Yahoo Forum Archive

Author: AWing · ID: 594 · Races: Elves [38]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:33:45
AWing is a very talented writer with two quite different stories
nominated for the MEFAs: One ends ambiguously in despair and sorrow, the
other definitively in hope and forgiveness. Maedhros figures prominently
in both of them, although he is in very different "stages" of his life
in each story. The author captures both characterizations extremely
thoroughly and believably. In each case, his interactions with the other
figures in the story were perfect and expressive. The many individuals
are clearly drawn and multi-faceted. She uses what canon details Tolkien
has given us to great effect, cleverly and deeply extrapolating between
them.

The settings, too, could not be more varied, but AWing has the ability
to immediately immerse me into the scene and set the tone of her story.
Her attention to detail and "atmosphere" never overpowers or muddles the
difficult themes being explored - and she has chosen very powerful and
moving themes indeed in these particular selections. No shortcuts are
taken, no improbable resolutions are made. Both darkness and light are
given equal treatment here.
-----------------------------------------
Author: AWing · ID: 594 · Times: First Age and Prior [23]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:34:15
AWing is a very talented writer with two quite different stories
nominated for the MEFAs: One ends ambiguously in despair and sorrow, the
other definitively in hope and forgiveness. Maedhros figures prominently
in both of them, although he is in very different "stages" of his life
in each story. The author captures both characterizations extremely
thoroughly and believably. In each case, his interactions with the other
figures in the story were perfect and expressive. The many individuals
are clearly drawn and multi-faceted. She uses what canon details Tolkien
has given us to great effect, cleverly and deeply extrapolating between
them.

The settings, too, could not be more varied, but AWing has the ability
to immediately immerse me into the scene and set the tone of her story.
Her attention to detail and "atmosphere" never overpowers or muddles the
difficult themes being explored - and she has chosen very powerful and
moving themes indeed in these particular selections. No shortcuts are
taken, no improbable resolutions are made. Both darkness and light are
given equal treatment here.
-----------------------------------------
Author: daw the minstrel · ID: 176 · Genres: Adventure [10]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:35:24
I always enjoy the characterizations of the royal family in Daw's
stories. Their interactions and personalities feel real to me: complex,
developing over time, with occasional to chronic conflicts. Her work is
mostly populated by OC's, which are richly drawn and believable individuals.

She does a wonderful job of blending in details - about archery or
woodcraft, for example - that add depth to the story but do not
overwhelm it (as well as often providing quite an education for me!).
Bits of foreshadowing and canonical information are woven smoothly into
a rich and complex tapestry of original storytelling, with twists and
turns of both drama and humor to draw me in and keep me reading.

Truly, Daw has created an amazing and entertaining universe for
Thranduil, his family and his people.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dawn Felagund · ID: 602 · Times: First Age and Prior [23]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:41:38
Dawn Felagund writes the Feanorians with a compelling intimacy. Before I
began reading her stories, there were several of the sons that I was at
best ambivalent about, but I was soon brought around to caring about
them as individuals.

I love that Dawn focuses primarily on ordinary times, when life was
peaceful or at least quiescent. Her desire to explore the psychology and
complex interrelationships of this talented and proud family means that
all of us have the opportunity to gain insight into their motivations.
That she handles this difficult subject with apparent ease is testimony
to her skill with both characterizations and atmosphere. Tiny details of
life, worked in smoothly and never disrupting the story, lend depth and
brilliance to the overall portrait.

Dawn brings us into close relationship with the Feanorians, and helps us
understand one interpretation that fleshes out what Tolkien was able to
only sketch in part.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dwimordene · ID: 8 · Genres: Drama [107]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:45:40
Dwimordene writes very complex, subtle and intelligent stories and
drabbles. I have read many well-written works that have made me rethink
some of my assumptions, but she employs keen insights that seen to turn
my thoughts into new interpretations of Tolkien's universe more than any
other.

Dwimordene is not afraid to explore very unusual and sometimes
uncomfortable theories, and invariably does them very well. She manages
several variations of her personal Tolkien universe that nonetheless
share a few common traits, themes or other connections. She strikes me
as an author that is a stickler for continuity and reasonable
development within each of those different story arcs, even (or
especially) when events and individuals are proceeding in unconventional
ways.

Finally, not only can she magnificently write her own versions of
characters, but she has done brilliant work by "borrowing" individuals
developed by other writers. An excellent and subtle author.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dwimordene · ID: 8 · Times: Late Third Age [26]: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:47:41
Dwimordene writes very complex, subtle and intelligent stories and
drabbles. I have read many well-written works that have made me rethink
some of my assumptions, but she employs keen insights that seen to turn
my thoughts into new interpretations of Tolkien's universe more than any
other.

Dwimordene is not afraid to explore very unusual and sometimes
uncomfortable theories, and invariably does them very well. She manages
several variations of her personal Tolkien universe that nonetheless
share a few common traits, themes or other connections. She strikes me
as an author that is a stickler for continuity and reasonable
development within each of those different story arcs, even (or
especially) when events and individuals are proceeding in unconventional
ways.

Finally, not only can she magnificently write her own versions of
characters, but she has done brilliant work by "borrowing" individuals
developed by other writers. An excellent and subtle author.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Imhiriel · ID: 702 · Times: First Age and Prior [23]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:54:16
Imhiriel weaves together vivid descriptions of her stories settings and
enjoyable, believable characterizations with a quiet, beautiful prose. I
appreciate that her canon characters always stay true to Tolkien's
vision even as she places her own touch on them, whether they are the
main protagonist or a minor player. She handles their emotions, dialogue
and actions with a deft touch, and leaves me with a feeling of
familiarity and care for each one of them.

In particular, I think that ["Father and Daughter"] exemplifies how well
Imhiriel writes her lead character's "voices." Finarfin sounds just like
I would have expected from the little on him that Tolkien gives us:
Strong, noble, trusting and trustworthy. His reaction to leaving his
daughter behind - even in a loving husband's care - is moving and
realistic. The author makes me ache for the pain he must have felt to
have to return to Earwen without any of their children.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Imhiriel · ID: 702 · Times: Early Third Age [7]: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:54:42
I think of Imhiriel as a master drabbler. Her super-short works are
always well done, and oftentimes plainly brilliant for the amount of
detail and subtext that they manage to convey in so few words. She has
written a very wide variety of characters, places and times, and it says
something about her skill that she can cover so much ground so competently.

Imhiriel sets up her scenes with just the right type and amount of hints
required to convey the overall mood of the drabble. Every word and
phrase is obviously chosen for an exact meaning or allusion. She can
very deftly tie together different times and/or individuals, draw out
similarities and differences, all while staying true to the drabble format.

Imhiriel does all this while pulling out some of the most obscure
references from Tolkien's texts. Yet every time, I'm left with a feeling
of familiarity with these little-known events and nameless and/or
faceless entities by the end of the drabble. More than once I've looked
at her author's notes, thinking, "I don't even remember Tolkien writing
that!" and ended by digging out my books to refresh my memory about it.
I know that I'll not think of the White Tree, or one of Gondor's Red
Arrow riders, or King Bard of Esgaroth, or Farmer and Mrs. Maggot in the
same way ever again!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Imhiriel · ID: 702 · Times: First Age and Prior [23]:
Fixed-Length Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:55:02
I think of Imhiriel as a master drabbler. Her super-short works are
always well done, and oftentimes plainly brilliant for the amount of
detail and subtext that they manage to convey in so few words. She has
written a very wide variety of characters, places and times, and it says
something about her skill that she can cover so much ground so competently.

Imhiriel sets up her scenes with just the right type and amount of hints
required to convey the overall mood of the drabble. Every word and
phrase is obviously chosen for an exact meaning or allusion. She can
very deftly tie together different times and/or individuals, draw out
similarities and differences, all while staying true to the drabble format.

Imhiriel does all this while pulling out some of the most obscure
references from Tolkien's texts. Yet every time, I'm left with a feeling
of familiarity with these little-known events and nameless and/or
faceless entities by the end of the drabble. More than once I've looked
at her author's notes, thinking, "I don't even remember Tolkien writing
that!" and ended by digging out my books to refresh my memory about it.
I know that I'll not think of the White Tree, or one of Gondor's Red
Arrow riders, or King Bard of Esgaroth, or Farmer and Mrs. Maggot in the
same way ever again!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Imhiriel · ID: 702 · Times: Late Third Age [26]: Fixed-Length Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:55:19
I think of Imhiriel as a master drabbler. Her super-short works are
always well done, and oftentimes plainly brilliant for the amount of
detail and subtext that they manage to convey in so few words. She has
written a very wide variety of characters, places and times, and it says
something about her skill that she can cover so much ground so competently.

Imhiriel sets up her scenes with just the right type and amount of hints
required to convey the overall mood of the drabble. Every word and
phrase is obviously chosen for an exact meaning or allusion. She can
very deftly tie together different times and/or individuals, draw out
similarities and differences, all while staying true to the drabble format.

Imhiriel does all this while pulling out some of the most obscure
references from Tolkien's texts. Yet every time, I'm left with a feeling
of familiarity with these little-known events and nameless and/or
faceless entities by the end of the drabble. More than once I've looked
at her author's notes, thinking, "I don't even remember Tolkien writing
that!" and ended by digging out my books to refresh my memory about it.
I know that I'll not think of the White Tree, or one of Gondor's Red
Arrow riders, or King Bard of Esgaroth, or Farmer and Mrs. Maggot in the
same way ever again!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Imhiriel · ID: 702 · Times: The Great Years [56]: Fixed-Length
Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:55:39
I think of Imhiriel as a master drabbler. Her super-short works are
always well done, and oftentimes plainly brilliant for the amount of
detail and subtext that they manage to convey in so few words. She has
written a very wide variety of characters, places and times, and it says
something about her skill that she can cover so much ground so competently.

Imhiriel sets up her scenes with just the right type and amount of hints
required to convey the overall mood of the drabble. Every word and
phrase is obviously chosen for an exact meaning or allusion. She can
very deftly tie together different times and/or individuals, draw out
similarities and differences, all while staying true to the drabble format.

Imhiriel does all this while pulling out some of the most obscure
references from Tolkien's texts. Yet every time, I'm left with a feeling
of familiarity with these little-known events and nameless and/or
faceless entities by the end of the drabble. More than once I've looked
at her author's notes, thinking, "I don't even remember Tolkien writing
that!" and ended by digging out my books to refresh my memory about it.
I know that I'll not think of the White Tree, or one of Gondor's Red
Arrow riders, or King Bard of Esgaroth, or Farmer and Mrs. Maggot in the
same way ever again!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · ID: 182 · Genres: Drama [107]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:57:44
I have been caught up more deeply in Isabeau's personal universe than I
have in perhaps any other author's. She writes entertaining and moving
stories which are well-paced and filled with crisp, clever dialogues.
They can make me cry or laugh in turn, or sometimes both together.

However, I think that the greatest of her many strengths is her
characterizations. Her canon characters are well-done and (I believe)
true to how Tolkien wrote them - even when they are engaged in decidedly
non-Tolkien actions! A prime example of this is the Boromir/Andrahar
story arc, which while I know Tolkien would absolutely never have
conceived, nonetheless manages to never overtly contradict what was
written in the books, even in subtext.

Where this skill really shines, though, is with her OCs. Her Andrahar,
Brand and Hethlin are canon, as far as I am concerned. I am unable to
read the trilogy without imagining these individuals operating in the
background. They are believably conceived and realistically fleshed-out,
and their interactions with the canon LotR characters only ever enhance
those canon characters - they don't detract from them or their places
within the story, or pull them out of what is known about their
behaviors and reactions. Even her minor characters have very distinct
personalities and features, whether they appear many times or only once
or twice. Whether canon or OC, Isabeau keeps her characters consistent
while still allowing them to grow and change over the great spans of
time through which she shows them.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · ID: 182 · Races: Cross-Cultural [28]:
Fixed-Length Ficlet
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:58:03
I have been caught up more deeply in Isabeau's personal universe than I
have in perhaps any other author's. She writes entertaining and moving
stories which are well-paced and filled with crisp, clever dialogues.
They can make me cry or laugh in turn, or sometimes both together.

However, I think that the greatest of her many strengths is her
characterizations. Her canon characters are well-done and (I believe)
true to how Tolkien wrote them - even when they are engaged in decidedly
non-Tolkien actions! A prime example of this is the Boromir/Andrahar
story arc, which while I know Tolkien would absolutely never have
conceived, nonetheless manages to never overtly contradict what was
written in the books, even in subtext.

Where this skill really shines, though, is with her OCs. Her Andrahar,
Brand and Hethlin are canon, as far as I am concerned. I am unable to
read the trilogy without imagining these individuals operating in the
background. They are believably conceived and realistically fleshed-out,
and their interactions with the canon LotR characters only ever enhance
those canon characters - they don't detract from them or their places
within the story, or pull them out of what is known about their
behaviors and reactions. Even her minor characters have very distinct
personalities and features, whether they appear many times or only once
or twice. Whether canon or OC, Isabeau keeps her characters consistent
while still allowing them to grow and change over the great spans of
time through which she shows them.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · ID: 182 · Races: Men [73]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:58:17
I have been caught up more deeply in Isabeau's personal universe than I
have in perhaps any other author's. She writes entertaining and moving
stories which are well-paced and filled with crisp, clever dialogues.
They can make me cry or laugh in turn, or sometimes both together.

However, I think that the greatest of her many strengths is her
characterizations. Her canon characters are well-done and (I believe)
true to how Tolkien wrote them - even when they are engaged in decidedly
non-Tolkien actions! A prime example of this is the Boromir/Andrahar
story arc, which while I know Tolkien would absolutely never have
conceived, nonetheless manages to never overtly contradict what was
written in the books, even in subtext.

Where this skill really shines, though, is with her OCs. Her Andrahar,
Brand and Hethlin are canon, as far as I am concerned. I am unable to
read the trilogy without imagining these individuals operating in the
background. They are believably conceived and realistically fleshed-out,
and their interactions with the canon LotR characters only ever enhance
those canon characters - they don't detract from them or their places
within the story, or pull them out of what is known about their
behaviors and reactions. Even her minor characters have very distinct
personalities and features, whether they appear many times or only once
or twice. Whether canon or OC, Isabeau keeps her characters consistent
while still allowing them to grow and change over the great spans of
time through which she shows them.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · ID: 182 · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond
[31]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-17 23:58:31
I have been caught up more deeply in Isabeau's personal universe than I
have in perhaps any other author's. She writes entertaining and moving
stories which are well-paced and filled with crisp, clever dialogues.
They can make me cry or laugh in turn, or sometimes both together.

However, I think that the greatest of her many strengths is her
characterizations. Her canon characters are well-done and (I believe)
true to how Tolkien wrote them - even when they are engaged in decidedly
non-Tolkien actions! A prime example of this is the Boromir/Andrahar
story arc, which while I know Tolkien would absolutely never have
conceived, nonetheless manages to never overtly contradict what was
written in the books, even in subtext.

Where this skill really shines, though, is with her OCs. Her Andrahar,
Brand and Hethlin are canon, as far as I am concerned. I am unable to
read the trilogy without imagining these individuals operating in the
background. They are believably conceived and realistically fleshed-out,
and their interactions with the canon LotR characters only ever enhance
those canon characters - they don't detract from them or their places
within the story, or pull them out of what is known about their
behaviors and reactions. Even her minor characters have very distinct
personalities and features, whether they appear many times or only once
or twice. Whether canon or OC, Isabeau keeps her characters consistent
while still allowing them to grow and change over the great spans of
time through which she shows them.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Nilmandra · ID: 444 · Genres: Drama [107]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:00:29
Nilmandra's writing style is personal and warm, drawing me in and making
me feel like I am part of the family life and friendships that she
portrays. She also has a lock on some characterizations in my mind,
namely Elrond, Celebrian and Arwen. I think my vision of them will
always be colored to some extent by her interpretations, no matter which
author's story I am reading. Her Elrond is incredibly well thought-out.
Nilmandra thoroughly and believably shows his growth in mind, body and
spirit over the ages. I love even more how she has portrayed Arwen and
her mother. She has shown them as strong, capable, intelligent beings in
their own right, perfect compliments to the powerful men they marry.

Another feature I adore in Nilmandra's stories is her exhaustive
research into everything Tolkien wrote on the subjects/era that she is
exploring. She constantly pulls in obscure references and makes
interpolations that are completely plausible. I think this is
particularly impressive in her ["History Lessons: The Third Age"]
because she is working with the very thorough and well-read LotR
trilogy. I never felt even the semblance of a conflict or "smoothing
over" with the canon narrative. I enjoy reading her author's notes and
responses to reader questions, as I always come away having learned
something or seeing a connection where before I had not.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Nilmandra · ID: 444 · Genres: Adventure [10]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:00:49
Nilmandra does a wonderful job of filling out her version of Aragorn in
her stories of him as a child and a young man. As usual, her
characterizations are spot-on, consistent and blend well with the
Aragorn we see much later, both in her stories and in Tolkiens books.
This is true of all the individuals who we see interacting with Aragorn.

One feature I adore in Nilmandra's stories is her exhaustive research
into everything Tolkien wrote on the subjects/era that she is exploring.
She constantly pulls in obscure references and makes interpolations that
are completely plausible and believable. I enjoy reading her author's
notes and responses to reader questions, as I always come away having
learned something or seeing a connection where before I had not.

Nilmandra's writing style is personal and warm, drawing me in and making
me feel like I am part of the family life and friendships that she
portrays; and her stories are populated by noble characters that I would
love to know in real life, even if they *weren't* Aragorn, Gandalf,
Elrond, etc.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Nilmandra · ID: 444 · Times: Late Third Age [26]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:01:01
Nilmandra does a wonderful job of filling out her version of Aragorn in
her stories of him as a child and a young man. As usual, her
characterizations are spot-on, consistent and blend well with the
Aragorn we see much later, both in her stories and in Tolkiens books.
This is true of all the individuals who we see interacting with Aragorn.

One feature I adore in Nilmandra's stories is her exhaustive research
into everything Tolkien wrote on the subjects/era that she is exploring.
She constantly pulls in obscure references and makes interpolations that
are completely plausible and believable. I enjoy reading her author's
notes and responses to reader questions, as I always come away having
learned something or seeing a connection where before I had not.

Nilmandra's writing style is personal and warm, drawing me in and making
me feel like I am part of the family life and friendships that she
portrays; and her stories are populated by noble characters that I would
love to know in real life, even if they *weren't* Aragorn, Gandalf,
Elrond, etc.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Soledad · ID: 206 · Races: Men [73]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:03:06
Soledad's ["The Last Yule in Halabor"] really showcases her strengths as
an author for me. Although she has written a wide variety of LotR
fanfiction, I have only read some her stories set in Gondor so far. In
these, I've seen two qualities that make her stand out in my mind.

First, her OCs are decidedly well-constructed. The PoVs of the stories I
have read have mostly been OCs (and are entirely OCs in her MEFA
nomination), and without exception they are realistic, believable and
engaging - even when the actual individual is not at all likeable! I
think this is a skill that cannot be underestimated - the ability to
make me care about a character that I have no prior "relationship" with.

Second, Soledad's attention to detail is nothing short of amazing. She
created an entire town for the ["Halabor"] universe, based on existing
medieval places and structures. The populace and their ways of life are
built out of intensive research into actual skills needed at the time.
All of this adds a high degree of realism to her stories. Similar
detailed "world-building" has taken place in other works of hers, such
as imagining an entire culture and religion for a region of Harad. I
feel that her stories are enhanced by the level of detail, rather than
overwhelmed, as she manages to deftly weave them in to the narrative.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Thundera Tiger · ID: 86 · Genres: Humor [50]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:04:33
Thundera Tiger really does a wonderful job with writing humor. She has
an excellent feel for comedy and a light, deft touch that leave me
laughing throughout the entire piece. Along the way the reader is
treated to brilliant, clear canon-centric characterizations, and
delightful and smart dialogues. The individual relationships are
thoughtfully represented and well portrayed, with bits of insight woven
into the narrative that ring true. Her stories are always enjoyable to
read, whether drama or humor.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dawn Felagund · ID: 602 · Races: Elves [38]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 00:08:52
Dawn Felagund writes the Feanorians with a compelling intimacy. Before I
began reading her stories, there were several of the sons that I was at
best ambivalent about, but I was soon brought around to caring about
them as individuals.

I love that Dawn focuses primarily on ordinary times, when life was
peaceful or at least quiescent. Her desire to explore the psychology and
complex interrelationships of this talented and proud family means that
all of us have the opportunity to gain insight into their motivations.
That she handles this difficult subject with apparent ease is testimony
to her skill with both characterizations and atmosphere. Tiny details of
life, worked in smoothly and never disrupting the story, lend depth and
brilliance to the overall portrait.

Dawn brings us into close relationship with the Feanorians, and helps us
understand one interpretation that fleshes out what Tolkien was able to
only sketch in part.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Dawn Felagund · ID: 602 · Races: Cross-Cultural [28]: General
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-11-18 05:11:40
Dawn Felagund writes the Feanorians with a compelling intimacy. Before I
began reading her stories, there were several of the sons that I was at
best ambivalent about, but I was soon brought around to caring about
them as individuals.

I love that Dawn focuses primarily on ordinary times, when life was
peaceful or at least quiescent. Her desire to explore the psychology and
complex interrelationships of this talented and proud family means that
all of us have the opportunity to gain insight into their motivations.
That she handles this difficult subject with apparent ease is testimony
to her skill with both characterizations and atmosphere. Tiny details of
life, worked in smoothly and never disrupting the story, lend depth and
brilliance to the overall portrait.

Dawn brings us into close relationship with the Feanorians, and helps us
understand one interpretation that fleshes out what Tolkien was able to
only sketch in part.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Lindelea · ID: 27 · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond [31]: General
Reviewer: Larner · 2006-11-18 05:28:04
How can one explain the fascination Lindelea's works have for me? Some
come so quickly, and others come in fits and starts, but are always well
worth the reading.

She is an excellent writer and a wonderful friend, and I am so glad to
have met her through fanfiction, and to have her gift of imagination
sparking my own. Certainly she is most immediately to blame for my own
breaking into the genre.

Thank you, my friend, for all your stories and all you've given us.
-----------------------------------------
Author: annmarwalk · ID: 177 · Genres: Romance [51]: General
Reviewer: Larner · 2006-11-18 05:43:46
I doubt anyone can say so much in such an economy of words as Ann
marwalk. To read her stories is always a sweet delight. Thank you ever, Ann.
-----------------------------------------
Author: grey_wonderer · ID: 62 · Genres: Humor [50]: General
Reviewer: Larner · 2006-11-18 06:47:58
I doubt there is anyone better able to write Hobbit humor than Grey
Wonderer. And what she has Merry and Pippin, and at times Frodo and Sam
as well, managing to do is always quick to elicit joy and thought.
-----------------------------------------