Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Conversational, of Cousins · Author: Vana Tuivana · Genres:
Drama: Poetry · ID: 642
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-21 14:53:18
This is a very unusual poem and yet very effective in almost Noldorin
style ;) Maedhros wishes to move on and not to be remembered by the loss
of his hand, yet Fingon (the one who actually cut the hand) remembers
the good things about it. I find it very interesting to see the roles
reversed (this compared to the events on the Thangorodrim) and the how
each character gets his own voice in his free verse. The ending feels
abrupt, but so appropriate. Very insightful!
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Title: Don't Panic! · Author: Boz4PM · Times: The Great Years · ID: 908
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-21 14:59:21
I remember when I first read this, I only clicked on it with mild
interest. Wow, did it suck me in and I read it all the way through in
one sitting. My husband thought I had lost my mind because I was
absolutely howling. You did such a good job depicting realistically how
a modern girl would react after 'falling' into Middle Earth. Indeed,
some of the 'realism' (bunny stew and latrines and other such basic
needs problems) are some of the funnies and most clever parts of the
story. I also especially remember Penny telling Elrond and crew what she
knew. Imagine doing that! This story is incredibly entertainly and
cleverly written. Definitely a classic of Lord of the Rings fanfic.
Loved it!
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Title: Okay, NOW Panic! · Author: Boz4PM · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 907
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-21 15:02:17
I was so happy when you started a sequel to your original Penny story. I
really wanted to know what happened to her after the War of the Ring and
to see how she ended up dealing with all the outcomes of that War. You
have continued to do a great job with this. The sequel is a bit more
serious in many places, which makes sense given that these people are
facing the aftermath of a terrible war, but the way you have dealt with
those topics has been really well done. Penny is such a great character.
I am really looking forward to seeing how she ends up.
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Title: We Were Young Once ~ I · Author: CorielConquistadora · Races:
Elves: Featuring Mirkwood Elves · ID: 614
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-21 15:11:07
Given that I am a huge fan of Thranduil, it is no surprise to anyone
that I would love this story. Seeing Thranduil and Oropher rebuild their
own house and their people after the end of the First Age and the War of
Wrath is a great topic and you handled it well. I really enjoyed all
aspects of this story--the personal (Thranduil's relationship with
Lindoriel--I still remember the 'Remove your hand lest I remove it for
you' line), the political (the relations between the Sindar and Noldor),
the familial (I love Oropher's extended house) and the various actions
that move it all along. And your writing style is so rich and powerful
that it really brings everything to life. Great story!
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Title: A Darkened Heart · Author: Beethoven's 7th · Genres: Drama:
General Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 774
Reviewer: MysteriousWays · 2006-10-21 15:18:58
Bravo to Beethoven's 7th and her work "A Darkened Heart".

How perfectly and elequintly she captures this fleeting moment of
deepest inner feeling.

A virbal snapshot. Blink and the moment is gone but for beeing captured
in image or print. The image here is not grainy. It is clear despite shadow.

Beethoven's 7th, "A Darkened Heart" is most certainly one of your finer
works. One to always be proud of.

Read it everyone! You do not want to miss this. Become better aquainted
with Boromir with this compelling work. Anyone who reads this will not
be sorry.
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Title: Lay of Lord and Lady · Author: Vana Tuivana · Genres: Drama:
Poetry · ID: 629
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-21 15:20:19
This poem displays the differences between dark and light, cold and
warmth, repulsion and passion while Vana tells us the tale of Eol and
Aradhel. But not everything has such huge contrasts, there was love and
loyalty which ties every aspect to each other.

[Fair was the Lord, though dark was his vale,
And the Lady he loved for her light;
And great were his woods, and wondrous his delves,
And he taught her the beauty of night.]

I love how the differences come together in this part. Another part
which stood out as well was:

[Then grief filled the day, and sorrow the night,
And the King his wrath was great;
And proud was the Lord, and silent his son,
And justice called down their fate.]

This is such a key moment in their tale. This poem has a great
characterisation of the main characters. This poem is beautifully crafted!
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Title: Sixteen Singing Eagles · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 678
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-21 15:40:31
Sadly I feel no connection to the OFC here so I feel that there is
something missing, but I had to chuckle when I read the responses of the
eagles to the question: can eagles sing. Especially this snippy line is
great:

["Do we look like larks to you?" snapped Thelagos, whereupon his
companions fell upon him with wing and beak.]

Just this visual comparison alone was simply great and I could picture
them singing their song to her.
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Title: Planning Ahead · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men · ID: 84
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-21 15:50:06
This is really a nice take on how Gilraen met Arathorn for the first
time. A halfly drugged Arathorn who is confined to his bed after a bad
fall encounters a clairvoyant Gilraen who is very assured they will be
married one day. With the simple reasoning of a child, Gilraen comes
across as a child, which grows up too fast with her gift and Arathorn
who feels as a rugged handsome ranger to me. This piece of prose has a
great characterisation and good hinting of what is to come. A very
enjoyable read!
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Title: Weaver · Author: Vana Tuivana · Genres: Drama: Poetry · ID: 627
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-21 16:20:42
Wow! There are two great things going on with this poem: the insight in
Arwens motivation and the manner in which this poem is crafted. The
balance of words and pacing feels as if it is woven itself, one and on
the spindle goes while Arwen questions her own troubled heart or is
someone else telling it? These thoughts deliver you directly to the
matter at hand: Arwen is weaving her own fate and that of men in her
banner. The surprise is in the final stanza where Vana reveals who has
been watching Arwen weaving and very poignantly addresses a fathers
grief. This is a gem of a poem.
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Title: The Hours of Waiting · Author: Nesta · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor · ID: 909
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-21 16:39:29
This was beautiful and lyrical! An excellent account of how Faramir and
Eowyn might have fallen in love during those long and anxious days. I
liked the portrayal of her dismay at losing the edge of her anger and
bitterness and grief, and his careful and gentle courting of her, as
though she were the robin he was luring to his side. Very lovely!
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Title: The Burdens of Office · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 865
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-21 19:20:23
I never thought of Faramir having a conflict of interest as Prince of
Ithilien and being at the same time Steward of Gondor. I loved the way
he brought his problem to the King for judgement and the King turned it
over to Beregond for consideration. And in the final drabbles the roles
of Aragorn and Faramir change again. It must be hard to be King and
Steward and every other role. But they probably got used to it after a
while ;-).
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Title: The Beauty of Memory · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Races:
Cross-Cultural · ID: 652
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-21 19:20:52
That was a cute idea of Faramir discovering Boromir again through
Pippin. I love it that Aragorn just knew what Faramir needed.
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Title: Holding the Line · Author: Marta · Times: The Great Years: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 581
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-21 19:21:21
Interesting that Legolas' motivation for his stunt lies in Aragorn's
stories during the long night watches.
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Title: Tales of Life · Author: Ainu Laire · Times: Multi-Age: Incomplete
· ID: 235
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-10-21 20:40:54
A very nice set of ficlets which gradually add up to a picture of
Aragorn. The tales range all over the timeline, and some are humorous,
while others are angsty. A good anthology of stories.
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Title: Athelas · Author: Waltraute · Times: The Great Years: Gondor ·
ID: 243
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-22 00:53:00
Bergil's search for Athelas to save the lord Faramir lets the
destruction of Minas Tirith come to life. His frantic rush through the
city to the house of the old man gives the author the opportunity to
describe the changes to the city during the siege. I love the
description of the old soldier and his strange, to the boys
uncomprehensible, ways. Bergil was very brave to wrestle the chest out
from under the dead man. But in the end hope prevails expressed in the
words of the future king ["It will serve. The worst is now over."]
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Title: Work Detail · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 789
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2006-10-22 00:53:14
LOL! This was a lovely invitation. The title of this ficlet didn't give
me any idea where this was going. Work Detail, indeed. But I think
Aragorn will love this assignment.
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Title: A Healer's Tale · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits · ID: 861
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2006-10-22 01:55:39
This is a very interesting story. One thing that makes it different is
that it retells a story that Lindalea had posted some time ago, but from
a totally different point of view. It also fleshes out the back story
for one oh her original characters.

Even though I knew the end result, I found myself holding my breath each
time a new crises arose.

A must read for anyone who likes Lindalea and her characters.
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Title: Making Merry · Author: Marigold · Races: Hobbits · ID: 663
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2006-10-22 02:06:56
The imagery in this story is amazing. I could see it, taste it, feel it
and smell it. I could also completely understand Merry's sudden fear as
he stood for a moment outside the circle. Pippin has a spirit very akin
to the elves, but Merry is much more down to earth and could easily be
overlooked by partying elves. For that short moment of being on the
outside looking in, he must have been frightened. Thank goodness he was
swept back up into the revalry.
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Title: The Singer · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits · ID: 979
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2006-10-22 03:42:52
This story is great for the Halloween season. It also has one of things
I love most, the Took faery blood. Pearl has written several stories
that deal with this, but this one is one of the spookiest of them all.

Truly a chilling read, but with a nice ending befitting hobbits.
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Title: Tales of Life · Author: Ainu Laire · Times: Multi-Age: Incomplete
· ID: 235
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-10-22 03:49:19
Ambitious set of ficlets covering various aspects and times and moods of
Aragorn's life, all inspired by various prompts. My favorite pieces are
"[Thoughts of Home] where Aragorn thinks on the places he could call
home, the delightfully realist [Anywhere But Here], and [Old Habits Die
Hard], a gentle and credible vignette about the early days of Elessar's
kingship from Faramir's point of view.
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Title: Assume, Confuse, Consume, Amuse · Author: pipkinsweetgrass ·
Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 648
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-22 04:09:59
This is cute. These types of stories are a bit of a guilty pleasure for
me, and this is well-executed. Way to metaphorize our interactions with
muses, very entertaining read.
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Title: Earth's Daughter · Author: Aramel · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Gondor · ID: 170
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-22 13:08:48
This is a very dream like re-telling of how Fíriel decided to decline an
invitation to sail into the West with three elven lords. It is very
atmospheric and it reads gently along. This is a real story that feels
as it should be told while people gather around the fire.
-----------------------------------
Title: Inside Out · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres: Humor: The Shire ·
ID: 636
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-22 13:17:25
Things to do during a boring afternoon. This short story gives the
reader the feeling that they can predict where it is going. For example,
just like Merry I thought: this will not end well. Pippin will be stuck
in the box. So while you read along, like Merry you prepare for the
worst and with a small twist in the events, just like Merry, the reader
is tricked into believing this. But I cannot help to chuckle and yet to
be amazed how GW writes these two hobbits so incredibly well with the
delightful naughtiness of Pippin. I just hope that this faunt can run
really fast. *grin*
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Title: Kindly Winter's Gift · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Genres:
Romance: Rohan · ID: 717
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-22 13:25:34
This is a very nice, albeit short, insight in a young relationship
between Théodred and his lover. There is no hint of ranks and birthright
between the two and something tells me that with the passing of the
years it will play its role and drift them apart. Thevina does lightly
hint on that, but solely focuses on yet another milestone in Théodred's
life. I do think this story is explicit in some parts and might not be
to everyone's liking, but it reads easily along.
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Title: From the Journal of Frodo Baggins · Author: MysteriousWays ·
Genres: Drama: Featuring Frodo or Sam · ID: 61
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-22 13:38:22
Oh MW, what to say about this little vignette of yours? It is simply a
gem to read: not too dark and despairing, in your words you show the
reader the strength which makes Frodo *the* ringbearer. I love the way
how we can follow his musings in his life after the Quest and how he as
a hero is presented will several fine hobbit lasses and their hopeful
mothers. But Frodo has changed now that he got a taste of the world;
this shows so beautifully in your wording in how he describes the world
around him. There is discordance in his soul and where he once felt so
at home there, he knows he cannot go back to what once was. In his
words, you can feel his love for the Shire. It is in him so deeply; the
realisation that he cannot remain hits him and the reader like a punch
in the gut. I cannot help to hear Frodo talking to me when I read this
and yes, this makes his characterisation outstanding and so incredibly
natural.

I love the pacing of this piece; it feels as if we are reading along
with him as he writes in his journal. Nothing feels hurried and neither
do you linger too long at certain parts. When I read the end of the
piece, I am simply amazed how you could cover so much in such a short
piece. And yet, I do not need more of what you, or Frodo for that
matter, already gave us. Very poignant and a wonderful piece. Thanks for
sharing MW!
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