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Msg# 8394
MEFA Reviews for November 7, 2007 (Part 2) Posted by Ann November 07, 2007 - 4:49:52 Topic ID# 8394Title: Coda · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Second Age: Drabble · ID: 627
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 21:52:30
Such elegant use of imagery and metaphor to personalize tragedy.
Somehow I am reminded of all those papers flying from the WTC
before/during/after their fall.
Title: Could Will Have Its Way · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men:
Gondor Drabble · ID: 286
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:01:47
O my. Powerful writing, fantastic construction with the repetition of
the question(s) [How could I not...?] giving structure to the piece.
There are logical reasons put forth to personalize Denethor's action,
making him more of a tragic figure and less of a caricature than the
film would have one think. What struck me on re-reading was the
progression of emotion from grief to resolve to hopeless despair.
Excellent, one of the best stand-alone drabbles I've seen yet.
Title: Where There's Life, There's Hope (and in need of vittles) ·
Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 463
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:06:27
O yes, very cleverly done! You begin with an image from the book and
segue into something new, but eminently believable. Nice play on the
senses and emotions.
Title: Another Doom · Author: mrkinch · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 663
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:09:03
Nice explanation of why Boromir took on the task from his brother.
Reads like poetry.
Title: Darkness Visible · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 725
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:11:20
Nice. Engages all the senses, reaches out to the emotions, calls on
the reader's memory of similar experience. Reminds me of the eruption
of Mt. St. Helens, actually.
Title: Maiden Voyage · Author: Fawsley · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Drabble · ID: 654
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:13:01
Breathtaking in its imagery and progression, from tangible to
intangible. Left me breathless and amazed.
Title: Gifts of the People · Author: Ribby · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 472
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:14:18
This left me grinning in delight. Such a wise King - but was there
ever any doubt? (Perhaps among the Gondorians, but certainly not in my
mind.)
Title: Night Terrors · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 752
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:16:02
Sweet. But it took me awhile to "get" the title!
Title: Mistaken · Author: Fawsley · Genres: Humor: Drabble · ID: 490
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:17:35
LOL! Well done, and nice surprise at the end. (If only...)
Title: Through Shadows · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 620
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:23:23
Oooo. This one left me with shivers. Very nicely done.
Title: Cultural Exchanges In Gondor · Author: Llinos/Marigold
CoAuthors · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 94
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-10-18 22:28:06
What a charming collection of tiny vignettes, neatly woven together.
It was a delight to move through each in turn, never knowing what
those curious and amazing hobbits were going to find next. It was fun
to guess just what each discovery was going to be, as the clues were
revealed.
Definitely a fun read.
Title: Observations · Author: grey_wonderer · Races: Hobbits: Children
· ID: 204
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:28:36
O yes, I remember this story. This is an absolute delight, and so very
true to life in its observation of the literalness of children, and
the exploration of a special father-son relationship (you just know
Merry had to be well-brought-up, in order to be the person he was on
the Quest, and accomplish what he did). As always, GW's dialogue rings
true, the settings are so well described as to make the reader feel
like being there, and the timing perfect. I love the conclusion, where
the father learns as important a lesson as his son! As an added bonus,
a clever Prologue precedes the main course.
Title: One Frodo Too Many · Author: Baranduin · Genres: Humor: Parody
· ID: 683
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:30:45
As you may know, I prefer het and gen, but I took a chance on this one
and found it very cleverly done. This bit in particular had me
rolling: ["even the Master himself said that others would come after
him to expand the tale in music and painting and drama, though …"
cough "… it seems unlikely that he had quite these kinds of stories in
mind."
The Frodos preened again; even triangle!Frodo sat up a little
straighter and wiped away his tears.
Book!Frodo shuddered. "Descended from me you are, yes … but otnay
ootay rightbay," he said. At their quizzical glances, he waved a hand.
"A very ancient form of Elvish, accessible only in very old scrolls in
Rivendell."]
Title: Behind Every Great Man... · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid
Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 52
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:05
Very funny! I am quite fond of extremely competent personal servants.
(Need one, actually.)
Title: A Game of Chess · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble
· ID: 605
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:16
Started out skeptical - surely it was no new game to him. But your
clever explanation answered that nicely.
Title: Spring after Winter · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 462
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:31
Excellent. Excellent. (I seem to be repeating myself.) The dream
imagery, so winsome and wooing, so true to the senses; the reluctance
to wake, the joy and laughter awaiting... This is one of the best
"takes" I've seen on this scene. Very well done.
Title: The Waves' Song · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 6
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:32:01
The tragedy of this piece grabs my throat and leaves me shaken. Once
again I'm astounded at the power of words to be woven, turning prose
into poetry, and that it falls within the scope of a drabble makes it
even more of a wonder. [Winter swept from the north on grey gull
wings. Chill waves furrowed the grass, while the branches above surged
and heaved in a golden tempest of leaves.]
Title: Geometry · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 80
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:32:14
Very nice use of symbolism and imagery. Well done, especially within
the confines of the drabble form.
Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:34:19
O very nice fusion. One would almost think the poem a part of the
story rather than an external source of inspiration. You do a nice job
of weaving images, involving all the senses; and often your prose
makes itself into poetry. [Night fell early at the turning of the
year, and the birch trees gleamed like bleached bones in the twilight.
Snow swept across the western highway, stirring the yellow leaves that
lay heaped around the milestone.] and [The only sound was the sweep of
snow among the bare branches.] and [Feathers of snow soon brushed away
their tracks] were among my favourite passages.
I do wish Faramir might one day be able to trace his brother's
journey. I could see him doing that. (I have Pippin's son Faramir
doing much the same thing, in draft form at present.)
Title: Through Shadows · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 620
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:28:03
Marta has captured Dwarven culture very effectively here with her use
of language and proper names. I particularly liked Gimli's reaction to
Frodo having seen the vision Gimli was hoping to share.
Title: Shadows of the Past · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 331
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:30:03
This is a very effective look at Smeagol's corruption into Gollum – at
first still with enough humanity (Hobbitity?) to bury Deagol with some
ceremony and to feel remorse, even if only in dreams. Only for those
feelings to slip away as Smeagol's true nature is consumed and
corrupted by the ring. The imagery of the ring of golden sunflowers
mirroring the gold of the One Ring is very striking. Well done!
Title: Diversion · Author: Mar'isu · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: General Drabble · ID: 708
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:34:38
This is an extremely plausible extrapolation from canon of what
Glorfindel might have done in lieu of going with the Fellowship. I
love the characterisation of Glorfindel as a stern and uncompromising
warrior - giving real depth to a character who in canon is mostly
present in rather impersonal accounts of heroism - and I am impressed
by the deft use of his first age backstory to illuminate his present
actions. Very nicely done.
Title: Mettare Duties · Author: Marta · Genres: Romance: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 647
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:36:30
This is a vivid and entertaining picture (and undeniably erotic in an
understated way) of personal moments amidst the tedium of court
politics. I'm not sure which part I like most: the depth of
characterisation in small details such as the reference to Eowyn's
[restless hands]; the intimacy in the exchanges between Faramir and
Eowyn, such as Faramir's thought that [Dernhelm lurked beneath her
surface, and he loved both shieldmaiden and hearth-warmer]; or your
effective use of Michael Longcor's song. Very nicely done!
Title: Woven in Friendship · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 290
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-10-19 00:57:42
For a short ficlet this story says a lot. There are hints of things to
come, and even a hint of Pippin's Tookish Sight. There are memories
also, memories of war and rescue. There is also the love of friends
and family.
This story also has something not found a lot in fan fiction; the
friendship and understanding between Pippin and Eowyn. It would be
nice to see more of this relationship.
Title: Last Light · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Drama · ID: 194
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-10-19 00:58:19
Very poignant and unusual ficlet, complete with a splendid photo
illustration; from a POV I haven't seen before in Tolkien fanfiction.
This story is sad and dark, but fits well into Tolkien's MIddle-earth.
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 21:52:30
Such elegant use of imagery and metaphor to personalize tragedy.
Somehow I am reminded of all those papers flying from the WTC
before/during/after their fall.
Title: Could Will Have Its Way · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men:
Gondor Drabble · ID: 286
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:01:47
O my. Powerful writing, fantastic construction with the repetition of
the question(s) [How could I not...?] giving structure to the piece.
There are logical reasons put forth to personalize Denethor's action,
making him more of a tragic figure and less of a caricature than the
film would have one think. What struck me on re-reading was the
progression of emotion from grief to resolve to hopeless despair.
Excellent, one of the best stand-alone drabbles I've seen yet.
Title: Where There's Life, There's Hope (and in need of vittles) ·
Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 463
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:06:27
O yes, very cleverly done! You begin with an image from the book and
segue into something new, but eminently believable. Nice play on the
senses and emotions.
Title: Another Doom · Author: mrkinch · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 663
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:09:03
Nice explanation of why Boromir took on the task from his brother.
Reads like poetry.
Title: Darkness Visible · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 725
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:11:20
Nice. Engages all the senses, reaches out to the emotions, calls on
the reader's memory of similar experience. Reminds me of the eruption
of Mt. St. Helens, actually.
Title: Maiden Voyage · Author: Fawsley · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Drabble · ID: 654
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:13:01
Breathtaking in its imagery and progression, from tangible to
intangible. Left me breathless and amazed.
Title: Gifts of the People · Author: Ribby · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 472
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:14:18
This left me grinning in delight. Such a wise King - but was there
ever any doubt? (Perhaps among the Gondorians, but certainly not in my
mind.)
Title: Night Terrors · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 752
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:16:02
Sweet. But it took me awhile to "get" the title!
Title: Mistaken · Author: Fawsley · Genres: Humor: Drabble · ID: 490
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:17:35
LOL! Well done, and nice surprise at the end. (If only...)
Title: Through Shadows · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 620
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:23:23
Oooo. This one left me with shivers. Very nicely done.
Title: Cultural Exchanges In Gondor · Author: Llinos/Marigold
CoAuthors · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlet · ID: 94
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-10-18 22:28:06
What a charming collection of tiny vignettes, neatly woven together.
It was a delight to move through each in turn, never knowing what
those curious and amazing hobbits were going to find next. It was fun
to guess just what each discovery was going to be, as the clues were
revealed.
Definitely a fun read.
Title: Observations · Author: grey_wonderer · Races: Hobbits: Children
· ID: 204
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:28:36
O yes, I remember this story. This is an absolute delight, and so very
true to life in its observation of the literalness of children, and
the exploration of a special father-son relationship (you just know
Merry had to be well-brought-up, in order to be the person he was on
the Quest, and accomplish what he did). As always, GW's dialogue rings
true, the settings are so well described as to make the reader feel
like being there, and the timing perfect. I love the conclusion, where
the father learns as important a lesson as his son! As an added bonus,
a clever Prologue precedes the main course.
Title: One Frodo Too Many · Author: Baranduin · Genres: Humor: Parody
· ID: 683
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:30:45
As you may know, I prefer het and gen, but I took a chance on this one
and found it very cleverly done. This bit in particular had me
rolling: ["even the Master himself said that others would come after
him to expand the tale in music and painting and drama, though …"
cough "… it seems unlikely that he had quite these kinds of stories in
mind."
The Frodos preened again; even triangle!Frodo sat up a little
straighter and wiped away his tears.
Book!Frodo shuddered. "Descended from me you are, yes … but otnay
ootay rightbay," he said. At their quizzical glances, he waved a hand.
"A very ancient form of Elvish, accessible only in very old scrolls in
Rivendell."]
Title: Behind Every Great Man... · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid
Third Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 52
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:05
Very funny! I am quite fond of extremely competent personal servants.
(Need one, actually.)
Title: A Game of Chess · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble
· ID: 605
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:16
Started out skeptical - surely it was no new game to him. But your
clever explanation answered that nicely.
Title: Spring after Winter · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 462
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:31:31
Excellent. Excellent. (I seem to be repeating myself.) The dream
imagery, so winsome and wooing, so true to the senses; the reluctance
to wake, the joy and laughter awaiting... This is one of the best
"takes" I've seen on this scene. Very well done.
Title: The Waves' Song · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 6
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:32:01
The tragedy of this piece grabs my throat and leaves me shaken. Once
again I'm astounded at the power of words to be woven, turning prose
into poetry, and that it falls within the scope of a drabble makes it
even more of a wonder. [Winter swept from the north on grey gull
wings. Chill waves furrowed the grass, while the branches above surged
and heaved in a golden tempest of leaves.]
Title: Geometry · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 80
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:32:14
Very nice use of symbolism and imagery. Well done, especially within
the confines of the drabble form.
Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2007-10-18 22:34:19
O very nice fusion. One would almost think the poem a part of the
story rather than an external source of inspiration. You do a nice job
of weaving images, involving all the senses; and often your prose
makes itself into poetry. [Night fell early at the turning of the
year, and the birch trees gleamed like bleached bones in the twilight.
Snow swept across the western highway, stirring the yellow leaves that
lay heaped around the milestone.] and [The only sound was the sweep of
snow among the bare branches.] and [Feathers of snow soon brushed away
their tracks] were among my favourite passages.
I do wish Faramir might one day be able to trace his brother's
journey. I could see him doing that. (I have Pippin's son Faramir
doing much the same thing, in draft form at present.)
Title: Through Shadows · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 620
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:28:03
Marta has captured Dwarven culture very effectively here with her use
of language and proper names. I particularly liked Gimli's reaction to
Frodo having seen the vision Gimli was hoping to share.
Title: Shadows of the Past · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 331
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:30:03
This is a very effective look at Smeagol's corruption into Gollum – at
first still with enough humanity (Hobbitity?) to bury Deagol with some
ceremony and to feel remorse, even if only in dreams. Only for those
feelings to slip away as Smeagol's true nature is consumed and
corrupted by the ring. The imagery of the ring of golden sunflowers
mirroring the gold of the One Ring is very striking. Well done!
Title: Diversion · Author: Mar'isu · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: General Drabble · ID: 708
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:34:38
This is an extremely plausible extrapolation from canon of what
Glorfindel might have done in lieu of going with the Fellowship. I
love the characterisation of Glorfindel as a stern and uncompromising
warrior - giving real depth to a character who in canon is mostly
present in rather impersonal accounts of heroism - and I am impressed
by the deft use of his first age backstory to illuminate his present
actions. Very nicely done.
Title: Mettare Duties · Author: Marta · Genres: Romance: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 647
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-10-18 23:36:30
This is a vivid and entertaining picture (and undeniably erotic in an
understated way) of personal moments amidst the tedium of court
politics. I'm not sure which part I like most: the depth of
characterisation in small details such as the reference to Eowyn's
[restless hands]; the intimacy in the exchanges between Faramir and
Eowyn, such as Faramir's thought that [Dernhelm lurked beneath her
surface, and he loved both shieldmaiden and hearth-warmer]; or your
effective use of Michael Longcor's song. Very nicely done!
Title: Woven in Friendship · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 290
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2007-10-19 00:57:42
For a short ficlet this story says a lot. There are hints of things to
come, and even a hint of Pippin's Tookish Sight. There are memories
also, memories of war and rescue. There is also the love of friends
and family.
This story also has something not found a lot in fan fiction; the
friendship and understanding between Pippin and Eowyn. It would be
nice to see more of this relationship.
Title: Last Light · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Drama · ID: 194
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-10-19 00:58:19
Very poignant and unusual ficlet, complete with a splendid photo
illustration; from a POV I haven't seen before in Tolkien fanfiction.
This story is sad and dark, but fits well into Tolkien's MIddle-earth.
If you have any questions about the archive, or would like to report a technical problem, please contact Aranel (former MEFA Tech Support and current Keeper of the Archive) at araneltook@mefawards.org or at the MEFA Archive group..