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Msg# 8435

MEFA Reviews for November 22, 2007 (Part 2) Posted by Ann November 22, 2007 - 5:49:31 Topic ID# 8435
Title: No Escape · Author: Aranel Took · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 324
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-11-15 03:03:25
[Spoiler Alert]

I hadn't considered before that Balin would have taken females when he
led the group of dwarves bent on retaking Moria but it does make sense
as they planned to recolonise and took many of their folk.

This was very grim and touched my heart as it would the heart of any
mother. The sense of hopelessness is palpable as is the resolve and
bravery of this poor dwarf woman.

This drabble is certainly unlike anything else that I have ever read
by this author and I thought it well done indeed!



Title: Blackest Fate · Author: Branwyn · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 476
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-11-15 03:13:10
An excellent nod to a brief reference in the books. The language is
beautiful here and the thoughts suit the two prisoners very well. I
had no idea at all just who these poor unfortunates were until the end
and the realisation was a jolt, but a good one.

I'd love to read more about these two, especially their escape or
rescue. It makes me very sad to think that they ended their days in
servitude in an evil foreign land.

Title: Spring after Winter · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 462
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-11-15 03:19:04
[Spoiler Alert]

How lovely that Sam woke to a gentle rain and laughter - it's the
perfect reward for him after the lack of water and joy he suffered in
Mordor.

Good description of that vague moment between sleep and waking.

Title: Renewal · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 - 3017
TA: Drabble · ID: 692
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-11-15 03:27:59
The author does a wonderful job here of painting a picture with words.
Everything is so vividly described that it's hard to remember that
this is a drabble and not a longer piece.

Compared to what it looked like the last time Bilbo saw the place this
must have seemed a scene out of a fairy story to him and his wonder is
described perfectly. I really liked the way that the renewal is
described in colours and sounds. Very nice indeed!

Title: Devious Council · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 427
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-11-15 03:31:08
In this intriguing vignette, Rhapsody explores a small corner of
Noldor history mentioned in the Silmarillion, bringing Maedhros and
Caranthir to vivid life in the process.

Good dialogue and characterisation.

Title: Twice blessed is help unlooked for · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 631
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-11-15 04:03:50
There are so many delightful turns of phrase in this drabble: [dealing
death and defending blows], [weary joy], even the simple descriptor of
[comrades] for Thorongil. There is a magical lilt to the whole peace
that makes the scene come alive; I can definitely see the whole scene,
especially Imrahil's smile. Well done, Tanaqui, I enjoyed this.

Title: The Tragedye of Leaflet, Prince of Mirkwood · Author: Jael ·
Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 243
Reviewer: Claudio · 2007-11-15 04:08:01
Any story that manages to effectively parody both Tolkien and
Shakespeare at the same time is an absolute must-read. In this case,
an idea that could easily have fallen flat or gone overboard is
executed perfectly, with just the right mix of careful knowledge and
bawdy humour. A well-written story leaves the reader both satisfied
and wanting more, and The Tragedye of Leaflet does just that. There's
enough here to appreciate immensely, but I'd still like to read the
whole play some day...

Title: Fun with Farm'n · Author: Súlriel · Races: Villains: Drabble ·
ID: 269
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-11-15 04:09:02
Ugh! But wonderfully, truly spectacularly orcish. I knew the ending
was coming, but it still worked really well, and you even got a bit of
orcish humor in - no easy task. Good work.

Title: None may live now as they have lived · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 687
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-11-15 04:16:40
This was touching. I don't think I've read much fanfic that deals with
the question of Arwen's confidence in Aragorn, though she must have
believed in him. I particularly like that she knows the northern
Dunedain so well. I can imagine this is just what Aragorn would have
needed to hear, and I really enjoyed seeing the encouragement fleshed
out so evocatively.

Title: Night of Love · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance: Gondor
· ID: 617
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 04:39:50
Very nice little vignette. I like the place Galadriel suggested for
'this' night. Nice job.

Title: Dreams the Way We Planned Them · Author: SlightlyTookish ·
Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 297
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 04:42:14
Very nice. I think it would be nigh unto impossible for anyone NOT to
love Pippin. I had to say 'yikes' when Aragorn suggested things might
not end well... I loved the touch with the swollen lip and bruised jaw
- nice touch that the helm would do some damage!

Very nice tale.

Title: The Spear of the Lily · Author: The Bookbinder's Daughter ·
Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 11
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 04:43:43
Very nice moment.

Title: Waters of Life · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 423
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 04:46:24
Nicely done. Having Arwen be the one who ended up doing the guiding -
the further up they went - was a very nice touch and made me laugh. I
really loved the fact that the place made her want to dance! So
Luthien - ish!

Title: Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady · Author: Marta · Genres:
Romance: Gondor · ID: 604
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 05:02:27
Very nice indeed, Marta! I liked the whole premise of this. But most
especially, I liked the tension between Hurin and Faramir - it would
be most difficult for the Warden of the Keys to NOT have had an
intense relationship with Denethor and would have HAD to learn to read
the man... therefore, it seems totally plausible that he would note
the traits in Faramir - as Tolkien himself writes.

One other part that I really found made me shiver - one little tiny
reference to what might have happened on the east banks of the Anduin.
What manner of interrogation did Faramir have to resort to in those
hellacious days of torment during the War of the Ring???

I also will agree that Faramir probably didn't yet know the
circumstances surrounding his father's death - not at this particular
moment, at least.

Good tale.

Title: Measures of Time · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 50
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-11-15 05:07:26
An excellent chapter in Eowyn's life. I most appreciated this view. I
could just feel the Shieldmaiden's emotions; they flowed freely and
well throughout. I wrote 'wow' at the very first paragraph and
relished the rest. Her anger at Faramir's 'youth' - the resentment of
her daughter's youth - the fact that she could still dance, thank the
Valar - and the rejoicing in being able to still [catch a young man's
eye] were such fun to read. I really enjoyed this one.

One little side note. I loved the fact that you put that Faramir never
lied to her. It reminded me of a quote I read somewhere that Tolkien
said that the men of Gondor do not lie. I thought it most important
for these men.

Good tale.

Title: A Dragon in Buckland · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Mystery ·
ID: 206
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-11-15 08:09:03
This was just darling to read. Very sweet and seems in character for
Pippin-- playful and a bit mischievous but also loyal and kind.

Title: Tea for Two · Author: pippinfan88 · Races: Hobbits: Children ·
ID: 304
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2007-11-15 08:36:14
Aww! Being an only child myself, I've never felt the rejection that it
seems comes with being "replaced" as the baby of the family. Poor
little Vinca! Wonderful of Frodo to step in and make her feel noticed,
even more so for a nearly grown lad to play tea party. I like your
Frodo, and the family he's been adopted into. Bravo.

Title: The Rose in the Fisted Glove · Author: Jael · Genres: Drama:
Second Age or Earlier · ID: 240
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2007-11-15 11:00:25
This gem is a delight from beginning to end. The deft dialogue, the
mix of sorrow and humor, brings Middle-earth alive before your eyes.
Jael's favorite milieu, the Wood-elves of Oropher and Thranduil, puts
her in just the spot to observe the rest of the world of Men and Elves
with keen sight. Not being a fan of the stuffy Noldor, I love her sly,
insightful digs at the likes of Feanor and the "flame-eyed." I'd much
rather hang with Jael's Thranduil.

It's a challenge to pull the rug from under LACE and yet stay "true"
to the feel of Middle-earth, and Jael does it. Of course those
"canonites" who view strict monogamy alone as "worthy" of a story of
Middle-earth will not, and cannot, be satisfied. More pity they. If I
can indulge in a bit of polemic, there's plenty of evidence that
Tolkien himself realized there were--ahem--large improbabilities about
LACE. Jael makes a lively, moving tale out of just these.

I particularly enjoy the relationship between prince/king and valet,
as the distance between them opens and closes in the course of the
tale. It is a hard thing to write well.

Jael continues to grow immensely as a writer. I enjoy her tales, and
seeing her development. What will she do next? Her happy readers can't
wait to see.

Title: The Anglo-Saxons and the Rohírrim · Author: willow_41z ·
Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 585
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-11-15 13:29:14
This is an interesting take on the perennial problem of fanfic
treating the Rohirrim as Anglo-Saxons. Instead of taking on the bigger
problem of why we think any historical culture would exactly parallel
a fictitious one in a work by an author who proclaims to dislike
allegory, willow_41z takes a more pragmatic approach. Let's say
Tolkien intended the Rohirrim to resemble the Anglo-Saxons in some
significant way. Would it be the Anglo-saxons of history, of
literature, an idealized version combining some aspects of both, or
what exactly? And given how little we know about the Anglo-saxons,
what would we gain by making this analogy?

It's a really interesting way to look at characterization in fanfic,
both with regards to this specific issue and the larger issue of how
we go about world-building. Nice work, willow - it was a very engaging
read, and I'm sure I'll be mulling your points over in my mind over
the next few days.

Title: Devious Council · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 427
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-11-15 16:17:41
I appreciate this very short story because it takes a well-known but
not explicitly developed bit of text and gives thoughtful
characterization and backstory that illuminates it. Of course, it
doesn't hurt at all that I see bits of the character of both Maedhros
and Caranthir that which fits my own personal imagination of what
these two sons of Fëanáro might have been like. Maedhros displays an
understanding of both his brothers and politics that enabled him to
effectively accomplish an enormous amount during those years; it also
displays the contradictions of Caranthir.

Title: Lost in Translation · Author: sophinisba solis · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 31
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-11-15 16:38:07
This is wonderful perspective on otherwise familiar events. I can't
help but think that Pippin's preoccupation with the language barrier
was keeping him from thinking about the great, wider world, in an
larger detail - that would have been truly alienating!

Title: 13th Birthday · Author: stefaniab · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 138
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-11-15 16:46:04
I really liked this multi-faceted depiction of the Steward's family,
and that Denethor is shown as fair, knowing, compassionate, and yet
distant and troubled. A most fair assessment.

Title: Holding onto Hope · Author: Alassante · Times: First Age and
Prior · ID: 368
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-11-15 17:02:19
This is such a wonderfully layered piece. On top, we have the
comparatively simple tale of nephew goading and coaxing uncle into
reviving from self-pity and despair. Their exchanges are almost
child-like, teasing, full of reverse-psychology and engaging. But more
intriguing is the ironic undertext, that Meadhros's path to recover
lies through violence - the sword - retribution and the destruction
neither knows lies in their future.

Title: Blackest Fate · Author: Branwyn · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851 -
3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 476
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2007-11-15 17:11:05
I liked this one! I didn't suspect the prisoners' identity until the
very last line. Very poignant!

Title: Seeking to Please · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 193
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-11-15 18:09:30
What an unconventional Yenta Elrohir makes! content to let the future
take care of itself so long as he as manipulated the present. This is
a lovely story, nonetheless delightful for its simplicity. The writer
does indeed set it like a stage, like a farce, one player entering
stage left, the other stage right, the unforseen observer standing in
for the audience. As Arwen loses more and more sticks, she unburdens
herself of her apprehensions, and gives over more of her affection as
Aragorn recieves them.

Nicely done.