Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: The Dwarves Treasure · Author: eiranae · Races: Dwarves · ID: 312
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 04:37:09
Spoilers!
Shades of Captain Carrot! Terry Pratchett would recognize Mireth, I
think! All she needs is a famous sword!

I'm sorry--I love the Discworld books, and this brought things to mind
is all!

A group of Elves headed from Rivendell to Mirkwood to see relatives
there has been slaughtered just as Gandalf and Balin, returning from a
visit to the Shire, come on the scene. Gandalf sees to it that Balin
doesn't appropriate any of the obvious things--necklaces, swords,
other jewelry or weapons; but he doesn't see the chest under the
shrubbery that Balin manages to spirit away to Erebor--and opens to
find perhaps the greatest treasure of all!

Now, you need to finish this--I want to read the rest of the story!

Title: Eucatastrophe: The Return · Author: Dreamflower · Genres:
Alternate Universe · ID: 617
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-10-20 05:09:58
Spoilers!
Haven't many of us wished that Frodo could have returned from the
Undying Lands hale and whole, and that the Elves did not fade or
leave? Dreamflower's Eucatastrophe stories make that wish come true;
for the Elves, and the ring-bearing hobbits, can go back and forth
from the West at will.

Frodo's return is written with joy and credibility; and the hobbits
reuniting for a far gentler adventure is great fun. Good descriptions
of Merry's wedding. I'd have liked to see more of Finrod, but this was
a hobbit story after all...

Title: The Misty Month · Author: Le Rouret · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Post-Ring War · ID: 454
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 05:10:10
Spoilers!
A wonderful unexpected birth story, with Eowyn stranded in Anorien,
relying on the most unconventional midwife while others go in haste to
fetch her husband and brother.

Well described and with a good sense of place.

Title: One Equal Temper of Heroic Hearts · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres:
Romance: Gondor · ID: 334
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 06:06:35
Spoilers!
When does desire wain? For Aragorn and Arwen, not even alleged old age
seems to be an impediment!

This is sensual without being titillating, intimate at the same time
it is open. The question is charming, and the thoughts on whom to
discuss the question with are humorous. And the ending--ah, but the
ending is perfect--perfectly delightful for us as well as these two as
they accept that there need be no waining for them!

Gwynnyd has truly wrought a wonder here, and I so thank her for it!

Title: Lily Took · Author: Cathleen · Races: Hobbits: Childhood · ID: 147
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 06:15:39
Spoilers!
How wonderful when an argument between Pippin and his pink knitted
piglet Tulip ends in meeting a new member of the family!

The story is charming, the descriptions delightful, and the final
image is just wonderful. Like Snowflake and Lily, I'd love to join
this family! Sweet and properly fluffy--just right for a Pippin and
Tulip tale. And a wonderful disposition for a new blanket, even if
Eglantine doesn't agree! Heh!

Title: Amara · Author: Claudia · Genres: Mystery · ID: 236
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 06:38:16
Spoilers!
This is a tale worthy of the Arabian Nights, a tale of haunting beauty
of a haunting beauty, once encountered by Faramir as he and his men
lay in wait for the coming of an army of Haradrim.

Who was Amara? Woman, ghost, Djinn? Why did she feel compelled to warn
Faramir of the danger his soldiers faced when he denied her
invitation? And why is the dream then apparently repeating itself--and
to the one who heard the tale from Faramir's lips?

Very sensual, and delightfully shivery.

Title: Trinity · Author: pandemonium_213 · Times: Modern Times · ID: 51
Reviewer: Linda Hoyland · 2008-10-20 06:46:31
Spoilers!
A truly fascinating and thought provoking story which I thank the
random story feature for pointing me to., I don't usually read either
modern times or Simarillion stories. I love the way you use Tolkien's
characters to explore some of the great moral dilemmas of our age. I
recall seeing in a TV Programme about Oppenheimer quoting the Bhaghad
Gita and you make good use of that powerful work here. I greatly
enjoyed this engrossing story and am sure it will linger in my mind.I
always have thought the One Ring has some similar properties to the
Atom bomb,both in Tolkien and Wagner's epics.

Title: Wars of the Valar · Author: Fiondil · Genres: Longer Works · ID: 3
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 06:51:31
Spoilers!
A fascinating look at the creation of Ea and Arda, and the internecine
war begun by Melkor as he seeks to keep the world on which Eru's
Children are to live from being completed, told mostly from the point
of view of Namo.

From the moment those of the Ainur who chose to enter Ea stepped into
the nascent universe they'd helped to bring into being, they felt the
delight of being part of Atar's plan and the responsibility inherent
in helping to bring it to be. Music and physics each have their part
to play in the creation of the celestial bodies, as well as fun--and
the horrors of betrayal. We see the triumph of setting up nurseries
from which stars are born and the grief of having to sweep up the
resulting shards--and having to sacrifice one's masterpieces--to
protect the world that will one day serve as home to Eru's children.
And though this world is marred by Melkor, one gets the feeling he
cannot destroy it, for in giving up the joy of co-creation, the fallen
Vala has lost an appreciation for the persistent delight of living a
full life and the stubborn persistence that keeps even the most deeply
wounded seeking to find delight in spite of Melkor's machinations.

The story is well written and fast-paced, and an excellent blend of
science, fantasy, myth, spirtuality, and fact. It is interesting to
watch the young Valar develop and deal with Melkor's assaults, many of
which include a form of spiritual rape. I am always pleased to see a
new chapter posted.

Title: Engineering · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men: Minas Tirith
· ID: 696
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-10-20 06:58:53
Spoilers!
Many of us have come to love Serindë, the outspoken chief surgeon from
the Houses of Healing whose relationships with Denethor and Aragorn
were in such contrast. In this story we see what it was that drew her
to surgery, and how she dealt with the treatment of her own injuries.

She and Galion, who will ever be known to her as "Fish," are well
depicted as children. Surgical Steel has captured the characters of
the two of them very well, and shows us the two healers in the making
with all their strengths and foibles, endearing them to us even now.
This story also gives us telling glimpses into the organization of the
Houses of Healing and a bit of their politics as well as offering us
wonderful character studies. We get small glimpses both of what
brought them to this place as well as hints of what they will become,
both to the world in which they live and to one another was their
lives continue. No, not to love, but to the depths of a friendship to
warm the heart. And we see the stubbornness and integrity growing as
they come to appreciate one another in spite of their initial rivalry
that will so mark them as mature healers.

As with all her works, this is intriguing and well researched, and it
easily captures our imaginations, and makes it easier to to appreciate
how difficult and yet rewarding it can be to choose healing as a
profession.

Title: The Librarian · Author: Jay of Lasgalen · Races: Elves: Family
· ID: 700
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-10-20 19:21:23
Very entertaining, all the more as it was being told through the eyes
of the adults witnessing Legolas' antics!

The characterisations shine; and I loved small, inquisitive Legolas.
Good, lively descriptions, and well-handled dialogue all make the
story come alive.

And the comedic timing is excellent! I kept giggling at every new
revelation piling on top of one another as the story went on.

Title: Shadows · Author: Bodkin · Races: Elves: Family · ID: 698
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-10-20 19:23:11
Beautifully told; I liked the almost languid feel to the language and
the mood it evokes. Lyrical descriptions which highten the meaning of
the scenes.

I could really feel just how deeply wounded and almost shell-shocked
Legolas was at seeing so much senseless destruction he was not there
to prevent during the War of the Ring (and not recognising there would
have been precious little he could have done *had* been present). The
slow unfolding memories that connect present grief with past horror
are very effectively told, and provide insight into just why Legolas'
reaction is so stark.

The use of intertwining perspectives of almost, but not quite
connecting "protagonists" was a very effective - and affecting -
touch. I liked the little bit of uncertainty in it, that Legolas not
quite knows - even at the very end - if what he feels is reality or
wishful thinking, whereas I as reader am provided with additional insight.

Title: Wizards' Pupils · Author: Altariel · Races: Men: Minas Tirith ·
ID: 108
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-10-20 23:43:21
Spoilers!
Altariel is one of my favorite Tolkien fanfiction writers; and not
only because she usually writes of my favorite Tolkien human
character. She has a wonderful ability to plumb the psychological and
political depths in an elegant, minimalist and frequently
heart-rending way. This story has layers upon layers, and all of them
fascinate. What I loved best about the story was the flashback of
Faramir's meeting with Saruman (and Altariel's rendition of Saruman is
outstanding) and the reaffirmation of Faramir's bond with Mithrandir.
The love and trust between the Grey Pilgrim and Faramir is beautifully
written here; a wonderful contrast between the interplay of Faramir
and Saruman, and the relationship of Faramir with his own father. The
pain of Faramir's sudden realization that his father is enthralled by
Saruman's insidious and rather poisonous counsel is conveyed with
great skill; the reader feels the boy's fear and confusion that follow
his moment of clarity.

I must also mention a particularly Neat Bit - Faramir describes the
respect and trust given him by Mithrandir, after his having been
dismissed as a callow innocent by his father and Saruman and others,
as [a mighty gift] - the same phrase used by Denethor in ROTK to
reproach Faramir with what Denethor believed Boromir would have
brought him - namely, the One Ring.

Though I am ambivalent about Elboron's ultimate decision, I found this
to be a very insightful story about Faramir's past as well as his
relationship with his son.