Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Father and Daughter · Author: Imhiriel · Times: First Age and
Prior · ID: 943
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 16:06:04
Too often when looking at the relationship between Celeborn and
Galadriel people think that Galadriel's famil back in Valinor, and
especially Finarfin, would not understand the love and RESPECT she had
for Celeborn. Not here. Finarfin is as intelligent and perceptive as one
would expect a king to be, but those Noldorin qualities are tempered by
empathy and the ability to accept what is beyond his control. He's a
very different type of elf than Feanor or Finwe ever were, and his
relationship with his daughter here reflects that. Thank you for having
a Noldo give a Sinda some well-earned respect.

Of course nothing happens in a vacuum, and the other pieces of news
Finarfin will have to deliver to Earwen weigh heavily on Finarfin in
this piece. They do not completely dominate Finarfin but they do have to
be counted in to the total sum of what Finarfin is dealing with at this
moment.

The result of which is: Finarfin comes shining through as an empathetic
but indomitable elf, someone who is more like Celeborn than either of
them would have ever thought. It's exactly the kind of character they
both have to have, and this piece gives us a nice portrait of
Galadriel's father.
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Title: Wishing On The Stars · Author: Marigold · Times: The Great Years:
General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 116
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 16:53:25
This piece reminds me of the quote by John Milton, ["They also serve,
who stand and wait."] When Arwen's warrior-princess moments in the movie
are discussed, or when people look at whether Eowyn was a heroine or a
deserter, they often discuss how hard it might be for women to watch the
people they love ride off to almost certain death. But I think that too
often we forget the characters who are just names in some appendix
precisely because they did not give in to the temptaiton to leave their
homes during the Ring War. Eglantine is just such a woman, and I'm glad
Marigold gave her a reason to hope.
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Title: The One · Author: Linda Hoyland/Raksha the Demon CoAuthors ·
Races: Men: Featuring Aragorn · ID: 852
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 17:26:47
Definitely a neat little reversal here. It shed some light on Aragorn's
category and gives his character depth nicely.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dark Appetites · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 833
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 17:30:30
This one really sent a shiver down my spine, Elena Tiriel. Obviously the
canon is that Shelob survives to trouble the new age, but you have given
this survival a malice and terror that really made me think. I can just
see her slinking off and nursing her wounds and remembering her past
glory, turning it all into bitterness. You got into her head scarily
well. Any lovers of the "bad guys" won't want to miss this one, as it is
truly, delightfully wicked. Well done.
-----------------------------------
Title: Home Again · Author: Súlriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 863
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 17:45:47
I think that Sulriel is either a cat lover or lives in close proximity
to one; she has completely nailed the character of felines that well in
this drabble. It makes their alleged spying that much more believable
and adds depth to the legend of Beruthiel's cats.
-----------------------------------
Title: Midwinter in Mordor · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 872
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 18:00:15
Not that I needed the proof, but this is yet another example of how this
author can reduce almost any culture to a hundred words. Tanaqui is one
of my favourite drabblists, and "Midwinter in Mordor" gives us a glimpse
into the orcs of Mordor and what kind of things they would be thankful
for as Sauron gains power. Grisly, but all too true to what Tolkien
wrote. It amazes me how much detail you can fit into a hundred words
without it feeling like you're *trying* to put too much in.
-----------------------------------
Title: Oasis · Author: Radbooks · Times: Late Third Age · ID: 259
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 18:12:32
This felt very plausible - the heat and the thirst would certainly be
things Aragorn would have had to struggle against in Harad, and the
racism and distrust. You captured it all very well here.
-----------------------------------
Title: Shadow and flame · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 876
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 18:22:19
This drabble has a poetic quality in it as the balrog of Moria muses on
the different types of fire. It is true, fire was originally created by
Iluvatar alone and so it makes sense that it would have a creative,
constructive quality to it. But it can obviously also be very
destructive, and I felt sorry for the balrog that his love of [what he
did not have], darkness, would corrupt him so. He seemed an innocent at
the beginning, and I could very easily see this. This drabble does a
good job of taking a villain and giving him a little bit of complexity,
and an opportunity for redemption at the end.
-----------------------------------
Title: Raven Hair and Silver Eyes · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and
Prior · ID: 174
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 19:15:38
Very poetic look at what Nolofinwe's wife would have endured. You really
captured the pain the sundering of the Noldor would have caused for
everyone.
-----------------------------------
Title: Those Who Challenge the Dead · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 858
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 19:23:32
What gets me about this pair of drabbles is the very different ways that
Earnur and Baldor approach death. The one quietly accepts its
inevitability while the other brashly denies the possibility. It's an
interesting reversal of how I usually see the two cultures.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Stone's Lament · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 53
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-10-29 20:15:39
This is a wonderful little expansion of a moment that gets too few words
in LotR: the reminiscence of Elves and Dwarves in Hollin and Moria.
Typical of Tolkien teasing us with snippets of his mythology, but
leaving out the meaning. Here, Thevina has filled the gap from Gimli's
perspective, with a look ahead to the friendship between Legolas and
Gimli, the Celebrimbor/Narvi of the Fourth Age.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dana's Annotated Tale of Years · Author: Dana · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 274
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-10-29 20:19:01
A very useful compilation, an asset to the fandom.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship · Author: Elana · Times:
Early Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 150
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 22:40:50
Oh, I like this! The hobbits really are hgood at making you slow down,
and I love the connection between Gandalf's love of fire and
pipe-smoking. It's nice to see him being able to relax for a bit.
-----------------------------------
Title: For the Dwarves · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Dwarves: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 894
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-29 22:54:25
This drabble makes me think that perhaps Gloin isn't too thrilled about
his son joining the quest. And that makes sense -- it's dangerous, and
even if he knows it has to be done, he'd still probably rather someone
else be the one to go. His acceptance of this and well wishes seemed
very dwarven - a nicely in-character father-and-son moment.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dawn of a New Age: First Age · Author: elliska · Times: First Age
and Prior: Incomplete · ID: 406
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-10-29 23:20:45
Good writing style. Clear descriptions of the battle, well-balanced
between details of single fighting and a more general overview. The
known characters are incorporated smoothly into the story.
In what is there now of the story, your main protagonist Orohpher is
just one among many characters. It's difficult to see where _his_ story
will lead from there.
-----------------------------------
Title: On Being the Youngest · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural:
With Hobbits · ID: 45
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2006-10-29 23:23:15
This story left me chuckling. Though Bodkin is better known for
Elf-centred stories, she has a deft hand with hobbits. Pippin is
certainly bright, inquisitive, thoughtful and devious! His conversation
with Legolas is an eye-opening delight. Here is not the simple-minded,
mischief-making hobbit so many make him out to be. (And here is not the
"pretty-boy" Wood-Elf, either!) I love the two of them commiserating...
I think the only thing left out was the statement "You'll understand
when you're older." Otherwise, all the cliches the youngest hears were
there. I like Pippin's reasoning that they are perfect for the Quest in
the very fact that they would be a little less, um, *obvious* in the
landscape than, say, Glorfindel. [Three hobbits and a Ranger have passed
beneath this tree...] *snork*
-----------------------------------
Title: Reconciliation · Author: Willow_41z · Genres: Romance: Incomplete
· ID: 802
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-10-30 00:43:27
An unusual, and interesting variation on the theme of Eomer and
Lothiriel. Here, Lothiriel did not fall passionately in love with the
studly Horse-Lord soon after meeting him, or even at all, at least not
yet. The story begins with Lothiriel isolated as a new bride, pregnant
before she has had a chance to accustom herself to her new life and realm.

How Lothiriel does make a better life for herself in Rohan and become a
good Queen, is the substance of the story. It's well worth reading; and
hopefully will be finished soon..
-----------------------------------
Title: Unmeant Bitterness · Author: Aramel · Times: The Great Years:
Gondor · ID: 171
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-30 03:30:24
This is a really poignant story that offers a more sympathetic
interpretation of Denethor's comments in the council during the siege of
Minas Tirith, that he wished Faramir's and Boromir's places had been
exchanged: so that Boromir would have brought the Ring to Minas Tirith,
most emphatically *not* so that Faramir would actually be the one dead.
It's an explanation I've offered more than once in internet chatrooms
and have actually written an essay arguing just this point. I think it's
the one Tolkien intended, Jackson's wording notwithstanding.

However, this piece goes beyond that. It explains why Denethor, usually
so meticulous, would use such ambiguous wording at all, and looks at the
emotional impact this misunderstanding would have on Faramir, and at how
Denethor would react to the fact that his youngest son would think that
of him. I'm sure it would sting, certainly. Combined with the way that
Faramir kept looking at Mithrandir, I can very see how this scene very
well could have arisen in the book-verse.

The comment that always bothered me from the council scenes was not the
one about the brothers 'mir having their places reversed is not the one
that bothers me; as I said, it has always been so obvious to me just
what Denethor meant. But the ["Think better of me, if I should return"]
bit always sounded like the tantrum of a teenager not an adult captain,
and the answer you provided was satisfying there too. I'll leave that as
a surprise to the reader -- but clever job there! All in all a very nice
read.
-----------------------------------
Title: Moon Friend: Tales of Isildur · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races:
Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 832
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-10-30 05:44:18
Isildur is one of those characters that I love -- he is complex that he
seems to just beg to be explored through fic. Each of these drabbles
takes on just such a complicated moment in his life. What makes these
special is that they focus on his relationship with the moon implied in
his name, which makes for both a novel and surprisingly effective way of
approaching his character. Well done, E.T.
-----------------------------------
Title: Wizardry · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 179
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-10-30 08:10:24
Sometimes you just have to laugh - but there's a pretty grim edge to it.
Not a lot of frivolity about either of these. The laughter that knows
the dark side and laughs anyway.
-----------------------------------
Title: Tolkien's Use of Expletives · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 147
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-30 08:21:54
What a delightful piece to read! Especially the usage of buttons by
Bilbo made me wondering the same (so yes, I looked too and there is a
lot of mentioning of that word in [the Hobbit]). It is very useful for
writers who write a lot of the Lotr characters, but not so much for
Silmarillon writers.

Because there is a lot going on in the Silmarillion which could give a
writer a different insight. One could say that once Fëanor curses Melkor
(well there is a lot of cursing going on with the Fëanorians), you would
have most likely the most used expletive (Morgoth) there. So, it would
place this non-fictional work in a different spotlight especially when
the author wants to advise on style use. But Dreamflower, this is a very
useful work which will help a lot of writers with their writers. Great job!
-----------------------------------
Title: Lembas, Shmembas · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Non-Fiction ·
ID: 850
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-30 08:43:57
This is a very nice work! Especially the line [So, how much lembas does
it take to feed a hobbit?] got my interest piqued. The author put a
great deal of work in this piece, filled with relevant quotes and some
math. I also loved to read the discussion of others on the piece,
bringing up my questions and insight (especially regarding the elven
nature), but it remained an open and interesting discussions which gave
me a different insight on this matter as well (and yes I am hungry now).
Now I really want to read [More Lembas Thoughts]! Great job!
-----------------------------------
Title: More Lembas Thoughts · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Non-Fiction
· ID: 851
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-30 09:15:10
This is an excellent conclusion of the author's thoughts on Lembas. I
really have to admire that the author stuck to the Hobbit point of view,
explaining her view on the matter in a constructive and patient manner.
And in a way, my kudo's to exploring the effect of Lembas on Hobbits
backed up with well thought out conclusions. Really, this is just amazing!

Lembas has survived so many ages and might sustain the elves (my only
niggle is though that First age elves, who came up with it originally,
were not assured of rebirth which might be a discussion point in the
thought of cooking up the recipe - but this is solely a side note
because it is about Hobbits!). I had to laugh when I read this article
and the tone of the piece is just perfect. The comparison to an energy
bar was simply great! Or the quote: [But hobbits are small and hungry
beings.] is astute and yes, this is true. Their metabolism is simply
different and the quotes that are used gives the reader a great insight.

It really helps for readers who are not so into digging up the small
canon notations to keep the comparisons to our daily lives as simple as
possible. Often we might stick too long in Tolkien's world that we
somehow cannot explain it as much as we want to. The author did a superb
job in this! The piece is constructed logically and is written down to
earth manner and I most certainly feel sorry for the poor hobbits who
must have longed for long and extensive meals which fulfils their
hobbity needs!
-----------------------------------
Title: Dana's Annotated Tale of Years · Author: Dana · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 274
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-30 09:19:47
This is really a nice overview, but I am not always assured that the
ency of Arda has the correct information, so I rather stick to the
books. But you can see how much work the author has put into it
(especially regarding the dates about hobbit births and such), so I can
see the absolute value of this for Hobbit writers. A great job!
-----------------------------------
Title: A Meara for Me! · Author: Súlriel · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 893
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-30 09:22:05
I think the title is very correct because after I read it (I think this
article has been re-written since the last time I saw it) because once I
finished reading it, I really want a Meara for myself too!!! This is a
great overview with beautiful pictures!
-----------------------------------