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Title: Dear · Author: Febobe (Frodo Baggins of Bag End) · Genres:
Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 811
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-12-23 22:44:36
Febobe is well-known for writing excellent stories in which Sam cares
for a still-fragile post-Quest Frodo and this is one of her best,
though Frodo doesn't make an actual appearance. He is still very much
a part of the story despite being in the background here.

The descriptions of Sam (and Faramir) seeing to Frodo's comfort are
well done. Sam's efforts to care for Frodo have a subconscious motive
though, in my opinion, above the obvious one of Sam continuing to look
out for his Master; and that is that Sam needs to keep himself very
busy lest he think too much about what he and Frodo went through in
Mordor. His line "{All the same, I don't like thinking about it too
much.}" cuts to the heart of the matter I think.

Excellent hurt/comfort story, heavy on the comfort. And with a
cleverly included, slightly angsty subtext about the residual effects
of the Quest on Sam himself.

Title: The Understanding of a Father · Author: Ellie · Races: Elves ·
ID: 174
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-23 22:53:41
[this review contains spoilers]

I lost track how often I was told to read this story, and again I do
believe that this story comes with a highest recommendation. Ellie
tells the touching tale from the perspective of Glorfindel’s father
who tries to understand what marred his son so. You can sense how he
is searching for an explanation as he observes his child asleep, a
child whom he had though to have lost forever. However, Glorfindel has
returned to the living with a clear purpose and on the eve of the War
of wrath it becomes painfully clear to parents and siblings alike what
ultimate price they paid overseas for fighting for freedom. Ellie’s
writing is so moving, the way how she portrays a silent Glorfindel
sitting in front of the fire simply makes me cry: it is such a still
moment and the pain of this character is so tangible. Gently Ellie
reveals what Glorfindel has lost in the east, a severe price and
profound loss to loose his own children and wife, it all suddenly
pales in comparison to the not knowing of his own father. The moment
that his own father realises the pain of his son â€" and father in his
own right, the fight and awakening of all who left behind in Aman to
what will await them once they will follow Finarfin into battle is
greatly written. It fills Glorfindel’s father a purpose, a thirst to
avenge all the hurts brought to his family and kin, and yet it does
not come across as battle frenzy, but in great understanding to the
reader as well. This is a skilfully written short story with great
characterisation and a strong plot that feels well rounded and is most
definitely evocatively written. Don’t miss this one!

Title: The Gaze of the Lady Galadriel · Author: Aprilkat · Genres:
Drama: The Fellowship · ID: 600
Reviewer: Llinos · 2007-12-23 22:54:44
My favourite part of this ficlet is the silent support that Aragorn
gives to Frodo. He knows he can do nothing with words to ease Frodo's
burden and so offers the simple but powerful support of the presence
of a friend. The ambiguity about just what it was that Frodo was
offered is so much more effective than simply stating what that was;
not being told this particular author's thoughts on just what was
offered gives the reader the chance to muse and conjecture as they will.

Title: Letting Go · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 790
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-23 23:08:06
We don’t come across many stories of King Inwë and his Vanyar. Once I
finished reading this short story, I seriously wondered why. In
[Letting Go] Ellie explores this character shortly before he is to
communicate a decision that cannot be easy for a compassionate leader.
She takes us back to the shores of Cuiviénen and shows us the
important role Ingwë had amongst his people. In a way, it feels like a
story within the story about the Vanyar. To me it feels, and this is
something Ellie conveys very well, that it cannot be easy to send
people into war, back into the East to an enemy one thought they had
escaped. Still this is not all, Ingwë feels that he has to learn to
let go of his own children, a phase of which every parent struggles
for a love and devotion so great. His turmoil is great, a frustration
of not being able to lead him alerts his wife who simply knows how to
soothe him. This is a very thought provoking piece.

Title: Begetting Day · Author: Lady Aranel · Races: Elves: With
Mirkwood Elves · ID: 146
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-24 01:16:58
I love this delightful story, especially the interplay between
Thranduil, his wife and son. You do such a wonderful portrayal, so
seldom seen, of Thranduil not just as a king and a caring and
concerned father, but as a diplomat. His answer to the dinner chair
dilemma is priceless.

You do a wonderful job of weaving in hints of a deeper, longer history
with the snip of memory of how Thranduil has changed through knowing
the love of a wife and through the years of being a father.

While this is complete as a short story about a young Legolas in the
forest, it also seems to be the tip of an iceberg of so much more. I'm
in awe how you can work in such deep themes parenting and how children
change not just your life but the person you are and how you view the
world.

Title: The Tides of the World · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 101
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-12-24 01:48:26
Watching Aragorn while in a state of exhaustion from the battle to
save the city he loves allows us a glimpse into his thoughts that many
of us don't often see in fanfiction. No matter the sorrow he feels at
the incredible loss of friends and allies, he never loses sight of the
hope that the ultimate victory over Sauron will be attained. Touching
and well-written.

Title: Great Books · Author: Lady Aranel · Genres: Humor · ID: 149
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-24 01:54:59
I don't even know where to start with this one. Your incredible
portrayal of the Twins or your approach to the Laws and Customs
themselves. From start to finish the story flows along with doubt and
giggles as the guys twist history and truth with their wordplay.
Legolas, of course, meets them point for point with his carefully
probing and pointed questions, and yet they manage to counter him -
although two to his one.

And a lovely ending, leaving the reader's imagination churning in full
force.

Title: O, Cruel Fate · Author: Greywing · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Incomplete · ID: 58
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-24 02:48:34
Greywing, you already know I love this story. Everytime I re-read, I
laugh until I cry and my sides are cramping. Not just
Ellie-Glorfindel's trials and errors and what eventual success there
is, but from Feanor the cat to all of Neldor's little machinations,
his niece, poor poor Elrond and all the smitten elleths.

...but you have left us hanging without an ending, it makes me worry
you may have taken some of Neldor's powders.

Title: The Love of Lore · Author: Oshun · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 271
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-24 03:03:04
Wonderfully done. I especially like the echo that comes through the
ages. From the older brother Boromir with his anger and then pride in
his brother - that comes through the generation to Faramir's own son
following in his father's footsteps as a scholar.

Title: Sunshine and Roses · Author: shirelinghpc · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 531
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:12:46
Ah, Sam comfort. There's never enough of it in my humble opinion, but
this is one of the gems of the meager genre. I particularly enjoy the
way that Faramir is given the eyes to see, and the distance to
understand what is wrong with Sam, as well as why the others have
failed to comprehend the problem. Aragorn, once he's made aware of
Sam's state, prescribes the perfect therapy, too, and so brings the
story around to a proper ending. How like Sam to say his thanks with
hard work and care for another!

Title: Thyme is a great healer · Author: Tanaqui · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Drabble · ID: 723
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:21:09
It must be confessed that I laughed out loud at this drabble. Perhaps
the author meant to imply that Sam was remembering what had happened
long ago, but in my head he was there to "borrow" the herbs he'd need
to make rabbit stew once again! Herbs can be symbolic, indeed they
can, but to a hobbit I suspect that they mostly symbolize a tasty dinner.

Title: Through the Generations · Author: Elemmire · Races: Hobbits:
Vignette · ID: 821
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:27:45
A nice conceit! Taking the Hungry Caterpillar all over Middle Earth
would never have occured to me, but this story carries it off very
well indeed.

Title: Graceful and Green · Author: Alawa · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 62
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:43:57
Lovely. To take Sam's point of view at a dinner of the surviving
Rangers of Ithilien and yet still bring in so much of what Frodo and
the others must see is a real gift.

Title: Just Deserts · Author: Gwynnyd · Races: Hobbits: Drabble · ID: 505
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:50:49
Nicely done! Pippin and Merry feel very much like themselves, and the
drabble has a nice turn for the ending.

Title: Spring after Winter · Author: annmarwalk · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 462
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 03:53:47
An evocative piece, which touches gently on the things Sam might most
dream of and for as he sleeps at Cormallen.

Title: Where Once My Enemy Stood · Author: Nieriel Raina · Races:
Elves: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 109
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-12-24 03:57:57
We see, in Thranduil's own words, how Gimli moved from being an enemy
to being a friend, made nicer by the fact it was a genuine change of
heart and not done just for Legolas's sake.

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 04:02:54
A marvelous gapfiller. Aragorn and Boromir sound like themselves --
and act like themselves too, which is marvelous. If you snuck this
into the pages of a copy of FotR, I doubt a new reader would even
notice a bump.

Title: Maiden Voyage · Author: Fawsley · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Drabble · ID: 654
Reviewer: White Wolf · 2007-12-24 04:32:44
The sailing West of Legolas and Gimli in fanfiction is often either
ambiguous or overbearingly melodramatic. However, in this version both
the imagery and the emotions are simply yet beautifully written. This
is a nice little gem.

Title: Requesting Mercy · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 681
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 04:45:32
Ouch. In this well-thought out alternate story, Frodo learns what
danger he is in from the Morgul wound and takes a precaution that
wounds Sam nearly as deeply as himself. Brilliantly written, but hard
to read, and likely to linger long in memory.

Title: Blessed by Ilúvatar · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Drama: Elves
in Later Ages · ID: 485
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-12-24 04:48:44
A sensitively written vignette that emphasizes the surprising
fragility, for beings that are born to be immortal, of the Silvan
Elves' lives, countered nicely by the reverence and care with which
they create new life. Nice ending, too!

Title: Missing · Author: conniemarie · Races: Hobbits: Vignette · ID: 731
Reviewer: Rabidsamfan · 2007-12-24 04:54:09
This series of scenes is marvelous. I love the idea of the Tooks
having a bit of Sight, even though poor Paladin might wish otherwise,
considering what he sees.

Title: Black Mountain · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Adventure · ID: 487
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-12-24 06:51:59
A grippy and engrossing tale in which Aragorn and Legolas face a truly
chilling and seemingly undefeatable foe. this story had me almost
holding my breath as I read. I defy any reader not to shudder at the
atmosphere of the haunted mountain !

Title: Butterfly Wings · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Adventure:
Pre-Ring War · ID: 486
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-12-24 06:55:44
A sweet and warm hearted tale of young Legolas and his parents.What a
lovable young Elf Legolas must have been to bright a butterfly to his
mother without hurting it! I loved the scenic desciptions here and the
peace of the woodland.

Title: In the Dark · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Mystery · ID: 484
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-12-24 06:59:11
A very scary story just perfect for Halloween. I think this story will
strike a chord with many readers as few people like the idea of being
trapped in the dark.Maybe it is a primal fear of being buried alive?
The twist at the end sends shivers down the spine.

Title: Dark Vision · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Adventure: Minas
Tirith · ID: 483
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2007-12-24 07:02:00
A story with an intruiging premise,expertly told. If one had a vision
of the future,could it be changed?Or would trying to change it make it
come about? This story raises some deep and interesting questions.