Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Before the Black Gate · Author: Raksha the Demon · Times: Late
Third Age · ID: 45
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-11-30 02:49:49
Spoilers!
Pippin at the Black Gate--there is something that draws one in, the
thought of that blythe spirit of unquenchable optimism finally facing
despair. Here we see him share a welcome moment of camaraderie with
Beregond, that puts their friendship in the spotlight. A very touching
vignette.

Title: Silver Rain · Author: Empy · Races: Elves: House of Elrond ·
ID: 589
Reviewer: Savageseraph · 2008-11-30 02:49:58
Spoilers!
There is a very bittersweet, wistful longing in this piece, both in
the relationship between Elladan and Haldir and in the decline of the
Elves and the passing of their power and their people across the sea.
I adore that the ending blends joy with the knowledge of sorrow to
come. Lovely!

Title: Care to Ride My Hot-Rod Fell Beast? · Author: viv · Genres:
Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 180
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-11-30 02:49:59
Oh, this is just too funny! Talk about pick-up lines!

Title: Seven Sisters · Author: Pearl Took · Races: Other Beings · ID: 388
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-11-30 02:50:10
Pearl has a knack for including mythical motifs from real world
history into her stories, and for using mystical elements in a
believable manner. This story is atmospheric and more than a little
spooky. And I love tweenaged Pippin's experience here, leaving him
wondering.

Title: The Stolen Child · Author: SurgicalSteel · Races: Men · ID: 197
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-11-30 02:50:19
This story is in the aftermath of ["Loss"], and once more
SurgicalSteel proves herself a master at conveying deep emotion, and
the way tragic circumstances can both rip people apart and then draw
them back together again. And after all this time, her Halbarad seems
like the definitive Halbarad.

Title: The Captain's New Clothes · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres:
Humor: Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 421
Reviewer: Marigold · 2008-11-30 02:51:47
Spoilers!
LOL! I remember wondering about the wisdom of this outfit back in the
days when I was very young and actually owned this calendar! This
little tale is a marvellous take on why poor Faramir is making a
target of himself in the woods of Ithilien. Faramir will do anything
for the comfort of his men! I'd like to read the other stories
inspired from this calendar.

Very original and entertaining!

Title: Comfort · Author: Bodkin · Races: Elves: House of Elrond · ID: 161
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2008-11-30 02:59:10
Spoilers!
Ah, survivor's guilt and the eternal questions what could you have
done to change the outcome. There is never a good answer. Elladan is
the sensible one, but all rationalizing and logic will not overcome
Elrohir's feeling of responsibility. He will just have to learn to
live with it. I love the sentence about the bad memories always come
back to haunt you more readily than the good ones. How true. The
seriousness is nicely balanced with some much needed humor in this
little tale.

Title: Trading Pledges · Author: Adaneth · Races: Dwarves · ID: 339
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-11-30 03:00:18
Adaneth has established herself in my mind as a world-builder
extraordinaire. She has focused on Dwarves and on the Dunadain of the
(far, far) North, and this short story takes the first culture and
adds a wonderful depth and warmth to the premises established in her
longer works. Both Dwarven society in general and - delightfully! -
the close-kept particulars of Dwarven women are explored. There are
enough similarities with human romance to strike a sympathetic spark
in a reader's heart, but it comes with a very, very rich Dwarvish flavor.

The setting is excellent, plausible and well laid-out, with simply
divine characterizations: some that faithful readers know and others
that are new. No matter: every individual (and they are all OCs) is a
whole and three-dimensional figure, and by the end they feel as
familiar as old friends.

The entire piece is wonderful, leading us along through the main
female character's exploration of her heart and how/why she makes her
final decision. I love the description of the women's hearts burning
as hotly as those of their men; and of how women have their own secret
skills and arts, and how they pass them on to the next generation.

And I especially love the ending: awesome! Another terrific addition
to the Dunhabaid Cycle, Adaneth.

Title: Dirt and Gold · Author: Empy · Times: Mid Third Age · ID: 590
Reviewer: Savageseraph · 2008-11-30 03:03:46
Spoilers!
Wow! This is both disturbing and very hot. I love it! The language is
lovely, especially the contrasts between the gold of the siblings and
the ash/dirt of Wormtongue. I enjoy how Wormtongue's words manage to
make both Eowyn and Eomer shine: their love, their lust, their cruelty
done to him by being together. The detail and the reasoning capture
his character perfectly.

Title: Best Three Falls, No Gouging · Author: Brigantine · Genres:
Humor: Gondor · ID: 587
Reviewer: obsidianj · 2008-11-30 03:07:45
LOL! The running commentary of Merry and Pippin is hilarious. Even
removed from the actual action I can follow the fight through this
dialogue. And then enters Faramir to give Merry and Pippin a new
victim, eh target, for their comments. It seems at the end they too
are about to enter a fight.

Title: Blood and Iron · Author: Ribby · Races: Elves: Drabbles · ID: 122
Reviewer: Savageseraph · 2008-11-30 03:09:13
Spoilers!
Like all your short work, I love how much meaning and resonance your
manage to make your words carry. The last sentence, in particular, was
lovely and brough the drabble to a strong and satisfying end.

Title: Tangled Webs · Author: Ribby · Races: Men: Gondor Drabbles ·
ID: 100
Reviewer: Savageseraph · 2008-11-30 03:15:37
Spoilers!
This is a beautiful, bittersweet drabble. I confess that part of the
appeal is the lace making, since my grandmother did that and I could
see her making her webs in my mind's eye. Of course, I also like the
thought that Boromir is not gone because he is still entangled with
Aragorn.

Title: A Midsummer Day's Dream · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres:
Drama: Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 422
Reviewer: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · 2008-11-30 03:19:48
Spoilers!
Raksha shows us the peaceful close of Faramir's life. Like the ancient
Numenorean kings, he seems to choose the moment of his death, leaving
when he is in a summer garden, surrounded by his surviving family. The
prose is lovely, and the final line is perfect--conveying (to this
reader, anyway) the transience that shimmers behind a summer day.The
absence of Denethor did strike a strange note with me since Boromir is
included.

I would like to think that this is how Faramir died--peacefully and
content that he has left behind a legacy of fine children and
well-tended lands. Well done!



Title: Wind of Change · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
General Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 47
Reviewer: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · 2008-11-30 03:44:49
Spoilers!
The quote from the Song of Solomon--[Who is she that looketh forth as
the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an
army with banners?]--is a wonderful description of either Eowyn or
Galadriel. In this fic, it is a nice touch that Eowyn is named based
on the reaction of the King when he first sees her.

I loved the image of Glorfindel shaking out his mane after the
rainstorm. Those elves and their hair! I also liked that he could
perceive the sudden change in the balance of power as, with the birth
of Eowyn, the prophecy began to be worked out to its fulfillment. I
think it is plausible that he could sense that.

[The child quiets, then fearlessly gazes up at him and shakes a fist.
Her perfect little fingers uncurl, as if reaching to grip the hilt of
a sword.] This is a wonderful line--Eomund too has a moment of
prescience about his little daughter.

This is yet another a lovely piece of writing from Raksha.



Title: Star's End · Author: Keiliss · Races: Elves: House of Elrond ·
ID: 283
Reviewer: Gandalfs apprentice · 2008-11-30 04:59:22
As a writer of Aragorn and Arwen, I am usually put off by "Arwen's
end" tales--mostly they descend into the maudlin or some pretentious
religious sentiment, or portray Arwen as a whining child.

Keiliss's outstanding and tenderly beautiful story reaches far above
the usual. Her language is exquisite, mirroring the delicacy of the
feelings she writes of. Arwen's sorrow is fully adult; her words of no
regret ring so very true. But like any choice, there is a price.
Aragorn and Arwen pay a high price for a truly great love. Such things
don't come cheap.

Maglor's gift of mercy is--just that. This is in its own right a very
satisfactory answer to the question of what happened to Maglor.

I've always thought that Elladan and Elrohir would choose to stay in
Middle-earth as well. I know it is an unpopular position, but I see
them exactly as Arwen describes them. In my own, as yet unwritten AU
tale of Arwen's death, their choice will come up too. In my own view,
Arwen does not die with Aragorn because she can't face it at that
time. Then she comes to regret her own lack of courage.

There's a debate among some in the fandom about Aragorn's decision to
"accept the gift" as a horrible thing to do to Arwen. But he could not
spare her the pain of his death. And to spare both himself and her his
debility and age, I think, is a great act. That's why their story is
such a powerful tale of the tragedy of death.

Thanks, Keiliss. I love this story.

Title: The Legend of the Grey Riders · Author: Jay of Lasgalen ·
Races: Cross-Cultural: Elves and Men · ID: 176
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2008-11-30 06:08:39
Spoilers!
I confess: Jay of Lasgalen wrote this ficlet for my birthday, and I
can't stop grinning in delight whenever I re-read it... which is often.

The descriptions of Meduseld are atmospheric and sensual, very
evocative. I almost get dizzy imagining the thick scent of smoke.

After the solemnity of burying Theoden, the crowd has turned festive,
in celebration of the announcement of Faramir and Eowyn's betrothal.
In honor of the occasion, Eomer decides to tell the historic tale of
how the Eorlings and Gondor first made an alliance: the charge of Eorl
in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant... a topic which is very near
and dear to my heart. ;-)

Eomer's retelling strikes me as being very theatrical, just the way
experienced bards would be to keep the attention of their audience...
very Rohirric!

The he tells of the legendary Grey Riders, who rode at the forefront
of the battle, and the twins' ears perk up, realizing that they are
those mythical riders.

The rest of the story makes for some delicious humor: the twins know
who the mysterious riders are, while Eomer and Eowyn argue over the
accuracy of the bards' insistence that the riders existed. Faramir is
on the sidelines, listening to the comments of both sets of siblings,
and finally realizes that there is more to the twins' comments than he
believed at first.

I love the commentary between the twins, as well as the squabbling
over the meaning of the legend between Eomer and Eowyn, and Faramir's
growing awareness.

This is a great story, and I'm so pleased Jay shared it. Very nicely done!


Title: The Onion Riddle · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Races:
Cross-Cultural: Post-Ring War · ID: 13
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2008-11-30 06:19:04
Spoilers!
Lady Branwyn's "The Onion Riddle" is a sweet ficlet about Beregond
escorting a group of Dwarves to scout out mine sites in Ithilien.

What I enjoy most is Beregond's slowly dawning understanding of the
Dwarves, and his surprise and embarrassment when he becomes privy to a
dwarven secret. The characters are well-drawn and realistic, and the
relationships are handled deftly and with some humor.

And the onion riddle was a special treat!

A lovely work!

Title: The Roses of Imloth Melui · Author: Aervir · Genres: Drama:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 435
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2008-11-30 06:33:55
Spoilers!
Aervir's series of drabbles, "The Roses of Imloth Melui", gives us
glimpses of the long life of an extraordinary woman, Ioreth of the
Houses of Healing.

The imagery in these drabbles is vivid and rich, with roses recurring
as a theme throughout. The vignettes show us a strong woman who has
endured much, but always finds red roses to surround herself with...
until the Battle of the Pelennor, after which red became too closely
associated with blood and horrific losses.

Aervir does a wonderful job of evoking the senses: we seen and hear
and smell and feel the world as Ioreth does, and we are the richer for it.

This is an extraordinarily beautiful series. Very nicely done!


Title: Music hath Charms · Author: Linda Hoyland · Races: Men: Minas
Tirith · ID: 361
Reviewer: rosethorn59 · 2008-11-30 06:45:29
This is such a charming story, Linda! If there is one thing that
Aragorn and Faramir do not want is to incur their wives' wrath. They
know very well what could happen, and they just walked right into this
situation. Forgetting their children because of some meeting is not a
good way to make the ladies happy. Eowyn did not even want to see or
talk to Faramir. She just left him a note. I thought that was funny,
though. I imagine that probably hut him and caught him very off guard.
Although, Aragorn and Faramir did both forget about their children
That is irresponsible and they should feel bad. Arwen and Eowyn are so
angry with the two men, that they do not even want to eat or sleep
with them. Poor guys! They really want their husbands to feel bad and
are very successful with that. Aragorn and Faramir felt so sorry for
themselves that they went out to a tavern to have a drink. I think it
was sweet that Aragorn and Faramir got the idea to serenade their
wives under their windows. It was kind of a Romeo and Juliet moment,
and Aragorn remembered when he sang of Luthien to Arwen when they met;
believing her to be Luthien. I love that scene in the Appendices. The
singing melted the heart of both Arwen and Eowyn and they quickly
forgave their husbands. But I think they would have forgiven their
husbands by then, anyway. I cannot see how anyone could stay angry at
those two for long. However, the serenading to them was a very sweet
gesture. I love the way Faramir sings to his son. It is so adorable
and sweet. I can almost hear him singing to his child; the baby just
fascinated with Eowyn looking on. I will bet that he had a wonderful
singing voice. He put Elboron right to sleep, whereas Eowyn could not.
I really do believe that music has a magic all it's own. It is
soothing and relaxing. It can also take your mind off of other things
for a while; and take you somewhere else. There is just something
about music. It is unlike anything else. It can bring back memories
from long ago. Music truly does have charms. It certainly worked for
Aragorn's and Faaramir's family. This is a wonderful story, Linda. I
really, really like it. Pam

Title: A Smile · Author: Aria · Races: Elves: House of Finwe · ID: 321
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2008-11-30 06:58:07
Spoilers!
Aria's ficlet, "A Smile", is a gap-filler, an explanation of why
Curufin smiled when his son, Celebrimbor, repudiated him as he left
Nargothrond.

It is an emotionally powerful vignette, in which Curufin comes to the
conclusion that he must let his precious child go, in order to save him.

Very nicely done!

Title: Sunset Gates · Author: Ignoble Bard · Races: Dwarves: Drabbles
· ID: 342
Reviewer: Oshun · 2008-11-30 07:05:25
I am always up for an examination of Gimli and the lady. This one goes
about it from a rather unusual angle--hey, it includes the city I live
in! I don't know what to say about this one. I am really not
particularly fond of the bait and switch technique in a story, unless
it is a mystery story. A dirty trick has been played here and within a
drabble no less. It's got a certain humor I must admit and IgnobleBard
knows how to write. I know the author likes the particular genre
himself. And if anyone could pull it off, he could. You get away with
it this time, but don't make a habit of it. I have to state that I
prefer your real stories.

Title: Feelings of Superiority · Author: Gwynnyd · Times: Multi-Age:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 362
Reviewer: Elena Tiriel · 2008-11-30 07:26:30
Spoilers!
Gwynnyd's excellent drabble series, "Feelings of Superiority", is a
collection of vignettes showing how Men and Elves will splinter
themselves into tribal groups, and then look down on any other group,
considering them lesser than themselves.

The vignettes are emotionally powerful, and each point of view is
strong and individual... and the absolute certainty of each character
that he is right, and is blessed by his version of a god, is chilling.

These are extremely well written, and also fascinating. Gwynnyd's
clever wielding of language and skill with the drabble form, are
evident here.

I think my favorite is the son of the horse lord of Rhovanion, who
honestly says to the buyer that he wanted to keep a stallion for
himself, conveniently leaving out the purpose for which he wanted to
keep it. The double-speak is deft and almost humorous, in a grimly
bittersweet sort of way. (I smiled at how well the boy misled his
customers, but grimaced at his unease at misleading them, if that
makes any sense.)

Very nicely done!

Title: Bears With Honey · Author: Gandalfs apprentice · Genres: Humor:
Other Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 243
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-11-30 07:31:26
There is something so appealing to how GA begins her ficlet. Perhaps
it's the image of a writer settling in to craft a story to share, or
the comfort and ease of a favored pet settling in with you. Or perhaps
it's the parallel drawn between fanfic and real life, a brief
commentary on how one is often a reflection of the other and how an
author's inspiration dawns. Whatever it is, I really enjoyed it!

The descriptions are wonderful and creative, bringing me right into
the story - for both settings. I particularly adore the
characterizations of the intelligent animals (smiling with whiskers
and eyes is a terrific way to put it), although Mrs. Beorn and the
author both deserve commendations for dealing so blithely with their
partners! An entertaining and charming drabblet.

Title: Giving Gifts · Author: Marta · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 426
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-11-30 07:31:57
Even if this particular situation isn't quite HoMe-compliant (and I
think that it *could* actually work), something like it surely
occurred. The characterizations are wonderful; this is easily a
relationship that I can see between the two premier noblemen of
Gondor, and I especially see Denethor as having a quick and biting
wit: usually hidden, yes, but let out with delight under certain
circumstances. The letter is the perfect vehicle to transmit it in the
story.

The revenge is fitting, although the promised escalation as each round
goes on would have me pacing the floor with worry, were I a member of
either of these households...

Title: The Wedding Gift · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Romance: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 40
Reviewer: dkpalaska · 2008-11-30 07:32:59
Oh, simply lovely! The description of Gloin's dedication and intense
concentration on his task gives full voice to how important the gift
is to him. And then a beautiful listing of all the wonders he puts
together to fulfill his creative vision; I love the tender touch of
him wishing for even more precious materials to utilize in his
fabrication efforts.

The characterization of Dwarves in general and of this particular
custom are wonderful, and that's one moving and sensual scene when he
gives his bride his present. The author tucks in a brilliant
specification of just who will get to see this gift; that alone
heightened even more the tremendous effort that Gloin put into it.
Well done!