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Title: Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux · Author: Fiondil
· Genres: Drama: Elves in Later Ages · ID: 77
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-15 20:16:50
Well! The ending leaves me hanging, wondering what on earth (or in
Aman, perhaps) can be going on now! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching
the recovery of Glorfindel, Finrod and Sador as they began to grow
accustomed to being back among the once-born. Complicated lives they
lead - and I'm not sure I would want Maiar and Valar quite as
responsive to my every thought! You'd think the - er - less-contented
of the residents would be rather more careful about getting involved
in plots and picking on others and generally scheming in such ways as
to upset the Valar's peace. Unless, I suppose, the Valar have
generally held off since the end of the First Age and the residents of
the Blessed Realm have allowed themselves to forget that they can be
dangerous to cross. I like the minor characters - the children are
very appealing, and I feel for poor Vorondil, whose mother has turned
out to be such a spiteful cat. This is a very long and complex story,
although the overall thread is clearly drawn - and I am glad to know
that it is only book one and that there is more to come.

Title: Woven in Friendship · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 290
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-15 20:19:38
I love the idea of Pippin enjoying the warmth of the tapestries in
comparison to Gondor's white statues - and the origin of Merry's horn.
The hobbits would, I think, have felt more at home in Rohan that in
the White City. I love the symbolism.


Title: Respite · Author: Lindelea · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 303
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-15 20:23:11
A snatched moment only - a drabble's worth of reading to remind poor
Faramir what he's missing. But he would never contemplate abandoning
his duty - even if he could. I can hear his sigh.

Title: Stopping by Woods · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Drama: Vignette ·
ID: 19
Reviewer: Bodkin · 2007-12-15 20:27:30
I don't think Faramir will be following Boromir's path through the
snow yet, despite his age. He is still earth-bound for now - a man of
Gondor, a Rohir by marriage, a Steward, a father and a grandfather -
but he will pass into the mists soon.

A good companion piece to the Boromir episode. I enjoyed them both.



Title: The Pearl · Author: Jocelyn · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA · ID: 815
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-15 22:32:27
I really enjoy fics highlighting the great friendship of Legolas and
Gimli. There are a number of fine tales recounting their homecoming
together, and this one is both exciting and well-written.

Title: Promises to Keep · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Times: Early Third
Age: 1-2850 TA · ID: 321
Reviewer: geek_chick · 2007-12-15 22:39:39
[Contains Spoilers]
This is a very interesting story! I was hesitant at first about an
“Elvish ghost story” since I didn’t think that would fit with canon,
but I think you made it work. I can believe that Mandos might
occasionally permit an Elvish fear to speak with a loved one. I like
your thoughts at the beginning of the story, and how most Elves seemed
to forget that their celebration was also the anniversary of Oropher’s
death. It does seem like society tends to remember only the more
favorable aspects of history! (Like “in the good old days…”). So
Thranduil’s grief was a nice contrast to the people’s celebration and
put things in perspective. The conversation between Thranduil and
Oropher was very good, I like how at the time of Oropher’s death,
Thranduil was still too young to comprehend the love a parent has for
his child, and even after Oropher tries to explain it, Thranduil
doesn’t completely understand until he returns to his wife and thinks
about it. Oropher’s knowledge of Telparian’s pregnancy made for a
sweet moment since just earlier Thranduil was sad that Oropher would
never get to meet his son. And I like how Oropher also appeared to
Telparian in dream, and that Legolas’ name ultimately came from these
two experiences. Overall, a great little story!

Title: Glistening · Author: Ellie · Races: Elves · ID: 383
Reviewer: geek_chick · 2007-12-15 22:43:41
[Contains Spoilers] I read this story earlier on another site, but
when I saw it here I had to review it again! In Part I, I liked
Thingol’s frustration at the progress of their journey, and at his
sudden change when he met Melian. (Also, his frustrations give some
good insight into why the Great Journey took so long!) Part II was
sweet, and I liked how you ended it with Luthien announcing her
pregnancy, continuing the generational theme of the story (and Beren’s
reaction was cute too!) I think Part III is one of my favorites -- I
love how both parents saw a vision of Elwing’s future, and how fitting
her name is for those visions. Part IV was very interesting, I like
how Earendil had known his whole life what is future would be, so we
knew how sad and frustrated he must be at finding Tirion empty! [BTW,
when I reviewed this story at FF.net, I said that I had never pictured
Earendil’s arrival at Valinor like this. That was because at the time,
I had forgotten that Tirion was empty when he arrived!] I also like
Eonwe’s wonder at seeing Earendil, it was an interesting perspective.
Part V was an interesting look at Elrond’s life. I liked your
explanation of why he did not become the new High King, of how Elrond
immediately recognized that the Eldar would fade and his role in being
a caretaker rather than a leader. The two parts on Elladan and Elrohir
were rather bittersweet -- how sad that Elladan thinks of his weapons
as his lover and family now! (And how fitting that he sings a love
song while he cleans his weapons -- when you first read that line, it
sounds weird that he would sing a love song, but later on you realize
why.) And to end the story with Elrohir realizing their family was
broken was so sad after reading several chapters about the previous
generations of the family (especially since most of the earlier
chapters were happy chapters). Yes, there is a hint of hope at the
end, but the reader knows the family will still never be whole after
Arwen’s choice! (Or at least, they will never be whole before the end
of Arda!) I also liked your choices of what would be glistening in
each chapter, each choice was very fitting. Overall, an excellent story!

Title: Beneath a Gibbous Moon · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 4
Reviewer: geek_chick · 2007-12-15 22:51:30
[Contains Spoilers] This is an amazing story! Showing encounters
between Elros and Oropher and their heirs is a unique idea and could
easily be done poorly, but in your story each encounter seems very
believable and the characters are fitting to what we know of them in
canon. The first chapter had such a bittersweet tone, with Oropher’s
depression of the destruction of Beleriand, and Elros’s hope of
beginning a new life in Numenor. Elrond’s reaction to his brother’s
choice is also believable.

I especially enjoyed the second chapter, but perhaps that’s because I
find Isildur to be a very interesting character. I like how you
switched the roles of Elf and Man in this chapter, and the elf is the
one who is more hopeful. Thranduil’s more light-hearted personality
was a little unexpected to me but is convincing, it seems fitting for
a wood-elf but the light tone is not overdone so we can still take his
words seriously.

The third chapter is not so original when taken by itself
(conversations between Aragorn and Legolas have certainly been done
before!), but when taken with the rest of the story it offers a very
fitting conclusion. Several lines in this chapter hearken back to the
first two which really ties the story together. I like Legolas’s
analysis on Isildur’s character and how he was the last of the
Numenoreans -- and how Aragorn is different.

The three chapters already form a coherent whole due to the lineage of
the main characters and the theme of the night before the end of an
age. However, the additional theme of the spirits and mists ties the
story together even better, and the spirits of the dead seem to
emphasize the cross-generational / ancestral themes in this story.

Overall, an excellent story!

Title: Comes Now The Plaintiff, Frodo Baggins · Author: EdorasLass ·
Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 17
Reviewer: Inkling · 2007-12-16 02:06:46
A hilarious look at a litigation-crazed Middle-earth, written by one
who clearly knows legal gibberish all too well.

I would have loved to see Edoraslass continue this with the trial, at
which [...Orc, Uruk-Hai, and also, Shelob] will be called as
witnesses. I'll be they get some sweet immunity deals for *that*
testimony!

Love all the side-suits and countersuits, especially the Estate of
Boromir suing everyone in sight! I can just imagine the defendants'
countersuits for slander, libel, and defamation of character against
Frodo Baggins, aka FRODO OF THE NINE FINGERS aka ELF FRIEND aka MASTER
UNDERHILL aka THE RING BEARER aka THE HALFLING aka FRODO OF THE SHIRE
aka FRODO THE WANDERER aka MAURA LABINGI aka MR. FRODO aka MASTER...


Title: Decorum · Author: Larner · Genres: Humor: The Shire or Buckland
· ID: 59
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-12-16 04:44:01
I like dear Aunt Dora. She knows what she believes, and she's quite
happy to let everyone know it, even to the point of writing a book.
And just when you're ready to roll your eyes, she shows her sweet side.

Loved the scene in the kitchen.

Title: Welcome · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Elves: Fixed-Length Ficlet ·
ID: 694
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-16 04:58:58
This drabble has a really nice structure to it, with each paragraph
beginning with ["Glorfindel knew"], followed by some geographic
feature. It's a surprisingly affective way to get at the great variety
of Glorfindel's experience, and how Rivendell would pick up on those
past experiences yet be distinct. Very nicely done!

Title: Twice blessed is help unlooked for · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 631
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-12-16 05:42:39
I had never thought about Thorongil on the field of Pelennor and what
his appearance would mean to those who were 'around' when he was a
captain in Ecthelion's army - which is no reason not to LOL - but it
is a great thought!!!

A waking dream - excellent way to wonder about it. And to think that
he might himself be dead already and seeing those he will now share
eternity with. I love it.

And I love the [quiet peace of old age] that Thorongil is expected to
be enjoying... who would ever think that the man would still be alive,
nevermind, strong and viral still? Wow...

Title: Stay With Me · Author: pippinfan88 · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 518
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-16 06:26:15
There is something to be said for paying attention to the positive
things. When you are depressed or otherwise psychologically upset,
that can make a big difference. It doesn't make the bad things go
away, but helps all the same. This story does a good job of capturing
that along with Pippin's and Esmeralda's characters. I did have some
reservations to referring to Pippin as a youth, because I tend to
think that hobbits mature physically at the same rate as other races,
they just have less war and so on so don't need to take on the legal
responsibilities of adulthood until later. But that's my
interpretation, and it in no way spoiled the story. It takes a gifted
writer to make me accept a characterization that doesn't fit my own,
and pippinfan88 certainly does that. I enjoyed this story.

Title: Osgiliath · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 626
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-12-16 06:37:56
This is so profoundly beautiful in its stark telling of a bitter and
terrifying moment! Told so well that the reader must even think they
are part of the tale...

The beginning and the end are perfect with the Shadow... I love [the
bridge, the narrows, the death, the life] simple words that evoke
great feelings in the reader. And the action of standing... and the
shakes and the water... Good grief, I'm babbling. I wish I had better
words to give substance to what I felt when I read this. It is
inspiring and sad and beautiful - all at the same time...

And what could end up as despair of a thought too terrible to linger
on - that one thought of hopelessness.... oh my!

Title: Responsibility · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble ·
ID: 720
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-16 06:38:06
This drabble is chilling, just as I'm sure the situation would have
been for Faramir himself. The author does a very affective job of
getting across the psychological horror of principled people faced by
tough choices. Yet I fully agree with the author's conclusion that
Faramir would do this act himself; to do anything else would be to be
not-Faramir. And the descriptions of the violence, as "tasteful" as
any such description can be, give just enough details for the reader
to envision the scene in their own mind's eye. Very affective on both
a visceral and emotional level, but I expect nothing less from this
author, especially where Faramir is concerned.

Title: Weary Beyond Joy Or Sorrow? · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 671
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2007-12-16 06:42:12
I love the author's phrasing.... there are so many beautiful
pieces/parts that evoke strong emotion, heartfelt sorrow, and keen
hope. And I love the ending...

Yes indeed - Love this very, very much!

Title: When the King Comes Back (Brandy Hall) · Author: Dreamflower ·
Genres: Drama: With Merry · ID: 713
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-12-16 08:32:09
"When the King Comes Back"--synonymous with "never" for so long within
the Shire, and yet now come to be. The Hobbits of the Shire find
themselves having to accept this new reality, and the changes they see
in four of their own. Seen mostly through the denizens of Brandy Hall,
this is a wonderful examination of the quest after the fact.