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Msg# 9343

MEFA Reviews for Saturday, August 2, 2008 (Part Two)) Posted by Ann August 02, 2008 - 20:41:32 Topic ID# 9343
Title: Brotherhood · Author: Violin Ghost · Races: Men: Steward's
Family · ID: 261
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2008-07-25 03:08:18
I love the stages of Faramir and Boromir's lives that this story takes
us through. I dont know if the warsong is yours or was written by
someone else, but it suits this fiction and our heroes very well. The
last flashback scene had me ready to cry when it was 'interrupted' and
seemed to be light-hearted for a minute before turning serious again.
The last line and the one before that were as close to perfect as you
could get. Great ending to a great short story.

Title: The Nag · Author: celticbard · Races: Men: Steward's Family ·
ID: 347
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2008-07-25 03:08:53
I was expecting a totally different story, but I wasnt disappointed in
what I found. This to me is more reminescent of what we see of the
people of Rohan than what we normally see in Gondor and I appreciated
your putting things in perspecitve. I also liked your original characters.

Title: A Great Cause for Concern · Author: Alassante · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 682
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2008-07-25 03:09:34
This was a sweet story, about a moment in time I hadnt considered in
great detail before. I can understand the entire experience must have
been more than a little disconcerting for Legolas, but at least he was
in good company. I would like to have seen the inital moments between
Gimli and his host to see if the greeting he used was similar to the
one with Eomer in the movie or if Gimli has mellowed, but perhaps that
is best left to the imagination. Great story!

Title: The Search · Author: rhyselle · Genres: Poetry: Late Third Age
· ID: 501
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2008-07-25 03:21:32
Poetry is not my first love, but the way you spoke of Gollum in your
summary intrigued me. I found the 7th and 10th lines especially
perfect for Gollum, but wont quote them here. Very welll done.

Title: Dance of the Deer and Műmak · Author: Nieriel Raina · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 559
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-25 03:37:14
Ah, Nierial--what fitting comparisons for these two styles! I've
written scenes of Dwarves dancing in delight for Aragorn and Arwen's
daughter's birth, and have imagined such dancing as you described,
although I didn't describe it anywhere as fully as you have.

And to win over that particular lady! Ah--what a conquest for our Gimli!

Thank you for such a lovely, delightful tale of such a feast! And love
that those two conspired to get Gimli on his feet!

Title: Loving a Book Lover · Author: Avon · Genres: Romance: Drabbles
· ID: 721
Reviewer: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · 2008-07-25 03:37:45
Spoilers!
I can't be the only reader who found this drabble a little too close
to home for comfort. What can be more annoying than someone trying to
distract you from your book? We have all suffered through the attempts
of friends and family to interrupt our reading, but Faramir has long
ago learned to ignore such interruptions. I love how, in reply to
Eowyn's suggestion that they go for a ride, Faramir mutters "Later"
without even looking up from the page!

But Eowyn has the last word in this delightful drabble. I only wish
that Avon would write more LOTR stories for us.


Title: The Secret of the Wooden Wall · Author: Lily · Genres: Mystery
· ID: 630
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-25 03:59:55
Spoilers!
Ah, mysteries and hauntings in almost forgotten corridors of Brandy
Hall! Paladin Took has become certain someone wishes a particular
corridor opened up again; and after years of being aware there is a
haunting mystery here, he finds his cousin Merimac and Frodo as well
as Pippin also feel there is a need to find out what happened here.

The records for the Hall are consulted, and excavations are begun.

It is fascinating to think on the differences between Frodo's form of
prescience compared to that of the Tooks, and that his awareness of
the haunting is quite different from theirs. And the final breaking
through--the descriptions are delightful, conveying the joy of little
Daisy perfectly.

A wonderful ghost story, and perfect for the Shire!

Title: Orc Talk! · Author: kitt_otter · Genres: Humor: Elven Lands ·
ID: 703
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-25 04:03:56
Such a cute wee-Legolas story. And trust small children to pick up the
very expressions we wish weren't used at all!

Title: Home is where the heart is · Author: Linda hoyland · Genres:
Romance: Drabbles · ID: 505
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-25 04:08:16
Spoilers!
An exquisite and romantic drabble from Lindahoyland's versatile
virtual pen.

The nuances of love and marriage are difficult enough to capture in a
drabble, let alone the love of a newlywed mortal and half-Elf, even if
(particularly if) they reprise the affair of Beren and Luthien.

In this drabble, the reader is immediately treated to a beautiful
image of dancers resembling wind-swirled flowers, and then shown the
dichotomy between Arwen's wistful memories of her flower-bedecked past
surroundings and the barren, arid [desert of stone] in Minas Tirith,
the City where she has come as a bride. I like the reference to Arwen
going barefoot in her former home; it reprises her and Aragorn's
golden season in Lorien, especially when they walked barefoot on the
grass and flowers of Cerin Amroth in midsummer and plighted their troth.

What saves her from further sorrow, and perhaps a taste of Finduilas'
fate, is Arwen's connection with her husband. Tolkien has said that
Elven lovers bond entirely, soul and body; and the force of Arwen's
connection to her husband in this drabble reinforces that concept.

Good use of contrasts in the frost and heat metaphors.

This is one of Linda's best short pieces; a beautiful and haunting
vignette, with maximum pathos and romance evoked in a hundred words.





Title: The Importance of Being Bilbo · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Non-Fiction: Character Studies · ID: 686
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-25 04:30:11
Spoilers!
An excellent essay about Bilbo Baggins, his story, his background, the
gaps that could be filled by fanfiction. Dreamflower's pointing out
the similarities in plot between The Hobbit and LOTR was a revelation
- I had remembered the Eagles' role in both, but the other parallels
never occurred to me.

Of course, Dreamflower is right - Bilbo is a fascinating character in
his own right. It is indeed a shame that there is not more
Bilbo-centric fanfiction!

Well-reasoned; and a delight to read.

Title: Loss · Author: SurgicalSteel · Genres: Drama: Hurt/Comfort ·
ID: 196
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-25 06:32:38
Spoilers!
A heartrending story about the dangers of childbirth in Middle-earth
and it seemed that not all the midwives were very well trained.I
remember being told a true story about a midwife in the 1940's who
saved a bleeding patient with ice and the baby lived too.Here, the
outcome was unfortunately sadder,but at least Halbarad manages to save
his wife and his love for her is well depicted.

Title: Of Dreams... · Author: Avon · Races: Men: General Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 7
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-25 06:44:36
Spoilers!
A very perceptive look into Aragorn's character. I agree with the
author that Aragorn does not dream of power,but rather the simple
things of life.His desire to be king is rooted in a wish to do good
and marry Arwen.

Aragorn,though does not shirk responsibilty and will take up The sword
of the King now that the time has come.

A very poetic drabble with clever use of language.

Title: Out of Memory and Time · Author: Shireling · Genres: Drama:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 136
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-25 06:58:12
Spoilers!
This story had me gripped from start to finish.The beginning intrigues
when a badly tortured man is rescued by a caring ship's crew. The
action then switches to familiar characters and a great tragedy for
Gondor before returning to the central story of the badly injured man.
I especially enjoyed the warm friendship between Faramir and Aragorn
in this story and only wish it had been Aragorn who was the main
comfort figure in this story, but suppose were that so,it would have
been less original.This was a real page turner and the writer is a
highly gifted storyteller, though my view of Faramir differs somewhat,
I was still enthralled by the story.

Title: Seven Stones and Seven Stars and One White Tree · Author:
shirebound · Races: Other Beings · ID: 121
Reviewer: Inkling · 2008-07-25 07:02:22
Lovely, lyrical, and highly original, this story uses the wonderful
line from Gandalf's Rhyme of Lore as a springboard for presenting the
unusual perspectives of three elements of Tolkien's living
Middle-earth, each expressing a sense of change that builds throughout
from possibility to certainty.

I especially like Shirebound's interpretation of "Seven Stars," which
in the original rhyme refers to the heavenly variety. But as that
wouldn't fit the theme of this story, how clever to give voice instead
to the earth-bound "sun-stars" of Lorien.

I love that we have an Other Beings category now to showcase stories
like this!



Title: The King's Surgeon · Author: SurgicalSteel · Genres: Longer
Works · ID: 90
Reviewer: NeumeIndil · 2008-07-25 08:15:15
Spoilers!
Oh my GAWD she's HILARIOUS! ["I'll kick your butt so high between your
shoulder blades you'll walk crooked for the rest of your natural
days."] I love the invective that she can come up with so quickly and
passionately and potently. I love even more that she'll use it on
whomever she sees fit, whenever she sees fit to do so. But, as though
this weren't enough, her letters to the Steward are just the sort of
move that only the boldest woman in her situation would make... and
her letters to everyone else define her as something far more than her
students would think.

While reading this story, I managed to soak 3 shirt sleeves with tears
and make uncounted laughter-induced emergency runs to the bathroom. So
very well done.

Title: The Sky Is Over · Author: Robinka · Races: Elves: Drabbles · ID: 83
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-25 08:46:56
A truly chilling and very well written drabble .What must it have been
like to live through such dark days without hope?This drabble provides
a clue.

Title: My Sword Weeps · Author: agape4gondor · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Boromir or Faramir · ID: 316
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-25 08:52:56
This is the second in agape's AU "Sword" series and continues where
["My Sword Sings"] left off. Gondor is still reeling from the deaths
of Denethor and Boromir and little Faramir is catatonic, overcome by
grief and what appears to be a spell laid upon him by his enemies.
Indis, Faramir's aunt and regent, having heard of a legendary healer
somewhere in the north, devises a desperate plan to save her nephew in
spite of the misgivings of her friends and advisors.

Meanwhile, Aragorn, having been apprised of what has happened, rushes
towards Gondor in the hopes that he will be able to help save one whom
he greatly cares for, for Faramir is his Steward until such time as he
is ready to claim the throne as King.

In a race against time and the machinations of Gondor's enemies, two
people set out from opposite ends of Middle-earth for the sake of a
small child, a child who will someday play an important role in the
history of Middle-earth - if he survives.

This is a wonderful tale full of suspense and some surprises along the
way. If you enjoyed agape's first "Sword" story you will enjoy this
one and if you've never read the series before, you're in for a treat,
but make sure you read the first story or much of this one will make
no sense.

Title: Galdor: An Elf By Any Other Name.... · Author: Marta · Genres:
Non-Fiction: Character Studies · ID: 475
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-25 08:55:42
Galdor of the Grey Havens has much in common with Glorfindel – little
is explicitly said about either in LOTR. Yet, further exploration of
Tolkien's works reveal the possibilty of something more, something
deeper about these characters than first meets the eye.

In this look at one of Tolkien's minor characters whom most readers
might dismiss as unimportant. Marta shows that a more careful look at
what Tolkien wrote about this particular Elf gives us a glimpse of
someone who might be more important (and therefore more interesting)
than we first thought. I know that when I first read "The Council of
Elrond" I wondered just who this Elf was and why he was there. Marta's
exploration of the character and his history has opened up a whole new
world for me, giving me a richer appreciation of Galdor and his role
in the long history of Middle-earth.

Title: In absentia · Author: Robinka · Races: Elves: House of Finwe ·
ID: 84
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-25 08:58:15
I don't usually read Simarillion stories but I am glad I chose to
sample this as it is very dramatic,powerful and moving. I find it very
plausible that Maedhros could be brought to the edge of madness by his
ordeal. Fingon's anger,grief and devotion towards his cousin is deeply
moving.This is very well written.

Title: Out of Memory and Time · Author: Shireling · Genres: Drama:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 136
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-25 09:00:09
The crew of the Grey Swan, a trading ship under the patronage of the
Prince of Dol Amroth, pulls a body out of the Anduin only to discover
that the man is still alive. There is evidence of him having been put
to extreme torture and there is little hope that he will live, yet
against all odds he survives. The crew call him Min (short for
Minnow), not knowing what else to call him, for when he finally
recovers, it is to learn that he is deaf and has lost his memory.

Far away in Ithilien, Faramir, with a small troop of Rangers, rides in
pursuit of outlaws who have struck down Aragorn while the King happens
to be visiting the Prince in the field. What follows from that leads
to a devastating tragedy from which Gondor might never recover.

How these two events are connected and how the mystery of Min's
identity is resolved makes for a tautly written story of adventure and
suspense, of the seeming capriciousness of fate and the mysterious
workings of the Valar as Min travels from the Grey Swan to the Grey
Havens in search of peace, if not for answers, only in the end to find
that one cannot achieve the former without first reaching for the latter.

In spite of some flaws of a typographical nature - misspellings mostly
– this is a well-thought out tale that has you clicking "next" well
past one's bedtime.

Title: Twentynine White Horses · Author: Jael · Races: Elves: Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 557
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-25 09:30:16
An amusing look at that age-old question - What happens to Elves who
lose a tooth? Legolas and Thranduil's relationship is nicely drawn
here and one can sense the love and respect they both have for one
another.I liked the little "gift" that Legolas discovers under his
pillow and the story behind it. A lovely father-and-son-bonding tale.

Title: Shadow King · Author: Claudia · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Angst/Tragedy · ID: 227
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-25 12:02:36
What a truly horrific version of "what if"!

It is particularly effective because it uses images and expectations
from the true canon events and twists them around, reminding us just
how narrow the edge was on which the Quest managed to succeed despite
all the odds against it.

I kept gritting my teeth as the story unfolded, it was so painful to
read the reversal of what "normally" was such a supreme moment of
triumph and hope and celebration. The fear and utter desolation was
palpable.

Aragorn's characterisation rings chillingly true, (ab)using his
strengths and virtues tainted under the influence of the evil of the
Ring. It perfectly embodies Legolas' assertion in RotK, The Last
Debate ["how great and terrible a Lord he might have become in the
strength of his will, had he taken the Ring to himself."].

And still Frodo in his despair longs for the Ring, another point for pity.

Given my interest in stories about the White Tree(s), I was intrigued
by how much even the canonical fact of the barren tree can be changed
that it seems not just a sad reflection of the slow decline of Gondor
through the millenia, but a specifically blatant example of the
desecration of all that is good.

Title: Eight Weeks · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 273
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-25 13:28:33
An amusing look at life in the Steward's household. I like this
exploration of the relationship among Denethor's family which shows a
lighter side than we so often see; and in particular a scenario in
which - unusually - Denethor sides with Faramir against his favourite
son. The ploys to get Boromir to get rid of that beard are sneaky and
inventive, appropriate for those two cunning men.

The drabble series is structured very well: each drabble standing on
its own, but building on each other in such a way that a continuing
plot arc is created and the humour accumulates until the final drabble .

The snappy, vivid dialogue helps to maintain the brisk pace. I like
the small but eloquent details that are tucked into the narrative,
painting a picture of the daily life and routine of the
Captain-General when he is not in the field, as well as life and
concerns of the reigning family of Gondor.

There are so many wonderful lines in this series, but one of my
favourites is this one: ["Look, Cirdan has a beard..."], because you
can almost hear Boromir's exasperation (and desperation?).

Title: Summer Nights · Author: Marta · Races: Men: Gondor Drabbles ·
ID: 344
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-25 14:42:24
Spoilers!
The drabble very palpably evokes the feeling of the stillness of the
summer setting, the sultry air, the shimmering heat, the relief when
the arrival of evening brings the longed-for relief from the
relentlessly-burning sun, the long waiting for the long-awaited war to
begin in eanest.

It's an unusual way to realise the premise of the entry in the Tale of
Years, ["Sauron attacks Osgiliath"], because rather than concentrating
on the actual battle, it focusses on the preparation, and on the
events leading up to, widening the scope.

I like the way the battle begins so desultorily, with an element of
randomness.

Title: Gently Held · Author: viv · Genres: Romance: Other Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 6
Reviewer: nau_tika · 2008-07-25 15:55:49
Short, but sweet. I haven't given much thought to this topic, but if I
had, I would not made the same choice you did, though I like it. The
wording was impressive, too. Well done.