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Title: Collecting Hearts I, II, III & VI · Author: Elen Kortirion ·
Times: Multi-Age: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 516
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-29 20:36:15
A marvelous short series of drabbles that comes full circle from
pretending to teach the game to one to teaching a small child, all
centered about cards and their suits. Love the connections made
between the deck used by the Edain to play games and the tarot used to
foretell. A very powerful, angsty, and in the end hopeful series.

Title: Fennas Haradren · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Adventure · ID: 280
Reviewer: agape4gondor · 2008-07-29 21:19:55
Linaewen's tales have a tendency to make me feel like I am sitting on
a comfy settle with a glass of wine in my hand with Boromir listening
at my feet as I read. Ah - life is good!

This tale is no exception. The scenery/locations are done lovingly.
They neither distract nor overshadow the tale itself, yet are enough -
just enough - to make the reader know where Boromir is and revel in
the feel of Ithilien.

This mystery revolves around a secret garrison, deep in Southern
Ithilien. Boromir is sent to unravel a riddle... and in the midst of
it all, we are privileged to see what a doughty man he truly is, how
he commands those under him, his intelligence, and his compassion.

I loved the first line and from there just enjoyed phrases, incidents,
tender moments as I went from respect to shivers to laughter. There
were even a couple Yikes!

If you are a Boromir fan/lover/attendee, you will enjoy this. If you
are not, you will still enjoy the mystery, the scenery, the
sounds/smells/feel of men, unimagined horror, and the solving of the
riddle. I think you will thoroughly enjoy this tale.

My favorite part is the end - when Linaewen explains a certain moment
in a certain movie in a certain Dwarven cavern.

Delightful tale.



Title: Yrch Song · Author: Phyncke · Genres: Poetry · ID: 564
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-29 22:46:30
A very amusing interpretation of what the Orcs might use as a marching
song.

Title: Temptation · Author: Princess Artemis · Genres: Poetry · ID: 416
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-29 23:06:48
An entertaining look at the One Ring's thoughts abiut the various
people who own it or encounter it.Enjoyable and thought provoking.

Title: Wedding Nerves · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Times: Late Third
Age: Gondor · ID: 48
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-29 23:14:13
Spoilers!
We know how much Aragorn desired to wed Arwen,but what happened when
the big day finally came? It would not surprise me at all if Aragorn
felt a little apprehensive as he does in this delightful story,which I
had the honour of having written for me on my birthday.
Luckily for Aragorn ,his foster brothers are at hand to help just as
he wishes he could simply elpe with his bride.
It is bad enough for the average bridegroom wearing the standard top
hat and tails, but poor Aragorn has to contend with an army of
courtiers all offering conflicting advice what he should wear.
Elladan and Elrohin help to solve the problem and by clever use of
humour,calm the nervous bridegroom and have him clad in fit fashion to
wed their sister.
A most enjoyable story well worth reading.

Title: The Last Throw · Author: nau_tika · Genres: Drama · ID: 556
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-29 23:23:50
Spoilers!
This story uses the interesting idea to show the events leading to
Sauron's downfall in the film version through the eyes of a soldier as
he tells his wife and children about his adventures.
I found it fascinating to see these great events from another
viewpoint including the beheading of the Mouth of Sauron which made me
cringe as out of character for Aragorn when I watched the DVD.
I agree with the soldier that Aragorn's speech would have been
inspiring to listen to.It reminded me of Queen Elizabeth I at Tilbury
when I heard it.
The writer captures well the dread of the long march and the fear and
confusion at the destruction of the RIng,joy came later and poses
thought provoking questions about the narow escape the people of
Middle-earth experienced.

Title: A Great Cause for Concern · Author: Alassante · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 682
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-29 23:31:16
I often wondered what happened when Legolas turned up in the Undying
Lands with Gimli.This story answers the question in a most agreeable
fashion. I always asume that the ship would have foundered had Gimli
not been allowed.
I especially enjoyed the idea that Aule would have wanted to meet his
child and that Galadriel would speak on Gimli's behalf. I personally
believe it was she who begged the Valar that Gimli be allowed to come.
A most interesting and enjoyable story very well told.

Title: Gone Amiss · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama: Ring War
Drabbles · ID: 44
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 01:51:35
Spoilers!
One gets a clear sense of the shock of Parth Galen in this drabble,
where indeed, 'gone amiss' is almost the only thing to be said, and
that an understatement. This is captured well in the second line:

[ That so mighty a man had so quietly smiled, paled and died strained
Aragorn's belief.]

And filling up the margins of incomprehension, the question of what to
tell the father takes on an ominous cast with but the mention of
Denethor's name.

Title: Eagle of the Star · Author: alex_quine · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Aragorn · ID: 152
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 01:51:46
Spoilers!
Denethor/Thorongil slash always strikes me as trying to hold together
two immensely powerful watch dogs that could be friends, but could
also turn to tear each other to shreds without much warning. Tolkien
very deliberately puts Denethor forward as comparable on a number of
levels to Aragorn - he would have to be, for there truly to be a
rivalry, even if a one-sided one. This can make the two of them hard
to control when it comes to writing them as lovers, because there's
this competitive, power element that doesn't let itself lodge in the
background. Then there's the Ecthelion factor, which has always to be
handled somehow. One way of handling all this is to jump right in and
go for the dark, unhappy rivalry - always a choice I can enjoy.

However, Alex Quine goes a different route, and does it very
convincingly in terms of retaining the essentially public character of
these three men - they all serve Gondor - while restraining the
rivalry between Thorongil and Denethor. She does this without making
Denethor into less than a sharp, strong man, but he and Thorongil are
both young, though Thorongil's experience belies his age and between
Ecthelion's protectiveness of his less experienced heir and his
reliance on Thorongil, Denethor is reaching a point where he's being
underused. He hasn't yet reached the point of being bitter about it,
but he is slightly jealous, and jealousy here plays out not in the
realm of policy (the opposition over Mithrandir and Umbar is
eliminated), but in the bedroom. There Denethor has such dominance as
will satisfy him at least for the time, and Thorongil submits out of a
sense of guilt over unintentionally usurping Denethor's place.

Ecthelion's role also shifts here to a very active one, that
reinterprets or recontextualizes Thorongil's departure after Umbar in
an inventive manner, and one that illumines the sense of his
stewardship. It also demosntrates a trust in Thorongil that can't but
make one wonder: just how much does he really know or suspect about
Thorongil, even if he doesn't admit it? The words don't reveal, but
the action is one of those acts that is either foolish or inspired,
and probably even a wizard couldn't tell the difference.

Beyond the excellent handling of three powerful men, the language is
lovely. I particularly liked this description of Thorongil after a
mission: [Just now he stood, patient in his dirt]. Perfect image of a
Ranger just home from the field!

Well done!




Title: Heavens' Embroidered Cloths · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 292
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 01:51:58
Astronomy lovers, or anyone who loves to look up at the night sky
should not miss these little gems!

Tanaqui elegantly unfolds a whole mythos of Middle-earth's
constellations, and then weaves around these little legends, as
occasion and emotional center, the story of an unusual Mettarë gift
from Éowyn to Faramir on their first Yule together: she gives him back
the halls as they had once been decked in the Steward's house, but in
so doing, she gives him back the memory of family that had been in
danger of being lost.

Old ways and new traditions, all seamlessly combined in some hundreds
of eloquent words. Well done, Tanaqui!

Title: The Heart of a Knight · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Drama:
Incomplete · ID: 335
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 01:52:10
Beregond is kind of the rags-to-riches (by way of close brush with
disasters in the plural) story of LOTR: regular soldier, nothing
particularly distinctive about him, and then all of a sudden,
circumstance and character combine to put him in a position to save
the son of the Steward. From there, he shoots up to captain of
Faramir's White Guard rather than being punished for disobeying
orders. It's good to get a story from his perspective on the events
just after the Ring War.

I like that the story does try to focus attention on the fact that
Beregond didn't just disobey orders, he had to kill some of his own
comrades to defend Faramir, and that he admitted that he would regret
most his slaying of the porter in haste. Beregond has to deal with
that guilt in the midst of adjusting to his new station and trying to
settle in with his son and brother again.

Nice job, Imhiriel!

Title: Creation Myths · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: General
Drabbles · ID: 300
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 01:56:46
Spoilers!
Static perfection versus respect for the chaotic 'imperfect' element -
the line of contrast between the creation of the Silmarils and Eä is
drawn early, but it doesn't end there. The generosity of Iluvatar's
deliverance of his creation to others, versus Fëanor's selfish
hoarding drives the point home.

Well done!

Title: No Mercy · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: General Drabbles ·
ID: 443
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-07-30 02:00:19
Spoilers!
This drabble gives new life to the phenomenon that gave birth to the
name for this particular battle. The fire as army is absolutely
without mercy or conscience - something conscious beings, even those
ruined by Morgoth, can only aspire to.

Beautifully done!

Title: The Onion Riddle · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 13
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-30 02:22:22
Spoilers!
This was an unusual and thought provoking story which carries a
valuable moral lesson for the reader not to draw conclusions about
relationships without knowing all the facts.
I loved Beregond here trying so hard to be polite and not put his foot
in matters only to find out that he has done so inadvertently.
It was interesting to encounter a female Dwarf and a pregnant one
too.It seems that they do have some things in common with humans,while
in other ways they are very different to us.
A very well written and unique tale.

Title: One Step More - The Heroism of Frodo Baggins · Author:
ConnieMarie · Genres: Non-Fiction: Character Studies · ID: 395
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-30 02:32:31
Spoilers!
I loved this essay as the points the writer makes about Frodo are the
reasons I love LOTR. Frodo is a hero we can identify with who suffers
and feels and does not engage in empty macho gestures.

I think the point about Hobbits not being afraid to show affection
towards friends could equally well apply to Aragorn, also a brave hero
of a different kind to Frodo.

I liked the author's conclusion that many were afriad to like Frodo as
he suffers in a realistic way and endures in the same way that many of
us do,just trying to do our best.

A very well written essay.

Title: The Myth of the One Ring's Power · Author: Dreamflower ·
Genres: Non-Fiction · ID: 532
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-30 02:42:29
Fascinating thoughts clearly expressed to make a most interesting and
enjoyable essay..
I personally think the fact the idea of the Ring is taken from Norse
myth causes some of the condradictions about it.Gollum is like Fafnir
the giant who turns into a dragon and does nothing but watch the Ring
for endless years.
I have often thought about both Tolkien's and Wagner's use of the same
myth of the magic Ring which promises supreme power but brings only
misery for whoever owns it.
I think the point of myths about magic objects is that it is the
owner's soul that counts,whether it be good or evil.
I enjoyed this essay very much and reccomend it to all thoughtful
readers of LOTR.




Title: A Dainty Dish · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Friendship · ID: 722
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-30 03:36:28
Spoilers!
One of Tolkien's major themes in both THE HOBBIT and LOTR is the union
of different races and cultures in positive endeavors, which entails
the breaking down of suspicion and greater knowledge and
understanding. The hobbits, at least the ones who leave the Shire and
go out into the wide world of Middle-earth, seem often to function
like walking icebreakers; forging new friendships and elucidating old
problems and feuds and knowledge as they travel.

In this post-RingWar story, Linda utililzes this hobbit capability to
advantage. Pippin and Merry's predilection for simpler food than that
which the King's table in Minas Tirith is accustomed to providing
opens up an interesting dialogue between Aragorn, the hobbits, and
Imrahil. The Prince of Dol Amroth, shown here as something of a
martinet, is surprised by the king and the hobbits' shared fondness
for mushrooms, a dish long scorned by the lords of Gondor.

Imrahil's attitude and the hobbits' refreshing counterpoint work as
metaphors for conflict between old traditions and foreign ideas, or
between the aristocratic and the common. It turns out that the reason
for the antipathy of Gondorian lords toward mushrooms is based on fear
and ignorance covered by layers of snobbery.

As written by Linda, Imrahil shows his essential wisdom and courtesy,
and helps bring about a happy ending.

A tasty little story, as homespun and yet colorful as Merry and Pippin
themselves.

Title: Generations · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Drama: Featuring Aragorn
· ID: 508
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-30 03:39:25
This story puts to good use many different juxtapositions: young
Eldarion and his older father, Gondor and Arnor, luxury and frugality,
wartime generation and generation born after Sauron's downfall...

There are carefully-chosen details of description to highlight those
differences, like the two youths primped up while Aragorn comfortably
slouches and smokes. The subject matter of the gap existing between
Eldarion and his father is explored thoughtfully and sensitively, and
it can be tied easily to real-world situations.

What I liked best was the nuanced characterisation of Eldarion:
although he is spoiled, supercilious and fastidiously disdainful
towards the rougher Northern environs/people, he is aware that this is
a flaw on his part, and he not really contemptuous or malicious -
which gives great hope he will mend his ways with time and experience
(and lots of dirt and mud *g*). Beyond that, it is clear that despite
their differences, he and his father have a close and loving relationship.

Title: The Return · Author: Lady Bluejay · Genres: Drama · ID: 167
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-30 03:40:06
An interesting step in introducing the protagonist through the eyes of
a character not further involved in the story; it strenghtens the
contrast between the general celebrating over the victory and
Duinhir's heavy state of mind on returning home.

Duinhir's grief - as father of two fallen sons and as lord over his
decimated people - is palpable, you can sense his bleakness and the
effort it takes to present a collected face to the outside. You can
feel his dread at having to tell his family the news, interspersed
with concern for the future of the land and his folk.

I liked how the reactions of the families are described in an almost
detached, but nonetheless poignant way: the pause as they scan the
arrivals for their loved ones, then either a melting of anxiety, or
the numbness of the initial realisation that the waiting is in vain.

I also like the descriptions of the environment: they paint a picture
that really helps create an impression of living in the Blackroot Vale.

Title: For Our Friends · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Drama · ID: 654
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-30 03:40:42
An engaging gapfiller, bringing the grand, uplifting visual of the
Rohirrim appearing on the rise before Minas Tirith to a personal
level. Merry's mingled feelings of anxiety and anticipation is
conveyed well.

Title: A Woman in Few Words: The Character of Nerdanel and Her
Treatment in Canon and Fandom · Author: Dawn Felagund · Genres:
Non-Fiction: Character Studies · ID: 107
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-30 05:04:32
I can certainly appreciate the attraction of Nerdanel, and have
written my own stories concerning her, which considering I write
primarily Fellowship fiction indicates she is one who captures the
imaginations of many of us.

Very thoughtful piece of research here.

Title: The Houseless · Author: Jael · Genres: Horror · ID: 178
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-30 05:37:26
A marvelous ghost story, and one perfect for Mirkwood. Poor
Legolas--frightened by ghost stories as a child, and now apparently
meeting such a houseless one as a young adult!

The atmosphere is perfect, as is Greywing's illustration.

Title: If I Had One Wish · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Finwe · ID: 658
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-07-30 05:43:50
Ah, but we are all haunted by "if-onlies," and the lady Indis is no
different as she imagines what ought to have been. Hauntingly, gently
lovely.

Title: Concerning Walls · Author: Larner · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Frodo and Faramir · ID: 112
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-07-30 05:47:59
Spoilers!
A lovely thought provoking story which will answer the question many
readers have concerning what would would Frodo and Faramir have to say
to each other when they met again and what did they think.

Faramir most immediately notices that Frodo still wears his grey cloak
over the fine clothes Aragorn has ordered for him, which is typical of
his humility.I personally think the text is open to interpretation
whether Frodo throws all his Orc clothing away,or simply the armour.
Faramir can see how much Frodo has suffered,being a very perceptive man.

I like the way the link concerning how they both wish for a better
world is depicted, which led them to make great sacrifices during the
war. Faramir will see the lands blossom, anew,while FRodo's time on
Middle-earth is limited.

I loved the idea of Frodo and faramir sitting on a wall chatting about
their respective homelands and experiences.



Title: Legolas in Mandos · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Drama: Featuring
Aragorn · ID: 317
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-30 05:58:33
The story is carefully balanced between drama and humour. Considering
that the subject matter is death, the humour, in particular, is very
welcome and somehow poignant.

Námo's characterisation is wonderful (as ever in Fiondil's stories):
engaging, mischievous, compassionate, yet commanding and powerful.

Despite the fact that the readers "knew" how the outcome of the story
had to be (as this was no AU), Fiondil managed to build real tension.