Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: The Return of the Shadow · Author: juno_magic · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Incomplete · ID: 330
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-11-04 00:43:03
I absolutely love the beginnings of this story. What is not to love
about finding a street musician with dreds, singing in Sindarin, taking
him home for dinner and discovering he is an elf. The characterization
of the two principle characters is well done. I particularly like his
flash backs into his life the history of his life on earth. The parts
dealing with Mozart are especially lovely. The eroticism is
well-handled. The story takes unexpected turns and the recent,
long-awaited update is not at all what I expected. Since this whole turn
in the story line has only just begun I'm suspending judgment for the
moment, but eagerly awaiting to see where the author will take us next.
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Title: Eternal · Author: Trekqueen · Genres: Romance: Incomplete · ID: 706
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-04 01:40:11
The various events of the First Age play out as a backdrop to the
romance of Glorfindel and an OFC. So far as I can tell, with my limited
knowledge of the Silm, great attention has been paid to canonicity.
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Title: A Meara for Me! · Author: Súlriel · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 893
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-04 01:55:20
This is a fascinating and useful resource for a fanfic writer in need of
a bit of assistance in coming up with a suitable mount for her
characters. I especially like the careful descriptions of what sort of
rider each horse needs, and am amused by the descriptions of the horses'
personalities. Really very useful!
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Title: Kissing is Different · Author: Lady Bluejay · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 280
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 02:08:36
This is a nicely told little story of how Lothiriel and Eomer first
meet. The first scene in the stables is very hot but in a chaste sort of
way, sensuous more than erotic, but a beautiful blooming of the
relationship. I like the way you have portrayed Lothiriel -- she is very
much his equal and a suitable queen for the Rohirrim.
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Title: House with the Cedar Shingles: Ramson Spring · Author: Cuthalion
· Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor · ID: 987
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2006-11-04 02:12:59
This story takes place during the visit of the Gamgees to Minas Tirith
in SR 1442, and deals with Sam's homesickness, and his longing, even
after all these years, to see his friend Frodo once more. There is a
fascinating OC, about whom there seems to be a bit of backstory. But
what I love is the gentle connection of Sam to the land of Ithilien.
Very lyrically written.
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Title: The Eyes of Boromir · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Romance:
Poetry · ID: 632
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 02:13:04
Nicely lyrical. I can almost hear it being sung, and the sentiments seem
very realistic for Boromir's character.
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Title: Such loveliness in living thing · Author: Tanaqui · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 904
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 02:31:20
This is a nice assessment of Arwen. Bilbo, as always, brings a hobbity
matter-of-factness as he assesses that she really is as great as others
make her out to be. A neat way of approaching her.
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Title: Of Flustering and Blustering · Author: Rhapsody · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Hobbits · ID: 811
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 03:29:12
THis has some great glimpses into how the relationship of the different
members of Thorin's company might play out after "The Hobbit". I think
my favourite part was the reference to Gloin's mistrust of Bilbo, and
how that would affect their later companionship. Gimli's interest in
hobbits was well-drawn, too. Foreshadowing what's to come? Nicely done,
Rhapsody!
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Title: The Last Thing He Said · Author: NeumeIndil · Genres: Drama · ID: 294
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-11-04 03:50:40
Innovative quartet of vignettes, all dealing with the perception of
Aragorn through the POVs of various animals: a dog who had belonged to
Boromir, a Mearh who Aragorn rides, a pig who Aragorn passes by, and a
cat who follows Aragorn to the Houses of Healing.

Touching and effective, for the most part. My favorites were the first
two chapters, the emotion of the dog waiting for the master she did not
know was lost, and the warhorse missing his slain Rider, were written
poignantly, but not over-sentimentally.



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Title: Gundabad · Author: Salsify · Races: Dwarves · ID: 79
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 03:51:55
I can very easily buy the idea that a jewel might have a symbolic
significance for the dwarves, and you ahve given us a telling glimpse at
how a dwarf might have reacted to the desctruction of their home. It's
really convincingly drawn here, what with the description of dwarves
being so spiritually resiliant - brilliantly done, Salsify, as always.
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Title: A thing unheard of · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Dwarves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 905
Reviewer: Marta · 2006-11-04 04:02:30
Ooh, nice use of Elrond's line here! I had never connected it with his
terror at facing the Paths of the Dead, and I really like the fact that
even after all of this time Gimli is still tempted to turn aside - yet
masters that temptation. It's a really affective testimony to the
character of the dwarves.
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Title: Gundabad · Author: Salsify · Races: Dwarves · ID: 79
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-11-04 04:26:35
Interesting exploration of a tidbit of semi-canonical Dwarven history,
and a wonderful theory about the importance of the Arkenstone. The
pride, history, and traditions of the Dwarves comes alive here, and the
OC's are well sketched, considering the brevity of the piece.

I'm always in awe of Tolkien fanfic writers who do justice to the Sons
of Mahal, and Salsify belongs on the list.
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Title: The Unbidden Stranger · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Aragorn
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 886
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-11-04 04:34:24
Lively drabble depicting Thorongil's early days in the Mark, and the
reaction of two curious children to the mysterious new Rider.

The children, who could be the young Theoden and one of his sisters, are
well-written in their suspicion of Thorongil, and his reaction is very
typical of Aragorn.
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Title: The Groomsman · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races: Dwarves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 44
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2006-11-04 04:38:36
A gem of a drabble, one of the best movieverse true drabbles I've seen.
Gimli's seriousness, his attention to detail when the somewhat nervous
and clumsy Aragorn cannot quite manage, is described perfectly. And then
the reason for Aragorn's nervousness becomes clear - the ceremony for
which they are preparing Boromir is the funeral rite, which is
unexpected but makes perfect sense in the context of the ficlet. The
last line is particularly beautiful.
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Title: In Sequent Toil · Author: IgnobleBard · Genres: Adventure · ID: 941
Reviewer: Oshun · 2006-11-04 05:12:07
I like the beginning of this story a lot. It really is Middle-earth film
noir. Love the seedy inn, shady characters, and air of impending danger
and mystery over it all. You write a charming Legolas, very appealing
without the least bit of treacle. The action starts and murder and
mystery abounds. You held my interest and my anxiety grew, convincing me
to worry for Legolas who is traveling alone. Some canon implausibilities
pulled me out of the story. (I wanted to argue that Legolas would have
most likely have known if Celeborn was still in Middle-earth or not and,
if he were, that he would not have still been in Lothlórien.) The
suspense, however, faltered for me a bit at the end. I did not know
while I was reading the parameters of the challenge for which it was
written. I might have read it differently if I had known those details.
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Title: What Better Companion? · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves ·
ID: 175
Reviewer: Robinka · 2006-11-04 07:16:17
A beautifully written one-chapter story depicting a possible meeting of
Olorin and Glorfindel in Valinor, after Glorfindels re-embodiment. Very
thoughtful, with a great usage of language, amazing descriptions and
excellent dialogue parts.
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Title: Finding the Right Words · Author: Nienor Niniel · Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 785
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-11-04 08:11:43
Shows well the situation in MT just before Aragorn's coronation.
Well-handled introspection. The vision of an unburdened and approving
Denethor was very moving.
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Title: To Follow an Elf · Author: etharei · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 816
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2006-11-04 08:13:08
An enjoyable and entertaining read (despite a few grammatical errors and
rough/abrupt transitions).

Gimli's voice comes through vividly in the story, as does Legolas'
"elvishness", with its quicksilver changes of mood. Their deep
friendship is shown very clearly, in their banter as well as in their
concern for one another. I like Gimli's "asides" to Legolas in the
journal entries.
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Title: To Labour and to Wait · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 838
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-11-04 08:26:57
Such a gorgeous story. Filled with the reflection of a dark night of
waiting - brooding over the past, skittering from happy memories to
moments of pain and all of it overlaid with the feelings of a man who
has been waiting the best part of seventy years to achieve the
impossible. I loved the glimpses into all his past lives, even as I
relished the look at Legolas and his bemusement at what they were all
doing. Shame Gimli refused to wake up and add his perspective. This was
a lovely read - beautifully and fluently expressed.
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Title: How the Eorlings Ride · Author: NeumeIndil · Genres: Humor · ID: 213
Reviewer: Robinka · 2006-11-04 08:27:04
A cute, funny and finely done gap filler that presents both a good
portrayal of Merry as an adult, and a nice glimpse at the Rohirrim. A
very enjoyable read!
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Title: Hope Eternal · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men: Featuring Aragorn ·
ID: 930
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-11-04 08:31:29
It'll take more than giving an orc a plough to make him a farmer. Yet I
can see that Aragorn's character and experience give him the need to try.

And, really, if they sit back and wait, the orcs will do their job for
them. It's probably a kindness to make the end swift!
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Title: Cacophony · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 929
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-11-04 08:33:54
Rather like sound-proofing the garage to accommodate the teenagers' rock
band.

Eru must have been extremely glad that he had the power to do something
about it!
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Title: Summoned · Author: Agape4Gondor · Races: Men: Steward's Sons
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 840
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2006-11-04 08:39:38
Poor Faramir - a tough time for him. Everything in his life has changed
- but he has the quiet strength and honour to deal with it all. Just as
well really. I have my doubts that Aragorn's hopes would have worked out
so well without him.
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Title: The Last Thing He Said · Author: NeumeIndil · Genres: Drama · ID: 294
Reviewer: Robinka · 2006-11-04 09:12:26
An interesting set of very poignant vignettes written from the point of
view of a few four-legged witnesses of the war of the Ring.

I find it hard to decide which one I like the most. Maybe the last one,
which is special to me because I'm an owner of a cat. But all of them
are wonderful, very thoughtful and finely done. And I also like the
portrayal of Aragorn, which is shaped throughout the thoughts of the
animal characters. Very nicely done!
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Title: Book Learning · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 910
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2006-11-04 10:11:39
I just read the last chapter of this tale. Congratulations on finishing
before the end of voting!

This story is warm and funny, with great eroticism. I love the scene
with the vegetables. Cucumber, LOL!
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