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Title: Homecomings · Author: Marta · Times: The Great Years: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 225
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2006-10-31 16:04:01
This set of drabbles from the perspectives of the fathers or
foster-fathers of seven of the fellowship are a delight. Marta shows her
fine ear for dialogue and inner monologue in the way she has effectively
captured seven very different voices. The reader is left in no doubt who
is speaking. She has also cut to the heart of the fears and hopes, pride
and concern of these seven.

I'm particularly fond of the drabble about Gaffer Gamgee, covering his
feelings for Sam with a little gruffness. Gloin's effort to swallow his
dislike for Thranduil's family for Gimli's sake made me laugh. And Marta
has made an extremely convincing job with Paladin, almost completely
off-stage in Tolkien: I can see where Pippin gets his personality from!

Perhaps what I enjoyed most about these drabbles is the way they are
perfectly packaged. Marta has chosen her words, and shaped each drabble
to deliver a strong payoff in the last line. In short, they are
exemplars of the drabblists' art Any one of these drabbles would stand
on its own merits. As a series, they are magnificent.
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Title: Treasures And Momentos · Author: Marigold · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Pippin or Merry · ID: 220
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2006-10-31 18:56:28
This is very sweet, and, as with all of Marigold's stories, seamlessly
entwines so many lovely details - original and textual - of Hobbit way
of life. Nicely done.
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Title: Dark Appetites · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 833
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 19:02:05
Holy Cow! I don't think I have ever seen this drabble and what a perfect
day to read it on (Halloween). You are the master of drabbles, no doubt
about that and this one certainly takes the cake for spookiness. Shelob
is so scary and nasty waiting to heal enough to go feed again. Really
nasty imagery in this. Yuck! I love it!
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Title: The Usurper · Author: Elena Tiriel · Times: Early Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 834
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 19:05:26
Wow! I love the little lines that Tolkien gives us in the
appendices--they're little teasers. And this drabble does an amazing job
of illustrating the one you quote. The method of execuation Castamir
chooses is sick enough but the way you show him relishing it and his
power is really disgusting. Well done!
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Title: Claws · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 835
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 19:08:41
Oh my gosh! I absolutely love birds and I have watched crows of various
types just clearly rejoicing in the little prizes that they find and
hide. So I thought you just did a fantastic job of capturing the crow
here--especially his fluttering heart. Great! But the end! The little
line, right out of the blue, describing the crow's fate! That was really
sickenly powerful. Don't mess with Smaug, indeed. Perfect!
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Title: Moon Friend: Tales of Isildur · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races:
Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 832
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 19:16:17
I think this is an incredibly poetically written and powerful drabble
series. The imagery throughout this is wonderfully done--I especially
love the way you wove the image of the moon through the series. And the
picture this paints of Isildur is great. He was really such a noble
person, as you showed, who had done do many great deeds. And the end you
depicted for him--waiting for someone to lay his bones to rest only to
have them plundered and then burned by orcs! What an end. Very powerful!
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Title: The First Age of the Sun: Triumph · Author: Inglor · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 215
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-31 20:29:56
This story inspired my co-writer and me to start a first age alternate
universe story on our own. Actually we both were discussing a new
chapter and from there a bunny latched on. I honestly think this is a
sign how great this story is and how much potential it has in its
continuation to which I look forward every time. Inglor explores the
possibility of a romance between Finrod and Lúthien and leaves us
hanging with how Luthien will react to the kinslayings of the Noldor.

I love the way that he writes the chemistry between the couple, but also
the family interactions and the way how we see the lands of Thingol
through Finrod's eyes. Every character from the realm and family members
get their cameo in the story while the author lays a solid foundation
for a good story which undoublty will, besides the romance, involve a
lot of political scheming as well. Inglor brings the story at a gentle
pace with beautiful written narrative, but I just wish he didnt wait so
long with updates (no pressure Inglor, just an reader hoping for a new
chapter soon). This is a very promising WIP!
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Title: Those Also Serve Who Stand and Wait · Author: Haleth · Times:
First Age and Prior · ID: 293
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2006-10-31 20:59:10
This is a very nice and very insightful work about Lalwen, a character
striped out by Tolkien & his son himself as the daughter of Finwe and
Indis in the main work the Silm. Yet, Haleth lifts out this HOME
character and creates a wonderful story around it. While reading it I do
have my questions about Lalwen's actions on her journey and her role in
the family, it is making me wonder how things might have gone if she
handled things differently. This is the feeling I do get at the end of
the story where Lalwen sits alone in her home:
[I remain here, seemingly too proud to ask for forgiveness. In truth I
am too weak to face the empty places where I once laughed. I will wait
here, an Exile, until the end.]

A powerful ending to an engaging gapfiller.
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Title: Beech Leaves · Author: Redheredh · Races: Elves: Featuring
Mirkwood Elves · ID: 165
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:24:39
This is a wonderful tale of a reborn Silvan elf in Valinor. It is also a
tale of how rebirth is managed in the Blessed Realm, and of a very well
developed structure that takes care of the reborn as they get used to
their new state. It is a tale of interesting characters who never left
Valinor and their relations with those returned, via the sea or via
Mandos halls.

The elf in question is a stubborn Silvan elf whose memories are not
fully returned. He wallows in quiet despair, anger, determination, but
also denied, latent fear of what those memories would be.

With a background of turbulent politics that indicates a less than
blessed realm, this stubborn Elf fights to regain his identity on his
own terms, refusing to be led, or forced, or even induced by the lady
Galadriel.

Another singular character, another elf who is also a reborn without
memories, but with a calmer disposition, will join the stubborn,
valiant, anguished Silvan Elf in a trip across the lands to Valinor to a
place where he can finally acknowledge, and be acknowledged as he
deserves. It is a beautiful tale of self search, and of a strong
character who fights to be fully himself, whatever his mistakes in his
previous life. A wonderful tribute written in a wonderful language.
-----------------------------------
Title: Hewing Naught But Wood · Author: Thundera Tiger · Genres: Humor:
Parody · ID: 825
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:30:22
This is an hilarious vignette.The three huntes in pedantic, semantic
mood, discussing the different names for their strokes while the orcs
are attacking Helm's Deep. Legolas and Gimli's rivalry, and Aragorn
entering the contest, how could he not, when it was a discussion about
words? leave poor Eomer searching for a reason to return to battle as
soon as possible.
-----------------------------------
Title: Quo Vadis? · Author: Tehta · Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 86
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:30:50
A fitting ending for Salgant, in the ruin of Gondolin, trying to sing
his way out of death before a dragon. It is an hilarious yet deep and
powerful peace.
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Title: By The Light of Earendil's Star · Author: Branwyn · Genres:
Adventure · ID: 83
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:31:20
Eldahil could surely enter the final short list of the most endearing
human original characters in fanfiction. The cheeky cousin of Denethor's
sons comes out as a archetypical shallow, shameless, carefree,
mischievous hero with a golden heart. He is a good counterpart to a very
deeply worried Boromir, in mad search for his younger brother, to the
point that he not only enlivens the story but completely steals the
show, and in what a manner!
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Title: Those Also Serve Who Stand and Wait · Author: Haleth · Times:
First Age and Prior · ID: 293
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:38:30
I really like this take on an obscure canon character, the sister who
would not leave her beloved elder brother go alone. Fingolfin's sister
tells her tale from Eressëa, showing how sad it is at times to survive,
when only ghosts can keep you company.

Her mother, sisters, other brother, her sister- in- law, her nephew,
most probably, all live in Tirion, yet she who survived the worst of
MAndos' Doom and saw all her loved ones go to their deaths one after the
other in Middle -Earth, she prefers to remain in Eressëa, a true
Purgatory to her, but more comforting than the empty places of her
youth, that would be too painful to remember. A superb characterization,
and a nice idea to tell her tale!
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Title: The Spy · Author: daw the minstrel · Races: Elves · ID: 268
Reviewer: Perelleth · 2006-10-31 21:49:14
This is an hilarious tale, and a wicked backstory for he who is about to
become LEgolas' keeper, aka "Nana" and who will be well known for
insisting on keping his charge well away from from trouble... And here
we see Beliond bored and seeking a bit of action in a town of Men!

This, and his supplanting the minstrel, and his noticing that the lord
was angry.. made me laugh until my head hurt..why, this is reckless
Beliond, mixing with foregin human affairs and with his deep knowledge
of human behaviour... NO surprise he mistrusts them so much. Legolas
would be torn between amusement and awe if he heard him tell stories
like this!. The pace is fast, like an old movie in which the hero goes
through all kind of trouble in an almost flippant way, yet we also get a
good glimpse of Beliond's particular self in his actions. ONe cannot
help pitying this quite mischievous, displicent, almost "sophisticated"
elf who is about to be turned into Nana to the king's youngest son. And
I would have paid to see THranduil's face as he issued the command.

This character is so full of life, contradictions, understandable ticks
that one cannot help but liking him so deeply, and seeing him as a
strong pillar in Thranduil's realm. Another wonderful piece.
-----------------------------------
Title: To Follow an Elf · Author: etharei · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 816
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 23:07:27
I love this story. Stories about Legolas and Gimli's friendship always
attract my attention because I find that topic very interesting, and
this story is great example of that friendship. I truly enjoy the
writing style and Gimli's observations about elves and the forest. And I
love Gimli's interactions with Legolas, Thranduil and the other elves. I
think this story captures Gimli very well. I really hope to see it
continued and finished. Its wonderful so far!
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Title: Starlight on Leaves · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Featuring Mirkwood Elves · ID: 813
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 23:17:30
A wonderful homecoming for Thranduil. I liked the solemn, serious tone
at the beginning, very appropriate to the fact that Thranduil came home
with so little of his army. And I loved his reuinion with his wife--both
the light parts, describing new and old traditions, and the steamy part.
That was very well done.
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Title: In The Pits Of Utumno · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves ·
ID: 164
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 23:21:35
This story absolutely cracks me up. When I first read it I was totally
taken in by the serious beginning and apparently desparate situation.
The writing there is so tense and scary. And then you get to the end! I
won't put s total spoiler in the review, but suffice to say that I
sincerely doubt Melkor would be amused with their actions or his new
persona. ;-) Erestor must have had a blast with that. Great story!
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Title: Old Man Willow · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Featuring Legolas or Thranduil · ID: 859
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-10-31 23:23:11
This drabble is just so touching. The willow has such great personality
here and it only utters one word. I love this!
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Title: A bit of garden · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Hobbits: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 901
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-01 01:58:28
I would love to see Sam's face when he realizes that Elrond is not mad
at him, but instead sees a kinship of sorts between them. It's true,
Elrond would have to neglect those simpler pleasures -- and it would
take a hobbit (and a Gamgee at that) to remind him. Neat juxtaposition here.
-----------------------------------
Title: Boats To Build · Author: Nancy Brooke · Times: Late Third Age ·
ID: 300
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-01 03:18:03
This is a really nice glimpse. Boromir and Adrahil are both well drawn,
and the issue of aging gracefully is dealt with in a way that makes it
not feel like the philosophizing that I suspect it is, but the bit that
really caught my eye was the way Adrahil looked on the craftsmen as
being [good men] and worthy of respect. I can see how Boromir might not
see that initially, and it's a mark of Adrahil's wisdom that he does.
-----------------------------------
Title: How Grima Lost His Eyebrows · Author: NeumeIndil · Times: Late
Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 800
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-01 03:33:36
This was definitely laugh-out-loud funny! What a tribute to closet
chemists, and a great explanation for why Wormtongue didn't have
eyebrows in the movieverse. Always wondered about that...
-----------------------------------
Title: Work Detail · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Romance:
Fixed-length ficlet · ID: 789
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-11-01 11:49:57
LOL! I'm sure that Aragorn will be 'up' to the challenge of getting this
job done. This is an interesting thought though, if Elvish women would
have trouble delivering a man's child.
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Title: Stigmas · Author: Robinka · Genres: Drama: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Series · ID: 105
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-11-01 11:56:24
Well done. I especially enjoyed these, I think Turin is often underused
in our fandom. He is a strong, tragic, heroic figure and you portrayed
him well in this series.

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Title: Tharbad Crossing · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Men:
Steward's Sons Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 253
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-11-01 12:03:09
Ouch, that's a tough one. Too bad about the horse. I agree that not
enough is said about Borormir's journey north. it must have been a huge
undertaking - to find a hidden place that they weren't even sure really
existed.
-----------------------------------
Title: Blood Brothers · Author: Elana · Races: Villains: Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 149
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2006-11-01 12:10:30
This is fantastic. I have to say, one of the best drabbles I've ever
read. I say that because of the amount of nuance and subtle backstory
that is so clear through the text. With a few simple words, you show us
not just an entire culture, but the stark emotion of two entwined lives
from birth to death. The visual of them bleeding out, together, I can
see them reaching for each other and taking comfort, even in the midst
of the horror, that they are going together.
-----------------------------------