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Title: Twice blessed is help unlooked for · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 631
Reviewer: phyloxena · 2007-08-11 22:42:35
This is a great drabble. I particularly like the heavy and weary
Imrahil here. Imrahil ITB is a secondary character with very few lines
and details, and his cameo (at least in my imagination) is bright and
flat like a Patronus, to borrow from another fandom. Thanks for the
added depth.

Title: The Tides of the World · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 101
Reviewer: phyloxena · 2007-08-11 23:10:32
A fantastic ficlet. I love Aragorn's steady, if weary, voice, his
counting of losses and gains, the ascending note in the last line
["And now -- a new day"]. I believe Aragorn walking back to his tents
on his own legs is very much in character (but I hate to think he
missed another night's sleep, as the ficlet implies... hope they would
not disturb him)

Title: Better Days Ahead · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 51
Reviewer: phyloxena · 2007-08-12 03:10:16
This is scary! Not many people risk writing from uruk-hai POW. Very
impressive. ["They didn't even win fair"] was a great touch. Orks must
have their notion of fair, too.

Title: Shadows of the Past · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 331
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-12 07:22:58
A rarely used subject for a drabble or any other Tolkien fanfic - the
effect of his murder of Deagol upon the unhappy Smeagol as he became
Gollum and even after. The drabble neatly addresses the question of
how Gollum felt about his crime, and how much he remembered as the
years past - with subtlety and a slight shiver. Nicely done.

Title: 13th Birthday · Author: stefaniab · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 138
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-12 20:03:28
This is quite an enjoyable romp through a Tolkien fanfiction
sub-universe that is mostly movie-verse but with a hint of bookverse.

The story concerns Boromir's efforts to give his younger brother a
happy thirteenth birthday and induct young Faramir into the ranks of
physical and legal maturity. Boromir is portrayed as a cheerful,
loving older brother, charismatic, and more clever than he lets on;
which is right on the mark with Sean Bean's delightful version of the
character. Faramir is a quiet boy who is far more perceptive, seeing
things his brother could not and would not, his gentle disposition
troubled by hints of darkness to come.

There are lots of Neat Bits - such as Faramir being physically strong
and well-trained enough to slip out of Boromir's surprise attack, and
Faramir's concern for Denethor, and the wonderful last paragraph. My
favorite chapter is probably the third (also the last); where there is
a very smoothly flowing confrontation between the somewhat inebriated
Boromir, the alternately amused and wistful Denethor, and the quietly
content Faramir (who has a secret). One wishes one could freeze the
family at that point, and never move into the more bitter days of 3019...

The story may not be strictly Canon, but it is a very good read,
possibly the best from a very entertaining writer.

Title: Still Round the Corner · Author: lbilover · Races: Hobbits:
Post-Grey Havens · ID: 515
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-12 20:24:28
Much has been made in Tolkien fanfiction of the reunion of Sam and
Frodo in the Undying Lands. This is a story of Sam's last moments with
the son who bears Frodo's name - and it is extremely well done.

I like Frodo Gardner's sorrow for his father's departure, his efforts
to persuade him to stay, and his slight resentment of Frodo Baggins'
hold on Sam; this is natural, but never strays into malice; Frodo is a
good-hearted and sensible hobbit, very like his father. It cannot be
easy to be the son of a living legend, one of the two hobbits who
saved Middle-earth; and Ibilover conveys Frodo's wistful recognition
of his own unadventurous life very well. Sam's reply, that Frodo
(Baggins) gave his all so that Sam's children and descendants would
never have to pick up a weapon, is wonderful and very hobbit-like.



Title: Warriors' Scars · Author: Marta · Times: Early Third Age:
1-2850 TA · ID: 648
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-08-12 22:09:31
This is a turning point for Elladan - he's no longer focused just on
his own grief. And the way I see the twins, when Elladan takes that
step, Elrohir will follow.

I love Glorfindel's support - spoken and unspoken - to father and sons.

Title: More than Meets the Eye · Author: Dadgad · Genres: Humor: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 128
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2007-08-12 22:15:22
Very, very good, and full of sly humour. I like all the subtle
references you've squeezed in - the Granny Smith apples, the Shire
horse, how Bullroarer Took got his name, and the golfing jokes.

Tolkien's comment in The Hobbit about how 'the battle of Greenfields
was won and the game of golf invented at the same time' always amused
me - thanks for expanding on it. And with the twins, as well!


Title: Too Many Adverbs · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Humor: Drabble ·
ID: 660
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-13 04:36:24
Boromir the Bold and hardy and forward in battle would certainly have
been a handful as a boy; and perhaps most of all to the loremaster
assigned the task of teaching him. In this amusing drabble by Branwyn,
the loremaster tries to persuade his young charge of the importance of
mastering adverbs.

Boromir is written exceptionally well here; as a youngster who is not
fond of book learning and grammar, yet is clever enough to wear out
his tutor in a verbal fencing match. We also see the persistence and
determination that are so much part of Boromir's character in later
life. I can almost see the patience of the poor loremaster, who seems
to be a good teacher, fading.



Title: The Case of the Purloined Mushrooms · Author: Inkling · Genres:
Mystery · ID: 298
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-08-14 03:36:30
A delightful tale and well worth reading. I loved the characters:
Frodo, Bilbo, the messenger (best of all), and all others involved. I
liked the differences between the messengers - quite well told. And
the mystery was, well, a mystery. Well done!

Title: A Dragon in Buckland · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Mystery ·
ID: 206
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-08-14 03:38:27

This was such fun, Pearl. I loved every moment of it. And what a great
idea. Merry should be very proud of Pippin, especially since he
brought others in to learn about caring for others. I thoroughly
enjoyed it and especially the 'dragon' at the end. Well worth reading!

Title: In the Dark · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Mystery · ID: 484
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-08-14 03:41:13
Wow! You never let up, did you? I kept waiting and hoping for some
kind of happy or hopeful ending - but no.... what a tense tale. My
heart was in my throat for Legolas. He endured as long as he could.
But then, when you had the same thing happen to Aragorn, I think I
nearly died. VERY tense, very scary, very goose-bump making tale. I
still am not quite over it. Very, very scary! Congratulations!

Title: The City and Star Island Line · Author: lipstick · Genres:
Mystery · ID: 524
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-08-14 03:51:03
This was a great tale. At first, I was a little befuddled, but quickly
caught the 'spirit' (giggles) and read the rest with delight.

I do love the ghost tale as it is being told.... especially the line
about the miles from fifty to a thousand... and then the ending line -
just delightful.

But the true tale was much more enduring and harder to read and to
bear the grief... though the time is over and done with, the scar
remains...

I got goose-bumps when I read about the paraffin - I had to read the
section TWICE to finally realize - because my mind did not want to
even imagine the horror of the smell. POOR FARAMIR... incredibly horrific!

And the sacrifices and Faramir's response to them, upholding his
family's honour - as horrible (and that word is constant throughout
this review because of your tale!) as horrible as the idea was -
Faramir's response made me laugh. Sadly. (I apologize to Faramir.)

The gift of the Phoenix - how chilling and once again, horrible, but
befitting dearest Faramir - for he did rise from the ashes to a really
glorious Steward. However, is the old Steward going to rise again?
More goose-bumps!

I love the description of Eowyn's love for Faramir and how it
broadened her horizons. I loved her thoughts of him. And then that
they both have nightmares - chilling. *runs off to get a blanket*

And I do love the ending - for the horror is dispelled and love and
laughter win the day. And Faramir thinks kindly of his father - whom I
just happen to adore.

Many thanks for a delightful, horror-filled reading!

Title: The Stone of Erebor · Author: Primsong · Genres: Mystery · ID: 401
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-08-14 03:55:29
I loved every moment of this tale. You really know how to write Bilbo
and make him believable and seem like the tale is one Tolkien himself
wrote. But even further in amazement for me is your writing of the
Dwarves! You do an excellent job with them.

The mystery was such fun - and difficult to figure out. I loved the
'bits' of Dwarvish history. I loved the nuances of their culture which
you generously share. I love Bilbo's trying to work around that
culture and almost failing and yet succeeding.

I loved the fact that Bilbo was held in such high esteem by some of
the Dwarves and yet held in suspicion by others - even the King Under
the Mountain. I loved his kidnesses in all situations. Even being
called a thief again!

Delightfully written mystery with the burglar Bilbo Baggins right in
the middle of it all with Dwarves, and assorted venues! High suspense,
lovely writing, great character depictions. No one writes Bilbo quite
like this!

Title: Fair Folk and Foul · Author: Adaneth · Races: Cross-Cultural ·
ID: 222
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-14 23:32:57
Adaneth continues the saga of the exiles of Srathen Brethil and their
chance alliance with a Dwarvish colony that has just established
itself nearby. The monsters still lurked as of the end of the last
story, and they remain a threat as [Fair Folk and Foul] opens. The
intervention of a Ranger squad sent by the Chieftain, Aragorn, who
arrives from over the mountains to hunt the beasts is matched by the
first stirrings of interest from Lindon - not that the emissary seems
particularly friendly!

Tension builds as misfortune strikes, depriving Saelon's people of
their Chieftain, and halving the number of settlers in the village. At
this point, it's time for a motley crew of Dwarves and Men - only one
of whom is a Ranger - to take on the creatures.

And while I don't recall seeing any leading quotes from [Beowulf],
this is essentially a transfiguration of that tale - the repeated,
unsuccessful and costly attempts to slay the monsters when they come
hunting in the hall, the one companion (Veylin) who manages to lop off
a paw, the journey of oath-sworn companions who dare to bait the beast
in close quarters, who must finish the job by seeking the monsters in
their watery lair, and the revelation of the Grendel-mother all come
together in the final chapters of the story.

The cultural interactions are very well done - there is a definite
shift between the perspective of the Edain and Dunedain and the
perspective of Veylin and the Dwarves. Adaneth, as in the previous
installment, shows this very well, and the difficulty of forging an
alliance across cultures where so much scope for misunderstanding
lies. Veylin and Saelon continue to be regarded askance, as a pair of
unlikely ally-friends, and individually precisely because everyone
wants to know why on earth they seem to get on so well and are willing
to fall back on the oldest motive in the book (and the one most likely
to cause offense).

One would hope the survivors of Srathen Brethil and Veylin's folk
would be able to settle down and begin to build an alliance based on
more than a desire for vengeance against a mutual foe. But that elven
emissary, with his arrogant and foreboding words, remains at large -
the Lindon affair hasn't even begun yet, and who knows what twists
that will introduce?

I look forward to the next installment! Stories like these are some of
the reasons I love MEFAs - I find things I had been wanting to read
but lost track of, or had not had time for, or simply had not known,
and have an excuse to make the time to sit with them.

Well done, Adaneth! Both stories in your Dunhebaid cycle I would
recommend to anyone with a love of Middle-earth - this is just the
sort of tale to help fill in the history of the place with the
adventures of war and peace.

Title: Dawning Hope: A Day Out · Author: Radbooks · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA · ID: 659
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-14 23:38:12
Theodred suffers a traumatic day when he decides to take his recently
bereaved young cousins out for a day, to take their minds off of their
sadness. Although much emphasis is put on the fact that Theodred lacks
experience of children, being used to warriors, he seems to do well
enough in my book. The real challenges here have less to do with Eomer
and Eowyn being children than with the mishaps that can befall even
adults when a horse spooks.

Apparently, commanding soldiers does work well enough for keeping
young cousins together in the midst of medical emergencies!

Title: The Young Knights · Author: Soledad · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 98
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-15 03:22:37
A vivid story of a tournament in Lossarnach that brings together
several canon and original characters of Gondor and Rohan and
elsewhere. Soledad brings her usual medievalist skills to the writing,
the details of the contests, the clothing and weaponry, is excellent.

Of course, I had my eye on the wonderful adventure of 13-year-old
Faramir, who meets his first Shield-maiden as well as Anborn of the
Ithilien Rangers, and shows his skill in the junior archery match. It
is rather heart-rending to realize that Faramir's fiercest competitor,
the older boy, Derufin, will die on the Pelennor in March 3019.

A colorful pageant of life in prewar Gondor in the late Third Age.

Title: Breath of Spring · Author: Ribby · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 763
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-08-15 03:29:45
A fine drabbled snapshot of Faramir's dark vale experience. I liked
the role of odors here - the tang of blood and death that plagued
Faramir during his time under the Black Breath, and of course the
smell of Spring that is associated with the athelas used by Aragorn to
revive him. Tolkien seems to associate the season of spring with
Faramir, and that link is well-reprised here.

Title: A Very Rain of Sparrows · Author: Dwimordene · Races: Men · ID: 440
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:06:54
Life on the eastshore of the Anduin, there on the edge of Ithilien,
wasn't easy during the brief reign of Castamir. Getting by, meeting
taxes and supporting home and family grew worse and worse each year.

Aethrin's family, like all within his village, is struggling. His
widowed mother might make it if she accepts the suit of one of the
King's men; but Aethrin's older brother objects to the thought of her
marrying one from outside the village, particularly if it's mostly for
a level of financial stability.

The poverty and pride of the family and place have a distinctly
accurate feeling; and the use of dialect is extraordinarily well done.
A story well worth the reading.

Title: The Steward's New Clothes · Author: GypsieRose · Genres: Humor:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 511
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:16:19
A clever, humorous look at Denethor's boring wardrobe and his choices
for his wife and children from the Tailor to Middle Earth.

Very cute.

Title: Life Lessons · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 582
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:24:11
An interesting thought that Arwen might think to teach Eowyn to bake
lembas, although where they would grow and reap the grain is a
question, as it is said in the Letters that all must be done in a
particular and sacred manner.

Good sense of mood to the story, although I wish that Arwen would
assert herself and insist on tending her own daughter as much as she can.

Title: Mentor · Author: Nessime · Times: Second Age: Drabble · ID: 653
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:31:34
Those who settled in and were born to Numenor it was hoped would
eschew the evil known within Middle Earth--but when Ar-Pharazon had
Sauron brought there the lessons now being learned were anything but
wholesome.

A drabble that manages to project mood very well.

Title: They also serve who only stand and wait · Author: Tanaqui ·
Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 724
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:36:37
A marvelous look at those who would serve as beacon tenders and the
life they would most likely know. Very realistic feel to this drabble!

Title: A Princeling Lost · Author: Cuthalion · Genres: Humor: Gondor
or Rohan · ID: 795
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 08:55:35
To escape stuffy welcomes and stuffier clothing, Elboron disappears
from Emyn Arnen to the healer's cottage.

Excellent atmosphere, and all too realistic look at the attitudes of
wary young boys seeking a more relaxed atmosphere when all threatens
to become too formal.

Title: How Pippin Looked After Merry · Author: PipMer · Races:
Hobbits: Incomplete · ID: 822
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-15 22:35:56
As Pippin sees a stricken Merry carried into the Houses of Healing, he
finds himself remembering the one time during their childhood Merry
came close to dying, and also praying for the aid of Valar and Creator
to assist his cousin.

It is perhaps slightly AU--but how many in the real world who
ordinarily fail to consider spiritual matters manage to do precisely
this--in moments of crisis open themselves to pleading with God to
assist those they love?

Inspires thought, which is the point of good writing.