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Title: Work Detail · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 789
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-18 22:54:34
Very cute and sexy! It's nice to see Arwen and Aragorn together.
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Title: Making Merry · Author: Marigold · Races: Hobbits · ID: 663
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2006-10-18 23:02:12
The magick of the Elves when the times are happy instead of fraught with
danger! And to be part of the magick, what better can there be? Merry
and Pip are part of the magick, though the darkness tries to pluck Merry
away . . . but no! Hobbits are magick as well, don't you know - Marigold
obviously does!

A lovely and magickal tale indeed!
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Title: To Climb a Tree · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits: Children ·
ID: 646
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2006-10-18 23:05:44
This is an intense story, for all that it starts out humorous. Climbing
a tree has little yet all to do with it. The story is filled with the
love, concern and trust in each other that we have all come to expect
from Merry and Pippin. It has to do with growing up and with role
reversal and with putting another's needs above our own.

Merry and Pippin are breathless at the end . . . and so is the reader!
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Title: Relics · Author: Nickey · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey Havens · ID: 620
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2006-10-18 23:38:58
This is a truly magnificent story. The rambling nature of Sam's thoughts
keep thngs as moody and odd as his feelings. If September isn't right,
neither is the flow of the story, but in a way that is an artist's touch.

The Party when the Ring came to Frodo was in September. They left on the
Quest in September. Frodo left Middle Earth in September. None of these
are comfortable memories and just as the niggle at Sam, they disturb the
reader. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Just not right.

And so it is with the last stump of a tree lost while Sam, Frodo, Merry
and Pippin were gone from the Shire during those dark times. Just not
right. Nor with the hole pulling it up makes. Nor with a gleeful child
playing with odd new toys.

Just not right. Except that it makes for a wonderful tale for a chilly
autumn night.

Nicky's artistry shines!
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Title: The Eyes of Boromir · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Romance:
Poetry · ID: 632
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2006-10-18 23:49:22
Beautiful, lyrical and haunting. Everything a folk song should have: a
soldier, traveling, hospitaity, drink, unrequited love at first sight,
parting, battle and the death of both of the main characters. And oh,
how I could see it all happening! The handsom military man and a lass
with little hope of having much of a life.

Perfect. This is perfect!
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Title: You Never Know · Author: MysteriousWays · Genres: Humor: The
Shire · ID: 701
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2006-10-19 00:04:43
One really never knows what might happen when the day begins. Frodo has
a bad enough time with one naked hobbit, when there oughtn't be any. But
as more and more of them appear, poor dear Frodo is truly befuddled.

First of all, where does one look? Even if the other hobbit is another
lad hobbit, it's not polite to stare. And if the other hobbit is a lass
. . .

How about the elderly? Not pleasant viewing and one is still not sure
where to rest one's eyes.

About the only relatively safe naked hobbits are children, but even then
it is most awkward.

Frodo has a lot to figure out on his trip into Hobbiton to do the marketing!

Hilarious!!!
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Title: The Letter · Author: Gryffinjack · Races: Hobbits: Post-Sauron's
Fall · ID: 955
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 02:39:10
This one is a favourite of mine. The cousins and Sam are wonderful in
the first part of this story. I enjoyed their dialogue very much. I can
imagine that, good hearted lads that they are, they would want to let
their folks know that they were still alive and hoped to come home soon,
and I think that it is especially appropriate that Pippin, as the
youngest, had the idea to write a letter first.

And I can certainly understand his dilemma about what he should write!
Pippins tongue-in-cheek detailed list of all that went on while they
were away is hilarious because of the way that it is delivered, but the
events are all very serious and most things that happened are not things
that the folks back home would even be able to comprehend. To say such
things in a letter would confuse and frighten them rather than
enlighten. These four have gone through so much! Clearly bemused by how
to put all of this into a simple letter, the offhand and breathless way
that he recites their trials and tribulations to the others was very
hobbity and very much Pippin!

The letter that he ultimately sends is a perfect balance  not too much,
not too little, but certainly enough to make his parents understand why
he had to go, and that he was sincerely sorry for worrying them.

I loved Pippins parents in this story. So many stories make Paladin out
to be grim, small minded, and unloving, but I do not think that he would
be so. If he were, he wouldnt have raised such a worthy, valiant, and
loving son. I think that Pippin is a reflection of his father. And that
Merry is a reflection of Saradoc. They could not have had the values,
loyalty, loving hearts, and determination that they did had their
fathers not had these traits as well.

Eglantine and Paladins clear joy - and their worry - at receiving the
letter was very well done, as was their worry about what the lads would
find when they returned to the Shire. Little could they guess how well
equipped these four have become to handle the danger, or that they would
be the deliverers of the Shire. Indeed, all that matters to them in this
moment is that their beloved son will soon be home!

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Title: An Exchange of Views · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 931
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:26:00
An interesting dilemma for Faramir, and one he is obviously well up to
coping with. Very amusing, and I find myself wanting to read more about
this particular situation!
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Title: Making the Legends of Our Times · Author: Gwynnyd · Times: Fourth
Age and Beyond: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 860
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:28:24
What a powerful moment! I find myself wondering what Eowyn would have
said to this revelation, and how the young granddaughter would have
reacted on finding out that this was no mere coincidence of names!
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Title: Of Stone and Fire · Author: Werecat · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 124
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:30:56
I have always been very amused by the thought that Galadriel freely gave
to Gimli what she denied to Feanor. Yes, I can imagine his outraged
reaction--and I can also imagine Gimli being not perturbed in the least,
for he had his lady's favor.
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Title: With Bow and Blade · Author: Lady Aranel · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 282
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:33:46
I like the idea that the connection between father and son was strong
enough to be felt through all the long leagues at this time of stress!
Very nicely portrayed!
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Title: The Oathbreakers · Author: Branwyn · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 42
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:36:46
What a fascinating idea! I can see that Boromir might have accounted
himself among the oathbreakers, and taken this opportunity to make
amends--though surely he'd already done so in his last defense of
Frodo's cousins. And I can see Aragorn having this reaction, wishing to
keep his friend by him, yet knowing it to be unwise. Very moving!
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Title: Immortality · Author: LydiaB · Genres: Romance: Fixed-length
ficlet · ID: 494
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:39:30
Beautiful! I love the song of Nimrodel, and this drabble captures the
bittersweet tone, while giving her lover's POV! Very well done!
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Title: Until Light Returns · Author: elliska · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 707
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:42:02
What must it have been like, to watch such beauty be blighted bit by bit
over the ages? It is no wonder he was fierce in the defense of his land,
and it is a wonderful thing that he was finally able to take his part in
throwing the darkness down!
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Title: Autumn Hunter · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Romance: Fixed-length
ficlet · ID: 353
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:44:34
Very sensual. I am afraid, though, that I do not know the identity of
the POV character. In spite of that, I was impressed by the imagery.
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Title: Seeker of Shadow · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 63
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-19 03:47:23
I only have a vague familiarity with the story of Aredhel and Eol. In
spite of that, I thought the imagery here was very evocative. And the
poetry was excellent!
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Title: The Usurper · Author: Elena Tiriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 834
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:29:38
Brrr... The author captured Castamir's ruthless and vengeful nature
here, effectively using his own PoV and highlighting a tense moment soon
after his victory. His rise to power did not make him generous, but only
deepened his pride and sense of righteousness. I especially liked how
his internal dialogue highlighted that he considered himself the
rightful ruler, and unfortunately not with any feeling of true
responsibility to his land or his newly-won people. The particularly
vicious sentence weighed on Ornendil, and the destruction of the city,
leave me glad that he himself is eventually overthrown. My only
"comfort," such as it is, is that this particular moment was likely the
start of the people's turning away from his "pure-blooded" ascendancy,
and back to the "half-blooded" true king, Eldacar. A very well-realized
and uncomfortable drabble.
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Title: A Little Thing · Author: Acacea · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 75
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:30:07
Very unique and clever perspective. I thought you caught the ambiance of
the river quite well, and having the aquatic life be affected by the
ring was an excellent touch (fish, etc. avoid it, even to risking other
dangers instead; the fern has long life because it is close enough to
influence). The feeling of the ring's waiting was well-represented.
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Title: Not In Vain · Author: Pipwise Brandygin · Races: Hobbits: War of
the Ring · ID: 675
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 06:38:02
This story is written in a truly wonderful Tolkien voice. And if he
had written this scene I can imagine that the content would have been
almost in these exact words. One of my favourite things in fanfiction is
the exploration of the relationship between Pippin and Gandalf, and this
gapfiller is a marvellous effort in that area.

Pippin clearly misses his Merry so, and his conversation with Gandalf
shows that, but it also delves into much deeper matters and I am really
pleased at the maturity Pippin evidences here. And that Gandalf sees it,
and feels pride in the youngest hobbit.

Gandalfs conclusion that Pippin is deserving of, and can handle the
truth, and the sad details that he gives to him about the circumstances
of Boromirs death are spot on. His description of how the Ring almost
claimed Boromir does not make Pippin burst out with denial, but instead
spurs thoughtful recollections of Pippins own about Boromirs behaviour
and how he had frightened Merry and Pippin with the change that had
seemed gradually to come over him on the River. Gandalf is pleased by
his maturity and manages to make Pippin understand that Boromir had in
fact been saved by his death, that it was better so, and that Pippin
bears no blame for it. That thought had surely been a burden to the hobbit.

Gandalfs assurances that Pippin has a part to play on the side of good
and that he is not a piece of baggage but a very important part of the
scheme of things is a surprise to the hobbit but he accepts Gandalfs
wisdom.

But above all, he still misses his Merry.

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Title: A Letter Unwritten · Author: Bill The Pony · Races: Hobbits: War
of the Ring · ID: 855
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 06:41:24
Sam has some very moving thoughts about his love for Frodo.
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Title: We Shall Return · Author: Marta · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 650
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:43:07
Marta has given us a powerful look from the "other side." Little is said
of Castamir's sons, but I thought that this viewpoint captured their
probable outlook on the situation very well. The reference to Numenor's
seafaring roots was telling - in light of Castamir favoring the fleets
during his short-lived rule - and gave another plausible reason for
their discontent with Gondor, going beyond Eldacar's mixed blood.

I thought the reference to ["Pharazon's pillar"] was well-made. That
single line brought to mind that Numenor's pride led to both great
accomplishments and great folly; how ironic that Castamir's son thinks
of the monument to the achievement ("capturing" Sauron) that led to
Numenor's ultimate downfall. The connection between ["Eldacar... from
the North"] and Aragorn, and both being rejected out of hand by those
who would be displaced by their ascendancy, was yet another well-made
allusion to the link between pride and folly.
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Title: Home Again · Author: Súlriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 863
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:43:44
Very well-done and unique perspective! I've long been a cat-lover, and
thought that this drabble caught a cat's attitude and nature rather
well. Would love to see her Queen from the cat's viewpoint, too.
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Title: Tokens of Sorrow · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 874
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:44:19
It is always enjoyable to get a little-known or little-explored
perspective from an author, and Tanaqui does an excellent job with this
one. Invariably with obscure topics like this, I end up going back to
the source (here [Unfinished Tales]) to refresh my memory. Tanaqui
captured much about that time in few words: The weariness of battle,
Minohtar's kinship, the horror of the loss of the entire royal family. I
particularly liked the line where the leader of the Éothéod comes in and
can't figure out who's in charge, because Gondor's command has been so
decimated. The poignancy of this drabble helped me develop a much
greater appreciation of the event.
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Title: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship · Author: Elana · Times:
Early Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 150
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-19 06:44:34
A humorous version of Gandalf encountering hobbits for the first time. I
has to laugh that it was the pipeweed that drew him in and cemented the
friendship.
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Title: Breeze · Author: illyria-pffyffin · Races: Hobbits: War of the
Ring · ID: 974
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-19 06:48:21
This is just stunning. The author manages to give the breeze a perfect
voice, manages to make us see it as an ageless living entity. Its
thoughts are perfect here as it struggles to bring Frodo - and Sam - the
faintest breath of comfort. I have never read anything quite like this,
and it is utterly beautiful.
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