Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Prison · Author: Radbooks · Races: Men: Vignette · ID: 794
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-01 23:56:06
Very good characterization of Eomer: his concerns, his reactions to
being trapped and unable to protect his sister and king - and especially
his hope, blooming at the end. Estel filling his heart, as love for his
friend and fellow king will one day.
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Title: An Empty Saddle to Fill · Author: Anoriath · Races: Men: Vignette
· ID: 752
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-01 23:56:21
Eowyn and Theodred exchange so few words, and yet I was left feeling
that I understood volumes about their relationship. The language of the
story was as rolling, poetic and melodious as we are always told the
language of Rohan is supposed to be. I was caught by surprise during the
feinted attack and defense, and the incident and its aftermath spoke
much of both the concern and esteem with which Theodred holds his cousin.

The characters are very well-developed here: Eowyn as strong, beautiful
and sharp as steel; Theodred perceptive, protective, doing what he can
to stem the evil taking root in his land - a true king's son. The dark
atmosphere pervading Edoras is captured perfectly, and the dialogue was
sharp and telling. I loved Theodred's connections with Eorl, and how
even if Eowyn is the last of that house, she will uphold its honor and
take revenge for its demise.
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Title: The Road Not Taken · Author: Branwyn · Races: Men: Vignette · ID: 104
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-01 23:56:41
Branwyn smoothly works in many layers of meaning into this short work.
The beautiful descriptions of the autumn woods and the unused road
perfectly complement the referenced poem, as well as setting a tone of
ending and farewells. The lonely and wild swan call brought to mind not
just Boromir's impending travels, but his heritage from his mother. It
also enabled introducing ["ilfete"], which led to Boromir's foreshadowed
misunderstanding. The ending left me thinking of the last line of the
poem, and what a difference indeed that this parting led to - for
Boromir, his family and the Fellowship.
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Title: The Parting Gift · Author: Imhiriel · Times: First Age and Prior:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 948
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-11-02 00:13:15
A touching glimpse of a relationship that has always intrigued me for
the redemption it seemed to grant Maglor, and a lovely and logical
explanation for the source of Elrond's harp. Imhiriel has managed to
suggest a great deal given the constraints of the drabble format...just
the phrase [Despite everything.....] speaks volumes. And only Elrond
lingered...a hint of the different paths the brothers will choose?
-----------------------------------
Title: Father and Daughter · Author: Imhiriel · Times: First Age and
Prior · ID: 943
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-11-02 00:16:03
While emphasizing the canonical reason for Galadriel's refusal to return
to Valinor at the end of the War of Wrath--her pride and ambition--this
deeply moving ficlet also presents a very convincing secondary reason
that I hadn't considered before: her love of Celeborn. While Finarfin
urges them both to return with him, and while Celeborn makes no direct
reply, we know well his ties to Middle-earth...ties that caused him to
linger even after his wife returned over Sea at last. The last image, of
gold and silver hair mingling in the breeze, is lovely, recalling
Faramir and Eowyn in ROTK.
-----------------------------------
Title: Benison · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 67
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 00:19:14
This was beautiful. There are a number of things I like about it: the
idea that Eowyn is quite familiar with a sewing workbasket and its
accoutrements--in too many fics, she is shown as being ignorant of the
more "womanly arts", not something I would believe of a high-born woman
in that culture; the idea that she could find out things about her
long-dead mother-in-law from those items--very much something I believe
she would think of; and finally, the beautiful connection she feels, of
realizing they both love/loved Faramir, and her sense that she has
Finduilas' blessing! A lovely and touching fic.
-----------------------------------
Title: Birthdays · Author: Rabidsamfan · Genres: Drama: Remembering ·
ID: 988
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 00:25:20
Rabidsamfan has such a wonderful grip on Samwise Gamgee and his family.
She shows here just how good a handle she has on little Elanor, who
makes it her mission to make sure her Sam-dad is cheered up on her
birthday, which also happens to be the anniversary of the day the Ring
went into the fire. This is so sweet and sad and touching, and I love
the hobbity ending.
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Title: The Hardest Lesson · Author: mistycracraft · Genres: Drama:
Pre-Fellowship · ID: 231
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 00:29:31
Young Estel here must learn to deal with the most difficult task a
healer has--losing a patient. With Elrond's guidance, he manages to find
a way to cope. Very insightful and touching.
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Title: 17 Cunning Corsairs · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 244
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-11-02 00:41:00
Ah, the drudgery of being a "good girl"! This ficlet celebrates the
universal allure of pirates--even in Middle-earth. One can easily
imagine being sent to Umbar as a standard parental threat in the coastal
region of Dol Amroth. But Imrahil seems clueless that his adventurous
daughter regards this prospect as reward, not punishment.

Stefania cites the Brecht-Weill song "Pirate Jenny" as an inspiration.
For me, her ficlet also recalls the charming pirate orphans of Penzance
and some of A.A. Milne's knowing, witty poems of early childhood.
["Independence," "The Good Little Girl," etc.] Very nicely done!


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Title: An Exaltation of Larks · Author: Ibilover · Times: The Great
Years · ID: 178
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 00:42:25
I loved this story so much that I wanted to nominate it. However,
someone else beat me to it! There is just so much to love here--the
gentle friendship being developed by Aragorn and Boromir, and the
finding out of something they have in common. In addition is the
delightfulness of the words of various terms of venery ["a kindle of
kittens"] ["a gaggle of geese"] and the game they make of naming the
hobbits--I especially love ["a nestle of halflings"]. Even though the
hobbits themselves say not a single word in the story, they are very
much the heart of it. My favorite moment is Gandalf grumpily speaking up
and telling them of the ["hobbitpile"] which is delightful on so many
levels: from the nod to fanon to Gandalf's own quirky personality coming
to the fore. And I have to say, a close second is the moment when one of
the sleeping hobbits says ["pass the butter"]! LOL! That was *so*
perfect! An absolute gem of a story!
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Title: Hidden on the Mountain · Author: Imhiriel · Times: The Great
Years: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 945
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-11-02 00:44:19
Wow, what an original POV this drabble has! And what an interesting
idea, that it was Gandalf who originally plucked and planted the fruit
of the White Tree. I had always imagined this as the work of a king of
Gondor, but Imhiriel's version offers a logical explanation for how
Gandalf knew where to lead Aragorn.
-----------------------------------
Title: Wizardry · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 179
Reviewer: Inkling · 2006-11-02 00:47:18
Gandalf and Aragorn may not laugh often, but it's nice when it happens!
A well-imagined moment between these two hunters, and an interesting
parallel to Frodo's and Sam's later frustration in those same
labyrinthine hills.
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Title: Never Let Go · Author: ann_arien · Genres: Drama: First Age Elves
· ID: 621
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 00:52:11
A bit of angsty Elf-slash. I am afraid I am not conversant enough with
the Silm to follow it.
-----------------------------------
Title: Night Phantoms · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 696
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 01:00:20
Faramir lovingly tends to Eowyn when dark memories of her time before
she met him bring on nightmares of Grima. I love his thoughts here, his
gentle concern, his care for her dignity--both in not taking physical
advantage of her neediness, and in not allowing her to be embarrassed by
waking her maids. It's so clear that at some point these roles will be
reversed, and Eowyn will tend *his* ill dreams. The union between these
two is one of the most interesting in canon, and I love the way the
author has captured their dynamic.
-----------------------------------
Title: Trust · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama · ID: 216
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 01:44:00
This is another story featuring the OC Andrahar, whom the author shares
with a couple of other writers. While I have to admit to skipping some
slashier sections of this, I got the gist of it, and I found it very
intriguing in the intimations of the relationship of Denethor to both
his sons and to Finduilas. I also like the way Boromir is drawn as
politically astute, and I love the interpretation of Imrahil in this
universe.
-----------------------------------
Title: Holding Moonlight · Author: Claudia · Genres: Romance · ID: 681
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 01:51:00
Frodo/Halbarad: even though I find interspecies slash improbable, this
was touchingly written.
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Title: The Last Thing He Said · Author: NeumeIndil · Genres: Drama · ID: 294
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 01:56:01
Various four-legged creatures, and their POV of Aragorn. All of these
little vignettes were sharp, and suited to the nature of each animal,
but I have to say, the first one was the most touching and memorable.
-----------------------------------
Title: Dance on the Way Down · Author: Aliana · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 734
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-02 02:10:25
While I get the feeling that I might have missed something in the
backstory, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the story, the air of nostalgia
and memory. Very lyrical and bittersweet.
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Title: defining a circle shape through points · Author: Dana · Races:
Hobbits: Merry & Pippin · ID: 569
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 14:26:40
This is a lovely, sensuous story. The descriptions are vivid and the
emotions are real. Bittersweet, of course, but you can really feel the
relationship between Merry and Pippin as it changes, yet remains the
same. Pippin helps Merry remember his cheer, and Merry helps Pippin sort
out his thinking. What comes through overwhelmingly is how grounded they
are in each other.
-----------------------------------
Title: Come and Catch Me · Author: storyfish · Races: Hobbits: Merry &
Pippin · ID: 236
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 14:38:32
Merry knows when he is dreaming, and that all his dreams are of Pippin
leaving him behind, but he doesn't know that what seems like reality to
him is also a dream of a sort. All the time they are separated, by
distance or illness or fear, nothing is quite real to him, and it isn't
until Pippin opens his eyes does he come back to himself (with help from
a pereptive Aragorn). I like the idea that Pippin is the Shire to him,
that he defineswhat it means to be a hobbit to Merry. I suspect to all
of them, really, and that is as good a reason for Gandalf to insist
Elrond send him along, as the real deeds that Pippin accomplished onthe
quest. Pippin is solid ground, indeed.
-----------------------------------
Title: Pearl of Great Price · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits:
Pre-Quest · ID: 804
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 15:00:06
This is another story by one of my favorite authors that features a
character that isn't much more than a name of the pages of the family
tree and a throwaway remark in one of Tolkien's letters. Pearl becomes
one of the strong ladies of the Shire in this story, moving from being a
farmer's daughter to the companion of the formidable Lalia with grace
and hobbitsense. Two other characters are brought to life as well -
Lalia the Fat, and Lindelea manages to make you both hate her and yet
feel a little bit of sympathy for her, and her son Ferumbras, a
character who moves beyond weak and contemptable to another who shows
the strength of the Tooks. Even the minor characters - Rosemary, Viola
and Bittersweet, Isum, are well drawn and interesting, adding more
layers to what has become a detailed and fascinating extended
examination of the Took clan. Every detail is considered,and has
implications for other stories. In this story especially, much is set up
that impacts on the future relationship of Paladin and Pippin, and the
early character of Ferdi.

But the focus here is on Pearl, and her movement through the intricate
and tricky political machinations of one of the great politicians of the
Tooks, Lalia. Pearl never stoops to Lalia's cruelty and avarice, but she
is Lalia's match none the less in cunning. The difference is that her
actions, including her plans to marry Ferumbas herself, are motivated by
a selfless love, for concern for her family, and a typical hobbity sense
of caring. In the end, the little bit of canon that there is for this
incident is satisfied, and pretty much everyone gets a happy ending
(except Ferumbras, possibly, and he makes the best of it that he can.)
Along the way, there's plenty of anticipation and intrigue and trademark
hobbity wit, which makes a story of 70,900 words and 37 chapters just
fly by.
-----------------------------------
Title: An Army of Tooks · Author: Mariole · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 831
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 15:27:04
This story is a gapfiller for the night that Pippin returned to the
Great Smials to raise an army of Tooks for the Battle of Bywater.

I was struck with Pippin's maturity here. The events of the quest have
changed him at a fundamental level, and he realizes his place as a
leader of his people. There is a lot of reflection about how strange it
is to come home again, whether home is the same or very changed (or both
at once) when you are not the same. Physically, in height and dress and
speech, or mentally and emotionally, in wisdom and experience and resolve.

I also was struck by the character of Paladin. Here is a worthy Thain of
the Shire - farsighted, courageous, and very frustrated by circumstance
that has not let him do what he feels he must - he has not been able to
save or protect the whole Shire, and until Pippin returns, he could see
no way out of his dilemma. A nice change from fics I've read where
Paladin is weak and insular.

A very satisfying story.
-----------------------------------
Title: Changes and Constancy · Author: Lily · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 263
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 15:41:13
This is a fun little story. Frodo's vanity is endearing, and Pippin's
teasing is hobbity. The tone is light and there is a clear fondness
between the cousins. But despite that, it is only a temporary moment of
care-less times. All post-quest Frodo stories are bittersweet after all,
and the fine lines and grey hairs are only the beginning of a decline
that ends much more sadly. Still, it's good to be reminded that laughter
and love prevailed for at least a little while!
-----------------------------------
Title: First Night · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: War of the
Ring · ID: 400
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 16:23:43
Poor Pippin alone in Minas Tirith. He feels lonely, but even more so
there is the sharp feeling that he doesn't fit there, in a cold dark
city of stone, and he's not sure if he's ever going to feel natural,
himself, and at home again. Even in his dreams, he can't quite reach the
loved ones he misses. A nice little mood piece and gapfiller.
-----------------------------------
Title: A Healer's Tale · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits · ID: 861
Reviewer: fantasyfanoftorn · 2006-11-02 16:56:01
Of all the stories Lindelea has written, I think this is one of the most
powerful. It interweaves two connected tales: the story of Pippin's near
death from pneumonia after he becomes Thain, told from the point of view
of the healer who has taken care of him his entire life, and her own
story of coming to the Tooks, finding acceptance and love, and growing
in relationship to all the familiar characters of Pippin, Paladin and
Esmeralda, Merry and his family, and the tooks of the Smials including
Ferdinand, Reginard and Everard.

Lindelea is the master of telling a story from more than one point of
view, and this story elaborates on an incident from the epic "At the End
of His Rope." But what was one chapter in a 96-chapter adventure that
included a crippling accident, the births of children, a journey to
Gondor, famine and feast, a memorable appearance by Frodo, an invasion
of ruffians and another crisis for Pippin, now becomes a long, slow
examination in 51 chapters of just what it means to be a hobbit.

It has all manner of hobbity goodness in it. There at plenty of Tooks,
with their maddening, endearing ways, and enough Brandybucks and an
occasional Baggins to satisfy. There is little Pippin, and little Merry,
who are adorable beyond words, but besides that it is fascinating to
hear the stories of the adventures that went into making them the
hobbits that they needed to be, in later challenges. There are even
disagreeable hobbits, Bracegirdles and the like, to liven up the story
and make you appreciate the good hobbits all the more. There is wit, and
wisdom, and above all there is love. The sheer amount of love that is in
this story is just amazing.

The is the love between cousins, new and growing, tried and strong,
desperate and overwhelming. There is the easy love between family of
older generations, before cares and responsibilities weary them. There
is love of the admirable kind, of an apprentice to a master, several
times over, and the return of that love heaping measure full. There is
love, tender and shy, for a new beloved, and that same love, still
tender but sacrificing and supporting and unwavering, throughout many
years. These are hobbits at their absolute best.

The character of Woodruff is so beautifully realized in this story.
Lindelea has a marvelous talent in drawing characters from the back
pages of the story, and making them real and whole and so much someone I
would love to know in my own life. Woodruff isnt some idealized hobbit
 she has her blind spots and her indecision and her troubles, but she
makes a place for herself by pluck and luck and her own competence and
the fact that she really does care for every one of her patients,
maddening as they can be sometimes, being Tooks.

The amount of agony and Pippin goes though and the admiration for the
strong, honorable character he has become by the time of this story
brings tears to the eye. The original chapters in At the End of His
Rope are hard enough. Pippin is failing, losing the fight at last, but
a cure is found, and the celebration is long and joyous. In this story,
the pain goes on and on, told from the perfect point of view of the one
who had to count every single agonizing breath, and fight for him after
hed stopped fighting for himself, and bear the bitter burden of knowing
that no matter how hard she fought, the battle was bound to end in failure.

The interspersing of Woodruffs backstory with Pippins struggle for
breath is so perfectly done. It breaks up the unremitting agony, lets us
see their long history together and why she cares so much for him. I
kept noticing little parallels through the whole story, little clever
things that tie the whole tale together. that makes me appreciate all
over again just how good Lindelea's stories are, how well-crafted and
beautifully written and so resonant with the spirit of Middle-earth
-----------------------------------