Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Deliverance · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Men: Gondor Drabbles ·
ID: 285
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-28 07:14:16
Spoilers!
It's been a time since I read this drabble, and I find I still
consider it one of the best Imhiriel has written. We seek the
ineffible--and this one through his perseverence--and faith--as well
as his personal sacrifice, has perhaps not seen the land after which
his ancestors sought, but still has received sufficient signs to
restore estel to his heart. We feel the signs of the Man's endurance
of trial, and delight at what he finds as he stands on the remains of
what had been one of the holiest of places in all lands granted to
Mortals.

Title: A Race, To Be Like Me · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Elves:
Drabbles · ID: 375
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-28 07:34:38
Spoilers!
Feanor stands at the center of the turmoil he has sparked, glad his
sons seek to follow him--not yet appreciating what he has wrought,
much less his own fate.

I see him in my mind's eye, a black sky, but the surrounding buildings
and ships and perhaps distant clouds mirroring the orange of the
flames as the Teleri ships burn, his partially lit and partially in
shadow, his sword raised in defiance. Alas such happened.

Title: Mournful Fords · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Drama: Ring War
Drabbles · ID: 368
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-28 07:39:31
This is a solemn drabble, and one in which the regret expressed is so
appropriate to the character displayed. A wonderful brief meditation
on how easily we can be lost.

Title: Unwilling · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Elves: Drabbles · ID: 64
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:25:51
Spoilers!
Heart-rending, so much feeling, so many images sketched in so few
words. Masterful power of description.

[Men rushing by the solitary, gnarled yew overlooked the single
dewdrop that clung, trembling, to the tip of a twig.]

Title: Renewal · Author: Elena Tiriel · Times: Late Third Age: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 208
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:30:25
This is a drabble? It cannot be! There is so much here, surely it is a
longer work... But no. Hard to comprehend that it is a mere 100 words,
but written with skill and astonishing economy of keystroke, striking
the reader as more poetry than prose. The italicized words, all active
verbs, add an urgency and force of life to the voice of the speaker.
Unusual POV, very effective.

Title: There shall be Mirth at our Meeting · Author: Imhiriel ·
Genres: Humor: Drabbles · ID: 377
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:35:32
This ficlet left me laughing in delight. In the space of 100 words you
sketch your characters so completely, I have the feeling of reading a
much longer work. I feel I almost know the two women in the scene, and
it is nice to hear a moment of laughter in a long span of ceaseless
labour. I love the title, poetic and descriptive in one! I was also
glad of the author notes; they bring added depth and appreciation to
the reading.

Title: Return of the King · Author: Imhiriel · Races: Men: General
Drabbles · ID: 355
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:37:30
I'm not very familiar with this time in M-e history, having read only
JRRT's descriptions but no fanfic set in this time, but you make me
want to read more.

Title: Taking Roots · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Romance: Drabbles ·
ID: 367
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:41:07
Oh, I *like* this picture of Galadriel. In LOTR we see her so, um,
world-weary is not the word I want, but "experienced" is not quite
what I want either, and this is something new, and yet perfectly
imaginable. The emotion in the piece is well-suited to the idea of the
"very first".

Title: Last Stroke · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Drabbles · ID: 465
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 15:49:54
This gave me shivers. I am so glad it did not happen this way.

Title: Fennas Haradren · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Adventure · ID: 280
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-28 16:10:31
A very intriguing and plausible premise, executed to a story with an
engrossing mystery.

The history and background of this hidden outpost in Southern Ithilien
is woven so naturally into the narrative that it seems like
realisation of some canoncial fact that Tolkien just never had the
time to spell out.

The landscape is described extraordinarily well, so that you can
totally see in your mind's eye the lay of the land, geographical
features, and the nature that helps conceal the soldiers.

Linaewen has a knack for portraying Boromir pre-quest, extrapolating
from the hints Tolkien gave to present him as the caring, gifted and
competent Captain-General he must have been before he set out on his
search for the answers to a riddle which changed him so profoundly to
his ultimated downfall.

Title: Homecoming · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 706
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-28 16:15:28
Oh, if only...! This short AU gives us a glimpse of what might have
been if Boromir had lived to return to his beloved city, and to those
he loves.

It is as if this AU facet, as well as the original facts Isabeau has
created for her personal universe, are slipped in stealthily into the
canon scene, expanding it cleverly.

The emotions, understated as they were, were nevertheless powerful.
Boromir's distraught state comes through clearly, and his profound
relief and wonder at being able to embrace Andrahar.

What I liked best were the tiny details that make us see the
characters, and in particular let us see the deep love between Boromir
and Andra, that Boromir remembers the most intimate, personal quirks
of his lover.

Title: Of Old It Was Not Darksome · Author: EdorasLass · Races:
Dwarves · ID: 70
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-28 16:17:50
Spoilers!
A wonderful gapfiller and expansion of both book- and movie-verse. The
language and the mood it evokes is elegiac and reverent.

I admit I was really curious about what could this bundle of cloth
could be, having never before noticed that apparently Boromir lost his
cloak in Moria.

I remember some stories exploring the idea of Faramir having made
Boromir's magnificent cloak, which here adds sad poignancy when the
theme of the story is remembrance and the ties of kinship.

How appropriate and moving that on the day the Dwarves mourn their
fallen, Boromir, another hero, but from a different race, is honoured
likewise. And in this room, where - according to what we could see on
the screen - he in turn had comforted Gimli on the last foray into
Moria during the Quest.

Title: For What I Wait · Author: Dawn Felagund · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Angst/Tragedy · ID: 125
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-28 16:42:54
Intense and sorrowful AU-look at Maglor after he has been left the
sole surviving son of Fëanor, and his deteriorating state of mind.

It's painful to watch Fëaor here actually witnessing what happens with
his last surviving son; and, as he tells in the story, Maedhros'
ending, as well. Maglor seems to have lost all moorings to life and
reality after Maedhro's end.

I loved this sentence, describing Maglor's weakening voice: ["It
trembled like moonlight on the water or stars beneath a haze or a body
spent in passion."]

Title: Seaworthy · Author: Thundera Tiger · Races: Elves: Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 349
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-28 18:07:10
Spoilers!
Evocative, lovingly-detailed description of the ship. The careful
attention that is paid to certain features of the ship, including
sound and movement, seem to make it a living presence in the story,
entirely appropriate for the importance it has for Legolas, and for
the subject matter in his discussion with Imrahil.

I loved the way Imrahil proves so insightful and wise about the ways
of the sea and Legolas' inner struggle between his sea-longing and his
desire to remain with his friends. He helps Legolas to acknowledge his
own ambiguity and the peril that might result from his indecisiveness.
And this, in turn, leads us to conclude, very plausibly, was the
canonical reason he tarried until after Aragorn - the most long-lived
of his mortal friends - had passed away until he left Middle-earth.

Title: Care to Ride My Hot-Rod Fell Beast? · Author: viv · Genres:
Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 180
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-07-28 18:47:50
Weird, strange, and yet oddly readable, even spawning a nod and smirk,
or two. But that's what you intended, wasn't it?

Title: Aulë the Smith · Author: Oshun · Genres: Non-Fiction: Character
Studies · ID: 530
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-28 21:07:33
Spoilers!
Oshun writes a comprehensive and illuminating essay about Aule, the
Smith of the Valar, and, it seems, one of the few intellectuals in the
bunch.

Tolkien sometimes seems to have a love-hate relationship with the
importance and value of knowledge - he respects characters who have a
love of learning in various forms - Feanor, Galadriel, Celeborn,
Elrond, some Numenoreans, Denethor, Faramir, and most definitely Bilbo
and Frodo - but lays out object lessons in the lives of Saruman,
Sauron, as well as Feanor and Denethor, all of whom were to some
extent lovers of lore. Oshun lays out the parameters of Aule's
function, role and

Aule seems to be the most skilled of the Valar, the most likely to try
new things, and the most successful (at least in terms of notable
pupils) teacher. Oshun lays out the parameters of the Smith's
personality, role, functions, and extensive influence, and the
fascinating differences and similarities between Aule and Melkor. I
never realized, until I read this essay, that Aule was a great
illustration of what Tolkien and I believe is the best and noblest
kind of scientist - one who has compassion, and who knows when to
encourage experimentation/discovery/craft and when to set limits.

An excellent essay on an often overlooked, but extremely influential
and powerful character.

Title: Arvedui v. Pelendur · Author: Roh Wyn · Genres: Non-Fiction ·
ID: 277
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-28 21:11:31
Spoilers!
This is an excellent essay on the legal arguments and justification
for Faramir's declaring that the Heir of Isildur should reclaim the
throne from which Aragorn's ancestor Arvedui was kept by the arguments
of Faramir's ancestor Pelendur.

Roh wyn, who is a marvelous legal scholar in both Middle-earth of the
Third Age and our own place and time, applies sound legal reasoning to
the problem. She might be the first fan writer to prove, at least to
me, that both Steward Pelendur and Steward Faramir made legally sound
decisions, but decisions that were consonant rather than dissonant.

A clear and cogent and downright fascinating essay!

Title: Summer Heat · Author: chaotic_binky · Times: Modern Times · ID: 363
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 21:35:43
What can I say about Summer Heat without giving away the entire story?
Well, it's Glorfindel and Erestor in modern times, as the summary
says, in a good old fashioned private eye yarn. Think 'Mickey
Spillane'. There's Glorfindel, been around a long time, older than
dirt in fact, earning a living by taking on the kind of cases sensible
people leave alone. And there's Erestor, beautiful, in big trouble,
desperately in need of help. Sound familiar? But of course it's not as
simple nor as predictable as that. The story follows a trail of mayhem
and destruction while at the same time introducing us to the events of
the past and explaining the finer nuances of the `relationship'
between the two main characters – and yes, I deliberately chose to
place `relationship' in inverted commas, because it really is a
dysfunctional thing at best… rather like Erestor, actually, who is –
quite a piece of work.

The flashbacks to the past and the unravelling of the present mess
wrap round the story of Erestor and why he is the way he is, his
prospects for any kind of a future, and the almost impossible
questions it all raises for Glorfindel who has to decide if he should
take a chance and trust the untrustable (is there such a word?) once
again.

Finally – having got this far without giving away anything much of
this really well-crafted and at times gripping story – a comment on
style. The writer's confidence in writing within the film noir genre
is absolute, and she manages to somehow blend modern day elves and a
past ages love story (love story?) flawlessly into it. An unlikely
tale as the summary implies, not for anyone who is unhappy with an AU
type of setting and approach, but other than that – the writer does
her job brilliantly, and her job as she sees it is to entertain.

Does something in all this suggest I love this story?


Title: Blue · Author: red lasbelin · Races: Elves · ID: 563
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 22:03:31
I think this is what fan fiction in its purest form should be – a look
around a corner, a window briefly opened into a heart, everything in
the place made for it in canon but brought warmly, poignantly alive.
This isn't quite a character study, because that suggests something
more formal and analytical, but it tells us exactly who Glorfindel is
in the hour before being invested as Lord of the House of the Golden
Flower. We watch him getting ready for the formal event arranged for
him, and we follow his thoughts, his memories, his uncertainties, and
see his responses to this honour which in reality is a very mixed
blessing.

Sometimes we forget that to inherit a title, someone has to die.
Amongst mortals, two sons in line for a title is a good thing – I'm
reminded of the late Princess Diana joking about the `heir and spare'.
Elves though are eternal beings, the need for an heir should be no
more than a nice reassurance in case a stand in is required now and
again. Glorfindel never thought he would get to this place. He comes
across as a young, warm, sweet-natured and rather serious elf, who
loved his father and adored his big brother. He never imagined a life
where they are not. On top of this grief, he has the ongoing sadness
of his lady mother, an elf woman who has buried husband and son, and
whose gentle spirit is possibly not long for this world either. Red's
Glorfindel seems very much his mother's son actually – she has the
same `feel' to her, the same goodness of heart.

I am hoping the writer will continue with the story behind the story
that we catch glimpses of here. I would love to meet Glorfindel's
father and brother, learn their stories, understand how Glorfindel
ended up dressing in these unfamiliar clothes in preparation for this
next stage in his life.


Title: In Dreams · Author: Phyncke · Genres: Romance: Elven Lands ·
ID: 609
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 22:13:28
I'm always very fond of stories about the elves finally crossing the
sea to return home – though in many cases `home' is more of a generic
term, not a reality to those born on this side of the divide. But
that's a story for another day, of course. An unusual pairing, one
that I admit would never have occurred to me, and some very nice
descriptions all round. I found Erestor and Elrond interesting in that
setting. Nicely done.

Title: The Otters of Imladris · Author: chaotic_binky · Genres: Humor:
Elven Lands · ID: 491
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 22:41:17
What on earth can I say about this story that will do it justice? When
I originally found it, I read the summary and decided to give it a try
purely because I know the writer loves trying a variety of styles and
a fic swap can produce some -- interesting results. What I found was
the ultimate feel-good story, one that I go back to whenever I am
feeling depressed and in need of a lift. And it never fails me, I
cannot read The Otters without a smile plastering itself on my face
and a warm feeling soaking away the tensions of the day.

It's a deceptively simple story – Erestor and Haldir are married, they
find a baby otter whose mother has almost certainly been killed, so
they take it back to the Last Homely House and raise it. And, as wild
animals do, the time comes when he feels the call of his kind. What
makes this absolutely irresistible are the characters and the
settings. Erestor is completely other than the normal fanon
representation. He is sweet and warm, deeply in love with his mate,
but can be both sensible and firm too. Haldir is just perfect for him
– funny and warm, practical and wise. How they go about raising their
unlikely charge while at the same time learning about one another is
gorgeous – you want them to go adopt a whole bunch of orphans after
reading this.

The writer is far too clever to hit her reader over the head with a
lecture on conservation, of course, and she lets the theme of her
story speak for itself, which it does – most eloquently. The horror of
man's lack of respect for the natural world is coldly underscored, and
the best approach to raising a wild creature and the pros and cons of
returning it to its natural habitat are here, but not in an
in-your-face way, which makes the underlying message all the more
effective..

If you're uncertain about the slash element, give it a chance anyway,
because it's such a gorgeously loving relationship. All round, a
magically feel good story.



Title: Painting a Golden Light · Author: chaotic_binky · Genres:
Drama: Featuring the Noldor · ID: 364
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 23:26:03
A fascinating and I suspect unique picture of elves in modern times.
The story starts off during the Battle of the Somme, with Erestor
serving as a military artist in the front line, the forerunner of the
official photographer. When his luck finally runs out and he is
wounded, Binky introduces us to the early twentieth century's view on
post traumatic stress disorder and the attitude to the sufferers,
mainly regarded as cowards and malingerers.

The story then moves to the little English village of St Michael's
Leap and the ladies who make up its gossipy, competitive social
circle. I loved every one of them, they were exactly like my aunty
Margaret and her friends - I could see and hear them. And of course,
having two celebrities in their little community – an explorer and a
war hero/artist - is a huge event. This part of the story explores
Erestor's mental disorder, Glorfindel's loving but determined efforts
to heal his soul mate's damaged psyche, and Erestor's attempts to take
refuge in his art, and to turn his skill to painting the perfect
golden light.

The descriptions of sleepy village life are masterful, as are the
simple but very telling reminders of the intense prejudice against
anything hinting at an `unhealthy interest' in a member of the same
gender back in a time when homosexuality was illegal. Erestor and
Glorfindel take great care to avoid any suspicion that their
relationship is anything other than that of familial fondness, even
alone in their cottage they're careful.

There are twists regarding Erestor's hallucinations and the very
nature of war itself, which I won't divulge. At the end, there is a
sea voyage on one of the great liners, complete with wonderful
descriptions based on meticulous research, and an ending that is
little short of perfect. Can't say more about it here though, except
that yes, they finally hear the call home. The final parts, the
newspaper obituary, the old photographs, and the utterly gorgeous
epilogue round it off masterfully. A wonderful story, truly painted in
a golden light.


Title: Solid Frodo: Hobbit Espionage Action · Author: Princess Artemis
· Times: Modern Times · ID: 413
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2008-07-28 23:36:45
I just happened to see a review of this story the other night and
thought it sounded very interesting, so I rushed right over to check
it out. It took me most of the weekend, but was it ever worth it. This
was great fun to read, and I really want to see it finished.

I have always liked AU stories and crossovers, and this fulfilled both
those delights. I was totally able to accept modernisms in speech and
other things because it works in the context of this tale.

I think my favorite thing, being a big Pippin fan, was that Pippin,
while inpulsive and cheeky, is portrayed as very bright and capable.
He is not just an extra hobbit there to round out the number. He's
very valuable to the plot and solves many of their problems. For some
reason the image of him as a sniper just makes me smile.

Yes this is a humorous story but there are darker moments as well and
the author handles them with great skill.

All the characters in this story are very well written. I can hear
their voices quite clearly.

I really hope the author decides to finish this one. It is a ripping
good read.

Title: Sunset Gates · Author: Ignoble Bard · Races: Dwarves: Drabbles
· ID: 342
Reviewer: Keiliss · 2008-07-28 23:53:18

Heh. This is not an easy thing to review. Even with a spoiler warning,
it wold not be an easy thing to review. Gimli, finally, on that
journey over the sea to the next stage of his life. Very well
described, very evocative. Can see the ship, hear the gulls, the rush
of the waves. Gimli's future is one of my favourite potential side
threads that shines amongst the high drama of the Lord of the Rings
and its aftermath. I was so eager to see that final meeting.

And – yes, we do get to witness it. My first thought was how lovely it
was of her to be waiting to welcome him. *giggles*.



Title: The Dark One · Author: NeumeIndil · Genres: Drama · ID: 411
Reviewer: SurgicalSteel · 2008-07-28 23:56:09
Wow, where to start? I really enjoyed this very much! The two original
characters: Morwen, the prostitute from Gondor, and Gamling, her
Rohirric lover - they're both incredibly engaging, well-rounded, and
feel like real people. The tenseness over Edoras as war is about to
break out is always in the background, an almost-palpable thing.
Really, really well done!