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Msg# 9438

MEFA Reviews for Monday, September 15, 2008 (Part One) Posted by annmarwalk September 15, 2008 - 20:07:20 Topic ID# 9438
Title: Pip-napped! · Author: Dreamflower/Lindelea CoAuthors · Genres:
Adventure · ID: 669
Reviewer: Garnet Took · 2008-09-14 02:30:44
This is great action story: with just the right amount of romance
thrown in.

Pippin and Diamond are such a sweet couple.

There are so many great things in this story. It's a love story, an
adventure, a comedy all rolled into one.

The two pumbling bad guys reminded me a bit of the crooks in "Home
Alone". And Pippin gets to show his resourcefullness again. Yay!

This was a truly exciting read. I'm glad Dana wanted a Pip-napping story.

Title: A Moment in the Morning in Bree · Author: Budgielover · Races:
Cross-Cultural · ID: 731
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-14 02:59:59
Spoilers!
never shave to an audience they never appreciate the blood letting.

Title: Labour of Love · Author: Aprilkat · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Frodo and Faramir · ID: 733
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-14 03:13:31
i have chuckled often over the way women offer to alter their lovers
inseams for pregnancies but this... funny isn't the half of it; of
course some of that may be the angle from which he views said inseam.

Title: The Last Throw · Author: nau_tika · Genres: Drama · ID: 556
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 03:13:56
I liked how this story interwove the canonical elements almost
seamlessly, making the whole thing feel very much like Tolkien's
story. The dialect, too, was nicely done: the main character was
obviously working-class, yet he still had a nobility of dialect about
him that made him feel different from (say) a Gamgee or an Orc – he's
still Gondorian. Nicely done.

Title: Loudwater · Author: Adaneth · Times: Late Third Age: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 63
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 03:22:14
This was a really well-told piece of POV writing. I've seen pieces
that have taken on the Fords scene from nearly every perspective that
I could think of, but this was a new one, and you really gave that
character life - not easy to do in this case, I imagine. Well done.

Title: My Shining Stars · Author: Oshun · Races: Elves: House of
Elrond · ID: 371
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 03:30:22
Spoilers!
Elrond has the wish to be reunited with those he loves as parents as
the grey ship carrying the Ringbearers approaches Tol Eressea. Rather
sad considering his attitude toward certain others....

Definitely thought-provoking.

Title: Blue · Author: red lasbelin · Races: Elves · ID: 563
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 03:40:10
Interesting as we see Glorfindel preparing to take on the lordship of
his house, as he ponders how he came to this point. Thoughtfully written.

Title: ...and the sound of a battered heart, beating · Author:
Lindelea · Genres: Drama: Ring War Drabbles · ID: 690
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 03:43:23
A touching lesson. I'm sure those that lived through the Scouring
would have needed to learn it. Good that Merry's there to remind Estella.

Title: Parth Galen · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Steward's Family · ID: 705
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 03:53:22
Spoilers!
Perhaps the most positive might-have-been for Parth Galen I've yet
read, as Boromir remembers words about honor spoken to him by
Andrahar. The outcome is not changed, perhaps, save that at no time
does Boromir question his own honor.

Warming to read.

Title: Primum Non Nocere (First, Do No Harm) · Author: febobe ·
Genres: Drama: Hurt/Comfort · ID: 628
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 04:07:36
Spoilers!
And no harm does she do, not the Shieldmaiden; simple treatment,
warmth, and truly understanding companionship. And together
Shieldmaiden and Ringbearer find surcease from nightmares and pain and
chill.

A warm, comforting tale as Frodo at last finds some measure of peace
and rest, and shelter against certain memories from one who has faced
the same foe.

Hurt/comfort at its simplest and warmest, and well worth the read.

Title: In Good Company · Author: foxrafer (csevans8) · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Friendship · ID: 20
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 04:13:11
I really enjoyed this romp in Ithilien, it is so full of rich writing.
It was nice to see Faramir relax and enjoy a bit of well-earned peace
in the Fourth Age.

Title: U elyë, Ar-Pharazôn · Author: Elitihien · Times: Second and
Early Third Age · ID: 486
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 04:15:55
Miriel has every reason to curse the thought of her husband as she
struggles up the sides of Meneltarma as Numenor founders.

Some problems with language usage, but the feelings of frustration and
righteous anger and regret are fully conveyed.

Title: A Summer Night's Peace · Author: Larner · Genres: Drama:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 694
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-14 04:21:29
Spoilers!
A sensitive vignette wherein Aragorn confronts both Frodo and the sad
fact of Frodo's mortality, after the victory over Sauron and Aragorn's
coronation. The greatness of Aragorn's position, all he has achieved
and all he has to anticipate, is a sad contrast with Frodo, whose
peace of mind, indeed his health, is compromised beyond any power in
Middle-earth to heal. The setting of the White Tree is a nice touch.

Title: Spoiled · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Drabbles · ID: 119
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 04:27:27
Spoilers!
It always seemed a bit cruel to me that Aragorn should grow up not
even knowing his true identity, but this other possibility makes that
temporary sacrifice seem well worth it, safety issues aside. I'm glad
that Aragorn learned humility, for that of all virtues seems crucial
to his success. Nice use of imagery and detail to drive this point
home, and with a commendable economy of words - just what a drabble
should do.

Title: The Healers from the Sea · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 202
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-14 04:36:52
A smoothly written encounter between a disconsolate, spiritually
exhausted Frodo and some unlikely healers during his journey to
Valinor. Sweet but not cloying, and a nice awakening of Frodo's
ability to feel curiosity and joy again. This seemed very like
Tolkien's Frodo to me, world-weary but still a determined individual.

Title: Philosophia to Philomythus and Misomythus · Author:
pandemonium_213 · Genres: Poetry · ID: 50
Reviewer: Marta · 2008-09-14 04:38:19
I could imagine a Noldorin craftsman or perhaps this author's beloved
Aulendil himself ;-) speaking this poem. And speaking as someone
trained in mathematics, it is very true that knowledge of the details
often increases rather than decreases our wonder of the thing. (To
paraphrase one of my professors: the more you know, the more you know
how little you know.) Pandemonium does a fine job of capturing this
distinction in poem form; scientist-types drawn to Middle-earth won't
want to miss this.

Title: The Healers from the Sea · Author: Mews1945 · Genres: Drama:
Hurt/Comfort · ID: 202
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 04:55:46
Spoilers!
Not all who offer Frodo healing are two-legged, as he finds as Elrond
arranges a pause in their journey to Aman so he can learn more of the
dolphins who play in the ship's bow wave.

A gentle story, well told, of interactions with one of the Creator's
more joyful creatures.

Title: Burden · Author: Ancalime8301 · Genres: Drama: Featuring Frodo
or Sam · ID: 734
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-14 04:57:52
because your chapters don't advance nicely this is all the review you get!

Title: Surprise · Author: Dawn Felagund · Times: First Age and Prior ·
ID: 131
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 05:21:30
Spoilers!
Ah, Dawn, what a wonderful introduction of Mahtan, Istarnie, and their
most famous daughter, their surprise, as you have put it, Nerdanel. It
appears she is indeed her father's daughter. A wonderfully told story,
and love the insertion of the tale of stars coming from Aule's forge
as Varda capitalizes on a chance experience and takes it further.

How delightful!

Title: Last Stroke · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Drabbles · ID: 465
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 05:39:19
Spoilers!
When the wind blows out the banners and the device is not what one
would wish to see, how does one respond? For this lord of havens, it
is the sign of the end, perhaps.

A terrible might-have-been, and grievous, although well written,
powerful in its brevity.

Title: Bitter Sweet · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Steward's Family · ID: 536
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 05:51:12
Spoilers!
Indeed a perfectly named tale, as we see two lovers parted over the
matter of a marriage, until at last death does part husband and wife,
at which time one lover at last returns to the comfort of the other.

A nice might-have-been that follow's Ann's preferred Boromir/Theodred
arc. I find myself wondering what happened with Eomer in this possible
future, of course.

Very thoughtfully and tastefully presented as well as enacted by the
two main protagonists.

Title: The Kindly Airs · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Late Third Age:
General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 480
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-09-14 06:01:09
Spoilers!
Of all the many inhabitants of Middle-earth who were freed by Sauron's
destruction, I admit that I had never even thought of this "individual".

Dwimordene works a very effective personification, imbuing the East
Wind with a heart-felt and powerful release when she feels the
evilness lifted that had long been laid upon her. I was absolutely
able to sympathize with her frustration in bearing a burden that is
not her fault, but is a byproduct of who she is and where she comes from.

The descriptive language employed here is just wonderful, sketching
out an entire map of Middle-earth in a few quick strokes. I also love
the quick but appropriate nod to her Master: far from M-e, but ever
vigilant for what news his servants can bring.

But the drabble really soars with the East Wind's newly-gained
freedom: after so long a wait, her first reward is to loft the
Ringbearers to safety. And we know the next: to bear the unlooked-for
great tidings, speeding the wings of the Great Eagles on their way to
announce Sauron's fall. Her joy at finally being able to ["come sweet
off their tongues"] rings out beautifully.

The obscurity of the chosen PoV certainly highlighted one thing for
me: the wide-reaching impact of the Ring's destruction. Among all the
peoples discussed in LotR, I should never forget that there are many,
many more who were affected by the efforts of the Fellowship. It truly
was a world-wide event.

Title: No Man's Land · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Genres:
Alternate Universe: Drabbles · ID: 726
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-09-14 06:04:41
Spoilers!
Of all the might-have-beens I have ever read, in ways this is the most
chilling of all, considering the climate in which the victim of this
story found himself. Where would WE as fanfiction writers be had this
happened? Who else might have stepped into the gap to give us the raw
materials on which we thrive?

Definitely heart-stopping, as well as poignant as we appreciate the
device this young soldier had inscribed onto his notebook (a bit of a
difference from the backs of sheets of orders truly put to use) while
those who deal with the casualty aren't even certain he's one of theirs.

What a world of thought is conveyed in these hundred words.

Title: Shadows · Author: Bodkin · Races: Elves: Family · ID: 698
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-14 06:32:54
sometimes even the old must grow up someday.

Title: Free To Live · Author: Nieriel Raina · Races: Elves: Mirkwood
Elves · ID: 701
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-14 06:34:59
our first reactions are sometimes the hardest to wxplain, they aren't
necessarily bad but they hurt; us and others.