Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Belonging · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Romance: Second Age or
Earlier · ID: 422
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 00:49:35 Score: 4
This is a heartwarming story. Elrond and Celebrian are so in love here
as nearly newlyweds. I like the characterization of Elrond and
Celebrian. Elrond here shows more than the usual tragic side of him,
although it lies just below the surface. This is one of the few fics
where he seems completely happy, at least for the moment. Celebrian as
his counterpart is a strong woman, who can draw him out and give him
safety.

Title: Getting Away from it All · Author: Bodkin · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 63
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 00:51:08 Score: 4
A beautiful afternoon in Ithilien for Aragorn, Faramir and their
ladies. It seems like an innocent day off until the idle talk switches
to serious talk of treason and rebellion by nobles who are less than
happy about the new upstart king.

The characters come to life in this tale. In a few words the
relationship between the four characters is drawn. I love the banter
between them, especially the scene between Arwen and Eowyn while the
men are trying to catch fish.

Title: The Slave of the Ring · Author: Linda hoyland · Races: Men ·
ID: 418
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 00:52:38 Score: 4
This is a chilling glimpse into Boromir's state of mind. It seems that
since the Council of Elrond Boromir is under the spell of the ring,
and the ring's hold on Boromir's mind grows stronger when Boromir gets
a chance to see it again after Moria. I like the subtle way the ring
twists Boromir's thinking around, aided and abetted by Boromir's pride
and his resentment of Aragorn.

Title: The Rose in the Courtyard · Author: claudia6032000 · Races:
Cross-Cultural: The Fellowship · ID: 560
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 00:54:08 Score: 3
[spoilers]
This a beautiful movie!verse gapfiller. Damrod, one of the rangers who
found Frodo and Sam in Ithilien, asks Frodo for forgiveness for the
rough treatment during the encounter. I never thought about how the
rangers who were part of that encounter felt after realizing what
Frodo and Sam did. Nice use of the rose as a symbol.

Title: Letter to Frodo · Author: AmandaK · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 540
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 00:54:47 Score: 6
This is a wistfully touching story, with Boromir writing a letter to
the already-departed Frodo, asking his forgiveness for the events at
Amon Hen. It is a lovely notion, and I would think necessary for
Boromir particularly - he tends to be so proud of his honour and
valour that I would think feeling remorse and being unable to express
it (to Frodo especially) would, indeed, always be a burden to him if
he could not find a way to rid himself of that guilt.

I like how Faramir unquestioningly presents a way to "deliver" the
letter - he is absolutely right in that letters of that sort should be
disposed of somehow, and not kept around for the author to read now
and again, which would only bog the mind back down into guilt. And it
is fitting that the ritual of burning the letter should take place
very near Osgiliath, which is on its way to being restored to its
former glory.

Title: Circumstantial Heroes · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Minas
Tirith · ID: 684
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 00:55:51 Score: 6
Oh, this is a great story about the early days of adjustment after
Aragorn's coronation for the newly minted king and his staff.

I had to chuckle at Aragorn's new set of nightmares. I could really
feel how not at home Aragorn still is in the Citadel, although it
seems in part nothing has changed since the days of Ecthelion at
least. There are a lot of little details in the story which convey
this feeling of not quite familiarity.

I loved the nightly conversation between Pippin and Aragorn and then
Aragorn and his head of staff on night duty. There were some weighty
issues to discuss, the difference between loyalty and fealty and when
to obey or not obey. I loved Aragorn's question to Brithnir: ["Where
is your fealty?"] A question not lightly answered.

Title: Father and Son · Author: Istarnie · Genres: Drama: Second Age
or Earlier · ID: 718
Reviewer: Súlriel · 2007-12-29 00:58:01 Score: 3
I find this to be very poignant and moving. It's terribly sad, but I
think a good portrayal. I like your characterizations of both Feanor
and Maedhros. You show very well the strength and pain in both of them.

Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:01:47 Score: 2
This is a nice little gapfiller. Luckily for Boromir, he went with
Aragorn and was not alone or it could have gone ill.

Title: Crossing towards Sunrise · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 14
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:03:23 Score: 4
Listed like this Elrond's, sorrows are devastating. I wonder how he
could keep sane throughout the ages. Elrond's tension and uncertainty
during the voyage west is very well shown through his body language,
the clinging to the railing of the ship,

I like it that this story is through Gandalf's point of view, who
knows Elrond very well and can read his more inscrutable expressions.

Title: An Interview with a Woodelf · Author: dreamingfifi · Races:
Elves: Incomplete · ID: 227
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:07:50 Score: 2
This is an intriguing start to the story. I like the take on elf meets
modern girl. It is a refreshing different view.

Title: The Steward's New Clothes · Author: GypsieRose · Genres: Humor:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 511
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:09:52 Score: 3
This piece is hilarious. The contrast between the overly cheerful
tailor and dour Denethor is too funny. This line had me giggling:
["Boromir's should be green, I think--to match his eyes," he
(Denethor) decided. "And Faramir's...should be green as well. To match
Boromir's eyes."] This is such twisted thought... I love the snappy
dialogue with no tags.

Title: Respite · Author: Lindelea · Races: Men: Gondor Drabble · ID: 303
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2007-12-29 01:11:58 Score: 4
Lindelea has created a fabulous snapshot of a moment in Faramir's life
as Captain of the Ithilien Rangers. As luminous as a Vermeer painting,
this drabble both fixes and reveals the different sides of Faramir's
life â€" soldier and loremaster â€" and the hustle of war and the quiet of
contemplation. So much is told here, with so few words, yet not a one
misplaced. Well done!


Title: Life Lessons · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 582
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:12:23 Score: 3
[spoilers]
This little story shows a nice scene of bonding between Arwen and
Eowyn. Both are foreign to Gondor and still I think Eowyn has it
easier in some ways than Arwen. I like it that Arwen decides to give
the recipe for lembas making to Eowyn.

Title: Brotherhood · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Drama: Incomplete · ID: 733
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:13:33 Score: 5
This is a delightful, heartwarming story about Estel and Gilraen
coming to live in Imladris and how they become part of the family.
Usually, stories in that setting concentrate on little Estel and his
adventures. This story is more from the point of view of the adults.
They have to find a way to find solutions to the difficulties of
raising a mortal child among immortal elves. Who is going to be his
playmate? Who can teach him what it means to be mortal? The
interaction between the characters is believable and I love it that
Gilraen takes an active role in Estel's parenting and that she is not
relegated to the sidelines or outright killed off as in so many other
stories.

Title: The Eagle's Gift · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Minas Tirith · ID: 591
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:14:58 Score: 5
[spoiler]
On his wedding night Denethor has an unwelcome visitor, Thorongil,
sent by the Steward, to bring a wedding charm. I don't know what
Ecthelion was thinking, but this errand didn't help to endear
Thorongil to Denethor. The tension between the two men is palpable,
not the least because of this awkward errand. Both characters come off
as equally strong. This time Denethor carries the victory of their
verbal sparring, if victory it can be called, but I can see why
Denethor has trouble with Thorongil. They are too similar, and
Ecthelion is not helping matters at all.

Title: Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady · Author: Marta · Genres:
Romance: Gondor · ID: 604
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:15:44 Score: 3
This is a lovely little story. It is romantic, but not too fluffy. I
like your Hurin, who here assumes a more fatherly role toward Faramir.
As a Warden of the Keys, he obviously knew Denethor very well and so
knows Faramir also.

Title: Firelight · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Ithilien · ID: 817
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:16:31 Score: 3
These are 3 lovely little scenes at Cormallen. I love Gimli repairing
Pippin's sword and the last scene where the Fellowship reminisces
around the campfire. I like the connection to fire they all have, but
for Pippin the connection is the strongest. Well done!

Title: Those Darned Socks! · Author: AmandaK · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 188
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 01:17:36 Score: 8
This story portrays a very different Boromir than we are perhaps used
to seeing, even in Amanda's AU-verse, a Boromir who is spending a
quiet evening at home, sharpening his blade, and the sight of Nineth
darning a sock is the unlikely motivation to bring back memories.

The memories are very definitely a Boromir we're all familiar with -
proud, stubborn, unwilling to admit that he might need help with
anything at all, particularly when recalling a hole in his sock during
the journey to Mordor: [The worst of it was, he suspected Aragorn had
known; the ranger had offered him a meaningful look each time he
failed to keep his pace steady. Pride had kept him silent, though,
until the blister broke and a callus had formed in its place.].

But in this story, Boromir requests that Nineth teach him how to darn
a sock, and in the context, it comes across as perhaps Boromir trying
to make amends (no pun intended) for some of his past haughty
behaviour. It fits well in [The Long Road Home] verse, for this
version of Boromir is more focused on himself as merely a man like any
other, not as Heir To Gondor. And the utterly mundane act of wanting
to learn how to mend socks nicely expresses how Boromir is less
prideful and at times downright humble, how much the events after Amon
Hen have changed him.

Title: The Turn of the Tide · Author: Altariel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Gondor or Rohan · ID: 72
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:19:02 Score: 4
[spoilers] This is very AU - and at the same time oddly in canon. The
whole reversal of Faramir going on the quest, but still the main
things stay intact. You had me wondering who came to see Eowyn until I
figured out how AU this AU is.

The characters are all very well drawn. I like the way Denethor and
Eowyn form an attachment just by standing on the walls and waiting.
And the end is so typical for the different characters of Eowyn and
Denethor.

Title: Yours to command · Author: Lialathuveril · Genres: Romance:
With Rohirrim · ID: 129
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:21:37 Score: 10
It is difficult to write a review of this story without spoiling a
significant plotpoint of this story, which makes it a unique scenario
of the Eomer/Lothiriel romance. So, anyone wanting to read this story
without spoilers should not read on.

What makes this scenario so unique is Lothiriel's disability. The
reader only realizes after a while what feels different about
Lothiriel. She can't see. I love the way we see the world through
Lothiriel's other senses, through touch, smell and sound. Without
vision the description of the world is subtly different, but still
very vivid. The contrast is Eomer who supplies the visual clues to
Lothiriel's world.

Even with, or in spite of, her disability, Lothiriel is an active
participant in the storyline. She can do much more than her family
gives her credit for and has a unique way of "seeing" the world and
finding solutions to the problems life throws at her.

A queen with a disability is the last thing on Eomer's mind, but
Lothiriel's vulnerability partnered with her core of steel ensnares
him faster than he would have thought possible. Through many trials
and tribulations in the end he realizes that Lothiriel will be his
future queen even against her father's wishes.



Title: No Man's Child · Author: Anoriath · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Incomplete · ID: 198
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2007-12-29 01:22:15 Score: 10
Anoriath has taken on the challenge of one of the very hardest of AUs:
that Aragorn takes another woman as a wife. Here, however, she doesn't
ask us to believe that he does not love Arwen. Rather, he decides,
about 11 years before the War of the Ring, to marry in order to beget
an heir.

It is a marriage of convenience, as the old phrase goes, and full of
heartache. Anoriath tells the tale from the wife's point of view--and
we, the reader, know more of what is really going on than the wife.
She eventually figures out that Aragorn's heart is given to another,
but she does not know who that woman is, nor why the marriage could
not happen.

Indeed, since the tale is unfinished, the reader has no idea what, if
anything, Arwen knows of what has happened--or if the betrothal of
Aragorn and Arwen never happened. The reader never knows what Aragorn
is thinking except through the observation of his wife, who is privy
to very little of his heart.

It's a situation of great sadness, for of course she falls in love
with him. I think the very saddest moment is the jealousy Nienelen
feels of her own son, who has his father's dearest love.

The story is a masterwork of careful, every day detail, showing the
valor of the women of the Dunedain in their unsung labors.

My guess is that Anoriath intends to somehow dispose of Nienelen and
make Arwen the Queen of Gondor and Arnor. Whatever happens, it will be
sad, because the reader comes to care about her and her children very
much.

What a good thing "marriages of convenience" are not so common any more.

Title: The Scars of Stone And Sky · Author: Lady Elina · Times: Late
Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 719
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2007-12-29 01:23:49 Score: 3
The narration in this story has a dreamlike quality, which leaves the
encounter in an enchanted realm. The tension between the two is
palpable and the motivation to let go of the usual restraints is very
plausible.

Title: Where There's Life, There's Hope (and in need of vittles) ·
Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Drama: Gondor Drabble · ID: 463
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-12-29 01:26:29 Score: 4
This is not only a lovely, evocative drabble, it's one of the most
Tolkienish in style that I can remember reading. It also reminds me of
one of the elements I sorely missed in the movie RETURN OF THE KING -
the courage of the people of Minas Tirith, which Tolkien wove into his
narrative so well. And linking Aragorn's canonical weariness with a
spiritual refreshment from the smell of Mag's baking bread - what an
inspired notion!



Title: No Man's Child · Author: Anoriath · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Incomplete · ID: 198
Reviewer: EdorasLass · 2007-12-29 01:32:38 Score: 10
This is a truly lovely, bordering on epic AU, wherein a woman of the
Dunedain, Nienelen, ends up being wed to a near-mortally wounded
Aragorn, in order that his line not die out. With such a set-up, one
might suspect Mary Sue-ism, but it is nothing of the sort; instead, it
is a touching, wistful, rich, beautifully drawn universe populated
with a wide variety of original characters, some sympathetic and some
not, in which Aragorn makes only infrequent appearances, which is
right, as during this time-frame he is most often in the wild,
protecting the lands.

The details in this story are absolutely incredible - Anoriath has put
in what must be hours of research to make certain that all such
details are not only accurate in their description, but accurate to
the time and place - and the result of such dedication makes her
depiction of the Angle utterly lifelike and believable.

All of her characters are as real as if they lived next door to you -
her Halbarad is a particular favourite of mine, with his quiet,
sometimes overbearing attitude of protection and propriety, while
Nienelen, the central character, is wonderfully realized. She is in
many ways a perfect wife, in the way she cares for her house, her
husband, her children, and the people of the Angle, but she is also
often uncertain as to all these things, fearful that she's not living
up to her role as Aragorn's wife or to his expectations of her, that
she is sometimes overstepping herself with regard to politics in the
Angle, and there are many times she just flat doesn't know what to do.
There is the fact that she, very gradually, comes to realize that she
is indeed deeply in love with Aragorn, but oft times is hesitant to
even speak to him in too familiar a tone, along with the creeping
suspicion that Aragorn's heart is given to another.

All these things, along with Anoriath's distinctive, gorgeous prose,
combine to make what is a truly compelling, if heartwrenching tale,
and I do hope that all turns out well in the end, for I've grown quite
attached to her lovely cast of characters.

Title: Journey's End · Author: Altariel · Genres: Drama: Ithilien ·
ID: 442
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2007-12-29 01:33:46 Score: 4
When I see Rangers at an inn, I immediately think of Bree and the
Northern Dunedain, so it was with some surprise and delight that I
realized I was in the South. Altariel plays on the ambiguity, though,
gently reminding us that both the King and the Prince were once both
Rangers, albeit in different realms.

The two men must be Aragorn and Faramir, by all signs, but they could
be any two Gondorian warriors--and that's what gives this tale its
particular depth and poignancy.