Yahoo Forum Archive

itle: Hiraeth · Author: Llinos · Genres: Poetry · ID: 803
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-30 23:35:59 Score: 10
I had to look up Hiraeth as I suspected it was Sindarin or something,
but it turns out it is a Welsh word, meaning "longing". This works
very well for the problem faced by an elf who knows he must eventually
leave but just can't bear to drag himself away from the trees and woods.

The poem has a quite sad feel about it and uses very evocative words
to describe the beautiful woodlands and makes you understand why this
elf wouldn't want to go.

Yet you can also understand why the call of the sea is so important to
him and, although he is not so much resisting it as trying to repress
it, it is also understandable how urgent and unremitting the call is
to him.

The rhyme scheme is quite complicated as it is:- a, b, a, c, b, a, b,
a, c, with 'c' having a trochaic foot. This tends to set the poem
apart as elvish as opposed to hobbit, as their poetry is usually more
simplistic and in that way makes it very true to Tolkien's style as he
always managed to keep his poetry completely in the voice of whosoever
was supposed to be writing it. The language too is far more elvish
than any hobbit would use and even if it had not been subtitled as
being about an elf, it would be easy too guess who the speaker was.

I have read others of Llinos's poems and this one is quite different
from the rest that I've seen, but it seems to be totally in character
with elvish culture, from the style to the subject matter.


Title: The Stranger · Author: mistycracraft · Races: Men: Eriador or
Rivendell · ID: 89
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:36:05 Score: 3
I am quite sure that is just exactly the first impression Strider must
have given many people. At least Edric was able to learn that maybe
first impressions are not always the best! Good job! Very insightful
and well-written.


Title: Multicultural Interactions · Author: annmarwalk · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Gondor · ID: 18
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:36:31 Score: 3
A very sweet encounter between two characters who appear in canon, and
yet about whose personality we know little. Annmarwalk makes it seem
quite likely that these two would find friendship. And even though she
indicates the story's complete, I'd love to see more of these two
together.

Title: Thengling Mighty · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Late Third
Age: 3018-3022 TA: General Drabble · ID: 420
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:36:48 Score: 3
What I love about this is the distinctly Rohirric flavor of the prose,
using alliteration to evoke the poetic traditions of that people. A
wonderful description of that moment of freedom!

Title: Beginnings · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Romance: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 503
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2007-12-30 23:36:49 Score: 2
Smoothly written vignette of the ailing Eowyn finding, and giving
comfort. Good use of herb-lore!

Title: The Green Hill · Author: Baranduin · Races: Cross-Cultural: The
Fellowship · ID: 562
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:37:02 Score: 3
I love this moment of friendship shown between Aragorn and Frodo--the
language is very evocative of the setting, and the respect and love of
the two friends for one another is beautifully depicted.

Title: Before the Gate · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves:
Fixed-Length Ficlet · ID: 704
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:37:16 Score: 2
Yes, this is very like the sort of conversation that Elladan and
Elrohir could have had at that pivotal moment. Together. Always.

Title: In Passing · Author: Lily · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey Havens ·
ID: 613
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:37:38 Score: 4
[spoiler]
I've read more than one story dealing with Pippin's death, and this is
among the most touching. Lily puts much of her own emotion into this
story, and her passion shows. I love the gentleness and tenderness
with which the subject is dealt, and especially that it is *Frodo* who
greets Pippin on the other side.

And the ending, with Elessar seeing that his dear friend is gone was
incredibly touching.

This story is a tear-jerker in a *good* way!


Title: Forcing a Path · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Drama: The
Fellowship · ID: 400
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:37:53 Score: 4
This is just what a gap-filler ought to be: a more detailed look at a
small episode in canon, keeping all the characters perfectly *in*
character, and giving us a deeper POV than we are treated to in the book.

I love the way Boromir comes up with the plan, and the dogged way he
and Aragorn follow through, as the author shows us *how* that path was
forged.

And Legolas was just as annoying in this as he was in canon!

Title: Cool Sunlight and Green Grass · Author: SlightlyTookish ·
Races: Hobbits: Post-Ring War · ID: 211
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:38:11 Score: 3
At the Black Gate, Pippin's last coherent thought before he was felled
by the troll was a wish to once more have ["cool sunlight and green
grass"]. And then his thoughts fled. But against all expectations, he
survived, and now we get to see his first chance to experience what he
never thought to have again. A very touching ficlet, and as hopeful as
Pippin himself.

Title: Enter the Fourth Age, Hastily · Author: Dwimordene · Times:
Fourth Age and Beyond: Drabble · ID: 140
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:38:25 Score: 2
How very Entish! I love the use of the dashes to evoke the language of
the Ents. All of that, to convey one word--both clever and well done!

Title: The Steward's New Clothes · Author: GypsieRose · Genres: Humor:
Gondor or Rohan · ID: 511
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:38:39 Score: 2
*snerk!* This is wicked! That clever tailor! I wonder how many of
those garments he actually made himself! I had to giggle at the
weskits, but the ending was deliciously naughty!

Title: Drawing Straight With Crooked Lines · Author: Fiondil · Genres:
Drama · ID: 76
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2007-12-30 23:38:50 Score: 3
Any story where Boromir isnt the bad guy is a good story, but this one
was especially pleasent to read. I imagine his attitude is a bit
unusual. I really liked the atmosphere and wish I had time for a
longer review. I am such a procrastinator!

Title: Bransle Royal · Author: Ribby · Times: Late Third Age:
3018-3022 TA: Gondor · ID: 473
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:38:54 Score: 3
This little story of the King dancing incognito with one of his
subjects is adorable--not the least because of the use of an actual
country dance, which lends itself to an easy visualization of the scene!

Title: In Fangorn Forest · Author: Garnet Took · Races: Hobbits: Merry
and Pippin · ID: 260
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:39:15 Score: 3
We're told in canon that Merry and Pippin had conversation as they
walked in Fangorn after escaping the Uruk-hai, but not what that
conversation was. This is a very plausible idea of what they might
have talked of at one point.

Title: With No Pity · Author: Elen Kortirion · Races: Villains:
Drabble · ID: 391
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:39:28 Score: 2
Oh, this packs a punch! The description is vivid, and the POV entirely
unexpected--very clever and well-executed!

Title: The Yuletide Festival Feast Song · Author: Llinos · Genres:
Poetry: With Hobbits · ID: 802
Reviewer: trikywun · 2007-12-30 23:39:28 Score: 8
Another festive feast from Llinos! This one is all about food â€" or
more specifically hobbit food!

As we all know, not only do hobbits love their food, they also love
order and for things to be set out clearly and correctly. Llinos has
done this to great advantage with this song, as it carefully lists
everything a hobbit might eat and also does it in alphabetical order!

It is also very funny. It is hard to imagine a list of food being
amusing and the humour comes mainly from the fact that sometimes the
writer is obviously searching quite hard for something to fit the bill
of fare that also has the right letter!

Nevertheless, she, or rather, Merry and Pippin manage it, very often
with hilarious, albeit slightly unlikely, results!

She carries it off in a frolicky and fun-filled manner and actually
some of the items quite made my mouth water, although some did not
sound quite so appetising. I'm sure the hobbits would eat it all
though, they seem to have a special affinity with food, what with six
meals a day when they can get them. This feast would surely provide
six and then some!


Title: Firelight · Author: Songspinner · Genres: Drama: Ithilien · ID: 817
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:39:49 Score: 3
A very nice little set of Cormallen vignettes, centered very
effectively around the theme of "fire" and focussing on the deep
friendships of the Fellowship. A nice blend of book-verse with a few
of the more inspired movie-verse elements tied in.

Title: Living Tales · Author: pippinfan88 · Races: Hobbits: Post-Grey
Havens · ID: 806
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:40:05 Score: 3
Such a very possible conversation--Pippinfan has captured the essence
of what JRRT often spoke of, how the heroes found themselves *inside*
a story. I could easily imagine it taking place in Rivendell before
the Quest; and the little epilogue at the end was delightful, bringing
it full circle.

Title: The Wink of an Eye · Author: Linda hoyland · Times: Mid Third
Age: 2851 - 3017 TA: Drabble · ID: 664
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:40:28 Score: 2
LOL! Oh dear! Poor Denethor! If Sauron had a sense of humor, then I am
afraid this is probably just the sort of humor he would go in for--and
of course, it suited his purposes as well!

Title: The Weregild · Author: tyellas · Races: Dwarves · ID: 522
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:40:43 Score: 2
This is a very clever take on the gifting of at least one of the
Dwaven Rings--I loved the sublety of it.

Title: Erestor and Estel: Hidden · Author: Pentangle · Genres: Drama:
Youth · ID: 167
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:40:57 Score: 3
A very sweet and gentle story about unlikely friendship, and the
perceptiveness of an intelligent child. I love the way young Estel has
seen through the gruff exterior, to see that actions often speak
louder than facial expressions.

Title: A Rohan Tapestry · Author: shirebound · Races: Hobbits:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 96
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:41:13 Score: 7
Shirebound usually specializes in gentle hurt-comfort centered around
Frodo. But in this story, although Frodo does come in for a certain
share of well-deserved comfort, he also gives it, as do others, to Merry.

I've often thought how difficult the funeral of Theoden must have been
for Merry--we are told in canon of his bitter weeping at Theoden's
grave, and of how he had borne a serious demeanor as the old king's
esquire through all the long miles to Edoras. It's clear he really did
love the old Man like a father, in spite of their short acquaintance.
Shirebound explores the ways in which he is taken care of by his
loving kin and friends during this difficult period.

His grief leads him to a recurrence of the Black Breath, and Aragorn
and all the Fellowship rally around him. And along the way, we see
much of Rohan and its people. It's very easy to see why the ties
remained so strong between the Shire, and the Kingdoms of the South.

Very well done, with Shirebound's usual tender care!

Title: Yours to command · Author: Lialathuveril · Genres: Romance:
With Rohirrim · ID: 129
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:42:40 Score: 2
This is one of the more unusual of Eomer/Lothiriel romances, with a
very unique Lothiriel, it is as much adventure as it is romance, with
a number of exciting twists and turns.

Title: The Love of Lore · Author: Oshun · Races: Men: Gondor · ID: 271
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2007-12-30 23:42:55 Score: 2
Yes, indeed, this is the lad who loved tales and books more than the
sword. How lovely to learn that years later, his own child takes after
him!