Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Promise and Sorrow · Author: Virtuella · Times: Late Third Age
· ID: 607
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 5
Spoilers!
Beautifully done. This story evokes tears, surprised laughter, wonder
and grief. Drawing as it does on the lives of the unsung, those who
served as mere "background" to the main characters of the story, it is
a lovely tribute to those who also serve.

Sudden twists, little things grown large and important (shoes, a ring,
clothing, the sound of a horse's hoofbeats), a feeling like a knife in
the gut as understanding flares... these are the signs of a masterly
writer at work.

And of course, the ultimately hopeful ending is the icing on this rich
and astonishing cake.

Title: Nine Companions · Author: Aranel Took · Genres: Humor: Drabbles
· ID: 259
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
LOL!

Not quite the quiet celebration I was envisioning, and yet... I can
just see them, gathered around the table, tight collars loosened,
etc., winding down after the requisite formalities.

Title: The Autumn of His Discontent · Author: jodancingtree · Races:
Hobbits: Incomplete · ID: 157
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 1
A very promising beginning to a very promising idea.

Title: Least Expected · Author: Imhiriel · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Drabbles · ID: 512
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Yikes!

I seldom read AUs, and this kind of thing is why... Chilling, and very
convincing in its bleakness.

I am heartily glad that it did not happen this way! Skillfully
rendered, indeed.

Title: Eight Weeks · Author: Dwimordene · Genres: Humor: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 273
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
It 's rare to see a story with Denethor and Faramir conspiring to gang
up on Boromir. This one is hilarious, in a subtle, sneak-up-on-you way!

Title: Bitter Sweet · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Alternate Universe:
Steward's Family · ID: 536
Reviewer: Anoriath · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Spoilers!
Bittersweet, indeed, is this alternative ending for Boromir and
Theodred. Given the compelling relationship between the two that the
author and her fanfic partner have created, it would be difficult to
tolerate their canonical end without the possibility of relief, that
maybe, just maybe, they were together at the end.

Title: Fit for a King · Author: Imhiriel · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond: Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 217
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
Spoilers!
LOL! Aragorn has a namesake!

Evocative writing, forming pictures in the mind. I love that the horse
chooses its own name. (visions of Eomer calling name after name and
the horse ignoring him, or looking insulted or sceptical as I have so
often seen them do, and finally throwing up his head with a look of
relief and perhaps a little disgust ("Finally! Took you long enough...
I can see you're going to need quite a bit of training up to become a
rider worthy of one such as myself."). Very nice.

Title: Seas of Fate · Author: Thundera Tiger · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Elves and Men · ID: 487
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 2
I love these two together--yet it's not something often seen in fic.
And when it comes to the Sea, Imrahil has far more experience and
wisdom than the ancient Elf.

Title: Jewels of Light · Author: Larner · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Friendship · ID: 394
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 1
It's very nice to see Legolas and Gimli appreciating their Companions
together.

Title: Men of the Twilight · Author: Elena Tiriel · Genres: Romance:
Drabbles · ID: 209
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
Whew. This can hardly be a drabble. Surely it is twice as many words,
or five times, or a hundred times, even. There is so much in this, so
much description that one can clearly see the scene. This is
beautifully done--so intricately crafted that it certainly belies the
fixed length required by the form.

Title: Hope Remains · Author: Baggins Babe · Times: Fourth Age and
Beyond · ID: 118
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
Effective writing, setting the scene very well. Not too creepy, which
I appreciate as I'm easily "creeped out". Have had this on my MEFA
wish list for weeks without time to re-read and write a decent review,
and here the awards clock is winding down too fast, still, for a good
effort. So consider this a vote of confidence, at least, as well as
thanks for sharing your writing. Looking forward to reading more as
soon as the dratted schedule lets up for a time.

Title: When the King Came Back · Author: Cathleen · Times: Fourth Age
and Beyond · ID: 514
Reviewer: Lindelea · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
I find myself without time to properly review this, having only
hastily skimmed the story. But do know that I was intrigued by the
portrayal of the relationships--the understanding mother, the friction
between a father and son who are (if I read correctly) too much alike
to get on perfectly, yet not recognizing this stumbling block to their
relationship.

I haven't even reached the ending of the story, but the MEFAs have
reached their end, and so I must read later to find whatever
resolution there may be here.

Nice bit of writing. Thanks!

Title: As the Tide by the Moon · Author: EdorasLass · Genres:
Alternate Universe · ID: 9
Reviewer: Anoriath · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 9
Oooooooo, this is up for review? (Yay!)

As the Tide by the Moon is one of my favorite Lord of the Rings fanfic
pieces. I'm not sure where even to begin to describe all the aspects
that I find compelling about the piece.

I think the first thing that captured my interest was the mood of the
piece. Edoraslass' writing produces what seems, to the onlooker, to be
an effortlessly created complex atmosphere. It is at once spare, but
lush; fraught with strong feeling, but emotionally distant.

In the tale there is to be found love, and terror, and sensuality, and
pride, and abasement, uncertainty, and strength of purpose, and yet,
despite the intensity of the dramatic aspect of the tale, never does
the writing itself overwhelm the story being told. This, I think, is
one of the greatest strengths of Edoraslass' writing, that she so
consistently shows, rather than tells. It's that conscious choice of
spareness of words that allows the characters and the story to unfold
with such seeming effortlessness, without the words calling attention
to themselves. Because of this, I think it allows the reader to fall
head-first into the story. I certainly did.

Title: In the Van · Author: Branwyn (Lady Branwyn) · Genres: Humor ·
ID: 72
Reviewer: Anoriath · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 3
*sporfle*

Yes, I must confess that I had the same image in interpretation of the
word "van" when I first read that passage myself.

Love your riff on the misadventure, Branwyn. And extra points for
including a reference that only a Tolkien geek would get: Boromir's
torturous 120 days to Rivendell when much less would have sufficed.

Title: Rich and Fair · Author: annmarwalk · Genres: Romance: Other
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 548
Reviewer: Anoriath · 2008-12-01 00:00:00 Score: 4
Spoilers!
*oof* Ah, Boromir and Aragorn slash, I had nearly forgotten thee.
Whew, baby, but that's hot. ;)

Definitely a prime example of the author's greatest talent, which is
to evoke more by saying less. The words she chooses never tell you
what to see and feel and think, rather, she tends to come at it, well,
sideways, if you will. Seen in the effects upon the senses or in
fragments of actions, the writing evokes an even stronger image, and
even stronger feelings as it builds layers of sensation upon action
upon history upon emotion.