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Msg# 8521

MEFA Reviews for December 28, 2007 (Part 2) Posted by Ann December 28, 2007 - 5:30:59 Topic ID# 8521
Title: Diversion · Author: Mar'isu · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: General Drabble · ID: 708
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 00:48:25
I like these kinds of gap-fillers and I think this is a very
reasonable explaination.

Title: Of Numenor That Was · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 424
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 00:55:04
I found reading this to be painfully beautiful and emotional. So
often, good and evil are written as though they can be easily
distinguished from one another, but as we know all too well, as Marta
shows in this ficlet, that sadly isn't the case and too often, those
doing the worst evils are doing so with well meaning intent.

Title: Pippin's Little Experiment · Author: Budgielover · Races:
Cross-Cultural: With Pippin · ID: 291
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 00:55:44
One of my favorite Budgie stories! Your characterizations of all four
hobbits is certainly perfect, and what a marvelous stunt for Pippin
that you came up with. It seems only Pip could turn jumping on a bed
for a bit of fun into such a dangerous stunt. Such a wonderful little
aside in the midst of all that danger. And I can just see Frodo asking
for his pipeweed at the end, despite everything that had happened!
Extremely entertaining tale!

Title: Mercy · Author: conniemarie · Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring War ·
ID: 730
Reviewer: Cathleen · 2007-12-27 01:03:39
This author is definitely one of the most talented writers in the
entire fandom. She very skillfully paints a descriptive picture of her
characters and fills her story with tantalizingly heartbreaking
details. Her gift for composing angst is one that is able to tug at
the heartstrings of even the most resistant reader, and cause a tear
or two to fall discreetly from the corner of an eye. Lovely story!

Title: The Sword of Elendil · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres:
Drama: Incomplete · ID: 69
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 01:17:05
Where to start? It's hard to know. I've watched this epic building
through the year, fretting when too much is posted and I can't keep
up, but fretting more often when the posting is slow and we go without
updates. The characterization, world-building (world-enhancing I
should say) and the deep layers of plotting are extraordinarily well
done. GA manages a wonderful host of OCs at the same time she manages
to bring real life to minor canon characters who are no more than the
mention of a name in canon. I don't often follow works in progress,
preferring to read the completed work in one sitting, but this is one
that has drawn me in.

Title: The Great Hobbiton Race 1435 · Author: Llinos · Races: Hobbits:
Incomplete · ID: 83
Reviewer: pippinfan88 · 2007-12-27 01:22:52
This is yet another brilliant story from this brilliant author! I have
had the pleasure of reading each and every update and have just about
fallen out of my chair laughing every time.

The premise starts out with a very curious contraption that the Thain
and the Master have sort picked up from the Dwarves along their
travels. They decide to present it to the Shire as a gift, and as an
alternative means to ease the arduous labour of mowing the lawn. The
hobbits of Hobbiton can barely pronounce the name of the device let
alone imagine what it can do. For as much talking and selling Pippin
and Merry attempt, the neighbourhood hobbits, especially Farmer
Cotton, aren't biting. So a little friendly wager is set between the
cousins and Sam to demonstrate the machine's capabilities and see if
Progess or Tradition will win out.

The schemes and antics played out by the cousins, Sam and his son,
Frodo-lad are absolutely, believably hilarious. The detail within each
scene is impeccable and never too much. I firmly believe this
excellent author has indeed mastered the comedic touch when it applies
in her stories; her timing is perfect. This is one story that I
wouldn't mind reading over again for the enjoyment and definitely for
the laughs.

Title: Bransle Royal · Author: Ribby · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 473
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 01:55:23
Very nicely done. I can well see Aragorn making a point to repay a debt.

Title: Answers and Questions · Author: Peredhil lover · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 189
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 01:57:29
I like the strength and subtly in this. You touch on a difficult
subject that I feel is under written in the fandom. Of the difficulty,
for those of the Eldar who spend time with men, to see the generations
pass.

Title: Anchor · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Elves in Later
Ages · ID: 772
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:00:06
[spoilers]
What a beautiful, gentle tale. Legolas' sea longing is heartbreaking.
It never occurred to me that others have the anniversary illness like
Frodo. But why not? It makes sense. The Black Breath was a very unique
illness. I loved Legolas as nursemaid and the interaction between him,
Aragorn and the Queen. The friendship and long closeness shine through.

Title: Between Crown and Mantle · Author: Marastar · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA · ID: 701
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:02:38
[spoilers]
This is an interesting short story about the eternal question, when
are you a deserter or a hero. Just like Eowyn, Faramir (I) leaves his
post as regent to go with his king to war. But unlike Eowyn he dies
and does not do a great deed remembered in song.

I love the conversation between Eowyn and Gandalf, very quiet and
understated and leaving the reader to come to a conclusion. The
tapestry they are observing comes to life in the details describing
the craftmanship going into its creation and pointing out its state of
decay after so long a time.

Title: Unexpected · Author: Madeleine · Genres: Romance: Incomplete ·
ID: 559
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:04:09
This story is the latest installment in the author's series about
Eomer and Lothiriel. One would think that after they got married the
story is over as in most Romance novels, right? Wrong. The story picks
up after their wedding night and the romantic tension between the two
main characters is still there.

The hallmark of Maddies stories, the witty dialog and banter between
the characters is also evident in this story. Lothiriel sets out to
discover Edoras and the Rohirrim with her usual mixture of innocence
and pragmatism and Eomer has to run to keep up with her. If Lothiriel
thinks Eomer is unpredictable than she is in good company. Eomer has
the same impression of her. She never does the things the way everyone
expects of her(including the reader).

This story is not yet finished and I hope it will be updated soon.

Title: Waters of Life · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres: Romance:
Gondor · ID: 423
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:06:32
This little story has an ethereal light feeling about it, emphasized
by Arwen's reaction to the place Aragorn shows her on their
anniversary. This is truly a beautiful place to spend a day.

Title: Ten Thousand Years · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA · ID: 565
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:09:03
[Spoilers]
Boromir really got philosophical in this short scene. I think he found
the right person to discuss the intricacies of Aragorn's claim to the
throne in Arwen. I loved Arwen's talk about the house of Hurin earning
renown for their own and her assessment of Aragorn ruling with the
Stewards not against them.

Title: Emmaus · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Drama: Vignette · ID: 636
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-27 02:13:42
[Spoiler]
This story sheds a fresh light on the place where Faramir dwells in
his dreams before Aragorn calls him back. It is a beautiful, serene
landscape and I think it is typical Faramir. I can understand that he
doesn't want to leave, but little by little reality intrudes although
in the beginning it is barely noticeable. I love the shifting
dreamscapes and Faramir's unwillingness to deal with anything which
intrudes on his peace until he can't deny the pull of the stranger
anymore. Even if at first it seems to lead into darkness.

Title: Crossing · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 693
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 02:15:26
This drabble does a really good job of capturing the physical
sensations Faramir must have felt that first time he crossed the
Anduin. Through it, Faramir's excitement at his first visit into
Ithilien comes through clearly. It worked very well, making for a most
enjoyable read that felt true to canon.

Title: Iron to Iron · Author: mrkinch · Times: Second Age: Drabble ·
ID: 662
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-27 02:29:41
This is a really interesting exploration of the events of the
Silmarillion. The point of view is one of the most original I've ever
read, and though some might argue that it's A.U., to me it fit really
well within canon. It's a probing look at some of Feanor's actions in
Valinor, and definitely left me thinking.

Title: The Weregild · Author: tyellas · Races: Dwarves · ID: 522
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 02:37:05
This is a wonderful, deeply layered view of Dwarfish culture. I love
how they held Annatar back and sent him on his way. But in the end,
chilling! - insidious way how way goes on to way and how easily
Annatar planted his seed.

Title: The Blue Book of Bilbo Baggins, or, Tales of the Forbidden
Silmarillion · Author: Gandalfs apprentice/Greywing CoAuthors ·
Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 195
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 03:00:04
These are brilliant, irreverent in a deeply twisted and wonderful way
and absolutely priceless from start to finish.

Title: The Third Eagle · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 630
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 03:12:47
Thank you for writing this unique drabble. I can't remember that I've
seen Meneldor featured before and he certainly deserves his place. I
like how you wove in a depth of sadness over the loss of the third
ring bearer.

Title: Leaf Subsides to Leaf · Author: Ignoble Bard · Genres: Drama:
Elves in Later Ages · ID: 105
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 03:25:37
I like this, as well as it shows Legolas, but more for what it shows
us about Thranduil. His loves, his desires, his dreams, when he speaks
of what is lacking in the West - a most excellent example of showing
the tale and showing the character through reflection.

Title: Lighting Fires · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Adventure: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 95
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-27 03:46:41
You must know I love this, it's one of my favorites. I love the
characterizations and the lessons learned. And more than the lesson
itself, it's the growing up that's done through such lessons.

Title: Drawing Straight With Crooked Lines · Author: Fiondil · Genres:
Drama · ID: 76
Reviewer: Inkling · 2007-12-27 04:31:00
I love fan fiction that makes me think, and this well-written piece
provides much food for thought. The Valar's wonderful expression, that
["Ilúvatar draws straight with crooked lines"], brings to mind the
Creator's words to Melkor in "The Silmarillion": that attempts to
["alter the music in my despite...shall prove but mine instrument in
the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not
imagined."]

It's a hard truth for Boromir to accept, that his destiny was to be
["a traitor and would-be murderer"], and not, as he desired, savior of
Gondor. Yet such it was, just as it was Sam's destiny to forsake the
Quest to return to Frodo's presumed corpse in Cirith Ungol, and
Gollum's destiny to take the Ring from Frodo. Through their
"failures," all are instruments of Eru's design. And in failing,
Boromir does save Gondor, though not in the way he dreamed of.

Fiondil has created a masterful portrayal of Namos, both awe-inspiring
and accessible. And Boromir's character is equally well done. A most
impressive and original story!


Title: Kindness Rewarded · Author: White Wolf · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 494
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-12-27 07:41:48
[Spoiler Alert]



A charming and unusual vignette of Legolas - his interaction with the
injured chick is very believable. And the ending is wonderful - made
me laugh along with Legolas.

Title: Honor Unabated · Author: Linaewen · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 570
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-27 11:07:47
I found this a thoughtful and well-balanced piece. How perceptive that
only by seeing others clearly could Denethor begin to see himself
clearly, as Boromir has. I particularly liked the symmetry/contrast
between Theoden and Denethor drawn out.

Title: Concerning the Curious Healing Properties of Soup · Author:
pipkinsweetgrass · Races: Cross-Cultural: The Fellowship · ID: 571
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-27 11:20:44
Well done. So often, these simple-appearing stories are the hardest to
write since they rely so heavily on character, but here character is
well and truly drawn out without a single false note and richly
provides the structure and decoration of the tale. It is well
balanced, easily paced, and gracefully told with no fuss. Well done,
again.