor.
Not sure whether the author was aware, but there are some UT passages
that place El&El there at some points in Gondor's history, so I can see
this them having an awareness.

And lest we forget this is Gwynnyd we are talking about, her Aragorn is
as wonderful as her Aragorn always is. A little henpecked by his (not
unreasonably) tense betrothed, very exhausted by all that he has had to
do, and yet still in tune to the political entanglements of Boromir's
arrival. The description of his gear in his room tell us more about his
character than I would be able to get in to a full story. Well done!
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Title: A Matter of Honor � Author: meckinock � Races: Cross-Cultural �
ID: 208
Reviewer: Dreamflower � 2006-10-16 19:05:01
I really enjoyed this story, most especially the early parts of it,
which centered on the author's OC, the hobbit Dudo. He was so
delightfully earnest and faithful, and so very hobbity, I was sorry to
see him drop from the story about halfway through. But then the author
captured my interest once more, with her fascinating speculations about
the Dunlendings, and the story came back to Dudo at the end.

It very much was a matter of honor, showing how that concept had
differing meanings to different people, but that the true meaning would
not be lost in the end. Very good read!
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Title: Green and Golden � Author: Elentari2 � Times: Multi-Age:
Incomplete � ID: 671
Reviewer: Oshun � 2006-10-16 19:13:01
An original and interesting look at period and setting that is far from
overdone--nearing the end of the Watchful Peace in Mirkwood. I like the
use of canon research which enhances this author's speculation on
possible reactions and responses by the characters involved to the
differences between Silvan, Sindar and Noldor culture. Also, is
interesting on the concept of female Elven warriors, drawing on the few
available canon references rather than some pseudo-Medieval
extrapolation. The character of Erestor is developing nicely. I hope to
see updates soon on this piece--it has been a while (hint, hint). Nice
foreshadowing of future developments of a romantic nature and lovely
subtle eroticism in the limited intimate contacts that have occurred
thus far. I've got my "alerts" on for this creative and imaginative look
at this world. Recommendation: this is no re-hash of a much told story.
-----------------------------------
Title: Stigmas � Author: Robinka � Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Series � ID: 105
Reviewer: Dreamflower � 2006-10-16 19:15:46
An interesting series of drabbles on the life of Turin, drawn together
by the theme of the Seven Deadly Sins. Very clever and well-done!
-----------------------------------
Title: Flotsam � Author: Salsify � Times: The Great Years: Vignette � ID: 85
Reviewer: Marta � 2006-10-16 19:18:30
This is a really moving piece. Merry has all the right reasons for why
his actions was right, even if it's not good: the baby would have grown
into a monster that would have been incapable of love; there was no less
deadly way to bring down Saruman, and bringing down Saruman saved lives;
the women would have themselves welcomed the sacrifice. But whatever
Merry tells himself he comes back to that simple truth: ["Whatever else
it was, it was a baby."]

That refrain keeps ringing through Merry's mind, almsot as if he is
still in shock all those years later. And that's the way that tragedy of
this scale would have to affect an "innocent" like a hobbit. It speaks
highly of him that he's still troubled. But it also makes you really
feel for him. Indeed, peace was bought at a really high price by
everyone, not just Frodo and the honoured dead.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Winter Fell and Silent � Author: Jael � Races: Elves:
Featuring Mirkwood Elves � ID: 957
Reviewer: Dreamflower � 2006-10-16 19:23:54
A haunting and lyrical coming of age story for Legolas. While I doubt
that Elves would have such a custom as a vision quest, I had no trouble
suspending my disbelief for the duration of the story--and I am
interested in the OC Turie.
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Title: Elven Braids � Author: viggomaniac � Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn � ID: 808
Reviewer: Dreamflower � 2006-10-16 19:25:47
Very suspenseful. The orcs were well-done, and their dialogue very
Tolkienesque.
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Title: The Hobbit and the Man: "All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter" �
Author: Gandalfs apprentice � Races: Cross-Cultural: With Hobbits � ID: 351
Reviewer: Oshun � 2006-10-16 19:35:59
Well done. I love the way you have protrayed Bilbo in this piece. You
always very effectively made me more than a little jealous of the
opportunity he was afforded here. Such a nice picture of that clever
Gandalf too. The entire little story is beautifully set up and executed.
Such a tease too--how I would love to have been a fly on the wall during
those discussions between Bilbo and Aragorn. Maybe some day, since I
doubt that this will be the last thing you will have to say about the
relationship between these two, you will give me that opportunity. I
surely hope so. (Of course, there is the subtle refererence to what it
feels like to be a writer inspired by the same subject.)
-----------------------------------
Title: Requiem � Author: Rhapsody � Times: First Age and Prior:
Incomplete � ID: 218
Reviewer: Dreamflower � 2006-10-16 19:36:47
One part of the Silmarillion that has always fascinated me is the story
of Huan, a dog whose intelligence was more than animal, and whose faith
and bravery was as heroic as any Man or Elf. This is an interesting
account of Huan's relationship with his master Celegorm, and is
beautifully drawn. The author used the tiny canon hints with great skill
to fill in the background.
-----------------------------------