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Msg# 8312
MEFA Reviews for October 15, 2007 (Part 1) Posted by Ann October 15, 2007 - 4:11:20 Topic ID# 8312Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-05 01:10:22
I am in full sympathy with Boromir and Aragorn - snow is evil! A very
good thing both of them went to dig the Fellowship out, or Boromir
might have been in a very bad way indeed!
Title: And We Danced · Author: Phyncke · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Fingolfin · ID: 110
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-09-05 02:33:16
I loved this story from the first time I read it--months ago. It's
imaginative and unique, contradicting so many specific things that I
have in my own head about that time period and those characters. (For
example, I am one of those nutcases who believes Maitimo and
Findekáno are a canon couple!) But the writer's ability to draw me
into a totally different scenario indicates to me that she has done a
stupendous job in being able to replace my own preconceptions and
prejudices with her own creation. The atmosphere and ambience is
palpable—I clearly visualize the hall on the night of the Yule
celebration. When she describes the music and the dancing I can
almost feel the beat. It has what strikes me as a filmic quality to
it. The characters feel real and alive to me. Like the subtle push
and pull between Findekáno and Aikanáro—two warrior-princes, strong
of character and of will, who give only when they wish to, but are
capable of such tenderness. Lovely, romantic story, beautifully told.
Title: The Eagle's Gift · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Minas Tirith · ID: 591
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-05 02:38:06
Oh dear, boys and their horns...
But that it would undoubtedly be treasonous, and Denethor would never
give Thorongil the pleasure, nor Thorongil accept it for fear of it
getting a report somewhere, these two would probably prefer to drink
to, say, meddling fathers who leave things to the last possible and
most awkward minute!
I can see the sparring over experience here - boys will be boys, men
will be men, and everything that seems to come with that. Denethor
does manage to humiliate Thorongil a bit, though Thorongil, being who
he is, isn't one to take that lying down, as it were. I like their
truce at the end, both of them suffering their stations as
Ecthelion's duty bound son and servant. For once, they understand
themselves to be in a certain solidarity!
Title: Concussion · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure · ID: 711
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 16:32:35
I don't usually read stories with Bilbo as the main character, but
I'm glad I found this one.
I also liked the way the other characters enteract with him.
Title: The Three Hunters · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure ·
ID: 333
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 17:15:25
This is a wonderful story, Dreamflower.
The different first impressions that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli each
had of the younger hobbits is fascinating. And that ending is classec
Gimli.
Well done.
Title: I Bid You Stand · Author: storyfish · Genres: Adventure · ID:
225
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:11:19
This is a wonderful gap-filler for the movie. It gives us Merry and
Pippin fans something to cheer about.
They really did get cheated out of a lot in the films, and you've
given so much back to them. Pippin even got his troll.
Thank goodness for authors like you who make Peter's mistakes and
shortcomings ones we can live with.
Title: Sarn Gebir · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Adventure: Fixed-
Length Ficlet · ID: 398
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:19:16
Nice little hint there at the end that Boromir was already feeling
the pull of the Ring.
Title: Dangerous Folk · Author: Budgielover · Genres: Adventure:
Incomplete · ID: 800
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:24:52
This story is off to a great start.
The idea of a race of goblins that live in the water is very creative.
Title: The Archives Incident · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Adventure: Minas Tirith · ID: 38
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 02:16:58
I just love this story. There is humor, drama and suspense all in
here. The bit with Pippin finding that horrid poetry is priceless.
The moment where Frodo sees the ring inscription is heart-chilling.
The rats are so believable that I shivered when reading about them.
Frodo and Pippin both show such wonderful resourcefullness and
determination. They are fantastic.
Great job, Dreamflower.
Title: Kissing Hope · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance:
Drabble · ID: 574
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 03:39:39
This one is a short and sweet drabbled look at the relationship of
Aragorn and Arwen at the end of that golden summer in Lorien. It
works quite well here; as a play on clothing, status, and reality;
Arwen knows the man beneath whatever different raiment he wears, and
loves him. I like Arwen's play on words between [Estel] and [hope].
A fine snapshot of the last moments of a legendary season.
Title: Glimpse of Glory · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 575
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:05:42
It is never easy to capture Galadriel, most powerful of the Elves in
LOTR, in fanfiction. Lindahoyland does quite a good job in a hundred
words in this excellent drabble.
I like how Galadriel's thoughts, as she ponders Frodo's offer to give
her the Ring, begin with saving her realm, making the mallorns bloom
for a longer time, and end in her becoming a [beautiful and terrible
queen]. The line about flowers springing up in her footsteps really
works well, too.
Title: For All Things a Cost · Author: Súlriel · Times: Second Age:
Drabble · ID: 268
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:25:01
A female orc learns the hard way that any softness, even the love of
a mother for her offspring, can have dire consequences in their
society.
Unusual and credible; and rather sad. Good grasp of orcish speech
patterns as well.
Title: Fun with Farm'n · Author: Súlriel · Races: Villains: Drabble ·
ID: 269
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:28:06
Actually quite funny in a gruesome, Orcish way.
Good work in the recreation of the Orcs' speech patterns. Ugh, they
are quite nasty, aren't they?! The Orcish idea of fun is definitely
not human-tolerant. In fact it's not tolerant at all; as this drabble
cleverly illustrates.
Title: Truly Tested · Author: Súlriel · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 257
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:28:40
A fine drabble detailing the moments where young Aragorn kills for
the first time. The details are excellent, and help bring home the
shock and grisly, gritty transition of a skilled student into a
warrior.
Title: No Harm Will Come of It · Author: Marigold · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 456
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:30:43
This series was great fun to read; a spreading of treasure, like the
skill of reading itself. The characterisation of the Gaffer is
wonderful; he is very like Sam, though more provincial, perhaps as
Sam would have been had his mind not been given a window on the wide
world by Bilbo and Frodo; but canny enough to teach himself to read.
Of course, the last bit was excellent!
Title: When Day is Done · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe ·
ID: 23
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 16:41:51
This story goes to a place that I have often wanted to explore; the
world of what might have been.
Dana clearly knows these characters so well that she can put them
into a situation different than what really happened and make it
totally believable. I had to keep reminding myself that Merry and
Pippin did not go with Frodo.
The odd little things that Pippin keeps feeling are a nice touchstone
for the readers because he, like they, seems to sense that there has
been a slight disordering of the world.
There are some very interesting little questions raised by certain
events in this story that I really hope Dana fleshes out in a later
work.
Great job.
Title: The Blessing · Author: Golden/Pearl Took CoAuthors · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 235
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 16:59:09
This story is an amazing look at might have happened to Pippin as a
result of being crushed beneath that troll. No one could come out of
that intact.
Golden and Pearl are showing just what life would have been like for
someone who had suffered permanent injury from an accident such as
Pippin had. It is quite believable and heart-breaking realistic. It
is a story that will make you cry, but you will have to laugh, too,
just like life.
I can't wait to see how things progress as time goes on for all our
beloved characters.
It is not always the easiest story to read, but hope srings eternal
in all their hearts and it shines through in the telling.
Title: Turned Earth · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 26
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 18:56:47
Creepy! That is the best way to sum this story up.
Zombies are scary enough, but hobbit zombies are a cut above. There
is something so wrong about the image of a gentle hobbit turned into
a lifeless, blood-sucking, killing machine. It makes it all the more
horrible.
Dana does a great job keeping her living hobbits hobbity and doesn't
let them slip out of character. Rose is especially believable. I also
love self-sacrificing Pippin. He would be that way.
This would be one of the best hobbity Halloween stories ever.
Title: Elements: Dreams of the Dead, Visions of the Living · Author:
pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland
· ID: 202
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 20:29:54
This story truly is a journey of the spirit. It is as much about
Boromir as it is about Pippin and his fairy blood.
Pippin's gift allows him to have insights into what was happening in
the mind and heart of Boromir.
The story even follows them into their after-life, which is a rich
and pleasant experience.
There is a lot that goes on in this story. There are elements drawn
form many varied places such as classic literature and the Bible, and
they are all placed loving in Tolkien's world
This is a deep and memorable tale, and one that may need a second
look to get some of the deeper meanings from it.
Title: The Oarsman · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-
3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 357
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-07 01:29:16
Here's a pair of drabbles that convey the torment and deliverence of
the Corsairs' galley slaves from the slaves' own viewpoints. Tanaqui
has picked an unusual fanfictional subject here, and covers it well.
The horror of the slaves' existence is conveyed without melodrama,
but with actions and thoughts.
The second drabble is my favorite; and the last line is simply
wonderful.
Title: Firelight · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 817
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-07 02:23:05
This is a very nice story of the great friendship of the fellowship.
They will always be there for each other.
Even the movie-verse element felf perfectly right in this story.
Title: Fell Memories · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Other Fixed-
Length Ficlet · ID: 191
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:27:01
Augh! Oh, Aragorn... I'd say this answers the question of ["How could
he be so weary?"] quite completely, and excellent tie-in to the quote
at the beginning. This is another gap that I'd not really thought on
much until you brought it up, and although the resulting images are
difficult to contemplate, it is so logical and fits the parameters
very well.
The drabbles build well on one another, steadily increasing the
terrible nature of what Aragorn is facing, on his desperate escape
and ugly injuries and his awful feelings of failure and unworthiness.
I loved how he fended off the Nazgul by chanting the Lay, and the
wonderfully appropriate quotes you worked in.
Title: A Quadrabble for Sam · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 397
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:27:29
Poor Sam! The affection between all of them is nicely shown, and
sweet humor at the end.
Title: Of Numenor That Was · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 424
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:28:29
Beautiful and horrific at the same time... The writing here is clean
and precise, fitting a great deal of information into each drabble
without feeling crowded or rushed. The atmosphere of each drabble is
set very well. The tension builds nicely, not only within each
drabble but over the entire series, until we get a sense of closure
and maybe a little peace at the end, helping alleviate the chilling
despair and sadness of what came before.
The voice of each of the characters rings true, and each is distinct,
contributing something new to the overall image being created. I
loved the title reference: Truly, Numenor made grand and wondrous
contributions to the world, but it had this dark side, too - the
horror that helped lead to its destruction.
I also liked very much the thread of religious belief that flows
through, from Eru to the worldly corruption by Sauron (who so
facilely interwove truth with his lies), and back to Eru again. ["I
am the Beginning and the End...."] I thought the written ambiguity of
Gimilbeth and Sakalzor in regards to their religious beliefs was
particularly well done, and left much to the imagination of the
reader as to how they could have arrived at their disparate points. I
could see many mirrors to real life situations, both good and bad.
Title: Blades of the Downfallen West · Author: Tanaqui · Genres:
Drama: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 441
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:29:07
Oh... So many wonderful phrases and images are called up in this,
from Merry's ["slow-kindled hobbit courage"] and ["Love conquers
fear, as day drives night before it."] to the Witch-King's arrogance,
to the references to Angmar and Earnur and Aragorn. It brings to mind
a richness and history that goes far beyond the basic drabble itself,
infusing everything with tremendous depth and consequence. And all so
subtly and cleanly accomplished that I hardly realize it until I'm
done reading, and start to really think about how it affected me.
Nice shifts in the PoVs, and I love the contrasting images: The
broken blade of the Downfallen, becoming the broken Witch-King
himself.
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-05 01:10:22
I am in full sympathy with Boromir and Aragorn - snow is evil! A very
good thing both of them went to dig the Fellowship out, or Boromir
might have been in a very bad way indeed!
Title: And We Danced · Author: Phyncke · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Fingolfin · ID: 110
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-09-05 02:33:16
I loved this story from the first time I read it--months ago. It's
imaginative and unique, contradicting so many specific things that I
have in my own head about that time period and those characters. (For
example, I am one of those nutcases who believes Maitimo and
Findekáno are a canon couple!) But the writer's ability to draw me
into a totally different scenario indicates to me that she has done a
stupendous job in being able to replace my own preconceptions and
prejudices with her own creation. The atmosphere and ambience is
palpable—I clearly visualize the hall on the night of the Yule
celebration. When she describes the music and the dancing I can
almost feel the beat. It has what strikes me as a filmic quality to
it. The characters feel real and alive to me. Like the subtle push
and pull between Findekáno and Aikanáro—two warrior-princes, strong
of character and of will, who give only when they wish to, but are
capable of such tenderness. Lovely, romantic story, beautifully told.
Title: The Eagle's Gift · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Minas Tirith · ID: 591
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-05 02:38:06
Oh dear, boys and their horns...
But that it would undoubtedly be treasonous, and Denethor would never
give Thorongil the pleasure, nor Thorongil accept it for fear of it
getting a report somewhere, these two would probably prefer to drink
to, say, meddling fathers who leave things to the last possible and
most awkward minute!
I can see the sparring over experience here - boys will be boys, men
will be men, and everything that seems to come with that. Denethor
does manage to humiliate Thorongil a bit, though Thorongil, being who
he is, isn't one to take that lying down, as it were. I like their
truce at the end, both of them suffering their stations as
Ecthelion's duty bound son and servant. For once, they understand
themselves to be in a certain solidarity!
Title: Concussion · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure · ID: 711
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 16:32:35
I don't usually read stories with Bilbo as the main character, but
I'm glad I found this one.
I also liked the way the other characters enteract with him.
Title: The Three Hunters · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure ·
ID: 333
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 17:15:25
This is a wonderful story, Dreamflower.
The different first impressions that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli each
had of the younger hobbits is fascinating. And that ending is classec
Gimli.
Well done.
Title: I Bid You Stand · Author: storyfish · Genres: Adventure · ID:
225
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:11:19
This is a wonderful gap-filler for the movie. It gives us Merry and
Pippin fans something to cheer about.
They really did get cheated out of a lot in the films, and you've
given so much back to them. Pippin even got his troll.
Thank goodness for authors like you who make Peter's mistakes and
shortcomings ones we can live with.
Title: Sarn Gebir · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Adventure: Fixed-
Length Ficlet · ID: 398
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:19:16
Nice little hint there at the end that Boromir was already feeling
the pull of the Ring.
Title: Dangerous Folk · Author: Budgielover · Genres: Adventure:
Incomplete · ID: 800
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-05 19:24:52
This story is off to a great start.
The idea of a race of goblins that live in the water is very creative.
Title: The Archives Incident · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Adventure: Minas Tirith · ID: 38
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 02:16:58
I just love this story. There is humor, drama and suspense all in
here. The bit with Pippin finding that horrid poetry is priceless.
The moment where Frodo sees the ring inscription is heart-chilling.
The rats are so believable that I shivered when reading about them.
Frodo and Pippin both show such wonderful resourcefullness and
determination. They are fantastic.
Great job, Dreamflower.
Title: Kissing Hope · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance:
Drabble · ID: 574
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 03:39:39
This one is a short and sweet drabbled look at the relationship of
Aragorn and Arwen at the end of that golden summer in Lorien. It
works quite well here; as a play on clothing, status, and reality;
Arwen knows the man beneath whatever different raiment he wears, and
loves him. I like Arwen's play on words between [Estel] and [hope].
A fine snapshot of the last moments of a legendary season.
Title: Glimpse of Glory · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 575
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:05:42
It is never easy to capture Galadriel, most powerful of the Elves in
LOTR, in fanfiction. Lindahoyland does quite a good job in a hundred
words in this excellent drabble.
I like how Galadriel's thoughts, as she ponders Frodo's offer to give
her the Ring, begin with saving her realm, making the mallorns bloom
for a longer time, and end in her becoming a [beautiful and terrible
queen]. The line about flowers springing up in her footsteps really
works well, too.
Title: For All Things a Cost · Author: Súlriel · Times: Second Age:
Drabble · ID: 268
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:25:01
A female orc learns the hard way that any softness, even the love of
a mother for her offspring, can have dire consequences in their
society.
Unusual and credible; and rather sad. Good grasp of orcish speech
patterns as well.
Title: Fun with Farm'n · Author: Súlriel · Races: Villains: Drabble ·
ID: 269
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:28:06
Actually quite funny in a gruesome, Orcish way.
Good work in the recreation of the Orcs' speech patterns. Ugh, they
are quite nasty, aren't they?! The Orcish idea of fun is definitely
not human-tolerant. In fact it's not tolerant at all; as this drabble
cleverly illustrates.
Title: Truly Tested · Author: Súlriel · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 257
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:28:40
A fine drabble detailing the moments where young Aragorn kills for
the first time. The details are excellent, and help bring home the
shock and grisly, gritty transition of a skilled student into a
warrior.
Title: No Harm Will Come of It · Author: Marigold · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 456
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-06 04:30:43
This series was great fun to read; a spreading of treasure, like the
skill of reading itself. The characterisation of the Gaffer is
wonderful; he is very like Sam, though more provincial, perhaps as
Sam would have been had his mind not been given a window on the wide
world by Bilbo and Frodo; but canny enough to teach himself to read.
Of course, the last bit was excellent!
Title: When Day is Done · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe ·
ID: 23
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 16:41:51
This story goes to a place that I have often wanted to explore; the
world of what might have been.
Dana clearly knows these characters so well that she can put them
into a situation different than what really happened and make it
totally believable. I had to keep reminding myself that Merry and
Pippin did not go with Frodo.
The odd little things that Pippin keeps feeling are a nice touchstone
for the readers because he, like they, seems to sense that there has
been a slight disordering of the world.
There are some very interesting little questions raised by certain
events in this story that I really hope Dana fleshes out in a later
work.
Great job.
Title: The Blessing · Author: Golden/Pearl Took CoAuthors · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 235
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 16:59:09
This story is an amazing look at might have happened to Pippin as a
result of being crushed beneath that troll. No one could come out of
that intact.
Golden and Pearl are showing just what life would have been like for
someone who had suffered permanent injury from an accident such as
Pippin had. It is quite believable and heart-breaking realistic. It
is a story that will make you cry, but you will have to laugh, too,
just like life.
I can't wait to see how things progress as time goes on for all our
beloved characters.
It is not always the easiest story to read, but hope srings eternal
in all their hearts and it shines through in the telling.
Title: Turned Earth · Author: Dana · Genres: Alternate Universe: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 26
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 18:56:47
Creepy! That is the best way to sum this story up.
Zombies are scary enough, but hobbit zombies are a cut above. There
is something so wrong about the image of a gentle hobbit turned into
a lifeless, blood-sucking, killing machine. It makes it all the more
horrible.
Dana does a great job keeping her living hobbits hobbity and doesn't
let them slip out of character. Rose is especially believable. I also
love self-sacrificing Pippin. He would be that way.
This would be one of the best hobbity Halloween stories ever.
Title: Elements: Dreams of the Dead, Visions of the Living · Author:
pipkinsweetgrass · Genres: Alternate Universe: The Shire or Buckland
· ID: 202
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-06 20:29:54
This story truly is a journey of the spirit. It is as much about
Boromir as it is about Pippin and his fairy blood.
Pippin's gift allows him to have insights into what was happening in
the mind and heart of Boromir.
The story even follows them into their after-life, which is a rich
and pleasant experience.
There is a lot that goes on in this story. There are elements drawn
form many varied places such as classic literature and the Bible, and
they are all placed loving in Tolkien's world
This is a deep and memorable tale, and one that may need a second
look to get some of the deeper meanings from it.
Title: The Oarsman · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-
3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 357
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-09-07 01:29:16
Here's a pair of drabbles that convey the torment and deliverence of
the Corsairs' galley slaves from the slaves' own viewpoints. Tanaqui
has picked an unusual fanfictional subject here, and covers it well.
The horror of the slaves' existence is conveyed without melodrama,
but with actions and thoughts.
The second drabble is my favorite; and the last line is simply
wonderful.
Title: Firelight · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 817
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-09-07 02:23:05
This is a very nice story of the great friendship of the fellowship.
They will always be there for each other.
Even the movie-verse element felf perfectly right in this story.
Title: Fell Memories · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Other Fixed-
Length Ficlet · ID: 191
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:27:01
Augh! Oh, Aragorn... I'd say this answers the question of ["How could
he be so weary?"] quite completely, and excellent tie-in to the quote
at the beginning. This is another gap that I'd not really thought on
much until you brought it up, and although the resulting images are
difficult to contemplate, it is so logical and fits the parameters
very well.
The drabbles build well on one another, steadily increasing the
terrible nature of what Aragorn is facing, on his desperate escape
and ugly injuries and his awful feelings of failure and unworthiness.
I loved how he fended off the Nazgul by chanting the Lay, and the
wonderfully appropriate quotes you worked in.
Title: A Quadrabble for Sam · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 397
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:27:29
Poor Sam! The affection between all of them is nicely shown, and
sweet humor at the end.
Title: Of Numenor That Was · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 424
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:28:29
Beautiful and horrific at the same time... The writing here is clean
and precise, fitting a great deal of information into each drabble
without feeling crowded or rushed. The atmosphere of each drabble is
set very well. The tension builds nicely, not only within each
drabble but over the entire series, until we get a sense of closure
and maybe a little peace at the end, helping alleviate the chilling
despair and sadness of what came before.
The voice of each of the characters rings true, and each is distinct,
contributing something new to the overall image being created. I
loved the title reference: Truly, Numenor made grand and wondrous
contributions to the world, but it had this dark side, too - the
horror that helped lead to its destruction.
I also liked very much the thread of religious belief that flows
through, from Eru to the worldly corruption by Sauron (who so
facilely interwove truth with his lies), and back to Eru again. ["I
am the Beginning and the End...."] I thought the written ambiguity of
Gimilbeth and Sakalzor in regards to their religious beliefs was
particularly well done, and left much to the imagination of the
reader as to how they could have arrived at their disparate points. I
could see many mirrors to real life situations, both good and bad.
Title: Blades of the Downfallen West · Author: Tanaqui · Genres:
Drama: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 441
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:29:07
Oh... So many wonderful phrases and images are called up in this,
from Merry's ["slow-kindled hobbit courage"] and ["Love conquers
fear, as day drives night before it."] to the Witch-King's arrogance,
to the references to Angmar and Earnur and Aragorn. It brings to mind
a richness and history that goes far beyond the basic drabble itself,
infusing everything with tremendous depth and consequence. And all so
subtly and cleanly accomplished that I hardly realize it until I'm
done reading, and start to really think about how it affected me.
Nice shifts in the PoVs, and I love the contrasting images: The
broken blade of the Downfallen, becoming the broken Witch-King
himself.
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