Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Pick Your Battles · Author: Aliana · Genres: Alternate
Universe · ID: 550
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-08-29 19:25:33
I'm always amazed that you can turn out something that is so relevant
and irreverent at the same time. Despite the post-modern twist, the
characterizations are right out of ["Fallen"] and add (in an odd sort
of way) to my further understanding of them in their original context.

It reads like a casual, humorous story on the surface, but there are
so many wonderful bits scattered throughout that invite much deeper
reflection. Like Valacar's not-losing/not-saving musings, and his
thoughts on his patients, and how he distances himself from the
battles but picks up clues from the wounded men's injuries. Or how
the newspaper (with its horrible lists) ["comes apart like a thing of
little consequence."]

Or how, tying it all together from title to finish, Valacar picks his
battles at the end. Really a delightful sideline to your other work!

Title: Only Eyes to See · Author: ChristineX · Genres: Alternate
Universe · ID: 710
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-08-29 19:35:15
Definitely a dark and most unusual love story! I don't normally
read "girl falls into M-e," but this was skillfully rendered with
great characterizations. Well-written, the very funny asides and some
unexpected twists made for interesting and "must keep going" reading.
I felt that there may have been some timeline issues, but it didn't
interfere with my appreciation.

I completely enjoyed the testimony to the redemptive power of love
and that people are not always what they seem. I found myself
unbelievably sympathetic to the Nazgul Lord; I was divided between
the wish for a free M-e and the terrible approaching finality of
Gorendil's end. The cliffhanger ending was well managed and
completely unexpected.

Title: Yours to command · Author: Lialathuveril · Genres: Romance:
With Rohirrim · ID: 129
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-29 20:01:21
Had this not already been nominated, I would definitely have done so,
particularly with my background and the nature of Lothiriel!

Lothiriel of Dol Amroth was blinded in an accident some years
previously, and has unhappy memories of the White City and the Houses
of Healing. But now things are greatly changed, with the King
returned and a new King also of Rohan, whose sister is to soon marry
Faramir.

Then Lothiriel finds herself being attracted to Eomer, and is certain
he feels the same. But a manipulative lady of the court and a
vengeful Haradri intend to see to it there is no happily ever after
for the princess of Dol Amroth and the young King of Rohan....

For someone who admits she's not known individuals who are blind, the
author has managed to picture the condition both accurately and with
excellent sensitivity. Lothiriel is a survivor and resourceful, and
I'd be thrilled to have her as a student or friend.

Title: Firelight · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 817
Reviewer: PipMer · 2007-08-29 23:45:48
This is a wonderfully written little story. The characterizations are
spot on, especially Merry's concern for his young cousin. Gimli is
rough, and yet tender at the same time. Gandalf is ... well,
wizardly! Pippin is very child-like, and Aragorn is the attentive
healer.

Well done!

Title: Sunshine and Roses · Author: shirelinghpc · Races: Cross-
Cultural: Gondor · ID: 531
Reviewer: PipMer · 2007-08-30 00:37:54
This was a wonderful story, centering on Sam. Sam's character is
painted as a very loving, yet very lonely and wounded hobbit, set
apart from the other three by his upbringing and social standing.
Faramir has the insight to see that something is wrong, and Aragorn
comes up with the appropriate medicine for what ails Sam...

Well done!

Title: For everything, there is a season · Author: Tanaqui · Genres:
Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 696
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-30 01:37:45
This was a gorgeous little ficlet. In just a few short lines, Tanaqui
manages to pack a waste of time and chances, following the journey of
a seed as it unwittingly gives birth to hope. The cycle of seasons
and the Biblical reference remind us that seasonal change, and the
growth and decay of the vegetal world have always symbolized life
emerging from death, a sort of drive to continue that is indomitable,
despite breaks and the deaths of individuals.

I think this was my favorite line, both for the sense of fate rushing
to disaster, but for the alliteration and mirroring of the creations
of Varda and Vana:

[Time passed, and the world hurried to ruin, but Varda's white stars
lit the sky and Vána's white stars danced and flickered on the
ground.]

Very well done, Tanaqui! A great ficlet to fill in a memorable moment
in the long, hard journey of Frodo and Sam.

Title: The Far Corner of the Garden · Author: annmarwalk · Genres:
Drama: Ithilien · ID: 554
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-30 01:43:55
The clueless urbanite in me loves it when somebody can write about
gardens in a knowledgeable manner. Here again, gardening has more
than a merely practical or leisurely meaning - it is life, and it is
a symbol of life moving on, picking up and rebuilding after a long
war. And it is also celebration and remembrance.

Eowyn's four faces all come to light here: wifely, as she settles in
beside Faramir; royalty, as she plans for her people's sustenance;
the healer she swore to be in the planting of the medicinal garden;
and finally, the woman who lost so much of her family in the desire
to create a floral memorial for a dear, departed cousin out in the
corner of the garden.

Putting all four of these aspects together, we get a sense of how
Eowyn's life has progressed and where she stands currently.
Beautifully written, Ann!

Title: Tales of the Innkeeper · Author: Allee · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 237
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-30 02:24:06
A very sweet set of vignettes, set in the middle of a very bad spell
of cold weather and storms, featuring a king come in from the cold
and the innkeeper whose house becomes, unexpectedly, the royal
shelter for a time.

Allee's innkeeper has a Butterburish feel to him, though he's a bit
more overawed, I think, with Aragorn - no doubt it comes of not
having known Aragorn in his Strider guise. The innkeeper keeps a
certain covert watch on his king, unsure what to make of him, and by
turns surprised by what he's actually confronted with.

Most of the tension comes from the interactions between Aragorn and a
secondary character, a young guardsman named Carandol, who seems to
be Aragorn's perpetual personnel headache and pet project at one and
the same time. It is Carandol who sets up the situations that enable
the innkeeper to see his king dealing with frustration and some other
less pleasant emotions that might otherwise have remained untapped.

An enjoyable collection, Allee!

Title: Frodo's Thoughts - Boromir · Author: trikywun · Genres: Drama:
General Drabble · ID: 674
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-30 02:29:31
I like the focus on the way in which Boromir is more and more caught
between his oath to protect Frodo and his oath to protect Gondor.
Frodo's wish that the bind had been avoided sounds right.

Title: In The Shadows I Wait · Author: Pentangle · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 248
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-08-30 02:55:40
Well, this was certainly an unexpected perspective! I quite liked it,
though. Pentangle imbues her nameless character with an air and a
mode of thinking, a way of being in the world, appropriate to the
particular circumstances. The frustration of uselessness and longing
to be put to good use, to fulfill the purpose the creator had
intended are palpable and appropriate. The notion of 'insomnia', and
the inability to forget and sink into dreams, was very interesting -
it helped accent that frustration and also the sense of desperation
as Pentangle's mysterious character struggles to gain the attention
of young Estel or any of the Elves to press a suit of his own.

The Elves arguing over what Estel's first sword should be are amusing
by turns, serious by others. I laughed at Glorfindel dragging Erestor
in to consult, and then having his councilor go all nostalgic-
sentimental in a way that threatens to play right into Elrond's
hands.

Eventually, though, Pentangle's OC manages to get the attention of
both Elves and Estel, and from there it all unfolds nicely, although
with a certain tragic poignancy, involving as it does the choice of
Elros.

Very well done, Pentangle! Those who like young Estel stories, and
Glorfindel bucking bureaucracy to provide some humor, give this a try.

Title: Duty Bound · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring War ·
ID: 212
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 15:26:51
I really enjoyed reading this story. A confirmed and single-minded
Boromir fan, the question of the Steward's succession has always
nagged at me, despite Tolkien's precedent set for small families of
late marraiges. This story explores a very interesting array of
reasonable scenarios: arranged marraige, the necessity of begetting
heirs, seasonable living and differing climates in Gondor, and how a
small city might handle plague - but weaves them well around the
central, engaging and very human story. I found the conclusion - that
the sad end of the arranged marraige Boromir at first resisted,
eventually reaffirmed his devotion to duty and country - touching and
compelling.

Title: Keeper of the Jewels · Author: Cuthalion · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 64
Reviewer: PipMer · 2007-08-30 15:27:34
This is a very well-written story. The characterizations of all the
hobbits are spot-on, as well as Aragorn and Arwen. The descriptions
are vivid and detailed. The story kept me on the edge of my seat
throughout, especially at the end.

Well done.

Title: Keepsake · Author: Marigold · Races: Hobbits: Vignette · ID:
256
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 15:28:16
As always, Marigold has done a great job vividly painting a familiar
scene.

Title: In the Dark · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Mystery · ID: 484
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-30 15:29:53
All right, so what spell holds Aragorn and Legolas, each apparently
alone, in totally dark stone cells with no discernible doors? And how
have they become separated? A wonderfully eerie tale with no real
ending. Worth the read, folks.

Title: Boys Will Be Boys · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor:
Children · ID: 555
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-30 15:35:01
Embarrassment as much as his injuries appear to have kept Boromir to
his bed and asleep since his fall; but even he will awaken for Mags
and her offerings.

As always with Ann's works, so very much said in so few words, and
said so effectively. One can see the child lying with his face to the
wall refusing to respond to his father or the healers, but being
drawn back to acceptance of life by the scent of cinnamon. Well, well
done.

Title: Regrets and Consolations · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 430
Reviewer: PipMer · 2007-08-30 16:09:01
This is a very well-written story! I could see everything in my
mind's eye due to the vivid and detailed descriptions, from Merry's
hair color to the clothes he was wearing. The reaction of Esmeralda
to Merry's disappearance is very believable and realistic, and
Frodo's feelings are as well.

Well done.

Title: Woven in Friendship · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races: Cross-
Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 290
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 16:11:32
I particularly like the open-endedness of this piece; it doesn't draw
conclusions - leaving that to the reader - but instead persents all
the elements. Those elements come with deceptive ease, are colorful,
vivid and strong.

Title: Time to Let Go · Author: PipMer · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey
Havens · ID: 261
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 16:14:37
This is a curious piece. I found [Sam-Dad] to be confusing - should
we see him from inside Elanor's head (Dad)? or from the outside of
the picture (Sam)? And I would have thought Elenor to have a more
unique perspective and experiences but the author merely recounts
things we already know.

Title: The Witch-king's Cloak · Author: Radbooks · Genres: Humor:
Parody · ID: 106
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 16:19:00
The challenge of any writer is to make the ordinary seem
extraordinary, the extraordinary universal. This is particularly
difficult for fanfic writers, since we're all working off the same
material, but this piece and this writer succeed so spectacularly!! I
just love this vision of the Witch King as a fearsome dilletante, so
worried about his image and his trappings! It certainly makes me see
him in a new light!

Title: Outmatched · Author: Tiana Luthien · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 132
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 16:24:57
This piece exemplifies something I love about fanfic. It depicts a
scene we can easily imagine might take place within Tolkien's world,
that is a perfect outgrowth of what Tolkien did give us, but is
completely original. I would love to read this from Faramir's
perspective; one can only imagine he knew he was being tested. I also
appreciate the brevity employed here; the piece is full and vivid,
but not cluttered with unnecessary or over-sized words.

Title: Triumphal Entry · Author: Garnet Took · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 244
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-08-30 16:26:28
I'm really not sure what to make of this. I really enjoyed and
respected the mix of poignant and joyful moments in the first
section, but found the end kind of shallow, devoid of the recognition
of sacrifice mixed with thanksgiving that made the beginning so
memorable.

Title: The Love of Lore · Author: Oshun · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 271
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-31 02:19:26
A wonderful pair of vignettes showing our beloved Faramir and his
love of learning. Good sense of setting and characters in an
economical format.

Title: Osgiliath · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-
3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 626
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-31 02:23:04
Boromir and Faramir upon the bridge of Osgiliath, fighting together,
leaping to safety in the Anduin, and realizing that for the fighting
to end something more must happen.

To combine so many emotions into such a short ficlet has taken great,
great skill.

Title: Pest Control · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Drabble · ID: 697
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-31 02:26:33
Aha! Faced with orcs in her berry patch, Fimbrethil goes into action,
finding ways to use their sorry remains to fertilise the corn, even.
Startling and yet marvelously funny as well.


Title: Oliphaunt am I · Author: Elemmire · Races: Hobbits · ID: 768
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-08-31 02:39:21
Hildifons started it with his wisp of a rhyme scrawled on a piece of
hide. Then Hildigar returned from his years at sea, where he'd gone
in search of his lost brother, and wrote the poem that later Sam was
to quote to Faramir and that Tolkien immortalized in "The Adventures
of Tom Bombadil." Then Pippin came home, and added a few lines
himself (based on movie-verse finding of Merry nearly crushed by one
of the beasts).

Are they real? Several now have said, "Yes."

Excellent imagery, and love the warning that not all cultures respect
childhood.