Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Kindly Winter's Gift · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Genres:
Romance: Rohan · ID: 717
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-16 19:42:03
A slashy encounter for Theodred.
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Title: Hope Eternal · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men: Featuring Aragorn ·
ID: 930
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-16 19:45:46
No, sadly enough, Orcs don't seem to be equipped with the brains or the
attitude necessary to making peace. Poor Elessar, at least he tried!
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Title: The Last Yule in Halabor · Author: Soledad · Races: Men: Vignette
· ID: 166
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-16 19:49:54
This was a brilliantly concieved and meticulously researched series of
stories about the people of the town of Halabor, and their ultimate
fate. The author reveals at the outset that these people and their home
are doomed, lending a bittersweet poignancy to each little vignette.
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Title: The King's Surgeon · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men:
Incomplete · ID: 845
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-16 19:59:17
This is a wonderful story to follow the adventures of the author's OC,
Serinde. The author, who is herself in RL a surgeon, imbues the healer
Serinde with a realism that is not normally found in most fic.
Furthermore, she develops beautifully the romance between Serinde and
Halbarad, as well as her relationships to other familiar canon
characters. There are crossovers as well to the AUs of other writers,
which lends an extra appeal. My only wish is that sometimes the dialogue
was a bit less modern in tone. But that doesn't keep me from loving the
stories, or gobbling down each new installment.
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Title: Chivalry · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 374
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-16 20:01:36
Shadowfax and Gandalf form their friendship in one hundred carefully
chosen words. Beautiful.
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Title: The Winter Fell and Silent · Author: Jael · Races: Elves:
Featuring Mirkwood Elves · ID: 957
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-16 21:03:24
The choice of the poem, the characterization of Leoglas, Thranduil, and
your interpretation of their environment all combine to create a
haunting, enchanting piece. I love the way that you "do" Legolas and
Thranduil across your body of work and this story reinforces that
impression. As always, your dialogue between Legolas and Thranduil is on
point and convincing. Your elements of Silvan culture are believable to me.

I was quite drawn into and overwhelmed by the image of Legolas fasting
and sitting in that tree--very Native American--waiting to be moved to
chose a name. I have always thought that the relationship between Elves
and nature bore strong similarities to certain variants of indigenous
American cultures. I am certain that things have been written on this
subject and you inspire me to look for them.

All in all it is such a lovely piece of work and I highly recommend it.

Picky, probably silly, canon quibble (and it does not detract from such
a beautifully written and well thought through story for me, as
irritatingly nerdy as I can be about some of these details) but I
distinquish between Silvan culture and the Avari. I suppose one could
extrapolate that there could have been some mixture and/or overlap in
Greenwood. I would love to share your thoughts on the subject in another
forum. I mention it here, because I give you points for intriguing me.

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Title: Appearances Can Be Deceiving · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Adventure · ID: 760
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-10-16 21:26:52
Great fun short piece. Bilbo is most charming and believeable. Easily my
favorite Hobbit. I've always loved that poem and was happy to read an
interpretation of it. I recently read another, but this one is different
and delightful as well.
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Title: Quality Time · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Drama: The Steward's
Family · ID: 205
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-10-16 21:41:22
It is so easy to forget that Denethor was not always bitter and bereaved
and that it must have taken years of strain to bring him to the final
breaking point. This gentle story shows him as a father in happier
times. The image of Faramir snuggled against his shoulder, a tiny fist
clenching his hair (in that amazingly strong baby grip), is so sweet and
unexpected.

I love that he is reading "The Fall of Numenor" to little Faramir as an
experiment in early childhood development. It seems to have had the
intended result, lol. Denethor's high opinion of Boromir and prediction
of his future greatness is amusing since the child is only five years
old, but it also the normal reaction of a father to his own children.

His reaction to Nanny is interesting. Her nervous mannerisms annoy him,
but that annoyance is outweighed by her usefulness as a governess for
his children. I sensed a hint of his characteristic possessiveness in [I
did not want or need her presence], as if he resented how much time she
was able to spend with his children.

Very well done!
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Title: I Yessë En Mentë · Author: Rous · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 739
Reviewer: Branwyn · 2006-10-16 21:57:26
This poem about the Battle of Helm's Deep seemed to be more movieverse
than bookverse since the Rohirrim are disorganized and afraid before the
battle. I liked how the defenders are constantly thinking of the people
waiting in the refuge behind the Deep. Knowing that their families were
there must have made the men fight harder, but it also must have been a
terrible distraction. Nice closing sentiment that they must mourn the
fallen later because the war is not over.
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Title: A Message and a Bottle · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Pippin or Merry · ID: 89
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-16 22:18:12
A moving, warmly-told tale of how a long-standing custom of remembrance
is brought to new dimensions, spanning even the distance of the
Sundering Seas and back. I loved Ulmo's willing aid in delivering the
bottle.
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Title: Psychodiagnostic Evaluation - Subject: The Lady of Rohan ·
Author: Anoriath · Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 753
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-16 22:18:54
Amusing, but also very insightful. Good use of apt medical terminology.
To bring Faramir's "issues" into the mix was an inspired (and hilarious)
idea.
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Title: Better Than Frodo Baggins · Author: Inkling · Genres: Drama:
Pre-Fellowship · ID: 809
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:08:52
This is an excellent portrayal of the Lotho that will later grow up to
sell out the Shire. How miserable he is, a product of parents who are
petty, small minded, and greedy and to whom he seems almost a possession
rather than a son. Both use him in their own ways, and are calculating
and self-centred. How could he grow up to be anyway other than how he
turned out?

And yet Frodo, despite seeing Lotho for what he is, gives him every
opportunity to help him do so. The desire to change is there, whether
Lotho realises it or not, in the way that he lurks around Bag End,
obviously wanting and needing something that he cannot quite put his
finger on, envious that Frodo possesses it, whatever it is. But like
Gollum, Lotho will not be redeemed. The Baggins stubbornness is in him,
but in a very negative form.

I liked the twist in the beginning where we are led to believe that
Frodo is the victim of the bullies, when in reality he is far superior
to them even then. It is easy to see how he will continue to develop and
become the Frodo that will save Middle-earth.

And it is easy to see how Lotho came to mar such a beautiful part of it,
as he himself was marred.

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Title: Night Phantoms · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 696
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:17:45
A very plausible scene. Faramir shows such understanding and gentleness.
Well done!
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Title: Benison · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 67
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:27:41
This is lovely. How fitting that Éowyn receive this treasure that once
belonged to her husbands mother. Even though the descriptions from her
daybook are brief, they bring with them a wealth of insight, about
Finduilas herself, Denethor as he once was, and about their sons.

And it is so good to see Éowyn this way, settled and calm and able to
think about the uncomplicated enjoyment of a young womans simple,
homely pleasures instead of War and death.

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Title: Dragons and Sailboats · Author: Acacea · Genres: Drama:
Remembering · ID: 74
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:40:47
I liked very much that Boromir knew Aragorn when he was a child. How
lovely to picture them together, Aragorn teaching the child to make
boats. I liked that cynical Boromir, who told Faramir that he did not
remember how, had opened his heart again on the Quest enough to teach
Merry and Pippin the skill that he hadnt the heart to teach his
brother. I think that travelling with hobbits had refreshed his tired
spirit.
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Title: Was It For This? · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama: Remembering ·
ID: 88
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:45:13
A beautiful juxtaposition of emotion, before and after Aragorn came into
his own. The small list of his father's things that Aragorn now
possessed was so very touching, as were Aragorn's thoughts.
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Title: When The Days Are Warm · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: The
Steward's Family · ID: 145
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:50:43
What should be a lovely moment from childhood is dark with
foreshadowing, and Boromir senses it. His mother will never again come
to the garden with them. The aura of sadness is sharpened by Faramir's
observation: [They are yellow, Faramir said, wisely nodding his head.
His younger brother often spoke these great truths, and Boromir always
struggled not to laugh. ]

A very touching scene.
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Title: Quality Time · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Drama: The Steward's
Family · ID: 205
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-16 23:55:29
How lovely to read a glimpse of a time before Denethor had hardened his
heart against Faramir. Interesting that it was he himself who had first
awakened Faramir's love of books.
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Title: King's Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Times: The Great
Years: Vignette · ID: 197
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-16 23:59:31
This whole peace is necessarily shadowed (in this reader's mind, at
least) by the knowledge of what waits on the other side of the Paths of
the Dead for Halbarad. But here that eventuality is banished to the last
paragraph, almost an afterthought. For a king's man, the present is
what's important, and GA captures that urgency very well here. Nice
glimpse into what the Grey Company might have been thinking on that ride.
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Title: Inheritances · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: The Steward's
Family · ID: 651
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-17 00:04:57
Two things from this story struck me especially - that borne in an Elven
boat Boromir would one day take the river to the land of his mother, and
that Aragorn would see and judge him always as the one who would someday
rule Aragorn's own kingdom, should he himself not earn the throne.
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Title: ... and hear the song of salt and sea · Author: Cuthalion ·
Genres: Drama: The Steward's Family · ID: 98
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-17 00:12:51
Poor Findulias, driven in this story to take her own life, rather than
endure an unbearable and unhappy future.
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Title: Fond Memory · Author: Isil Elensar · Genres: Drama: The Steward's
Family · ID: 331
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-17 00:16:51
This is a lovely scene of the two brothers sharing memories of their mother.
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Title: That Which Cannot Be Put Into Words · Author: Pearl Took · Times:
The Great Years: Vignette · ID: 230
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-17 00:18:46
I like the fact that this makes use of the Took lineage from a
[fairy-wife]. Neat little moment in Lothlorien.
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Title: Mathom · Author: Perelleth · Genres: Humor · ID: 192
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-17 00:58:01
An enjoyable elvish view of the visit by Bilbo, Gandalf, and dwarves to
Rivendell, with some surprises. I loved Elrond's casual comment [He says
that he intends to get rid of the dragon in Erebor, with the help of the
Perian& ] and his son's understandable reaction.
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Title: Memorabilia and Other Useful Things · Author: Illwynd · Times:
The Great Years: The Fellowship · ID: 714
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-17 01:07:17
Hee! That last "treasure" kept the piece from descending into maudlin.
Nice little tribute to Boromir there, but even nicer tribute to all of
the normal, everyday things that Pippin considers ["more precious than
rings"]. I think it's very hobbity that these are the things that he
would remember. Very cute, fluffy story, and just the mental break I needed.
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