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Title: Homecoming · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 706
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2008-08-12 00:44:59
I've long been a fan of MiraculouslyUndead! Boromir stories, but for
some reason, many of the ones I've read seem to give him the
opportunity for a (relatively) easy way out, slinking away for a while
to expiate his guilt and shame (before returning, ultimately, in
triumph). So I particularly enjoyed this story, part of an AU series
in which Boromir participates fully in events surrounding the Battle
of Pelennor Fields, the Siege of Minas Tirith, and its aftermath.

The culminating moment in the series, of course, is Boromir's
bittersweet realization that, among the tragedies of the day, has come
the one that will give him the freedom to express himself openly and
honestly. "The other side of disaster is opportunity" says the old
adage, and this ficlet illustrates it quite lushly. A great pleasure
to read.

Title: Cuts Gone Wrong · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Mid Third Age:
Eriador · ID: 156
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2008-08-12 00:45:49
Another rich and vibrant tale by Dwimordene! I can almost imagine I'm
at the "Prancing Pony", sitting in my own corner, wondering why that
ranger is there glaring so ominously. The crackling fire, bustling
serving girls, young Barliman's fleeting appearance are all spot on.

What is most memorable about the tale, though, is the characterization
of young Strider, (slightly) brash, (somewhat) beset by self-pity,
(occasionally) moody and morose in that way that only young men, just
on the cusp of adulthood, can be. It's not that he's full of himself
and his Grand Purpose; it's more along the lines of "We don't get no
respect!", a hard-learned lesson for any ranger, and all the more
humiliating and painful for one who is both Chieftain of the Dunedain
and Isildur's heir. I like this portrayal of young Aragorn very much.

Title: Seeing Stars · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond · ID: 360
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2008-08-12 00:46:49
A very heartwarming story of Faramir's exuberant, or perhaps
overexuberant, joy at the birth of his son Elboron. There are so many
lovely images here: the newcome Elves, Rohirrim, Guards, and maidens
of the city celebrating the prince's birth with music and dance; the
idea of children of the city, of Ithilien and Gondor and all Arda,
really, growing up with a living White Tree once again, legends and
history made real; Faramir's loving (if somewhat befuddled) memories
of his father and brother. No angst, no overweening sorrow, just happy
meditation on the cycle of birth, life, and death; affectionate
reminiscence for the past, and joy and hope for the future.

Title: Wave-Singer · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Drabbles · ID: 33
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2008-08-12 00:47:34
I'm not sure I've encountered anything quite like this before! Unique
and haunting, as is to be expected with Branwyn's writing, but also
suitably creepy, as befits a Halloween challenge. *shivers*

["Looked like a brave with his hair in long braids, but he was dressed
all queer, not how you'd expect for a Redman. "] Lovely imagery! A
nicely subtle crossover between mythologies of the Old and New Worlds.

Title: Of Dreams... · Author: Avon · Races: Men: General Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 7
Reviewer: annmarwalk · 2008-08-12 00:48:38
What struck me first about this drabble, what dazzled me like a gift
when this drabble appeared in the midst of yet another wintry day, is
the summer imagery: words and phrases like [sheltered leaf-strewn
clearings] and [soft-leaved oaks and beeches] and [hot noonings spent
in shade of hedge or tree] and (my very favorite) [resinous pine that
sparked and burnt in flares of red and gold] . It's deliciously warm
and herb-scented and sun-dappled, satisfying to all the senses at once.

[He has never dreamed of power, but now it is offered to him in a
bright sword.]

I don't think my love for this drabble is in opposition to my
well-document desire to slap Movie!Aragorn at all. These are not the
musings of a man hungry (or even yearning) for power in of itself.
Like Faramir, your Aragorn does not love the bright sword for its
sharpness, but for how it can be used judiciously to bring about the
world he longs for with all his heart.

You've also expressed very well Aragorn's dreams of a peaceable life
for himself and his people, his desire that they could be spared the
war and strife that brings such grief for innocent folk; and also,
perhaps, his own secret dreams of being spared the bureaucratic
trappings of kinghood which I'm sure would have weighed heavily upon
him too.

It's such a pleasure, Avon, to see you writing LOTR again. Your fandom
(and your fans!) have sorely missed you. Welcome home.


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: Linda Hoyland · 2008-08-12 03:13:48
A fascinating essay concerning Nerdanel's role in canon and
fanon.Although, I've only read "the Simarillion" once,the thought of
this strong woman doomed to suffer the loss of all her sons left a
lasting impression and this essay explores why she has such an effect
on the reader.

Title: Balm · Author: Armariel · Genres: Adventure · ID: 459
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:15:51
Spoilers!
I really enjoyed this story's dreamlike/nightmare tone. The heavy use
of metaphor, especially in the opening, seems to suggest a situation
that defies description. It's a very poignant way of narrating Frodo's
situation, and it's compounded by the idea that even afterwards, Frodo
isn't sure what is dream and what is real. Fascinating little vignette.

Title: Dragons In The Trollshaws · Author: Bodkin · Genres: Adventure
· ID: 170
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:16:20
Dragons can be such pesky creatures! But they make for great
excitement. I love the descriptions of these winged beasts. They are
truly formidable. But even more than that, I love the interactions of
the Rivendell characters. There is humor aplenty, but there are also
darker touches and a feeling of desperation over the loss of
Celebrian. One thing I especially liked were the differences between
Elladan and Elrohir. They are definitely twins, but they are not
interchangeable. Great work, all around.

Title: The Mariner's Son · Author: cairistiona · Genres: Adventure ·
ID: 329
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:19:26
Spoilers!
I was completely blown away by this story (pun only partially
intended). There are so many aspects and angles to it, and I will
freely admit that I did not anticipate most of them. The first part is
fairly straight forward. It's a harrowing piece of action with Aragorn
as the one and only star desperately trying to escape from a flooding
old lighthouse. Details are scant in the beginning, which forces
readers to absorb every piece of information we are given. We become
painfully familiar with both Aragorn's physical condition and the
seemingly impregnable prison that is the lighthouse. Eventually, we
come to learn that he was attacked by a crazed begger, but those facts
don't come around until we are already caught up in a painful drama.
The flooding sequence had some of the best action I've ever seen. I
could feel it. See it. Hear it. And when Aragorn finally broke through
the roof, I nearly cheered aloud.

And then came the second act of the story, featuring two unnamed
original characters who are now as dear to me as Aragorn himself.
Their story gave the drama a different tone, namely one of tragedy
rather than fearful adventure. And perhaps that's the most impressive
thing about this little tale. The tone runs a gauntlet that includes
danger, panic, courage, relief, grief, and tragedy, and they all come
together seamlessly, building into what feels like a very quiet
resolution. In the end, I'm reminded of the calm after the storm,
which is very fitting given the context of this story. Masterfully
written, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Aragorn.

Title: Fennas Haradren · Author: Linaewen · Genres: Adventure · ID: 280
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:20:36
Spoilers!
One of the first things that impressed me about this story was the
handling of Boromir's character. I was grinning from the very start,
because we see a characterization of Boromir that is more often
attributed to his younger brother. Whenever a Gondor Captain goes
skulking through the woods of Ithilien, it's almost always Faramir.
Now it's Boromir's turn, and we quickly see that he is just as capable
as Faramir when it comes to stealthy Ranger activities. He's patient,
prudent, and keenly aware of his responsibility to those he commands.
His outrage upon finding the dead men in the outpost was quick and
fierce, and you can see all the seeds of the man who will eventually
join the Fellowship of the Ring. Brilliant characterization!

As for the rest, terrific story and pacing. The build of tension,
first as Boromir waited for the scouts and then as the patrol slowly
made its way to the outpost, was riveting. Once there, the mystery of
what had happened made the tension even greater, and then the enemy
was unveiled. Finally, a superb fight sequence topped it off, followed
by a real sense of grief from Boromir. All in all, a very satisfying
story.

Title: Lost · Author: Claudia · Genres: Adventure · ID: 226
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:21:06
Spoilers!
Now here's a pretty piece of panic! The One Ring, the destruction of
which would free Middle-earth, goes missing! I love the way this story
builds around that premise without going too far astray. Frodo's
physical symptoms of losing the Ring are vividly portrayed, and the
panic of the rest of the company is keenly felt. The story taps into
that shocking feeling of losing one's wallet or car keys, except that
the Ring is a little more important than either of those. Great little
vignette that sticks close to the heart of the story.

Title: --and it was done · Author: Neoinean · Genres: Adventure · ID: 527
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:23:13
Spoilers!
Wow. If someone wanted a story about what a really determined Ranger
could do, I would direct them here. This is Aragorn at his finest.

But first things first. What I love about this story's beginning is
that it doesn't lay everything out up front. It takes its time. For a
while, all we know is that Aragorn is in a hostile environment and is
being very sneaky about it. Then we glimpse his prey, and his
methodical analysis of strengths and weaknesses is everything I would
expect from him and more. Next, the shocking first kill, which leads
to one of the story's biggest strengths: a running medical commentary.
It's almost as if Aragorn needs a distraction from what he's doing and
reverts to his healing persona.

Moving on, the confrontation with the last guard is a thing of beauty
in which Aragorn's character truly got a chance to shine. So much is
packed into such a small moment with so much emotion and intensity
that it's mind-blowing. The eventual rescue of poor Legolas, along
with all the chilly hints of why he had been taken alive, adds weight
and darkness to the tale, giving the world of the Rangers a very dark
and dangerous feel. Fascinating look at a grim and dour Aragorn.

Title: Pip-napped! · Author: Dreamflower/Lindelea CoAuthors · Genres:
Adventure · ID: 669
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:24:37
Spoilers!
Knowing the authors, I'm not quite sure why I was so surprised by
Pippin in this story. Both Dreamflower and Lindelea are excellent
hobbit writers, and if anyone could get inside Pippin's head and
really make him shine, it would be those two. But even knowing this,
they still managed to get the better of me here because Pippin's
bravery and determination blew me away. And I loved it! I especially
loved the diversion of the open window during his not-quite-escape.
That made for a superb capstone for Pippin's side of the story.

Moving on to the rest of the characters, I love Diamond's take on
things. The immensity of Minas Tirith was driven home by her reaction
to it. Merry and Estella were in fine form, quickly suspecting that
something was wrong and then just as quickly initiating an
investigation. As for Aragorn, I loved his distraction during the
meeting, particularly when he thought of earlier activities involving
Arwen and then looked to Faramir (who was equally bored) in an effort
to figure out what he missed. There were wonderfully dry moments of
humor peppered throughout an otherwise gripping tale, which made a
perfect contrast. Wonderful writing!

Title: Symbols of Love · Author: Larner · Genres: Adventure · ID: 130
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:25:28
Spoilers!
This story is definitely an adventure story, but it goes about that
adventure in a very quiet way. It's almost as though the adventure is
more memory than anything else, and given the situation, it's very
fitting. The enthusiasm for this outing from both Eldarion and Elboron
is infectious, and the story is clearly told from their perspective.
The adults are heroes and larger-than-life, which is not unusual for
Aragorn and Faramir, but seeing it from a youth's perspective gives it
a mythical quality. This is the stuff of legends, and the reliving of
those legends as they retrace Faramir's steps toward Henneth Annun
makes for a very satisfying and, as I said before, a very quiet story.
Beautifully told!

Title: Dangerous Folk · Author: Budgielover · Genres: Adventure · ID: 546
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-12 03:28:23
Spoilers!
By the end of this story, I have to agree with Gandalf. Hobbits are
indeed [dangerous folk]. But then, so are their traveling companions.
And so are their enemies.

What I love about this story is that everyone has a part to play, from
Gimli's dogged practicality to Boromir's leech antics, a fun plot
point that gains significance as the story progresses. The development
of the plot and the action was excellent, and the story has a very
fluid feel to it (no pun intended, really!). The description of the
water goblins was vivid enough to give a real sense of danger, and I
loved the ensuing battle of wits as the out-numbered heroes tried to
stay out-of-reach and out-of-sight. Wonderfully paced, over all. Never
a dull moment.

Title: Moved to Pity · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Drama: General
Drabbles · ID: 366
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-12 04:01:26
Spoilers!
Here's a real treat from the versatile mind and virtual pen of
Imhiriel - a drabble dealing with the aftermath of one of the
Silmarillion's Great Moments. Imhiriel does Tolkien proud here, the
narrrative is very close in style to some of the better parts of the
Silm; a lovely coda to Luthien's Orpheus act.

And the end is really superb; I felt like I was reading Tolkien's words...




Title: Creation Myths · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: General
Drabbles · ID: 300
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-12 04:22:44
Spoilers!
The concept of comparing Eru's creation of Ea with Feanor's creation
of the Silmarils is quite brilliant; and Tanaqui carries it off with
aplomb. Excellent juxtaposition of the two great but very different
artisans.

Title: No Mercy · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: General Drabbles ·
ID: 443
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-12 04:23:35
A very clever, and chilling, interpretation of certain aspects of a
great battle recounted in the Silm. Morgoth's evil, and genius, are
brought out all the more through this account.

Title: Aulë the Smith · Author: Oshun · Genres: Non-Fiction: Character
Studies · ID: 530
Reviewer: elfscribe · 2008-08-12 04:43:21
Well done summary of Aule canon. I always have loved Aule's laconic,
"nevertheless they will have need of wood" which so sums up the
tension between growing things and human needs (and the lovers of
trees and the makers of things). I also enjoyed your pointing out the
parallels between Melkor and Aule.

Title: My Legacy · Author: spookystoy · Genres: Drama: General
Drabbles · ID: 407
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-12 04:48:02
Interesting AU; and a good look at a Feanorian who actually seems to
have a touch of humility. A sensitive look at a conflicted father/son
relationship.

Title: Ionnath-Estel ( The Sons Of Hope ) · Author: Kenaz · Races:
Elves: Incomplete · ID: 318
Reviewer: elfscribe · 2008-08-12 05:03:18
Spoilers!
This is a story of a love forbidden by differences in culture and
rank. And for me, this is the among the best examples of fanfiction in
which much-loved characters are made to shine anew in a compelling
story, beautifully and professionally written, and completely romantic.

The premise is that among the Sylvan elves of Lothlorien same-sex love
is forbidden, whereas it is accepted in the other elven realms. This
creates an untenable situation when Haldir and Elladan realize they
have feelings for each other. Not only is their love forbidden, but
Haldir's rank is nowhere near that of Elladan. We learn what the
stakes are for Haldir to have the feelings he does and to act upon
them and the tension grows as the story progresses.

The author beautifully sets up many other cultural differences,
including accents and customs, thus creating a complete world with a
depth of history.

I enjoyed the early scenes between the youthful main characters,
watching as their comradery slowly grows into something else. I like
the way the young elves speak, as children challenging and teasing
each other, sometimes cruelly, and yet still in a formal tone as
appropriate for the time and characters. [ "We must swim it, else we
lose our quarry."]

In any good story, there are scenes that stay with you. For me, it is
the scene with the plums in which Elladan attempts to kiss Haldir for
the first time. The plum dropping off the side of the talan is a
perfect symbol of what has just happened between them.

When Haldir finally visits Imladris, we begin to understand the larger
stakes involved and the politics of alliance with other realms.
Haldir's sense of unease and feelings of inferiority are palpable.

The secondary characters are just as well portrayed as the main ones.
In various ways the other characters reinforce for Haldir the depth of
his folly in wanting Elladan. For example in the forthright way
Legolas tells Haldir the realities of life - which of course Haldir
already knows. ["Best you hear it now, for it is just a taste of
things to come."] Legolas totally nails the situation, even if he is
more blunt than diplomatic. And the clear double meaning in his final
remark as he leaves, spoken in Haldir's language is a great touch.

The twin's relationship is also beautifully done. They are individuals
and yet have a very strong bond that comes across clearly. Elrohir and
Gildor's publicly acknowledged and accepted relationship forms a
perfect counterpoint to Haldir and Elladan's clandestine one.

In addition, Kenaz's language is pure joy to read. It is rich,
nuanced, poetic, with an appropriate formality. Here's just a small
sample:

["He had come to this land of laughing waters and reborn heroes and
star-crowned princes; he had come to the epicenter his of own
unspeakable desires." ]

["What a want-wit he had been to assume that the heart's choices would
be free and clear and easily made, or that the heart could be
commanded to follow the rules of reason! He had not imagined that the
right path could be such a thorny one, or that matters he had long
perceived as black and white could reveal themselves in such a vast
spectrum of indecipherable grey."]

There is an aching depth of passion between her main characters. Her
love scenes are a wonder, very sensuous and powerful without being
explicit. Haldir's declaration of love, when he finally was able to
voice it, was perfect. ["deep as roots to the heart of the earth, high
as branches to the vaults of the sky: so goes my love for you."]
*sigh* But oh, what a sense of impending tragedy. I tremble in
anticipation of more to come.




Title: One Equal Temper of Heroic Hearts · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres:
Romance: Gondor · ID: 334
Reviewer: SurgicalSteel · 2008-08-12 10:56:12
This was a fun read - and lucky, lucky Arwen!

Title: Trajectory · Author: Galadriel · Races: Men: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 153
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-08-12 14:19:31
The drowning/water metaphor is well employed and strung through this
small piece.

Title: Bears With Honey · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 243
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-08-12 14:21:14
This is a nice little snapshot of acceptance leading to domestic
bliss. I wish it went further.

Title: Wind of Change · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 47
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-08-12 14:38:48
Spoilers!
Of all the wonderful and captivating images in this, my favorite is of
the wind beating harmlessly against the towers of Minas Morgul and
seeming to laugh. Even nature rejoices at the Witch King's impending
end. This drabble has great scope of time, geography, and human
condition without seeming in any way too big - difficult task made to
look easy here.