Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Shire · Author: Aranel Took · Genres: Poetry: Hobbits · ID: 469
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-08-22 09:29:39
A short, sweet, and utterly Hobbity description of the richness and
comfort of the Shire. Charming.

Title: Playing with Fire · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Minas
Tirith · ID: 21
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:13:06
Spoilers!
A dangerous lesson, but one worth learning. I very much enjoyed the
final line of this story. It drives the tone and the message home.
There are several fires to deal with here: the hearth, the past, and
Arwen herself. Good thing Aragorn is gifted in handling them all.

Title: Before You Go · Author: Nancy Brooke · Races: Men: Minas Tirith
· ID: 506
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:14:21
Spoilers!
I love finding well-written Denethor-centric stories! He's so often
either maligned or relegated to a backseat. But here, both he and
Boromir get a share of the spotlight, and for all that Denethor thinks
about Boromir outshining everything that has come before, Denethor
doesn't relinquish his own prestige easily. In first person stories,
it's sometimes difficult to get a real feel for the one who's carrying
the perspective, mainly because they're too busy observing everything
else. But Denethor is the kind of person who can watch everything in a
room and still find time for plenty of introspection, which makes him
the perfect candidate for this kind of thing. And we see so many
layers to his personality. We see his pride, which extends to himself,
Gondor, and Boromir. We see his stubbornness and his unwillingness to
bend even when he acknowledges defeat. We see his love and the power
that his son holds over him. We see how well he remembers the past,
and how little hope he holds for the future. All the seeds of his
destruction are visible, but so are all the things that made Denethor
great. And then there's Boromir. We see him as Denethor sees him, and
once again, both greatness and doom are apparent in his personality.
Beautiful piece of characterization in a pivotal moment for the lives
of both Denethor's and Boromir.

Title: Restoration · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Races: Men:
Minas Tirith · ID: 19
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:16:25
Spoilers!
This story is so very peaceful. You can see Aragorn soothing everyone
around him, but the surprise is how much this, in turn, soothes
Aragorn. There's a calming effect for all in this little story, and
the descriptions manage to convey that tone beautifully to the
readers. Powerful narrative that is driven by both the surroundings
and by the character of Aragorn himself.

Title: Music hath Charms · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Minas
Tirith · ID: 361
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:18:39
Spoilers!
Who knew Aragorn was a Wagner fan? I'm not sure about his decision to
use Wolfram's death portent song, but it does reference the evening
star and he only sings a fraction of it. Perhaps content has been
edited to for meaning. Anyway, it's nice to see both Faramir and
Aragorn on the hot seat and it's nice to see them getting off the hot
seat through the use of their voices. A good baritone or tenor can go
a long way!

Title: I Stand No Longer Alone · Author: Larner · Races: Men: Minas
Tirith · ID: 62
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:19:54
Spoilers!
If only the furniture could speak. My furniture would not sound so
eloquent and wise, but then, my furniture is not the throne of Gondor.
This was a wonderful story from a truly unique perspective, and I love
the role that the throne sees for itself. There is some wonderful
imagery of it upholding Aragorn and all that he represents. The throne
certainly has a keen sense of its own importance, and it's an
awareness that has been well-earned. This short story has a
surprisingly epic feel, and I think part of it comes from the sense of
timelessness we get from the throne. It shares a kinship with Andruil
in that regard: it has been here for generations, and it will still be
here for generations to come.

Title: Celebrity · Author: Bodkin · Races: Men: Minas Tirith · ID: 635
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:21:20
Spoilers!
What a fascinating encounter Bodkin has created here! I love this look
at a newly crowned Aragorn, who is willing and able to face up to his
new life but who also yearns for simpler times. And what better way to
narrate this than to have someone from those simpler times appear?
Enter Pelion. Aragorn's memories are slow to come at first, and in
this, I really enjoyed Pelion's characterization. He is apparently
still as cheeky now as he was years ago. Not many people would have
been brave enough to stop the King and remind him of a scruffy Ranger
who guarded wagons through Eriador. Even fewer would sit there and
test the King, looking to see if he remembered or if a lack of
remembrance could be held over the King's head as a victory of sorts.
Little wonder that this trader has done well for himself. The bold
usually rise to the top (with a few bobbles along the way). But
Aragorn proves that he's not above a little cheekiness himself, and I
absolutely loved his thoughts on the name of Strider as well as his
insistence that it remain his name after a fashion. His desire to stay
and chat with Pelion out of an urge to annoy his youthful escort was
also a stroke of brilliance. All in all, excellent snapshot of the
King in transition.

Title: Wizards' Pupils · Author: Altariel · Races: Men: Minas Tirith ·
ID: 108
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:23:30
Spoilers!
The first thing that struck me about this story was the title. I was
immediately drawn to the line it so obviously references in the book,
and I eagerly looked forward to the meeting of Faramir and Gandalf,
fully anticipating that this would be the subject of the story. I was
not disappointed. But the odd thing about the title is that it was
also the last thing to strike me, because once I finished the tale, I
looked at the title again and realized the full scope of what this
story is about. The team up of Denethor and Saruman was eerie. It's
the best word I can think of to describe it. I think part of it is
because this is the beginning of their downfall, and in the beginning,
what they do and what they value is so close to what it should have
been. But it's still slightly distorted, like looking into a mirror
and seeing your reflection move a fraction of a second too late. It's
not enough for accusation. Not yet. But it's getting there. As for
other compliments I can give this story, kudos for some amazing
dialog. Given that Altariel is doing the writing, that was expected,
but I think this is some of the best I've seen. The means of getting a
message across without spelling it out is a clever tactic, and
Elboron's final decision regarding his tutor is a culmination of
brilliant reasoning. I love this codification of a Steward's duty and
what goes in to a Steward's training for that duty. Brilliantly drawn,
all around!

Title: Engineering · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men: Minas Tirith
· ID: 696
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:24:28
Spoilers!
What I appreciated most about this story is just how complex the
underlying issues were. This wasn't a healer with a patient, doing all
he could to save part of a foot. No, this was a healer with an agenda,
a patient with a father who had connections, and an assistant who
didn't want to make the final call but who also couldn't help putting
in his two cents when it became apparent that he would be overruled.
Life in Gondor is always a complicated business, and this story drives
that point home.

Title: Confidence · Author: annmarwalk · Races: Men: Minas Tirith · ID: 38
Reviewer: Thundera Tiger · 2008-08-22 16:33:09
Spoilers!
While I enjoyed the appearance of Denethor and Boromir (as well as the
shout out to scruffy rangers), I must say that the scene-stealing
character for this little story is quiet little Mormegil. He's got
quite the name to live up to, but if his courage before Denethor is
any indication, he might just make it. I'm not sure he's ready to take
on any dragons, but even Turin needed a little preparation for that.
And the loving description of his scissors and razor is worthy of any
praise for any sword wielded by any warrior. Very fun little tale.

Title: Comfort and Joy · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Mid Third Age:
Eriador · ID: 656
Reviewer: Antane · 2008-08-22 18:29:33
A sweet story, esp. the end and I love Pippin trying to hush his
stomach! May hobbity love live forever! We need it!

Title: A Large Bold Hand · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 10
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-22 18:41:11
Spoilers!
A lovely bit of true cross-cultural pollination, as Ori indulges his
curiosity as to Elven script. You just don't see stories where the
sons of Elrond interact with pre-Ring War dwarves too often, and this
one is very satisfying.

Title: Where the Sky Kisses the Horizon, There My Dreams Lie · Author:
Lindelea · Races: Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 689
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-08-22 18:46:45
A touching vignette that evokes, rather than piles on, sentiment. The
concern of Aragorn and Legolas for Frodo is conveyed through their
senses and actions and words rather than exploration of thoughts. I
found this drabble elegant and quite Tolkienesque.