Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: A White Coverlet to Cool a Hobbit's Toes · Author: Claudia ·
Races: Cross-Cultural: Friendship · ID: 73
Reviewer: SurgicalSteel · 2008-05-04 14:39:13
Post-Quest: Frodo sees snow on top of Mount Mindolluin. He remembers
the snow on Caradhras and expresses a desire to see snow again under
more controlled and more pleasant circumstances, and so Frodo and
Aragorn and Faramir trek up the mountain together. What follows are
some lovely interactions between Frodo, Aragorn, and Faramir: gentle
friendship and beautifully done, non-graphic hurt/comfort. Minimal
angstiness and maximum warm comfort, a bit of suspense, and overall a
wonderful read start to finish!

Title: Elanor of Westmarch: The Return · Author: Baranduin · Races:
Hobbits: Family · ID: 78
Reviewer: SurgicalSteel · 2008-05-04 14:53:17
Spoilers!
This is a beautiful look at an older Elanor, after her father's
already passed over the sea. A conversation in spirit or in dream
occurs between Elanor and Frodo and Sam. The author captures the voice
of an older lady who's a bit surprised by who and what she sees and by
the nature of that conversation very well. I enjoyed Elanor's pride in
'beating' Bilbo,' whis is a nice hearkening-back to Bilbo's pride at
'beating the Old Took.' This also has a lovely, although sad, twist to
the end of it in the form of gentle character death. Beautifully told.

Title: Broken Star · Author: pandemonium_213 · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 54
Reviewer: Oshun · 2008-05-05 16:58:58

This is beautiful and exquisitely painful (and only 200 words). I
constantly rant at the glib use of the short form in fanfiction. I
admit to a bad attitude: a sort of a spare me your snippets and
glimpses; I want some meat to chew on here; go back and write me a
story. Celebrimbor always breaks my heart, but, even putting that
completely to the side, this piece achieves transcendence of the too
common misuse of the genre.

Annatar/Sauron is portrayed as being one of the fallen rather than
merely pure evil. That is difficult to do but it had to have been
true. When I first read The Silmarillion I was struck by the Miltonic
grandeur of Tolkien's villains, Morgoth and Sauron, and to a lesser
extent, Feanor. But Tolkien actually surpassed Milton in his portrayal
of his fallen angels by giving us more than simply a fall from grace,
but enabling one to extrapolate that, beyond all bitterness, arrogance
and pride, the absolute certainty of remorse and redemption on the
part of Feanor. Further, you make me question with your writing on
this theme whether or not there might even be the slight possibility
of this with Sauron as well. Morgoth, nah, he's a goner.

You've done Sauron's fair form so well in your continuing series on
these characters that I have no doubt that he once truly cared for
Celebrimbor as a friend and collaborator despite his ever-present
intent to betray. This short piece picks up and clarifies the theme
you pursue in your other work, that assuming the fair form of Annatar
could have given Sauron a measure of humanity that would have been
missed when he was forced to shed it. The level of psychological pain
and self-abhorrence at having enabled the betrayal that Celebrimbor
must have felt when Sauron gave him that kiss on his forehead and used
the expression ["brother-of-my-heart"] was far worse than any physical
torment.


Title: Dragons In The Trollshaws · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 170
Reviewer: Jay of Lasgalen · 2008-05-05 18:45:08
*Happy sigh*

Thank you, Bodkin! I saw this first thing this morning, but didn't get
the opportunity to read it properly, or leave a review. I like this
story on so many levels - the simple banter and teasing between the
twins, their realisation of how utterly foolish and reckless they have
been, and the gradual acceptance that their behaviour towards Elrond
and Glorfindel is unacceptable.

The memories of their childhood are good too - the happy recall of
bedtime stories about Smudge: [`I remember,' his brother said
wistfully, `how we would bounce with excitement when Naneth told us
those stories – and then sit up half the night debating how we could
seek out a dragon like Smudge to come and live with us in Imladris and
be our companion.'] The comment about Elladan jumping off the stable
roof was interesting too - there's another untold tale there which I'd
love to hear one day.

Despite their reckless behaviour, they know when they are outmatched,
and I was very glad to see them wait for reinforcements from Imladris
- and Elrond's greeting. It's an important sign that they are able to
see past that recklessness and acknowledge their shortcomings -
finally, they are beginning to heal.

The dragon hunt itself was tense and exciting - if gross in places -
and I think the best part was Glorfindel nearly getting crisped :>) I
don't think the twins (or Elrond) will let him forget that moment of
misjudgement in a hurry!

Thank you for this wonderful story - I love it!


Jay

Title: A Friend's Hug · Author: Golden · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Friendship · ID: 142
Reviewer: Antane · 2008-05-06 03:12:32
We all needs love and care and hugs like this when we are troubled.
Love Pippin hiding behind the tapestry and Arwen seeking him out. God
bless, Antane

Title: Choices · Author: brindlemom2 · Times: First Age and Prior ·
ID: 184
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2008-05-06 13:48:05
An interesting vignette with an interesting premise-that Elros might
have left behind an elven maiden who was not willing to follow in
Luthien or Arwen's footsteps. Brief but poignant.

Title: King Stag · Author: Jael · Races: Elves: Mirkwood Elves · ID: 86
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2008-05-06 13:52:59
I very much enjoyed this story with its depiction of a young, vibrant,
randy Thranduil. His efforts to win the approval of the family of his
wife, who are of the Unwilling, take him places I am sure he never
thought to go! The cultural details are beautifully depicted, the
rites very visceral. The contrast between the vaunting youth in the
body of the story and the solitary, stubborn, enduring Elf at the end
is very marked, but in truth the latter derives directly from the former.

Title: Riding the Waves · Author: Claudia · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond · ID: 211
Reviewer: shirebound · 2008-05-06 17:17:49
Nothing makes me happier, when reading fanfic, to know that Frodo has
found peace and healing. This short scene is full of such joy, it
makes me smile every time I read it. It's obvious that the author
loves Frodo as much as I do, and also understands the effect the ocean
can have on someone who's never experienced it before.

Title: Between Childhood and Coming of Age · Author: Dreamflower ·
Races: Hobbits: Friendship · ID: 141
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-05-06 20:13:03
Spoilers!
This is a really interesting story, not only looking at both what was
accepted and acceptable and what wasn't in terms of Shire sexual
ethics, but also showing Pippin's coming of age in terms of his own
confidence. I laughed out loud, and cheered toward the end when I saw
that Pippin could disagree with his cousins - that's a sign of real
maturity.

Title: A Large Bold Hand · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 10
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-05-06 20:42:12
Spoilers!
When I read this drabble, what I was most impressed with was the
description of the Elvish script to flowing water; it reminded me of
the passage from the Silmarillion:

"[in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more
than in any substance else that is in this Earth; and many of the
Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea]"

As a dwarf-lover, I *loved* the fact that here we have a dwarf drawn
to the water. It shows that this isn't just your everyday dwarf (which
is a vibe I always got about Ori from canon), and I could see how he
would connect nicely to an elf - especially one who isn't perfect, as
evidenced by Erestor's complaint.

Perhaps I'm reading too much in here, but I really liked this drabble.
Very nice insight into these characters.

Title: A New Day · Author: Oshun · Genres: Longer Works · ID: 35
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-07 15:56:27
When I first found this story last year, my reaction was as if I had
been searching for something for over twenty years and finally found
it. I had mentally paired Maedhros and Fingon when first reading the
Silmarillion at age 16, without considering the implications and
knowing little about male/male relationships.
When reading the Silmarillion, I always had the feeling that if the
hidden pages were unlocked then there would be a veritable lode of
gold brought to light and I wanted to see it mined, wanted it brought
into daylight. Under the beautiful,succinct words and the magnificent
and tragic epic tale there were other stories which had been hidden
away, relationships between characters which spanned the Years of the
Trees and the First Age.

It was purely by chance that I happened upon this work. At the time I
was attempting to write a Maedhros and Fingon story with some-one and
it simply did not work out. This story was the death blow. I was not
happy with the person's portrayal of Maedhros, which seemed effeminate
and I was rapidly losing interest with the lack of fire and chemistry
between the characters. When I read A New Day I immediately reviewed
it - then deleted the review and wrote a longer one since the story
deserved it. I then contacted my co-writer and told her to go and read
it. I wanted her to see how it should be done, I was really saying: "
This is Maedhros and Fingon, if we cannot reach anything like this we
should rethink or call it a day. " I was so enthusiastic about the
story that I felt as if some-one had presented me with a treasure.

The dynamics between the characters are electric and all of them
simply burn from the words. The words in fact blur and dissolve and
the story becomes the reality. I stepped into it and watched it
unfold, I saw the characters as if they were actors in a film save
that I felt closer, an invisible observer. The author has a grasp of
the Eldar that is astonishing, as if they are using her to channel
their lost histories and that is actually how I view her works, as the
true and untold story of Maedhros and Fingon. The personalities each
take on vibrant life but are all completely individual, they are *
real * people, not clones of one another, a Noldo is not just a Noldo.
One can feel their emotions and the dialogue is superb. It says
everything that my biggest pet peeve is seeing Elves talk in
contractions, since I like them to speak as Tolkien wrote, yet I did
not even notice until after and it did not affect my enjoyment of it
in the least and yet when some authors write in that way it will
utterly put me off the whole work from the first " won't. "

I love the main protagonists so much more after reading this. I feel
it is the definitive work on Maedhros and Fingon and their
relationship is so very charismatic, so real and so expertly drawn
that I feel I know now what I felt was only hinted at in the
Silmarillion; I feel them and empathize with them, smile with them,
grieve with them, experience the whole gamut of emotions as their
lives in Middle-earth unfold. I do not feel this story can be praised
enough; it is as if it was waiting to be written and the author was
chosen to be the one to present it to the world.

Title: The Heart of a Home · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Frodo or Sam · ID: 257
Reviewer: shirebound · 2008-05-07 19:05:39
I return again and again to this gentle tale, a tiny peek into the
life -- and hearts -- of Bilbo and Frodo at Bag End. The author brings
us the love -- as well as the tentative learning -- between two people
beginning to live together and read each other's needs and emotions. A
truly warm and lovely story.

Title: In absentia · Author: Robinka · Races: Elves: House of Finwe ·
ID: 84
Reviewer: Oshun · 2008-05-08 04:34:08
Spoilers!
This is very powerful and thought-provoking story. When I first read
it, I was particularly moved because I have been writing the same
story from a totally different perspective—the same impulse but a
polar opposite way to describe Maedhros's torment and adaptation to
it. This is the joy of writing fanfiction, the opportunity to take
such a affecting story, using the elements of canon surrounding it,
and try to find the imaginative impulse to fill in the huge gaps: how
to get from A to B, which is not covered in the text, in a
psychologically convincing and true to canon manner.

Although I chose to approach it completely differently--as though
Maedhros appears to be almost too well to be true and it is only over
the passage of time that Fingon begins to realize the full extent of
the damage that he is hiding., And, yet, when I read yours, I see the
same people. I find the characterization very strongly based in the
bits of canon that we have for their story. ["There Maedhros in time
was healed; for the fire of life was hot within him, and his strength
was of the ancient world, such as those possessed who were nurtured in
Valinor. His body recovered from his torment and became hale, but the
shadow of his pain was in his heart; and he lived to wield his sword
with left hand more deadly than his right had been."] There is
enormous power and poignancy in your description of both characters
here. Fingon is quick to want to help, accepting of responsibility,
and Maedhros verges on utter madness. Yet it is only when Fingon is
provoked to anger and refuses to continue to coddle him, that Maedhros
is able to summon the strength to wake-up and come back to himself.
The end is heartbreaking in its tenderness and manifests their deep
friendship. The only tiny point I might quibble with is that
Maedhros's assertion that Fingon is not a kinslayer. The way I read
the text, I see Fingon also as guilty of kinslaying. He is not more
innocent of that charge because he tried to defend what he believes
are his kinsmen under attack. Since, it was the natives of Alqualonde
who threw the first Noldor into the sea and provoked the first drawing
of a sword, the whole melee could be seen as defensive. According to
the inexorable pull of fate and doom in the grand tragic tradition,
they all become kinslayers, except for the few who held back, behind
Fingon and Fingolfin's companies.

Very interesting and well-executed story. (And, you get extra points
for me raising what some may see as my own canon heresy here relating
the kinslaying.)


Title: The Apprentice · Author: pandemonium_213 · Races: Villains · ID: 52
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-08 07:00:05
This author has done what I considered almost impossible, she has used
her own knowledge of science and brought it into Tolkien. In this
work, Sauron, as Annatar is not the blank, one dimensional and generic
evil dark lord, but a scientists who utilizes technology. Since
Tolkien seemed to range himself against technology, one would think
that this would make this story far too Au and far too removed from
the spirit of Tolkien to be enthralling, especially to me who knows
very little about science.

However, her writing somehow weaves this flawlessly into an intriguing
interpretation of Sauron as Annatar in Ost-in-Edhil and his
interaction with the Noldor. I had often wondered at how the Fëanorion
lamps were made, the three Elven Rings, the One and of course The
Silmarils. To simply attribute such things to magic, when Tolkien
spoke of the Noldor learning from Aulë seemed to simplistic, since all
these artifacts were * made * and solid and real, not nebulous. The
author has handled this beautifully and her Sauron is a supremely
complex and fascinating person - I found his thinking of Gorthaur and
Annatar as different * people, or rather different aspects of himself,
quite apart from one another entthralling.

The apprentice, Sámaril is likewise a wonderfully realized character
and the hierarchical Noldorin politics of Ost-in-Edhil and the Jewel
Smiths are intricately explored and are very much how I imagined. For
some-one to approach this time in the history of Middle-earth and to
delve into the personality of Sauron as a scientist requires an
amazing mind.

In this story Sámaril was in fact the creator of the first of the Nine
Rings of Men and his guilt at it's usage and realization that he had
been betrayed, along with Celebrimbor and all the Gwaith-i-Mírdain is
stunningly written as are his feelings for Annatar, betrayal is so
much worse when it comes from one you have greatly respected.

I would say that all the characters in this story are strikingly drawn
and the interleaving of scientific terminology is done with a light
enough touch so that it does not become hard to follow but rather adds
a new dimension to Sauron, the Jewel Smiths and opens the mind to
ponder on the * magic * of Tolkien's world. In the case of Sauron, of
Fëanor, Celebrimbor, was it in fact science and technology?

This is a superb AU with vivid and rich characterizations and in it
magic becomes science and science becomes mystical

Title: Cinnamon and Chocolate · Author: Cuthalion · Genres: Romance ·
ID: 264
Reviewer: SurgicalSteel · 2008-05-08 18:44:21
This is a delightfully erotic tale in the author's 'Before I Go to
Sleep' universe, which involves romance between Frodo Baggins and Lily
Proudfoot, the midwife of Hobbiton. Lily drops by Bag End while Frodo
is busy baking cinnamon rolls in the kitchen. The action which follows
is hot, and not only because the oven is working. The author has a
marvellous way of writing sex scenes which make them seem REAL rather
than the pretty images of Hollywood movies. An absoultely wonderful
read - perfect for a cold night.

Title: The King's Surgeon · Author: SurgicalSteel · Genres: Longer
Works · ID: 90
Reviewer: Cuthalion · 2008-05-09 08:52:32
Spoilers!
This tale was the author\\\'s very first story (plus the beginning if
a much admired universe), and it is not only an awesome success but
also an awesome tale. She tells the story of Serindë, a woman from Dol
Amroth. As a child of nine, she loses a part of her left foot and is
brought to the Houses of Healing. To escape her boring loneliness, he
starts to pester the healers for knowledge and becomes a healer herself.

The author is a surgeon (which gives the - countless - medical details
much more credibility than usual), and she is a brilliant storyteller.
When Serindë gets cross with Denethor - which is a mild understatement
- she is banned from the town and finds a refuge in the North, in
Bree. She falls in love with the hobbits (and gets to know plenty of
Tooks and Brandybucks), but also with a young ranger crossing her path
- Halbarad, cousin of Aragorn (whom she has known before btw., under
his alias Thorongil).

Her love story with Halbarad is one of the (many) reasons why I love
that beautiful tale so much. We have the - extremely rare - chance to
watch the long, fulfilling marriage of a loving couple over more than
twenty years... with children, with triumphs and losses, with joy and
tears (and with lovely erotic encounters, of course). For those who
are familiar with Halbarad\\\'s fate... ah well, she\\\'s also written
a lovely AU which changes the course of his life. I find both versions
of her tale utterly satisfying. And - which is another plus - the huge
saga is finally finished, leaving the reader with a feeling of utter
contentment and the urgent wish for a huge handkerchief.

Title: Discretion · Author: Dawn Felagund · Times: First Age and
Prior: House of Finwe · ID: 254
Reviewer: Oshun · 2008-05-10 03:48:09
This is a great story. It is a thoroughly fascinating study of a
family, a genre that I truly adore especially in connection with the
Finweans. Love the intrigue, politics, drama, and mystery. You write
Carnistir as almost more like a Medici than a Fëanorian to good
purpose. Inquiring minds what to know how much does optimistic
Arafinwë really know? Of course, I got an enormous kick out of the
fact that it raised a number of issues that I have been thinking about
in relationship to all of these characters in recent months, although,
of course, your imagination takes them in directions where I never
would have gone. I love Carnistir lurking in the shadows and watching
all the wheels turn.

It was particularly interesting to me that Carnistir says, ["I sneak,
spy and lie and hate almost everything."] What a guy. He is completely
believable as a vulnerable, rather damaged kid, dealing with a big
unwieldy family, especially one with such issues. As someone who spent
a large part of my childhood hiding under the dining table or in the
stairwell off the front parlor, Carnistir's behavior had the ring of
absolute truth for me.

And the scene with Findaráto and Nelyo--oh, my: what an incredible
scene that was. You really intrigued me and made me want to peel the
layers off of that relationship and know more. Seems a lot is hinted
at that is not covered in this story.

Finally, and not least, ["Don't say anything confidential because your
brother is spying on you in the parlor."] Cracked me up. This is a
classic of a line that should come with a beverage warning. Thankfully
I was not drinking at the time that I read it.


Title: King Stag · Author: Jael · Races: Elves: Mirkwood Elves · ID: 86
Reviewer: aranelgoldenflower · 2008-05-10 21:29:26
Oh I feel so terrible that my review is only going to be short!
Well I feel I must say how much I enjoyed this story, even though the
first time I read it, it was totally different to what I was used to.
But now I'm so glad it's been nominated etc! and I wish you the best
of luck.
Do you know, I think it was probably one of your fics that made me
like Thranduil as a character.
Ummm, I hope people write better reviews than me so you get lots of
points....rather than just filling it with random comments!

Finally I would like to add that I have *no* critisisms at all!

Title: Star's End · Author: Keiliss · Races: Elves: House of Elrond ·
ID: 283
Reviewer: elfscribe · 2008-05-11 00:16:58
Spoilers!
This is Kei at her elegiac best. I have rarely read a more moving
tribute to Tolkien's world. She has so completely captured the sense
of loss of the elves. Not only in Arwen's tasting the bitterness of
her choice and forsaking her people and immortality, but also in the
way the land has changed and is forgetting the elves. ["I do not hear
the trees anymore,"] Arwen says. So heartbreaking. In that way Maglor
is a perfect voice for this. A character I would never have imagined
coming to comfort Arwen, but it works so well. One of the ancient's
mightiest singers who had been brought low by loyalty to his father's
pride, that he having forsaken his kind and wandering long, humbled,
should sing a final song over her and in a way redeem himself for
earlier sins against the family is beautiful. She has done a
magnificent job characterizing both Maglor and Arwen. Maglor's
reflections about Arwen are like holding a mirror up to himself. [ "I
knew that face, I had seen its like in male form both in the flesh and
in the dreams that still occasionally came to me, dreams of the days
before my world changed and I cut myself off by choice from my kind."]
["My eyes though, like hers, I think are not young."] I loved the
description of her hair and how the author wrapped it in Maglor's
memories of Arwen's father. In fact, in all of this there is a sense
of Maglor revisiting himself and his sense of loss as well. [ "Child
of the child I had spoken softly to after nightmares shook him from
sleep in the early days when we took him and his brother from the
burning city beside the sea…" ] and ["the lost dreams of the Noldor"]
and [ "I had no words; the Valar have no ears for me." ]

Her brothers' choice to say farewell to her and become mortal also
makes sense the way she explains it here. ["Faced with the thing
mortals crave all their lives, immortality, we turned it down in
favour of the racing pulse and heady taste of life lived fast."][ "So
they stayed here. Rather end knowing your life was well used than sit
in paradise watching the stars turn and counting the eons."]

And her language is so appropriate - long, full sentences, sonorous,
rolling off the tongue, heavy with quiet beauty and sorrow. Here is an
example which is so lovely, so very elvish: ["Mostly I played the tree
music, the whisper of their leaves, the quiet creaks and groans, the
sounds of water being drawn deep." ]

Maglor taking Arwen's life is such an act of mercy, a kindness since
what is left for her at this point. His ability to imagine how seeing
Imladris also returning to the earth would fill her with despair works
beautifully. And this last is so gorgeous and so very Tolkien: ["a new
song of my own making, one which I would sing that once and never
again."] So finally, this is also a moving reflection on the pain and
beauty of loss and the tenderness that at the end, one being can show
for another. Beautiful writing, full of emotion without being
affected. This story deserves kudos.

Title: Hearts Like the Sea · Author: Ignoble Bard · Times: First Age
and Prior · ID: 36
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-11 14:20:30
Spoilers!
A beautiful piece which for me, possesses all the starlit newness and
wonder of the Elves who awoke beside Ciuvienen. It was not without its
own perils, as we know from the Silmarillion and from this story
itself and that is a shadow at the edge of eyesight, but the
atmosphere is not the blissful burgeoning of skills and knowledge in
Aman nor the harsher, more complex sword-glitter of the First Age. It
holds the freshness and the wonder of the First Elves under the stars
and it seems more innocent, the characters, although they have
suffered loss and know danger, have not become the ones we envisage
when reading of them in the later Ages.

It is interesting to see this glimpse of Círdan, who ones tends to
always associate with age and his long - and perhaps unique among the
Elves - beard, and Elwë is not the King of Doriath, wife of Melian and
father of Lúthien who dies in Menegroth. Both are relatively young,
and there is a sense of adventurousness about both, one imagines them
as alert for exploration, enthusiastic; this is shown wonderfully in
Círdan's building of a boat, he is like a young designer who is
thrilled by each trial and error and delighted to find in Elwë
some-one who he can expound his thoughts to and who will help him and
support him, one can almost see his initial surprise that some-one
shows an interest in what he is doing; he does not know then that he
will become known as the Shipwright and Lord of the Havens, or built
the ships that take the Elves on the Straight Road.

The relationship between these two is touching in it's easy innocence.
Círdan lost the one he loved, Elwë has not yet been entranced by
Melian in Nan Elmoth; there is no guilt or doubt in their intimacy,
it's naturalness strikes me as exactly how such a thing would be in
those very early times; there are no Laws of the Eldar, there is no
sense that this is wrong, it is as easy and sweet as the waters beside
which they leave, clear and deep and pure.

Having read this I would like to think that Círdan chose to remain in
Middle-earth because the one he came to love did, even though that one
became Elu Thingol who was doomed when he was drawn into the curse
which surrounded the Silmaril's. One never hears much of Círdan in
fanfiction and this aspect of him is refreshing and poignant. As for
Elwë, although one might speculate he was fated in some way to meet
Melian and become the sire of Lúthien, I would like to think he
remembered his lover. In the writings Thingol and Melian's
relationship is not constantly blissful, at times she ' withdrew her
counsel from him ' . I will always think now that even in behind the
Girdle Of Melian, Thingol's thoughts strayed back often to a simpler
life beside Cuiviénen, where there was no kingship, no politics, no
kinslaying.

The author's writing of this is beautiful, taking me to those starlit
shores, giving me a glimpse into the minds of these two Elves, I can
feel the coolness of the waters and the breeze over them and see a sky
which is lit by stars with no sun nor moon and there is a silver magic
and beauty to it which is profound and feels authentic and antique. It
is a spellbinding piece of fanfiction which covers something not often
touched upon, the Ages of the Stars. Two Elves who would become
important in the history of Middle-earth are shown here as young,
endearing in their freshness and relative simplicity, without the
weight of responsibility and Ages so fully upon their shoulders. They
still have the starlight in their eyes and hopes in their hearts and
their generosity of spirit and in loving is written with a masterly
beauty.

Title: Ionnath-Estel ( The Sons Of Hope ) · Author: Kenaz · Races:
Elves: Incomplete · ID: 318
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-11 14:58:33
Spoilers!
This is a work of rich and beautiful descriptive prose and superb
exploration of different characters. Although it may seem like a
simple enough story at the outset, from the beginning the author
tackles the subject of male/male love in a certain kindred of the
Elves as being highly undesirable, indeed deserving of the punishment
of exile. This is clear from the first chapter and also the fact that
among other kindreds it is acceptable. The difficulties this would
bring upon an Elf who is forced by almost tribal taboos to be secret
about his relationship is masterfully handled.

The writing is an total immersion into two very different Elven
Realms, Lórien and Imladris and. It is so vivid that one can walk
completely into it and see and feel and breathe it. I have never felt,
despite reading the LOTR for two decades that I truly knew what Lórien
was like and this story looks at it at a time when Amroth was still
King. It is far more real to me than the Lórien of Galadriel and
Celeborn and Imladris has a vitality to it which makes it far more
than the '' Last Homely House. "

The characters relationships, from extreme youth onward are drawn with
a beautiful and effortless skill, their friendship which expands to
becomes something deeper is beautifully explored. The self doubts and
enforced secrecy of the feelings of Haldir for the growing Elladan are
utterly authentic. It is a matter for shame among the Silvan Elves for
male to love male although the reasons are valid enough, devolving
from a time when the Silvan population was much reduced. One pities
both he and another who has experienced it. The laws are strict and
the society appears somewhat pitiless and puritanical in it's
rejection of such things. It is not ever going to be easy.

Imladris in this story is how I would imagine at this time; alive,
vibrant and the canon characters who appear, such as Gildor Inglorion
and Glorfindel are wonderfully conceived - again as I imagine these
Eldar to be. There is a sense of hope as yet, not of diminishing. The
story is as rich and gorgeously colored as a the great Medieval Bibles
illustrated by monks that I have seen under glass, each detail adds to
the lush beauty of the whole. It is a work I have re-read many times
for it's beauty, atmosphere and the superb handling of characters in
situations which are fraught with both potential sorrow and the
bitterness of a shame which one of them should never have to feel.


Title: Some Confusion in Accounts · Author: viv · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 276
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-05-11 15:57:36
A hilarious question and answer for our beloved lady Galadriel.
Tolkien does tend to contradict himself at times. Heh!

Title: My Precious · Author: SheBit · Genres: Romance: Drabbles · ID: 14
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-05-11 16:24:15
This is a delicate look inside the mind of one of our favorite
villains as he thinks on what he hopes to gain by his actions. The
title is a marvelous bit of misdirection, and yet so appropriate to
the tale and the character involved. Well done.

Title: To See A World · Author: Nightwing · Genres: Adventure:
Incomplete · ID: 330
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-12 10:33:32
This story was the first fanfiction work I ever stumbled upon and it
has enthralled me since 2005. I think the best way to explain my
enthusiasm and love of it, is to say that reading it I came to like
Aragorn and Legolas more than after 20 years of reading the Lord of
the Rings.

The author draws a wonderful portrait of deep ( non-sexual ) love
between the two characters, their trust of one another. The situation
which unfolds contains some shocks which are also dealt with superbly.
the author researches the subjects she incorporates and all sound
utterly authentic, giving an even deeper level of realism to the stories.

The plot is excellent, weaving in old and tragic history with the
growing threat of Mordor and the action/battle scenes are brilliantly
written, but to me the author truly excels in the exploration of the
personalities of Legolas and Aragorn. Their thoughts and emotions
during the story run the gamut from joy to terror and grief and each
one is superb and snares the reader. She writes as if she personally
has experienced all that they have and of course this intensity is so
realistic that one finds oneself with them as they laugh, weep, or
feel rage and fear. They are placed in situations where even survival
is uncertain and all their skills as a Ranger and Archer are in doubt
and through this one comes to love them more greatly and see their
true honor and nobility.

The story does not need romance, nor slash and it is one of the very
few friendship/adventure stories which I like, since my taste is very
different. There could be seen an element of romantic love between the
two, but this would not be what the author intended, it is simply that
the love is so deep and so rich that it shows through each
interaction, yet is not romantic. It seems to be almost deeper than
romantic or sexual love.

It is a story which leaves one thinking, wondering and sympathizing
after each chapter. I read it in one gulp and was devastated to find
it was a WIP, however it is also among those I read again and again
and never become tired of.

Title: Heart of the Wood · Author: Kenaz · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Friendship · ID: 60
Reviewer: Lethe · 2008-05-12 11:13:37
There seems to be a dearth of stories revolving around Túrin and his
friendship with Beleg Cúthalion, which in a way is mirrored long after
by that of Aragorn and Legolas.

The tale is so tragic that it almost begs for exploration and in this
short work the author has woven the spell of the Elder days superbly.
The closeness and yet the insurmountable differences between these two
characters, the ancient wisdom of Beleg and the raw, young Mortal
pride of Túrin come vividly to life. There would seem to be little in
common with such a disparate pair and yet as we know from Tolkien they
were friends.

This story * feels * Elder days in the way that the * Great * writers
of Tolkien fanfiction so effortlessly manage; the woods, the rivers,
the shadow of Morgoth, the doom which lies upon both Túrin and Beleg
is there and the deepening love which ends so terribly.

Both characters are painted wonderfully, Beleg's age, his patience,
his skills which are so inherent in him that they are a part of him
contrast sharply with Túrin's youth, his resentment, stubbornness and
recklessness and his sense of having to prove himself. Yet he is loved
and knows it and loves in return. These two come to life here, early
in their relationship. Túrin is still prickly, tending to explosive
outbursts and taking offense, Beleg's calmer demeanor seems to both
draw him and ground him, yet Beleg is not ethereal or unknowable and
in his words an actions one sees the experienced and brilliant warrior
that he is; he can alarm if he wishes, to open the eyes of this proud
and impatient young man.

It is a story I would love to see expanded on since the background is
already there, setting a beautiful stage tinged with doom and sorrow
for a story which - for me - is more tragic, because less hopeful -
than that of Beren and Lúthien.
As with all the author's works, the wordsmithing is on a level of
excellence that few writers, published or no, can reach and
immediately opens a door into a long lost world where she weaves the
threads together with such skill that it leaves the reader always
wanting far more.