Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: In the Shadow of Hope · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Men:
Vignette · ID: 715
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-27 14:58:07
Antsy Éowyn paces up and down feeling caged in what she has found her
biggest fear all along. While musing about the purpose of life, her mood
goes up and down while she moves around feeling so utterly restless.
This nice little gapfiller, shortly before one of my favourite moment in
the books gives me a great insight in Éowyns turmoil. She and Faramir
already met, she already realises that they have a lot in common. What I
so love about this piece is the evocative setting and the manner how
Thevina gives us that insight in Éowyns mind before she realises that
she indeed loves Faramir and consents to be his wife. Not out of duty
because as she already realised: her time as shieldmaiden is over.

["Insignificant. Wandering aimlessly and getting nowhere."] I just feel
so happy at the thought that she soon will find purpose here and that
the shadow soon will be gone. Éowyn is written here in strong and
evocative prose, I think this would have fit greatly in the work of the
professor itself. This is a great vignette Thevina, thanks for sharing.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship · Author: Elana · Times:
Early Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 150
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:34:59
And the friendship - Gandalf and the hobbits? Or Gandalf and his
relationship with the weed? Maybe two beginnings in one!
-----------------------------------
Title: The Usurper · Author: Elena Tiriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 834
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:37:15
What a nasty piece of work Castamir is! And so much for the nobility of
Numenor - he is as cruel as any follower of Sauron. Seeing the incident
through his eyes gives an interesting perspective, too.
-----------------------------------
Title: A Hallowed Place of Both Peoples · Author: Imhiriel · Times:
Early Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 944
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:39:40
Friendship - but with caution and little trust. Still, I suppose they
were very different peoples and trust is built of experience rather than
hope.
-----------------------------------
Title: We Shall Return · Author: Marta · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 650
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:42:50
Peace never lasts long - old grudges and bitter enmities hold apart
people who should share more important matters. But all power corrupts
as Acton said, and the sons of Castamir will resent losing it.
-----------------------------------
Title: A Little Thing · Author: Acacea · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 75
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:46:23
Such a little thing and seemingly so innocent, but all the while looking
for someone corruptible to draw to it. And it found him in the end. Poor
Smeagol.
-----------------------------------
Title: Home Again · Author: Súlriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 863
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:49:24
How very cat-like! I am glad the cat lived for her queen - Beruthiel
needed someone on her side, even if it was only her cats.
-----------------------------------
Title: Tokens of Sorrow · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 874
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:51:49
Poor Minohtar. He is about at the end of his tether. I don't think those
were tokens he had any wish to see.
-----------------------------------
Title: Hunting Orcs · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 723
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:55:03
What a twist on the usual presentation! Mind you, I am still with
Elrond's sons on the proper behaviour when it comes to dealing with orcs
- they really don't seem to be redeemable characters! Most entertaining.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dark Appetites · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 833
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 15:57:38
Very dark and cold and evil! Yes, I cannot imagine that Sam was able to
polish her off - and she would watch and wait and take whatever came her
way.
-----------------------------------
Title: Midwinter in Mordor · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 872
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 16:00:54
Well - I suppose such pleasures are universal - warmth, food and - er-
congress. But I think the sweetness of the meat is revealing of its
origins - and little though I would want to be a slave in Mordor,
becoming lunch is probably not much of an improvement.
-----------------------------------
Title: Seeker of Shadow · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 63
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-27 16:01:21
A smugly Eol watches how Aredhel enters his woods thinking that his
power alone will keep her there forever. But Nan Elmoth magic does not
last forever. How bitter must have it been that she can and will leave
him behind. I wonder though how Eol can tie Aredhel's true nature (she's
not a kinslayer) to his foes: the Fëanorians, but this is a quibble though.
-----------------------------------
Title: Claws · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 835
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 16:03:57
I suppose I should feel sorry for the crow - but being greedy for jewels
from a dragon's bed is hardly a sign of any great wisdom. Of course the
dragon is even greedier - but he will get his comeuppance in time.
-----------------------------------
Title: Blood Brothers · Author: Elana · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 149
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 16:07:08
It cannot have been easy for his mother to suckle a baby mumak - but
this kind of life bond between them seems very likely. The mumak might
have been difficult to kill, but his rider must have made a battle
target - get rid of him and the mumak would be directionless.
-----------------------------------
Title: Shadow and flame · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 876
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-27 16:10:37
I like it that he discovers a true understanding - and that the Balrog
had a role to play in tempering the steel in Iluvatar's children.
-----------------------------------
Title: 17 Cunning Corsairs · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 244
Reviewer: Make It Stop · 2006-10-27 16:40:22
Very economical snapshot of the large gulf between Lothiriel's inner and
outer worlds. I love the way she transforms the threat of punishment
into a wild adventure of the imagination - shades of "Where The Wild
Things Are". You go, girl!!!

The descriptions have a nice, crisp alliterativeness ("father's fleet",
"sinuous ships", "brandish a broad knife", "good girl") which harmonizes
well with the Cunning Corsairs of the story title.

Suddenly, I have the urge to run off with pirates.
-----------------------------------
Title: Cierre, Min Heorte (Turn, My Heart) · Author: SilverMoonLady ·
Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length Ficlet series · ID: 108
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:42:35
This is an absolutely stunning drabble series. I especially enjoyed the
friendship so clearly described between the Tuks and the Oldbucks, and
Gandalf's early interest.
-----------------------------------
Title: Assume, Confuse, Consume, Amuse · Author: pipkinsweetgrass ·
Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 648
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:43:28
Tucked within a humorous modern day framework, in which Merry, Pippin,
and Boromir attempt to assist the author by plying her with plot bunnies
in exchange for mushrooms and shrimp fried rice, are three, or actually
four, lovely and interconnected stories about the members of the Fellowship.

The first story is a wonderful case of mistaken intent, in which Aragorn
overhears Boromir wheedling Pippin to do something, and gets the whole
thing terribly, terribly wrong. Pippin's justifiable anger over
Aragorn's assumption is wonderfully funny, if a bit impetuous. I love
Pippin's lines here  [I am not so young as to be stupid, and I am not
as innocent as you seem to think, if you think innocent is the same
thing as ignorant! If you are accusing Boromir of what I think you are
accusing him of I shall have to call you out!] The image of Pippin
calling Aragorn out in defence of Boromir is outstanding.

The next story is a pleasant talk while Boromir and Pippin are on watch,
discussing names. I like very much that Peregrin knows the meaning of
his name  [My name means traveler in strange countries. That is what I
meant when I said I used to think it a silly name. I never dreamed it
might foretell my leaving the Shire.] They are joined by the other
hobbits and discussion turns to stories, and then segues into a lovely
tale featuring Thorongil, that mentions a tiny wooden soldier in his
image that Denethor took from little Boromir and destroyed. Little do
any of them know that Thorongil is among them!

The last of the tales is told by Merry and takes place in Lórien. Pippin
and Boromir are both upset, Pippin thinking that he is responsible for
Gandalf's death and Boromir missing the White City. They talk together
and find comfort. The dialogue is wonderful here, lines like  [I am
glad you happened upon me, here, Pippin. I feel better, myself. And I
thank you for sharing my burden with me. You may be small, but you can
bear the weight of the worries of a friend, even a brother, if you dont
mind my naming you thus.]. Aragorn secretly gifting Boromir with a
replacement of his lost wooden soldier was a lovely end to the tale.

A thoroughly entertaining story, or rather stories!

-----------------------------------
Title: The Three Towers · Author: Shirebound · Times: The Great Years:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 113
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:43:48
An interesting premise, well described.
-----------------------------------
Title: Always a First · Author: Dana · Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length
Ficlet series · ID: 757
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:44:01
Lovely drabble set about very important first meetings. I especially
liked the first and last.
-----------------------------------
Title: Come and Catch Me · Author: storyfish · Races: Hobbits: Merry &
Pippin · ID: 236
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:44:23
Poor Merry! The nightmares are vividly written and the story really
captures Merry's hopelessness and sense of loss.
-----------------------------------
Title: Half a Sticky Mile · Author: SlightlyTookish · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 940
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:44:57
This story is a very good explanation of the possible activities of
Merry and Pippin while they were alone at Isengard, including the
dangers that they faced. It had to be a very frightening and lonely
night for them, with the water all about them and the Hurons rustling
around.

I find it very plausible that there were still a few men lurking about,
and we know that they were in danger from the floods. Their escapes from
these dangers are well written and exciting, particularly their escape
from the men. I have such a vivid image in my mind of Pippin rescuing
Merry, holding the fallen man at bay with the two swords! I can just see
Merry's stunned expression at his sudden rescue. Not to mention he must
have been extremely proud of his young cousin.

There were some more worrisome moments as the final flood threatened to
overwhelm them, but once again they persevered and won to safety.

I liked that here, and with the altercation with the men, that Merry was
the quick thinker to get them moving, and then that it was more
impulsive Pippin that took action to effect the actual rescue. A very
perceptive example of their characters.

The care that Merry and Pippin show for each other in this story is well
done. They look after themselves, and manage perfectly well on their
own, which is nice to read.

I enjoyed this story very much.

-----------------------------------
Title: All The Moon Could See · Author: Dana · Races: Hobbits:
Fixed-Length Ficlet series · ID: 756
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:45:25
Very vivid descriptions. Dana captures each scene so well. These are
lovely drabbles.
-----------------------------------
Title: Shelter · Author: Shirebound · Times: The Great Years:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 217
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:45:41
A nice glimpse of the Fellowship at Cormallen and the attitudes of the
wounded Men towards the heroic hobbits.
-----------------------------------
Title: Healing the Healer · Author: SlightlyTookish · Times: The Great
Years: The Fellowship · ID: 935
Reviewer: Llinos · 2006-10-27 16:45:55
I always enjoy stories that show hobbits really being hobbits and this
one definitely fits into that category. Their interaction with Aragorn
is wonderful here, and I like very much how all of the hobbits
different personalities shine through; Merry with his herbal remedies,
Sam with his nourishing cooking, Pippin explaining some of the first
hand experiences he has had of his own with this type of illness and
what might help Aragorn, and Frodo overseeing everything.

The rest of the Fellowship is also well written, especially their
reactions to the hobbits suddenly becoming healers.

Aragorns reluctance to submit to their helpful ministrations at first
is very believable, as healers are well known to be the worst patients!
But he is suitably impressed and thankful when it turns out that they
really did know what they were doing.

I liked the revelation that Aragorn has in regard to Pippins own
fanon-based bad health when he was younger and his resolve to keep an
eye on him in future, and I also enjoyed that Gandalf clearly knows so
much of the family history of the hobbits.

The humorous bit with Boromir was the perfect ending to this enjoyable tale.

-----------------------------------