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Title: Lothíriel - The Tenth Walker, Book 2 · Author: juno_magic ·
Genres: Alternate Universe: Incomplete · ID: 567
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-09-29 02:34:03
Spoilers!
One of the best AU Tenth Walker fanfic stories I have read continues
here, as Lothiriel, the German law student transported to Middle-earth
narrates her adventures during and after the Ring War. It's fun to see
the viewpoint of a modern young woman in war, danger, then the joys of
peacetime and romance with a certain horse-lord.

I hope that JunoMagic will finish this entertaining story.

Title: And so our friendship began... · Author: Amarok · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Elves and Men · ID: 281
Reviewer: mbumpus_99 · 2008-09-29 02:59:46
This is an intriguing "what if" tale that explores how Legolas would
respond if meeting Aragorn under less than ideal conditions. The
actions and emotions are concise and true to character. The herbal
knowledge is sound. One moves smoothly from one bit of insight that
Legolas gets to the next until finally he has a clear idea of just who
his companion is.

A very interesting and enjoyable read.

Title: A Large Bold Hand · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 10
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:01:28
As a calligrapher myself, and one also fascinated by beautiful
letters, and very much admiring of the beauty of Tengwar, I could
really identify with this lovely drabble--which does, indeed, explain
a lot. Ori clearly has the soul of a scrivener!

Title: Expert Treasure Hunter · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Villains:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 447
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:01:57
I love this description of Smaug and his perceptions. The author makes
him seem very alien and reptilian, and yet at the same time captures
his intelligence and cunning. Very draconian!

Title: Fatherhood · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Humor: Drabbles · ID: 547
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:06:22
There are a lot of different stories as to how Lothiriel ended up
Queen of Rohan, but this little drabble opens up an entire future in
only 100 words! And I adore Imrahil in this!

Title: Where the Sky Kisses the Horizon, There My Dreams Lie · Author:
Lindelea · Races: Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 689
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:07:59
This is a very lovely drabble, acknowledging the bonds of friendship
among those who were in the Fellowship. I love Legolas and Aragorn in
this--an absolutely beautiful example of the
hobbits-in-blankets-genre, showing that it can be more than mere fluff.

Title: Dreamscape · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Dwarves: Drabbles · ID: 442
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:09:25
This is a wonderful and lovely explanation of how Gimli came to
recognize the mountains where Khazad-dum lay. I love the idea that
this particular realm of the Dwarves would be memorilized in many ways
whereever the Dwarves dwelt. And the imagery is gorgeous, and
appropriate to the Gimli who in canon would often wax poetic.

Title: Men of the Twilight · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Romance:
Drabbles · ID: 209
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:10:34
I really like this use of the phrase that Faramir had used in regards
to the Rohirrim--and his reevaluation of it in light of what he
witnesses. I can imagine his relief, as well, to hear one of the two
he observes use a certain word. Very nice!

Title: Charge! · Author: Tanaqui · Genres: Drama: Ring War Drabbles ·
ID: 444
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 03:11:04
Brilliant use of a twist at the end of a drabble, as well as perfect
imagery--it instantly brought a certain movie-verse moment to my mind,
though it was very much a canon piece. And a great way to draw certain
unspoken parallels.

Title: Dispelling the Fog · Author: fantasyfan · Races: Other Beings ·
ID: 642
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-09-29 12:10:41
Spoilers!
Tom Bombadil is one of those pieces of Middle-earth that simply
resists integration, handling, managing, clarification - one gets
around him, usually, or ignores him in order not to have to handle his
oddness. Fantasy_fan doesn't opt for any of these more usual routes:
she inserts a head-on question and answer session into the rescue of
the hobbits from the wights.

The scene is captured well, and Tom Bombadil sounds very much in
character - suitably enigmatic and incapable of a straight answer.
Frodo's insight and his firm but polite demeanor are also
well-portrayed, and convincing - I loved his remark about being immune
to certain forms of distraction, thanks to being related to Pippin!
That tendency for hobbits to speak lightly even when speaking of
serious matters comes through here quite admirably, and the passing of
the apple to Merry was a nice way of affirming his commitment to
getting some answers.

Bombadil's evasion, despite being more open than ever he is in the
books was well-done, and Merry's conclusion must be our own in the
end. That nicely allows the author to note the limits of her own
exploration, without having to wait until the end of the story for
notes or the like.

Well worth reading, highly recommended!

Title: BRIDGE: Pá Valaraucar ar Námier · Author: Fiondil · Races:
Other Beings · ID: 415
Reviewer: Dwimordene · 2008-09-29 12:27:34
Spoilers!
Fiondil's vision of the Istari and the consequences of a *real*
incarnation - *all* the consequences, bodily and spiritual - is very
welcome. She draws in the chapter from [Unfinished Tales] on the
nature of the wizards and their unique mission, and finds in it the
possibility of a conversation and a choice for the Maiar who would
enter Middle-earth.

With this kernel in place, and the reminder that Balrogs are corrupted
Maiar, and so 'brothers' to the Istari, we have the doubled up core of
the story: that a real death comes not without a real Judgment on the
life lived, hence Olorin's awakening in one of Namo's chambers, and
the *need* for judgment, for a moment of arrogance and pride very
subtly interpolated into the canonical events.

A very nice reference, too, to the situation with Sam, where his
participation in the Quest each time is both punishment and reward. To
be "promoted" or, to use another language, "elected" to a highly risky
task is no simple recognition of ability, but of responsibility and
the capacity to bear it with the necessary grace and wisdom. Gandalf
may have been arrogant, but he demonstrates the humility needed for
the task, which will now be also a work of redemption. Not many can
handle both at the same time, especially with the world in balance and
the plans of the Valar (which Gandalf had dimly perceived in another
nice use of an underused book passage) at stake.

Do give this one a read!

Title: Chance Encounter · Author: przed · Races: Men: Steward's Family
· ID: 5
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-29 14:51:41
I really liked the tone of this - matter-of-fact and a bit formal -
that none the less gave us a story full of rich details easily put forth.

Title: A Large Bold Hand · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 10
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-29 14:55:34
Spoilers!
An odd pairing, yes, but you found such a plausible way to bring them
together. We don't see enough imaginings of what the companions of
Thorin did during their time in Rivendell, and what that cross
cultural polination might have wrought. It makes perfect sense to me
that Ori, or any craftsman, would take joy in what the elves could
create, and seek to learn from it. This is what I find best in fanfic
- filling the cracks in the professor's vision with scenes so
perfectly in keeping that you never see the seems. Good example; well
done.

Title: Restoration · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Races: Men:
Minas Tirith · ID: 19
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-29 14:58:04
Spoilers!
This is a nice vignette, all the nicer for including Beregond. It
definately works for me that Aragorn might find self-refreshment in
the success of this good works. I think all creators feel that way.

Title: Lost and Found · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Times: Mid
Third Age · ID: 23
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-29 15:02:26
Spoilers!
Lovely little vignette. My favorite moment was actually Gandalf's bit
of insight and compassion for Denethor. That gave an additional
dimension to the scene.

Title: The Game of Kings · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Genres:
Humor · ID: 28
Reviewer: Nancy Brooke · 2008-09-29 15:06:54
This is a great story! Well done! All the details - Barliman's
observations of his business and his patrons - were perfect and
charming, but never heavy or obvious. You hit all the marks here but
made it read effortlessly. And the punch line, as it were, was amusing
and provocative. Again, well done!

Title: The Ritual Disturbed · Author: Larner · Genres: Horror · ID: 68
Reviewer: Claudia · 2008-09-29 18:08:14
Holy moly, this was a creepy tale, so dark and sinister. This is the
perfect time of year to read this story, too, and I should have done
so with some hot cocoa and a fire, after dark. What an extraordinarily
interesting POV to take, that of the creature inside the Barrow. I
don't want to know what is in its mind and yet I was compelled to
follow this story! Well done!

Title: A Midsummer Day's Dream · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres:
Drama: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 422
Reviewer: Claudia · 2008-09-29 18:12:20
Spoilers!
I read this and I must say I had a nearly violently emotional response
to it. Yes, the minute Faramir saw Boromir waiting for him, I teared
up. So you packed an incredible emotional punch in this short piece,
and it makes sense that Faramir would go like this, surrounded by
people he loves, both living and dead.

Title: Birthday Double Drabble · Author: PipMer · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 526
Reviewer: Claudia · 2008-09-29 18:14:20
oh wow. What an incredibly emotional journey between two different
points where Merry is impatiently waiting for Pippin. The second one
especially.

Title: Many Branches · Author: Baranduin · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Frodo and Faramir · ID: 420
Reviewer: Claudia · 2008-09-29 18:17:34
WE KNOW THIS IS SEKRITLY SLASH OMG!! :)

Okay, seriously, this is definitely one of my all-time favorites of
this author. Exploring that scenario in which Faramir promises that he
and Frodo will talk under a new sun. I remember when I first read that
section in the book that it depressed me so much. I remember
misinterpreting it to mean that Faramir's friendship with Frodo was
conditional and he would only talk to him if he succeeded. Of course I
realized later that duh, the only way they WOULD get to talk to each
other is if Frodo succeeded because well, the quest and the end of the
world and all. Anyway, this scenario portrays their deep friendship
with such tenderness and hope.

Title: Trading Pledges · Author: Adaneth · Races: Dwarves · ID: 339
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 19:16:18
What a wonderful story! I love all of the hints about the culture and
society of the Dwarves. JRRT gives us so very little to go on, after
all. But this was marvelous--I love the hints about the courtship
customs, and also about the place of Dwarven women in their society.

And I am very impressed by Thekk and Aud, a pair of very well-drawn
OCs, who make me wonder about what becomes of them later on.

And the prose is very dignified and glows like gems--very appropriate
to the subject matter!

Title: The Game of Kings · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Genres:
Humor · ID: 28
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 19:16:43
A very evocative vignette, I could just see the scene as it was set in
the Prancing Pony. Barliman's POV was perfect--pragmatic, and only a
little curious, about this strange game and the people who played it.
The last line was utterly perfect.

Title: Shelter From the Storm · Author: SlightlyTookish · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Friendship · ID: 315
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-09-29 19:17:02
Caradhras is where canon Boromir got to shine. His foresight meant
they had wood to burn, his concern for the hobbits brought the Company
to a halt, and his strength took them down the mountain.
SlightlyTookish captures this in showing Boromir trying to keep the
younger hobbits as warm as he can. Very touching, reminding us of
Boromir's essential decency.

Title: Arwen in the Afternoon · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres:
Romance: Elven Lands · ID: 244
Reviewer: Yeade · 2008-09-29 21:39:49
Spoilers!
Let's deal with the big issues right away:

1) Non-canon Elf sex! OMG!

Is it "The Laws and Customs of the Eldar" in which Tolkien puts a
rather stiff ban on premarital sex? I can't recall. (Also, no pun
intended! XD) Regardless of the source, I'm inclined to agree with
Gilraen's reasoning on the matter--the Elves [fear no pox, nor
unwanted children, and with immortal life they do not fret about the
legitimacy of an heir]--except in the assertion that immortality means
no worries about heirs. Tolkien's Elves aren't invulnerable, after
all, and Elven royalty is just as prone to dying in battle as their
human counterparts. Of course, if my hazy memory of Elven conception
being a conscious decision isn't an invention I read in some other
fic, the question of illegitimate children is a moot one.

At any rate, I've always thought the idea of Elves abstaining from sex
for potentially *thousands of years* is one that stretches credulity
well past the breaking point. Only somewhat less ridiculous, IMO, is
Aragorn being a virgin after nearly nine decades. In short, Gandalfs
apprentice, I started quite willing to believe this view of Elven
sexual mores and, in fact, practically considered such behavior as
personal canon by the time I finished reading. Neither am I overly
troubled in doing so as I take a rather flexible view of Tolkien's
works. To wit, if _The Hobbit_ and LOTR are supposed to be the Red
Book of Westmarch, who wrote _The Silmarillion_ or the rest?
Attributing said account of Elven society to uptight Fourth Age
Gondorian scholars who lived long after the last Elf left for Valinor
and did sketchy research or had ulterior motives for whitewashing the
fabled creatures is a pretty awesome retcon, lol.

2) Canon character slash! OMG!

Specifically Aragorn/Halbarad. While I've nothing against slash in
general, I must admit to a particular bias when it comes to this
pairing or, indeed, any that involves liegeman and lord (e.g.
Aragorn/Boromir-or-Faramir). Perhaps my only complaint about the
relationship between Aragorn and Halbarad is that their romantic love
seems too divorced from their fealty, which is also rewarded with
love. If your heart is gripped by two bonds of equal strength to one
object that can even be mistaken (see Éowyn), I don't believe you can
ever feel one without the other. Likely the two become hopelessly
entangled. Aragorn, especially, isn't a guy I'd call easy to love;
he's too many things to too many people, and there's no separating one
aspect from another. Arwen dies for him, and so does Halbarad. Whether
their reasons overlap or not is impossible to tell, IMO.

That said, I find Halbarad's sharp yearning and his interactions with
Aragorn, who's under a couple painful misapprehensions himself, are
exceptionally well written. There's a certain spare elegance to the
prose that nevertheless contains a wealth of raw emotion. Halbarad
can't forget his first kiss with Aragorn? Ditto: [Shock and delight
hit him in one ball of frenzy before he pulled away and hissed, "What
are you doing?" / Dismay shadowed Aragorn's face. "Don't you like it?"
/ And Halbarad's world turned upside down as he answered, "Yes.
*Yes*."] Aragorn's kicked puppy impression and Halbarad's double
affirmative, his *emphasis* undo me. Oh, the drama! The angst! The
passion!

Okay, I must gush about the humor throughout "Arwen in the Afternoon" now.

It's in large part due to Halbarad's narration, I think. The man's
simply a crackup, and his brand of sardonic wit is endlessly amusing
to me. For instance: [He grimly endured the wines, cheeses, fragrant
breads, juicy meats, elegant salads, brandies and sweets as best as he
could. With glum determination he stalked into the Hall of Fire to
suffer through a night of song and poetry.] How can you not feel for
such a brave soul?

Furthermore, there's the crazy, crazy Elves. Arwen--astonishingly
beautiful in every graceful description but a totally unrepentant
rascal. Glorfindel's a screaming riot, Elrohir's an ass, Thingol and
Melian have been unknowingly cast in the Middle-earth production of _A
Midsummer Night's Dream,_ and let's not forget [O! Tra-la-la-lally! /
Come back to the valley!] Rivendell's distinctly *unreal*, a magical
place of potent seductions where any sane man--and Halbarad likes to
believe he is one, lol--might lose his head. Aragorn doesn't help
either. Not when his first appearance in Imladris involves dressing
suspiciously like Conan the Barbarian. (It's the fur. The tacky belt.
Bare arms.) XD

Not that all's light and merry. Everyone's determinedly *not talking*
about Aragorn and Arwen's betrothal. With limited to no success.
Gilraen manages to dodge that arrow only by cuddling her white cat.
Woe for those who don't have convenient pets!

There's just *so much* crammed into this story. And never is the
balance between all the diverse elements upset. I got food for
thought, I laughed, I cr- well, no, but not for lack of trying. It's
an exceptional experience, truly.

Title: Hammer · Author: Aranel Took · Races: Dwarves: Drabbles · ID: 468
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-09-29 21:46:51
Spoilers!
Aranel Took has created a quite delightful drabble in this clever
piece based on a challenge to use four specified words. She has
produced a tale of Dwarven courting customs that is highly amusing,
with witty use of subtle innuendo. While Aranel's intent here is
clearly light-hearted, she still delivers writing with a strong
Dwarven flavour, despite the fact we have next to no canonical
information regarding the subject. There are never enough stories
written about Dwarves, so it's a particular pleasure to encounter such
a well written one. Very nicely done -- bravo!