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Msg# 8453

MEFA Reviews for December 2, 2007 (Part 2) Posted by Ann December 02, 2007 - 5:55:12 Topic ID# 8453
Title: Celeborn's Trees · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 514
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 15:53:42
And then he took her Noldor relatives out into the woods and left them
where the bears could eat them.

Celeborn strikes me as an elf who is very aware of his own value - and
Galadriel chose him and he and all the easily-spared kin know it, too.
A lovely piece.

Title: Reunion · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama · ID: 727
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:00:19
Poor Sam. At least, I suppose, he had just enough time to realise that
Rose was failing. It would have been a dreadful shock to him if she
hadn't put the idea in his head. I don't think his children and
grandchildren were too excited at the idea of his swanning off to the
Havens, though. Elanor understood the most, but they didn't really
want to let him go - and that would have been a shame. They all needed
the interlude, I think. Although Frodo and Sam were sadly missed by
all those they left behind, whether in the Shire, in Gondor, or in Tol
Eressea.



Title: Knave of Hearts · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres: Humor:
Children · ID: 252
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:04:43
Merry always had a cynical understanding of his little cousin's
tricksiness. Even if he denied being shrewd! But Saradoc's got
Pippin's number - even if he does let him slip away.

The torment, though, of putting Frodo, Merry and Pippin in a room with
jam tarts and then telling them not to eat any! I'm not surprised at
all that it ended in general mayhem and stickiness.

I love Pippin's bells. Just such a sweet picture. I think they might
be my favourite addition to your tales. Well, the bells and Erroll.
The bells, Erroll and the sheep. So hard to choose!


Title: Merry's Wedding · Author: Larner · Races: Hobbits: Pre-Quest ·
ID: 84
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:09:46
This is a delightful story - I love the way that the family conspired
to make Merry's first wedding to Estella as memorable as his second.
And, in retrospect, this version of events would possibly have been
even more treasured by those who loved Frodo, who didn't manage to
make it to Merry's rather more official wedding. Maybe Merry was able
to view the second wedding as more along the lines of renewing his vows!


Title: Healing Lessons · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Cross-Cultural:
With Pippin · ID: 296
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:13:16
This is a beautiful story, Pearl! I love Gimli stories - and the idea
of his shifty secretiveness about bringing help to poor Pippin is
delightful. What is more, I do like young healer Parsow. It is a
pleasure to find someone who is broad-minded enough to try out
techniques that must seem rather strange and alien to him.

Three cheers for the dwarves - and I thoroughly approve of Pippin's
perception that dwarves have both wisdom and intelligence.


Title: Three Things About Pippin · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres:
Humor: Children · ID: 133
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:18:07
Cunning work from Mr. Frodo Baggins there. Which the author recognised
and appreciated - and recorded for posterity.

Still, for all his good qualities, living with Pippin must have been
an endurance test for his older sisters. An experience that probably
made them more than adequate opponents for any available Ruffians, though!

Title: Observations · Author: grey_wonderer · Races: Hobbits: Children
· ID: 204
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:21:21
How delightfully literal of Merry! And yet - living your life as if
your most devoted admirer is watching you must have been hard at times
... but what better way of ensuring that you never compromise your
standards! Saradoc is a great hobbit - with a fantastic son. Esmeralda
must have been so proud of the pair of them. What a lovely story.


Title: Charms of Wisdom and Grace · Author: annmarwalk · Genres:
Drama: Ithilien · ID: 460
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-01 16:24:43
What a lovely Faramir! Not one who needs show - he would rather gift
his sone with something made with love than with all the crafted steel
and cut gems he doubtless stores in his vaults. A man who knows what
matters.

Title: The Land of Gift · Author: Maeve Riannon · Times: First Age and
Prior: House of Fingolfin · ID: 108
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-01 16:50:11
[spoilers]

What first captured my fancy about this story was the truly unique
spin it gives on canonical characters and events. Tuor and Idril are
two of my favorite First Age characters, and Numenor likewise holds a
special place in my heart, but I would have never thought to connect
the two. Yet the author does so convincingly here, in a moody piece
that leaves the reader thinking and also affected emotionally on some
level that is hard to identify. For a piece as short as it is, it
packs a lot of punch - just what I love. Nice work, Maeve.

Title: Cool Sunlight and Green Grass · Author: SlightlyTookish ·
Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring War · ID: 211
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-02 00:56:47
I love when much is said in few words and that is the case with this
story. It deals with hurt and wonder and joy. It deals with the
essence of being alive when you thought all was lost.

It makes me smile!

A wonderful story, SlightlyTookish!

Title: Beneath a Gibbous Moon · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 4
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-12-02 01:01:15
A beautifully atmospheric story which crossed the ages of friendship
between Men and Elves.

I loved the imagery of the moon and stars and the way Man and Elf
support and encourage each other.

Very well written.

Title: Fell Beasts · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains: Drabble · ID: 403
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2007-12-02 02:09:49
The drabble Fell Beasts vividly describes the creatures who haunted
Frodo and terrorized Minas Tirith during its siege. Tanaqui succinctly
characterizes these demons and fills a gap in regard to their origin.

Title: Duty Bound · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Pre-Ring War ·
ID: 212
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-02 02:14:41
This is an elegant story of something that might well have been. The
Fellowship are getting to know one another and Pippin asks Boromir if
he is married. From there issues a marvelous, tender and sad tale. It
could have happened just this way.

Bodkin weaves a stunning story well worth any readers time.

Title: Magical Mystical Cave · Author: Lily · Races: Hobbits: Children
· ID: 213
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-02 02:15:27
The wonder. The danger! A grand adventure for Frodo and Merry
skillfully told by Lily. There are clues sprinkled through the
narrative, but the real story is saved for later, much to the readers
delight. An exciting and fun story that I heartily recomend!

Most Excellently Well Done, Lily!

Title: Dragon Lore · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains: Drabble · ID: 404
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2007-12-02 02:16:03
Like its companion piece, "Dragon Lore" efficiently fills a gap on the
origin of Morgoth's evil creatures, in this case dragons. With lovely
language, Tanaqui's drabble describes how Morgoth tried to corrupt
eagles into serving him. Few took his bait; however, a spiteful few did.

Title: Glimpse of Glory · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 575
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 06:59:23
Good thing she saw through the temptation! Victory in humility. A
central theme? Maybe.

Title: A Queen Among Farmers' Wives · Author: Imhiriel · Genres:
Humor: Drabble · ID: 635
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 07:05:34
Well now! That is simply a perfectly justifiable reaction to having
your husband come home a) drunk and b) burbling Tom Bombadillo-style
nonsense. Blunt instrument applied to cranium - and perhaps the
outcome will be no more bad versifying!

Title: In the Bleak, Cold Winter · Author: GamgeeFest · Races:
Hobbits: Pre-Quest · ID: 493
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 07:12:30
It was good to see Merry's relationship with Sam begin its recovery.
It will - eventually - be rather important that they trust each other,
I think. And Merry and Willow's relationship will probably do the
rather self-assured young gentlehobbit some good. Especially as it
won't be too easy for them to get together! (And courting her will
probably make Merry much more understanding of strong lasses and be a
benefit to Estella in the future!)

Everything has settled down - for a while, anyway. Sam's determination
to keep his place is perhaps a bit of a pose - the difference between
Sam and Furzy when it comes to dealing with gentlehobbits is
noticeable! Sam is closer to friendship with them - and closer to
becoming the kind of hobbit who could manage outside the Shire. Not to
mention the kind of hobbit who would become Mayor. (Blame it all on Mr
Bilbo!)


Title: Don't Be Deceived · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 351
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 07:15:55
Oh, very clever! I like bouncy young Estel picking up tips on how to
sit in the corner of an inn and brood dangerously. Not to mention the
lesson in people not always being what he might assume at first
glance. I never thought of him as basing his ranger-persona on King
Bard - but why not! Their lives certainly have parallels.

Title: Poking The Badger · Author: grey_wonderer · Genres: Humor: The
Shire or Buckland · ID: 209
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 07:17:22
I love the title! And Pippin's mental image of dressing a badger in
Merry's weskit. Not to mention Merry's indignation that Pippin is
sitting quietly and not ... badgering him into revealing all his
frustrations. The wrestling story is great, too. But Pippin's genuine
understanding of the whole problem is probably the thing that calms
Merry down. Even if his enjoyment of his new size is going to irritate
his cousin. Another really great episode.


Title: Fell and Fair · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 526
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-02 07:28:24
This is a beautiful example of how you can tell a coherent story very
powerfully in a series of short pieces - it is elegantly written and
extremely effective. I love both the overall story, tracing the
history of the sons of Elrond across the years from Celebrian's
departure until their own decision to go, and seeing them from the
point of view of so many diffferent characters. Excellent.

Title: Knowing · Author: rhyselle · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages
· ID: 765
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-12-02 07:42:35
A rather nifty twist on the relationship of Glorfindel and the sons of
Elrond; rooted in the mysteries of the Halls of Mandos and the tragic
fate of two other twin descendants of Luthien and Beren. I love the
ending!

Title: Transformation · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Men: General Drabble
· ID: 185
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2007-12-02 08:13:25
Such a wonderful, delightful drabble that goes far beyond the lovely
subject matter perched in the rigging...

What I think this drabble captures so completely for me is the sense
of giddiness that would follow the overthrow of Sauron. It's hard for
me to comprehend the horror and oppression of those times, sitting
safely in my home, but the people of Gondor had lived with it for
generations upon generations. Such a burden, a pressure that weighed
on their lives; and then, when the final end of all they knew seemed
upon them - sudden relief!

Even beyond that: the King Returned! And such a King! To say that
there was joy in the streets would be a vast understatement. Not that
there wasn't a tremendous amount of work and rebuilding to be done,
but now it could be accomplished with their sights set on an actual
future.

That's rather a long way of saying that this image of regal Imrahil,
lordly manner and garb temporarily tossed aside, works so well for me
because of all the underlying emotion that it conjures. Added to that,
Imhiriel makes her usual beautiful and creative use of canon (King's
practical gifting of the Corsair ships) and showers us with gorgeous
descriptions. I love the use of present tense, as it draws me right
into the scene - definitely an enviable place to be. *g*

Title: The Treasure Hunt · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves ·
ID: 320
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2007-12-02 09:56:09
Elladan and Elrohir are anxiously awaiting the return of their parents
from Lothlórien and driving Erestor to distraction. In a thoughtless
moment the elf realizes he may have made a mistake and calls on
Glorfindel to the rescue. Any story with Glorfindel in it is worth
reading. I like how the intrepid Balrog Slayer convinces the twins to
play a game of treasure hunt, leaving gnomic verses as clues, several
taken from "The Hobbit" but the rest taken from other sources, yet all
authentic. I had to laugh at the idea of Glorfindel hastily writing
out the verses and coming up with a plan that would lure to twins to
["their heart's desire"]. Erestor's put-upon demeanor was also nicely
portrayed. As much as he might grumble and act the stern
administrator, you sense that beneath that gruff exterior, he holds a
soft spot for the twins in his heart. Nicely done, Jay.