Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Regrets and Consolations · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 430
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-12-26 18:50:13
Given but the shortest moment of inattention and an open door, small
children can so swiftly come to mishaps--remembering my own days as a
mother.

A lovely look at the family dynamics surrounding a very young Meriadoc
Brandybuck, and the love all hold for him.

Title: A Rohan Tapestry · Author: shirebound · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 96
Reviewer: Larner · 2007-12-26 18:56:02
The grief Merry felt at the death of Theoden seems worse as the
prolonged period between death and final internment drags on. Here we
see it and the love held toward him by those with him as at last
Theoden is laid to rest outside Edoras and all gather to mourn but
also to rejoice at the handfasting of Eowyn and Faramir. All of the
Hobbits are affected in the end, and all are well showcased here in
this story set as the Fellowship finally begins to separate as each
goes his own way, back to the lives they left behind.

Title: Boys Will Be Boys · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor:
Children · ID: 555
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-26 20:32:18
O to be a teenager, when all life-ending miseries could be solved with
breakfast!

Title: Burning Your Bridges · Author: Branwyn · Genres: Poetry · ID: 125
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-26 20:36:05
It's always interesting to see how writers imagine this undetailed
moment from canon.

Title: Fading Embers · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 760
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-26 21:51:06
It is a sad thought that Nerdanel is letting go of her own sons in
this manner, now that the fire of love has died in her heart. It is
understandable that she feels the need to let go and it comes at such
pain. Still I think… what of Maglor or Celebrimbor? Although 600 years
after the passing of the first age, the manner how time passes for
elves is well conveyed here. This vignette is so evocative and well
written; Raksha manages to tell her life story in simple but beautiful
words. This is well balanced and I hope she will be able to move on
after this point.

Title: Could Will Have Its Way · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men:
Gondor Drabble · ID: 286
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-26 22:24:40
Oh this is such a tragic drabble, a man despairing and wanting to go
beyond this grief, even if it would mean that the palantir would
ensnare him in this misuse. To me it feels that Denethor never fully
could let go of his wife and in that with held love that his children
so needed. It just feels to me that Denethor is clinging onto
stability, especially since Finduilas death overwhelmed him her being
his anchor. This drabble just tells you that he misses her so, his
wife being ripped away thusly made him grasp for a bit of certainty or
control. However, what could he see, he knew Finduilas went beyond the
span or Arda, or maybe he did not wanted to listen to council. Would
that have created the estranged relationship with Mithrandir? This
drabble gives a lot of insight and yet makes you wonder about a lot of
other things. Did Faramir once walk in on his father, did that made
things worse for him. Okay, let's stop here before plotbunnies really
start to latch on and have bit too much fun here. This is a great and
very evocative drabble from Nancy where she has chosen her words
carefully for the fullest effect when you look closer and want to look
at this drabble writing technically. Either way, this work gets to you
and makes you feel for this character that is not loved by many. Well
done Nancy!

Title: Temptation · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Mid Third Age: 2851
- 3017 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 419
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-26 22:32:17
Ah this is a beautiful drabble which shows how Aragorn can master his
mind over his body, although barely. Almost everything about this girl
reminds him of Arwen, perhaps the smell of Jasmine as well. You can
sense he is just barely hanging on, wondering how a simple good deed
barely came unpunished. Nicely drabbled and Linda captured a great
moment here where she clearly shows Aragorn's plight.

Title: Oliphaunts and String · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 658
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-26 23:47:58
A somewhat haunting little tale, very creative and from a different
pov than I have seen before. We don't get to read anything about
Smeagol and Deagol very often. This was wonderfully done and I enjoyed
reading it.

Title: And We Will Travel North · Author: bewize · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 39
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-26 23:52:15
Bittersweet indeed! Wonderful how so much can be said in few words.
Impressive the way you put such power into this drabble- very nice!

Title: A Life Between - No Secrets · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races:
Men: General Drabble · ID: 446
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-26 23:55:16
This is a really good look at the relationship between Boromir and
Theodred. Highly erotic in exactly the right way, both exciting the
reader and developing the character of these men and their
relationship considerably given the drabble format. But that last line
lifts the piece to a higher plane, driving home the fact that these
two men of all characters would have had to take their pleasures
wherever and whenever they could find them because a
happily-ever-after ending was by no chance assured, or even probable.

Really nice work, Kortirion - I enjoyed this.

Title: Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush · Author: Isabeau of
Greenlea · Genres: Romance: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 512
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-26 23:56:47
This was sweet and wicked! It showed a different side of Diamond than
I have seen anyone write her before and I enjoyed it very much. Pippin
is going to have his hands full!

Title: In Fangorn Forest · Author: Garnet Took · Races: Hobbits: Merry
and Pippin · ID: 260
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:00:21
Dear, sweet, Pippin! He always knows just what to say to Merry,
doesn't he?

Title: Night of Love · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance: Gondor
· ID: 617
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:06:12
Lovely! I like that Aragorn/Estel was so considerate of his new wife's
feelings, and loved the reference to sleeping beneath the stars - how
appropriate.

Title: 13th Birthday · Author: stefaniab · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 138
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:10:10
Very nice portrayal of Faramir and Boromir, and an interesting
premise. A different kind of look at Denethor, also.

Title: Rekindling · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: General Drabble ·
ID: 688
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:13:51
Beautiful! I have always loved the fire-kindling ceremony as something
that fit nicely with the peoples of the north (both the Rohirrim and
the Northern Dunedain). You don't describe the ceremony in great
detail, yet you gave us just enough that I could see it. The twinge of
sadness Eomer and Eowyn felt at their father's inability to fulfil
this ceremony is touching, and the including of Eomer and Eowyn in the
more exalted royal ceremony was inspired. It's a great metaphor for
how their sorrow brought them into a place where they will eventually
have a greater affect on history than if they had stayed in Aldburg.
And, really, isn't the finding of joy out of darkness what the
rekindling ceremony is really all about. Very well told - this drabble
does just what a drabble should do, and I enjoyed it heartily.

Title: Family Jewels · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 464
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:15:38
Boromir is always there for his brother. A very touching story, a very
realistic and loving portrayal of the brothers' relationship

Title: A Queen Among Farmers' Wives · Author: Imhiriel · Genres:
Humor: Drabble · ID: 635
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:20:15
Classic! This was a delightful little tale, and quite humorous! I like
the way you took Frodo's line about Farmer Mggot's wife and turned it
into this cute scene.

Title: Of Difficulties and Delicate Situations · Author: Garnet Took ·
Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey Havens · ID: 255
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:21:47
I could see this situation very easily - if Pippin and Diamond had
difficulty conceiving, it would of course be a mark against them in
hobbit circles, and I liked the way you had them going to Aragorn
rather than a hobbity healer. A fun tale all around.

Title: Left Behind · Author: Elanor · Genres: Drama: With Merry · ID: 28
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:26:31
An extremely emotional story that encompasses many of the best aspects
of Merry and Faramir - their love, fear, hope, and faith all rolled
into one very well told tale. I was just as moved, if not more, by it
on the second read. Wonderfully rich and such a satisfying exploration
of that time in the houses if healing for both Merry and Faramir.

Title: Taking Leave · Author: Soubrettina · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 326
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:32:08
This is a charming glimpse at how the affection Eowyn has for Aragorn
in the books might have played out into a deeper love over the course
of her life. Yet the author does it while still maintaining Faramir's
love for Eowyn (and vice versa, I think). It's a complex story, but
touchingly told, and I think she nailed the character of Eowyn
perfectly. Well done.

Title: If You Should Die Before I Wake · Author: PipMer · Genres:
Drama: With Merry · ID: 277
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:32:48
This is one of my favorite stories by this author, and also was one of
the first of hers I had read. While I often find it difficult to read
truly angsty tales, this writer has done such a magnificent job that I
found myself reading other tales she's written and enjoying them all
equally. Poor Merry, and the struggles he went through during that
most difficult time! I can only imagine what must have been running
through his mind while he worried about his loved ones. Very nicely done!

Title: Snare · Author: Ruby Nye · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA
· ID: 539
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:35:18
This story sent a real start down my spine, from start to finish. I
don't want to give too much away because it is the power of the
details as they are slowly revealed that gives the story its power,
but the physical sensations of this story are powerful and
frightening, but also do a very good job of telling just the right
amount of what Pervinca Took would have felt in such a moment. As the
author says in reply to comments of this story, a lot of the power
comes from the author's choice of when to fade to black, and let the
reader's imagination take over.

Yet this story is more than just a good action/adventure ficlet. This
short story does a truly fabulous job of capturing the fiery heart of
the hobbits, especially the Tooks who held their own so well against
the ruffians. Pervinca uses whatever tool is at her disposal,
including her own body -- it reminded me of the hobbit's skill with as
simple of weapons as stones. Hobbits in book-canon do have this dark
underside that isn't easy to reconcile with their charming smiles and
love of creature comforts, and Ruby Nye does a first-rate job of
examining just what a brave hobbit-lass might have done.

I don't know that I can properly say I enjoyed such a dark tell, but I
would highly recommend it to anyone who likes stories with meat to
them, especially fans of hobbits.

Title: A Need To Know · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring
War · ID: 776
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:38:26
This is a nice moment between Sam and Farmer Cotton. I can easily see
that "normal" hobbits in the Shire might feel the need to test the
worth of the travellers. Sam stands the test very well, and the ending
was delightful - I love how smitten you make him seem.

Title: Tom Cotton · Author: Dreamflower · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey
Havens · ID: 774
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 00:39:21
This is a really telling glimpse at someone who knew Sam well. I'm not
sure I personally see him being quite this buddy-buddy with Merry and
Pippin after the War, but that idea isn't unbelievable or anything.
And if that was the way it happened, I can easily see Sam's childhood
friend feeling a bit like a third wheel (or in this case, a fourth
wheel). This story handles Tom's feelings nicely -- pragmatically
accepting the change, but still a tad hurt by the change in his old
friend.

Title: Lord Irmo's Gift · Author: shirebound · Genres: Crossover · ID: 576
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2007-12-27 00:40:59
I’ve always enjoyed your stories Shirebound and while this is far
different from what you normally write, it’s still a pleasure to read
and a very interesting crossover. I like how you never actually
describe what the person Sam goes to counsel is concerned about, and
yet, it’s very clear at the end why Lord Irmo sent Sam to him at this
particular time. A wonderful interpretation of a most beloved
character and I liked the parallel endings.