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Title: Fissures · Author: Thundera Tiger · Races: Dwarves · ID: 804
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:19:24

We do not hear too much, in LOTR and its Appendices, about what Gimli's
people thought of his becoming an Elf-Friend. Thundera Tiger addresses
the problems and possibilities that the changes in Gimli can cause,
through a Dwarf OMC who is unsettled by Gimli's new appreciation for
other cultures and races.

Well-written and credible. Gimli is characterised as both something of
an opportunist and a future statesman desirous of maintaining fragile
alliances.

Title: Matriarch · Author: Aervir · Races: Men: General Drabble · ID:
449
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:20:37
A vivid snapshot of a formidable woman - Morwen Steelsheen - as seen
through the eyes of the child Eowyn.

I adore the phrase [her voice being the sound of horns on the wind];
not only does it fit the profile of the woman called Steelsheen, but it
ties in with the stirring moment of the Rohirrim's arrival at the
Pelennor in 3019; a fitting literary leitmotif as it were.

And the last line is terrific!

Title: The Turn of the Tide · Author: Altariel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 72
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:21:52
A truly stellar AU that left me screaming for more.

The story is short and ostensibly simple; in this Alternate Universe,
Faramir went to Rivendell while Boromir took his place in Ithilien; and
Faramir met Eowyn on his way, and they fell in love and spoke vows.
Now, Boromir, having allowed Faramir and Frodo and Gollum to procede
from Ithilien to Mordor, prepares to accompany Aragorn's host to the
Black Gate; and Eowyn and Denethor stay in the City, waiting for the
people they love to return or die.

The moods are sketched subtly, with elegance and perception. There's a
curious sympathy between Denethor and Eowyn; it is lovely to see him be
the one to give her the starry mantle. And it's fascinating to see an
Eowyn who has never thought herself in love with Aragorn, whose heart
is fixed on Faramir.

The language is occasionally Tolkienish; at least in beauty of
expresson - the bit about the world seeming to exhale is awfully pretty
and perfect for that point in the story.

And I love the last paragraphs, particularly Eowyn's triumphant mention
of Denethor's sons returning after great deeds!

Title: Conjuror · Author: Branwyn · Races: Men: General Drabble · ID:
432
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:24:10
This drabble is a fascinating study in power, opening questions as to
who wields power, and how power should be wielded. The dialogue between
Denethor and Mithrandir is beautifully written, and could come straight
from LOTR. Denethor's need, and desire to dare things that are beyond
his ken for the sake of his people, are succintly brought into the
piece, in vivid contrast to Mithrandir's more avuncular (and to some
degree, patronizing) approach to the disposition of supernatural power.

The air seems to crackle with the conflict of these very powerful
individuals. One cannot blame Denethor for wanting to save his land by
any means possible, and one sympathizes with his impatient reaction to
Mithrandir's cryptic utterances. Denethor craves answers, not riddles
and enigmas. And yet, the use of Power against the natural order of
things, to bend it to one's will in all manner of weaponry and
regardless of consequences, is a two-edged sword. Sauron has done so,
Saruman is doing so; Mithrandir has good reason to warn Denethor
against this course, and to explain why he will not employ the same
means as their Enemy.

An intriguing drabble, subtle but very thought-provoking, that asks us,
as well as Denethor and Gandalf, about the fine line between Power and
Desecration.



Title: A Boy and His Lob · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Humor · ID:
162
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:32:03
Here's Legolas as a bratty teenager. A REALLY bratty teenager!

This is certainly one of the more unusual variations of the
young-Legolas-and-his-pets stories I've seen. Outrageous and punkish;
but it works as a story, and is funny.

Title: Sea Food · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Children · ID: 53
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:36:45
This is an utterly charming slice of life of the sons of Denethor, in
childhood and sharing carefree moments with their Uncle Imrahil in Dol
Amroth.

Lovely descriptions of the seashore and tidal pools. Imrahil's
tenderness and fondness for his young nephews shines through in an
understated way. The boys' fondness for the unforeseen adventure is
typical of youngsters everywhere, and their reluctance to cook the
creatures they've caught shows their essential good nature, as well as
their innocence and privileged status. I loved little Faramir's
farewell to the crabs.



Title: The Unbearable Smugness of Being Feanor · Author: Ignoble Bard ·
Genres: Humor · ID: 164
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:39:09
An enjoyable and somewhat nasty romp through an AU scenario pitting the
disembodied souls of two of the biggest egos in Tolkien's works -
Melkor and Feanor - against each other in a war of words within the
Void. And a surprise ending that makes a lot of sense, actually.

Wonderfully apt title! Melkor certainly is right that Feanor is just
too smug.

Title: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony · Author: Marta · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Drabble · ID: 163
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:41:39
Very hobbity little piece from the POV of someone we hardly ever see in
Tolkien fanfic. The drabble rings quite true and could have come from
the Professor's own pen. I love the image of hobbits moving with
greater speed and agility than cloddish big folk; and Nob's cheerful
determination, despite his nervousness, to succeed in a new endeavor.

Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:43:52
Perfectly beautiful, and yet tinged with an overlay of age and regret.
This is a winter story, set in the winter of the land, and the winter
of Faramir's life, a bittersweet paean to his lonely, ironic effort to
retrace Boromir's journey forth from the lands of their youth. It is
sad and yet somehow fitting that a young Rohir, to whom Boromir would
be only a legend, accompanies Faramir. For Faramir, Boromir is a
memory, a brother perished in his prime. Faramir himself was fated to
live to an old age that, while not decrepit nor bitter, seems
regretful. And yet, Faramir, as ever, acknowledges the sorrow of his
brother's loss, and turns from contemplation of the dead to thoughts of
life and the pleasure of feasting in a nearby landholder's hall.

I love the ending, with Faramir initiating a Rohirric song in which his
young companion joins, welcoming whatever joy remains to be taken.

An excellently structured and scripted piece that flows easily but
never takes the easy way...And of course, a great tribute to both
Tolkien and Robert Frost.


Title: Burden of Guilt · Author: Linda hoyland · Races: Men · ID: 123
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 09:48:19
[Burden of Guilt] is a worthy sequel to Linda's earlier epic [Shadow
and Thought].

The tale takes the reader into somewhat darker territory. A chain of
events is set off by a letter that Eowyn wrote but never sent in the
earlier story, that somehow reaches Eomer and triggers an escalation of
misunderstanding, violence, and injuries with nearly fatal consequences
to Eomer, Faramir and others, as well as the possibility of a
Gondor/Rohan war. In a counterpart to the main plotline, Arwen bears
her and Aragorn's first child, attended by the pregnant Eowyn.

There are few writers who can match Linda in the delineation of
hurt/comfort, angst, and Gondorian and Elven medical techniques, most
of which are well and plausibly described and used here.

My favorite scenes, for sheer heart-thumping pulse-pounding drama are
those chronicling Eowyn's own traumatic delivery of her and Faramir's
firstborn.

In the course of the story, Faramir and Aragorn solidify the friendship
that began to develop in [Shadow and Thought]. Linda is a comparitive
rarity among Fourth Age Aragorn writers; she concentrates more on the
relationship of Aragorn and Faramir rather than the more frequently
written friendship of Aragorn and Legolas. Tolkien's intent seems to
have been that Aragorn and Faramir would work together and like each
other as well as respect each other, and a line mentioned in HoME that
was omitted, but never contradicted, in ROTK, portends close friendship
King and Steward.



Title: A...Like An Antagonistic Arwen · Author: Linda Hoyland/Raksha
the Demon CoAuthors · Genres: Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID:
758
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-24 14:35:06
Each of these drabbles stands fine on its own, but together, as a
series, seems rather repetitive, although I realize those repeated
elements were likely compulsory. I also found myself somewhat
dissapointed that Arwen's predominant response was indignation; perhaps
a way could be found show her greater range within the scope of the
challenge.

Title: Growed · Author: agape4gondor · Races: Men: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 218
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-24 15:11:49
Interesting idea - that everything that takes place in the books
relating to Boromir is tinged with the knowledge of his own death.

But I thought this quadrabble was problematic - the experientiual
story, though charming, is really extraneous to the climax (Boromir's
foresight), and the confusion of formal and childish language ("I am
growed, are I not, Boromir?") was unfortunate.

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 18:59:06
A bracing adventure that is an extrapolation of the scene in FOTR where
Boromir leads Aragorn in forcing a path through the snows of Caradhras.

Boromir and Aragorn are both well-served here; the characterisations
are good; both Men are heroic and yet human as they pit their mortal
strength against the winter's fury. The irony of Legolas' graceful,
easy path across the same snow through which the Men are trudging holds
true here as in the passage that inspired the story.

I liked the mutual respect and determination that is apparent between
Boromir and Aragorn.

Title: More than Meets the Eye · Author: Dadgad · Genres: Humor: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 128
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-24 20:02:45
A splendid tale of the event mentioned only in a few lines in The
Hobbit: the Battle of the Green Fields, where Bullroarer Took killed
the great goblin king Golfimbul with a club and, in so doing, invented
the Game of Golf.

A straight story of the battle would have been good enough, but Dadgad
takes a more interesting track, of having the tale told through the
eyes of Elladan and Elrohir, reporting to their worried father, about
the doings of the goblin horde and the not-so-hapless halflings.
Elrond's concern for the hobbits, who he fears would have been
destroyed by the rampaging goblins, leaving a broken, refugee
population, is touching; and the Elves' lack of greater knowledge of
the halflings well integrated into the story.

The Elf-twins' point of view increases the gosh-wow effect of the
story; the charm and appeal of the hobbits is emphasized by the growing
admiration of the Elves, who witnessed such strange and unexpected
occurances.

The tenacity, courage, imagination and capacity for stealth of the
hobbits is brought out superbly in the story; as is their
provincialism.

The story has some marvelous touches of humor, such as the apparent
invention of the Shire Horse breed, and the genesis of the game of
golf, and the priorities of the Dunedain Chieftain Arasuil.

This is a hidden gem of a story - I can only hope that it is not the
last Tolkien fanfic tale that its author will write.


Title: In Aragorn's Safekeeping: Life in the King's House · Author:
Radbooks · Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 416
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-25 13:10:11
Perhaps the one "Mary Sue" I have felt was truly well done and mature,
the original "In Aragorn's Safekeeping" was a wonderful find. Now we
are continuing to follow the lives of Rebecca and Thomas, the two
teenagers found dropped into Middle Earth following a tragic bus
accident in 1940s America as the two families were headed west into
Washington State. Having been adopted by Aragorn and fallen in love,
these two now prepare for their upcoming wedding as they continue to
adjust to life as the King's Wards and with Arwen as their foster
mother, and to the loss of their own families. New traditions need to
be made; and understanding how their own familiar Christian upbringing
contrasts with the belief in the Valar held by the Dunedain among whom
they now live are explored. We see the new family relationships form
and strengthen and the two of them weather their first major
disagreements.

It's as fascinating a look at how such a relationship would impact the
household of the new King and Queen of Gondor and Arnor as was the
original tale, and I look forward to seeing it continued and brought to
closure.

Title: Domestic Crisis · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men: Eriador or
Rivendell · ID: 729
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-07-25 13:36:58
There is quite a contrast between Aragorn's favorite kinsman, Halbarad,
and his brother Thalguron. Halbarad is constant, the lover of one woman
only--his wife Serinde the surgeon and healer, is the height of
responsibility. Thalguron is promiscuous and a bit of a ne'er-do-well,
and generally knows the amazement of his brother, cousin, and
sister-in-law. As for the day he left his weapons where Halbarad and
Serinde's small children could get their hands on them---- Well!

But there comes the day when Thalguron manages to do everything right,
and both his brother and his sister-in-law are approving of him, seeing
the reflection of the man he could and should be, and he finds the
approval almost more than he can bear....

Quite an amusing look at how some work at promoting an image of
irrespectability, and a lovely addition to Surgical Steel's universe.

Title: Tales of the Innkeeper · Author: Allee · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 237
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-25 15:00:24
I imagine the hard part about writing a series, is to keep growing the
story while keeping it from becoming repetitive. This author does an
admirable job, but, collectively, the image that emerges of Elessar did
seem to me a bit overly virtuous, even in his faults. And - a nitpick -
having the Inn Keeper continually address both King and Steward by
their names I found annoyingly informal.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 05:49:34
A great story about a meeting I've never seen chronicled before - that
of Elanor Gamgee and Elboron of Ithilien, the children of Samwise and
Faramir.

Young Elanor and Elboron are both beautifully written - children of the
peace of the Fourth Age, they have an appealing appreciation of beauty,
the courtesy that marks their fathers, and a certain recklessness
stemming from joyous spirits. The reader can see traces of their
parents' influence, and the changes that the events chronicled in LORD
OF THE RINGS have wrought - young people can enjoy their childhood even
while paying attention to duty, and there is more communication and
interaction between the different races of Middle-earth.

Annmarwalk imbues Elanor and Elboron with appealing traces of their
parents: Elanor has both the practicality and instinct to reach for
greater things that makes Sam such an appealing and interesting fellow;
while Elboron's musing on the significance of words during a mad dash
from the library shows that he is indeed Faramir's son.

Sam is also brought into the story, in perfect characterisation, via
the advice he gave to Elanor and she quotes back to Elboron.

The story promises that the legacies of such different, but powerful
characters, as Samwise Gamgee and Faramir of Gondor, will be well
cared-for by Sam's daughter and Faramir's son.

Title: Free and Gay · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 81
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 06:04:19
An unusual ficlet dealing with burdens and the difficulty of escaping
them. Though the summary mentions slash themes, the tale can be read,
in my opinion, without inclusion of the idea that Boromir is a
homosexual - or with inclusion of that premise.

The story presents the most famous Gondorian brothers in Middle-earth
seizing the opportunity to relax and celebrate Yule with the officers
of the other military companies. It's like a big, happy, Boyz Club - no
women allowed, or at least no women present. The soldiers are
coordinating strategy, and also feasting on good, fresh food, and
dancing.

But Boromir is still tense and apparently burdened. His words, and more
importantly his thoughts, reveal that more conventional social
gatherings, where lords' daughters and their mothers stalk him
relentlessly, feel like traps to him. He is in no hurry to sample the
maidens' charms; far from it, he can't wait to escape them.

Whether Boromir's revulsion for the particular young women whose
mothers look him over like the butcher's goods stems from homosexuality
or a dislike of the pressure to bed a maiden and produce an heir, can
be left to the reader to decide. Tolkien's description of Boromir as a
man who had no interest in marriage or women, favoring a soldier's
life, could indicate he was homosexual, or could mean he just preferred
army life and had a low sex drive.

This is a good story whichever way you read it. I particularly loved
the description of the group dancing - the image of the men dancing in
circles is beautiful and powerful, there's an earthy, almost ritual
feel to it. And Boromir's being out of step in the center of the rings,
is a rather poignant image that one can also take as sinister
foreshadowing of his eventually coming under the sway of a different
ring. Boromir is a strong man, but even a strong man can feel trammeled
at the center of the forces that rule his life and also threaten to
destroy his world.




Title: Elements: Dreams of the Dead, Visions of the Living · Author:
pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland ·
ID: 202
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-07-26 06:17:03
Intriguing and sensitively written variation on the connection between
Pippin and Boromir. I like the relationship that is established between
Pippin and Faramir, and then their sons. And the death of Pippin is
beautiful and sad.

I loved the ending.

Title: For the Dwarves, Gimli · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Dwarves ·
ID: 155
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:42:34
Very well done. As a series should, with each of these three ficlets a
little more of the story becomes clear, well linked one to the other
but never repetitive. The loving interplay between Gloin and his wife,
Gimli's later forthrightness about his mother's insistence, and then
how Nandi's only interest is in the world that is her children ring
true and touchingly.

Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:48:21
Very well done. Both these characters come leaping off the screen (as
well as flying across the courtyard), full, unique, and charming, but
it is there similarities which make the story work past its ending, and
how it leads you to imagine the warmth of their next meeting.

Title: No Escape · Author: Aranel Took · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 324
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:51:23
Hmmm ... this one is complicated. The feelings of this mother, trapped
with her young ones - valliant, desperate, and brave come through clear
and strong. And the ambiguity I read in the ending only heightened the
tale, but I have to wonder what families were doing there then, and the
wondering almost spoiled it.

Title: Jewel · Author: Aranel Took · Genres: Romance: Drabble · ID: 325
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:53:30
I enjoyed this thought very much. I appreciate plausible departures
from the actual text, and the idea that craftsmanship among dwarves
would be used to woo seems wonderfully appropriate. I thought the very
last phrase, however, could have been modified to take the story a mite
further, rather than repeat what we had already been told.

Title: The Lesson · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 29
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-07-26 17:58:11
The language of this drabble is lovely, and it is formed very nicely of
those successive paragraphs, each one taking something from the one
before and moving forward with it. But the end is, sadly, poorly done.
It was a wonderful idea, but the content of the drabble belies it, as
each example clearly demonstrated Faramir got the lesson all along.