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Title: By Sorrow Unawares · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits:
Gapfiller · ID: 254
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:05:35 Score: 4
This story has several layers to it. It seems at the beginning to be a
simple tale of Pippin trying to keep himself awake while on watch in
Hollin--but it suddenly turns into something else...or does it? There
is a sort of surreal quality to it that leaves the reader unsettled.

I love Pippin's conversation with the badger. It was very inspiring to me.
Thank you, Pearl!

Title: Of Difficulties and Delicate Situations · Author: Garnet Took ·
Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey Havens · ID: 255
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:06:06 Score: 3
Garnet Took has an interesting idea of why Faramir is the only child
of Pippin and Diamond listed on the Took Family Tree. What if Pippin's
injuries during the war made it difficult for him to father children?
Her speculations and answers are very plausible.

Title: Mighty among both Elves and Men · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Multi-Age: Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 606
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 16:06:14 Score: 9
(Possible spoilers within:)

Tanaqui's skill with drabbles is unparalleled, and this series so
brilliantly displays how a drabble series can be so much more than the
sum of its drabble parts.

We see many aspects of Elrond here; his life, both canon and imagined
over many millennia. From choosing to remain Elf-kind, to the War of
the Last Alliance, to meeting Celebrian, so telling Gandalf and Thorin
about the lineage of their swords from the troll's hoard... one of
which belongs to Turgon, the King of Gondolin and Elrond's ancestor...
So many aspects of his rich and varied life are examined in this series.

I like the fact that the character's actions and voices are so telling
and so beautifully illustrate their character. Elrond is clearly a
lore-master; he is fascinated by plants and architecture and
exploration, whereas Elros is a wanderer. (But the biggest surprise is
that Tom Bombadil's unique voice comes across perfectly -- an
extraordinary feat!)

This is a thoughtful exploration of a many-layered character, that
fans of Elrond will enjoy immensely.

An extraordinary series. Very well done!


Title: Gifts of the People · Author: Ribby · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 472
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:06:30 Score: 2
It's very nice when fics by different writers overlap--this one seems
to be a part of stories by two other authors, and yet still it can
stand on its own. Very clever!

Title: Fun with Farm'n · Author: Súlriel · Races: Villains: Drabble ·
ID: 269
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:09:16 Score: 1
Brrr...*shudder* It's hard to capture the villain's POV well. This
most certainly does.

Title: Duty and Devotion · Author: Marta · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 411
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:09:36 Score: 2
A very sharp and well-chosen 100 words, it explains far better than
many wordier fics what lay behind Beregond taking the incredible risk
he took to save Faramir. Well done!

Title: Dragonfire · Author: White Wolf · Genres: Adventure · ID: 482
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:09:55 Score: 1
A very intriguing premise.

Title: In the Hours of Joy · Author: Spindle Berry · Genres: Drama:
With Merry · ID: 289
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:10:21 Score: 4
This Cormallen fic, from Gimli's POV is absolutely riveting. We watch
with him, as he (and Legolas) share the watch over Merry watching
Pippin. The love and friendship that has been forged between the
hobbits, and the Elf and Dwarf who accompanied them proves to be a
strong and beautiful thing. I especially like Merry weeping his relief
on Gimli's sturdy shoulder, and the exchange between Elf and Dwarf at
the end!

Title: Green Magic · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Crossover ·
ID: 312
Reviewer: Oshun · 2007-12-30 16:10:35 Score: 9
[spoilers]

This is a Middle-earth/modern day crossover situated in the gorgeous
Muir Wood of Northern California. It was almost as much fun to read
the reviews of this story as it was to read the story itself. Others
apparently have been reading this one as a scary, frightening story.
They apparently have never had a kid addicted to a Game Boy. I read it
as out-and-out wish-fulfillment fantasy. A harried mother takes her
children to the woods and strange things happen. A very bad boy gets
just exactly what is coming to him. Many honest mothers' fantasy and
dream come true: to have their demon spawn dealt with by a force
outside of themselves. (If they won't admit it then I think they are
either kidding me or themselves.) I am not a big fan of either genre
used in this one (either horror or modern day Arda), but the author
brings her considerable writing skills and imagination to bear and
gives a carefully-thought out rendition of her choice of subject
matter in this one. The canon, of course, is there as well.

My beautiful children never had acne, but otherwise this cite from the
story is right on point:

["But the loutish teenager in the passenger seat sat silent, scowling
at his Game Boy, his fingers working the buttons as feverishly as his
jaw chewed the gum in his mouth. His acne glistened."] I squeal with
absolute glee every time I read it.



Title: More Than Just Years · Author: Llinos · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 362
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:11:12 Score: 5
This is a very sweet story in two parts. The first, showing a typical
harvest time in the Shire, in a wonderfully poetic style, is about a
very wee Pippin.

The second part is about Pippin's climb to the beacon, in movie-verse.
And the connection between them is unexpected.

I just love Gandalf in this--his quiet observation of the young
hobbits, as he enjoys watching them, and his kindly interference to
help wee Pippin over his fright! I also liked his surprise that Pippin
still believed in his gift. But it just shows the faith Pippin had in him.


Title: Glimpse of Glory · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 575
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:11:34 Score: 2
I like this glimpse into the mind of Galadriel at her moment of
temptation--very deftly drawn!

Title: Three Arrows · Author: HikoMokushi · Genres: Drama: With Merry
· ID: 717
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:12:10 Score: 3
The most moving and evocative scene for me in the movie version of
FotR is Boromir's fierce defense of Merry and Pippin. This author
evokes that scene perfectly from Merry's POV. Beautiful and sad.

Title: Hazardous Going · Author: Auntiemeesh · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 788
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:12:45 Score: 3
A classic hurt/comfort for post-Quest Pippin and Merry--Pippin is
injured as they travel across the Shire, and Merry must care for him
in the absence of a healer. Very tender and sweet, and with an
interesting idea of why Merry might have written his book on herb-lore.

Title: The Promise in her Eyes · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 100
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:13:07 Score: 3
Oh my! It's lovely to see a fic about a young and untroubled Eowyn,
who is trying out her flirting skills. I do feel for the young
minstrel though--I do hope he's learned from now on to keep an eye
open for protective brothers!

Title: Despair · Author: Silivren Tinu · Genres: Drama: The Fellowship
· ID: 171
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:13:35 Score: 3
*Would* Legolas have ever spoken of the Ring's call to Boromir? We are
never told that he did--yet I find myself thinking that *if* he did,
it would have been in those terms--for Gondor and Mirkwood did indeed
have much in common.

Title: Adrift · Author: fantasyfan · Times: Late Third Age: 3018-3022
TA: Gondor · ID: 313
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:14:09 Score: 4
This is a Cormallen fic with a difference: we are in the mind of the
sleeping Frodo, as he tries to make his senses work. We can hear and
smell, and watch his unfocussed memories. We hear the beating of his
heart, and the sound of his breathing. I found the latter to be
especially evocative as I had asthma as a small child, and I can still
vividly remember being fascinated with the sound of my own breathing
when I had an attack--this is a perfect description of that feeling!

Very beautifully written!

Title: Letting Go · Author: Rowan · Genres: Drama: The Shire · ID: 310
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-30 16:14:30 Score: 6
Consider this vignette as a painting: the author first describes the
back scene with quick brush strokes and you find yourself in the
Shire. Then it is time for the details, the characters are entering
the picture, and with delicateness, Rowan gives them body, setting
them apart from the other. This is how this vignette comes across, it
is elegant, yet at some places the flow stops, but Roan picks it up
gently (after all even painters should take a step back). I simply
love the characterisations of both hobbits here, especially Bilbo
feels so... him: energetic, always wanting to be on the move,
rediscovering [to truly be alive.]. Frodo on the other hand sets
himself apart by being so mature considering his age, gentleness and
it is him who lets Bilbo go. This beautiful gapfiller feels at its
place, it feels right that both would discuss this outside in the wild
instead over breakfast. Simply wonderful Rowan!

Title: Tillecking Night in Bree · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races: Men:
General Drabble · ID: 455
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:14:40 Score: 2
I loved the full version of this story, and of the origin of the
mysterious phrase "tillecking"--and this drabble captures the essence
of it.

Title: Peregrin · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits: Gapfiller · ID: 316
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:15:05 Score: 4
[spoiler] There are a few movie-verse moments that I could almost wish
were canon. Pippin's climb to light the beacons in RotK is one of
those. I love this treatment of the episode by Pearl, in which his
arduous climb is watched over by a concerned peregrine falcon.

Her treatment of the subject is almost poetic in tone. This is a very
insightful little story, and I could envision it taking place just
this way.

Title: Lord Námo's Yule Gift · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Humor · ID: 335
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:15:25 Score: 3
This? Was just an adorable romp! I can easily see Merry and Pippin
deciding to wait in Mandos' Halls for their friends to arrive--and of
course they would try to cheer up Lord Namo in the meanwhile!

Title: Irreverence · Author: Aratlithiel · Genres: Humor · ID: 619
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:16:12 Score: 4
Every now and then, it is fun to read a characterization that goes
just a bit against the usual fanon grain. We are so used to seeing
"saint" Frodo, and the younger hobbits who worship him and treat him
like fragile porcelain, that it's nice to see Frodo and Pippin
actually acting like a couple of cousins. And snarky hobbits are
canon--well, not quite so snarky as *this*, but still it's a very fun
read, and in spite of the snark, there is insight and love underneath.

Title: The Burning of the Year · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 2
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:18:52 Score: 5
I thought that I had read and reviewed this story, only to find I had
another story altogether in mind! I'm so glad I made that mistake,
because if I had not, and it had not been brought to my attention, I
would have missed a brilliant fic!

In this multi-layered story, Raksha calls upon RL mythology and
practices to create a unique custom for the Gondorian New Year. It
enables her to pull off a feat of some amazing foreshadowing, as well
as explaining some rather inexplicable moments in canon.

And beyond all this is a stunning characterization of Faramir. His
nobility and sorrow are both well-showcased in this.

Poor Denethor. We see the beginning of the end, here.

Title: Way Out West · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Adventure: Pre-Ring
War · ID: 769
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:19:35 Score: 3
What if Merry and Pippin had once had their own Adventure, long ago,
before the Quest. This story explores the possibility beautifully, and
with a very clever ending manages to make it remain, well, if not
quite probable, at the very least, *possible*, in canon. A very good
job, Pearl!

Title: Sweet Memories · Author: PipMer · Races: Hobbits · ID: 272
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:20:08 Score: 3
This begins merely as a young Frodo, reminiscing about his dead
parents, remembering and mourning. It would have been lovely as just
that--but PipMer carries it a step further, by extending the memories
to the Quest, in which Boromir and Frodo are able to find something in
common through their mutual losses. Very insightful.

Title: Droplets · Author: Perelleth · Genres: Adventure: Incomplete ·
ID: 166
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 16:20:44 Score: 3
A very compelling anthology of ficlets, mostly to do with Elves. I
really enjoyed the set of tales concerning the Ring of Barahir, and
was quite struck by the story of the encounter between Eowyn and Elfhelm.

A nice way to spend some time--and each tale gives food for thought,
as well as entertainment.