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Dear all,

This check ballot with 41 story reviews will be the last one posted for
the MEFA 2006. Thank you for your patience!

Title: Chivalry · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Drama: General
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 374
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
I enjoyed reading this story, particularly because I think Shadowfax is
one of the most wonderful characters in LOTR, even though he doesn't get
much exposure. I think Gandalf's Apprentice captured the wild
intelligent voice of the horse, as well as the courteous and patient
request made by Gandalf, who was wise enough to wait until the third
dawn to make it. The lovely relationship of horse and wizard is
beautifully shown.
-----------------------------------
Title: Preparing The Way · Author: Lady Aranel · Genres: Drama: Elves in
Later Ages · ID: 284
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Legolas' farewell to Arod is very moving and beautifully written. I
enjoyed reading this, and liked the way it depicts not only the
affection and love Legolas feels for his faithful horse but also the
brotherhood between him, Aragorn and Faramir.
-----------------------------------
Title: Lord of Werewolves · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Parody · ID: 255
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
Very witty and a pleasure to read. I liked the idea of Sauron the fop
and the werewolf rolling over to have his tummy tickled.
-----------------------------------
Title: If I Had It All Again To Do · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Fourth
Age and Beyond: The Shire · ID: 226
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 5
Oh, what an achingly bittersweet story this is. I liked the stream of
consciousness and the dialect. I've often wondered why there aren't more
stories touching this subject matter. There are half-elves galore, not
exactly canonical, yet half-hobbits are more rare than hen's teeth.
Pearl had the guts to touch on this subject. I did wonder, though, why
the main character hid his being a hobbit, and it left me full of
questions. Which is not a bad thing, I like short films for the same
reason. One is left to ponder these questions. That makes this a story
that makes you think, makes you look at paralells in our own world, and
there is much to be said for that. Well done!
-----------------------------------
Title: In Stitches · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: Children · ID: 132
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
This is a very sweet little story. Young Pippin is always a joy to read,
and Pearl writes him well. This is a good family bonding story, and I
liked the way the family history of males knitting made its way into the
story. Pearl's stories are always good. Wrangling an ill little Pippin
must have been quite a challenge. I raised a boy, and so I'm familiar
with the challenge. Maybe I should have suggested knitting! Pearl has
done a lovely job with this little story. She never disappoints, and
with this little snippet, she's up to par.
-----------------------------------
Title: That Which Cannot Be Put Into Words · Author: Pearl Took · Times:
The Great Years: Vignette · ID: 230
Reviewer: pipkinsweetgrass · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 6
This an absolutely gorgeous tale. Anyone who has ever been drunk on
music knows the feeling. It surpasses all, a universal thing shared even
with birds and beasts. Music is as much a part of us as our hearts and
hands. A wonderfully sweet exploraton into the cross-cultural, this a
story that touches the heart. It has a healing quality to it like music
itself. Here is a thing dear to the human spirit, a universal truth
which spans time, race, even species. And Pearl had done a wondeful job
of exploring this territory. The use of language was lovely, the
descriptives clear and crisp, and though heart-warming, the story is in
no way sappy or overly sentimental. Here is the condition hopelessly
human, writen with brevity and beauty. Well done!
-----------------------------------
Title: The Stone's Lament · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 53
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Gimli's PoV and especially his reaction to Legolas' announcement is very
in-character. I had never noticed his ebullient behavior quite so
starkly before, and this fic paints a wonderful picture of what was
going on in his head. The call of the Dwarves' homeland and the
impression of Mahal's spirit were excellent touches.
-----------------------------------
Title: Gundabad · Author: Salsify · Races: Dwarves · ID: 79
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
An interesting and plausible theory on the Dwarves seemingly forsaking
Mt. Gundabad. There were very clear descriptions of the fighting and the
Chamber itself. The Dwarves' determination to remake the Chamber to once
again be a fitting place for the origin of Durin's folk was so
heartening - and only heightened the bitterness of the ending. Very
clever theory about a special jewel being centerpoint of any Dwarven
city, and it fit in extremely well with Thorin's actions in the Hobbit.
Well done!
-----------------------------------
Title: Too Few Words · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Dwarves · ID: 311
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 10
A very touching and bittersweet story. Excellent rendering of a PoV from
a female dwarf; I had a definite sense of femininity without feeling I
had been hit over the head with it, and you captured the brief quote
from Tolkien extremely well, with very sparing prose. The descriptions
are beautiful; I had an extremely clear image of her quarters, for
example, and of the appearances of Gimli and Legolas and the sound of
their voices.

The prologue clearly shows both her special skills and her feelings for
Gimli in such a short space. I love: ["It was her first drawing of a
living creature.."] I also love how she carefully moved to have the
meeting with Gimli happen - even though she knew she could not bear to
join his group without becoming his significant other. His reaction to
her serene refusal (and her corresponding continued calm) were perfectly
rendered and very funny.

The wordless exchange with Legolas at the end, with their recognition of
shared affection for Gimli, was just wonderful. I did wish for a more
concrete revelation as to why she didn't think she had a future with
Gimli, as I didn't get a "slash" feeling about Gimli and Legolas'
relationship. Finally, I really liked thinking of having anonymous
evidence of her love continuing on through the sketch she made at the end.
-----------------------------------
Title: Antiphon to Light · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 155
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 10
Excellent insight into Gimli's mind. This look at his enchantment with
Galadriel was skillfully crafted and truly delightful. His
characterization was exceptional and very much what I imagined from the
books, as were all the other individuals portrayed. The moment when he
falls - when he realizes that this extraordinary Elf knows and
appreciates him and his people - was beautifully unfolded, and extended
by leaps and bounds my own understanding and appreciation of Gimli's
love for Galadriel.

I really enjoyed his interaction with Pippin, especially Pippin's
repeated "I don't understand you" bit - very funny, and his inner
thoughts during that time made a good bridge to the final scene. Gimli's
connection of diamonds with Galadriel was a perfect association. The
description of Lorien was marvelous and very evocative, as was Gimli's
response to it. His conversation with Legolas at the end was wonderful,
and showed very well how their relationship has started altering into
friendship - not quite totally trusting but definitely on its way.

I also really liked your subheadings. I thought they were apt and added
much to the flow of the story, and they continued the tone set by the title.
-----------------------------------
Title: Tolkien's Use of Expletives · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 147
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
What a really good idea to look through Hobbit and LOTR and see what the
characters really said as exclamations. I think this will be
particularly useful for those writing fanfic about hobbits who seem to
have a lot to say on the subject, especially Samwise...

This must have been a long, laborious task, and Dreamflower deserves our
thanks for undertaking it on everyone's behalf.
-----------------------------------
Title: A Meara for Me! · Author: Súlriel · Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 893
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
As a person who loves horses but knows very little about them, I found
this wonderful site very useful. I look forward to creating a fantasy
horse and learning enough to use him or her in a story some day. Thanks
for the resource and for the great pictures too.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Princess and the Horse Lord · Author: Oshun · Genres:
Romance: Incomplete · ID: 425
Reviewer: Erynhith · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 5
Time has caught up with me and I am only half way through reading this
on the last day of voting, but I am looking forward to finishing it. I
think you have taken on the difficult point of view of the woman left
behind when the men go to battle, and succeeded in making Lothiriel's
story interesting and rich. I think she is very convincing as a young
woman suddenly plunged into love and struggling with the darkness which
has affected all her menfolk as well as Eomer himself. There are some
very moving moments, such as the celebration after the defeat of Sauron
when Eomer sings the lament, and the sweetness of the new love between
Lothiriel and Eomer is very poignant. I also like your tough Eowyn and
her straightforward ways.
-----------------------------------
Title: Little Stars · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves: Feanorians ·
ID: 107
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is one of my favorite stories by Space Weavil. It is very powerful
and tense. Like all of her stories, the reader really feels like they
are in the story environment because her descriptions are so evocative.
Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Grey Havens · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves · ID: 708
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
I love this romance--and I love the characters/canon that Space Weavil
chose to explore in it. Characters that we do not get to read about very
often. And they are so well portrayed in this. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Nan Elmoth · Author: Robinka · Genres: Romance: Poetry · ID: 249
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
I love sonnets and this particular poetic form seems especially
appropriate for this topic, so even better. This is a beautiful poem
with gorgeous imagery. Very sensual and sexy. I love it!
-----------------------------------
Title: The Gift of Time · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama:
Pre-Fellowship · ID: 812
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is a very sad and powerful vignette, made even more powerful given
that the person telling the boy about the death of his father will one
day leave behind his own young son. He does not have the time that he
thinks he does. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Mathom · Author: Perelleth · Genres: Humor · ID: 192
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This story is a. hilarious comedy of chaos and misdirection. I am amazed
at how great all the characters are in this--you really have their
voices down pat here. And the twists in it are very clever. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Last Goodbyes Series · Author: Perelleth · Genres: Drama:
Fixed-Length Ficlet Series · ID: 814
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is an amazing series of drabbles. So many fascinating characters,
many of whom we rarely get to read about, and such a great
topic--goodbyes. Of course I particularly loved the one where Thranduil
lets Legolas go to Ithilien, but the Silmarillion based ones are great
because those characters are so powerful. Great series!
-----------------------------------
Title: New beginnings · Author: Perelleth · Genres: Humor · ID: 815
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
This is an absolutely fantastic story. The cast is huge and brilliantly
handled--their interactions are perfectly in character/canon, complex
and rich. All the characters are great, and some certainly have a more
central role, but my favorite is Oropher. He is great in this. As is
Celeborn. And the story line--I absolutely love the complexity of the
politics in this. And the hilarious chaos that results from it. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Tolkien's Use of Expletives · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction · ID: 147
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
This is an outstanding essay. It must have been an amazing amount of
work to go through the stories to find the 'terminology' Tolkien used.
And this is so useful for those writers that want to keep the tone of
their stories closer to canon. Even my friends that don't write enjoyed
this essay because the analysis of the language was really interesting.
Great job and thanks so much for doing this. Now if we could just get
some of the people who have Arwen cursing like a sailor to read and
appreciate it...
-----------------------------------
Title: Kissing is Different · Author: Lady Bluejay · Genres: Romance:
Lothíriel & Éomer · ID: 280
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
I really like the strength of the characters in this story. And I like
the tone of it. A very clever story and very enjoyable.
-----------------------------------
Title: In the Service of the King · Author: grey_wonderer · Times: The
Great Years: Post-Sauron's Fall · ID: 138
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
I do not know the hobbits well, but of all of them, Pippin is the one I
like the most. And this is a wonderful Pippin story. I love his
interactions. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Butterflies and Caterpillars · Author: Radbooks · Times: Late
Third Age · ID: 258
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
Oh this was absolutely delightful. There is nothing like enjoying
something magical with the innocence of a child. I love moments like
this one and you captured it well!
-----------------------------------
Title: Beech Leaves · Author: Redheredh · Races: Elves: Featuring
Mirkwood Elves · ID: 165
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is wonderful! I really enjoyed reading it as it unfolded. This was
a really delightful portrayal of the return of one of my favorite
characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Heirlooms · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Remembering · ID: 72
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
This was a really touching, powerful story. I love the idea of these
children having such special toys. Great vignette!
-----------------------------------
Title: Planning Ahead · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Men · ID: 84
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 1
What a delightful encounter between these two characters. I really
enjoyed it.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Household Accounts · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 50
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
This was a very moving peak into the past of the steward's family framed
in a very clever and powerful way. I really enjoyed reading it.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship · Author: Elana · Times:
Early Third Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 150
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
What a delightful first encounter! And you captured so many aspects of
hobbit character and Gandalf's character. Well done!
-----------------------------------
Title: King's Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Times: The Great
Years: Vignette · ID: 197
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
A wonderful story capturing an important, emotional moment for the
Aragorn and Halbarad. I really enjoyed it.
-----------------------------------
Title: What Better Companion? · Author: Space Weavil · Races: Elves ·
ID: 175
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
A very clever idea to put these two together under these circumstances.
I particularly like you Olorin. Great story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Cierre, Min Heorte (Turn, My Heart) · Author: SilverMoonLady ·
Races: Hobbits: Fixed-Length Ficlet series · ID: 108
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
I love this drabble series and the history it pieces together. I was
absolutely fascinated by the history of the elves and hobbits as you
portrayed them. I thought this was incredibly clever and I really
enjoyed it.
-----------------------------------
Title: On the Way Home · Author: Citrine · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey
Havens · ID: 649
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
A really powerfully emotional moment for the hobbits that made a really
wonderful story. I really enjoyed reading it.
-----------------------------------
Title: The Stone's Lament · Author: Thevina Finduilas · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 53
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
I love stories that show Gimli and Legolas in the beginning part of
their friendship. This was a wonderful moment for Gimli. A very
enjoyable story!
-----------------------------------
Title: Necessity and Desire · Author: Gwynnyd · Times: The Great Years ·
ID: 173
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 1
This is a great gap-filler. I absolutely loved it.
-----------------------------------
Title: Beware the Sea · Author: Marta · Races: Elves: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 404
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is a great series of drabble--Marta has a real gift for thinking of
clever themes to build these series around. And I really like the
characters she chose here. Some are the ones we expect (Legolas) but
some are real surprises. But they all fit so well in canon. Great series!
-----------------------------------
Title: Elfstone · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Races: Elves: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 252
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
This is absolutely wonderful. I have never seen this moment described
and it is wonderful to see one of Celebrimbor's greater deeds portrayed.
And this was really well done. Powerful. I loved it.
-----------------------------------
Title: Remembrance · Author: Acacea · Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 73
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Oh this is a delightful moment! I so enjoyed seeing Denethor and the
glimpse he had of his future wife in his memory. And I was really moved
by Denethor's reaction to seeing his gift again. Really well done!
-----------------------------------
Title: Tom Bombadil and the Four Travellers · Author: Dreamflower ·
Times: The Great Years: Poetry · ID: 887
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
From one of those (apparently rare) people who enjoyed Tom Bombadil and
never skip his songs--I love this! I am so impressed by it. It looks
like it would fit in the book perfectly. That rhythm must have been
really hard to do, but you did a great job! Awesome!
-----------------------------------
Title: Just a Little Shove · Author: Inglor · Genres: Humor:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 798
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
Ha! Push him Elrond! I busted out laughing when I read this. The way PJ
portrays it, Glorfindel is right--that sure is what Elrond should have done.
-----------------------------------
Title: Fëanorian Fates Drabble Series · Author: Alassante · Times: First
Age and Prior: Incomplete · ID: 214
Reviewer: elliska · 2006-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
The idea of writing the fates of the Feanorians is very clever, I think.
And you have some really powerful images in here. I think though my
favorite is Eru's Lament. I like the rhythm of it and the imagery.

-----------------------------------

Thank you for all the work you did posting reviews for MEFA. Through them I have found many new LOTR stories to savor and enjoy!

--Eilenach




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