Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: In the Woods � Author: Werecat � Times: Fourth Age and Beyond �
ID: 119
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon � 2006-11-20 08:16:46
A farewell, from a woman of our own Dark Ages, to a wizard and elves
from earlier Ages, in this haunting vision of Radagast's last days in
Middle-earth. Sad and beautiful.
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Title: What Goes Around Comes Around � Author: Cathleen � Times: The
Great Years: The Fellowship � ID: 726
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass � 2006-11-20 08:43:29
Stories this delightful deserve a great deal of affection. This one has
certainly earned mine, as well as my respect. Of all the Nine Walkers,
Boromir was the only one unfamiliar with hobbits. Therefore, it only
stands to reason that when a story is written which has Boromir learning
about hobbits, it is very easy to identify with him as we readers are
all in the same boat. Through his eyes, we see hobbits as we would see
them if one strolled up to you in the street. This lends this type of
story special merit, at least for me. And this writer has handled that
concept very well. Her touch, though light, is deft and underpinned with
unwritten shadows of bittersweet days to come, and so the
light-heartedness becomes all the more a wonderful treat. I loved her
Pippin and Merry, most especially Pippin. The scene under the blanket
alone made this worthy of a read and positive review. Her use of
descriptives is good, and the dialogue sparkles with life. I hope the
author will post this at fanfiction.net so I can add it to my archive.
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Title: All Save One � Author: LadyDeb1970 � Times: The Great Years:
Gondor � ID: 691
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass � 2006-11-20 08:52:17
If you've ever read a fan fiction that made you wish it had been part of
the main text, you will know why I loved this story. Profoundly
insightful and moving, this story moved me deeply. It is the emotional
content of this tale that I found so very satisfying, as well as the
glimpse into the inner Frodo. It is a story almost mythic in it's
beauty, the simplicity adding to its value rather that detracting from
it. I thought her characterizations were wonderful as well as her
dialogue and particularly liked the ending. This was a short story that
nourishes the soul. One of the things I liked about it was the subtext,
and here this story packs a walloping punch. Boromir found redemption.
We know this because Tolkien pretty much said so in no uncertain terms.
So for whom was redemption left? Why, the survivors, of course! They all
had their frailties and failures to greater or lesser degrees, yet they
went on to finish their parts in this fateful time. Even so, that is not
what gave them their redemption. Redemption came to them through love.
And in grandest dual style, the subtext also gives the nod to Boromir's
unseen but not unfelt presence throughout the source material to the
very end. If you look for him during the Scouring of the Shire you'll
see him, standing unseen behind the hobbits, as strong and fiery in
death as he was in life. And it is this very thing, the powerful
subtext, which made this such a satisfying read for me. This author gets
Tolkien's spiritual subtextual messages, and in this tale, she shows it.
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Title: Champions: Out of the Past � Author: LadyDeb1970 � Times:
Multi-Age: Incomplete � ID: 687
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass � 2006-11-20 08:52:47
AUs come and AUs go, but this one truly struck something in me. Not only
is main text a fascinating read and voice strong and sound, the
backstory is as fascinating as the main text. I found quite a few
surprises in this story, and as is very unusual for me, I really liked
the original characters, and just loved the setting. Often in Tolkien
fan fiction we see writers work in a voice much like that of the master
as the writer can manage. Not so with this author. She has her own
style, tough, wise and street-smart; one can tell right away she would
do well to persue her own original fictional works. Yet I am very happy
she has chosen to take the path she has taken. The plot has sublte
twists which compares well with a Koontz or a King, even, and is lively
and full of the juice of modern life. And into this so-modern and gutsy
world, she drops our heroes of old with a sense that they will cope with
the challenges of our so-different and sometimes brutal world. They will
meet the challenges with the great hearts of epic heroes, and that in a
world gone sometimes insane, we need heroes of epic proportions----and
that they need not come from another time. For in this journey they meet
kindred spirits, people of our time who were, perhaps, born imbued with
the hearts of epic heroes. This work in progress has been wonderful to
read and I hope the author will continue to surprise me with her
hard-nosed style and insightful characterizations.
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Title: In a Pig's Eye � Author: Lindelea � Genres: Humor � ID: 747
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass � 2006-11-20 08:58:03
This story, though short and sweet, was an absolute delight to my heart
and my mind, and the setting, an ordinary pig's stye, of all things, is
so out of the ordinary it just had to be nominated. I loved best the
characterizations in this story. This story describes Pippin doing such
a Pippin-ish thing to do, it just has to be read to be appreciated. His
delight became my own delight, and I was utterly charmed by the story as
a whole. I loved how Lindelea's Pippin found delight in what may be to
others such an ordinary, even mundane thing as a pigstye. I also loved
her Merry with his pragmatic nature, so very like the Merry of Tolkien
himself that I knew him straight away. His disgruntlement was so very in
character that I laughed aloud. But for all its charm and all its
light-hearted theme, the counter-balance of the conversation between
Elrond and Gandalf gave this romp just enough weight to make it even
more of a treasure. There is just enough forshadowing in it to make the
light-heartedness of the rest of the story even more sweet. Any less and
it may have been frivolous, any more would have tipped the scales into
the territory of forboding. Lindelea has handled this little treasure
with her usual finely honed talents. This is a writer with a full
toolbox, and she knows how and when to use each tool. An all around good
read.
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Title: Preparing The Way � Author: Lady Aranel � Genres: Drama: Elves in
Later Ages � ID: 284
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland � 2006-11-20 09:28:39
A very touching story concerning the first death of a mortal frieend
Legolas has to endure, his horse,Arod.
The way his friends come to comfort him and the stricken horse is very
moving and well written.
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Title: In a Heartbeat � Author: Piplover � Genres: Drama: Featuring
Pippin or Merry � ID: 928
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland � 2006-11-20 09:39:25
I only leaned of this delightful story,via MEFA and am so pleased I read
it.It contains some lovely scenes for Aragorn and Pippin, showing the
mutual devotion of KIng and Hobbit. PIppin's courage is astounding in
this story,no wonder Arwen is grateful. A lovely read.
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Title: A Matter of Honor � Author: meckinock � Races: Cross-Cultural �
ID: 208
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland � 2006-11-20 10:14:26
A gripping and beautifully written story with a surprising twist at the
end.The writer depicts the friendship between Aragorn and Halbarad
beautifully and is an extremely talented writer
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Title: Exiled � Author: Jaffee Leeds � Genres: Romance: Incomplete � ID: 625
Reviewer: S�lriel � 2006-11-20 10:51:22
It seems a shame that the Eldar would be considered insane by our modern
standards - I've read several stories along these lines and always enjoy
them. It stands to reason that the pressures of such long lives, and so
many changes would be difficult for them to deal with.


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Title: Summer Call � Author: mitasova � Races: Men: Post-Sauron's Fall �
ID: 772
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 14:34:44
This is a wonderful story. It sets the scene well, we feel the quiet of
the house, the loveliness of the day, and Faramir's loneliness and
frustration clearly. And the ending is sweet and satisfying - how lovely
to think that Boromir would come to guide his brother even at the end.
But perhaps the part of it I like best is the comeraderie between
Faramir and his grandson, how the young man brings out the scampishness
still present in his grandfather, and how the old man brings out and
recognizes the maturity in his grandson. Lovely symetry that the boy is
so like Boromir, helping also to ease Faramir's passage.
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Title: To Labour and to Wait � Author: Gwynnyd � Races: Men: Featuring
Aragorn � ID: 838
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 14:45:09
I thought this was a very interesting idea - tracing Aragorn's
conflicting feelings about his destiny to their source, but that it
wandered a bit, and switching the focus to Legolas was an unnecessary
digression.
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Title: Moon Friend: Tales of Isildur � Author: Elena Tiriel � Races:
Men: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets � ID: 832
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 14:48:50
Much of this I found very illuminating, not knowing all of Isildur's
story, and the first four drabbles very well done. When the focus
shifted from Isildur, I felt the series stopped telling his story.
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Title: Kissing is Different � Author: Lady Bluejay � Genres: Romance:
Loth�riel & �omer � ID: 280
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 15:09:16
I loved this story upon first reading when it was posted at OSA, but
now, in considering it for review here, I have found I love it more. The
first time, the clever twisty ending was a great surprise; now I can
appreciate how well crafted this story is to bring about such a twist.
The characters remain true, especially in their changing: Eomer from
distracted to wily, to brash; Lotheriel from high-handed, to crafty, to
smitten. The writer considers all angles in setting up the story, and
provides the exposition thoroughly but lightly. A delight.
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Title: A stranger Among us, or, Here and Back Again. � Author: Ottis413
� Times: Fourth Age and Beyond � ID: 296
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 15:32:27
This story remains fascinating and fun, even on the repeat readings I've
now given it. I love how Ottis so completely captures Tennant's early
20th century, erudite, superior, provincial tone - particularly as
regards Elrond and his attempts to decipher him, as it were. This is a
wonderful flight of imagination, answer to the writer's own imposed
challenge - imagine Elrond in the 20th century as seen by a stranger.
Great job.
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Title: Fond Memory � Author: Isil Elensar � Genres: Drama: The Steward's
Family � ID: 331
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke � 2006-11-20 15:38:01
This is very sweet; nice interaction between the brothers.
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Title: Was It For This? � Author: Alawa � Genres: Drama: Remembering �
ID: 88
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-11-20 18:23:36
Very touching. Both the young Aragorn, who doesn't yet really know
enough to understand and the older man, who has learned much that he
didn't know. I like the twins, loosing their hair and mourning the man
who was their friend.
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Title: Avoidance � Author: stefaniab � Genres: Romance: Incomplete � ID: 674
Reviewer: Bodkin � 2006-11-20 18:26:54
I am enjoying this - I like the now and then and the knowledge that
Faramir and Eowyn have grown to an understanding that seemed
exceptionally unlikely in those days when the world was at the point of
ending. They are good together.
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Title: Trivial Matters � Author: Thundera Tiger � Genres: Humor: Gondor
� ID: 839
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:34:14
Lol! This was great. I loved the characterization of Faramir here. He
comes across as a strong person and knows his worth. I love the way he
tricks Legolas and Aragorn. All in good fun, naturally. But this is so
right, the small things have a way of wearing you down. The big things
you can adapt to.
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Title: Appearances Can Be Deceiving � Author: Dreamflower � Genres:
Adventure � ID: 760
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:35:12
This is such a delightful first meeting between Bilbo and Aragorn. I
loved it that Bilbo mistook Aragorn for a Brigand. Shows that Aragorn's
change into a King might be even more of a challenge, since he seems to
look disreputable for such a long time. Bilbo reminds me here strongly
of how he is depicted in The Hobbit. Well done.
-----------------------------------
Title: Last Rites � Author: Isabeau of Greenlea � Genres: Drama � ID: 80
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:35:52
I love reading more about Andrahar. On the eve of the Battle at the
Black Gates he learns more of Boromir's passing. One might think that
this would not be the best time to learn of ones lover's failure and
redemption, but I think this was exactly what Andrahar needed to hear. I
like the characterization of Pippin in this tale, his mixture of hobbity
concern for small things and at the same time his growing maturity the
quest has brought about. He brought some much needed relief to the grief
and at the same time was grieving himself.

That Andrahar could finally let go with Imrahil was just fitting and
very touching.
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Title: Assume, Confuse, Consume, Amuse � Author: pipkinsweetgrass �
Genres: Alternate Universe � ID: 648
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:37:30
This had me chuckling all the way through. I have read several
author-is-visited-by-muses stories, but the nice thing about this one
are the interspersed 'real' stories. I loved these little scenes. My
favorites are the first one because of the humor - Aragorn should never
just assume and therefore come to the wrong conclusions, but he paid for
that - and the last. That little toy soldier was endearing.
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Title: The Recall � Author: Isabeau of Greenlea � Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Gondor � ID: 738
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:43:47
Yay! One for Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth. I love his flavor for the
dramatic and the way he is able to surprise Aragorn and Faramir (and the
rest of the council). It is good to see him come back out of mourning.
He has some really good words of wisdom to say. I have just one question
about the timeline. According to Arwen, Aragorn tries for ten years to
get the council to back down. This makes me wonder why Imrahil didn't do
something to help him earlier. Or was Andrahar's death the last straw to
show how wrong the way of the council was and gave him the incentive to
go to the extremes?
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Title: Hands of Healing � Author: Cuthalion � Genres: Romance: Rohan �
ID: 102
Reviewer: obsidianj � 2006-11-20 19:44:16
I love this gap-filler for the stable scene. I especially like that it
is written from Eowyn's pov. It explains her fascination with Aragorn
and through her eyes, Aragorn can shine. Now I just would like to see
this scene from Aragorn's pov. Did he really overlook and dismiss Eowyn
as she thinks?
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Title: Memorabilia and Other Useful Things � Author: Illwynd � Times:
The Great Years: The Fellowship � ID: 714
Reviewer: Larner � 2006-11-20 21:37:52
Ah--it's been a time since I read this, and I needed the review. How
realistic that Pippin would carry with him the tiny treasures that
relate the high points in his memory, from the scrap of cloth torn from
his first love's dress to Boromir's button.

Very close to the heart.
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Title: Finding the Right Words � Author: Nienor Niniel � Races: Men:
Post-Sauron's Fall � ID: 785
Reviewer: Larner � 2006-11-20 21:46:04
There is no question that Faramir is the right one to surrender the rule
of Gondor back to the King Returned; and Aragorn the proper one to
receive it.

A beautiful look at Faramir confirmed in his role by those who went
before him.
-----------------------------------