Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Trading Pledges · Author: Adaneth · Races: Dwarves · ID: 339
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-16 18:42:39
Spoilers!
This is an excellent piece of work. You so fully imagined so many
aspects of dwarven culture, and let those aspects deeply permeate your
characters, their language, and their actions. I just loved how you
took a story we've seen before, that of the sought after maiden
(essentially) who has had no need for adult responsibilities, suddenly
forced by uncontrollable forces to make a life-binding decision. But,
again, you couched it so completely in your envisioned Dwarven culture
that it became something quite new and fresh. There are so many pieces
of this I absolutely loved I couldn't possibly list them all but a few
were how the females' work was equally industrious and valued as the
males', how secretly Aud's mother kept her treasures, how Aud
evaluated her suitor by the quality of his work and gift, and the
element of magic which made the whole scene between Aud and her mother
sparkle. Just excellent work.

Title: The Ring That Sauron Forged · Author: Larner · Genres: Poetry:
Hobbits · ID: 645
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-09-16 20:21:52
I loved this Tolkienesque version of the old nursery rhyme.It brought
back happy memories from childhood when my dear Mother used to recite
"This is the House that Jack built to me".
I loved the way Larner used characters in the Ring's history in a
simple poetic retelling of Tolkien's complex tale.
Very clevery written,amusing and enjoyable.

Title: Comes the moment to decide · Author: Linda Hoyland · Times:
Late Third Age: Gondor · ID: 418
Reviewer: stefaniab · 2008-09-16 21:36:10
Spoilers!
This story illustrates a pivotal point in the lives of two characters
that often "star" in Linda's fiction: Aragorn and Faramir. Though
Gondor and its politics have a major place in the story, rest assured
that it is filled with those angsty moments for which Linda is famed.
Book canon is followed pretty closely, from the relationship of
Faramir and Denethor during the events surrounding the flight from
Osgiliath, to Faramir's subsequent wounding, and ultimately to a tour
de force dream sequence where Aragorn pulls out all the stops to bring
Faramir back from the point of death. The drama quotient is quite high!

I liked this story particularly because it illustrates a prevalent
theme in Linda's writing--that Faramir immediately accepted Aragorn as
king without qualification. Her point is this: that Aragorn could have
left Faramir to die, especially since the Steward's claim to rulership
of Gondor is as valid as the Lord of the Dunedain. That Aragorn saved
his competition is proof enough for Faramir of the older man's
judgement, good will, and capability as a ruler.

Title: Look Not With Longing · Author: Dwimordene · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 479
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-09-16 22:59:52
Spoilers!
I simply love reading this... and rereading, etc. It's one of those
stories that, short as it is, stirs up many emotions and thoughts with
layers of meaning and applicability to our own world. Dwimordene's
superb writing skills bring this scene and its narrator completely to
life.

I guess the first thing I can comment on is the language used here.
The tone and "voice" feel utterly, completely right for Faramir:
introspective and somber but not morose or angsty. It was a victory,
after all, even if loss walks hand in hand with it. The ending is
indeed just perfect.

It's difficult to limit myself on favorite lines to highlight, because
there are too many - one after another, insights and phrases that
strike me right to the heart. I notice that others have already
commented very clearly on the prevalent theme of light, and of Light
vs. Darkness and how each defines and heightens the other; I could not
agree more on how powerfully this piece speaks to that. The sword
requires fire and grindstone to strengthen and hone it. In many ways,
this is reflected today in how those Americans living during WWII are
sometimes referred to as "The Greatest Generation" - forever changed
and yet with a glimmer about them, having lived through situations
that most of their descendants can scarcely imagine.

There's great use of other canon characters as reference points,
markers that show Faramir he is not the only one who notes the
post-War losses as well as gains. Even those children old enough to
understand the War and what Sauron's final defeat entailed have been
"colored" by the experience. One part I dearly love: [And truly, that
is what they've fought for, all of them—that there should be no more
marked as they have been. They have fought for a funeral—for the
burial of an Age, and they have won the right to a headstone.]

It's very true: war is for peace in the fighter's time, yes - but more
so for their children and grandchildren's peace. And in the end,
[dimmed] though the world may be, all the sacrifices foreseen and
unforeseen are absolutely worth it.

Thank you so much, Dwim, for a brilliant exploration of an understated
but critical facet of peace, and what it takes out of the warriors to
get us there.

Title: Seven Stones and Seven Stars and One White Tree · Author:
shirebound · Races: Other Beings · ID: 121
Reviewer: crowdaughter · 2008-09-16 23:13:28
A very interesting and unusual perspective of the events of the
Ringwar, out of a view not used otherwise. very well done, and very
intriguing. Thank you for writing and sharing!

Title: Tulip's Tale · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Humor: Shire · ID: 615
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-16 23:35:12
cathleen i think you write an amazingly patient pippin; and yet he is
still waiting at the end of the story. wonderful series. love everyone
of them.

Title: Tulip Takes a Tumble · Author: Cathleen · Genres: Humor · ID: 616
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-16 23:40:18
such a master of your craft. i look with eagerness for each new
posting i find on you and your work. thankyou for being so wonderful.

Title: The Least of Rings · Author: Marta · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Drabbles · ID: 621
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-16 23:42:37
Spoilers!
knew i didn't like that man

Title: The Fire of Hope · Author: Raksha the Demon · Races: Men:
Pre-Ring War Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 625
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-16 23:55:22
and even without trying you leave us with the sensual wonder of man.

Title: Pippin (Paladin) Had a Little Lamb · Author: Cathleen · Genres:
Humor · ID: 629
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-16 23:56:21
sammie is so perfect to add to the collection.

Title: The Secret of the Wooden Wall · Author: Lily · Genres: Mystery
· ID: 630
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:03:40
it took two generations but i'm glad you finally got thru the story.

Title: Not Quite Any Other Day · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Hobbits:
Family · ID: 631
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:08:21
ohhhhh ahhhhhhhhh love in bloom.

Title: Feeling Safe · Author: shirebound · Races: Hobbits · ID: 633
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:10:03
beautiful way to show blooming trust.

Title: Celebrity · Author: Bodkin · Races: Men: Minas Tirith · ID: 635
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:13:09
a problem not limited to modern celeb's who can recognize whom.

Title: O Merry Mine · Author: Larner · Races: Hobbits: Hurt/Comfort ·
ID: 636
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:18:27
it reads like a top forty's hit parade: best waking moments in time.

Title: Moonset over Gondor · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 652
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:34:21
ever shall he show his quality---finest kind of writing too.

Title: The Right to Bear Arms · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Humor:
Elven Lands · ID: 653
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:46:23
not sure you give the right teacher for reasons in the story itself,
but you show wonderful improvisational skill in writing sword play and
re-dos. great scene stealing too.

Title: For Our Friends · Author: Pearl Took · Genres: Drama · ID: 654
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:48:57
not a fan of taking lines of dialoug and making chitchat about
personal feelings as they are spoken. but this is not bad.

Title: Chasing Blackie · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Mid Third Age:
Eriador · ID: 655
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:50:47
just a bit ago it was cathleen and tulip with the broken nose, is
there an epidemic do you suppose. and is pippin the center of the out
breaks?

Title: The Dancing Lesson · Author: Lindelea · Races: Hobbits:
Friendship · ID: 664
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 00:56:20
with the many people who say he dances with a sword, you would find
away to teach hiim how to dance with a sword-duster.

Title: If I Had One Wish · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Finwe · ID: 658
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 01:01:05
sigggggggggggggh. so silmy

Title: Comfort and Joy · Author: Pearl Took · Times: Mid Third Age:
Eriador · ID: 656
Reviewer: nancylea · 2008-09-17 01:09:46
this will be my last mefawards 2008 review; as i opened the last page
of reading i noticed you were the first on the page and knowing that i
would want to say well done i dropped to the bottom and read up to get
here

you were i believe inthe mass of authurs i thanked for that first one,
pip healers i think it was. and through 660 stories many read twice, i
have enjoyed great,good and mediocore stories immensly.


thank you for a great many of the stories and for the support you gave
so many others as they wound their way through this maze. you have
added enjoyment and merriment to many lives mine not the least. good
luck in real life and look forward to many new and exciting stories in09.

Title: Least Expected · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Drabbles · ID: 512
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-09-17 02:07:01
Spoilers!
When I asked for AUs, I had no idea what I was unleashing on the
world. Imhiriel knows my love of Rangers, particularly poor Halbarad,
and so gave him 100 words - sadly, they weren't enough to save him,
though his death this time around opens a chilling horizon that sets
in motion more questions than it answers. One can just imagine what
must have gone wrong for this meeting to turn out as it did: did
Saruman succeed in his take-over of Rohan? Did he partially succeed?
What exactly happened to the Three Hunters? That last line, with its
past tense, incites so many horrific visions - it makes one want an
encore, to see at least a little of what Imhiriel might have had in mind.

An all too possible scenario, this AU is dark like coffee and rightly so.

Title: Untold Tales of the Mark: The Banishment of Éomer · Author:
Katzilla · Genres: Alternate Universe · ID: 206
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-09-17 02:07:17
Spoilers!
I first read this story in a previous Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards -
either 2006 or 2007. So few people deal at length with the Rohirrim,
and especially with the huge scope for AUs inherent in the political
turmoil of Rohan's court before the Ring War. Katzilla apparently is
attempting to make up for such neglect by blending book and movie
while following the course of neither, even if she takes the movie's
banishment scenario and its closing, with Éomer rejoining the Rohirrim
at Helm's Deep, as definitive, but otherwise borrows, mixes, and
matches as she sees fit. It's a successful strategy - I almost would
say, "Go the distance - don't feel obligated to rejoin the film!"
Thankfully, I'm not the one writing this - Katzilla is, and she had
her course all charted out in its major points.

[The Banishment of Éomer] works on multiple levels: it is a great
action story, especially in its first half or so, when Éomer is on his
own and hunted by Gríma's agents and orcs, and in danger from the
wintry weather. Those who like their outnumbered battles will find no
lack of these. It works as a filling in and fleshing out of a
character we all loved and wished had had more screen time: Katzilla
gives Éomer relationships with OCs and shows something of life in
Rohan as the Third Marshal struggles to find help and shelter. She
also gives movie!Éomer back a much closer relationship with Aragorn,
though again, she doesn't follow either the books or the film but
tries to develop her own vision of them that is consistent with her
interpretation of the characters. She develops the relationship with
Éothain, who is, in my opinion, far more likable than his book
incarnation, and also deals interestingly with Elfhelm.

Éowyn, too, is developed differently by being given far worse and more
physical trials - anyone who has cringed at the thought of Gríma and
Éowyn alone together in the same room will find that instinctive
reaction justified in this story. Katzilla also pays attention to a
certain lack of family feeling between Éomer and Théoden in the film
and gives an original interpretation of that relationship.

All in all: this story is dark, it's violent, but it gets the story
back in line with the on screen version eventually, and it's a fun
ride: give this one a try if you like the Rorhirrim.

Title: Parth Galen · Author: Isabeau of Greenlea · Genres: Alternate
Universe: Steward's Family · ID: 705
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-09-17 02:07:32
Spoilers!
AUs are hard enough, when one takes the original story Tolkien wrote
as one's primary text, and then begin to bend it. When you are working
with a well-developed fan-arc (even if it is your own) that already
has inserted a considerable amount of material into a canon-compatible
reinterpretation of Tolkien's work, and *then* you try to craft an AU
that works off of both Tolkien's actual conversations and the history
you've already built into the canonical text, then things rapidly get
complicated.

Can one preserve the sense of the original text, which is explicitly
present, while maintaining the fan-created history as an active
component and have it all work? Isabeau manages to make it work, using
the relationship developed for Boromir and her OC, Andrahar, to shift
the balance in Boromir's mind *just* enough for matters to play out
convincingly differently on Parth Galen. What happens after this? We
don't know - anything could happen, including the original script so
far as Boromir's final fate is concerned. He could still die. But if
he did, it would be an entirely different kind of sacrifice. In some
ways, I think we're best off not knowing - the story ends on a tense
note and determination, and that is certainly fitting.