Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: The Stranger · Author: Nieriel Raina · Genres: Drama: Featuring
the Noldor · ID: 560
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-11-12 06:30:38
Spoilers!
A melancholy, fittingly haunting account of Maglor's last moments this
side of the Sundering Sea, and his homecoming. The use of the
viewpoint of the mortal child is a master-stroke, with effective
contrast of the boy's youthful innocence and the lost Elf's
unimaginable age and weariness.

Title: Dance of the Deer and Mûmak · Author: Nieriel Raina · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 559
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-11-12 06:53:47
Spoilers!
One of the best Legolas/Gimli friendship stories I have read; with an
original and delightful framework for showing off the differences
between them - how they dance. Dancing is hard to write; but Nieriel
Raina does it very well; enabling me to see the Elves leaping
gracefully and barefoot. Gimli's dance is a revelation; and entirely
credible, as he embodies the power and strength of his people and
himself, graceful in a more earthbound fashion than his Elven hosts,
but no less entrancing.

Title: If I Had One Wish · Author: Ellie · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Finwe · ID: 658
Reviewer: Robinka · 2008-11-12 10:01:17
Reality confronted with the wish that Indis of the Vanyar reveals in
this short, poignant and well written story. Great writing!

Title: Chance Encounter · Author: Telcontar Rulz · Times: Late Third
Age · ID: 203
Reviewer: Larner · 2008-11-12 11:02:45
Spoilers!
An interesting crossover in which there is not only a Tenth Walker,
but an eleventh as well!

The initial chapters particularly are well done as we welcome Banial
to the Fellowship and he and Frodo end up captured by orcs on
Caradhras. After a time a good part of it feels a bit rushed, and some
elements seem odd, such as Legolas seeing Sauron in the Palantir after
he's been cast down; but it manages to keep the attention.

Title: Kementari · Author: Marta · Times: First Age and Prior · ID: 99
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-11-12 17:21:18
Very evocative writing; the melancholy mood is reflected well in the
descriptions and in Yavanna's somewhat languid musings and motions. I
liked the way Yavanna's sadness expressed itself in her creations. The
juxtaposition between her memories of splendour and lushness
contrasted with the present dreary reality was very effective.

The idea that she might have been jealous of the other Valar because
their creations are still alive and they are praised for them struck
me as a fascinating and believable concept.

Title: GOBLINS: The Herald's Summons · Author: Fiondil · Times: First
Age and Prior · ID: 53
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-11-12 17:21:31
Very good scene-setting; I was intrigued by the mundane details that
bring a day during the War of Wrath really to life in the complexity
that is sometimes hard to imagine from the little that is written in
canon.

I found Arafinwë's thoughts and feelings about his daughter and his
son-in-law amusing, but also understandable and touching.

I liked that the philosophical and moral questions are touched upon
only lightly, which I thought gave them resonance beyond the shortness
of the story.

Title: The Last Stand · Author: Rhapsody · Times: First Age and Prior
· ID: 82
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-11-12 17:21:42
The battle and its various thrusts, strategies, pauses etc. is evoked
very clearly, the details of various scenes are well-chosen. I like
the balance the narrators show between necessary detachment in the
heat of battle, and the emotions and distracted musings that come
through regardless.

Title: Surprise · Author: Dawn Felagund · Times: First Age and Prior ·
ID: 131
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-11-12 17:21:51
A fascinating gap-filler. Great characterisations, especially in the
PoV-character. Aulë's workshop and the diverse duties and workings of
Mahtan it are presented very clearly.

I liked how the story is infused with the ambiguity Mahtan felt
regarding the joys and duties of fatherhood versus his ambitions
regarding his chosen profession.

The forebodings and visions Mahtan experiences are woven very well
into the narrative; in fact, they come up so seamlessly that it is
slightly unsettling, which I found very effective considering their
content.

Title: The Queen's Gift · Author: Queen Galadriel · Races: Elves:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 697
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:53:40
Spoilers!
In this piece, Queen Galadriel has created a lovely, lyrical triple
drabble in which Arwen contemplates he Ringbearer and his eventual
fate and, master weaver that she is, draws together the threads of
many lives to reach understanding. A well-written and convincing look
at what Arwen might have been thinking as she handed over that white
jewel to Frodo. Well done!


Title: A Meeting in the Tower Hills · Author: Imhiriel · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 374
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:53:56
Spoilers!
Imhiriel has a real gift for picking little-explored corners of canon
which were sketched only briefly by Tolkien and imbuing them with life
and wit. This drabble provides a highly amusing snapshot of the
reunion of two-long sundered tribes that nevertheless has a ring of
realism in the awkwardness and suspicion that is the basis for the
humour that culminates in a final line raises a chuckle. Nicely done!

Title: Sunset Gates · Author: Ignoble Bard · Races: Dwarves: Drabbles
· ID: 342
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:54:06
Spoilers!
Ignoble Bard has created a drabble with an amusing and clever twist in
the final line that makes the reader re-read and reconsider what has
been said earlier and chuckle in amusement. Although set in the modern
world, the opening lines have all the lyricism of Tolkien's world,
making the final reveal all the more surprising. Witty and charming –
well done!

Title: Loudwater · Author: Adaneth · Times: Late Third Age: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 63
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:54:15
Spoilers!
Adaneth has given voice to the wordless in this drabble about the
Bruinen. The word picture that has been drawn in this prose poem,
using alliteration, onomatopoeia and poetic metre evokes the river in
all its stages and moods. The author's love of words, and her
undoubted skill with them, dazzles the reader as clearly as sunlight
flashing off the ripples of the Loudwater she describes. Beautifully
done – bravissima!

Title: Autumn · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Gondor Drabbles ·
ID: 489
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:54:23
Spoilers!
Linda Hoyland has created a charming piece in which Aragorn reflects
on his change in circumstances following the War of the Ring – on what
he misses and what he doesn't, what he has lost and what he has
gained. The contrasts are beautifully expressed in vivid language .
Very nicely done – bravo!

Title: My Precious · Author: SheBit · Genres: Romance: Drabbles · ID: 14
Reviewer: Tanaqui · 2008-11-12 22:54:31
Spoilers!
This is a chilling, creepy and yet completely psychologically
convincing drabble about lust, obsession and contempt. SheBit
certainly achieves her goal of taking us right inside the head of
Grima Wormtongue and shows us what a dark and nasty place it is. Quite
brilliantly unpleasant and unnerving – well done!


Title: A New Day · Author: Oshun · Genres: Longer Works · ID: 35
Reviewer: Ignoble Bard · 2008-11-13 00:21:05
The continuation of the Findekano/Maitimo relationship finds our
heroes picking up the pieces after Maitimo's imprisonment and torture
at the hands of Morgoth. Despite their angry parting and the events
following, Maitimo awakes to find Findekano by his side, their bond as
strong as ever. Though both characters have been changed profoundly by
their experience and are having to adjust to a new world of sun and
moon, a world where Sindarin and Noldor are each learning the ways of
the other, the bond between the two lovers is as strong as ever. Not
that there aren't still obstacles to be overcome, big ones, but that
we know that Maitimo and Findekano will face them together.

Oshun has created one of the great fandom romances with her stories of
these two Silmarillion heroes. She pulls off the difficult task of
framing their relationship within the known events, balancing her
exquisite characterizations with the social and political machinations
that surround the characters. In the course of the story, Maitimo must
come to a decision concerning the leadership role that has been thrust
upon him with his father's death, deal with his emotionally wounded
siblings, and come to grips with his memories of Angband and his own
physical and emotional scars. Through it all, Findekano is there to
encourage, cajole, and prod him as needed, proving that love can
conquer all. Fleshing out Tolkien's portrayal of these two is Oshun's
gift, and compelling those of us who still look askance at the
Silmarillion to embrace these characters and take them into our hearts
is her talent.

Findekano is one of the truly great characters of fanfiction, gallant,
loyal, intelligent, perceptive, and madly in love with his beautiful
cousin. So inspiring is his character that I was moved last year to
write a poem about him. I will not make the author or other reviewers
suffer from my feeble attempts this year but I will say that each of
Oshun's stories pulls me further into the world of Findekano and
Maitimo. From their first kiss to their reunion upon the shores of
Lake Mithrim, from their earliest confessions of love to feeling their
way through the "new day" of an unfamiliar new world, I have enjoyed
seeing how far they have come and will be journeying with them on
their destiny-filled trek into the future.


Title: Trouble at Bag End · Author: Angiet · Races: Hobbits: Childhood
· ID: 728
Reviewer: Antane · 2008-11-13 00:22:45
What a lovely, sweet, loving story! I love the playing peek a boo, the
care given throughout and the ending! I wonder if Aragorn would
remember this, fifty years later, at the Prancing Pony. :) What a
great gift for them both to share this time together.

Title: The Tower Hills · Author: DrummerWench · Genres: Drama: Final
Partings · ID: 608
Reviewer: Antane · 2008-11-13 00:30:41
A sweet story of friendship and care given for almost the last time in
Middle-earth and this time Frodo being the care-giver and Sam the one
comforted by his beloved master's touch and presence. There is not
much time for them to be together on Middle-earth, but each new memory
would be a treasure for them both. Thank you for adding another.

Title: Harmony · Author: Elwen · Races: Hobbits · ID: 195
Reviewer: Antane · 2008-11-13 02:29:40
Spoilers!
An interesting story. I love that Elrond was able to hear Frodo's song
and love that he was able to weave it into the gem Arwen gifted the
troubled Ring-bearer with. I've wondered whether the Vala, Nienna and
Este, in particular would be involved in Frodo's healing and this
brings it out. He would be in need of both. I thought it was
interesting that he was asked if he wished for healing and he said
yes. Interesting also that pride was what he needed to let go in able
to heal and forgiveness of self.