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Msg# 9419
MEFA Reviews for Friday, September 5, 2008 (Part One) Posted by annmarwalk September 05, 2008 - 21:15:19 Topic ID# 9419Title: Choices · Author: brindlemom2 · Times: First Age and Prior ·
ID: 184
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 02:36:51
personally i never thought he was the sharpest knife in the drawer,
but this.....stupidity.
you write with a flair for the dramatic, you keep your secrets as long
as possible and you do it smashingly well. in thirty six words i can
tell you i like your style but not your story now i have to find words
to say why with telling the plot line or i have to hit the spoiler button.
the fact that i like to let an author give me as little or as much as
they think a scene deserves plays well with this piece. you give very
little background either to your characters or your scene. you have
these beings walking on a barely furnished set, delivering stark
unforgiving lines of dialog to abrupt news in devasting fashion and
some how avoid being bitter or hateful, the mood never descends into
sorrow or hopelessness and you leave the remaining standing there
looking out on a future that will ever be not what is hoped and always
more than is dreamed.
the past paragraph is a work of art and you should frame it somewhere
important.
the next to the last paragraph: has he been experimenting with a pipe
somewhere\when that we missed. how deluded can he be in his internal
vision, yes i can believe he loves him beyond all bounds but should
not he have at least a little more realistic view point here?
Title: Like Roses over a Fence · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and
Prior: House of Finwe · ID: 110
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 02:58:45
Ellie,i am becoming more and more convinced that while i am not a
tolkien fan, i am a bit more than a lord of the rings fan. i had
qualms abour several sub categories and thos was one of them.
finwe-ism seemed very academic to me. you need a finely chaarted guide
to work through who's who and who was with who and who was married to
who and then there's the fact that most of that should have probably
been whom. but all that aside i decided to vote for your story because
if i just took what you wrote and left all the other stuff fall from
mind you are writing about three "war-widows" who fill those roles in
varying degrees and with very different end resolve. you give us three
different and dramatic roles and you let each of the characters
interact with the emotions and thoughts that the others uncover in
very believable ways, it seems that with very little change in your
dialog we could have a modern family disaster being talked about.
mother, daughter, and granddaughter discussing iraq. a career military
man delaying his retirement for one more shot at glory. a dutiful son
who enlisted thinking twenty years and great retirement and a gung-ho
youngster who rushed in after 9-11 and it could very well play out
here. of course we may have to switch whos married to who so that the
questions about reasonings would match the spouses not on stage.
technology will get it sorted out.
that's the basic reason i picked your story it seemed easy to believe.
Title: NIGHT and FOREST: A Glimpse of Beauty · Author: Fiondil ·
Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 554
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-05 03:08:46
Spoilers!
Beren strikes me as a character who could be mined for some awesome
fanfiction by the right writer. Fiondil is definitely right for this
larger-than-life hero, for he brings him to vivid and real life in the
reader's eyes, without lessening his unstinting heroism.
What I liked most in the story was the conveyance that the years of
Beren's wandering and fighting the monsters of shadowed lands had
scarred his soul as well as his body, taking even the ability, so
important in Tolkien's heroes, to appreciate the beauty of the stars.
And then, of course, after months of aimless wandering in Doriath,
Beren beholds his destiny in the form of the fairest woman ever to
walk in Middle-earth.
The last line brings tears of joy to my eyes; it is that good.
Title: Tales from Tol Eressëa · Author: shirebound · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 214
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 03:19:05
shirebound, this is the next to last of my full ten point reviews and
i find in looking over the "story" i have a question. what prompted
you to leave them as one story instead of seperate ficlets? as you
have heard a few times i really like your writings. these three are so
adorable that i must admit that i'm glad i don't have to choose
between them. the first one made me laugh that even leaving his domain
does not relieve an elf lord of his plotting to organize everyone's
time and energy into useful and forfill pastimes. hope to find out
what he plots next. the second one was so very sam-y. i could hear
every objection he was planning to make and you took lessons from that
elf didn't you? number threes part one i remember that taste sensation
with near climax-y feelings. ohhhh! i can also remember an occasion
when things went south fast, who knew she would prove to be allergic.
she also can't deal with coconut oil internally or externally. and
then of course the second half of three-- wonderfully plotted and
executed you have kept the title of master of the craft and i'm proud
to say that the valar took a vote and decided to let lots of others
take their titles this year so that you won't be so lonely at the top
of the heap. just keep throwing scraps over the edge and i promise the
wargs will not come to get you.
Title: Unwilling · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Elves: Drabbles · ID: 64
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-05 03:31:36
Spoilers!
This drabble really makes me resent the frenetic pace of modern life,
not to mention traffic jams and noise; even though I'm happily
high-tech; it's just so sad. Tolkien would approve of the piece, and
it reminds me of his attitude and themes.
Title: Old Friends · Author: Marta · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 651
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 03:39:39
Spoilers!
Marta. i told you i read it first on the mefas what i didn't say was i
saved it to be the last of my ten point votes. my first went to the
zany thing pulled off by pip healers and my last goes to my bestest
role model,gimli ... oh i'm sorry you probably thought this was about
you, hmm i think i've heard that sentence some where before. sorry but
this one is spoil-able. you have given my thoughts direct access to
the surface an eternity with all these oh so perfect beings, give me
relief. a pimple. and elf with two left feet ( ps i'm writing that
one) a whoopie cushion, for the love of eru. the only bone of
contention i would raise is that if gandalf is not happy in those
bones why is he still carting them around he can go back to mr. even
more and better than an elf, he is after all a maia and they only need
bodies to interact with lesser beings, in fact he better practice
cause you know gimmers only got so much he can give here. ah no that
brings sad thoughts and we don't want sadness near this little gem it
has so much sparkling to do it needs the shadows kept away. maybe we
should get you in the club that lets gandalf vist the others on the
other side of that . oh wait they were only hanging out there waiting
for aragorn to come....oh that's right gimli has yet another different
dimension to go to. someone get ahold of tolkien we need to cut a
better deal for afterlifes.
Title: Circle of Silver · Author: Keiliss · Races: Elves: House of
Finwe · ID: 717
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 04:13:04
Spoilers!
The news came unexpectedly, and accompanied by a traumatized child.
That Gil-galad began his reign as High King of the Noldor East of the
Sea by seeking to ease the state of the child speaks volumes about the
type of king he would prove.
Well crafted.
Title: Tulip Takes a Tumble · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Humor · ID: 616
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 04:40:57
Spoilers!
Well, Tulip TOLD him not to jump out of the rafters of the barn onto
the haystack, but Pippin would do so anyway, landing badly at that and
injuring the two of them. When Paladin drove the moral home with the
story of the loss of his Sammy Lambie, Eglantine found herself shaking
her head. Just how many "little" lads were there really in her family?
Pippin and Tulip at their best.
Title: A Fair Trial · Author: Maeve Riannon · Genres: Humor: Valar &
Maiar · ID: 403
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:05:57
Yes, hilarious! Excellent use of humor. Never thought I'd ever say,
"Poor Sauron," but had he stayed for THIS trial that would be what
he'd come to! I think he and Melian made the right choice....
Title: Parting Gifts · Author: Fiondil · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Post-Ring War · ID: 452
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:22:31
He actually found dying the easy part; but he could not help worrying
for his closest friend.
The passing of the strangest of Elvelloniath as told from his own
perspective, told in Fiondil's inimitable style. Sad and eminently
joyful at the same time. Full worthy of its subject!
Title: Elanor of Westmarch: The Return · Author: Baranduin · Races:
Hobbits: Family · ID: 78
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:58:17
Spoilers!
She'd always hoped she would see them again, and when she did it was
at the beginning of her own great adventure.
A very sweet, poignant tale of seeking and finding the way at last,
and finding that memories can be sustaining.
Title: Of Dreams... · Author: Avon · Races: Men: General Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 7
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 06:04:25
Spoilers!
Of what does the lonely Ranger dream as he walks the roads and sits in
dark corners of inns? Not power, although it is offered him.
A wonderful characterization of movie-Aragorn, and I like to think of
book-Aragorn as well.
Title: --and it was done · Author: Neoinean · Genres: Adventure · ID: 527
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:14:53
I'm not usually a fan of the Aragorn or Legolas is in peril and one
rescues the other kind of story,but this excellent tale is an
exception to the rule as it adds a different and thought provoking
angle to a familiar plot.
This time Legolas is in prison and Aragorn and his Rangers go to
rescue him.We are used to reading this kind of story and forgetting
that to accomplishing such a mission usually demands a price paid in
blood.
I love Neoinean's thoughtful Aragorn, who is all too well aware that
his friend's rescue comes at a price.Despite having to kill or be
killed,Aragorn does not lose his humanity and is careful to only stun
a boy on guard and wish he did not have to do it.
We learn Legolas is badly injured and has been cruelly treated by his
captors,but till the questions remain.
Killing is killing,whatever the reason and how can a man kill and
remain a good man?
This excellent story will leave the reader with plenty of food for
thought.
Title: My Brother. My Captain. My King. · Author: Amarok · Times: Late
Third Age · ID: 602
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:30:09
Spoilers!
I've never been a big Boromir fan,unlike some, but this story made me
feel for him.The author skilfully conveys Boromir's initial suspicion
and dislike of Aragorn and how it is eventually overcome.
I especially liked the moment in which Boromir overcomes the
temptation to let Aragorn fall to his death by thinking of his brother.
The ending of this fine film verse story,should bring a tear to any
reader's eye.
Title: Hope comes for Estel · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Aragorn · ID: 622
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:48:54
Spoilers!
This story describes a scene I often wish that Tolkien had written,but
did not.Faramir comes secretly to see Aragorn at Cormallen and find
out how the land lies.
I enjoyed this story,although my personal views differ somewhat,as I
think an instant bond formed between Aragorn and Faramir and that
Aragorn also had far sight.
I especially enjoyed Aragorn's musings about the problems facing him
as King,something that many writers tend to gloss over.
Another delight in this well written story was Aragorn's and Faramir's
thoughts about Gandalf.
Title: To Give Hope · Author: peredhil lover · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Elves and Men · ID: 456
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:26:14
Overwhelmed at the sudden loss of her husband and the equally sudden
change of her fortunes and habitation, Gilraen tries to come to terms
with all that is new in her life as she finds herself and her son now
part of the household of Elrond of Rivendell. The tale of how small
Aragorn son of Arathorn became the Hope not only for Men but for all
the Free Peoples of Middle Earth.
The conflicts between Gilraen's grief and feelings of duty are well
conveyed.
Title: The Captain's Mare · Author: The Lauderdale · Races: Villains ·
ID: 575
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:47:59
Spoilers!
This has to be one of the strangest stories on offer, and yet is
fascinating, humorous, and yet filled with a pathos one doesn't
usually expect to see in stories about orcs, and from a goblin's point
of view. The unnamed protagonist actually likes horses--loves them,
even; and there's one he finds he truly wants to please and see
calmed, although this mare will have nothing to do with him. Was she
Theodred's mare? We have no proof; but it's plain she will have no
truck with orcs.
For all the awfulness of the orc's actions, we still find ourselves
empathizing with him as one of Sauron's mannish allies finally wins
the mare's compliance. And we can certainly appreciate why the little
goblin grieves as she is lead away by someone else.
Worth the read no matter what you think of the subject matter.
Title: Night Terrors · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 433
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:54:36
Spoilers!
Perhaps it was merely an evil dream, a recall from the final days of
the Third Age, that woke him; but once awake the terror focused on his
son, and on whether or not the child slept comfortably.
The rational fears we often hold over the safety of our babes are well
expressed, as are the descriptions of father and son's behavior.
Nicely done.
Title: Feelings of Superiority · Author: Gwynnyd · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 362
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 15:04:15
Spoilers!
We all tend to wish to feel superior to others at times, and in each
of these six drabbles we see this narcissism at work as none of the
speakers truly wishes to understand the others each pities.
Human nature is well conveyed indeed. And the one I grieve for most is
the youth left behind in Numenor. How he and his father have been cozened!
Title: Tonight We Are Alive · Author: Eyborg · Races: Dwarves · ID: 504
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 15:09:40
Spoilers!
This was written, she says, because there are not enough dwarf
romances out there.
May there be more--many, many more! With this among them as one of the
most beautiful stones, may we have a dwarf's necklace of such jewels
as this!
Lovely!
Title: Parth Galen · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Steward's Family · ID: 705
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-05 16:18:20
Spoilers!
As I was about half way through this short AU, I found myself
wondering just how different things would be because it looked like
Frodo would be going off to Mordor completely alone (which would have
probably had been disastrous). So when Sam showed up before the end I
was duly surprised, yet also felt that I should not have been
surprised. Up to that point "Parth Galen" had been thoroughly
canonical except for its explicitly AU element, going so far as to use
Tolkien's dialogue. It felt very much like a gapfiller, which is a
quality I especially admire in AU stories
This canon-compliance allows Isabeau to examine some fascinating
issues surrounding Boromir's temptation through the Ring, using both
her personal universe and Tolkien's themes of honor and duty. I found
myself really connecting with this Boromir, and found this
interpretation of his character to fit very well both with the family
in which he grew up and his canonical deeds (such as his drive to
redeem himself.) Nicely done, Isa!
Title: Courage · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Gondor · ID: 41
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-09-05 22:00:42
Spoilers!
Good build-up to the punchline - with a "coda" that adds a more
serious after-note, which I found was a very intrepid touch.
I early on had the suspicion that Gimli's concern had to do with some
sea-food (it seems a favourite theme with many writers of humour
dealing with Dol Amroth), but Annmarwalk kept me guessing, discarding
theories and narrowing down choices with each line - which kept me
nicely engaged in this little ficlet.
The characterisations were spot on - and I especially liked imagining
Gimli's suspicious scowl and Legolas' ambiguous feeling at memories of
the Sea.
Title: Giving Gifts · Author: Marta · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 426
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-09-05 22:38:15
Spoilers!
Despite the canon-inconsistencies, I found this story amusing and
engaging. The wry humour of the narrative itself and of the
protagonists - whether direct like Imrahil or indirect as Denethor via
his letter - has just the right balance between light-hearted and
acerbic, and I like to imagine that the relationship between the two
brothers-in-law could encompass this lighter note.
The repetition of the ["Fthweet"] cracked me up, as well as the
picture of the usually graceful Finduilas having two left feet (and
Denethor apparently knowing it, although all his preparation proved in
vain after all.)
Oh, and the last line - revenge is sweet! The mind boggles what
Boromir would come up with after reading this book!
Title: The King's Time · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: Final
Partings · ID: 333
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-06 00:48:55
poignant, so many ways we measure time.
Title: Pippin and Tulip's Excellent Adventure · Author: Cathleen ·
Times: Mid Third Age: Eriador · ID: 595
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-06 01:02:27
great, wonderful view of a day in the life....
ID: 184
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 02:36:51
personally i never thought he was the sharpest knife in the drawer,
but this.....stupidity.
you write with a flair for the dramatic, you keep your secrets as long
as possible and you do it smashingly well. in thirty six words i can
tell you i like your style but not your story now i have to find words
to say why with telling the plot line or i have to hit the spoiler button.
the fact that i like to let an author give me as little or as much as
they think a scene deserves plays well with this piece. you give very
little background either to your characters or your scene. you have
these beings walking on a barely furnished set, delivering stark
unforgiving lines of dialog to abrupt news in devasting fashion and
some how avoid being bitter or hateful, the mood never descends into
sorrow or hopelessness and you leave the remaining standing there
looking out on a future that will ever be not what is hoped and always
more than is dreamed.
the past paragraph is a work of art and you should frame it somewhere
important.
the next to the last paragraph: has he been experimenting with a pipe
somewhere\when that we missed. how deluded can he be in his internal
vision, yes i can believe he loves him beyond all bounds but should
not he have at least a little more realistic view point here?
Title: Like Roses over a Fence · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and
Prior: House of Finwe · ID: 110
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 02:58:45
Ellie,i am becoming more and more convinced that while i am not a
tolkien fan, i am a bit more than a lord of the rings fan. i had
qualms abour several sub categories and thos was one of them.
finwe-ism seemed very academic to me. you need a finely chaarted guide
to work through who's who and who was with who and who was married to
who and then there's the fact that most of that should have probably
been whom. but all that aside i decided to vote for your story because
if i just took what you wrote and left all the other stuff fall from
mind you are writing about three "war-widows" who fill those roles in
varying degrees and with very different end resolve. you give us three
different and dramatic roles and you let each of the characters
interact with the emotions and thoughts that the others uncover in
very believable ways, it seems that with very little change in your
dialog we could have a modern family disaster being talked about.
mother, daughter, and granddaughter discussing iraq. a career military
man delaying his retirement for one more shot at glory. a dutiful son
who enlisted thinking twenty years and great retirement and a gung-ho
youngster who rushed in after 9-11 and it could very well play out
here. of course we may have to switch whos married to who so that the
questions about reasonings would match the spouses not on stage.
technology will get it sorted out.
that's the basic reason i picked your story it seemed easy to believe.
Title: NIGHT and FOREST: A Glimpse of Beauty · Author: Fiondil ·
Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 554
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-05 03:08:46
Spoilers!
Beren strikes me as a character who could be mined for some awesome
fanfiction by the right writer. Fiondil is definitely right for this
larger-than-life hero, for he brings him to vivid and real life in the
reader's eyes, without lessening his unstinting heroism.
What I liked most in the story was the conveyance that the years of
Beren's wandering and fighting the monsters of shadowed lands had
scarred his soul as well as his body, taking even the ability, so
important in Tolkien's heroes, to appreciate the beauty of the stars.
And then, of course, after months of aimless wandering in Doriath,
Beren beholds his destiny in the form of the fairest woman ever to
walk in Middle-earth.
The last line brings tears of joy to my eyes; it is that good.
Title: Tales from Tol Eressëa · Author: shirebound · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 214
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 03:19:05
shirebound, this is the next to last of my full ten point reviews and
i find in looking over the "story" i have a question. what prompted
you to leave them as one story instead of seperate ficlets? as you
have heard a few times i really like your writings. these three are so
adorable that i must admit that i'm glad i don't have to choose
between them. the first one made me laugh that even leaving his domain
does not relieve an elf lord of his plotting to organize everyone's
time and energy into useful and forfill pastimes. hope to find out
what he plots next. the second one was so very sam-y. i could hear
every objection he was planning to make and you took lessons from that
elf didn't you? number threes part one i remember that taste sensation
with near climax-y feelings. ohhhh! i can also remember an occasion
when things went south fast, who knew she would prove to be allergic.
she also can't deal with coconut oil internally or externally. and
then of course the second half of three-- wonderfully plotted and
executed you have kept the title of master of the craft and i'm proud
to say that the valar took a vote and decided to let lots of others
take their titles this year so that you won't be so lonely at the top
of the heap. just keep throwing scraps over the edge and i promise the
wargs will not come to get you.
Title: Unwilling · Author: Elena Tiriel · Races: Elves: Drabbles · ID: 64
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-05 03:31:36
Spoilers!
This drabble really makes me resent the frenetic pace of modern life,
not to mention traffic jams and noise; even though I'm happily
high-tech; it's just so sad. Tolkien would approve of the piece, and
it reminds me of his attitude and themes.
Title: Old Friends · Author: Marta · Times: Fourth Age and Beyond:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 651
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-05 03:39:39
Spoilers!
Marta. i told you i read it first on the mefas what i didn't say was i
saved it to be the last of my ten point votes. my first went to the
zany thing pulled off by pip healers and my last goes to my bestest
role model,gimli ... oh i'm sorry you probably thought this was about
you, hmm i think i've heard that sentence some where before. sorry but
this one is spoil-able. you have given my thoughts direct access to
the surface an eternity with all these oh so perfect beings, give me
relief. a pimple. and elf with two left feet ( ps i'm writing that
one) a whoopie cushion, for the love of eru. the only bone of
contention i would raise is that if gandalf is not happy in those
bones why is he still carting them around he can go back to mr. even
more and better than an elf, he is after all a maia and they only need
bodies to interact with lesser beings, in fact he better practice
cause you know gimmers only got so much he can give here. ah no that
brings sad thoughts and we don't want sadness near this little gem it
has so much sparkling to do it needs the shadows kept away. maybe we
should get you in the club that lets gandalf vist the others on the
other side of that . oh wait they were only hanging out there waiting
for aragorn to come....oh that's right gimli has yet another different
dimension to go to. someone get ahold of tolkien we need to cut a
better deal for afterlifes.
Title: Circle of Silver · Author: Keiliss · Races: Elves: House of
Finwe · ID: 717
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 04:13:04
Spoilers!
The news came unexpectedly, and accompanied by a traumatized child.
That Gil-galad began his reign as High King of the Noldor East of the
Sea by seeking to ease the state of the child speaks volumes about the
type of king he would prove.
Well crafted.
Title: Tulip Takes a Tumble · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Humor · ID: 616
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 04:40:57
Spoilers!
Well, Tulip TOLD him not to jump out of the rafters of the barn onto
the haystack, but Pippin would do so anyway, landing badly at that and
injuring the two of them. When Paladin drove the moral home with the
story of the loss of his Sammy Lambie, Eglantine found herself shaking
her head. Just how many "little" lads were there really in her family?
Pippin and Tulip at their best.
Title: A Fair Trial · Author: Maeve Riannon · Genres: Humor: Valar &
Maiar · ID: 403
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:05:57
Yes, hilarious! Excellent use of humor. Never thought I'd ever say,
"Poor Sauron," but had he stayed for THIS trial that would be what
he'd come to! I think he and Melian made the right choice....
Title: Parting Gifts · Author: Fiondil · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Post-Ring War · ID: 452
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:22:31
He actually found dying the easy part; but he could not help worrying
for his closest friend.
The passing of the strangest of Elvelloniath as told from his own
perspective, told in Fiondil's inimitable style. Sad and eminently
joyful at the same time. Full worthy of its subject!
Title: Elanor of Westmarch: The Return · Author: Baranduin · Races:
Hobbits: Family · ID: 78
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 05:58:17
Spoilers!
She'd always hoped she would see them again, and when she did it was
at the beginning of her own great adventure.
A very sweet, poignant tale of seeking and finding the way at last,
and finding that memories can be sustaining.
Title: Of Dreams... · Author: Avon · Races: Men: General Fixed-Length
Ficlets · ID: 7
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 06:04:25
Spoilers!
Of what does the lonely Ranger dream as he walks the roads and sits in
dark corners of inns? Not power, although it is offered him.
A wonderful characterization of movie-Aragorn, and I like to think of
book-Aragorn as well.
Title: --and it was done · Author: Neoinean · Genres: Adventure · ID: 527
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:14:53
I'm not usually a fan of the Aragorn or Legolas is in peril and one
rescues the other kind of story,but this excellent tale is an
exception to the rule as it adds a different and thought provoking
angle to a familiar plot.
This time Legolas is in prison and Aragorn and his Rangers go to
rescue him.We are used to reading this kind of story and forgetting
that to accomplishing such a mission usually demands a price paid in
blood.
I love Neoinean's thoughtful Aragorn, who is all too well aware that
his friend's rescue comes at a price.Despite having to kill or be
killed,Aragorn does not lose his humanity and is careful to only stun
a boy on guard and wish he did not have to do it.
We learn Legolas is badly injured and has been cruelly treated by his
captors,but till the questions remain.
Killing is killing,whatever the reason and how can a man kill and
remain a good man?
This excellent story will leave the reader with plenty of food for
thought.
Title: My Brother. My Captain. My King. · Author: Amarok · Times: Late
Third Age · ID: 602
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:30:09
Spoilers!
I've never been a big Boromir fan,unlike some, but this story made me
feel for him.The author skilfully conveys Boromir's initial suspicion
and dislike of Aragorn and how it is eventually overcome.
I especially liked the moment in which Boromir overcomes the
temptation to let Aragorn fall to his death by thinking of his brother.
The ending of this fine film verse story,should bring a tear to any
reader's eye.
Title: Hope comes for Estel · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Aragorn · ID: 622
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-05 08:48:54
Spoilers!
This story describes a scene I often wish that Tolkien had written,but
did not.Faramir comes secretly to see Aragorn at Cormallen and find
out how the land lies.
I enjoyed this story,although my personal views differ somewhat,as I
think an instant bond formed between Aragorn and Faramir and that
Aragorn also had far sight.
I especially enjoyed Aragorn's musings about the problems facing him
as King,something that many writers tend to gloss over.
Another delight in this well written story was Aragorn's and Faramir's
thoughts about Gandalf.
Title: To Give Hope · Author: peredhil lover · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Elves and Men · ID: 456
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:26:14
Overwhelmed at the sudden loss of her husband and the equally sudden
change of her fortunes and habitation, Gilraen tries to come to terms
with all that is new in her life as she finds herself and her son now
part of the household of Elrond of Rivendell. The tale of how small
Aragorn son of Arathorn became the Hope not only for Men but for all
the Free Peoples of Middle Earth.
The conflicts between Gilraen's grief and feelings of duty are well
conveyed.
Title: The Captain's Mare · Author: The Lauderdale · Races: Villains ·
ID: 575
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:47:59
Spoilers!
This has to be one of the strangest stories on offer, and yet is
fascinating, humorous, and yet filled with a pathos one doesn't
usually expect to see in stories about orcs, and from a goblin's point
of view. The unnamed protagonist actually likes horses--loves them,
even; and there's one he finds he truly wants to please and see
calmed, although this mare will have nothing to do with him. Was she
Theodred's mare? We have no proof; but it's plain she will have no
truck with orcs.
For all the awfulness of the orc's actions, we still find ourselves
empathizing with him as one of Sauron's mannish allies finally wins
the mare's compliance. And we can certainly appreciate why the little
goblin grieves as she is lead away by someone else.
Worth the read no matter what you think of the subject matter.
Title: Night Terrors · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres: Drama: Gondor
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 433
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 14:54:36
Spoilers!
Perhaps it was merely an evil dream, a recall from the final days of
the Third Age, that woke him; but once awake the terror focused on his
son, and on whether or not the child slept comfortably.
The rational fears we often hold over the safety of our babes are well
expressed, as are the descriptions of father and son's behavior.
Nicely done.
Title: Feelings of Superiority · Author: Gwynnyd · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 362
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 15:04:15
Spoilers!
We all tend to wish to feel superior to others at times, and in each
of these six drabbles we see this narcissism at work as none of the
speakers truly wishes to understand the others each pities.
Human nature is well conveyed indeed. And the one I grieve for most is
the youth left behind in Numenor. How he and his father have been cozened!
Title: Tonight We Are Alive · Author: Eyborg · Races: Dwarves · ID: 504
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-05 15:09:40
Spoilers!
This was written, she says, because there are not enough dwarf
romances out there.
May there be more--many, many more! With this among them as one of the
most beautiful stones, may we have a dwarf's necklace of such jewels
as this!
Lovely!
Title: Parth Galen · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Steward's Family · ID: 705
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-05 16:18:20
Spoilers!
As I was about half way through this short AU, I found myself
wondering just how different things would be because it looked like
Frodo would be going off to Mordor completely alone (which would have
probably had been disastrous). So when Sam showed up before the end I
was duly surprised, yet also felt that I should not have been
surprised. Up to that point "Parth Galen" had been thoroughly
canonical except for its explicitly AU element, going so far as to use
Tolkien's dialogue. It felt very much like a gapfiller, which is a
quality I especially admire in AU stories
This canon-compliance allows Isabeau to examine some fascinating
issues surrounding Boromir's temptation through the Ring, using both
her personal universe and Tolkien's themes of honor and duty. I found
myself really connecting with this Boromir, and found this
interpretation of his character to fit very well both with the family
in which he grew up and his canonical deeds (such as his drive to
redeem himself.) Nicely done, Isa!
Title: Courage · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Gondor · ID: 41
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-09-05 22:00:42
Spoilers!
Good build-up to the punchline - with a "coda" that adds a more
serious after-note, which I found was a very intrepid touch.
I early on had the suspicion that Gimli's concern had to do with some
sea-food (it seems a favourite theme with many writers of humour
dealing with Dol Amroth), but Annmarwalk kept me guessing, discarding
theories and narrowing down choices with each line - which kept me
nicely engaged in this little ficlet.
The characterisations were spot on - and I especially liked imagining
Gimli's suspicious scowl and Legolas' ambiguous feeling at memories of
the Sea.
Title: Giving Gifts · Author: Marta · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 426
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-09-05 22:38:15
Spoilers!
Despite the canon-inconsistencies, I found this story amusing and
engaging. The wry humour of the narrative itself and of the
protagonists - whether direct like Imrahil or indirect as Denethor via
his letter - has just the right balance between light-hearted and
acerbic, and I like to imagine that the relationship between the two
brothers-in-law could encompass this lighter note.
The repetition of the ["Fthweet"] cracked me up, as well as the
picture of the usually graceful Finduilas having two left feet (and
Denethor apparently knowing it, although all his preparation proved in
vain after all.)
Oh, and the last line - revenge is sweet! The mind boggles what
Boromir would come up with after reading this book!
Title: The King's Time · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama: Final
Partings · ID: 333
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-06 00:48:55
poignant, so many ways we measure time.
Title: Pippin and Tulip's Excellent Adventure · Author: Cathleen ·
Times: Mid Third Age: Eriador · ID: 595
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-06 01:02:27
great, wonderful view of a day in the life....
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