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Msg# 8313

MEFA Reviews for October 15, 2007 (Part 2) Posted by Ann October 15, 2007 - 4:13:18 Topic ID# 8313
Title: Family Jewels · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 464
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:30:11
Wonderful exploration of the themes of fatherhood and forgiveness.
The writing is well done, starting with the stirring quote about
Feanor and gradually leading us into Faramir's own difficult
relationship with his father.

Faramir's characterization and PoV is marvellous: The scholar reading
to his children; the father who loves them beyond measure; the leader
who struggled with the lure of the One Ring; the son who had to find
a very difficult forgiveness for his own father. Absolutely loved his
musings on his son and daughter and the emotions described as he
watched them.

The final paragraphs are extremely powerful, with Faramir struggling
against renewed fury at his own father - indeed, understanding his
love for Elboron and Miriel, Denethor's (and Feanor's) actions would
in some ways be even harder to comprehend. The parallel drawn between
Denethor and Feanor was unexpected but fit so well into the context
of the story, and gave me much to think about.

Title: Oliphaunts and String · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 658
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:32:09
An excellent descriptive title - one that had me wondering about the
subject, only to find its oblique reference poignant and perfect for
Smeagol's descent to evil under the Ring's influence.

A powerful perspective of a pivotal moment, told by the one who
perhaps loved Smeagol most. It was all the more difficult to watch
with his grandmother as the village leader, forced to choose between
her people's safety and her grandson. Very clever use of Smeagol's
voice to show the passage from who he was into who he became
(Gollum); and of the frog as a symbol for attempting the possession
and taming of the unpossessable and untamable.

Title: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar · Author: Raksha the Demon ·
Genres: Drama: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 680
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:33:02
Very nice incorporation of two prompts into an answer for a little-
explored corner of the fandom. I think my favorite part of this is
Arwen's voice and the overall tone of the story: steady, dignified
and reflecting a kind and forgiving heart. It could not have been
easy for her to accept a man who opposed her dreams, and blocked the
way to Gondor's throne.

Boromir's characterization is well done, also: Proud and determined.
Almost arrogant, but he too is not in an easy place. It must have
been difficult to accept that he and Gondor required aid, and then to
meet the man who would be his King! It fits well with the brother
Faramir describes to Frodo and Sam.

Title: Sea King; Seeking · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 689
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:33:41
This is a wonderful series. Each drabble is self-contained, but also
adds another pertinent viewpoint that rounds out the situation - a
rather tragic one, in my mind. In today's world, Aldarion and Erendis
would definitely be considered a "bad divorce" with high impacts to
their child. And they were both party to it: Aldarion making too few
concessions to his family, Erendis thinking that he could be kept
from the sea for any length of time, and plenty of unbending pride
from each of them.

The different voices feel distinct and the perspectives are well-
chosen, expanding my understanding and recalling my (long-ago)
reading of this story. There are beautiful turns of phrase and
references throughout each one. I particularly like Veantur's
thoughts of Aldarion never looking back to his home, Meneldur's
realization of the benefits of his son's voyaging, and poor
Ancalime's painful reaction to what she sees as her father's
rejection.

Title: Following the King · Author: sophinisba solis · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 735
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-08 06:36:42
Very nice representation of Pippin: Brave and loving his friends
dearly, his irrepressible nature shows through in his joking attempts
to relieve tension. I love his protective feelings toward his older
cousin Merry, and the surge of courage he has at the end for Frodo's
sake. Very perceptive thought of his, too, about Faramir and Eowyn
and Merry.

Title: A Suitable Tribute · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Drama · ID:
474
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-09-08 19:27:09
Ooh, interesting cross of the story of the little drummer boy
with "The Gift of the Magi". This is a neat portrait of both Gondor's
post-war need and the generosity of her people.

Title: The Arachnid's Appeal · Author: TrekQueen · Genres: Humor ·
ID: 114
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-09-08 19:27:20
This was cute. Shelob being so disgruntled about little things is
certainly good for a few laughs.

Title: The Blue Book of Bilbo Baggins, or, Tales of the Forbidden
Silmarillion · Author: Gandalfs apprentice/Greywing CoAuthors ·
Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 195
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-09-08 19:27:30
Nicely naughty, but still fairly consistent with the spirit of canon
(if sometimes in a slightly subversive way). And Greywing's portraits
just add to the fun, and looked vaguely similar to Lee illustrations.
These were a lot of fun.

Title: Concussion · Author: Dreamflower · Genres: Adventure · ID: 711
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2007-09-08 22:29:12
The language of this story blends naturally with that used in TH,
especially in the inner monologues (including the exlamations) and
dialogues. The characterisations were perfect, from Bilbo to Gandalf
to the various Dwarves. I think it's especially difficult to capture
the small differences between the Gandalf from TH and the one from
LotR, but you did it very well. You also already hinted - very
subtly - at the closer bond with Balin that will endure beyond
Bilbo's homecoming.

I had to laugh at the scene modelled after Frodo's awakening in
Rivendell. And it was a nice touch to show the beginnings of Bilbo's
desire to learn the Elven languages.

Title: More Than Just Years · Author: Llinos · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 362
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2007-09-08 22:41:01
I like the picture you draw in the first part of the Hobbits
harvesting: the warmth, the colours, the different tasks, the
children playing...

It was nice to think the special bond between Gandalf and Pippin was
forged when the latter was still so young, and the portrayal of the
relationship between Merry and his little cousin was very moving.

I have a hard time believing Pippin really believed the ["magick"]
ear was his true source of courage up until after the lighting of the
beacons, but it was a touching expansion of the scene in the film.

Title: Bitter · Author: vladazhael · Genres: Drama: General Drabble ·
ID: 173
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-09 01:15:37
Nice use of the repeated line, each disaster outdoing the next until
Maedhros reaches his breaking point where his father is concerned.
The one unforgivable sin being that Feanor's madness ends on the
battlefield that day, without ever achieving its end... leaving his
sons the task that has outlived him. Well done!

Title: Justice · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 633
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2007-09-09 01:20:44
One always wonders how the peoples formerly under Sauron's domination
sorted themselves out after his defeat. We know the fate of some,
among them the slaves who worked the vast agricultural plains of
Mordor around Nurnen. Here we see them in the transition from slavery
to freedom - the contrast between the king of the freed slaves and
Aragorn is appalling, and Aragorn is appalled, but also determined to
do what he can to right the situation. It's a good, promising start
for the dawning new age. Well done!

Title: South · Author: Aliana · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor
or Rohan · ID: 8
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-09 06:02:47
Months after first reading this, I am still caught up by the beauty
and poetry of the prose. You unobtrusively tuck in reams of images
and information, yet it never feels dense or crowded but natural and
flowing. Your phrasing, pace and word choice are as stellar as
always, with delightful and spot-on characterizations.

The intro alone is worth exploring in depth. The way I'm drawn in by
the wonderful descriptions touching on many senses - I could feel
like I was sharing the dreams with Merry, both the horrific and the
mystical. The horse imagery in particular is marvelous.

Merry's interactions with the two most important women of his life
are excellent: Brief but precisely capturing why he loves them in all
their similarities and differences, with nice mirroring images of
Estella and Eowyn and the babies to draw the link.

I loved how you led us along with Merry into understanding why he had
the dreams and needed to make this journey as part of his post-war
healing. We're given the evidence of the hold his experiences still
have on his life; and finally, at the end, we share in his last dream
that he has found some sense of peace with his memories and how the
war has formed him.

Title: The Harper · Author: juno_magic · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 10
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-09 06:04:12
I did not remember the poem that inspired this story, but in reading
it afterwards I could see the very effective echoes from one to the
other, in not just images but tone, emotion and atmosphere. And
especially: ["...your inward winter"] - perfect for Maglor.

The setting is well done, the story within a story, the village and
people so well described that I could picture it all clearly. The
characterizations of the harper and child, and their interactions,
were excellent. You gave enough for me to guess Maglor's identity
before the end, but kept it subtle enough that I did not feel it
thrust at me. (I also suspect that he was not really blind, but told
others so and kept his eyes covered in order to disguise their
piercing clarity.)

We are left to wonder at his motives in going to this remote place,
then taking a student and passing on the ancient harp; but with hope
that he found some comfort in his long lonely bitterness.

Title: Getting Away from it All · Author: Bodkin · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 63
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-09 06:06:34
This peaceful scene, so gentle and bucolic, conceals quite the
seething mass of intrigue! The switch from lazing around to intense
political discussion was well-handled, and the quick but thorough
characterizations were excellent - I especially loved how you painted
both Arwen and Faramir.

Title: Comforting Silence · Author: Radbooks · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 157
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-09 06:07:10
Perfect depiction of two long-time friends at a moment when words get
in the way, and very nice characterizations. I liked that Faramir was
able to relax enough to truly rest.

Title: Fourth Age, Year 13 · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 628
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-09-09 06:08:10
Perhaps I am influenced by my own thus-far six-year journey along the
pot-holed road of parenthood, but I simply love this short look into
Aragorn's perspective on the matter.

Wonderful PoV, and the brief exchanges between he and Arwen are nice
illuminating glimpses into their relationship with each other and
with their children. The entire story is told in just the right style
of slightly-harried, semi-rushed experience, which is exactly life
with children ("Wait! How could she be thirteen already?"), and nails
perfectly so many of the landmarks of childhood and pre-teenagerhood.
I can personally testify to the endless questions and the worries
about death at that specific age, and I love the Mary Sue half-elven
princess that makes an appearance.

As an aside, yes, I imagine that Arwen and Aragorn did have an army
of servants to help with taking care of their children, but I still
think that they would be heavily involved with *raising* them, as
time allowed, especially with their Elven heritage. Who would want to
miss any of this, anyway?

The ending still gets me choked up and teary-eyed, for all the *hope*
that rings out from it. Every parent wants this sense of the
bountiful and joyous future to await their child, but how much more
so in Gondor, having come into peace off of a war thought unwinnable.
It's just wonderful, and captured so well; the phrasing and word
choice are excellent throughout, but it really moves me powerfully
here.

And next you can explore Liriel's feelings about her family picking
up and moving north for a while. Well, at least one assumes that
Aragorn took his teenager with him to Lake Evendim, although I
imagine the temptation was sometimes very strong to do otherwise...

Title: Mistaken · Author: Fawsley · Genres: Humor: Drabble · ID: 490
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2007-09-09 07:19:02
Fast-paced but comprehensive dialogue. The characterisations are
conveyed very well merely by what the characters are saying: Gandalf
so certain and nearly desperate when nothing happens, Frodo reluctant
to have his possession be tampered with (even though it *isn't* the
real Ring, apparently... hmmm... makes one rather think...).

For me the funniest aspect was how much of the original dialogue from
book and film are still there.

Title: Clothes Make the Man · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres:
Humor: Drabble · ID: 625
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2007-09-09 07:21:35
How can I not love this drabble - after all it had been a birthday
gift for me? But I like it just as well for its own sake!

This is such an insightful look at the protagonists of the drabble,
their relationship towards each other and also towards the other two
characters mentioned.

One can feel Celeborn's love for his wife even as he mocks her
action, his approval of Aragorn and his willingness to reassure him;
as well as Aragorn's discomfort at being spruced up so much, his
uncertainty about how he will be received by Arwen, and his
gratefulness at Celeborn's encouraging words.

I love how supportive and bracing Celeborn is towards Aragorn, and
that he evidently has no problems with Aragorn's love for Arwen
(unlike his son-in-law): It shows that in this decision, he and
Galadriel are of one opinion, and act as a team - which neatly
answers a question canon left open.

And still Celeborn can't resist making fun of Galadriel and the
customs of her people (but only once she is out of earshot,
apparently *g*)! It brings a smile to Aragorn and at the same time
acts perhaps also as an example for him that cultural differences
need not be an obstacle to love.

Title: May It Be a Light to You in Dark Places · Author: Cathleen ·
Times: Fourth Age and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 388
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-09-09 13:52:48
I found this to be quite uneven, although, perhaps intentionally so.
Still, one minute Eowyn's heart is twisting with painful memories and
then next she's allowing herself to enjoy the scene ... transitions
were cobbled together, didn't flow and disturbed the hope of peace
the author tried to find.

Title: The Gates · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Dwarves · ID:
70
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-09-09 14:00:16
Gimli the Middle-Manager! I always appreciate stories like this, that
not only illuminate aspects of Tolkien's work, but realize the
complications in it as well and fill them in smoothly and thoroughly.
What emerges here is not only a true character portrait, but also a
thoughtful portrait of Dwarves as a culture, and the everyday details
that make the heroic endings come about. Well done in every respect.

Title: Shells · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Races: Cross-Cultural:
With Pippin · ID: 506
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-09-09 14:14:59
This is a sweet story and, being a Marylander, I've a great fondness
for the crab element, but some of the other elements bothered me: why
Ioreth? just because she's the only motherly/nurse figure we know of?
Why isn't the flashback told from her point of view? This story could
have been a smooth as it is sweet.

Title: Wings · Author: ErinRua · Genres: Romance: With Rohirrim · ID:
9
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-09-09 14:19:40
Silliness? perhaps, but told as perfectly as any good work aught to
be. There is no need to take it lightly, though the subject is light.
The tone and pacing are gentle and consistent, the scope well defined
and not overreached, the characters clearly exemplified, the action
perfectly telling of the story's heart. I think we can take this
quite seriously, indeed!

Title: A Song of Silence · Author: Nessime · Races: Men · ID: 156
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-09-09 14:39:36
I really liked this tale. I loved your OC's and I loved the tapestry.
I have always liked the idea of Eorl and the ride to Gondor's aid.
That it was depicted in a tapestry seems very canon to me - but I
also loved that you kept true to Fengel's character and let the piece
fall into disrepair. My heart broke as her son ran off to join the
battle and again when her mother-in-law wisely left her cloth to rot.
Beautiful tale. Well written.

Title: Ten Thousand Years · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA · ID: 565
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-09-10 00:10:30
A wonderful first meeting between Arwen and Boromir. The idea that
Arwen could see this Man as a possible barrier to her desire to marry
Aragorn is one I'd not considered before. And to see Boromir begin
realizing where he'd come and with whom he was conversing....

Nice.