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Title: Legacy · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Hobbits: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 299
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2006-10-19 23:23:16
As a Boromir fan, I always like stories where the Fellowship acknowledge
his contribution, and this is a sweet little drabble about just that.
Nicely done!
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Title: At the Rising of the Moon · Author: Linda Hoyland · Genres:
Humor: Gondor · ID: 846
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-20 01:11:13
A very light and amusing Yuletide tale, as Aragorn and Faramir try to
please their wives by fetching mistletoe. The author came up with a nice
blend of RL Yule traditions to form something different. A warm and cozy
holiday tale!
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Title: The Gift · Author: Dot · Races: Elves: Featuring Mirkwood Elves ·
ID: 160
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-20 01:18:43
A very nice father-son story, as Legolas calls upon Thranduil's help in
healing the land in Ithilien. A very nice and judicious use of Elven
magic, and a warm story of familial love.
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Title: The gift · Author: Jael · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages ·
ID: 807
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-20 01:31:16
A very sad and interesting premise: that Legolas knew Aragorn's mother
Gilraen, that he had fallen in love with her, and that he attended her
in death. A bittersweet story, infused with gentle dignity.
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Title: Inheritance · Author: Primsong · Times: Late Third Age: The Shire
· ID: 310
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 07:35:14
Eee! What a frighteningly possible AU! And that would have been the end
of Middle-earth most likely!
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Title: A Tisket, A Tasket · Author: grey_wonderer · Times: Late Third
Age: The Shire · ID: 570
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 08:04:42
This is classic Grey Wonderer fare, full of humorous situations and very
witty lines. While on a visit to Bag End young Pippin decides to build a
nest for Errol, his stuffed rabbit, so that he will have babies. Already
disapproving of Pippin's attachment to the toy, Merry soon grows
irritated with his cousin's determination to help Errol have a baby.

I won't give away the results of Pippin's little experiment but I will
say that this is a wonderful cousin story that displays each hobbit's
unique personality as well as the close relationship between Frodo,
Merry and Pippin, and Bilbo as well.

There are so many wonderful bits in this story - Pippin's whisper that
is louder than his normal tone, Merry waking up cuddling Errol, that
Merry himself isn't too sure exactly how babies are made, the story of
Merry and the squirrels and Frodo and the baths, and that the
Bracegirdles have far too many children. And I loved that the bed that
Pippin shares with Merry is safe for Errol and his one offspring, and
that no more little bunnies will result if he sleeps there, as Merry and
Pippin haven't had any babies! I would have loved to see Bilbo and
Frodo's faces when Pippin came up with that!

A really enjoyable story! Grey Wonderer is a wonderful writer of little
hobbits!
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Title: Home At Last · Author: Dreamflower · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 883
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 08:17:35
A very realistic look at what it must have been like for Bilbo after he
returned from his Adventure. I felt so sorry for him! But everything
comes at a price, and it is clear that Bilbo wouldn't have missed his
Adventure for anything. I am glad that Drogo was there! With Drogo as
his father and Bilbo as his guardian, it is no wonder that Frodo turned
out the way that he did.
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Title: If I had a Hammer · Author: grey_wonderer · Times: Late Third
Age: The Shire · ID: 162
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 08:41:15
This is an all-around good story! The characterisations of the cousins
and Sam are spot on. Sam makes a wonderfully patient teacher, and I
loved that he let Pippin do all of the work himself, unlike expedient
Merrys wish to just do the project for Pippin himself. Pippin really
shone here with the cleverness of his invention, and I loved his choice
of the recipient.

Something that is a bit different here is that Merry and Pippin are both
at an age where they are not exactly getting along the way that we are
used to them doing, and that makes for a very realistic and enjoyable
change. It isn't just Pippin that learns something here, Merry learns an
important lesson himself, about friendship and encouragement.

The OCs in this story are also very well written and so is the dialogue
and all of the descriptions. Another story by Grey Wonderer that doesnt
disappoint!

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Title: Merry's Graduation · Author: pippinfan88 · Times: Late Third Age:
The Shire · ID: 125
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 08:48:29
Pippinfan writes lovely hobbits! Her characterisations in this story are
wonderful. Her Merry especially is written very well - strong and
intensely loyal, just the way that I imagine him. Degger is a marvellous
OC that I have met before in Pippinfans work, and I like him just as
much in this story. Even though he comes from a lower class background,
he is most certainly a hobbit of quality!

The plot is well thought-out, the situations and dialogue believable. I
highly recommend this tale!

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Title: Merrys Present · Author: Mariole · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 639
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 09:01:09
This is a very lovely young Merry and Frodo story with lots of wonderful
detail and description. Merry discovers a visiting Frodo alone on the
banks of the Brandywine, and they have a heart to heart talk about Frodo
and his feelings about having lost his parents. Merry grows up a lot
that day, and it is so nice that Frodo shares these thoughts with Merry.
The relationship between the two of them is written very well, and both
of them are beautifully in character.


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Title: All Is Well · Author: Gryffinjack · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 969
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 09:23:22
Its hard to believe, but this is the authors very first LoTR fanfic.
It is told wonderfully from five-year-old Pippins pov, and takes place
during a visit to Bag End where Pippins family is attending Bilbo and
Frodos Birthday Party. The dialogue is very good and the descriptions
are lovely, especially when little Pippin is sitting on Frodos lap,
listening to him read aloud about the battle against Sauron from ages
past. The image of him listening and trying hard not to fall asleep is
very sweet, and easily pictured.

But then the story becomes darker. Pippin dreams a true dream, though of
course he does not know it. Suddenly he is on the battlefield from the
story, surrounded by attacking orcs and fighting men. As well as an old
man in white that reminds him a bit of an older Gandalf, and an elf and
a dwarf. Terrified at being the only hobbit present, Pippin nonetheless
screws up his courage and lifts his blade against a troll, to protect
Frodo and Merry, wherever it is that they might be.

This is a fascinating usage of the Took sight, and very well done.

Gandalf is the one to ease the lad from his nightmare and I wonder if he
has any presentment that what Pippin was dreaming will someday come
true, even if he does not know the exact details of the dream? But then,
he *is* a wizard, so perhaps he does at least have a premonition.

A thoroughly enjoyable story!
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Title: Just Us Lads · Author: pippinfan88 · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 291
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 09:45:58
Having three sisters around must have made just-us-lads moments like
this between Pippin and his father extra special. I love their quiet
companionship here, sitting together and sharing a favourite book, and
can easily picture the rest of the evening; enjoying their supper of
stew together, maybe later on playing a game of marbles so that Pippin
can demonstrate the moves that won him his newest shooter. The thought
that till the day he died Pippin would remember his father when he
smelled the scent of Old Toby was lovely and speaks of a great love
between them.

Pippinfans Paladin is so very well written; loving and approachable and
clearly adoring his son. I cannot agree with the interpretation of some
fanfic writers, who write Paladin as cold and unloving, always
disapproving of Pippin. I think that Paladin must have been the way that
he is portrayed here, else Pippin would not have been so sweet-natured
and loving himself. He never would have gone on the Quest, in my
opinion, were his father not a fine person, who raised his son with a
sense of right and wrong, loyalty, and courage.

A beautiful little story, as I always expect from this author.

-----------------------------------
Title: Of Birds and Bees · Author: Cathleen · Times: Late Third Age: The
Shire · ID: 727
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 10:12:41
This is a very funny story within a story  actually two very funny
stories within a story. Early in the Quest, the Fellowship listen with
delight as Pippin tells some tales of childhood, much to his cousins
and Sams chagrin. The comradeship here was very well done, especially
Boromir, who is already plainly quite fond of Pippin.

In the first little tale, young Pippin has seen rather too much of some
adult activity, and is annoyed when his cousins wont explain what it
was that he was seeing. Later, when he sees Merry weak at the knees over
Sams visiting cousin, Pippin at last figures out a little bit of what
he saw earlier, and proceeds to make Merrys life miserable by
embarrassing him at the dinner table in front of Bilbo and Gandalf. Like
a lot of children his age, Pippin just cant let it go and the lads
nearly come to blows.

In the second story, Pippin really gets himself into trouble! I wont
give it away here, but the object of Merrys affections gets to see
rather more of him than either would have liked, and it is all
mischievous Pippins fault!

The dialogue is fun and fast, and the situations very amusing!

-----------------------------------
Title: Pennies for a Sunny Day · Author: Cathleen · Times: Late Third
Age: The Shire · ID: 728
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:00:13
A very hobbity tale of our favourite young hobbits having fun! This is
my absolute favourite story by Cathleen. Little Pippin comes to Bag End
for a whole week. Merry is also visiting, and at first is not pleased to
have to share his time with Frodo, but he quickly gets past his annoyance.

It is the middle of a heat wave, and all three cousins, together with
Sam, take a picnic down to the Water for the day. They have a wonderful
time, especially when Pippin produces a small bow and some arrows, a
gift from his father. All of them enjoy the toy, but Merry is especially
delighted, and when the others go off in the little boat, he stays
behind, ostensibly to swim.

This is my favourite part of the story. I absolutely love Merry here.
Once the others have disappeared, he takes up the bow and arrows and
*plays*. Really plays. It is such a delight to see Merry, who is usually
seen to be more staid and serious even at this age, really let go and
have a great time, even if he cant reveal this side of himself to his
friends without being self-conscious because he feels he is too old for
this sort of thing. He has a simply grand time stalking dragons through
the woods and playing at being an adventurer. I know that his loyalty
and love for Frodo was the main reason that he went on the Quest, but I
know that he had this spirit of adventure in him as well, compelling him
to go, and this part of his personality is brilliantly shown here.

The characterisations and dialogue are well-written, and so are the
descriptions. I could see the events playing out perfectly, particularly
this scene with Merry, and the scene early in the story where Pippin is
endeavouring to lay hands on his penny jar.

I love that the title of this story is a saying from the Shire, the
converse of our pennies for a rainy day. It is a much more optimistic
saying, and a very suitable one for hobbits!

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Title: Midsummer's Day · Author: MysteriousWays · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 980
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:06:05
This is lovely! For this moment, Frodo is able to forget his hurts and
savour being home. Really beautiful descriptions.
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Title: On the Fair Hill · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 946
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:09:30
Gorgeous imagery and exqusite detailed descriptions despite the 100 word
limit. Very well done!
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Title: Unchanged · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 926
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:10:53
Very insightful drabble! I enjoyed reading something from Rory's pov.
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Title: How Grima Lost His Eyebrows · Author: NeumeIndil · Times: Late
Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 800
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:17:47
A very good reason to always remember your manners and knock before
entering! Especially when you are paying a call on an evil wizard!

Very funny, and very clever. I like the way the mood goes from serious
to hilarious in a - flash! (Sorry, I just had to say that!)
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Title: Wizardry · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 179
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:21:13
I loved the way that this double drabble began and ended with the same
word. For all that they can laugh about it, they are still right back
where they started - stuck. You conveyed their great friendship
wonderfully here. Excellent!
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Title: Object Lessons · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 668
Reviewer: Marigold · 2006-10-20 11:24:18
I had to laugh at this - there was a time when the ER knew me by my
first name! This was a nice brotherly moment between Boromir and Faramir.
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Title: Unchanged · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 926
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2006-10-20 11:43:21
This is a wonderful perspective on the value of the longevity provided
to Bilbo by the Ring. From the perspective of Rory Brandybuck, we don't
see the negative psychological impact of the Ring (how Bilbo feels
[stretched thin]), but we do see how Bilbo has missed out on the
pleasures that come from an understanding that our lives are limited in
duration. Marta uses wonderful, subtle metaphors  the apparent
short-term indifference of the stonework of the Brandywine Bridge to the
effect of the river current, yet with a sense of constant buffeting that
would ultimately wear on the soul. An insightful meditation on mortality
and its worth in just 100 words!
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Title: Little Stars · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves: Feanorians ·
ID: 107
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-20 11:54:12
Nathriel's voice is clear and compelling to the end. She is a brave,
sympathetic character, and gives us an innocent's perspective of the
third Kinslaying. I grieved that she died, and that she did not know of
her effort's success - Elrond and Elros survive to fill great roles in
history.

Maglor and Maedhros plainly show how their oath has deadened their sense
of right and wrong, but not completely. Maedhros actively seeks to
distance himself from his conscience; and Maglor, in this case, actually
listens to his.
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Title: Letters in the sand · Author: Rhapsody · Races: Elves: Feanorians
· ID: 176
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-20 11:58:42
Maglor's torment is moving and well-drawn. I struggled a bit with his
rage at Eonwe's refusal to turn over the jewels, as I thought Maglor was
more sorrowful at this point. Beautiful incorporation of the Tengwar.
Very interesting take, that the Silmarillion had a spirit of its own,
and Maglor felt its rejection as betrayal.
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Title: Paper · Author: Dawn Felagund · Races: Elves: Feanorians · ID: 492
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-10-20 12:00:16
This story is marvelous on many levels. The characterizations are
brilliant. Each brother has his own voice (although Carnistir/Tyelkormo
are a bit lumped together), with subtle interplays between each other
and their parents - so much like a real family. I had never thought
about what Feanor naming his fifth child after himself would have meant
to his first four sons, but Dawn has believably portrayed possible
repercussions. The dialogues felt spot-on, and the descriptions of
family life were entertaining and always contributed to the story.

I had a very clear understanding of the tension between Curufinwe's
desire to please and emulate his father, and how overwhelming this would
have seemed, right from the first line. To be named after someone as
famous and talented as Feanor would have been more burden than blessing.
Faced with this, it is wholly believable that his son turns to fantasies
acted and drawn out on paper.

Loved the ending (how much of this was real, or another fantasy?), the
letter Feanor sent to his half-brother, the ruminations on writing and
the possibilities of a blank page... The story is packed with delightful
and insightful moments.
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Title: Finding the Right Words · Author: Nienor Niniel · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 785
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-20 12:08:04
What a lovely and introspective piece of work. Restless on the night
before the coronation, Faramir ponders the words he will speak when he
greets his new king. We are shown his honorableness, his wisdom and his
foresight. He is show truly worthy of both his Stewardship roles--as the
last of the ruling Stewards, and the first Steward of the renewed
Kingdom. Beautiful job, full of respect for the character!
-----------------------------------