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Title: Stone of the King · Author: Rowan · Races: Hobbits: Drabble ·
ID: 309
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 17:58:18 Score: 2
(Possible spoilers within:)

An interesting concept! I had never before thought of how Frodo would
think of the statue of Isildur in the Argonath.

Title: More Than Just Years · Author: Llinos · Genres: Adventure:
Minas Tirith · ID: 362
Reviewer: Marigold · 2007-12-30 18:03:04 Score: 10
[Spoiler Alert]

Llinos has written another simply gorgeous story here! I love the way
that she has set up the story by starting out in the peaceful Shire
countryside during Pippin and Merry's childhood and shows us Pippin
and Gandalf's first meeting, This makes the contrast with the darker
setting in Minas Tirith during the seige even more effective than if
she had made the meeting in the Shire a flashback within that part of
the story. It also gives the reader an excellent sense of the long
period of time that Gandalf has been fond of Pippin and adds greater
impact to what he is asking Pippin to do in the second half.

I love the image of Gandalf at the start of the story, lounging around
the Shire in a comfortable and rather proprietary way, just enjoying
being there among the hobbits. The descriptions of the scene - the
weather, the fields, the hobbits finishing their work - as Gandalf
looks about him is just stunning. The descriptions of the peaceful
scene after a hard day's work are so evocative that I could just feel
the late afternoon sun, smell the new mown fragrance and the smell of
pipeweed. I could hear the shouts of the children as they played and
imagine the quiet conversations of the elders as they took a bit of
rest. No wonder Gandalf likes spending time in this lovely and gentle
land!

The little hobbits and their games are so innocent and full of fun! As
she does quite often Llinos has included incidents from her own
childhood growing up in the real-life Shire of the 50's and this adds
realism to their play. I love the way that this author writes little
Merry and Pippin, able to expertly adapt their personalities as we
know them as adults to what they would have been like as children, and
she has done her usual excellent job here. Merry is already watchful
and protective of tiny Pippin and Pippin is striving to keep up with
the big lads and lasses despite being little more than a faunt.
Pippin's reluctance to climb up on the hay waggon is described
particularly well and I loved that Gandalf took such an interest in
helping the little one to overcome his fear with a bit of impressive
magick, not to mention a boost of confidence that will help him
throughout his growing years. Pippin's baby speech is wonderfully
endearing and sweet!

Pippin lighting the beacons is just about my favourite scene from that
instalment of the films and I love the way that it is described here.
The fact that Pippin has confidence that he can accomplish the task
just because Gandalf said that he could was wonderful! And after all,
he has his magick charm to keep him brave. His musings over all of the
times he has depended upon the charm to be brave during the Quest were
all really good, especially when jumping in front of Frodo on
Weathertop - the charm won't save his life and he knows this, it will
just help him to be brave enough to offer it, which Pippin was too
modest to understand.

I was really upset when he lost it, not because of any magickal
qualities that it may have possessed but because it was dear to Pippin
because it was a gift from Gandalf. I really loved Gandalf's pride in
him when he made it back down to the ground and the talk that they had
was lovely! The way that Gandalf helped Pippin to understand that
everything brave that he had done was down to his own courage was just
perfect and Pippin's sudden realisation of just how Gandalf perceives
him, the reasons why he treats him as he does, was so heartwarming. I
loved the gentleness of Gandalf's teasing.

I thought Gandalf was very grandfatherly throughout the tale; for me
this is my very favourite aspect of his relationship with Pippin.
Pippin's character was very innocent and very hobbity.

I loved the lesson that Pippin learned in this story - that it is our
deeds and accomplishments that cause us to mature and not just however
many years we manage to accumulate. Knowing that he is an adult in
Gandalf's eyes, someone that he respects enormously, must have given
Pippin great satisfaction and self-confidence to face the grim days ahead.

A most excellent and exciting story with wonderful characterisations!


Title: Osgiliath · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 626
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 18:13:17 Score: 4
(Possible spoilers within:)

This is truly chilling! The readers really get a taste of the stark
terror that must have pervaded the hearts of the soldiers when the
Witch-king made his appearance at the Bridge. What is especially
compelling is the shock at understanding that will not prevail against
such enemies.

The last line is absolutely heart-rending. Very well done!

Title: Calm after the Storm · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 350
Reviewer: Radbooks · 2007-12-30 18:13:52 Score: 4
Anything with Imrahil in it is a good story so I had to read it just
for that, a nude Imrahil is over the top. Seriously, it is a very
enjoyable double drabble that I remember reading when you first posted
it. I imagine swimming in the cool waters after a battle would not
only cool you off physically but also emotionally. I liked the images
of Imrahil just thrusting all of his stuff at his esquire because he
just couldn't get the heavy stuff off of himself fast enough. The
burdens he wore were heavy ones.

Nicely done!

Title: Shells · Author: pipkinsweetgrass · Races: Cross-Cultural: With
Pippin · ID: 506
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-30 18:18:01 Score: 3
A charming, warm tale of Boromir and Faramir as young lads told to
entertain and comfort an ill Pippin. I loved getting to know about
softshelled crabs and I love the analogy of the crabs at that time in
their lives to the two young lords at a difficult time in their lives.

I love this story! Thank you dear Pipkin Sweetgrass!

Title: Shadows of the Past · Author: Marta · Genres: Drama: General
Drabble · ID: 331
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 18:19:15 Score: 3
(Possible spoilers within:)

Oh, my! What more terrifying way to haunt Smeagol than to have a ring
of SUNflowers around Deagol's grave! That would certainly play on my
guilt if I had murdered someone!

This is creepy! Well done!

Title: Second Mum · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: The Shire · ID: 82
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-30 18:20:54 Score: 6
[spoilers regarding the basic plot]

Larner has done something quite wonderfully with a minor character in
Tolkien’s works. Esme fully earns the centre stage here from Frodo’s
birth to her own death. It shows how love for a child just is, no
matter if the child is adopted or not. This story simply moves your
heart, lures out those tears that just well… Larner dove into key
moments of Frodo’s life and reflected how this influenced Esme, it are
short stories in itself, or vignettes, and in this way she portrayed
this with an enormous intensity. Indirectly (or not, depending on your
viewpoint) it reads as a tribute to all parents who one way or another
feel connected to their child during highs and lows, and learn how to
let go as much as they can. This is a very beautiful story Larner,
thank you for sharing this gem.

Title: The Beginning of a Wonderful Friendship · Author: Imhiriel ·
Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 629
Reviewer: Radbooks · 2007-12-30 18:23:02 Score: 3
A delightful tale of the first meeting of Celeborn and Galadriel. I
like that Finrod is so focused on his music that he is blissfully
unaware of how he has insulted Celeborn and the other 'dark elves' and
that Luthien just wants to dance.

Nicely done!

Title: Stranger in a strange land · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men:
General Drabble · ID: 695
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-30 18:24:20 Score: 4
[spoilers]
This is a really nice drabble no Aragorn lover will want to miss.
Tanaqui does a very good job of getting across the intensity of the
heat with her usual beautiful turns of phrases to capture the misery
of a really hot day. I'm sure even Minas Tirith would feel warm to a
Northerner like Aragorn, so Harad must have been much worse. This
drabble does a really nice job of creating a scene with lots of
physical details - it immerses the reader completely.

Title: With No Pity · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races: Villains:
Drabble · ID: 391
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 18:28:40 Score: 2
(Possible spoilers within:)

Oh, I like the unexpected twist! Yes, these attackers are fearsome indeed!

Title: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar · Author: Raksha the Demon ·
Genres: Drama: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 680
Reviewer: Radbooks · 2007-12-30 18:34:02 Score: 5
I had not considered what Arwen (and her father and brothers for that
matter) would have thought of Boromir as he spent time in their house.
This story is a good beginning from Arwen's point of view and it
seemed a fairly realistic one. For someone whose future happiness
depends on Aragorn taking the throne she needs to have Boromir step
aside or at least support Aragorn. But, her innate courtesy comes to
the fore and she is able to treat him as he deserves and the foresight
she has probably only relieves her a little. One is left with the
question of whether or not she shared that with Aragorn.

Nicely done.

Title: Rauros, golden Rauros-falls · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Humor:
Drabble · ID: 624
Reviewer: Marta · 2007-12-30 18:34:59 Score: 3
*giggle-snorts*

Oh, this is so funny! You had me giggling - a very original concept,
and it does a very good job of describing the scene to grab the
reader's attention. I enjoyed this highly, and anyone who likes to
laugh from time to time at fandom's inventions like the Boromir-lives
subgenre should find this a funny read.

Title: Some Dark Place · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Adventure:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 226
Reviewer: Radbooks · 2007-12-30 18:41:40 Score: 4
This captures Aragorn's terror very, very well. It also describes his
encounter with the Riders quite clearly in the flashbacks. It's nice
to see Aragorn as a real man with very real reactions in such a
situation. He's young here and reacts as a young man would. When he's
older - with Frodo and the other hobbits - he's able to master his
fear and do what needs to be done to try and protect them, but for
now, he is too young for such things.

Well done!

Title: A Suitable Tribute · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Drama · ID: 474
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-30 18:43:19 Score: 1
So beautiful and strange! this is truly a unique idea, EL, sweetly told.

Title: Sweet Memories · Author: PipMer · Races: Hobbits · ID: 272
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-30 18:44:39 Score: 3
This story is a real surprise on many levels. First, it doesn't have
Frodo being overly maudlin while sitting on the bank of the Brandywine
and remembering his parents. Then, we have a wonderful moment between
Frodo and Boromir, which are rare in most stories.

Beautifully done, PipMer!

Title: Dissonance · Author: EdorasLass · Races: Cross-Cultural: Gondor
· ID: 450
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-30 18:48:30 Score: 3
This is lesson taught so gently. I like that your OFC is too motivated
by compassion to heed her fear, anger or distaste. Your tales are told
so evenly, but still pack an emotional wallop.

Title: Twice blessed is help unlooked for · Author: Tanaqui · Times:
Late Third Age: 3018-3022 TA: Gondor Drabble · ID: 631
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2007-12-30 18:49:10 Score: 5
(Possible spoilers within:)

Tanaqui has a skillful way with words, and this drabble certainly
proves it for all to see. We are dropped directly into heavy combat
action, in which Imrahil's [arms were heavy from dealing death]... so
we know the enemies have been fighting on the Pelennor for a very long
time.

And when the Prince of Dol Amroth sees who is captaining the
reinforcements, his shock is so great, he thinks he must be either
dreaming or dead! And he also cannot believe that Thorongil is not a
doddering old man yet.

I love his reaction of [weary joy] -- it is evocative and realistic.
Beautifully done!

Title: Comes Now The Plaintiff, Frodo Baggins · Author: EdorasLass ·
Genres: Humor: Parody · ID: 17
Reviewer: Anoriath · 2007-12-30 18:50:17 Score: 10
Oh. My. God. I'm not sure I can stop laughing long enough to collect
my thoughts and write something with any reasonable degree of
coherence. *deep breath* Oh my.

How to distill what is so funny about this piece? A truly daunting task.

I think, perhaps, one of the factors for me is Edoraslass' use of a
delightful tension between the thoroughly modern language of legal
action and the heightened pitch of epic fantasy. The lawyerly
narrative voice looks at it all with a wry eye and takes the grand and
moral point of view of the epic fantasy author down a peg or two, or
perhaps three.

And then there is the truly aggrieved tone that speaks to the divide
between the medieval world of Men and the Edwardian land of the
Halflings. Oh dear, that plaintiff Baggins was threatened with nude
feet and the denial of a second breakfast. How dare they!

And not to forget the believability supported by endless details
(e.g., attached exhibits and references to related and counter suits)
that only a high degree of familiarity with legal jargon engenders.

All in all, the above combine to bring about a very effective, wry,
dry, tongue firmly ensconced in cheek sense of humor to the piece that
I thoroughly enjoyed.

Particularly *snork*worthy moments, for me, include:

[(see:Bilbo Baggins vs. Gandalf the Grey et.al vs. Surviving Members
of Thorin Oakenshield and Company, LLC).]

[Instead sending only an all-but-incoherent letter at The Prancing Pony ]

[an individual of questionable mental health called “Tom Bombadil”]

[Defendant Faramir took to speaking in a disjointed, rambling manner,
quoting lengthy passages from poems, while continuing to interrogate
Plaintiff Baggins in an unlawful manner.]

[even though the borders of said area were not clearly marked]

*g*

Title: Triolet: The Weaver's Song · Author: annmarwalk · Genres:
Poetry · ID: 553
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-12-30 18:50:37 Score: 4
I am always in awe of those able to master the discipline of formal
verse - something beyond my ken. Here Ann achieves not only,
seemingly, effortless mastery, but also a mystic 'rightness' within
the world of Middle-earth. This is the Weaver's Song that if it was
not chanted as Boromir's cloak was made... well then it should have been!

I've loved and admired it since I first read it - it conjures so much
within its brief structure, a subtle eloquence that leaves the reader
satisfied, yet wanting to no more - lovely.

Title: Perturbation of Fate · Author: Rhapsody · Genres: Drama:
General Drabble · ID: 428
Reviewer: Radbooks · 2007-12-30 18:52:36 Score: 3
A well done drabble about why Maglor stayed in Middle-earth and
wandered the shore when he could have gone back to Aman. I could hear
the call of the sea as I read the drabble because you painted a very
vivid picture here. It somehow fits Maglor and makes sense that this
is why he stayed behind. Nicely done!

Title: The Promise in her Eyes · Author: EdorasLass · Genres: Humor:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 100
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2007-12-30 18:52:47 Score: 2
This is delightful. Again, your measured unfolding of the story is
what makes it. You keep your pace, and give us tidbit by tidbit, which
strings the reader along happily.

Title: Charms of Wisdom and Grace · Author: annmarwalk · Genres:
Drama: Ithilien · ID: 460
Reviewer: Elen Kortirion · 2007-12-30 18:57:22 Score: 5
This is a lovely continuation of the thoughts originally created in
the Weaver's Song triolet - a delicate companion piece that adds
facets to the characters of both Eowtn and Faramir, allowing the
reader a small glimpse of their well-earned domestic happiness in the
newly dawned Fourth Age of Middle-earth. Complete in itself, it also
provides a nod to an untold backstory of brotherly affection between
Boromir and Faramir, and of Faramir's appreciation for skills other
than with weaponry aquired when he was obviously still a young man.

Title: No Harm Will Come of It · Author: Marigold · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Other Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 456
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-30 19:00:15 Score: 3
This series of drabbles reads like a story and is a wonderful tale.
Marigold takes a very different look at Hamfast Gamgee and I found it
charming as without anyone know about it, the Gaffer learns to read.

Thank you Marigold!

Title: Falling Into Shadow · Author: Marigold · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Incomplete · ID: 205
Reviewer: Pearl Took · 2007-12-30 19:07:37 Score: 3
A wonderful look at something that might have happened to Merry after
the hobbits, Strider and Glorfindel have got Frodo safely to
Rivendell. It is particularly interesting to have Glorfindel take
further care of the hobbits.

Well done Marigold!

Title: Beneath a Gibbous Moon · Author: Bodkin · Races: Cross-Cultural
· ID: 4
Reviewer: Rhapsody · 2007-12-30 19:08:09 Score: 8
These stories are beautifully interconnected with each other, from
generation upon generation the line of Elros meets one of the line of
Mirkwood, where the other witnessed utter loss, the other embraces the
future with optimism. The execution is flawless and the characters are
written intensely, giving them all a distinctive voice in this piece.
This all combined at the backdrop of ME’s history. What I really liked
in this piece is how Bodkin weaves in several themes in the vignette
that either serves as foreshadowing or conflict in the other
vignettes. For example Bodkin approaches the question why Oropher had
sought to create a second Doriath and continued Thingol’s policy of
almost isolation from the outside world.

[Doriath would remain as long as those who loved it held it in their
hearts �" and he would not forget. Neither forget nor forgive.] This
line uttered by Oropher comes across bitter, but it also reflects
Thranduil’s attitude towards his own neighbours in Mirkwood, the
change comes with Legolas.

Then of course there is Elros [I think you should go,’ Elros told him.
‘This is not the place for you.’ He looked out across the darkening
water. ‘And the sea does not sing in your blood. Not yet.’] Moreover,
in a way, Bodkin there foreshadows of what becomes of Legolas, who
features in the third vignette. This is very thoughtfully written.