Yahoo Forum Archive

This is an archive of the MEFA Yahoo Group, which was shut down by Yahoo in 2019. The archive can be sorted by month and by topic ID. You can use your browser to search by keyword within the month or topic you have open.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2004---18210426558925263362316285
20051895610753834744697276194358565136
200623166277611713912756676615979
200720257-297299143318583103
2008561335424014127477516090106
2009283-39194101722722153624
201067-14103138129321316330
20111-172625906132758
201230---812276-----
2013------------
2014---------1-2
2015------------
2016------------
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2018------------
2019---------1--

Msg# 1998

Two weeks to Voting Season! Posted by ainaechoiriel September 02, 2004 - 0:48:08 Topic ID# 1998
Just a reminder that there are just two weeks left until Voting
Season!

--Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 1999

Anymore volunteers? Posted by ainaechoiriel September 07, 2004 - 9:29:02 Topic ID# 1999
The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.

Ainaechoiriel
Larian
Nerwen
Antoinette
Stella
Pervinca
Marta
Lindorien
Khazar_khum
Sindohte
Elana
Ceana
beleg1cuthalion
Thundera Tiger
Fourth Moon

We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each comment
in your assigned categories into a word processing program, such as
Word, and then running a character count on the comment (minus white
spaces). (In Word you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count
feature.)

Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding points
(from a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.

The number of categories you would count depends on our final number
of vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope to
have at least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's sake).

Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and
that's about that.

Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in the
next month and a half or so, join up!

--Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2000

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by Garrett M. Lemons September 07, 2004 - 9:40:51 Topic ID# 1999
I would but this year's school load is tremendous and I am unable to even
think after I finish what I have to do. I'm so sorry.

HtW
-----Original Message-----
From: ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 10:28 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Anymore volunteers?


The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.

Ainaechoiriel
Larian
Nerwen
Antoinette
Stella
Pervinca
Marta
Lindorien
Khazar_khum
Sindohte
Elana
Ceana
beleg1cuthalion
Thundera Tiger
Fourth Moon

We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each comment
in your assigned categories into a word processing program, such as
Word, and then running a character count on the comment (minus white
spaces). (In Word you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count
feature.)

Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding points
(from a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.

The number of categories you would count depends on our final number
of vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope to
have at least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's sake).

Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and
that's about that.

Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in the
next month and a half or so, join up!

--Ainaechoiriel


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Msg# 2001

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by K. Neves September 07, 2004 - 22:46:25 Topic ID# 1999
I would be willing to help.

Karri




--- ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:

> The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote
> counters.
>
> Ainaechoiriel
> Larian
> Nerwen
> Antoinette
> Stella
> Pervinca
> Marta
> Lindorien
> Khazar_khum
> Sindohte
> Elana
> Ceana
> beleg1cuthalion
> Thundera Tiger
> Fourth Moon
>
> We could use more. What wil this job entail?
> Copying each comment
> in your assigned categories into a word processing
> program, such as
> Word, and then running a character count on the
> comment (minus white
> spaces). (In Word you do this through the Tools
> menu, Word Count
> feature.)
>
> Then you'd note down the # of characters and the
> corresponding points
> (from a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.
>
> The number of categories you would count depends on
> our final number
> of vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories
> each. I hope to
> have at least 3 people counting each category (for
> accuracy's sake).
>
> Once a category is all counted, you turn in your
> spreadsheet and
> that's about that.
>
> Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got
> some time in the
> next month and a half or so, join up!
>
> --Ainaechoiriel
>
>




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Msg# 2002

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by Jan Whittaker September 10, 2004 - 8:05:44 Topic ID# 1999
Sure, I'll do it - count me in!

Jay


>From: "ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> Reply-To:
>MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com Subject:
>[MEFAwards] Anymore volunteers? Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 14:27:58 -0000
>
>The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.
>
>Ainaechoiriel Larian Nerwen Antoinette Stella Pervinca Marta Lindorien
>Khazar_khum Sindohte Elana Ceana beleg1cuthalion Thundera Tiger Fourth Moon
>
>We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each comment in your
>assigned categories into a word processing program, such as Word, and then
>running a character count on the comment (minus white spaces). (In Word
>you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count feature.)
>
>Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding points (from
>a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.
>
>The number of categories you would count depends on our final number of
>vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope to have at
>least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's sake).
>
>Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and that's
>about that.
>
>Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in the next
>month and a half or so, join up!
>
>--Ainaechoiriel
>

Msg# 2003

Correction needed on the author nom listing. Posted by Larian Elensar September 11, 2004 - 0:16:49 Topic ID# 2003
Hey,

How's this for late corrections?

I was looking at the Authors page on the site and noticed that I'm getting credit for a couple of stories I didn't write.

In Elves, It's showing me having written Keeper of the Flame, the Kiss and Henen.

I only wrote Keeper of the Flame.

The other two should be listed under Larien Elengasse.

Thanks,




Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2004

Re: Correction needed on the author nom listing. Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 13, 2004 - 19:42:05 Topic ID# 2003
Can you name the ones that need to be changed? (Sorry if I don't make a lot
of sense. It's a stress thing.). If you name them, I'll get them fixed.

Thanks.

--Ainaechoiriel

-----Original Message-----
From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:17 AM
To: MEFAs
Subject: [MEFAwards] Correction needed on the author nom listing.


Hey,

How's this for late corrections?

I was looking at the Authors page on the site and noticed that I'm getting
credit for a couple of stories I didn't write.

In Elves, It's showing me having written Keeper of the Flame, the Kiss and
Henen.

I only wrote Keeper of the Flame.

The other two should be listed under Larien Elengasse.

Thanks,




Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





Yahoo! Groups Links

Msg# 2005

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 13, 2004 - 19:42:38 Topic ID# 1999
Thanks! That'd be great! I'll get you some assignments this evening.

--Ainaechoiriel

-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Whittaker [mailto:whittakerjan@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 8:05 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] Anymore volunteers?


Sure, I'll do it - count me in!

Jay


>From: "ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> Reply-To:
>MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com Subject:
>[MEFAwards] Anymore volunteers? Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 14:27:58 -0000
>
>The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.
>
>Ainaechoiriel Larian Nerwen Antoinette Stella Pervinca Marta Lindorien
>Khazar_khum Sindohte Elana Ceana beleg1cuthalion Thundera Tiger Fourth Moon
>
>We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each comment in your

>assigned categories into a word processing program, such as Word, and then
>running a character count on the comment (minus white spaces). (In Word
>you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count feature.)
>
>Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding points (from

>a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.
>
>The number of categories you would count depends on our final number of
>vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope to have at
>least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's sake).
>
>Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and that's
>about that.
>
>Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in the next
>month and a half or so, join up!
>
>--Ainaechoiriel
>






Yahoo! Groups Links

Msg# 2006

Re: Correction needed on the author nom listing. Posted by Larian Elensar September 13, 2004 - 21:55:51 Topic ID# 2003
On the author's page, in the elves category, it should read:

Larian Elensar, Keeper of the Flame

Larien Elengasse, The Kiss and Henen.



Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
Can you name the ones that need to be changed? (Sorry if I don't make a lot
of sense. It's a stress thing.). If you name them, I'll get them fixed.

Thanks.

--Ainaechoiriel

-----Original Message-----
From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:17 AM
To: MEFAs
Subject: [MEFAwards] Correction needed on the author nom listing.


Hey,

How's this for late corrections?

I was looking at the Authors page on the site and noticed that I'm getting
credit for a couple of stories I didn't write.

In Elves, It's showing me having written Keeper of the Flame, the Kiss and
Henen.

I only wrote Keeper of the Flame.

The other two should be listed under Larien Elengasse.

Thanks,




Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2007

Re: Correction needed on the author nom listing. Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 13, 2004 - 22:21:46 Topic ID# 2003
Okay, I've fixed it. Unfortunately, I can't reupload to the earthlink site
right now. It's right however on my own server:

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa/Authnoms.html

--Ainaechoiriel

-----Original Message-----

From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 9:56 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] Correction needed on the author nom listing.

On the author's page, in the elves category, it should read:

Larian Elensar, Keeper of the Flame

Larien Elengasse, The Kiss and Henen.



Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
Can you name the ones that need to be changed? (Sorry if I don't make a lot
of sense. It's a stress thing.). If you name them, I'll get them fixed.

Thanks.

--Ainaechoiriel

-----Original Message-----
From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:17 AM
To: MEFAs
Subject: [MEFAwards] Correction needed on the author nom listing.


Hey,

How's this for late corrections?

I was looking at the Authors page on the site and noticed that I'm getting
credit for a couple of stories I didn't write.

In Elves, It's showing me having written Keeper of the Flame, the Kiss and
Henen.

I only wrote Keeper of the Flame.

The other two should be listed under Larien Elengasse.

Thanks,




Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





Yahoo! Groups Links










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---------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
MEFAwards-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



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Msg# 2008

Voting Season Schedule Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 14, 2004 - 15:20:45 Topic ID# 2008
Voting Season begins Thursday at 12:01am Central US time and ends on October
30th, 11:59pm Central US time.



Two categories will be up for voting at a time, and will be up for voting
for 10 days. Categories will overlap for 5 days or so. For example, Men
and Elves will begin on 9/16 and run through 9/25, while Hobbits and Orcs
will begin on 9/21 and end on 9/30. This will allow for 10 days for each
couple of categories and all 16 categories finishing by October 30th.



Thus, here is the schedule (I will try to get this in a graphic form on the
Yahoo calendar section):



9/16: Voting Season Begins

Men open

Elves open



9/21 Hobbits open

Orcs open



9/25 Men closes

Elves closes



9/26 Rohan open

Numenor open



9/30 Hobbits closes

Orcs closes



10/1 Humor open

Adventure open



10/5 Rohan closes

Numenor closes



10/6 Drama open

Romance open



10/10 Humor closes

Adventure closes



10/11 Horror open

Mystery open



10/15 Drama closes

Romance closes



10/16 Crossover open

The Silmarillion open



10/20 Horror closes

Mystery closes



10/21 The Hobbit open

The Lord of the Rings open



10/25 Crossover closes

The Silmarillion closes



10/30 The Hobbit closes

The Lord of the Rings closes

Voting Season Ends



10/31 Fan Art Season and voting on fan art banners through polls begins.



11/14 Fan Art Season ends



11/15 Winners announced.



--Ainaechoiriel







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2009

Voting Season calendar and a call for backup volunteers Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 14, 2004 - 21:10:59 Topic ID# 2009
The entire schedule for Voting Season is in the calendar on the Yahoo Site.
It's easiest to see the blocks of time given to each group of two categories
by looking at the monthly view.



Also, I have a bit of a worry over some of my vote counting volunteers.
Four have not joined the MEFAStaff group yet (which is where we do the
behind the scenes stuff like pick up spreadsheets to record the votes) and
two are set to No Email there. Hopefully, they'll all come on board before
midnight tomorrow night, but just in case, could I get some backup
volunteers?



Counting is very easy. Just copy and paste a comment into a word processing
program. Let the word processing program tell you how many characters the
comment is (without spaces) and record the corresponding point number to
match the total characters. That's it.



Presently 6 categories are assigned to each counter, with each category
counted by 3 counters for accuracy. But of course, if not all 16 of our
counters come on board, we have to split their 6 categories up amongst those
of us who are around. Which means a lot more categories per person.
Volunteering as a backup means we'd only use you in a pinch.



What do you say?



--Ainaechoiriel



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2010

FanArt contest still open for submissions! Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 14, 2004 - 22:17:52 Topic ID# 2010
We are still seeking some FanArt submissions. Our FanArt contest will be
run by poll and will consist of Awards Banners for the FanFiction Awards.
There are three titled Awards for each category, and each titled Award needs
at least to have 2 banners if there is to be a vote. Thankfully, all of our
Awards will have at least one banner, but it'd be great to have more to vote
on.

If you have recently uploaded a banner, and don't see it on the
http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa site, e-mail them to me. I can't pick
them up from the YahooGroup Photos section without them blowing up in size.

These titles, in particular have only a few banners:

Men: The Faithful of Numenor Award (presently has 3)

Hobbits: The Mayor of Hobbiton Award (2)

Orcs: The Orthanc Award (2)

Numenor: Elros Son of Earendil Award (2)

Numenor: The Tar-Palantir Award (2)

Numenor: The Tar-Miriel Award (1)

Humor: The Tom Bombadil Award (2)

Humor: The Bilbo Baggins Award (3)

Humor: The Barliman Butterbur Award (2)

Drama: The Turin Turambar Award (2)

Drama: The Nimrodel and Amroth (4-but all using the same base picture)

Romance: The Luthien and Beren Award (2)

Romance: The Tuor and Idril Award (1)

Horror: The Morgoth Bauglir Award (3)

Mystery: The Shadows of Cuivienen Award (2)

Crossovers: The Pirates of the Caribbean Award (1)

Crossovers: The Hidalgo Award (1)

Crossovers: The Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Award (1)

The Silm: The Valaquenta Award (2)

The Silm: The Akallabeth Award (2)

The Hobbit: The Lonely Mountain Award (3)

LOTR: The Return of the King Award (2)

Reminder:

All submissions should be banner-shaped (rectangular, though a fair-sized
square could work, too). But there is not hard and fast rule on the size.
Just keep them *smallish* to be banners, not page-sized behemoths or
anything. We want these to be something winners will want to post on their
sites along with their stories. They should be in a .jpg or .gif format.
(.jpg preferred)

Banners should have the following Words on them: (the award title), "2004",
and "MEFA". They should be geared to the individual award title. For
example, a Witch King banner for The Witch-King of Angmar Award, not a
collection of Orcs.

You can see samples the current banner submissions here:
http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa/AwardsBanners.html or
http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa/AwardsBanners.html

E-mail your submissions to me privately and I'll get them posted!


--Gabrielle
God is my strength!

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/trek: The Edge of the Frontier
http://gabrielle.sytes.net/doyle: This Side of the Nether




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2011

Backup Volunteers Posted by Briana Soroko September 14, 2004 - 23:14:07 Topic ID# 2011
If you need my help, I'd be more then welcome to give it to you.

Cheers, Bridiliel

Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
The entire schedule for Voting Season is in the calendar on the Yahoo Site.
It's easiest to see the blocks of time given to each group of two categories
by looking at the monthly view.



Also, I have a bit of a worry over some of my vote counting volunteers.
Four have not joined the MEFAStaff group yet (which is where we do the
behind the scenes stuff like pick up spreadsheets to record the votes) and
two are set to No Email there. Hopefully, they'll all come on board before
midnight tomorrow night, but just in case, could I get some backup
volunteers?



Counting is very easy. Just copy and paste a comment into a word processing
program. Let the word processing program tell you how many characters the
comment is (without spaces) and record the corresponding point number to
match the total characters. That's it.



Presently 6 categories are assigned to each counter, with each category
counted by 3 counters for accuracy. But of course, if not all 16 of our
counters come on board, we have to split their 6 categories up amongst those
of us who are around. Which means a lot more categories per person.
Volunteering as a backup means we'd only use you in a pinch.



What do you say?



--Ainaechoiriel



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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Msg# 2012

Men and Elves Voting, 9/16/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 14, 2004 - 23:55:13 Topic ID# 2012
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Thursday September 16, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 4 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2013

When Incompletes becomeComplete...& Caegory Viability Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 15, 2004 - 10:49:07 Topic ID# 2013
This is the one time I will allow a breaking of the rule. To be viable, a
category must have at least 5 stories by at least 2 authors. This includes
any Incomplete subcategory. However, should a story become complete before
Voting Season begins, it moves out of the Incomplete subcategory to either
the main category with a different subcategory or a different catetgory
altogether. That *might* then leave that Incomplete subcategory with only 4
stories. In such a case, the Incomplete subcategory will still be viable.

San Antonio Rose has finished her story There and Back Again: The Fellowship
Goes to Stalag 13. It was in the Men/Incomplete category but now it is in
Crossovers. Men/Incomplete now has only 4 stories. It will remain viable.

I will add this exception to the FAQ


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2014

How to Vote, & a sample vote Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 15, 2004 - 12:01:17 Topic ID# 2014
Since the MEFA's were inspired by the Alt.StarTrek.Creative Awards, I've
decided our sample shall be from the Alt.StarTrek.Creative Awards, back when
they used the newsgroup for voting (now they use the web) in 1996.



Once the ballot for any category is posted, you are free to vote on
stories/authors in that category. To do so, you will hit Reply on the
ballot and edit out those stories/authors you are not commenting on. You
will then put your comments under the stories/authors you are commenting on.
You can leave their headers the same as they are (which includes URL's and
summaries), but to make the posts shorter, it would be good if you just
snipped them down to their first 2 lines (1 for those categories without
subcategories), which includes the subcategory, code, title, and author.
The sample you'll see below only shows code, author, story.



Also, note that you can vote on a ballot more than once, just not on the
same story or author (in the same category) more than once. To be sure your
vote counts, try to get your ballot in early of the closing date for that
category. But if you then read another story and want to put a vote in on
it, so long as the category is still open, you may do so. Just don't vote
on the stories you've already voted on (or authors).



This is what a vote will look like when you vote:



(The subject line of your post should be RE: [MEFAwards] *category*
--Official Voting Ballot. If it is not, because you are on daily digest,
please change it for the ease of the vote counters.)



(The body will look like the rest of this post:)



> 25) Gabrielle Lawson

> Debut post: If It's Not One Thing..., DS9



That was her first?! Well, in that case, it was an excellent debut. This
is an excellent example of what fanfic should be in my opinion.



> 57) Macedon's wife J.

> Debut Story: (with Macedon): Eye of the Storm, DS9

>



Let's see more with Macedon's wife! In all honesty, I enjoyed this story
much more then I did it's prequel "Orfeo". That's not to say I didn't like
"Orfeo", I just felt that this one set out to be a story. Macedon himself
admitted that "Orfeo" was to be something of an alagory.





--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2015

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by ellbee\_g September 15, 2004 - 16:23:18 Topic ID# 1999
Do you still need anyone? If so, it sounds like something I can
manage.

-Ellbee


--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...>
wrote:
> The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.
>
> Ainaechoiriel
> Larian
> Nerwen
> Antoinette
> Stella
> Pervinca
> Marta
> Lindorien
> Khazar_khum
> Sindohte
> Elana
> Ceana
> beleg1cuthalion
> Thundera Tiger
> Fourth Moon
>
> We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each
comment
> in your assigned categories into a word processing program, such
as
> Word, and then running a character count on the comment (minus
white
> spaces). (In Word you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count
> feature.)
>
> Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding
points
> (from a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.
>
> The number of categories you would count depends on our final
number
> of vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope
to
> have at least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's
sake).
>
> Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and
> that's about that.
>
> Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in
the
> next month and a half or so, join up!
>
> --Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2016

Re: Anymore volunteers? Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 15, 2004 - 17:03:23 Topic ID# 1999
Yes! We'd love to have you! I'll send you an invite to the Staff group!


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com


-----Original Message-----
From: ellbee_g [mailto:ellbee_g@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 4:23 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Anymore volunteers?

Do you still need anyone? If so, it sounds like something I can manage.

-Ellbee


--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...>
wrote:
> The following 15 people have volunteered to be vote counters.
>
> Ainaechoiriel
> Larian
> Nerwen
> Antoinette
> Stella
> Pervinca
> Marta
> Lindorien
> Khazar_khum
> Sindohte
> Elana
> Ceana
> beleg1cuthalion
> Thundera Tiger
> Fourth Moon
>
> We could use more. What wil this job entail? Copying each
comment
> in your assigned categories into a word processing program, such
as
> Word, and then running a character count on the comment (minus
white
> spaces). (In Word you do this through the Tools menu, Word Count
> feature.)
>
> Then you'd note down the # of characters and the corresponding
points
> (from a chart you'll have handy) in a speadsheet.
>
> The number of categories you would count depends on our final
number
> of vote counters. I presently envision 3 categories each. I hope
to
> have at least 3 people counting each category (for accuracy's
sake).
>
> Once a category is all counted, you turn in your spreadsheet and
> that's about that.
>
> Doesn't sound too hard, does it? So if you've got some time in
the
> next month and a half or so, join up!
>
> --Ainaechoiriel



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Msg# 2017

Men and Elves Voting, 9/16/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 15, 2004 - 22:58:05 Topic ID# 2012
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Thursday September 16, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2018

Thank you Posted by Antoinette Brenion September 15, 2004 - 23:08:11 Topic ID# 2018
I appreciate all the hard work you haave done. After the Awards are
announced, we can sit back and reflect on this great adventure.

Antoinette

Msg# 2019

Re: Thank you Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 15, 2004 - 23:19:48 Topic ID# 2018
Thanks, Antoinette. I'm getting excited. And I still have a lot of comments
to write......


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Antoinette Brenion [mailto:RiverOtter1951@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 11:07 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Thank you

I appreciate all the hard work you haave done. After the Awards are
announced, we can sit back and reflect on this great adventure.

Antoinette




------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make
a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------~->


Yahoo! Groups Links

Msg# 2020

Voting Season Begins, 9/16/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 15, 2004 - 23:25:25 Topic ID# 2020
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Voting Season Begins

Thursday September 16, 2004
All Day
This event does not repeat.

Event Location: On-list
Notes:
Now's the time to vote! Voting Season lasts until November 15th!

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2021

Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 0:01:45 Topic ID# 2021
Elves

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

URL: http://www.gardenofithilien.net/hannonle.html

Rating: R Implied sexual situation

Romance Partners: Legolas/f

Summary: Legolas awakes to a very pleasurable surprise. :-)



Drabble

ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=808&cid=7377

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.dwimordenespage.org/index.php?go=7&id=9&chapter=4

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas's thoughts based on the quote from the FotR: "But the Elves
of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees
and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them:
deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they
are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago." (This is one of
four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same theme.)



Drabble

ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1865&cid=7779

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1577&cid=7415

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1832774/3/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A sad scene in Mirkwood, from the eyes of an Elf.



Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=231

Rating: PG-13

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if some elves never went west, but stayed here instead? Well,
Moira's introduction to elfhood comes via her way-too-hot linguistics
prof... um, one Dr. Birdsong.



Incomplete

EI2: Last of the Edhel by CinnamonGrrl

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1629623/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The elf had never had any trouble guarding an important secret in
the heart of an ancient forest, but then, he'd never met Hermione Granger
before.



Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1598

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Celeborn of Doriath and Nerwen of the Noldor strive to come to
terms with the differences that divide their peoples during the First Age,
and also with their growing affections for one another.



Incomplete

EI4: Return to Middle-earth by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=308

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: Sometimes by doing right, we injure the ones we love and put the
world in danger. A sequel to Elrohir's Tale in which Sinead seeks her
father.



Incomplete

EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
Treehugger

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1119462/1/

Rating: PG violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas, Tavor and Brethil are up to tricks as usual. Meanwhile,
King Thranduil goes out on a hunting trip, but doesn't come home...and
Tanglinna must find him, before it's too late...



Incomplete

EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1575581/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if Maeglin hadn't died in the Fall of Gondolin, but survived
as a legend until modern times?



Post-WOTR

E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=72

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Elrohir/f

Summary: What would happen if an Elf found himself stranded in our world?
Come and find out!



Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/L/LarianElensar/KeeperOfTheFlame.htm

Rating: R Non-graphic Sexual situation

Romance Partners: Celeborn/Galadriel

Summary: Galadriel is crossing the sea after the war of the ring. This is
what she's thinking about on the ship to Valinor.



Post-WOTR

E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1053169/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The young mature, and perceptions change, but sometimes we can't
really know a person until they're gone... (refers to the deaths of
Tanglinna and Brethil in a previous story of Treehugger's). An homage-fic
written as a gift for TreeHugger and JastaElf.



Post-WOTR

E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2305

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An evening in Fangorn Forest when things hidden come to light.
Legolas tries smoking and unwittingly discovers that he doesn't know as much
about his Dwarvish friend as he thought. That he writes poetry, for
instance.



Post-WOTR

E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=686

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: King Elessar and Prince Faramir stage a tournament in Ithilien to
draw knights to Gondor, but in the process they discover trouble
unlooked-for.



Post-WOTR

E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2668

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maglor at the Trojan War finds beauty and terror intermingled in
the being of Achilles, entwined with the memories of a brother.



Romance

ER1: By Hook or By Crook by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/4_ByHookOrByCrook/ByHookOrByCr
ook.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrond/Celebrian and Thranduil/OFC

Summary: Elrond and Thranduil discover there is more to strategy than meets
the eye.



Romance

ER2: Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368822/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Amarie/Finrod

Summary: He was hers once, and may yet be again, but for now he is only a
child, and does not remember what once was. And reunions are rarely what we
expect them to be.



Romance

ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/1_MeldirAtFirstSight/Meldir1-2
.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: The twins' and Legolas's first encounter in Greenwood the Great
leads to a close and lasting friendship.



Romance

ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1060193/1/

Rating: PG-13 Some sexual references

Romance Partners: Feanor/f

Summary: A modern retelling of an old Scottish tale.



Romance

ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/thekiss.php

Rating: R implied sexual content, m/m slash.

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/Echthelion

Summary: Glorfindel and Ecthelion share a kiss.



Romance

ER6: Unbound by Two-point

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1547945/1/

Rating: R some sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: A young Rivendell Elf considers how old is too old, and what age
and death means to an Elf.



Romance

ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/2_WithFriendsLikeThese/WithFri
endsLikeThese1-2.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: Legolas's first visit to Rivendell proves educational in more ways
than one when he learns of the choice of the Peredhil then stumbles upon a
tryst with an unexpected twist.



The Silmarillion

ES1: Brothers by Tinni

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1309997/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Feanor discover little Finarfin is not such a terrible brother to
have; in fact he's a nice little boy.



The Silmarillion

ES2: Child of Dawn by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1386105/1/

Rating: R implied domestic violence and a character death

Romance Partners:

Summary: Maedhros hears that Aredhel is being held against her will by Eol
and goes to rescue her. Maeglin watches as Maedhros and Eol fight it out. My
one and only Maeglin fic.



The Silmarillion

ES3: Coming of Age by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1229413/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maedhros comes of age, and the familiy celebrates!



The Silmarillion

ES4: Comrades In Arms by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1261187/1/

Rating: PG-13 bit of violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: During the Last Alliance Cirdan gets a chance to show off his
talent with floss and a needle. Glorfindel is not amused.



The Silmarillion

ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1399852/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Before Imladris, before Gondolin and her white towers, even before
the dawn of the sun and moon, he was but an elfling.



The Silmarillion

ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/henen.php

Rating: PG-13 character death, mild violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: Oropher thinks about his son.



The Silmarillion

ES7: Hide and Seek by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/923897/1/

Rating: R Some violence, and sex scenes, not graphic

Romance Partners:

Summary: Young Amrod and Amras run away from home. Why?



The Silmarillion

ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1139614/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Thranduil has his caves built in Mirkwood.



The Silmarillion

ES9: Malaise by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368363/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A rather grumpy Elrond, Glorfindel, a tent, large puddle and a High
King with a quirky sense of humour.



The Silmarillion

ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1616041/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Elu Thingol/Melian

Summary: Elu Thingol reflects on his wife.



The Silmarillion

ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2986

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A tale of Dwarves and Elves, of artisans, the creation of the great
West-Gate at Khazad-dum, and unlikely authors. Legolas and Gimli, and Narvi
and Celebrimbor. Humor, but with a serious nod to Elvish/Dwarvish relations
during their heyday as well as musings on Dwarvish culture in general.



The Silmarillion

ES12: The Continuing Leaf by WatcherChild

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1020648/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Glorfindel sets foot upon Middle-earth again and tries to adjust to
a changed world.



The Silmarillion

ES13: The Tale of Twin Stars by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1387830/1/

Rating: PG-13 Adult themes

Romance Partners: Elrond/Elros/f

Summary: Elros and Elrond fall in love and must cope with the Laws and
Customs of the Eldar.



The Silmarillion

ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1850

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: After Gil-galad's death, Elrond asks if Celeborn will support him
in a bid to assume the crown of the High King.



The Silmarillion

ES15: Too Late by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1116618/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Finarfin reflects on his life.



Vignette

EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2418

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Vignette set in Rivendell after the Fellowship's departure. Focuses
on a conversation between Glorfindel and Elrond as they debate the wisdom in
both the Fellowship's mission as well as the individuals comprising the
unlikely group. A fool's hope? You decide.



Vignette

EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=2750&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas overhears Eowyn's plea to Aragorn the night before they are
to leave for the Paths of the Dead. He tries to give her solace and maybe
find some for himself as well.



Vignette

EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1719

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An imminent parting looms, and they realize that words are not
enough. Featuring Elrond, Arwen. Vignette.



Vignette

EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2474

Rating: PG-13 Black humour

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The first official meeting of Elves and Dwarves, or, the importance
of a well-planned menu in diplomacy. Some black humor from the days when the
Elves were still just thinking about becoming wise.



Vignette

EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1799

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In which Meriadoc and his apprentice combine politics and
horticulture, and Celeborn solves an important question. A Fourth Age
vignette set in Rivendell.



E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1476

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The True Colors of Thranduil as Shown and Proven in Canon: a short
essay.



E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1329431/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Little Elladan and Elrohir get a history lesson from their
grandfather, Celeborn, resulting in burnt fingers and no appetite for lunch.



E3: A Midspring Morning's Dream by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1239323/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Set in TreeHugger's universe. Wedding bells are ringing in
Mirkwood...because everybody's faaaavorite little tricksy chatterbox is
getting married!



E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=756

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An AU look at the passage to Mandos, as Maeglin gets what's coming
to him.



E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=358

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The War of the Ring in Lothlorien.



E6: Cursed Love by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1311575/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: From the bushes, a hidden watcher sees Tuor propose to Idril.



E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=418

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Observation and Dissection of the Common Wood-Elf (Telerius
galadh). Why do Elves glow? How does an Elf walk on snow? Methods of
reproduction? It's Legolas as you've never seen him before.



E8: Fated Twins by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1276023/1/

Rating: R Violence, implied character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Amrod and Amras go to the Havens of Sirion. Morgoth attacks. They
help fight against Morgoth and save Elros and Elrond. Cast includes
Egalmoth, Galdor, Oropher, Thranduil, Celeborn, Elemmakil, and Hendor.



E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/724475/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An Elf looks at earth from Valinor.



E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=38&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Elrond's twin sons have some questions about that Balrog, and know
just whom to ask.



E11: Legolas and the Olórë Mallë by Chathol-linn

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1890

Rating: PG some battle scenes

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An early adventure of Legolas in which he explores Elvish memory,
prophecy, and dreams. Scenes include "Strange Paths," "Ale by the Fireside,"
and "I Will Drink Your Blood from the Chalice of Your Heart."



E12: Lord of the House of the Golden Flower by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1153790/1/

Rating: PG-13 Mild reference to sexual activities

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/OFC

Summary: The story of Glorfindel and his Sindarin Wife, and how they are
reunited in the Second Age.



E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/735169/1/

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maeglin during the Fall of Gondolin, his thoughts and actions.



E14: Notes From the Field by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=681

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Alas, there are no fairy tale endings in Nature... Tolkien never
wrote of Thranduil's fate. Unfortunately, the task falls to bumbling
researchers of the SRDM. Of hair braiding, migratory patterns, and a plea to
Save the Common Wood-Elf.



E15: Roots by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=26

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: So how did Legolas meet Aragorn anyhow, and under what
circumstances? Goes from light to heavy and back again. Gap-filler set
between Gollum's arrival in Mirkwood and his interrogation; violent in
parts, plenty of fake elven metaphysics, traces the beginnings of a
friendship between Aragorn and Legolas. Original characters, Gandalf,
Gollum, and Thranduil also figure in this fic.



E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1027905/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Aragorn gets sick and Legolas, coming from a race that does not
know illness, tries to understand what that must be like.



E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1361292/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A smith reforges Narsil and remembers the one who last bore this
blade in battle.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

EDA1: Avon

I Hear the Stones Lament



Drabble

EDA2: Dwimordene

Longing



Drabble

EDA3: Elana

Strange to Us



Drabble

EDA4: Elvenesse

Strange Vessels



Drabble

EDA5: Lady Aranel

Hannon Le



Drabble

EDA6: Wild Iris

Untitled (Mirkwood)



Vignette

EVA1: Lady Aranel

Cold Comfort



Vignette

EVA2: Salsify

Dinner Guests



Vignette

EVA3: Sphinx

Dancing Within Walls



Vignette

EVA4: Stultiloquentia

Rose Riddle



Vignette

EVA5: Thundera Tiger

A Fool's Hope



EA1: bryn_bnw

Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh; Notes from the Field



EA2: Chathol-linn

Legolas and the Olórë Mallë



EA3: CinnamonGrrl

Last of the Edhel



EA4: Cirdan

Child of Dawn, The Tale of Twin Stars, Fated Twins



EA5: Coriel

A Case of Mistaken Identity



EA6: Dwimordene

Roots



EA7: Earmire

War Dust



EA8: Eresse

By Hook or By Crook, Meldir: At First Sight, With Friends Like These



EA9: Ithilwen

Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale, Hide and Seek, Firimar,
Noldolante



EA10: Jilian Baade

Wayland The Smith, Coming of Age, Too Late, Cursed Love, Lord of the House
of the Golden Flower, The Smith



EA11: Katharine the Great

More Than an Archer, A Midspring Morning's Dream



EA12: Katharine the Great & Treehugger

Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King



EA13: Larian Elensar

Keeper Of The Flame



EA14: Larien Elengasse

The Kiss, Henen



EA15: Le Rouret

The Green Knight



EA16: Levade

Comrades In Arms, Fearless and Full of Joy, Malaise, Gofi and the Balrog



EA17: Losseniaiel

Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears; Singing Silence



EA18: Marnie

Oak and Willow, The Wisdom of Isildur, A Leaf on a Stream, Battle of the
Golden Wood



EA19: Miriel361

Return to Middle-earth, Elrohir's Tale



EA20: Siobhan with Cassia

Sickness



EA21: Thevina Finduilas

Of Pipes and Poetry; Speak, Friend, and Enter



EA22: Tinni

Brothers



EA23: Two-point

Unbound



EA24: Viv

Dawn Twilight



EA25: WatcherChild

The Continuing Leaf



EA26: Wild Iris

Keystone



EA27: Zimraphel

Across Dark Waters



This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2022

Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 0:01:48 Topic ID# 2022
Men

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Gondor

MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1098780/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The old year ends, and Faramir makes the journey from Minas Tirith
to Ithilien.



Gondor

MeG2: Adrift by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1282483/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A spin-off from chapter 12 of 'Captain My Captain' involving the
Steward of Gondor and the Cygnets of Dol Amroth.



Gondor

MeG3: Chance Meetings by Tanaqui

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1401

Rating: R discussion of adult themes/situations - ie prostitution and
intergenerational sexual taboos

Romance Partners: Denethor/OFC and Faramir/OFC

Summary: For the Ruling Steward and his sons, the personal is the political
and private acts can have public consequences. Faramir's odd behaviour on
his return from his first month as Captain of the Ithilien Rangers troubles
Denethor, both as a father and as Ruling Steward. An unexpected meeting in a
place neither thinks to find the other only adds to the tension - and
results in an order that, ten years later, will have significant
consequences in the War of the Ring.



Gondor

MeG4: Choices by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1002

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Beregond's friendship with Pippin, from their first meeting until
their parting.



Gondor

MeG5: Courting The Lady by Celandine Brandybuck

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=362

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Finduilas/Denethor

Summary: Denethor, Finduilas, and Thorongil [aka Aragorn] - how did Denethor
ever end up married to Finduilas of Dol Amroth?



Gondor

MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/588202/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A gapfiller set shortly before the events of TTT. Faramir and
Denethor await news of Boromir, and Faramir dreams of water.



Gondor

MeG7: From the Other Riverbank by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=5

Rating: R mature themes related to homosexuality

Romance Partners: slash

Summary: Gondor on the brink of war is a political crucible. Those who would
dwell in it must learn never to blink, even when old loyalties are in doubt
and faith in the most basic relationships is shaken.



Gondor

MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=780

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A woman of Minas Tirith goes about her business in the aftermath of
the Siege of Gondor.



Gondor

MeG9: Homecoming by Nancy Brooke

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=363

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir Returns to Minas Tirith.



Gondor

MeG10: How Many Years? by Marta

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1664

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The road to the hallows above Minas Tirith is travelled only once a
generation, on the coming-of-age of the current steward's oldest son.
Denethor leads Boromir down that scarce-walked path, and Denethor finally
gives Boromir an honest answer to a question he asked as a child.



Gondor

MeG11: I will always be your brother by Avon

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1960

Rating: PG-13 death and dying mentioned

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir and Faramir's first meeting when Boromir comes home from
his first campaign. There are so many things you can't promise.



Gondor

MeG12: In His Brother's Shadow by Celandine Brandybuck

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=119

Rating: PG-13 discussion of sex and mild adult themes

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A glimpse at Faramir's youth - his first meeting with Gandalf and
his relationship with Boromir. Seventh and last of the Steward's Family
sequence.



Gondor

MeG13: Lady of Silences by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/935836/1/

Rating: PG-13 abusive father (Denethor)

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In Minas Tirith, Finduilas remembers the sea. Features Boromir,
Faramir, and Denethor. A very bleak vignette.



Gondor

MeG14: Leaves on the Wind by Nancy Brooke

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=269

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Letters from Faramir to Boromir before the last defense of
Osgiliath.



Gondor

MeG15: Possessions by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1285796/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In the library in Minas Tirith, Gandalf makes a new friend
(Faramir).



Gondor

MeG16: Proof by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1381980/1/

Rating: PG death by hanging

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: How to win friends and influence people. Faramir and the Ithilien
Rangers.



Gondor

MeG17: Reasons by Saralitazie

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=836

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir and Faramir, the night before Boromir leaves for Imladris.



Gondor

MeG18: Requiem by Nancy Brooke

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=49

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: How Boromir and Faramir remember their mother.



Gondor

MeG19: Singer by the shore by Beth Winter

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=3435

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: On a dark night in Dol Amroth, Boromir and Faramir meet a singer
who only sings the truth. Denethor's sons are children in this introspective
story.



Gondor

MeG20: Stargazers by Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight, Acacea,
Fileg, Chris, Forodwaith)

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1605391/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Who taught Faramir about the constellations? A series of linked
stories about his lessons.



Gondor

MeG21: The Burial of the Dead by Altariel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=130

Rating: PG-13 Violent implications

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Denethor remembers the dead and the dying - Boromir, Faramir,
Finduilas.



Gondor

MeG22: The King is Dead by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1124984/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Denethor teaches a young Faramir the game of chess.



Gondor

MeG23: Ties of Love by Avon

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2051

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir and Faramir and the ties that bind us. Boromir explains a
Gondorian superstition to Pippin.



Gondor

MeG24: Too Late for Misgivings by Shadow975

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1197684/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The parting of Boromir and Faramir, in which the brothers again
address the question of which of them should go to Imladris.



Gondor

MeG25: Worship by Destina_Fortunato

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=77

Rating: PG mentions consummated relationship

Romance Partners: Aragorn/Boromir

Summary: Every man needs something to believe in. Slash fic.



Incomplete

MeI1: Blackbow by Isabeau of Greenlea

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1333043/1/

Rating: PG-13 some violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: How Hethlin became a Ranger of Ithilien.



Incomplete

MeI2: Of One to Me by M. N & E. M. Theis

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1380712/1/

Rating: R violence, graphic descriptions of wounds, much angst

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A fall in Moria sets Legolas and Boromir on a different and very
dangerous road.



Incomplete

MeI3: Orcbrat by The Lauderdale

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1184601/1/

Rating: R Violence, rape, bad language

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Orcs destroyed Maevyn's village. She wants revenge.



Incomplete

MeI4: The Queen's Orc by jodancingtree

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1741

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: He was the Ringbearer's Orc, bound to him by solemn blood-pact, and
he wore the Jewel that Frodo gave him. That was all Aragorn knew of him
until he appeared in Minas Tirith, seeking the Queen whose Jewel he wore.
Was it blessing or curse that he came during the last springtime of
Aragorn's reign?




Poetry

MeP1: An Elegy for Elfhild by Alawa

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1391656/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Theoden after the death of his wife in childbirth.



Poetry

MeP2: Ascension by Fileg

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=1425&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A terzanelle that questions the futile nature of waiting for
redemption.



Poetry

MeP3: Darkness Falls by flick

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2575

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A sestina on the death of Boromir. Inspired by both book-verse and
movie-verse.



Poetry

MeP4: Eowyn, my fair one by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1233

Rating: PG-13 sexuality (non-explicit)

Romance Partners: Grim/Eowyn, sort of

Summary: A very Bitter (and belated) Valentine's Day poetry challenge. Grima
lets his inner poet loose. Pity the world. And Eowyn, of course.



Poetry

MeP5: Home by Morning by Fileg

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=1765&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: A Ranger and his partner

Summary: A love poem from the heart of war and a Nursery Rhyme to scare the
daylights out of the little ones when you tuck them in.



Poetry

MeP6: I Ride by RennWench and Alstaria

URL: http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/R/RennWench/IRide.htm

Rating: PG-13

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Faramir's thoughts as he brings news from Osgiliath to Minas
Tirith.



Poetry

MeP7: Oh, Elessar by Malissa Koebel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1812621/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Poem of Elessar coming to the throne of Gondor after the fall of
Sauron.



Poetry

MeP8: The Hamster by Dwimordene

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=2423&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Poe pastiche silliness. Obsession and the care and dealing with
hamsters collide-welcome to Denethor's world.



Post-WOTR

Me4-1: A Kind of Valediction by Altariel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=585

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A Minas Tirith ghost story. Ten years after the pyre, Faramir is
still haunted by the past.



Post-WOTR

Me4-2: Black Captain by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1307131/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Office politics in Minas Tirith; Aragorn and Faramir.



Post-WOTR

Me4-3: Fair Game by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1488736/1/

Rating: PG violent death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In which people go bird-watching and find their courage. Set a
little while after the events of 'A Game of Chess'. Faramir, Eowyn, Eomer,
OCs.



Post-WOTR

Me4-4: Light Lingering by Earmire/Nol

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1605

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Over swordplay, dreams and academics, Faramir, Prince of Ithilien,
makes a new friend.



Post-WOTR

Me4-5: Missing by Firerose

URL: http://www.viragene.com/missing.htm

Rating: PG-13 adult situations implied, language

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The new Steward delves into the past, whilst coming to terms with
the present, and the future.



Post-WOTR

Me4-6: My Dark-haired Love by Avon

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2636

Rating: PG some nudity

Romance Partners: Eowyn/Faramir

Summary: On the night of her wedding to Faramir Eowyn thinks about love and
words.



Post-WOTR

Me4-7: Sufficient by Tanaqui

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2784

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Faramir, Legolas, and a bow of the Galadhrim. The morning after
Aragorn's coronation, two archers find themselves down at the practice
grounds. A few arrows, a lot of words, the start of a friendship, and how
Faramir beings to learn to let go of the things he no longer needs. Mild
angst.



Post-WOTR

Me4-8: The Endless Knot by E.M Theis

URL: http://www.illegiblescroll.net/The%20Endless%20Knot/title.htm

Rating: R violence, much angst.

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Shortly after the Ring is destroyed, a group of warriors travels to
eliminate the remnants of Mordor's forces at the citadel of Minas Morgul.
Led by Eomer, the newly crowned King of the Mark, and by Faramir, Steward of
Gondor, the warriors find more at the Moontower than any expected. The
simple mission turns out to be the trial of Faramir's life, and the attack
on Minas Morgul becomes a struggle to simply survive.



Post-WOTR

Me4-9: The Unsung by Alexcat

URL: http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/A/Alex/LOTR/Q_Z/U/Unsung.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Aragorn thinks back to how many gave so much.



Me1: A House Divided by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2549

Rating: R adult sexual situations (not explicit)

Romance Partners: Morwen of Lossarnach/Thengel and Morwen/Aragorn

Summary: A story about the lesser-written, earlier-generation marital
uniting of Gondor and Rohan--a telling of the lives of Morwen of Lossarnach
and Thengel, their family, and those who intersect with it: Ecthelion,
Aragorn, Rangers and Marshals.



Me2: Bindings of Gold by Lyllyn

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=626

Rating: PG adult themes

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The Witch-king reflects on his choice and its consequences.
Vignette.



Me3: Captain, My Captain by Isabeau of Greenlea

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Events in RoTK as experienced by a young Ranger of Ithilien. Main
character is OFC. Faramir is featured prevalently in the first half, the
second half features, among others, Imrahil, the sons of Elrond, Elrond
himself, Eowyn and Eomer, Arwen and Lord Celeborn. Warning--this is a
novel-length story.



Me4: Gift Horses by Jedishampoo

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=3266

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Eowyn/Faramir

Summary: How is Eowyn to get out of the Houses of Healing or escape an
inescapable future in Rohan?



Me5: Kinsmen by Dwimordene

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=944&SPOrdinal=2

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Aragorn/f

Summary: From father to son, the line of Isildur has remained unbroken
through long years of toil and peril. Of the names of Chieftains recorded, a
full quarter of them died untimely but were able to pass their title to
their sons. This is a tale of the Dunedain, and of keeping the line alive at
all costs, as seen through the eyes of two mothers.



Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=751

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Aragorn discovers something less than orthodox about Boromir's
teaching methods.



Me7: The Believer by Cori Lannam

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/challenge/chapter_view.cfm?NGID=90&STID=2061&SP
Ordinal=11

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir and Aragorn have a little chat about some Gondorian
superstitions..



Me8: The Sickle of the Valar by Altariel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1588051

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Denethor listens to a lesson about the stars.



Me9: Thorongil by Eledhwen

URL: http://www.dreamyaspirations.co.uk/thorongil.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Between 2957 and 2980 of the Third Age, Aragorn undertook his great
errantries and journeys. In this time he also served Thengel of Rohan and
Ecthelion of Gondor under the name 'Thorongil' - Eagle of the Star.



Me10: Through A Glass by Altariel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=273

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Faramir's answer to the challenge question: Eowyn, heroine or
deserter? Gapfiller set during RotK.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Poetry

MPA1: Alawa

An Elegy for Elfhild



Poetry

MPA2: Dwimordene

Eowyn, my fair one; The Hamster



Poetry

MPA3: Fileg

Ascension, Home By Morning



Poetry

MPA4: flick

Darkness Falls



Poetry

MPA5: Malissa Koebel

Oh, Elessar



Poetry

MPA6: RennWench and Alstaria

I Ride



MA1: Alawa

Hearth Companions



MA2: Alexcat

The Unsung



MA3: Altariel

A Pale Light Lingering, Adrift, Death by Water, Lady of Silences,
Possessions, Proof, The Burial of the Dead, The King is Dead, A Kind of
Valediction, Black Captain, Fair Game, The Sickle of the Valar, Through A
Glass



MA4: Avon

I will always be your brother, Ties of Love, My Dark-haired Love



MA5: Beth Winter

Singer by the shore



MA6: Celandine Brandybuck

Courting the Lady, In His Brother's Shadow



MA7: Cori Lannam

The Believer



MA8: Destina_Fortunato

Worship



MA9: Dwimordene

Kinsmen



MA10: E.M Theis

The Endless Knot



MA11: Earmire/Nol

Light Lingering



MA12: Eledhwen

Thorongil



MA13: Firerose

Missing



MA14: Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight, Acacea, Fileg, Chris,
Forodwaith)

Stargazers



MA15: Isabeau of Greenlea

Blackbow; Captain, My Captain



MA16: Jedishampoo

Gift Horses



MA17: jodancingtree

The Queen's Orc



MA18: Lindelea

Choices



MA19: Lyllyn

Bindings of Gold



MA20: M. N & E. M. Theis

Of One to Me



MA21: Marta

How Many Years?



MA22: Nancy Brooke

Homecoming, Leaves on the Wind, Requiem




MA23: Saralitazie

Reasons



MA24: Shadow975

Too Late for Misgivings



MA25: Tanaqui

Chance Meetings, Sufficient



MA26: The Lauderdale



MA27: Thevina Finduilas

A House Divided



This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2023

Men and Elves Voting, 9/17/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 16, 2004 - 0:01:52 Topic ID# 2023
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Friday September 17, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
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Msg# 2024

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 0:21:41 Topic ID# 2022
----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot



Men

Official Voting Ballot

>Gondor
>MeG12: In His Brother's Shadow by Celandine Brandybuck

Celandine did a lovely job with this one. I think the paragraph where
Faramir thought "I'm in my brother's shadow" was perfect for the ending and
she could have stopped the story right there. But she didn't, and the ending
was just as good. Faramir's feelings here were very realistic.


>Gondor
>MeG21: The Burial of the Dead by Altariel

Beautiful writing, superb job. It galls me that a man could hate his child
like that. But written with realism and skill. Very evocative.

>Gondor
>MeG22: The King is Dead by Altariel

Interesting. Good, not too-blunt, foreshadowing of Denethor's opinions on
Faramir, but also some evidence that he cares for his younger son. Denethor
must have cared for his sons in the past, even though he gets soured by the
palantir in later life, and Faramir suffers for it. Well-written. I enjoyed
this.

>Poetry
>MeP8: The Hamster by Dwimordene

This has got to be one of the funniest poems I have ever read! Heck, it's
one of the funniest things I've ever read or seen and I'm just in awe that
she could keep it going with stanza after stanza, still in the right rhythm
and rhymes. I read this out loud to my supervisor at work and it was so
hard to get through it for all the laughter. Brilliant. Just brilliant!


>Post-WOTR
>Me4-8: The Endless Knot by E.M Theis

This story was tightly plotted and wonderfully described. I could feel the
emotions of the characters, the madness in some of them, the mirth and
concern in others. I would have liked to have seen Faramir's talk with
Legolas at the end, but otherwise I quite enjoyed this story. The chapters
here were fairly short, which is good. I didn't feel the need to read and
drive, so the roads are probably safer. I enjoyed this story quite a bit.



AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):


>Poetry
>MPA2: Dwimordene

It's one thing to write a parody. It's one thing to write a poem. It's one
thing to write a bit of humor. But it's quite something else to write such
a humorous poem parody and carry it on for stanza after stanza without
losing any bit of the humor or the interst of the reader. And Dwimordene
can do it!

>MA3: Altariel

Altariel really is a wonderful author. Especially when she writes Faramir.
But no matter what it is she writes, she writes with grace and feeling and
character. I knew her first from Trek fanfic, and she's just as brilliant
there. TPTB must have thought so, too, as they've published her.


>MA6: Celandine Brandybuck

Celandine is a talented writer. She did a fine job at capturing the
personalities of her characters, Tolkien's characters.


>MA10: E.M Theis

I was surprised to not find the many errors that litter her sister's
otherwise excellent stories. EM's chapters are shorter, which isn't
necessarily a bad thing, and she kept tightly to one man's POV which is not
necessarily an easy task. Her descriptions were wonderful; I felt I could
see the places she described in my mind's eye. Her plotting was
complicated, which is, most often, a good thing, and her characterizations
held even as some of the characters slipped into madness. That certainly
takes some talent.


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2025

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 0:50:08 Topic ID# 2021
-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot

Elves

Official Voting Ballot


>Drabble
>ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

Avon wrotes some wonderful imagery into this drabble and it brings us right
into Legolas's thoughts. Very moving.


>Drabble
>ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

Sad and moving drabble, but moving for the stones as much as for Legolas.
We don't just hear him tell us what they say, but hear it for ourselves
through him.


>Drabble
>ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

Catches the youthfulness in Legolas's many years, the time before the
sea-longing when he can't bear the thought of leaving. Perfectly in
character.


>Drabble
>ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

Elvenesse catches the wonder of Legolas as he realizes the trees are silent
but the stones speak. My favorite line: "[the trees] will not answer me."


>Drabble
>ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

Very sad, evokative drabble showing us the darkening of Mirkwood from a
child's eyes, as he finds his secret place ruined by darkness.


>Post-WOTR
>E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great

I cried when I first read this and I had to fight the tears again.
Thranduil's advice to Legolas after his friend's death is just beautiful:
"Grieve for them, but do not allow your sorrow to sour unto bitterness.
Rather, let it run its course, and then lay it to rest in the still places
of your mind, where it may whisper words of wisdom, but will not plague you
so." Tanglinna is one of the best OC's I've found in LOTR fanfic, and even
though, he doesn't belong to Katharine, she paid him a beautiful tribute,
fleshing out even more in a rememberance after his death.


>Post-WOTR
>E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

Nice little story. The poetry was good and I like that we could see the
edits and form Gimli was making with it. And that we get to see to see from
Legolas' eyes as he discovers more depths of this friend.


>Post-WOTR
>E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

This was amazing! Incredible. I admit, I wasn't so sure at the beginning,
but the more I read the more I liked it. It had everything, drama, comedy
(that letter at the end is priceless!), angst, intrigue, mystery, action.
The characterizations were wonderful, especially Bandobras! I don't know
that I've ever read so hobbity a hobbit in fanfiction yet! And the
descriptions...I am in awe. The pictures Le Rouret must see in her head. My
own doesn't visualize nearly so well, though with her descriptions, I could
see everthing. Thirty-eight chapters of a story that is complexly plotted,
and a very satisfying ending.


>The Silmarillion
>ES4: Comrades In Arms by Levade

Sentence fragments distract however it's an interesting look into the
returned Glorfindel, putting flesh on the picture we get of him from LOTR.


>The Silmarillion
>ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

Glorfindel as a young elfling is cute, indeed, and his father seems like a
great father. I liked their interaction and the imagination of the child.
Nice writing style as well.


>The Silmarillion
>ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

This story was beautiful and poignant. Especially the ending. Oropher here
does not come off as brash and haughty but a loving father, remembering
before the end comes. Very well written and characterized.



>The Silmarillion
>ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

Thanduil is wise is this story, where the darkness creeping into Mirkwood is
felt and yet there is peace and even joy in the Yule festival. Legolas here
is grown, helping to secure the kingdom, and the interaction with the
Dwarves is quite fun as well, though they're reason for being there is
never forgotten.

>The Silmarillion
>ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

Interesting. I'd never thought of their relationship so closely, but you
write it very credibly, that she is so much more powerful than he, and
though he loves her, he fears her in a way as well.

>The Silmarillion
>ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

Ah, now that was not a side of the whole ring thing that I had thought of
before. I *do* like those Sindarin better than the Noldor and here Celeborn
reminds me why. Wisdom of Isildur, indeed.


>The Silmarillion
>ES15: Too Late by Jilian Baade

This was a touching look at the grief in his life, and from the side of the
Noldor that tried to do right, the part that is often overshadowed by the
other.

>Vignette
>EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

An valid question makes for a great short story. What was Elrond thinking?
And Glorfindel was the perfect one to ask. This story had humor and
suspense (though we know how it all turns out, of course) and a valid anser
to that question. Thundera fleshed out these two characters wonderfully in
the process.


>Vignette
>EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

Peotically written with a wonderful characterization of Legolas that
reminded me of Tolkien, not afraid to admit love of Aragorn, though I felt
it wasn't romantic. A poignant remembrance of the death of a secondary
character, though an important one.


>Vignette
>EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

Oh, my goodness! I must have slipped right by that quote in The
Silmarillion. The Elves hunted them! Well, if I ever read it again after
this little story, I won't be able to slip right by. Oh dear! And I mean
that in a good way! Black humor, indeed!


>Vignette
>EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

This is a bittersweet story about the beauty of the Elves, the sadness at
their passing, and hope for the future. Very nice characterization of Merry.

>E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

I like this Celeborn very much and like him chagrined that so much of Sindar
history is overshadowed by the Noldor's showy history of betrayal and
overweening pride.


>E3: A Midspring Morning's Dream by Katharine the Great

Beautifully done! I got all choked up. Everything was sweet and yet funny,
just like those three! I like Brethil's bride and her sisters. Mayhap one of
them will fall for Master Tavor? But the bits of fatherliness from Tanglinna
were heart-warming and lovely. And it's nice to see Legolas still so playful
after the War of the Ring. I know this is AU for an AU, but I still loved
it.


>E15: Roots by Dwimordene

Ah, this is one of my favorites of Dwimordene's. Maybe because Legolas has
such a big part in it and I know she's an Aragorn fan. This was a wonderful
story. The original characters were drawn so well I felt I knew them. And
the werewolves? Oh my gosh! I loved how she drew the fear and malice
emanating from Dol Goldur and the Nazgul. And she even added another
epilogue for me! How perfect is that!


>E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia

How would an Elf react to something so foreign as sickness? It's a question
worth a story, and well written.


AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):


>Drabble
>EDA1: Avon

Avon can take just 100 words and really bring a moment to life. I can see
it in my mind like a photograph.

>Drabble
>EDA2: Dwimordene

I think Dwimordene can write anything. Short, long, drabble, poetry, humor,
angst, mystery.You name it, she can write it. Wish I could say the same.


>Drabble
>EDA3: Elana

In just those few words, she brought so much more depth to that little
quote.


>Drabble
>EDA4: Elvenesse

Elvenesse's Legolas drabble felt so very Elvish. She bought out the wonder
in Legolas.

>Drabble
>EDA6: Wild Iris

Someone who shows the dark side of Mirkwood, and in only one hundred words.

>Vignette
>EVA1: Lady Aranel

Lady Aranel built a beautiful scene, serene and sad, yet hopeful in a very
short story.

>Vignette
>EVA2: Salsify

Well, Salsify surely surprised me! She has a good bit of humor in her to
come up with such a story.


>Vignette
>EVA4: Stultiloquentia

I don't see many writers writing about Celeborn and Merry in the 4th age,
but Stultioquenta did a fine job.


>Vignette
>EVA5: Thundera Tiger

I love Thundera's stories! She has such a wit! I'm jealous. And she can
take just the right characters to put into the mix.

>EA6: Dwimordene
>Roots

Dwimordene favors Aragorn, but she does write Elves very well. Maybe it's
because Aragorn lived in Rivendell for so long. Anyway, she makes them seem
real, three-dimensional, and yet different from us in subtle ways. Roots
was especially good. She could have focussed on Aragorn, but there was so
much going on with the Elven patrol. Politics, friendship, walking in trees.
She brought it all to life, and left me sad when some of those original
character Elves died.

>EA10: Jilian Baade

It's not often I read a story about Valinor, but Julian wrote a beautiful
one. She took a well-known but not oft-written character and really made me
feel for him.


>EA11: Katharine the Great

This writer knows how to make me cry. She also knows how to tell a wonderful
story and even keep another writer's original characters in perfect
characterization. Her descriptions were wonderful, but it was the feelings
that really got me. So much depth. Thanks.

>EA15: Le Rouret

I am in awe. Or in envy. Or both. Descriptions are a weak area for me, but
yours, wow! How on earth were you able to see that fictional land and place
so clearly as to write it in so much detail. The landscape, the city, the
armor, the stadium, the food.. And a plot that wouldn't quit. Yep, I'm
definitely jealous. You have a lot of talent, Le Rouret! Keep up the great
work! I'll look forward to more from your pen!


>EA17: Losseniaiel

Beautiful syntax flows from this pen. Lossenaiaiel writes her characters
with insight and poetic language.


>EA18: Marnie

Marnie has an ability to look into a character and see their humanity (even
Elves) and also their wisdom. And she can make the twins distinct. And
that's saying something!

>EA20: Siobhan with Cassia

Siobhan is perhaps the quieter of the Cassia and Siobhan duo, but she's just
as talented as a solo act.


>EA21: Thevina Finduilas

I really liked the way Thevina showed the edits in Gimli's poems. Form
matching art. That's a talent.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2026

Voting Season has begun! Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 1:13:33 Topic ID# 2026
Voting Season began with the posting of the first ballots. And just to get
the ball rolling I've put in all of my current votes. (See how using the
Vote Early method works? Just copy and paste.) I still hope to read a few
more Men and Elves stories before the category closes.

Let the games begin!


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2027

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 16, 2004 - 1:26:30 Topic ID# 2022
> Men
>
> Official Voting Ballot


Gondor
MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

No wonder Faramir's men loved him, he's honest, and yet not pessimistic. Loved
the idea about the light starting with them in Ithilien.



Gondor
MeG4: Choices by Lindelea

Wow! I simply loved this and have recommended it to several others so far. I'm
not usually interested in reading men or hobbits, but the summary interested
me. I was so glad I'd taken the time to read it. I never gave much thought to
what Beregond went through while waiting to find out his fate. Now I won't be
able to imagine anything else, I'm sure. My only piece of criticism is that,
unless it's the difference between UK and US spellings, wagons (from chapter 2,
I believe) only has one 'g'. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Beregond and
Targon through your eyes. Very well done!



Gondor
MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

Great visual, the tidal wave demolishing Numenor, and tying that to Boromir's
death and seeing him in the boat. Denethor really is one of my least favorite
characters, I always think the absolute worst of him, I'm glad you could find
some humanity left in him, and show how well Faramir understood him, and
respected him, and even loved him. Kind of takes the edge off of my dislike.



Gondor
MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Wow, emotional and touching but not overly...sticky. I mean, I think you
captured the essence of all those left behind in a battle, and the survivors.
They recognize the sacrifices that were made, and honor them, but know that
they need to get on with their lives, so they do.



Gondor
MeG9: Homecoming by Nancy Brooke

Yes, Boromir comes home, excellent interpretation!



Poetry
MeP6: I Ride by RennWench and Alstaria

I love the whole rhythm of the piece, and Faramir's thoughts. How great it is
that he is big enough to see that Gondor needs a king and that Aragorn is the
right one to be King.



Post-WOTR
Me4-6: My Dark-haired Love by Avon

It's a little strange to think of Eowyn being anything but...confident, even in
Gondor. I suppose everyone has to have a place to be a little non-heroic
though. Nice glimpse of two of my favorites!



Post-WOTR
Me4-7: Sufficient by Tanaqui

I really liked this one. Not overachieving, but sufficient, and that's enough.
Yes, sometimes it takes someone outside our family, or in this case, outside
of our own race, to see positives where we see negatives. Meeting Legolas that
morning was a good thing for Faramir.



Post-WOTR
Me4-9: The Unsung by Alexcat

I always sniffle at this one. I am certain that Aragorn did feel helpless that
could not save those who helped save the world for him and men.



Me5: Kinsmen by Dwimordene

Oh, this is a twist for me. I never thought about it much, but I guess they
would have tried to preserve the line of Isildur. I really never considered
that Halbarad would be Aragorn's son though. Nicely done.



Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

What a nice little moment of time with the fellowship. I loved how you showed
Pippin and Merry already establishing a good relationship with Boromir. And I
would have loved to see them all dancing!




Me10: Through A Glass by Altariel

Great visual, their hands meeting. Amazing how two such broken people can help
make each other whole. Well done.

Msg# 2028

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 16, 2004 - 1:58:16 Topic ID# 2021
> Elves
>
> Official Voting Ballot

Drabble
ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

Well done. You got some intense emotions across in such few words.


Drabble
ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

I never thought of rocks having emotions, but yes, an elf could sense them.



Incomplete
EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

"Tall and terrible and glorious was king Elu-Thingol, greatest of the
elven-kings of Middle Earth, and the regard Celeborn had for him was that of a
son and subject both; awe, mingled with love." That's from chapter two and I
loved it. It was sooo Tolkien-esque. And as I read this, I noticed something.
I always thought you were the ultimate Celeborn fan/press agent, but I think
you have a crush on Elu Thingol too, and you're giving me one!

Really, I love the way you bring some of the dry history of the Silmarillion
and other of Tolkien's books to life by telling a story.

The first meeting of Angrod and Celeborn shows our favorite Sindar/Teleri at
his best, I think. A little ticked off, a little arrogant, and diplomatic, all
at once. And that first chat with Nerwen! You just know there is something big
that will happen between them, since they both thought it went badly and they
came out of it a little worse for the wear. I totally loved that part where
she wondered how he'd turned the tables on her over the blade. And I also loved
the bit where she realized why they dressed in the greys and silvers instead of
the brighter colors. I know I never would have thought about that otherwise.

And poor Daeron. Something about artists that just have to suffer, I think.

I've been part of the Silmfics list for awhile, I don't participate much, but I
read the discussions. One would think, reading there, that the only elves in
the Silmarillion worth noting were the Noldor--specifically, Feanor and sons.
I think the professor did have an extra fondness for them, didn't he? I'm glad
to see them getting a few humbling experiences at the hands of the 'dark'
elves. Luthien's comment (well, Celeborn's) about the Noldor needing more room
to quarrel than was available in Aman was pretty darn funny.

I love this from chapter eight: "The Sindar had borne such blows as the Noldor
had inflicted on themselves - worse blows - without becoming fell, or doomed,
or dangerous. In the midst of death they remained light of heart; worked,
played, rejoiced, and by their mere existence defeated Morgoth's plans daily."
So again, we find out that the Noldor weren't the only ones who suffered, and
the Sindar rose above it, instead of letting it consume them.

I really wish the movies would have showed more of Celeborn as I knew he could
be, and as you write him. I can so see the him pacing, planning strategy to
get Galadriel's brothers on his side, and to further alliances, instead of just
accepting the world as she saw it, that he wasn't 'good' enough for her.

I think I've mentioned before how much I like your dancing scenes. I've
written them before in another lifetime and it really is difficult. Well, they
are for me, so yours do impress me. They were making progress I think, with
her brothers before things got really dark. I'm torn. I know what Feanor and
his sons did was terrible, but I'm not sure the children of Finarfin were that
much better. Doing nothing isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of their
heroism. I was so angry for Elu/Celeborn and company. It was totally ironic
and hypocritical of the Noldor to look down on the Sindar.

And I can't remember the exact quote, but I liked how you set Galadriel up to
be so ready to take the ring when Celebrimbor offers it. How she liked power,
and wanted to rule. I guess by the time she gets the ring, she is one of the
most powerful elves left in Middle Earth, and later, she might even be the most
powerful one, since the others had never lived in Valinor.

I'm so glad I read this again, all in one shot, I am looking forward to the
rest of their story.



Incomplete
EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

Interesting start. I'm a little surprised that Elrond and Earendil would
seemingly forgive Maeglin so easily. I guess he'll have a lot of making up to
do once they reach Valinor. Great so far.


Post-WOTR
E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

Of Pipes and Poetry - Thevina Finduilas
Oh! I liked the idea that Galadriel came back to Middle Earth because she was
drawn to it, and Gimli, with his knowledge of the secrets of earth being th one
to write a poem in her honor. Nicely done.


Romance
ER1: By Hook or By Crook by Eresse

Oooh, those naughty elf wives! On Elrond's desk?! *eep* Really, a nicely
written interlude that allows us to know Celebrian and Ithilwen a bit better,
as well as see the Elrond and Thranduil don't ALWAYS have meetings. Or, maybe
they do always have meetings, but they know that there's more to life than hard
work, or ....sex.


Romance
ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse

I've heard lots of theories about why Gil-Galad was unable to go to Oropher's
aid, but I have to admit that this is the first time that I've heard it was
because he was shagging Elrond! *grin*

I have to say that I love how you set up this whole plot of Elrohir loving
Legolas, but the Mirkwood elves not following the 'ancient path' (for some very
logical reasons). What I really like about it is that I can tell you've
planned this out and the plot really does support a long story. I do have the
added advantage of having read these installments before, and I'm way past them
now, but you didn't fall into the trap that a lot of fanfic authors do--falling
in love with the response and feedback and writing chapter after chapter when
the story is really over. What I mean is that I know some authors who have
actually finished their main plot, but like the rush of feedback so much that
they keep adding, sometimes for many chapters. You aren't doing that. Your
plot is well organized enough and planned out and strong enough that you can
write many chapters, and still move the plot along, without any of them
being...gratuitous.

Now here, in the rest of this fic, not only do you flesh out the main plot, but
you start adding in the sub-plots and a few more characters and making the main
characters seem more familiar and likeable. I particularly liked your
description of the difference between Rivendell and Greenwood in part three,
how the Wood elves needed to be more feral, really. And also that neither was
'better' than the other, they just adapted differently to their situations. I
also liked part four where you gave Elrond and Thranduil both very good reasons
to be upset with each other, but also good reasons to make peace.

Part Five and Six - I like how you're not trying to rush this piece. You're
letting things develop slowly, and Legolas and Elrohir don't just jump into bed
together. Like I said, it's a good main storyline, and it's nice to see it
being developed.



Romance
ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

I love that last line. "Where we go now matters not, as long as we go there
together." Gave me warm fuzzies for sure.



Romance
ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

I know it's rather silly of me, but I wanted Elladand and Elrohir to tell
Legolas more of what they knew about the 'ancient path.' I mean, it seems a
little as if he's being sheltered here, but that's just my impatience and need
for instant gratification. I thought it was odd that Elrohir said that
Almerial (sp?) was acting unnaturally by not being jealous. I mean, it sounded
as if he disapproved of her *not* being jealous, maybe that Enederion (sp?)
deserved to win Dauron more. Just a little thing that flashed through my head
as I was reading, it probably was just my spin on it, and means nothing in the
larger scope of the story. (And I can't remember what goes on with them, next,
so I'm really guessing here).


The Silmarillion
ES1: Brothers by Tinni

And a little child shall lead them. Good view into young Feanor and brothers.


The Silmarillion
ES2: Child of Dawn by Cirdan

I don't know why I read stories about Eol and Maeglin and then think...boy,
that was icky! Eol was one twisted elf! Nice try on Aredhel's part, too bad
Eol was too gone to stop himself, although I'm sure he wanted her in death too.
Nicely done.


The Silmarillion
ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

Squee! That was one of my all time favorite quotes from the book. It made me
fall in love with Glorfindel right away when I read them. (Legolas who?) What a
great story. Little GLorfindel! Yay!


The Silmarillion
ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

Lovely. And it was not just because it was about a King for his heir. It was
about a father and his son.


The Silmarillion
ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

I almost have to laugh, thinking about those gems in the ceiling. I'm sure
they were beautiful, but it made me think of my little sister. She had these
glow in the dark stars that she put all over her bedroom ceiling. I'm sure the
elves had prettier ones!


The Silmarillion
ES9: Malaise by Levade

I think you tapped into a facet of both Glorfindel and Elrond's personalities
that we all believe they have, but never actually see. Oh, and Gil-Galad's too!
Nice peek at a part of their lives!


The Silmarillion
ES12: The Continuing Leaf by WatcherChild

I wish I knew the elves of the Silmarillion better. I liked the easy way you
presented them and told a bit of their stories. And Glorfindel was right in
the end. No one dies as long as you remember them.


The Silmarillion
ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

I've read this before, but a thought occurred to me as I read it this time.
Isildur was villified for not destroying the one ring, even Elrond called him
weak. Celeborn is right by asking why the elves didn't destroy their rings
when they had the chance, though it may have made it worse for the fellowship
and everyone else in the fight against Sauron, maybe.


The Silmarillion
ES15: Too Late by Jilian Baade

I've never much about Finarfin, though when I do, I'll certainly remember this
picture of him, it made an impression. Such a sad commentary on his life too.


Vignette
EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight, but it certainly must have seemed
impossible to all those great and powerful leaders who had to depend on hobbits
and love and friendship instead of power. They were all pretty optomistic,
considering the way things were stacked against the mission being successful.


Vignette
EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

So many emotions that Elrond showed in one dance with his daughter. I
sniffled. Well done.


E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

A Leaf On A Stream - Marnie
It takes a big person to put aside personal prejudices for the greater good.
Seems to me that Celeborn does it very well, without ever losing sight of his
own (and the twins') histories. I guess what I mean is that he wanted to make
sure the twins valued their Sindar side, though he didn't want to get all
defensive and angry himself...hard to do that and not take it personal, but he
did it so the twins could learn.


E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

Chapter 1 - Such a wonderfully dramatic beginning, setting up the conflict
between Galadriel and Celeborn right away. I loved his comment that he had the
right to wonder about her ability to turn the ring down.

Chapter 2 - I was straining forward, reading this, urging them on. Hope they
don't lose anyone else now that they're in the woods!

Chapter 3 - Oswy certainly responded as expected. Any magic must be bad, since
what we don't understand, we fear, and especially elvish magic. Tsk.

Chapter 4 - I loved your description of Oswy's first glimpse of Celeborn. I
also had to laugh a bit that Oswy thought the environment 'too bracing' to be
enchanted. (I kept thinking, but if it was really enchanted, they'd just make
you think it was too bracing to be enchanted!) Leofwyn is wise too, I'm glad
you didn't make her too prejudiced, and even made her regret telling those
stories to Oswy.

Chapter 5 - Oh yes! Galadriel as a wife and mother. I loved it when she
stepped int with Rian and the baby. And again, some rumors and legends of the
Rohirrim are found to be untrue.

Chapter 6 - Such a sad duty for Erethon, though at least, he could give the boy
peace. You could almost taste the bitterness when he noted that had the
positions been reversed, the favor wouldn't have been granted to an elf. I'm
starting to get anxious about the upcoming battle too.

Chapter 7 - You certainly showed the elves...almost desperation, attacks on
all the fronts, with no hope of help, they don't even know if they'll have
enough weapons. Controlled chaos, I guess.

Chapter 8 - More of the conflict between Celeborn and Galadriel, no escapting
their respective fates, I guess, since it always comes back to Galadriel
needing the sea, and Celeborn needing the earth.

Chapter 9 - Darnit! Now I really like Oswy and his family. And Calandil. And
I know something will happen to them. Something bad. And who could blame the
elves if their feasting had that desperate edge to it, they're in a desperate
situation, I guess.

Chapter 10 - Isn't that the way it always is? (And I'm sterotyping here,
forgive me). The females want to protect the men and don't understand when the
men don't want it. I guess Galadriel can probably understand Celeborn's
reasons for staying to fight, though she doesn't agree, so she's mad at him.
There's just such an edge to their relationship, I get so anxious thinking
about it. *sighs*

Chapter 11 - Seems like such a small thing for the elves that they destroyed
the siege engine. I guess it's a victory though.

Chapter 12 - This was such a sad chapter, Celeborn hating to see Galadriel
hurting, yet knowing that he would have to hurt her more in the end...

Chapter 13 - I love the line in this chapter about it being foolish to hope,
though that didn't mean it was wise to despair. Such an elfy thought process.

Chapter 14 - Not Calandil!

Chapter 15 - I love the little touch of humor that Haldir shows where he talks
about wanting to contribute more than just falling out of a tree. I also like
the glimpse of the relationship between Haldir and Orophin. And then, more
Celeborn. I love the way he's so blunt with the truth when he tells Oswy that
he would kill him, and that Oswy would thank him for it. Definitely a Celeborn
moment, at least how I've imagined him.

Chapter 16 - You know, with Celeborn knowing what it's like to be married to a
ring bearer, it makes me wonder if he gave advice to Celebrian before she
married Elrond.

Chapter 17 - This is the darkest before the dawn chapter, right?

Chapter 18 - This really shows Celeborn's strength, and his wisdom in not
depending on magic, but rather his reliance on the power of the earth itself.
I guess he and Thranduil would think alike in many ways.

Chapter 19 - I really like the continuing thread about the songs, here Oswy is
riding in song, and I love that image.

Chapter 20 - Even though it was victory, having Oswy hear the sea in Ardil's
song was so sad!

Chatper 21 - It amazes me that Galadriel could go on at all when she had such
dark thoughts. She and Elrond were alike in that I guess. Totally proving that
being immortal is maybe a curse. And yes, the Haldir and Orophin scene at the
end! I could imagine Orophin looking on Haldir with worship...and challenge!

Chatper 22 - You'd think that Thranduil and Celeborn could see eye to eye a
little more, but maybe Thranduil feels betrayed because Celeborn married
Galadriel. I guess Celeborn's last statement, that Celeborn must believe
there's no curse--rather sums up their relationship.

Chapter 23 - Oh yes, Thranduil removing his crown, talking as friends, and
Celeborn receiving some good advice!

Chapter 24 - No matter how many centuries they lived together, Celeborn and
Galadriel knew they'd eventually part, I guess. It's a bit amazing that they
lived for the moment, instead of always thinking ahead. Even when it was right
on them, they stayed in the moment, instead of just wanting to get it over
with. Maybe that's elves though. I still like to think that Celeborn did go
west, and found peace there too...




E6: Cursed Love by Jilian Baade

It's almsot enough to make you wonder if anyone 'good' had been the least bit
kind to Maeglin, if things might have turned out differently.


E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

I love this one every time I read it. The thought of Glorfindel being afraid to
hold the twins is too funny. I guess he knew he'd fall in love with them!


E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen

I sometimes feel sorry for Maeglin (like I did when reading Dark Forge), but
then I remember that he had a choice. He didn't have to betray the city, and
he did it out of pure selfishness. Maybe he really couldn't have made another
choice because he didn't know any better, but I think he did, and he probably
deserves to wander, in torment...


E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia

Such a simple thing to us human readers, but I imagine being sick would be a
curiosity to elves. Nicely done.


E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade

Oh! Yes, I like the history you gave to the smith, and how the sword told him
it's name!

=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2029

Voting Season is open! Posted by ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 11:26:31 Topic ID# 2029
Just in case some of you are on Special Notices only, I thought I'd
better send a notice telling you that the long quiet of Reading
Season is over and Voting Season is finally here!

So come on back and post your votes! These two categories are open:
Men and Elves.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

Msg# 2030

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Marta September 16, 2004 - 17:58:43 Topic ID# 2021
Here we go...

> ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

This was simply sumptuous. I've never written much smut, but from what
I can tell it requires a fair amount of words. The fact that Lady
Aranel did a scene such as this within the word limit is truly
commendable.

And the difficult subject matter! Legolas/OFC romance and erotica is
almost cliché in this fandom. But Lady Aranel pulled it off. I'm not
an elf-lover, but I found this drabble very enjoyable.

> ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

When I read this drabble I picked up on something I'd never noticed
before from this scene: it's the stones that speak to Legolas. I mean,
obviously... but stones are usually associated with dwarves, and
living things (especially trees) with elves. You picked up on this,
whether you meant to or not. Perhaps the fact that Legolas was able to
connect with the rocks indicates a different insight than is common
among elves, which helped him connect with Gimli? I don't know.
Regardless, it's a very nice drabble.

> E4-2: Keeper of the Flame by Larian Elensar

Very interesting perspective, Larian. We see a lot of stories about
the effects of the Ring on Frodo (and Bilbo and Sam), but much less
about how the Elven Rings affected *their* bearers. I also like how
you have Celeborn being such a power in Galadriel's life. Well done.

> E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

Wonderful glimpse into this friendship. I especially liked Gimli's
verse. It wasn't really in what I think of as a Dwarvish mode, but
rather felt like a dwarf trying to approximate something more Elven.
(Somehow I can't see the AABA four-foot form of a lot of the songs in
_The Hobbit_ as working for Galadriel anyway, and Gimli's smart enough
to know it.)

> ER6: Unbound by Two-point

I don't read a lot of romance, but I'm glad I read this one. It seems
more about the characters of (I assume) a minor character and an
original one. The sex scene was tastefully done, and felt distinctly
Elven.

> EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

Wonderful! You're absolutely right, anyone looking objectively at the
Fellowship would have reason to question the sanity of whomever put it
together. You capture something of the humor in this meeting. More
than that, Elrond's justifications for his choices actually make
sense. Some sense, at least, as much as anything could. Well done.

> EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

This was the first story I ever read written from an Elf's POV, and
the first not based in the end of the Third Age. I still chuckle to
think of it. When I first read I hadn't read _The Silmarillion_, and
the fact that I was able to follow the story is a testament to
Salsify's skill as an author. I was smiling throughout, so real was
the characterization of the Elves, and when I finally understood what
was going on, I laughed out loud. It was just as good on rereading.
Well done, Salsify!

Msg# 2031

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Marta September 16, 2004 - 19:56:53 Topic ID# 2022
Here we go again...

> MeG3: Chance Meetings by Tanaqui

For a piece dealing with sexual themes, there was surprisingly little
sex in this piece. (Not that I expected any; your warning suggested
there wouldn't be outright sex.) I'm always amazd by the depth of your
stories, and how real the stories felt. You nailed the reactions
between Denethor and Faramir, and between the other members of the
council as well. I enjoyed this both whilst betaing it and reading it
after it was published. Well done.

> MeG4: Choices by Lindelea

Interesting point of view, here. I had never really thought of
Beregond under the troll, but you present an interesting account of
him here.

> MeG5: Courting the Lady by Celandine Brandybuck

I loved this piece. We don't know much about Finduilas, but she seemed
very reasonable for the period. Imrahil, too, is just how I think
someone his age would have acted, and Thorongil's inner struggle for
whether to claim the kingship felt very real. We all knew the outcome
but you gave us lots of twists along the way.

> MeG7: From the Other Riverbank by Dwimordene

I don't usually read slash, especially not with incestuous pairings,
but this came as close as any I have ever read to making such a
scenario "work". It's so refreshing to see a piece treat the social
implications seriously instead of just brushing them to the side.

> MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Nice work. It's nice to see an OFC who does not feel at all Sueish but
at least fits nearly seamlessly into the established world.

> MeP4: Eowyn, my fair one by Dwimordene

This was hauntingly beautiful. And so Grima! I can see why Eowyn would
be none-too-happy to attract his attentions.

Msg# 2032

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Lady Aranel September 16, 2004 - 20:11:05 Topic ID# 2021
----
"Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery [The Little Prince]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ainaechoiriel
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot


Elves

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

URL: http://www.gardenofithilien.net/hannonle.html

Rating: R Implied sexual situation

Romance Partners: Legolas/f

Summary: Legolas awakes to a very pleasurable surprise. :-)



Drabble

ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=808&cid=7377

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.dwimordenespage.org/index.php?go=7&id=9&chapter=4

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas's thoughts based on the quote from the FotR: "But the Elves
of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees
and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them:
deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they
are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago." (This is one of
four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same theme.)



Drabble

ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1865&cid=7779

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1577&cid=7415

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1832774/3/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A sad scene in Mirkwood, from the eyes of an Elf.



Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=231

Rating: PG-13

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if some elves never went west, but stayed here instead? Well,
Moira's introduction to elfhood comes via her way-too-hot linguistics
prof... um, one Dr. Birdsong.



Incomplete

EI2: Last of the Edhel by CinnamonGrrl

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1629623/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The elf had never had any trouble guarding an important secret in
the heart of an ancient forest, but then, he'd never met Hermione Granger
before.



Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1598

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Celeborn of Doriath and Nerwen of the Noldor strive to come to
terms with the differences that divide their peoples during the First Age,
and also with their growing affections for one another.



Incomplete

EI4: Return to Middle-earth by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=308

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: Sometimes by doing right, we injure the ones we love and put the
world in danger. A sequel to Elrohir's Tale in which Sinead seeks her
father.



Incomplete

EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
Treehugger

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1119462/1/

Rating: PG violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas, Tavor and Brethil are up to tricks as usual. Meanwhile,
King Thranduil goes out on a hunting trip, but doesn't come home...and
Tanglinna must find him, before it's too late...



Incomplete

EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1575581/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if Maeglin hadn't died in the Fall of Gondolin, but survived
as a legend until modern times?



Post-WOTR

E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=72

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Elrohir/f

Summary: What would happen if an Elf found himself stranded in our world?
Come and find out!



Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/L/LarianElensar/KeeperOfTheFlame.htm

Rating: R Non-graphic Sexual situation

Romance Partners: Celeborn/Galadriel

Summary: Galadriel is crossing the sea after the war of the ring. This is
what she's thinking about on the ship to Valinor.



Post-WOTR

E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1053169/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The young mature, and perceptions change, but sometimes we can't
really know a person until they're gone... (refers to the deaths of
Tanglinna and Brethil in a previous story of Treehugger's). An homage-fic
written as a gift for TreeHugger and JastaElf.



Post-WOTR

E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2305

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An evening in Fangorn Forest when things hidden come to light.
Legolas tries smoking and unwittingly discovers that he doesn't know as much
about his Dwarvish friend as he thought. That he writes poetry, for
instance.



Post-WOTR

E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=686

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: King Elessar and Prince Faramir stage a tournament in Ithilien to
draw knights to Gondor, but in the process they discover trouble
unlooked-for.



Post-WOTR

E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2668

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maglor at the Trojan War finds beauty and terror intermingled in
the being of Achilles, entwined with the memories of a brother.



Romance

ER1: By Hook or By Crook by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/4_ByHookOrByCrook/ByHookOrByCr
ook.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrond/Celebrian and Thranduil/OFC

Summary: Elrond and Thranduil discover there is more to strategy than meets
the eye.



Romance

ER2: Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368822/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Amarie/Finrod

Summary: He was hers once, and may yet be again, but for now he is only a
child, and does not remember what once was. And reunions are rarely what we
expect them to be.



Romance

ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/1_MeldirAtFirstSight/Meldir1-2
.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: The twins' and Legolas's first encounter in Greenwood the Great
leads to a close and lasting friendship.



Romance

ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1060193/1/

Rating: PG-13 Some sexual references

Romance Partners: Feanor/f

Summary: A modern retelling of an old Scottish tale.



Romance

ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/thekiss.php

Rating: R implied sexual content, m/m slash.

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/Echthelion

Summary: Glorfindel and Ecthelion share a kiss.



Romance

ER6: Unbound by Two-point

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1547945/1/

Rating: R some sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: A young Rivendell Elf considers how old is too old, and what age
and death means to an Elf.



Romance

ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/2_WithFriendsLikeThese/WithFri
endsLikeThese1-2.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: Legolas's first visit to Rivendell proves educational in more ways
than one when he learns of the choice of the Peredhil then stumbles upon a
tryst with an unexpected twist.



The Silmarillion

ES1: Brothers by Tinni

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1309997/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Feanor discover little Finarfin is not such a terrible brother to
have; in fact he's a nice little boy.



The Silmarillion

ES2: Child of Dawn by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1386105/1/

Rating: R implied domestic violence and a character death

Romance Partners:

Summary: Maedhros hears that Aredhel is being held against her will by Eol
and goes to rescue her. Maeglin watches as Maedhros and Eol fight it out. My
one and only Maeglin fic.



The Silmarillion

ES3: Coming of Age by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1229413/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maedhros comes of age, and the familiy celebrates!



The Silmarillion

ES4: Comrades In Arms by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1261187/1/

Rating: PG-13 bit of violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: During the Last Alliance Cirdan gets a chance to show off his
talent with floss and a needle. Glorfindel is not amused.



The Silmarillion

ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1399852/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Before Imladris, before Gondolin and her white towers, even before
the dawn of the sun and moon, he was but an elfling.



The Silmarillion

ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/henen.php

Rating: PG-13 character death, mild violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: Oropher thinks about his son.



The Silmarillion

ES7: Hide and Seek by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/923897/1/

Rating: R Some violence, and sex scenes, not graphic

Romance Partners:

Summary: Young Amrod and Amras run away from home. Why?



The Silmarillion

ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1139614/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Thranduil has his caves built in Mirkwood.



The Silmarillion

ES9: Malaise by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368363/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A rather grumpy Elrond, Glorfindel, a tent, large puddle and a High
King with a quirky sense of humour.



The Silmarillion

ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1616041/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Elu Thingol/Melian

Summary: Elu Thingol reflects on his wife.



The Silmarillion

ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2986

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A tale of Dwarves and Elves, of artisans, the creation of the great
West-Gate at Khazad-dum, and unlikely authors. Legolas and Gimli, and Narvi
and Celebrimbor. Humor, but with a serious nod to Elvish/Dwarvish relations
during their heyday as well as musings on Dwarvish culture in general.



The Silmarillion

ES12: The Continuing Leaf by WatcherChild

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1020648/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Glorfindel sets foot upon Middle-earth again and tries to adjust to
a changed world.



The Silmarillion

ES13: The Tale of Twin Stars by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1387830/1/

Rating: PG-13 Adult themes

Romance Partners: Elrond/Elros/f

Summary: Elros and Elrond fall in love and must cope with the Laws and
Customs of the Eldar.



The Silmarillion

ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1850

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: After Gil-galad's death, Elrond asks if Celeborn will support him
in a bid to assume the crown of the High King.



The Silmarillion

ES15: Too Late by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1116618/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Finarfin reflects on his life.



Vignette

EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2418

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Vignette set in Rivendell after the Fellowship's departure. Focuses
on a conversation between Glorfindel and Elrond as they debate the wisdom in
both the Fellowship's mission as well as the individuals comprising the
unlikely group. A fool's hope? You decide.



Vignette

EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=2750&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas overhears Eowyn's plea to Aragorn the night before they are
to leave for the Paths of the Dead. He tries to give her solace and maybe
find some for himself as well.



Vignette

EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1719

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An imminent parting looms, and they realize that words are not
enough. Featuring Elrond, Arwen. Vignette.



Vignette

EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2474

Rating: PG-13 Black humour

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The first official meeting of Elves and Dwarves, or, the importance
of a well-planned menu in diplomacy. Some black humor from the days when the
Elves were still just thinking about becoming wise.



Vignette

EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1799

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In which Meriadoc and his apprentice combine politics and
horticulture, and Celeborn solves an important question. A Fourth Age
vignette set in Rivendell.



E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1476

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The True Colors of Thranduil as Shown and Proven in Canon: a short
essay.



E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1329431/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Little Elladan and Elrohir get a history lesson from their
grandfather, Celeborn, resulting in burnt fingers and no appetite for lunch.



E3: A Midspring Morning's Dream by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1239323/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Set in TreeHugger's universe. Wedding bells are ringing in
Mirkwood...because everybody's faaaavorite little tricksy chatterbox is
getting married!



E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=756

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An AU look at the passage to Mandos, as Maeglin gets what's coming
to him.



E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=358

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The War of the Ring in Lothlorien.



E6: Cursed Love by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1311575/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: From the bushes, a hidden watcher sees Tuor propose to Idril.



E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=418

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Observation and Dissection of the Common Wood-Elf (Telerius
galadh). Why do Elves glow? How does an Elf walk on snow? Methods of
reproduction? It's Legolas as you've never seen him before.



E8: Fated Twins by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1276023/1/

Rating: R Violence, implied character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Amrod and Amras go to the Havens of Sirion. Morgoth attacks. They
help fight against Morgoth and save Elros and Elrond. Cast includes
Egalmoth, Galdor, Oropher, Thranduil, Celeborn, Elemmakil, and Hendor.



E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/724475/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An Elf looks at earth from Valinor.



E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=38&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Elrond's twin sons have some questions about that Balrog, and know
just whom to ask.



E11: Legolas and the Olórë Mallë by Chathol-linn

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1890

Rating: PG some battle scenes

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An early adventure of Legolas in which he explores Elvish memory,
prophecy, and dreams. Scenes include "Strange Paths," "Ale by the Fireside,"
and "I Will Drink Your Blood from the Chalice of Your Heart."



E12: Lord of the House of the Golden Flower by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1153790/1/

Rating: PG-13 Mild reference to sexual activities

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/OFC

Summary: The story of Glorfindel and his Sindarin Wife, and how they are
reunited in the Second Age.



E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/735169/1/

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maeglin during the Fall of Gondolin, his thoughts and actions.



E14: Notes From the Field by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=681

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Alas, there are no fairy tale endings in Nature... Tolkien never
wrote of Thranduil's fate. Unfortunately, the task falls to bumbling
researchers of the SRDM. Of hair braiding, migratory patterns, and a plea to
Save the Common Wood-Elf.



E15: Roots by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=26

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: So how did Legolas meet Aragorn anyhow, and under what
circumstances? Goes from light to heavy and back again. Gap-filler set
between Gollum's arrival in Mirkwood and his interrogation; violent in
parts, plenty of fake elven metaphysics, traces the beginnings of a
friendship between Aragorn and Legolas. Original characters, Gandalf,
Gollum, and Thranduil also figure in this fic.



E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1027905/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Aragorn gets sick and Legolas, coming from a race that does not
know illness, tries to understand what that must be like.



E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1361292/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A smith reforges Narsil and remembers the one who last bore this
blade in battle.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

EDA1: Avon

I Hear the Stones Lament



Drabble

EDA2: Dwimordene

Longing



Drabble

EDA3: Elana

Strange to Us



Drabble

EDA4: Elvenesse

Strange Vessels



Drabble

EDA5: Lady Aranel

Hannon Le



Drabble

EDA6: Wild Iris

Untitled (Mirkwood)



Vignette

EVA1: Lady Aranel

Cold Comfort



Vignette

EVA2: Salsify

Dinner Guests



Vignette

EVA3: Sphinx

Dancing Within Walls



Vignette

EVA4: Stultiloquentia

Rose Riddle



Vignette

EVA5: Thundera Tiger

A Fool's Hope



EA1: bryn_bnw

Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh; Notes from the Field



EA2: Chathol-linn

Legolas and the Olórë Mallë



EA3: CinnamonGrrl

Last of the Edhel



EA4: Cirdan

Child of Dawn, The Tale of Twin Stars, Fated Twins



EA5: Coriel

A Case of Mistaken Identity



EA6: Dwimordene

Roots



EA7: Earmire

War Dust



EA8: Eresse

By Hook or By Crook, Meldir: At First Sight, With Friends Like These



EA9: Ithilwen

Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale, Hide and Seek, Firimar,
Noldolante



EA10: Jilian Baade

Wayland The Smith, Coming of Age, Too Late, Cursed Love, Lord of the House
of the Golden Flower, The Smith



EA11: Katharine the Great

More Than an Archer, A Midspring Morning's Dream



EA12: Katharine the Great & Treehugger

Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King



EA13: Larian Elensar

Keeper Of The Flame



EA14: Larien Elengasse

The Kiss, Henen



EA15: Le Rouret

The Green Knight



EA16: Levade

Comrades In Arms, Fearless and Full of Joy, Malaise, Gofi and the Balrog



EA17: Losseniaiel

Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears; Singing Silence



EA18: Marnie

Oak and Willow, The Wisdom of Isildur, A Leaf on a Stream, Battle of the
Golden Wood



EA19: Miriel361

Return to Middle-earth, Elrohir's Tale



EA20: Siobhan with Cassia

Sickness



EA21: Thevina Finduilas

Of Pipes and Poetry; Speak, Friend, and Enter



EA22: Tinni

Brothers



EA23: Two-point

Unbound



EA24: Viv

Dawn Twilight



EA25: WatcherChild

The Continuing Leaf



EA26: Wild Iris

Keystone



EA27: Zimraphel

Across Dark Waters



This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2033

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 22:45:20 Topic ID# 2021
Did you accidentally hit Send before you commented? I scrolled down through
this whole thing and didn't see any comments.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Lady Aranel [mailto:LadyAranel@gardenofithilien.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:09 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot



----
"Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery [The Little Prince]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ainaechoiriel
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot


Elves

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top
2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author)
and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

URL: http://www.gardenofithilien.net/hannonle.html

Rating: R Implied sexual situation

Romance Partners: Legolas/f

Summary: Legolas awakes to a very pleasurable surprise. :-)



Drabble

ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=808&cid=7377

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This
is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.dwimordenespage.org/index.php?go=7&id=9&chapter=4

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas's thoughts based on the quote from the FotR: "But the
Elves
of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the
trees
and the grass do not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament
them:
deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they
are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago." (This is one of
four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same theme.)



Drabble

ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1865&cid=7779

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This
is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=1577&cid=7415

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas' thoughts on what the stones had to say in Hollin. (This
is
one of four drabbles entered in the MEFAs that was written on the same
theme.)



Drabble

ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1832774/3/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A sad scene in Mirkwood, from the eyes of an Elf.



Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=231

Rating: PG-13

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if some elves never went west, but stayed here instead?
Well,
Moira's introduction to elfhood comes via her way-too-hot linguistics
prof... um, one Dr. Birdsong.



Incomplete

EI2: Last of the Edhel by CinnamonGrrl

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1629623/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The elf had never had any trouble guarding an important secret in
the heart of an ancient forest, but then, he'd never met Hermione Granger
before.



Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1598

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Celeborn of Doriath and Nerwen of the Noldor strive to come to
terms with the differences that divide their peoples during the First Age,
and also with their growing affections for one another.



Incomplete

EI4: Return to Middle-earth by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=308

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: Sometimes by doing right, we injure the ones we love and put the
world in danger. A sequel to Elrohir's Tale in which Sinead seeks her
father.



Incomplete

EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
Treehugger

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1119462/1/

Rating: PG violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas, Tavor and Brethil are up to tricks as usual. Meanwhile,
King Thranduil goes out on a hunting trip, but doesn't come home...and
Tanglinna must find him, before it's too late...



Incomplete

EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1575581/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What if Maeglin hadn't died in the Fall of Gondolin, but survived
as a legend until modern times?



Post-WOTR

E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=72

Rating: R Sexual situations

Romance Partners: Elrohir/f

Summary: What would happen if an Elf found himself stranded in our world?
Come and find out!



Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

URL:
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/L/LarianElensar/KeeperOfTheFlame.htm

Rating: R Non-graphic Sexual situation

Romance Partners: Celeborn/Galadriel

Summary: Galadriel is crossing the sea after the war of the ring. This is
what she's thinking about on the ship to Valinor.



Post-WOTR

E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1053169/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The young mature, and perceptions change, but sometimes we can't
really know a person until they're gone... (refers to the deaths of
Tanglinna and Brethil in a previous story of Treehugger's). An homage-fic
written as a gift for TreeHugger and JastaElf.



Post-WOTR

E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2305

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An evening in Fangorn Forest when things hidden come to light.
Legolas tries smoking and unwittingly discovers that he doesn't know as
much
about his Dwarvish friend as he thought. That he writes poetry, for
instance.



Post-WOTR

E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=686

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: King Elessar and Prince Faramir stage a tournament in Ithilien to
draw knights to Gondor, but in the process they discover trouble
unlooked-for.



Post-WOTR

E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2668

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maglor at the Trojan War finds beauty and terror intermingled in
the being of Achilles, entwined with the memories of a brother.



Romance

ER1: By Hook or By Crook by Eresse

URL:

http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/4_ByHookOrByCrook/ByHookOrByCr
ook.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrond/Celebrian and Thranduil/OFC

Summary: Elrond and Thranduil discover there is more to strategy than
meets
the eye.



Romance

ER2: Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368822/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Amarie/Finrod

Summary: He was hers once, and may yet be again, but for now he is only a
child, and does not remember what once was. And reunions are rarely what
we
expect them to be.



Romance

ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse

URL:

http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/1_MeldirAtFirstSight/Meldir1-2
.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: The twins' and Legolas's first encounter in Greenwood the Great
leads to a close and lasting friendship.



Romance

ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1060193/1/

Rating: PG-13 Some sexual references

Romance Partners: Feanor/f

Summary: A modern retelling of an old Scottish tale.



Romance

ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/thekiss.php

Rating: R implied sexual content, m/m slash.

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/Echthelion

Summary: Glorfindel and Ecthelion share a kiss.



Romance

ER6: Unbound by Two-point

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1547945/1/

Rating: R some sexual situations

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/f

Summary: A young Rivendell Elf considers how old is too old, and what age
and death means to an Elf.



Romance

ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

URL:

http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/E/Eresse/2_WithFriendsLikeThese/WithFri
endsLikeThese1-2.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Elrohir/Legolas

Summary: Legolas's first visit to Rivendell proves educational in more
ways
than one when he learns of the choice of the Peredhil then stumbles upon a
tryst with an unexpected twist.



The Silmarillion

ES1: Brothers by Tinni

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1309997/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Feanor discover little Finarfin is not such a terrible brother to
have; in fact he's a nice little boy.



The Silmarillion

ES2: Child of Dawn by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1386105/1/

Rating: R implied domestic violence and a character death

Romance Partners:

Summary: Maedhros hears that Aredhel is being held against her will by Eol
and goes to rescue her. Maeglin watches as Maedhros and Eol fight it out.
My
one and only Maeglin fic.



The Silmarillion

ES3: Coming of Age by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1229413/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maedhros comes of age, and the familiy celebrates!



The Silmarillion

ES4: Comrades In Arms by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1261187/1/

Rating: PG-13 bit of violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: During the Last Alliance Cirdan gets a chance to show off his
talent with floss and a needle. Glorfindel is not amused.



The Silmarillion

ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1399852/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Before Imladris, before Gondolin and her white towers, even
before
the dawn of the sun and moon, he was but an elfling.



The Silmarillion

ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

URL: http://rhovanion.nimnastian.net/fiction/stand/henen.php

Rating: PG-13 character death, mild violence

Romance Partners:

Summary: Oropher thinks about his son.



The Silmarillion

ES7: Hide and Seek by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/923897/1/

Rating: R Some violence, and sex scenes, not graphic

Romance Partners:

Summary: Young Amrod and Amras run away from home. Why?



The Silmarillion

ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1139614/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Thranduil has his caves built in Mirkwood.



The Silmarillion

ES9: Malaise by Levade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1368363/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A rather grumpy Elrond, Glorfindel, a tent, large puddle and a
High
King with a quirky sense of humour.



The Silmarillion

ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1616041/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Elu Thingol/Melian

Summary: Elu Thingol reflects on his wife.



The Silmarillion

ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2986

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A tale of Dwarves and Elves, of artisans, the creation of the
great
West-Gate at Khazad-dum, and unlikely authors. Legolas and Gimli, and
Narvi
and Celebrimbor. Humor, but with a serious nod to Elvish/Dwarvish
relations
during their heyday as well as musings on Dwarvish culture in general.



The Silmarillion

ES12: The Continuing Leaf by WatcherChild

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1020648/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Glorfindel sets foot upon Middle-earth again and tries to adjust
to
a changed world.



The Silmarillion

ES13: The Tale of Twin Stars by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1387830/1/

Rating: PG-13 Adult themes

Romance Partners: Elrond/Elros/f

Summary: Elros and Elrond fall in love and must cope with the Laws and
Customs of the Eldar.



The Silmarillion

ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1850

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: After Gil-galad's death, Elrond asks if Celeborn will support him
in a bid to assume the crown of the High King.



The Silmarillion

ES15: Too Late by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1116618/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Finarfin reflects on his life.



Vignette

EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2418

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Vignette set in Rivendell after the Fellowship's departure.
Focuses
on a conversation between Glorfindel and Elrond as they debate the wisdom
in
both the Fellowship's mission as well as the individuals comprising the
unlikely group. A fool's hope? You decide.



Vignette

EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

URL:

http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=2750&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas overhears Eowyn's plea to Aragorn the night before they
are
to leave for the Paths of the Dead. He tries to give her solace and maybe
find some for himself as well.



Vignette

EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1719

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An imminent parting looms, and they realize that words are not
enough. Featuring Elrond, Arwen. Vignette.



Vignette

EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2474

Rating: PG-13 Black humour

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The first official meeting of Elves and Dwarves, or, the
importance
of a well-planned menu in diplomacy. Some black humor from the days when
the
Elves were still just thinking about becoming wise.



Vignette

EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1799

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: In which Meriadoc and his apprentice combine politics and
horticulture, and Celeborn solves an important question. A Fourth Age
vignette set in Rivendell.



E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1476

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The True Colors of Thranduil as Shown and Proven in Canon: a
short
essay.



E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1329431/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Little Elladan and Elrohir get a history lesson from their
grandfather, Celeborn, resulting in burnt fingers and no appetite for
lunch.



E3: A Midspring Morning's Dream by Katharine the Great

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1239323/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Set in TreeHugger's universe. Wedding bells are ringing in
Mirkwood...because everybody's faaaavorite little tricksy chatterbox is
getting married!



E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=756

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An AU look at the passage to Mandos, as Maeglin gets what's
coming
to him.



E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=358

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The War of the Ring in Lothlorien.



E6: Cursed Love by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1311575/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: From the bushes, a hidden watcher sees Tuor propose to Idril.



E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=418

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Observation and Dissection of the Common Wood-Elf (Telerius
galadh). Why do Elves glow? How does an Elf walk on snow? Methods of
reproduction? It's Legolas as you've never seen him before.



E8: Fated Twins by Cirdan

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1276023/1/

Rating: R Violence, implied character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Amrod and Amras go to the Havens of Sirion. Morgoth attacks. They
help fight against Morgoth and save Elros and Elrond. Cast includes
Egalmoth, Galdor, Oropher, Thranduil, Celeborn, Elemmakil, and Hendor.



E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/724475/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An Elf looks at earth from Valinor.



E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=38&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Elrond's twin sons have some questions about that Balrog, and
know
just whom to ask.



E11: Legolas and the Olórë Mallë by Chathol-linn

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1890

Rating: PG some battle scenes

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An early adventure of Legolas in which he explores Elvish memory,
prophecy, and dreams. Scenes include "Strange Paths," "Ale by the
Fireside,"
and "I Will Drink Your Blood from the Chalice of Your Heart."



E12: Lord of the House of the Golden Flower by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1153790/1/

Rating: PG-13 Mild reference to sexual activities

Romance Partners: Glorfindel/OFC

Summary: The story of Glorfindel and his Sindarin Wife, and how they are
reunited in the Second Age.



E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/735169/1/

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Maeglin during the Fall of Gondolin, his thoughts and actions.



E14: Notes From the Field by bryn_bnw

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=681

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Alas, there are no fairy tale endings in Nature... Tolkien never
wrote of Thranduil's fate. Unfortunately, the task falls to bumbling
researchers of the SRDM. Of hair braiding, migratory patterns, and a plea
to
Save the Common Wood-Elf.



E15: Roots by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=26

Rating: R Violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: So how did Legolas meet Aragorn anyhow, and under what
circumstances? Goes from light to heavy and back again. Gap-filler set
between Gollum's arrival in Mirkwood and his interrogation; violent in
parts, plenty of fake elven metaphysics, traces the beginnings of a
friendship between Aragorn and Legolas. Original characters, Gandalf,
Gollum, and Thranduil also figure in this fic.



E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1027905/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Aragorn gets sick and Legolas, coming from a race that does not
know illness, tries to understand what that must be like.



E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1361292/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A smith reforges Narsil and remembers the one who last bore this
blade in battle.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

EDA1: Avon

I Hear the Stones Lament



Drabble

EDA2: Dwimordene

Longing



Drabble

EDA3: Elana

Strange to Us



Drabble

EDA4: Elvenesse

Strange Vessels



Drabble

EDA5: Lady Aranel

Hannon Le



Drabble

EDA6: Wild Iris

Untitled (Mirkwood)



Vignette

EVA1: Lady Aranel

Cold Comfort



Vignette

EVA2: Salsify

Dinner Guests



Vignette

EVA3: Sphinx

Dancing Within Walls



Vignette

EVA4: Stultiloquentia

Rose Riddle



Vignette

EVA5: Thundera Tiger

A Fool's Hope



EA1: bryn_bnw

Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh; Notes from the Field



EA2: Chathol-linn

Legolas and the Olórë Mallë



EA3: CinnamonGrrl

Last of the Edhel



EA4: Cirdan

Child of Dawn, The Tale of Twin Stars, Fated Twins



EA5: Coriel

A Case of Mistaken Identity



EA6: Dwimordene

Roots



EA7: Earmire

War Dust



EA8: Eresse

By Hook or By Crook, Meldir: At First Sight, With Friends Like These



EA9: Ithilwen

Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale, Hide and Seek, Firimar,
Noldolante



EA10: Jilian Baade

Wayland The Smith, Coming of Age, Too Late, Cursed Love, Lord of the House
of the Golden Flower, The Smith



EA11: Katharine the Great

More Than an Archer, A Midspring Morning's Dream



EA12: Katharine the Great & Treehugger

Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King



EA13: Larian Elensar

Keeper Of The Flame



EA14: Larien Elengasse

The Kiss, Henen



EA15: Le Rouret

The Green Knight



EA16: Levade

Comrades In Arms, Fearless and Full of Joy, Malaise, Gofi and the Balrog



EA17: Losseniaiel

Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears; Singing Silence



EA18: Marnie

Oak and Willow, The Wisdom of Isildur, A Leaf on a Stream, Battle of the
Golden Wood



EA19: Miriel361

Return to Middle-earth, Elrohir's Tale



EA20: Siobhan with Cassia

Sickness



EA21: Thevina Finduilas

Of Pipes and Poetry; Speak, Friend, and Enter



EA22: Tinni

Brothers



EA23: Two-point

Unbound



EA24: Viv

Dawn Twilight



EA25: WatcherChild

The Continuing Leaf



EA26: Wild Iris

Keystone



EA27: Zimraphel

Across Dark Waters



This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said,
"for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa
The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2034

Voting Season--How's it going? Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 16, 2004 - 22:50:05 Topic ID# 2034
Only three voters have voted thus far, but look at the success:

Of 61 Elves stories up for voting: only 19 have no comments yet.

The chances that each story nominated gets at least one comment/vote are
really good. But only if you vote!

So, 9 more days of Men and Elves voting, and Hobbits and Orcs are opening on
September 21st.

--Ainaechoiriel
still reading Men and Elves stories and writing some more comments....


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2035

Men and Elves Voting, 9/17/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 16, 2004 - 23:08:29 Topic ID# 2023
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Friday September 17, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
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Msg# 2036

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 16, 2004 - 23:33:58 Topic ID# 2021
*glances down at the list* Um...there's a lot. Sorry. But there are some
REALLY GOOD stories on here. Quite a few I'd never read before and am VERY
grateful for these awards because now I have. Anyway, here is my ballot for
the elves.

And again, apologies for it being so long. But these stories are really
good! And look at it this way: I'm getting it in now before the rush. That
should kind of help. Right?

Anyway, storie votes are first and author votes are at the bottom.

----------------------------

Elves
Official Voting Ballot

---------------------------

Stories

--------------------------

>>Drabble
>>ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

Drabbles are difficult to write well, but Avon doesnýt seem to have any
problems with this one. The story carries an aching sadness as Legolas
contemplates the eventual fate of the elves as they forsake Middle-earth.
The drabble begins with a bright, vivid pictures and then fades to the
winter sun as the mantra ýthey are goneý repeats in the end. Very moving and
very poignant.


>>Drabble
>>ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

Wonderful moment of realization for Legolas, who listens to the stones and
reflects that they can only grow if others will it to be so. Interesting bit
of foreboding for one who is probably a very independently-minded elf. Itýs
compounded by the fact that he cannot help but only give news.


>>Drabble
>>ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

Very powerful and very moving drabble that completely captures the feel of
loss associated with Mirkwood during the days of Dol Guldur. I especially
enjoyed the image of a child seeking out his very own star made of flowers,
and then one day, both the flowers and the star is lost. Images come to mind
of the choked trees that blot out sunlight and starlight. The child is taken
away in the end, knowing that his people will never return, and the sense of
loss heightens. The use of seasons with summer as a time of hope and winter
as a time of despair was used well to augment the feelings of the elves.
There is almost a resigned farewell contained within the last line, and I
imagine this is very much what the elves of Mirkwood experienced in their
various migrations northward.


>>Incomplete
>>EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

If Tolkien had gone into greater detail as to what the first meetings
between Noldor and Sindar might have been like, he would have written this
story. It Tolkien had taken the time to detail conversations and first
impressions between Celeborn and Galadriel, he would have written this
story. It Tolkien had been inclined to delve into the deepest thoughts and
inklings of a (relatively) young Celeborn and Galadriel, he would have
written this story. The dialogue is crisp and biting. The descriptions are
layered with meaning and foreshadowing. The slow, unraveling of
preconceptions on the part of both Noldor and Sindar is a masterpiece of
writing. The viewpoints are tight, and when we look at a particular
situation, we see it as the character sees it. But because we have also
experienced the other character, we see more. Itýs a beautiful but difficult
way to structure a story, and rarely is it done this well. Even the simple
things about a character are explored and noted, such as the way Celeborn
seems to view simple conversation as a game of military strategy, complete
with ambushes and frontal assaults. And the grander points of the story such
as politics are always present, if not in the foreground then lingering in
the background as a reminder that this is not a simple tale. Whether
conscious or not, everyone has ulterior motives of some kind, and Marnie
ensures that we never forget just how grand or encompassing the scope of
this story is. From the coming of the moon to the revelation of the
kinslaying, this is story that never forgets its setting and never fails
homage to the events and cultures that shape it.


>>Incomplete
>>EI4: Return to Middle-earth by Miriel361

Stories that include a female OC run a huge risk at being discarded outright
by readers who have seen one-too-many badly written romances. That said, I
offer up my respect to Miriel361 for not only daring to write a female OC
but also for writing her WELL. This is an excellent story that doesnýt
forget the fact that itýs set in Middle-earth and there are other characters
around. The personalities of surrounding elves are noted, taken in, and
expanded upon. Very well-rounded tale that keeps in mind just how powerful
its characters can be.


>>Incomplete
>>EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
>>Treehugger

This is a story that seems toýhumanize the elves. And by that, I mean it
makes them more accessible to mortal readers like me. This is the lighter
side of the Eldar, as opposed to the grim and grit the Silmarillion shows
us. These are elves as they appeared to Bilbo when he first arrived in
Rivendell and heard them mocking the dwarvesý long beards. Itýs a side we
donýt see nearly as often as we should, and this story does a remarkable job
of blending the mischievous nature of elves with the more solemn and serious
aspects that their lives require.


>>Post-WOTR
>>E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

I had some trouble getting into this story initially, but once I did, I
never wanted to leave. This is a piece that has thoroughly done its research
and knows its politics. As far as elves are concerned, its also a wonderful
look at not only Legolas but at the way others react to the idea that he is
an elf, something that is occasionally forgotten in post-Ring War fics. This
story boasts wonderful ensemble characterization and multiple plots. What is
perhaps best of all is the way that the characters adapt to one another. The
letters written at the end of the story reveal just how much these
characters understand one another as well as revealing that theyýre never
above a jest or two.


>>Post-WOTR
>>E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

I absolutely adore this story. The comparison between Achilles and Maedhros
is not one that would have occurred to me, but this story expertly weaves
through a series of flashbacks and present/ancient days to show why such a
comparison could be made. The similarities and the contrasts are beautiful,
and Maglorýs inner dialogue is a thing of beauty. Great characterization of
Fýanorýs eldest sons!


>>The Silmarillion
>>ES5: Fearless and Full of Joy by Levade

Beautiful story of a young Glorfindel. The title is especially apt, and the
young whirlwind of energy can easily be seen the precursor to the fierce
defender of Gondolin who lost his life in a battle against a Balrog as well
as the elf who charged against the remaining Ringwraiths on foot after a
flood had swept their compatriots away. Refreshingly simple story that lays
the foundation for a very powerful character.


>>The Silmarillion
>>ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

Wild Iris paints a wonderful picture of Mirkwood pre-darkness. Well, not
exactly pre-darkness as they are delving beneath the ground for good reason,
but things are not yet desperate. The uncertain shadow of the future looms
in Thranduilýs thoughts, but he is not yet belabored by it, nor are the
other elves. They are handling their migration in stride and seem to be
confident of their ability to make this place worse. Itýs somewhat
disheartening as the reader understands how this will change over time, but
for the moment, itýs a lovely picture of family and friendship.


>>The Silmarillion
>>ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

This story gave me chills. Not a lot of stories are brave enough to tackle
the challenge of writing Thingol and Melian, but this story makes it look
easy. And difficult. Iým very much in awe of this story, actually. I love
how Thingol muses on how he can never truly touch his wife, and I love how
this story does the same. It remains distant and we feel as though we never
really touch the characters, but we are close enough to wish to touch, and
that must be how it is for Thingol. Heýs so very close, and yet he knows he
canýt go any further, which is something that plagues him. Yet for all that,
he has enough to be content. Itýs a wonderful mix of paradoxes, all of which
this story takes in stride. Beautiful work.


>>The Silmarillion
>>ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

This story reminded me of nothing so much as a very intricate balancing act.
And in more ways than one. There was the balancing act performed by Legolas
and Celebrimbor in attempting to satisfy their dwarven companions. And there
was balancing on part of Gimli and Narvi in doing the same. The narrative
itself balanced back and froth between Fourth Age Erebor and Second Age
Hollin/Khazad-dým. The give and take between two very different peoples was
handled extremely well, and the contrasting settings of past and present
were juxtaposed perfectly. A wonderful story of compromise, realization, and
how the important things never truly fade away.


>>The Silmarillion
>>ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

Elrond and Celeborn at their best. Well, actually, theyýre grief-stricken,
angry, and war-torn, but the writing is certainly at its best. And though
these characters initially exchange verbal barbs and strike where they
perhaps should not, they are still very much Elrond and Celeborn, which is
more a testament to Marnieýs wonderful writing ability than anything I can
think of. Their wisdom is evident, and the differences in that wisdom as
well as its origins are also evident. And is generally the case with
Marnieýs work, this story is as much about the individuals as it is about
the historical situation. This is a time of changing alliances, and the way
Elrond and Celeborn react is indicative of the Sindar and Noldor as well as
the characters themselves. History is remembered, and Celeborn has vowed
that history will not be repeated. He knows very well who raised Elrond and
heýs not about to mince words on the subject. Itýs a beautiful portrayal of
a very forceful and very wise Celeborn. Itýs also a beautiful portrayal of a
very forceful and very wise Elrond. In reading this story, itýs difficult to
side with one or the other because Marnie does such a wonderful job of
showing their different backgrounds. Celebornýs reasoning is justified given
what heýs experienced, and so is Elrondýs in that same light. Very powerful
and very insightful look at these two elven lords.


>>Vignette
>>EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

There are layers upon layers within this fic, and my feeble words couldnýt
hope to describe them all. This is Elrond caught within the moments of a
dance, and even as we become intimately familiar with his thoughts, we are
held at a distance and we receive the unmistakable impression that this is
elven. And as mortals, we can never fully comprehend what is happening. The
writing is so detailed and intricate, and moves very much like the dance
itself does with patterns of complex rhythms and steps that are bewildering
when looked at individually but form an astounding picture by the time the
dance is done. Sphinx does a wonderful job at looking through Elrondýs eyes
in a very elven way, showing us an elven attention to details in both
surroundings and words. Very well done was the concept of Estel and Elessar
being one man but with the names belonging to different people. A very elven
idea, and very well described. Amazing story!


>>Vignette
>>EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

Deliciously humorous and wonderfully twisted. Oh, I felt so sorry for the
dwarves in this tale. The idea is such a good one, and though I had an idea
as to what was eventually coming, the ending still managed to surprise and
delight me. Definitely a testament to very good pacing and over all
excellent story telling. Dark humor doesnýt get much better than this.


>>Vignette
>>EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

Excellent vignette steeped in double meanings. Both past and future come
together as Celeborn gives Merry the key and ponders the strange riddle that
is his own life. Very moving and very bittersweet look at post-Ring War
Celeborn.


>>E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

Coriel doesnýt leave anything to chance in this thorough, remarkable, and
very convincing essay on Thranduil. Working almost exclusively from canon
sources Coriel walks the reader through a series of conclusions and
disproves some of the absurdities that run rampant throughout much of the
LotR fandom. This is Thranduil as he should be portrayed. Coriel
acknowledges faults, weaknesses, strengths, abilities, and looks at the few
references we have in canon that speak of Thranduil or that speak indirectly
of Thranduil (such as statements made by Legolas and others). Wonderful
essay that leaves no doubt as to who earned the title of ýGreenwoodýs
Greatest King.ý


>>E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

I love Marnieýs work. I love her version of young Elladan and young Elrohir.
I can only imagine that Elrond might have been similar at that age, though
one wonders what kind of influence Maglor would have been. And thatýs
another thing I love about this story. Marnie never lets the reader forget
that there are different groups of elves out there, and that though they are
all elves and all bound in some way or another, there are still a few fairly
important differences. Leave it to Celeborn to fill his grandchildren in on
history as it was seen by the Moriquendi. Brilliant piece that is
light-hearted when needed and sobering when appropriate.


>>E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

For some reason, I didnýt see the ending coming. Well, I saw one of them,
but I didnýt think to guess at the identity of the boatman until he started
hinting that Maeglin should know him. At that point, I figured out who he
was, but I was very clueless for the first half of this story, and I loved
it. This is what good story telling should be about. I was so unnerved by
the images and by the utter arrogance and presumption of Maeglin that I
completely missed the fact that Fýanor was the one doing the rowing. But
knowing his identity, I love the prologue to the piece all the more. And I
love the fact that Fýanor can annoy Namos. That seems very appropriate to me
and I got quite a kick out of it. Thereýs a very wry humor and a sense of
just rewards about this piece that makes it supremely enjoyable.


>>E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

Essentially, the story that Tolkien never got around to writing down. This
is what really happened while everyone else was occupied in Gondor and
Mordor. This is a battle just as epic, just as desperate, and just as
exciting as anything that happened on the Pelennor or before the Morannon.
And thanks to Galadrielýs Mirror and Nenya, the elves are tied to the events
far away in the East, and this impacts them in more ways than one throughout
the course of the story. The time and effort that went into this story are
staggering to think of. Marnie looks at the battle on almost every level
possible, even weaving the story of a few fleeing Rohirrim into the mix who
join the elves in the fight. We see the very young, the young-turned-old by
war, the relatively younger elves, and the elves who may be the oldest that
still remain in Middle-earth with the exception of Cýrdan. And the story is
told by the individuals, by the events, by the enemy, by the hopes, by the
dreams, and by the fears. There are so many layers to this story and so much
implied with every word. All the characters have their own personalities and
their own desires. They each have their own ideas and their own strategies.
The interaction is amazing, the give and take is phenomenal, and the action
is gripping. This really ought to be stuck inside the books and regarded as
canon.


>>E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

This story is one of a kind. Thereýs a wonderfully quirky sense of humor
about it that isnýt afraid to border on the inane or silly. And the story
revels in it. The very idea of dissecting Legolas is ludicrous at the same
time brilliant, and thatýs what I love best about this story. It seamlessly
combines elements of pure genius with things that are so absurd they had me
rolling with laughter. I honestly donýt know how Bryn pulled this off. If I
did, I would copy it in a heartbeat. The entire process (from failed
attempts at trapping Legolas, to the avoidance of discussing how exactly
poor Legolas dissected, to the futile attempt at explaining a fantasy
creature through scientific means) is hilarious, ridiculous, and one of most
brilliant examples of farcical writing that Iýve ever had the pleasure to
read.


>>E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

I think what I like best about this fic is the idea that Finrod, the first
of the Noldor to see men, is now also the last. Itýs a wonderfully tragic
thought, and contained within this story is also the idea that the elves
have completely faded away from the world and are now more or less stagnant,
another wonderfully tragic thought. I love the way Finrod characterizes men,
admiring their strengths and their weaknesses both. I love the idea that the
other elves who were also drawn to look back have now stopped returning and
so missed the first moon walk. Bittersweet and somber. Very lovely
mood-setting story.


>>E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

This is a very quiet piece, and one I enjoy very much. Elladan and Elrohir
are wonderful, and itýs nice to see that, even at such a young age, theyýre
already laying the parameter for their relationship and following in their
fatherýs footsteps. The idea of Glorfindel as ýGofiý made me chuckle, and
the idea of Elrond thoroughly enjoying the nickname made me laugh. I love
the very solemn and serious nature the twins display in this fic, with
obvious concern for their ýGofi.ý And I love the devotion that Glorfindel
gives them in return. Itýs a wonderful piece of remembrances, futures, and
laying the past to rest.


>>E14: Notes From the Field by bryn_bnw
Jane Goodallýs research methods meets Mirkwood elves and Brynýs own peculiar
and highly enjoyable sense of humor. This is one of the strangest and most
entertaining fics Iýve ever read. I still canýt quite get over the idea of
researchers trying to document and understand mythical creatures. Does the
scientific method work for fantasy? Bryn seems to think so. In any case, it
makes for a very remarkable story. I love the antics of ýZippy,ý the
misunderstanding of Band-Aids, the study on the invasive species known as
Mary Sues and their effects on elves, the strange discussion over whether
dwarves or predators or prey, and finally, the plea to leave off elf
poaching as elves were simply not made to live in closets or under stairs. I
really canýt say enough of this story. Itýs one of most hilarious things
Iýve ever read.


>>E15: Roots by Dwimordene

Without a doubt, this is my favorite Aragorn and Legolas friendship origin
fic. The duties and responsibilities of both characters is never forgotten,
and Dwimordene plays off a wonderful balance of tentative friendship and the
occasional misunderstanding. A very well rounded fic with action,
contemplation, and chilling look at some of the horrors the elves of
Mirkwood were forced to face in defending their realm. The canon characters
are very much themselves, and the original characters are personalities
within their own right. They become individuals a reader can care for and
grieve with. The situations are real, the reactions of those involved fit
the circumstances, and the elves remain elves while Aragorn remains what he
is, namely a Ranger who was raised by elves. The differences are there. More
subtle, perhaps, than if a different man had stood in Aragornýs place, but
Dwimordene makes certain that the inherent contrasts between people come out
and play off one another as she expertly foils the characters against one
another.

-----------------------------

AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):

-----------------------------

>>Drabble
>>EDA1: Avon

Effortlessly catches the both the glory and the plight of the elves in one
fell swoop. Avon uses a wonderful economy of words to cycle down to the
fading of the First Born, showing an intimate understanding of a bittersweet
end.


>>Drabble
>>EDA6: Wild Iris

One of the more powerful and evocative authors in the fandom, Wild Iris has
an ability to look at characters from the outside, examining surface
reactions first, before moving in to the mind. The result is powerful,
especially when it involves elves because the world for them is a very vivid
experience thanks to their heightened senses. Wild Iris pays tribute to this
by focusing first on the surroundings and then on the character.


>>Vignette
>>EVA3: Sphinx

Sphinx burrows into the elven mindset and then sets up shop there, which is
something I donýt think Iýve seen any other writer do quite to this extent
or this brilliance. The story of Elrond and Arwen engaging in one last dance
is a fascinating, moving masterpiece of writing that takes all the complex
paradoxes of the elven mind and turns it into a dance, both figuratively and
literally. The narrative is close and yet also distanced, and the
relationship between Elrond and Arwen is magnificently portrayed, but even
more compelling for me were Elrondýs thoughts on Estel, whom he considers a
son, and Elessar, whom heýs not quite sure he knows. Crisp, evocative
writing and beautiful details.


>>EA1: bryn_bnw

Bryn has an edge that she puts on everything she writes. An angle thatýs all
her own, if you will. Thereýs always something amazingly unique about her
words, whether sheýs writing dark horror, side-splitting humor, or strange
lab reports regarding elven field studies. And it makes her work worth
reading, regardless of the subject. She has an ability to find a niche that
no one has discovered and to twist her way inside until sheýs hollowed out
her very own world. At that point, she invites everyone in to join her, and
thereýs always more than enough room. With regards to elves, Bryn has taken
their oddities, capitalized on them, and turned them into an object of
scientific research for these stories. A very refreshing and new way to look
at the Eldar, and one that I highly enjoyed.


>>EA5: Coriel

Coriel has a wonderful understanding of Thranduil and I admire the
determination to prove that Thranduil has been seriously maligned in many
instances. Research has been put into this subject, and it shows but at the
same time, it services rather than overpowers the message. I challenge
anyone to read Coriel and still maintain that Thranduil is a child-abusing,
dwarf-murdering psychopath. Coriel has simply done too good a job to allow
for that.


>>EA6: Dwimordene

Dwimordeneýs main strength in writing is usually Aragorn, but through the
story ýRoots,ý she shows that sheýs more than capable of writing Legolas,
Thranduil, and the elves of Mirkwood. Her elves are elves, in every sense of
the world. I love the way she describes their reactions, their obsessions,
and most of all, the effect of an elven gaze. She keeps in mind that elves
are often walking contradictions to the mortals around them, and even for
Aragorn who was raised among elves, this is often the case. Thranduil, in
particular, seemed especially well characterized. I love the way he
encompassed father and king both effortlessly and simultaneously. Seeing the
elves in action was a thrill, and we are reminded just how the elves managed
to hold out against Morgoth for so long. Dwimordeneýs ability to write quiet
moments as well as spine-tingling action and horror is beautifully
demonstrated by this story.


>>EA18: Marnie

Marnie writes elves better than anyone I know. Her specialty is Celeborn and
Galadriel, a fact reflected by many of her stories, but her other characters
are equally strong. From canon characters such as Daeron, Lýthien, and the
sons of Fýanor to the original characters that round out the epic battle
stories, Marnie demonstrates an almost uncanny ability to target both the
sweeping contrasts of vastly different personalities and the subtle, secret
parallels that binds them all together as elves. Noldor, Teleri, Sindar,
Silvan, it doesnýt seem to matter what elves they are; Marnie can do them
all. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of each group, and she is
not afraid of those strengths and weaknesses. Rather, she uses them to drive
the characters and the stories. Marnie also makes wonderful use of a
technique called foiling, in which characters are explored by using others
as studies in contrasts. Itýs probably the most effective way to
characterize elves because they are so different from the race of men. And
Marnie does it as though it is the most natural thing in the world. She can
foil elves against men, dwarves, hobbits, and even other elves when the
Second Born arenýt readily available. Very much an underestimated author
when it comes to writing in general and elves more specifically.


>>EA21: Thevina Finduilas

Thevina Finduilas has a wonderful feel for the aspect of compromise that
colors the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. And also understood is the
fact that this compromise goes both ways. Some authors like to color the
relationship one way or the other, but Thevina keeps it well balanced.


-----------------------------------------------


See? That wasn't SO long, now, was it?

Thundera

Msg# 2037

Men and Elves Voting, 9/18/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 17, 2004 - 0:01:57 Topic ID# 2037
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

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All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

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Notes:
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Msg# 2038

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 17, 2004 - 0:17:40 Topic ID# 2021
>See? That wasn't SO long, now, was it?

Not at all! :-)

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2039

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Lady Aranel September 17, 2004 - 5:56:54 Topic ID# 2021
yes. Sorry!

~Lady Aranel~
----
"Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.
You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery [The Little Prince]

----- Original Message -----
From: Ainaechoiriel
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 10:45 PM
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot


Did you accidentally hit Send before you commented? I scrolled down through
this whole thing and didn't see any comments.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2040

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 17, 2004 - 20:34:56 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/elfballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Official Elves MEFA Ballot 2004

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/files/Forms%20%26%20Ballots/elfballot.txt

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2041

Re: New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 17, 2004 - 20:40:09 Topic ID# 1
I also uploaded the Men ballot.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 8:35 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] New file uploaded to MEFAwards


Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been
uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/elfballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Official Elves MEFA Ballot 2004

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/files/Forms%20%26%20Ballots/elfballo
t.txt

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>







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Msg# 2042

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 17, 2004 - 22:55:43 Topic ID# 2022
Gondor

MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

Beautifully written, with that special combination of restraint and
evocativeness that is trademark Altariel. There's a chill in the air
of this story that goes beyond the depths of winter—the men are losing
hope. Faramir may not be named Estel, but he is aptly named
"sufficience". He may not ask the east wind for tidings, but in his
turning tradition on its head, he reminds his company that the sun
still rises, despite it all, and with it, hope. Well done!


Gondor

MeG2: Adrift by Altariel

Although this story is a spin-off from a chapter of "Captain My
Captain", it stands alone quite well. The narrator is a minor
character who is brought to life, along with his siblings and Faramir
with all the sensitivity and nuance I have come to expect of
Altariel's fics.

It depicts a family in the aftermath of war, and the pain and
difficulty of coming to grips with loss, even or perhaps especially
when that loss follows on years of a poor relationship. Nevertheless,
Faramir's grief, gut-wrenching though it is, is quite restrained, and
even understated. Done properly, as it is done here, that very
restraint can treble the impact.

This story to me echoes the real sense of helplessness that confronts
a would-be comforter who realizes that there is no means of bearing
the burden for the other, but only the need and ability to bear with.
Compassionate, moving, and in the end hopeful, this is a powerful
portrayal of the moment of grief and recovery that stays with the reader.



Gondor

MeG5: Courting The Lady by Celandine Brandybuck

This must have been one of the earliest Finduilas/Denethor stories I
ever picked up. It's certainly a change—I think Celandine and I may be
fairly said to represent two different ends of the spectrum when it
comes to Denethor and Finduilas, but I did so love this story for the
epistolary interludes. It was fun to see this stage of their
relationship, and the complications that my favorite Ranger can
introduce into matters just by being present.

Gondor

MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

My knowledge of T.S. Eliot's poetry is almost wholly a consequence of
this story and its companions. This was the first fic by Altariel that
I read, and I do recall being somewhat late back to my workshift
because of it. This is a story that will leave you feeling raw—it
hurts, but we likes how it hurts, precious.


Gondor

MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Usually, we find ourselves in sympathy with the shieldmaidens of the
Ardaverse. We crave active women who are seen being active, who force
their way to the forefront of the plot and demand acknowledgment from
the men on traditionally masculine turf. And yet there is always that
risk of anachronism or cliché to such characters. Alawa has chosen the
road less travelled by and given us a fully-realized original female
character who is everything most modern women in industrial countries
are not: a keeper of the hearth, a housekeeper who desires no more
than to hold hall and home in good order and to see its traditions
perpetuated. Winfrith has a delightful voice; the entire story is a
breath of fresh air that is lively, thoughtful, utterly humane and
believable—if ever there were anything that could justify war, it is
the preservation of Winfrith and the ideals of nurturing care and
rootedness, fidelity and love that she embodies.


Gondor

MeG9: Homecoming by Nancy Brooke

A lovely vignette to close out Boromir's tale. It is only right that
he should find his place among the shades of the Stewards, waiting
for... what? Valediction, I suppose, to use a word another of my
favorite ghost stories uses. Lyrical and satisfying.


Gondor

MeG10: How Many Years? by Marta

Ah, context for that notoriously difficult to handle quote: "How many
hundreds of years needs it to make a steward a king, if the king
returns not?" I like the notion of the Steward's Heir swearing his
oath of allegiance over Elendil's hallow, and also I'm intrigued by
the idea of a question that is in itself wise, but which cannot be
asked. I start splitting hairs between prudent and wise—the question,
Boromir, is a prudent one, but silence is the wise course. I think he
always had difficulty with that distinction, and I don't doubt it runs
in the family: already, we see Denethor beginning to suffer under the
burden of enhanced foresight. Nicely done.



Gondor

MeG12: In His Brother's Shadow by Celandine Brandybuck

And another first rendered for me by Celandine—I do believe this was
the first story I'd seen that showed Faramir and Boromir adolescents,
or rather, Faramir as an adolescent and Boromir as a young adult. This
story is light on the foreshadowing of grief to come, which is a nice
break for lovers of the brothers 'Mir. The relationship between
Boromir and Faramir is nicely drawn, and I enjoyed Faramir trying to
find his place in the world. It is certainly a quest we can all empathize


Gondor

MeG13: Lady of Silences by Altariel

Stare long enough into the abyss, and the abyss looks back at you:
controlled, compact, and bleaker than a Chicago winter, this is
probably the *only* fic that can make me believe that Finduilas
committed suicide. Coincidentally, this is also the only author who
can make me believe that Denethor can both love his wife and strike
her; both strike his sons and be a good ruler. The prose cannot, I
think, be faulted; the interpretation is dark, and could easily be
mauled by a less expert pen. But in my opinion, this story treads that
narrow interpretive path that makes the most of the ambiguities of
canonical fact.

Gondor

MeG16: Proof by Altariel

In which Faramir is forced to make a brutal decision in cold blood,
and displays his native gift for seeking responsibility to the point
of self-torture. Being captain of the Rangers in time of war is not
all sweetness and light, nor even victory and defeat—it's a moral
quandary to be faced every day.

Gondor

MeG20: Stargazers by Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight, Acacea,
Fileg, Chris, Forodwaith)

This was a delightful set of interludes. Fourth grade astronomy
lessons came back easily, and I enjoyed learning the constellations
anew in Middle-earth. It was lovely to see Adrahil in the limelight
for once, and I enjoyed the various glimpses of Boromir, who is
well-differentiated from his brother. Well done, all of you.


Gondor

MeG21: The Burial of the Dead by Altariel

Another bleak, tightly-woven story, where Owen, Tolkien and Eliot
supply lines and image and atmosphere. With Gondor the never-thriving
backdrop, we watch as Denethor falls from hope to fury to that fearful
contemplative state that marks a soul on the edge of some very
dangerous and final decision. I've always thought Denethor was tied to
Gondor, and we see the barrenness of his existence in the land, which
seemed poisoned somehow even when Finduilas still lived. It'll take
the coming of the king to heal it, but it will be too late for
Denethor. Unflinching and sympathetic at once, and well worth the read.

Gondor

MeG22: The King is Dead by Altariel

You just can't play a nice friendly game of chess with Denethor.
There's always some lesson to learn, even for a young child. But I did
love this glimpse of Faramir and Denethor.


Gondor

MeG23: Ties of Love by Avon


I really enjoyed this short little piece. Lovely tradition, beautiful
language, and a fine answer to a challenge!


Gondor

MeG25: Worship by Destina_Fortunato

If I ever wanted to try to convince someone that Aragorn/Boromir is
plausible, this is the fic I would point that person towards. Written
in a temple, what we have here is a confession at a transitional
moment for Boromir, between past pride and present resolution to have
no more of standing alone. The need for belief wars with the knowledge
that tales are not enough, that reality is always the betrayer of
lofty ideals, and that even evil may not seem so alarming (this part
will make Boromir fans shiver in anticipation, but it was a nicely
handled look at the Ring from Boromir's perspective, and all in a
short paragraph!).

How is it possible for an individual to serve the needs of a proud man
who does not, I think, wish to admit he needs someone to believe in
for purpose, that his own native courage and strength not be rendered
meaningless? This is the central question of this work, I think, and
it is to the author's credit that she treats the relationship between
Aragorn and Boromir in the same manner she treats the Ring: great
things do not always have the appearance of greatness, and love
doesn't come with trumpets to announce it, and yet it is the easiest
thing to attain in the end.

That parallel with the Ring, however, casts a certain doubt on this
fairly understated relationship—the difference between greed and
genuine love is thin, and the author deliberately puts the two next to
each other, leaving me to wonder whether in the end, this
relationship, too, will be shown to be flawed to its core. We're not
given the end of the story, but left simply with the question, which,
I think, makes the story that much more powerful.


Incomplete

MeI1: Blackbow by Isabeau of Greenlea

I have enjoyed the prequel to "Captain My Captain"; Mablung
particularly stands out, although Lorend does get his deserved moment
in the... shade. Always underfoot, that one! The relationship between
Boromir and Faramir is nicely drawn, and for all that Hethlin spends
several chapters speechless, she is a steady and expressive presence,
and it's interesting to watch the Rangers, Faramir, and Boromir as
they attempt to understand their newest and most unusual comrade. I
rather liked that Boromir was the first of the brothers to appreciate
Heth's potential and calling—of course he would, like recognizing
like. I look forward to its continuation.


Poetry

MeP1: An Elegy for Elfhild by Alawa

Beautiful and moving. I only wish I had the discipline to attempt
something this ambitious!


Poetry

MeP5: Home by Morning by Fileg

There's something wonderfully simple about this rhyme, yet it can't
fail, I think, to touch any reader who has ever waited for a loved one
to come home. In fact, it reminds me of a friend's mother, who said
once that when her husband was lurking the depths of the ocean on a
nuclear submarine, that whenever asked how she could stand the
suspense of not knowing whether he was well, she would simply say, "I
have to believe he's going to come up." I can hear the echo of that
faith in this poem.


Post-WOTR

Me4-1: A Kind of Valediction by Altariel

I don't know how many variations I can come up with, but here's
trying: tightly paced, not a word wasted. I remember that when this
first was posted in installments, I was surprised by the twist it
took. I suppose I'd expected the pyre to return to haunt Faramir; I'd
not expected him to be the one passing judgment on his father, or that
it would take the form it did. Denethor, even as a shade, is
himself—proud enough and strong enough to isolate himself, but in
desperate need of others to give him a place and integrate him into
their lives, rather than the reverse. Poor man! Lucky for him, he does
have Faramir, and the line of stewards is made whole once more.

Post-WOTR

Me4-2: Black Captain by Altariel


Ok, I can't resist Aragorn and Faramir. And I loved that last line:
the white overwhelms the black—well done, Aragorn: if you can't beat
the Black Captain, infiltrate his ranks and allow your cannier
opponent to defeat him nicely for you. With any luck, the office
politics will work so well!


Post-WOTR

Me4-3: Fair Game by Altariel

Can I just point to my other reviews? I think this story you
appreciate after you've read at least "A Game of Chess", if not other
stories in the Eliot arc, given that it relies on Faramir's history as
developped there. Just when we think Faramir's settled and adjusted to
his life after the war, and to war fetters, something comes along to
challenge him to regain a part of himself he had thought himself
content to have lost.

But even without that backstory, the original character of Déor is
nicely drawn, and his evolution parallels his uncle's in its way—this
is a family of survivors and it seems that courage breeds true. I
always have difficulty writing children, so I admire others who take
on the challenge that they present. If you've not read Altariel's
other work, I suspect this will make you want to read it.

Post-WOTR

Me4-4: Light Lingering by Earmire/Nol

I liked that Faramir finally got to transmit his own particular
wisdom, which we so often quote and which Nol does as well in this
fic: that it isn't the sword for its sharpness, nor the warrior for
his glory, but only that which they defend that is to be loved. I
liked, too, that Eldarion has his share of wanderlust—it seems only
right, and that in a way, allowing Eldarion to follow it does keep him
close to Aragorn, whom he loves enough to learn the lesson that
Faramir has taught.

Post-WOTR

Me4-9: The Unsung by Alexcat

A nice reminder of the many who fought and fell, and sometimes failed
and fell, but without whom no one man would sit in peace in Middle-earth.


Me3: Captain, My Captain by Isabeau of Greenlea

For me, Hethlin was the first OFC to step into the spotlight of
protagonist and survive the glare. Sometime around January 2002, I had
seen the title pop up a few times on the FF.net listings, and always
thought the title at least recommended a look. Eventually, I read
chapter one and was immediately hooked, and fifty-three chapters and
two years later, I had lost count of the number of rereadings I had
done, the number of times I had laughed over Heth's sparring match
with Éowyn or Lorend's wedding gift or Éomer's language lessons, or
sighed over Imrahil (or Aragorn, let us not forget! I won't even guess
how many times I've gone back to Thorongil in the garden). And no list
of things I like about this story would be complete without mention of
her Celeborn—a gentleman from top to toe, wise, ancient, and very much
an Elf.

Beyond the excellent characterizations and an emotional tone that runs
the gamut without ever feeling forced, this story had a gravity to
it—it felt real, from the ground up to me. Certainly, I have a hard
time now reading Imrahil any other way, and part of the agony of
writing that character stems from trying to thrust Isabeau's Imrahil
aside long enough for anything like an original voice for that
character to come through for me. More than almost any other story of
Isabeau's, I think this voice felt most natural—I rarely ever was
jarred out of Heth's point of view or was aware, while reading, of the
gap between reader and character.

So here's to a marvellous story, one that will certainly last more
than one rainy day. Many thanks for the ride.


Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

This was great fun, I thought, and an unusual way of getting the
Fellowship to interact. Thanks to the ever-present threat of war in
LOTR, one tends to forget that most, if not all, of the Fellowship
would have had some knowledge and ability as dancers, since dancing
has been a large part of most cultures. But we don't often think of it
having a part to play in Middle-earth, particularly for the non-hobbit
characters, and this despite Lúthien's hypnotic dancing that so
quickly seduced Beren.


Me7: The Believer by Cori Lannam

This story had me laughing at poor Boromir, who truly does have the
worst of luck. Cori takes a traditional comic set up and makes it her
own. Of course, one can't help, after one has finished laughing,
thinking that the greatest misfortune still lies ahead for Boromir,
and that even as a child, scoffing at old magic as if one had power
over it was never a good idea....


Me10: Through A Glass by Altariel

This fic left me feeling a bit hollowed out, which is what I imagine
Faramir felt, examining his life from the merciless position of the
outside observer who nonetheless has all the knowledge of inner
weaknesses, real or imagined. The psychic landscape reflected in the
looking glass is all too clearly laid bare and twisted by melancholy.
I'm still not quite sure that the narrative device, which becomes
clear in the last line of the story, works fully, but it's an
interesting play of point of views. As in other stories, so here:
healing does not come in solitude, but in shared suffering and
forgiveness.


AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Poetry

MPA1: Alawa

An Elegy for Elfhild

There was a time when Alawa used to say that she wasn't a writer. I'm
fairly certain no one will believe this after reading such a poem. In
general, her poetry has been just lovely and leaves me quite envious
of her skill!

Poetry

MPA3: Fileg

And another author with a talent for verse, among other forms. Home By
Morning is probably my favorite, but I have enjoyed many others; fileg
is never afraid to try another form, it seems, and we all reap the
benefits of her word-play.


MA1: Alawa

Hearth Companions

Going along with my other comment, Alawa once confessed to fear of
dialogue—not that you would ever guess it from reading this. Alawa has
an eye for picking the moments others don't see, and for bringing the
inner landscape of a character to life in a way that is always as
lively as her wording is lovely. Her characers' inner voices are
always very sure and carefully and sympathetically drawn.


MA3: Altariel

I envy Altariel her skill at winnowing away at words until only those
necessary remain. She is indisputably the master of the concise turn
of phrase and the tightly-scripted plot. Her insight and sympathy for
the first family of Gondor are always evident, as is her love for
Eliot (ok, maybe not always but often). As I mentioned before, she is
the only author to date who has managed to convince me that Denethor
could be an abusive spouse and father. It's an easy move to make, and
I've seen some other authors make it in the quest for drama; the way
to success, however, lies in respecting the hiddenness of this sort of
relationship: it is always there, always informing the background of
the Eliot-arc, and yet only rarely glimpsed and that indirectly,
usually by report or a stray memory. There's a fine balance to be
struck when dealing with something as complex as family violence, and
she has managed to find it time and time again, and not only when
dealing with that one interpretation of Denethor. Perhaps it is
Altariel's self-confessed devotion to symmetry, evident in all she
writes, that enables her to find it.

MA11: Earmire/Nol

Nol finds all manner of ways to work in the philosophical, which I
always appreciate. Intelligent writing, and she is canny with her
plotting. Unlike some of us, she doesn't need to write continuous
scenes, but can write in a more episodic style to bring out the
thematic content more clearly. If I could do it so well, I'd be happy.


MA15: Isabeau of Greenlea

Isabeau's ability to characterize along a full continuum of human
emotion is her greatest strength, I think. Situations that would be
ridiculous in other hands work when she writes them, and it's not
surprising that her stories are character-driven. She fears no
original character, whether female or male, and some of her most
memorable moments revolve around them. And although she is capable of
putting the reader through the emotional wringer, she rarely descends
into the realm of bleak, preferring usually to write in just that
touch of hope, nobility, and light for our heroes and heroines. This
means her chapters, however long, always read quickly, and I'm always
wanting more once I finish one.

Msg# 2043

Men and Elves Voting, 9/18/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 17, 2004 - 23:06:09 Topic ID# 2037
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Msg# 2044

Men and Elves Voting, 9/19/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 18, 2004 - 0:00:05 Topic ID# 2044
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Msg# 2045

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 18, 2004 - 1:16:06 Topic ID# 2022
It's me again, this time with the Men's ballot. I'd apologize again about
the length, but I suspect you wouldn't believe me. Ah well. Here we go!
Stories first, authors second!

---------------------------

Men
Official Voting Ballot

---------------------------

Stories

---------------------------

>>Gondor
>>MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

Itýs a short, quick little story, but there is so much contained within it
that I really donýt know where to start. I think what I like best is how it
keeps its focus. Faramirýs thoughts are many and varied, and they range from
fear that his father might keep him in the city to what strength they might
have to draw upon from the south. But the story never loses track of where
itýs ultimately going, and thatýs into Ithilien where hope begins. It
doesnýt tarry over Denethor and Faramir might think of his father, it
doesnýt linger over the forces of Dol Amroth. It touches upon these briefly,
acknowledges their influence, and then gets to the heart of its message. It
goes to Ithilien, where Faramir gives hope to his men as only Faramir can.
The ease and command of his nature is portrayed with only a few sentences,
but it characterizes him better than an entire page of introspection could.
This is Faramir at his best, and whatýs even better is that itýs a very
unconscious best. I donýt think Faramir fully understands just how good a
leader he is. He knows heýs capable and he knows heýs earned the right to
command, but he doesnýt allow himself to take it any farther than that, and
in my mind, that makes him all the more noble.


>>Gondor
>>MeG4: Choices by Lindelea

Iýve decided that poor Beregond needs far more attention in fanfics,
especially if itýs attention of this caliber. Lindelea takes the meager
details we know about Beregond and uses them to build a complex, loyal,
noble practical character who is willing to accept the consequences of his
actions, even though those actions were taken to save Faramirýs life. Brief
cameos by more prominent canon characters enhance the story, but the real
beauty is in the OCs that surround Beregond. They round out and complete
Beregond, beginning with his friends from the guard as well as the relatives
of the guards he had to kill in order to save Faramir. And thatýs another
thing I really like about this fic. There are consequences to Beregondýs
action aside from breaking the law. He killed, and those men he killed were
men he knew and had families of their own. I love the way Lindelea brings
this into the story. The opening chapter was marvelously told through
flashbacks as well as a very wry battle sense of humor with Beregond and
Targon contemplating life while slowly suffocating beneath a large and
apparently odiferous troll. The final chapter provides a very satisfying
conclusion, and the epilogue made me weep. Brilliant story and brilliant
storytelling to go along with it!


>>Gondor
>>MeG5: Courting The Lady by Celandine Brandybuck

One of the best examples of ensemble characterization. The three main
characters are Denethor, Finduilas, and Aragorn (or Thorongil, in this
case), but a good deal of attention is paid to the other characters
involved, such as Ecthelion, Imrahil, and Adrahil. What I really love about
this fic are the personalities of Denethor, Aragorn, and Imrahil, because
this is a story about them when they were young and you can see the
beginnings of what they will ultimately become. But they havenýt reached it
quite yet. Itýs a wonderful, teasing look at the youth of these characters,
and the strengths that will support them as well as the weaknesses that will
hamper them can all be seen. Denethor is a man just beginning to understand
himself, and when he takes an interest in something, he pursues that
interest perhaps more than he should, something that will get him into
trouble one day. Heýs shrewd, he sees more than other men see, he almost
immediately recognizes Thorongil for the rival that he could become, yet for
all his insight, Denethor has a few painful blind spots, especially with
regards to whatever his current obsession is. Itýs a lovely bit of
foreshadowing. Aragorn is exactly as I would expect Aragorn to be. Heýs
agreeable when necessary, heýs a good commander, he works directly with
almost all the men beneath him as a Ranger should, he recognizes trends and
underpinnings within conversations, and he involves himself in matters that
have the potential to get him into trouble because thatýs what his heart
tells him to do. And Imrahil is positively brilliant. He wishes to learn, he
doesnýt want immediate promotion, heýs almost embarrassingly earnest and
eager to please, but he can also be just as shrewd and insightful as his
costars. He simply doesnýt assert himself the way Denethor and Aragorn do,
which plays into things later in RotK. Very good, very well-researched story
that takes the characters back through time and shows us how their
relationships began.


>>Gondor
>>MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

Water is a favorite time-honored symbolic device, and Altariel makes good
use of it in this story. Wonderful glimpse into Faramir and Denethor as they
receive news of Boromirýs passing in their own ways. Faramirýs confusion and
dreams of drowning could have been overplayed, but Altariel uses a very
deft, delicate touch with these scenes, and the symbolism of the churning
water lurks just below the surface, never overpowering the story but never
allowing its presence to be forgotten.


>>Gondor
>>MeG9: Homecoming by Nancy Brooke

Creepy. Very, very creepy. This is a wonderful little work that pulls from
Gondorýs troubled history and sets Boromir amongst the fallen. I have yet to
decide whether or not heýs been elevated to a hero, a martyr, or if heýs
still just a casualty in the fight to preserve Gondor, and I think thatýs
the point of this little story. Whatever the result, though, Boromir is
home. And weýre left as readers to wonder what kind of home, which is
exactly the way that this haunting little tale should end. Fabulous work.


>>Gondor
>>MeG18: Requiem by Nancy Brooke

Solemn, heart-felt tale that is as much about mourning as it is about the
differences between Boromir and Faramir. I have a difficult time reading
about youth, especially Boromir and Faramir, but Nancy has made Faramir a
very accessible character for me. Thereýs a slight innocence and impishness
that gives evidence of just how young he is, but heýs already turning into
the wise, thoughtful man that will later lead Ithilien. And the different
ways in which Boromir and Faramir remember Finduilas is fascinating to me.
Boromir remembers her strength and her wisdom, things that he needed from
her, while Faramir remembers her protection and her beauty, which are things
that HE needed. Itýs a very interesting study in contrasts, and very well
done.


>>Gondor
>>MeG19: Singer by the shore by Beth Winter

I love stories that bring Maglor back into the picture, and this one does it
so well. The wisdom, foresight, and complexity of Fýanorýs son is
beautifully portrayed here. Better still are Boromir and Faramir. Already
the differences and the similarities that mark them as adults can be seen
here in their youth. Faramir is willing to see the good in the world, while
Boromir can think of almost except the darkness looming over Gondor. Faramir
is more willing to accept change and the fantastic, but Boromir is more
practical and pragmatic. Beautiful dialogue, beautiful foreshadowing, and
beautiful characterization.


>>Gondor
>>MeG21: The Burial of the Dead by Altariel

Very unnerving look at a rapidly cracking Denethor. The fact that it is so
unnerving means it gets its message across quite well. I almost felt as
thought I was also going crazy. This story is told from Denethorýs
perspective, and it uses quotes from the books as well as flashbacks to take
us on a strange and bizarre journey through Denethorýs mind. The way in
which he remembers things and the order in which these things are remembered
is telling. The final part in which Denethor contemplates that Finduilas
speaks more as one dead than she ever did as one living gave me chills and
says quite a bit about his relationship with her. Very good story that gives
us a glimpse into the mind and heart of one of LotRýs most complex
characters.


>>Gondor
>>MeG22: The King is Dead by Altariel

This is one of my favorite stories involving Faramir and Denethor. Here is a
tale that searches out the things both men share (or in this case, the
things that a man and an eleven-year-old child share) and capitalizes on it.
I love the way their minds work, and I love how Denethor is able to teach
Faramir something through his subtle maneuvering of the game and also of
Faramir himself. Denethorýs methods may be hard to understand for some, but
they work quite well at the chessboard, and it seems that Faramir takes the
message to heart. On a side note, I love the fact that Boromir fled BACK to
the troops for some peace after coming up against Faramir and his newly
acquired chess set. A very quick note, but itýs a wonderful insight into the
brothers and also into the fact that Faramir can sometimes be just as
obsessed over certain things as his father.


>>Gondor
>>MeG23: Ties of Love by Avon

Wonderful story involving a Gondor superstition that expands the culture of
Gondor. We donýt get nearly enough stories that take a good look into some
of the superstitions and old wivesý tales surrounding the groups of people
in Middle-earth. Avon does a superb job here, and I like the idea that it is
Faramir who adheres to this tradition both as a child and as a man. I also
love the idea that pragmatic, practical Boromir still keeps the three red
cords (well, the SIX red cords) and the ending just blew me away. The one
holding him to life was gone, but the other two that tied him to his land
and to Faramir were still there. Lovely ending.


>>Gondor
>>MeG24: Too Late for Misgivings by Shadow975

This is a story that has been done again and again and again, but Shadow975
somehow manages to make it sound fresh and new. How, Iým not sure. I think a
part of it might be due to the role reversal that goes on. Faramir is more
assertive than usual. Weýre told in the books that he is bold, and we see it
here. By contrast, Boromir seems more reserved, and in his words is a wisdom
that usually comes from Faramir. Itýs a good reminder that these are
brothers and they come from the same stock. Boromir might not use his mind
as a scholar, but he does have a mind and itýs a good one. The dream came to
him as well, after all. I love the foreshadowing in this story and how
Boromir has a bit of foresight of his own, especially when it seems that
Faramirýs foresight hasnýt given him anything into the journey beyond
Imladris. Very nice retelling of a familiar story.


>>Poetry
>>MeP1: An Elegy for Elfhild by Alawa

This poem seems to me to be a turning point in Theodenýs life. I love how
Alawa has pulled into this the fact that Theoden was born in Gondor, not
Rohan. And Theoden has been gifted with a love for Gondor and the stonehouse
dwellers that live there. Elfhildýs death is marred by his fears that Gondor
medicine might have been able to save her, but at the same time, Theoden
canýt help but remember that Elfhild loved Rohan best. Heýs at a crossroads
of sorts. The ending of the poem is very much the story of someone settling
into their mourning, and the language is beautiful. Wonderful poem that
keeps in mind the characters, their backgrounds, and the very human feeling
of grief.


>>Poetry
>>MeP2: Ascension by Fileg

The terzanelle is an incredibly difficult form of poetry (for me, anyway)
and Iým always in awe when I find one done well. This terzanelle was done
well, and it blows me away. The form aloneýwow. The advantage of the
terzanelle is that it seems to bring things full circle because the first
and third lines will be repeated in the end, the latter as the last line and
the former two lines above it. Fileg has chosen the perfect lines for this
as Denethor acknowledges the ruin around him and yet seems to absolve
himself of guilt. But at the same time, he doesnýt because he says at one
point that heýs accepted this bargain and takes responsibility. Itýs an
interesting paradox. Another advantage of the terzanelle is that it ties
itself together by forcing other lines to repeat themselves, and if you can
pick the proper words for these lines, the poem becomes even more profound.
The phrase ýan unthanked servant of an absent kingý is one of the best lines
Iýve ever heard used to describe the office of Gondorýs Steward during the
latter half of the Third Age, and this is chosen as the second and fifth
line. Beautiful, beautiful language. The meter is another great aspect of
this poem. It follows the standard iambic pentameter, but itýs not so rigid
as to feel that it has been forced into this meter. It fits, certainly, but
it wouldnýt take much jostling to alter the rhythm, giving a very fluid
feel. Incredible use of the terzanelle, and I really canýt think of any
situation that requires this poem more than Denethorýs last moments.


>>Poetry
>>MeP3: Darkness Falls by flick

I was unfamiliar with the sestina, which made this poem especially
interesting because I got to learn about a new form of poetry. Iým odd that
way. In any case, Iýve found the sestina to be a fascinating device that
will require several weeks to fully process, but what first struck me was
how this would force a reader to look at six different words in many
different ways. And appropriately enough, this poem looks at Boromir, who is
a complicated character and can be seen in many different lights. Iým very
impressed with the ways flick chose to use the various words, and the last
line really hit home as Boromir doesnýt quite trust himself to accept
forgiveness.


>>Poetry
>>MeP4: Eowyn, my fair one by Dwimordene

Iým going to confess right now before saying anything else that this poem
gave me the willies. When I first read it last year, I actually had to leave
the room because I feltýdirty. Thatýs a compliment to Dwimordeneýs writing,
though somewhat backhanded, I suppose. In any case, I donýt want to get any
closer to Wormtongue than this. His obsession with Eowyn gave me chills, his
need to hurt and teach her made me wince, and Iým not even going to touch on
the idea of the sword as a phallic symbol. Iýll get the willies all over
again. A very good poem, but it creeps me out every time I read it.


>>Poetry
>>MeP5: Home by Morning by Fileg

Wonderful poem full of promise. The meter of this poem is nearly flawless,
and the structure is perfect for this type of writing. It combines oaths and
vows with lists of things that might prevent the fulfilling of those
promises, and the poem is structured in such a way as to accommodate both.
Brilliant writing and almost a sing-song rhythm that lulls and comforts.


>>Poetry
>>MeP6: I Ride by RennWench and Alstaria

The real Faramir returns. Forget what the movies did to this poor man and
forget every doubt you ever entertained about him even in the books. This is
Faramir in all his nobility and all his ýsufficiency.ý That word actually
takes on new meaning thanks to this poem. In any case, this is Faramir
unplugged, unedited, and uncut. I love the way this poem punctuates his
motivations, his desires, his goals, and his unswerving devotion. Beautiful
imagery, the refrain ýI rideý kept the pace fast and relentless, and Faramir
is restored to his noble and ýsufficientý glory.


>>Poetry
>>MeP8: The Hamster by Dwimordene

Oh dear. The mental image of Denethor ranting against this hamster and
calling it a ýthing of evilý brought back memories of my sisterýs hamster.
And as I dearly love Poe parodies in whatever form they may take, I loved
this poem. I now have this image as the palantýr being used as an elaborate
hamster ball, and the thought never fails to make me laugh. Poe-horror meets
the cute and cuddly hamster who is named, of all things, Thorongil. Parody
just doesnýt get any better.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Me4-7: Sufficient by Tanaqui

Very good and slightly angsty fic about Faramir just after the king returns.
This Faramir initially seems more in keeping with the movie version than the
book, but elements of the book are clearly there by the end what we have is
an interesting blend of the character. Just as Legolas thinks, it would
require years to fully understand him, but Tanaqui gives us a good glimpse
of this man in his reaction to Legolasýs words and his lingering doubts.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Me4-8: The Endless Knot by E.M Theis

This storyýs title brings to mind images of complex sailorsý knots, and the
story itself lives up to the imagery. Wonderfully twisted tale that winds
itself tighter and tighter until it is felt it can go no further. The
narrative remains firmly in the hands of Faramir, and his impressions and
reactions to those around him are very much colored by his own unique view
of the world as well as the influence of the enemy he comes up against.
Great tale of endurance, perseverance, and the ragged edge of sanity.


>>Me7: The Believer by Cori Lannam

What I love about this story is its lightheartedness. And a glimpse of a
Gondor tradition. Put together, the two are marvelous. But perhaps even more
moving is the fact that the storyýs participants are Boromir and Aragorn,
two unlikely sources of such mirth, especially given the time period.
Nevertheless, Boromirýs sudden paranoia and Aragornýs very dry and somewhat
secretive sense of humor make for a wonderful blend.

-----------------

AUTHORS

-----------------

>>Poetry
>>MPA3: Fileg

Poetry is a difficult genre to master, but Fileg seems to have absolutely no
difficulties with the two poems featured here. The terzanelle, in
particular, astounded me as itýs something that has forever eluded me. But
Fileg pulled it off and gave it one of the best and most appropriate
subjects for that style of poetry. Knowledge of the poemýs requirements and
constraints was evident, and the advantages that the poemýs style offered
were used to their fullest. Given a freer structure, Fileg still maintained
an even, steady meter that fit like a hand in a glove, and together they
formed the basis for something I could envision as a lullaby or a favorite
nursery rhyme, either one. (Who says all lullabies are cheerful? Remember
the one about cradles and tree tops?) Anyway, Iým astounded at Filegýs
ability to manipulate poetry and use it to accentuate the chosen topics.
Wonderful reads!


>>Poetry
>>MPA6: RennWench and Alstaria

Powerful use of poetry and the unique advantages that verse offers over
narrative. In particular, I loved the use of the phrase ýI rideý and how it
was turned into an anthem of sorts for Faramir, who indeed rode. And then we
were given the reasons why. The poem was well paced, beginning slow but then
increasing rapidly in tempo until we were riding right alongside Faramir.
And we moved from the setting in the beginning to the hearts and feelings of
his hearts. ReenWench and Alstaria did a good job of drawing the reader and
then keeping the reader there while they gave us all the reasons why Faramir
was sufficient and why Faramir represented the best that was in the men of
Gondor.


>>MA3: Altariel

I think it is Altarielýs unique gift to paint characters in moments. The
people in Altarielýs stories stay fairly true to whatever emotion they might
be entertaining. Sufficient background is laid to understand the situation,
and the characterization is always addressed so that we are aware of a
characterýs other attributes, but the real story is told within the moment
itself, and thatýs quite a talent. Because it is the moments that make up
life, and Altariel reminds us of that fact with each story. In a moment of
grief, Denethor would remember this. In a moment of admiration and possible
defeat, Denethor would try to do this. In a moment of awkwardness, Faramir
would behave like this. In a moment of despair, Faramir would say this.
Altariel uses the moments to show men as they really were in Middle-earth,
and they say far more about a character than almost anything else could.
Moreover, this use of ýmomentsý in storytelling ensures that the story never
veers far from its intended course, making for exceptionally tight writing
and good overall focus.


>>MA6: Celandine Brandybuck

Celandine has a way of reversing time and taking us back to the moments when
the seeds of greatness as well as the seeds of doom first break through the
surface of a manýs soul. And this is done without ever losing sight of what
will ultimately happen. Essentially, Celandine lays the foundations for the
future and does so with such care and attention to detail that itýs
difficult to imagine that these characters had a beginning that could be any
different from the one weýre presented. The politics, maneuvering, and
second-guessing that always accompanies the upper echelons of men are told
clearly and confidently in Celandineýs stories, and never are we as readers
left feeling as thought something had gone overlooked or missing. Celandine
is a master of tight writing and beautiful story telling.


>>MA18: Lindelea

Flawless characterization of Beregond. Lindelea looks at the events
surrounding Denethorýs death, the Morannon, and the Field of Cormallen, and
then uses these events and Beregondýs reaction to them in order to create a
very memorable character. The OCs are characters in their own right, and
through their interaction with Beregond, we are able to unearth new levels
and facets of his personality. Lindelea basically writes a very long
character sketch and not only makes it work but also makes it highly
enjoyable.


>>MA24: Shadow975

What really sets Shadow974 apart in this category with the entered story is
the ability to tell this particular tale in a new manner. The story involves
Boromir leaving for Imladris with Faramir wondering why itýs the older son
and not the younger who is leaving. Itýs been done time and again in
fanfiction. There are some good version of it out there, but even after a
while, good version begin to sound redundant. This story doesnýt. It takes
the familiar themes and then twists them, giving Faramir the forthrightness
and Boromir the thoughtfulness. And it makes these characterizations work,
which is what really sold me on it. Very good story telling, especially
considering how often this story is told.

------------------------

And you've now reached the end of my ballot. And yet again, it certainly
wasn't that long was it? I know I've got your support, Ainaechoiriel!

Thundera (who is deeply grateful for these awards as they've given me whole
new worlds to explore)

Msg# 2046

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Jillian Baade September 18, 2004 - 6:08:09 Topic ID# 2022
>Gondor
>
>MeG19: Singer by the shore by Beth Winter
>
>A wonderful story with one of my favourite characters in it, Maglor. While
>the primary interest of the story centers where it should with the boys,
>you get a strong sense of the other worldliness of the elf, and the wonder
>the children feel. Also, you get the feeling that as young as they are,
>they know they have had an extraordinary encounter with someone whose
>experiences range back to the elder days.

I can't also but help see a future scene, when Arwen has a conversation with
her husband's steward, and that night is mentioned. I bet her saying, 'oh,
but you are talking of my foster grandfather' would blow Faramir right out
of the water!

>Incomplete
>
>MeI1: Blackbow by Isabeau of Greenlea
>
>This what was missing from 'Captain' if anything was missing. How Hethlin
>became a Ranger, and the tale of how the Rangers found her and healed her.

We see the frightened badly hurt girl survive, and start to trust her new
friends, and to fall in love with Faramir; the beginnings of the Heth we all
loved in 'Captain'
>
>
>
>Incomplete

Me3: Captain, My Captain by Isabeau of Greenlea

What can I say about this very famous story no one else has? I guess this is
the one that makes us all wish we could write such a wonderful OFC as
Hethlin. From seeing her in battle, to how she stands up to the Witch King
when offered the thing she wants the most, to her unrequited love for
Faramir and finally to see her relationship with bratty Elrohir develop,
this story has held me spell-bound from beginning to end.

My favourite scene after several re-reading is the one where Heth is walking
through the Grey Lands, and is found by Elrohir. Her surprise at realising
he's an elf is very funny, especially right in the middle of being rescued

_________________________________________________________________
Find love today with ninemsn personals. Click here:
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Msg# 2047

Men and Elves Voting, 9/19/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 18, 2004 - 23:05:26 Topic ID# 2044
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Msg# 2048

Men and Elves Voting, 9/20/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 19, 2004 - 0:00:53 Topic ID# 2048
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
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Monday September 20, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

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Msg# 2049

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 19, 2004 - 17:17:33 Topic ID# 2021
Elves

Official Voting Ballot


> Drabble
>
> ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

I loved this drabble for its absolutely killer last lines:

"Soon may travellers in all Middle-earth hear only this lament of
trees and stones.

*They are gone…*"

Legolas is conceivably old enough to have been alive during the last
Ring War, and to have heard of the destruction of Eregion. The stakes
are as high in the Third Age, and the odds are worse—just one little
band of nine, and the failing strength of Gondor stand between the
present, and a future in which the stones may cry out, but there will
be none the world over to hear them.

> Drabble
>
> ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

I find it interesting that Legolas here still is focused on
repercussions for himself—he's still learning to listen to the fears
and needs of others, incomprehensible as they are given his horizon of
experience. He's still coming to self-knowledge, and is only starting,
I think, to open to others truly.


> Drabble
>
> ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

Here I liked that the trees wouldn't speak to Legolas. The greatness
of the building in Eregion is matched only by the greatness of folly,
which but builds on itself, being blind.

> Drabble
>
> ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

Wild Iris has a gift for making one feel the loss, and she needs so
few words to accomplish that end. Change, loss, the inevitable fall
before decay that even the Elves cannot withstand and from which they
perhaps suffer all the more for their memories of better times—all of
it encapsulated in this one hundred word story that uses a brutal
coming of age to show the changing of an age's fortunes.


> Post-WOTR
>
> E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

Finally, a story that picks up on Galadriel's observation that Gimli's
skill isn't just in his hands, but his words! The dwarf who could get
away with a request for hair off Galadriel's head with praise for the
courtesy of his request from the giver herself obviously could have
been a word-smith. There's some sliding about in terms of what is the
focus of the story—that Gimli writes, and his relationship with words,
Galadriel, and Legolas, or Legolas and his coming to know Gimli
better—but I did like that these two great friends still have a lot to
learn about each other. They have quite a bit of growing to do so that
their friendship goes beyond the occasional orc-slaying match, so that
it becomes a friendship fit for time of peace, when martial skill will
be less needed.

> Post-WOTR
>
> E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

I was pointed towards this story by a professional classicist. With an
expert recommendation to back it, I set "War Dust" aside for a rainy
day, and boy did it make my day better when I finally got around to
reading it. Nol's knowledge of and sympathy for both the Iliad and
Maglor is evident; she moves skillfully between ages and worlds
without ever losing the reader, calling attention to how the lessons
of the fictional past(s) can be made to illuminate each other. There
is no sentimentality here, only an eye for truth, and the need, the
compulsion, to let those lessons be brought forth. That Maglor should
be midwife to the birth of the Greek epic is fitting—the last great
work, and perhaps the most humbly-written (that is, in terms of
Maglor's mindset, not in terms of style or content) of the greatest
Noldorin lyricist on earth.


> Romance
>
> ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

I confess to a certain fondness for this one in part because I had
such fun foisting this nuzgûl off on Ithilwen. I was impressed by the
manner in which Fëanor was brought into the story, and also by the
clever introduction of Ungoliant—who would have thought to combine
those two, and transport them to modern earth? Well, obviously
Ithilwen did, overcoming what could have been a serious suspension of
disbelief moment. Kudos to her for bringing Tam Lin and Fëanor
together so nicely, and for giving Janet and Fëanor a chance at happiness.

> The Silmarillion
>
> ES10: Singing Silence by Losseniaiel

This very nicely captures the imbalance of this relationship, I think.
I'm not much of an Elf fan, but every so often, a fic catches me, and
this is one such. Melian has a breadth and depth that Thingol lacks,
that he cannot but lack, having always been bounded to one body and
one narrow perspective. Melian, however, has a heart wide enough to
encompass a kingdom which arouses the jealousy of the lover who wishes
the relationship to remain intimate. Fortunately, he is wise enough to
know that such private, narrow intimacy would destroy the very one he
loves, and render her something other, and lesser. Well done to
portray all of this in so short a story.

> The Silmarillion
>
> ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

A very enjoyable tale, indeed! Gimli and Legolas as a sort of later
parallel of Narvi and Celebrimbor was a great way of exploring both
relationships and giving these otherwise singular friendships a
history. The little glimpses of Dwarvish crafting culture were nicely
thought out and exhibited through both stories, and the play on
Narvi's gender was marvellous. I'm curious to know why Gimli wouldn't
know it—Narvi herself seemed fully immersed in the crafthalls,
suggesting that such a thing was not unusual in her time, which makes
me wonder why her gender was erased so thoroughly that even one of her
descendents (apparently) would refer to her as "he". Or perhaps it's
just One Of Those Things We Do Not Share With Outsiders. It is again
refreshing to see that after the war, Gimli and Legolas still have
their misunderstandings, although at times I thought they were a
little too much in evidence. Nevertheless, thoroughly entertaining,
and Narvi's last confidence was a great gift indeed—makes me wonder,
since apparently Dwarves don't even put their names on their own
tombs, whether despite marriage, she was closer to Celebrimbor in
spirit than any knew, including her son.

> The Silmarillion
>
> ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

It's usually said that the lust for power runs stronger in Men, and
perhaps the story's title suggests that, given that it is not the
wisdom of Elrond or Galadriel that rules here, but Isildur's, to
reach, take, and rule. But if such is the cardinal vice of Men, it
does not explain either Elrond or Galadriel, who do follow in
Isildur's footsteps, though they do not yet see it. Celeborn shows
himself the wiser, and in his mourning remembers those who are apt to
be unsung, being beloved of neither victors nor (obviously) defeated
enemies. He has that attention to others that, perhaps, comes as part
and parcel of his preference for the spoken word, whereas Elrond has
an attention to texts which he can absorb and master, whatever the
intentions of the author. Nice detail, that. And a nice, short
exploration of the politics of the Eldar just after the first war of
the Rings.

> Vignette
>
> EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger
>

You know, for a story based on a serious question, I couldn't help but
laugh at Glorfindel several times. For some reason, this line in
particular made me chuckle: "And because you have yet to thoroughly
offend Thranduil this year, you have decided to send his son into what
might be considered certain death. I beg the Valar that this is not
the case." Nicely drawn (and at times humorous!) sketch of the
reasoning that went into the choosing of the Fellowship. It's one of
those decisions that no one, even those making it, can be particularly
happy with, and were it not for foresight, even the various laws of
necessity probably wouldn't have prevented efforts to change the
composition of the company more than once. It's a matter of faith in
the end—bolstered by reasons, but ultimately, everyone is relying on
trust in the native good will of those going, and that nothing
undertaken with such a will can ultimately fail.


> Vignette
>
> EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

Without meaning anything derisory, this is what happens when an
element from "Planet of the Apes" meets an underexamined line in the
Silmarillion. As in the former, so in this story, one has to ask how
it is possible not to know that we're dealing with a speaking people,
but Salsify fortunately includes that question in the story itself
(even if it's one that can't be answered, at least the protagonists
can ask it). I think it's a tribute to the story that I feel vaguely
nauseated on Pharassion's behalf. Anyhow, this is a clever bit of
tale-building around one line; it may not be a full course meal, as it
were,, but when you're reading it, you'll feel a rather delicious
chill, I think. I commend the author for her restraint (this could've
been so much gorier and, I think, the worse for it) and for being
willing to take this plot and run with it.

> Vignette
>
> EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

Well hello, Pilgrim! Celeborn is on a journey in this story, and a
very unusual one, or so it seemed to me, with Merry as a most unusual
guide. It's fanonical that the Sindar are far more tied to
Middle-earth, less likely to leave than the Noldor. But even without
such motivations, Celeborn has been in Middle-earth for thousands of
years—one might conceivably become attached to the place, whatever
one's lineage. But at the same time, he is wise enough to see that the
time of his people has ended, and being husband to a Ringbearer has
had its effects. Galadriel here is as a force of nature—as Sam said
once, you could dash yourself to pieces on her and like a boat on
rocks, but neither rocks nor Galadriel would be to blame for that.
Celeborn has let himself be affected by the elemental wisdom—in all
its folly and repentance—that is Galadriel, and now he is at a
crossroads: will he go to her before the end, or remain in
Middle-earth? Which is the better path?

I think we get a glimpse of future developments when he surrenders the
key to Merry, after hearing the talk about the impossibility of
trammeling rosebushes. This is a story of growth and letting go, of
being wise enough to learn a particular kind of generosity that I
don't think comes as easily to Elves, who are so very self-sufficient.
And it was all beautifully heralded by the riddle of the other two
most famous elvish pioneers of mortaliy: Finrod and Lúthien. I was
particularly struck by what Stultiloquentia did with them just--it was
so very right, somehow, to me. The riddle and the tone suited them
beautifully, made them mythic, wildly so--they were definitely
standing in the sunlight of the First Age, and yet pointing byond it
and beyond all ages.

> E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

I read this and immediately sang "Hallelujah!" Point by point
refutation of the bad fanon clichés about Thranduil's character (that
he is abusive, mean, greedy, lecherous, etc., whatever is needed so
that Legolas may endure "drama")—Thranduil fans will want this
bookmarked for the days when they can't resist coming to the King of
Mirkwood's defense, even though such arguments seem ultimately futile.

> E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

Beautiful! And a fitting penance, it seems, for Maeglin. I quite
enjoyed this adaptation of the Greek myth to Tolkien's world. Both
main characters were rendered well, and the original ferryman very
sympathetically. Namo's characterization was also excellent—inhuman,
without attachment to those things that tie embodied beings to a
narrow point of view; his idiosynchrasies are a part of his nature and
so a part of nature, in a broad sense, unlike our own, which allows
for some humorous bits in the prologue. I had a very clear (if rather
grey and dreary) picture in my mind the entire time. Well done!

>
> E9: Firimar by Ithilwen
>

I'd read this story awhile ago, I realized, and I'm long overdue to
comment on it. Finrod would be among the last to abandon Middle-earth.
I liked the way that the Eldar slowly have weaned themselves of the
ties to Middle-earth, and now on Eressea, he is nearly the only one
who will look back to Middle-earth through the palantir. A nostalgic
and bittersweet tale.

> E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade

I'm not usually a fan of stories about children, but I did love this
little vignette. Glorfindel the warrior overwhelmed by a pair of
babes! A sweet little interlude.

>
> Drabble
>
> EDA1: Avon
>
> I Hear the Stones Lament

Give Avon a hundred words, and from experience, she'll pack a mile of
meaning into them. As in other drabbles from her, this is
(necessarily) compact and foreboding, a beautifully described snapshot.

> Drabble
>
> EDA6: Wild Iris
>
> Untitled (Mirkwood)

Wild Iris is another who doesn't need many words to move you, and her
drabbles are always insightful.


> Vignette
>
> EVA4: Stultiloquentia
>
> Rose Riddle

Definitely an author to watch for, she writes poetry as well as prose,
and excels in both. Groping for descriptive phrases, there's a
freshness to her writing, and a sharpness—everything is just *so*. Her
insights are marvellous.


> Vignette
>
> EVA5: Thundera Tiger
>
> A Fool's Hope

Every so often, Thundera writes something short! I'm kidding, but I am
more familiar with her epics than her short works, so this was a
pleasant change of pace. She always manages to find a bit of humor for
her dialogue, particularly when arguments between friends are under
discussion. I look forward always to more from her electronic pen.


> EA7: Earmire
>
> War Dust

Some of us enjoy the occasional literary allusions; Nol simply imports
literature wholesale, and shows herself skilled at handling the
interplay between two texts, neither of which are slighted. Sympathy
and compassion are wrapped about the characters whom she makes her
own, even (perhaps especially) at their most agonizing moments. We are
fortunate to have her writing in the fandom.



> EA9: Ithilwen
>
> Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale, Hide and Seek, Firimar,
> Noldolante

Ithilwen was one of the first authors I read who wrote primarily in
the Silmarillion's time frame, and while I am not a huge Silm fan, her
work can and does move me.

> EA17: Losseniaiel
>
> Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears; Singing Silence

I've only read the one work, but if "Singing Silence" is any
indication of Losseniaiel's quality as an author, then I do not doubt
that readers will be well rewarded for their time.

> EA18: Marnie
>
> Oak and Willow, The Wisdom of Isildur, A Leaf on a Stream, Battle of the
> Golden Wood

Someone on the Henneth Annun list once said that Marnie's mission is
to convert the fandom to the cult of Celeborn, one fan at a time. Or
words to that effect, and I tip my hat to whoever said them, for they
were apt words and a tribute to her skill. From what I have read, she
has great skill when it comes to characterization, and a fine sense
for where the issues lie that drive her characters' actions.

> EA21: Thevina Finduilas
>
> Of Pipes and Poetry; Speak, Friend, and Enter

Thevina always seems to be hunting for virgin fictional space to open
up to readers, and her efforts have led her to a closer examination of
Dwarves, and of one Dwarf (and his Elf ;-) ) in particular. Sometimes
I think she's bit uneven in her plotting, but I've enjoyed seeing what
she makes of characters and cultures despite that.

> EA27: Zimraphel
>
> Across Dark Waters

I think she's a fandom of one for the Second Age, and another of those
authors who enjoys going into areas of Tolkien's multi-faceted tale
that simply don't get enough attention. She evokes atmosphere very
well with relatively few descriptive phrases, and gives us an intense
moral-psychological portrait of her characters in this story.

Msg# 2050

Men and Elves Voting, 9/20/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 19, 2004 - 23:04:57 Topic ID# 2048
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Monday September 20, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
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Msg# 2051

Men and Elves Voting, 9/21/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 19, 2004 - 23:59:45 Topic ID# 2051
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Tuesday September 21, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 1 minute.

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Msg# 2052

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/21/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 20, 2004 - 0:00:10 Topic ID# 2052
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
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All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 1 minute.

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Msg# 2053

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by aelfwina September 20, 2004 - 10:34:20 Topic ID# 2021
----- Original Message -----
From: Ainaechoiriel
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot


Elves

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Post-WOTR

E4-5: The Green Knight by Le Rouret

This was an absolutely marvelous tale from beginning to end. Le Rouret has the skill to use the archaic language of "speaking forsoothly" without sounding silly. I found her voice to be similar to that of Howard Pyle or Sir Walter Scott. She obviously did a great deal of research into the intricacies of tournaments, and her descriptions of the tourneys are magnificent. In addition, she has created an intricate plot that has many twists and turns.
Her characterizations of the canon characters ring true, especially that of Legolas and Gimli. I found her characterization of Thranduil very different and refreshing. But her real strong point is her Original Characters. Bandobras is a dear little hobbit, and quite easily won my heart as quickly as he did that of Legolas and Gimli. But there were many other wonderful OCs as well, both allies and enemies.
I very much enjoyed the story. It was a long and delightful read, and will be one that I return to in the future.

The Silmarillion

ES9: Malaise by Levade

This I got a giggle out of. Very funny.


Vignette

EVA5: Thundera Tiger

A Fool's Hope

Very nicely done.


This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2054

voting ballot-elves Posted by christine September 20, 2004 - 19:09:54 Topic ID# 2054
Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

Wow, quite the imagery in that story. I like it very much and was
only a tad disappointed it was a drabble, because it was so thought
provoking.



ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

My heart felt sad for the change that took place in Hollin. It was
emotive and captured my attention. Very nicely written.


ED3: Longing by Dwimordene

This drabble helped me to see this scene in a much better light. It
was clear, concise and very well written. Made me feel like I was
standing there as Legolas was hearing those stones as they cried out.


ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

Another interesting take on those stones, and again I find myself
enjoying another authors interpretation of the moment. Very nicely
written.


ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse

I really enjoyed Legolas' perspective on the stones. I believe he
would have thought of this situation in almost the same manner this
author portrayed. I like the fact that he assesses this situation
from the standpoint of the elves and how they usually grow and build
but instead this land has been left unattended, abandoned by its
caretakers. This captured the ideology of the quote very well.



ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

An Interesting and very sad drabble. I am curious as to the
happenings that would make this little one be despairing so.


Incomplete
EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

This story is quite fun to read. Filled with adventure, intrigue,
canon characters and a cast of other characters that help to make
the reader enjoy every second they are reading. This author has
captured my attention with her use of humor, battles, keeping who,
what and where under raps, and her incredible ability to tie
everyone together and still stay true to the story by writing them
with outgoing and well rounded personalities. I really enjoy how she
keeps the lineage of her original female character under raps, and
yet all the others around Moira seem to have something unique and
special about them. It is delightful to see an original female lead
character have such a great attitude. I don't mean that she is
sappy, mushy or a Mary Sue, instead she has spunk, enthusiasm, is
always wondering about the things that are happening around her and
that helps the reader to become interested in her journey. My only
complaint is this author has not completed this fiction and
therefore I am left waiting to know all the secrets that Birdsong
has not yet told Moira. What a great read. I am looking forward to
more.

Msg# 2055

Men and Elves Voting, 9/21/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 20, 2004 - 22:59:14 Topic ID# 2051
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Tuesday September 21, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2056

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/21/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 20, 2004 - 22:59:15 Topic ID# 2052
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Tuesday September 21, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2057

Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 0:00:39 Topic ID# 2057
Orcs

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top
line of the header information (ex. code: Title by Author) and then comment
beneath them.



(No subcategories)



O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

URL: http://www.theoriginalseries.com/orcframes.htm

Rating: R non-explicit torture, bloodlust, adult theme

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A First Age Sinda captured by Orcs in the Third Age manages to
survive capture and her initial torment to make a place for herself in their
society. ~ ~ Orcs, OFC, no primary canon characters. Cameos by Glorfindel,
Elrond, Celebrian, Maedhros. ~



O2: Hunger by Nath

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2225

Rating: PG-13 graphic portrayal of -- well, orcs being orcs

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An unpleasant little vignette showing that what goes on in a
standard bearer's mind may not always be all that lofty... [Nominator's
Note: The author feels this work is more properly considered filmverse than
pure bookverse]



O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/806842/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The last moments of Ufthak, an Orc of Cirith Ungol, in the Lair of
Shelob.



O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1309

Rating: PG blood-thirstiness

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The song of an orc-chieftain's spear awaiting battle.



O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=3247

Rating: PG violence, disturbing images

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: An Orc patrol encounter.



O6: Resurrection by Jillian

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=210

Rating: PG character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Legolas and an orc have an encounter.



O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=9

Rating: PG too many exclamation points and parenthetical asides; gratuitous
use of netspeak (OMG!1)

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Ambitious young orc torturer learns Dark Lord's deepest secret.



O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1057

Rating: PG-13 violence, character death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Inspired by the film version of FOTR, and the confrontation of
Boromir and Lurtz (God bless Sean Bean and Lawrence Makoare for their
wonderful performances). Each time I watch that scene, I wonder what they
can be thinking when their eyes meet.... This is what I've finally decided.



O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=2092

Rating: R Violence, gore

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The tale of an orc with a literary interest.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

Orc Patrol



OA2: Jillian

Resurrection



OA3: Lindelea

In the Eye of the Beholder



OA4: Nath

Hunger



OA5: shadow975

The Eyes Of An Enemy



OA6: Sulriel

Adventures in the Ettenmoors



OA7: Virvatuli

In the Absence of Her Ladyship



OA8: Viv

Snorg: Letters from Mordor



OA9: Werecat

You will see them at night



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2058

Men and Elves Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 21, 2004 - 0:01:20 Topic ID# 2058
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Wednesday September 22, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
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Msg# 2059

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 21, 2004 - 0:01:45 Topic ID# 2059
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Wednesday September 22, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2060

Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 0:07:23 Topic ID# 2060
Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

HobD1: A New Season by Alexcat

URL: http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/A/Alex/LOTR/I_P/N/NewSeason.htm

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Sam begins again.



Drabble

HobD2: Can't Take His Medicine by Marta

URL: http://www.gardenofithilien.net/medicine.html

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Merry is healed orc-fashion as he crosses Rohan.



Drabble

HobD3: Mother Gamgee by Marigold

URL: http://marigoldsredbook.crickhollow.net/fic_mothergamgee.html

Rating: G Discussion of death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A set of four drabbles from Frodo's pov in which Bell Gamgee
touches his life.



Drabble

HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold

URL: http://marigoldsredbook.crickhollow.net/fic_restingplaces.html

Rating: G Discussion of death

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A group of four themed drabbles, on the final resting places of
Frodo's parents, Merry's sisters, and Sam's mother, Bell.



Drabble

HobD5: Small Hands by Marta

URL: http://www.gardenofithilien.net/smallhands.html

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Boromir sees Bilbo volunteer to take the Ring at the Council of
Elrond.



Drabble

HobD6: Then and Now by Marigold

URL: http://marigoldsredbook.crickhollow.net/fic_thenandnow.html

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A group of themed drabbles, the first drabble in each set takes
place in Pippin's childhood, the second in the set is about a similar theme
to the first, but takes place during the Quest.



Drabble

HobD7: What Do we Get? by Alexcat

URL: http://www.ofelvesandmen.com/Stories/A/Alex/LOTR/Q_Z/W/WhatDoWeGet.htm

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Smeagol wants his present.



Poetry

HobP1: Autumn's Gift by White Gull

URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/WhiteGull.html

Rating: R Sexual pairing

Romance Partners: Frodo/Rose

Summary: Could *you* share the same house with post-quest Frodo Baggins and
not feel this way?



Poetry

HobP2: Furry Little Thief by Pervinca

URL: http://www.geocities.com/pippinsplayground/furry_little_thief.txt

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A little poem about Bilbo's meeting with Smaug, written in the
attempted style of Sam's Troll poem.



Poetry

HobP3: Mad Baggins by Marta

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1809

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A hobbit drinking song about Bilbo's disappearance on his 111th
birthday.



Poetry

HobP4: Old Will Whitfoot by Tanaqui, co-written with Marta

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/challenge/chapter_view.cfm?NGID=169&STID=3258&S
POrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A hobbit drinking song about Will Whitfoot, mayor of the Shire.



Poetry

HobP5: Shire Songbook by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=399

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Songs collected by Peregrin Took, from the Shire and faraway lands.



Poetry

HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1637800/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Written for Baylor's story Fate and the King's High Falcon. It is
the song that Legolas makes for Pippin after his recovery in Ithilien and is
based on Baylor's story.



Poetry

HobP7: Too Young by Lindelea

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1468

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Merry's thoughts shortly after arriving in Ithilien.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-1: A Crate of Lemons by ShireDweller

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1247016/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The morning after 'Garden Plot' is full of surprises, when a
special delivery from Gondor arrives at Bag End.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-2: A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=796

Rating: PG torture (nasty ruffians)

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Sequel to "The Rebel". The Healing of the Shire. Comprising
chapters taken from the latter pages of the Red Book.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-3: At the End of His Rope by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=309

Rating: PG nasty ruffians

Romance Partners: Pippin and Diamond

Summary: Peregrin I, Traveller and Thain, had many difficulties to surmount
in the early years of his Thainship.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-4: Beyond the Havens by jodancingtree

URL:
http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter_view.cfm?STID=758&SPOrdinal=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: At the end of a long life, Sam follows Frodo into the West.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-5: Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2383

Rating: PG-13 adult themes, alcohol abuse

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The malevolent voice still lingered in his mind, over a year after
the Ring went into the Fire, till Frodo felt he must be driven mad by it.
Could he buy a few hours of peace, with a bottle of brandy?



Post-WOTR

Hob4-6: Fair Folk At The Free Fair by Snowballjane

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1286101/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Fourth Age, Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir and Celeborn visit the
shire and find unexpected ease for their heartaches.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-7: Firestorm by Lindelea

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1322393/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Pippin/Diamond

Summary: Peregrin Took did not automatically follow his father, Paladin, as
Thain. This is the story of how he proved himself to the rest of the Tooks,
earning the right to be called The Took, and Thain.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-8: Flames by Lindelea

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=156

Rating: PG-13 graphic violence or suggestion in some chapters

Romance Partners: m/f

Summary: From the occupation of the Shire by ruffians, to the instating of
Peregrin I as Thain, events as seen through the eyes of the Tooks.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-9: Garden Plot by ShireDweller

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/784544/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Frodo finds solace while doing some light gardening with Sam at Bag
End.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-10: Linden and Laurel by Ariel & Aralithiel

URL: http://www.bagendwest.net/LL.html

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Sam knew his master had to leave the Shire, knew he could never
have found healing in middle earth, but did Frodo ever become whole in the
West? A tender and mystical tale of how Sam learned, in the end, that he
had.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/Reckoning.html

Rating: PG So much angst!!!!

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Sam helps Merry and Pippin to understand why Frodo had to cross
over the Sea.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-12: Runaway by Lindelea and Jodancingtree

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=678

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Pippin panics when his young son Faramir goes missing.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-13: Shining Through by Dana

URL: http://dana.rosiesamfrodo.com/writing/fan/st.htm

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: When the darkness returns to haunt Merry, Pippin knows he just
needs light.



Post-WOTR

Hob4-14: What Dreams May Come by katakanadian

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1533920/1/

Rating: PG-13 attempted rape

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Fills in some gaps of Rose, Sam, and Frodo's lives after the
Scouring of the Shire. No slash, no profanity. Some violence.



Pre-WotR

HobPW1: A Mother's Day by Pearl Took

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1309496/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Merry, Pippin, and Pervinca are full of mischief and behaving a bit
oddly-- driving poor Eglantine to the brink of madness.



Pre-WotR

HobPW2: Gandalf and the Seahobbit by Pippinfan1988

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1382

Rating: G a little violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Gandalf recollects his days with Pippin and some of the "lesser"
Tooks.



Pre-WotR

HobPW3: Irrepressible Pippin by Pippinfan1988

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1348

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: It's the first warm days of spring, Pippin turns thirteen, and his
tutor is getting on his last nerve..



Pre-WotR

HobPW4: Legacy by Anglachel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=342

Rating: R exploration of adult themes, graphic portrayal of sexual (slash)
scenes -- not point of story

Romance Partners: Frodo/OCs

Summary: Ten days in Buckland as Bilbo tries to convince his relatives that
Frodo belongs with him. Mature themes in all chapters, descriptions of
sexual activity and violence in later chapters. Significant speculation
about minor LOTR characters, and gap-filling on Shire culture, society,
politics and economics. Bilbo, Frodo, Rory, Gilda.



Pre-WotR

HobPW5: Messing About in Boats by Grey Wonderer

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1785

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Frodo and Merry would like for Sam to try boating on the
Brandywine, but Sam has serious doubts about this idea. Will Sam learn to
enjoying boating or does the 'sinking feeling' that Sam has about all of
this mean anything?



Pre-WOTR

HobPW6: On Merry Yule by Anglachel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=712

Rating: R exploration of adult themes, graphic portrayal of sexual (slash)
scenes -- not point of story

Romance Partners: Frodo/OCs

Summary: Two weeks in Buckland as Bilbo and Frodo visit during Yule and
attend the Wintermark celebration. Mature themes in almost every chapter,
descriptions of sexual activity and violence in several chapters. Not a
cheerful feel-good holiday story in any way. Sequel to Legacy.



Pre-WotR

HobPW7: River Stones by Jeodo Brandybuck

URL: http://www.west-of-the-moon.net/servlet/ReadGenStory?storyID=45

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Frodo, Sam and Merry take Pippin on his first adventure camping in
the Shire and come across a few adventures that they didn't expect.



Pre-WotR

HobPW8: The Shaping of Samwise by Jodancingtree

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=2010

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: When the time came that Frodo must carry the Ring, Sam would not
let him go alone. But loyalty that deep has to begin somewhere..



The Lord of the Rings

HobL1: Because it's my Birthday by Pervinca

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1301

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Pippin celebrates his 29th birthday in Minas Tirith, introducing
Beregond and Bergil to the hobbit gift-giving tradition. But will Merry -
still recovering from his encounter with the Witch-King - remember his
favourite cousin's birthday?



The Lord of the Rings

HobL2: Bedside Chatter by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=931

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Standing watch over the wounded at Cormallen, Eomer loses a few
misconceptions and finds a new respect for the smallest warriors among them.



The Lord of the Rings

HobL3: Riding the Nightmare by Budgielover

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1222

Rating: PG scary, graphic

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: On the banks of the Anduin, the surviving members of the Fellowship
of the Ring followed their missing Ring-bearer to a terrible, tragic
ages-old secret.



The Lord of the Rings

HobL4: The Conspiracy of Hobbits by Dreamflower

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1707

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: How the famous conspiracy formed by Frodo's friends came about.



The Lord of the Rings

HobL5: Through Shadow by Citrine

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1897

Rating: PG bit of naughty humor

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Merry and Pippin reunited in Ithilien after the Black Gate. Short
story, mild humor, very light angst.



Hob1: A Partnership in Villainy by Llinos

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1141429/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A Yuletide Story of Merry and Pippin. When the hobbits tasted
chocolate in Baradur during Recaptured - it evoked a certain memory - this
is it.



Hob2: A Path With No Returning by Citrine

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1794

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Two badly wounded hobbits find each other after the Battle of
Fornost.



Hob3: Autumn's Requiem by Aratlithiel and Ariel

URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/ARIndex.html

Rating: R Sexual content

Romance Partners: Frodo/Rose

Summary: A 'what if' Frodo/Rose romance which deals with the nature of
loyalty,love and friendship.



Hob4: Big Enough to be Thain by Llinos

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1211951/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: According to Tolkien's records, Paladin Took was a farmer when
Pippin was born, and did not become Thain until after Ferumbras III died,
and Pippin was 25. This shows a different possibility.



Hob5: Going, Going, Gone by Lindelea

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1333851/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: What might have happened had Frodo not sailed into the uttermost
West.



Hob6: Moonlight on Summer Leaves by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=850

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A little piece of history, long lost and now told anew, to whisper
to the hearts of the next generation..



Hob7: Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex by Ariel

URL:
http://www.frodosharem.org/cgi-bin/stories/display.cgi?id=250&sort=date&cat=
10

Rating: PG-13 sexual innuendo

Romance Partners: m/f

Summary: A barrel of Dwarvish ale loosens the tongues of our hobbit heros.



Hob8: Recollections by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=431

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: "I didn't know my grandfather long but he so vividly marked my
young memory that I felt I'd known him for ages."



Hob9: Ring around the Merry by Aelfgifu

URL: http://www.geocities.com/aelfgifuemma/RATM.html

Rating: R Violence, adult situations, emotional tormant, very heavy angst,
some slash, 1 chapter with non-con.

Romance Partners: Merry/Pippin but I would not count it as "romance"

Summary: Merry holds the Ringbearer captive at Crickhollow "for the
salvation of the Shire." with baleful results for all. Merry will be
corrupted, Pippin will be conflicted, Frodo will start to break, Sam will
try to save him, and each of the hobbits will be challenged and changed in
unexpected ways.



Hob10: Sam's Garden by Shireling

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1648

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Love expressed through the creation and nurturing of a garden.



Hob11: Sam's Rose by jodancingtree

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1179

Rating: PG adult themes

Romance Partners: Sam and Rose

Summary: The girl he left behind him -- and came home to. His thoughts go
back to her again and again, even in Mordor. But when they return, can he
make a life with her -- and Frodo?



Hob12: The Cooking Conspiracy by eretria cowritten with Murron

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/835881/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A comedy of errors in which Frodo tries to cook a birthday meal,
Pippin takes a liking to washing things, Merry gets caught wearing a dress,
Sam saves the day, and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins takes the blame.



Hob13: The Farmer's Wife by Nessime

URL: http://www.mikekellner.com/Library/Story_Read_Head.php?STid=25

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: Farmer Maggot & Mrs. Maggot

Summary: A pair of vignettes, recalling one especially eventful day - and
evening.



Hob14: Unfair by Anglachel

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/challenge/chapter.cfm?STID=1556&NGID=44

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Lobelia/Otho

Summary: What is the story behind Lobelia and Otho Sackville-Baggins's
marriage?



Hob15: Weight of Stone by Chris

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=243&cid=907

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A quick look at a harmless superstition.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

HobDA1: Alexcat

A New Season, What Do We Get?



Drabble

HobDA2: Marigold

Mother Gamgee, Resting Places, Then and Now



Drabble

HobDA3: Marta

Can't Take His Medicine, Small Hands



Poetry

HobPA1: Lindelea

Shire Songbook, Too Young



Poetry

HobPA2: Llinos

The Lay of Peregrin Took



Poetry

HobPA3: Marta

Mad Baggins



Poetry

HobPA4: Pervinca

Furry Little Thief



Poetry

HobPA5: Tanaqui, co-written with Marta

Old Will Whitfoot



Poetry

HobPA6: White Gull

Autumn's Gift



HobA1: Aelfgifu

Ring around the Merry



HobA2: Anglachel

Legacy, On Merry Yule, Unfair



HobA3: Aratlithiel

Reckoning



HobA4: Ariel

Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex



HobA5: Ariel & Aralithiel

Autumn's Requiem, Linden and Laurel



HobA6: Budgielover

Riding the Nightmare



HobA7: Chris

Weight of Stone



HobA8: Citrine

Through Shadow, A Path With No Returning



HobA9: Dana

Shining Through



HobA10: Dreamflower

The Conspiracy of Hobbits



HobA11: eretria cowritten with Murron

The Cooking Conspiracy



HobA12: Grey Wonderer

Messing About in Boats



HobA13: Jeodo Brandybuck

River Stones



HobA14: Jodancingtree

Beyond the Havens, Drunkard of Bag End, The Shaping of Samwise, Sam's Rose



HobA15: katakanadian

What Dreams May Come



HobA16: Lindelea

A Small and Passing Thing; At the End of His Rope; Firestorm; Flames; Going,
Going, Gone



HobA17: Lindelea and Jodancingtree

Runaway



HobA18: Llinos

A Partnership in Villainy, Big Enough to be Thain



HobA19: Nessime

The Farmer's Wife



HobA20: Pearl Took

A Mother's Day



HobA21: Pervinca

Because it's my Birthday



HobA22: Pippinfan1988

Gandalf and the Seahobbit, Irrepresible Pippin



HobA23: ShireDweller

A Crate of Lemons, Garden Plot



HobA24: Shireling

Sam's Garden



HobA25: Silvermoon Lady

Bedside Chatter, Moonlight on Summer Leaves, Recollections



HobA26: Snowballjane

Fair Folk At The Free Fair



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2061

Voting Season: Note that 4 categories are running now.... Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 0:15:38 Topic ID# 2061
The Hobbits and Orcs categories are now open for votes. I regret that I will
not be the first to vote in either categorie...though I know I've read some
of those stories. I just haven't written my comments yet and hope to read
some more.

And this doesn't mean that the Elves and Men categories are closed. They are
still open for five more days or so. From here on out--until the last five
days of the last pair of categories--there will be 4 categories open at a
time. Check out the Calendar (monthly view works best to see it) on the
Yahoo Group site to see the schedule.

I've got two or three more Elves stories I want to try and read, though I'll
be lucky to get another 2 in. There are also a couple more Men stories I
want to read, thanks mostly to some of the votes I've read here from
others....

So, keep posting your Elves and Men votes and now begin posting your Hobbits
and Orcs votes. Voting has been light so far, so I hope you aren't all
sleeping out there. We've had some great comments thus far and a great
majority of the available stories (only Men and Elves up until now) have at
least one vote. You still have time to post your votes...

And I'm also considering an Amnesty Day on October 31st. One last chance to
post any votes for any categorie. But if I do that, will all of you just
wait until then to post your votes? I don't want to encourage
procrastination so much as give everyone one last shot to read a few more
stories and get some more comments in.

Thanks to all who have voted so far, and to the vote counters who are
keeping track of all the votes. And special thanks to Larian, who is
apparently at least as obsessive and compulsive as I am, who is copying all
the Men comments as I am copying all the Elves comments so that we can make
web pages with all the comments for authors to be able to view their
comments all in one place.

Anyone want to help with that, by the way? Larian and I are liable to end up
with carpal tunnel syndrome....

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2062

Voting Season: Elanor's problems Posted by elanor of aquitania September 21, 2004 - 5:15:09 Topic ID# 2062
> And I'm also considering an Amnesty Day on October 31st. One
> last chance to
> post any votes for any categorie. But if I do that, will all
> of you just
> wait until then to post your votes? I don't want to encourage
> procrastination so much as give everyone one last shot to
> read a few more
> stories and get some more comments in.

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
I would very much appreciate if there is a Amnesty day !
I am still struggling to write more reviews.
I am one of those persons who first read and later write.

Your advice to write votes early is a _very_ good advice
but one I did not took to heart, because
I thought I could steal more time from real life during
voting season ;-)

So perhaps could you make the voting season per category
longer next time and the overlap larger ?

I started writing reviews only when voting season started, my bad !
Moreover I did not realize that there were only short time windows
for each category, I thought
I could vote for each category the whole season.
Now I am struggling very hard as my main interest "men"
came up at first.

And some votes also induced in me the wish to read the
poems etc. concerned.

Another problem I have, I am not sure when Voting-seasons ends
per category in Europe.

The notice
[MEFAwards] Men and Elves Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am
was sent Thursday 09/21/2004 06:01

while the first
MEFAwards] Men and Elves Voting, 9/16/2004, 12:00 am
was sent Wednesday 09/15/2004 05:55

But probably the notices were sent prematurely
as there is a time difference of 30 hours involved ?

This time window accounting problem
would be extremely serious for Amnesty day
when one has only one day I understood.
I would implore you to make the time window larger
to allow for persons not living in USA to send in
before closing hour.

Sorry for being a befuddled procrastinator.

According to http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
North Dakota has 4:55 Am 09/21/2004
while Middle Europe has 11:55 AM 09/21/2004
six hours later. Thus I could send votes until 18:00 PM
European time to be in time for 12:00 in Central USA.

> Voting Season begins Thursday at 12:01am Central US time
> and ends on October 30th, 11:59pm Central US time.

Has North Dakota the Central US time ?
Or can you please give the name of an US-state
which has the Central US time ?

Many thanks for your great efforts with this project
Elanor

Msg# 2063

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Lady Aranel September 21, 2004 - 6:21:02 Topic ID# 2021
>>Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

I love this story! I wished it was finished. "Dr. Birdsong" is excellent. And the OFC is realistic and matter of fact. Kept me interested all the way through.


>>Incomplete

>>EI2: Last of the Edhel by CinnamonGrrl


I'd love to see this finished! The characterization of Thranduil is really wonderful, but Hermoine is a bit lacking. I'd like to see her rounded out more, what age is she supposed to be exactly? 22? 23? I'd like to know more about her background with men, why she seems to throw herself at Thranduil and not be more wary of him. Obviously, she can't resist his charms, but I think she'd be more analytical about it all. Also I can't see her declaring her love so quickly! I think I would have rather seen her intrigued, then angry, then bit by bit fall in love with him. I love how you've back tracked little pieces from each point of view, very unique, as is the entire premise. I also liked how you worked LACE in, very clever. I look forward to more!


>>Post-WOTR

>>E4-4: Of Pipes and Poetry by Thevina Finduilas

Excellent characterizations. A wonderful view of the stout hearted Gimli as a romantic! Curious Legolas.... I loved it!


<<Romance

>>ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse

I don't like slash, but I couldn't stop reading this! The characters are well fleshed out, the romance believable. Maybe because it is a reluctant Legolas who needs to be romanced. Whatever the reason, it worked for me. I fell in love with the characterization of Elrohir. Well done!

>>Romance

<<ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

Once again, excellent writing makes this worth reading, IMO. Even for a non-slash reader, I was enthralled.


<<Vignette

>>EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger


I loved this stories premise. I think the only thing missing was action between Elrond and Glorfindel. I know they are walking together for most of the fic, but I feel that because of that it was reduced to mostly dialog and I would like to know what gestures and facial expressions they have throughout or even where they are and their surroundings! The middle seemed to lag a bit because of this.


<<Vignette
<<E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade


I loved this little story! It was so touching and I loved the interaction between Glorfindel and Elrond at the end. The characterizations of the twins as children was sweet and believable. Glorfindel seemed like a mighty ancient warrior with a gentle heart and I really liked that.

I loved the touch of the drawing of the Eagle at the end. Very nice.

I did notice some repeated words that I would like to see recast so as to not sound so repetitive, but all and all a very fine story.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2064

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Lady Aranel September 21, 2004 - 6:51:12 Topic ID# 2022
I have more, but wanted to get this vote in while it was still fresh in my mind.

<<Gondor
<<MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

:-O I was completly blindsided here. When I began to understand what the woman's burdan was, I got gooseflesh. I've never read Alawa's stories before and this morning, I just picked it out of the blue because the summary was interesting. Short and concise. The OC is believable as a woman of her class to just do what needs doing, yet such an undertone makes the dawn of realization of her task almost chilling. Her observation of the Captain, forthright and matter of fact with a bit of curiousity, very believable... A little surprise for me, and a glad one, to find this fic!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2065

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Marta September 21, 2004 - 9:06:08 Topic ID# 2057
> O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

Very nice. I never thought much about this topic, how Elves became
Orcs, before I stumbled across Sulriel's story. I found the torture,
bloodlust, etc., to be well-handled. While the piece was definitely
adult, the adult parts were not just put in to excite but had a real
place in the story.

Sulriel also helped me, not a huge fan of the Silmarillion, gain a
glimpse into the First Age. This piece was highly enjoyable, and I
really am glad I read it.

> O2: Hunger by Nath

I'm not sure I'd say I "enjoyed" this one - who can enjoy this topic?
:-) - But it was a nice little snippet into the mind of an Orc. Well
done.

> 04: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Interesting point of view, here! We don't read much about Moria orcs,
even less about their love for their weapons. But this seemed
perfectly in-character, and was both intriguing and disturbing.

> 08: The Eyes of An Enemy by shadow975

I generally prefer bookverse or bookverse/movieverse blends to strict
movieverse so I was a bit unsure about whether I wanted to read this
or not. I'm certainly glad I decided to read it. The scene in the
movies is touching, and shadw975 really builds on it to make me
sympathetic to both Lurtz and Boromir. Very well done.

> OA3: Lindelea

I've read Lindelea's hobbit work (specifically "The Rebel") and was
always impressed with the depth and maturity she brings to the Shire.
This proves she can do it for other races as well - and not just the
"easy" races, like Men and Elves. Lindelea seems to have a real grasp
for the idea that every culture is made up of details, little things
that define who the individuals within that culture are. I look
forward to reading more from her.

Marta

Msg# 2066

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Marta September 21, 2004 - 9:37:09 Topic ID# 2060
> HobD1: A New Season by Alexcat

This was good. I especially liked the line " He had no tasks left to
perform here."; I think that captures the very essence of why Sam
stayed, because he had to "remain whole" for some time so the Red Book
could be recorded. My only suggestion is that the drabble seemed too
broad in its scope for the word limit. This might actually work better
as a *series* of drabbles - maybe three? One when he leaves the Shire,
one when he arrives at the Haven, and one when he reaches Valinor.

> HobP2: Furry Little Thief by Pervinca

Brilliant! I really liked it. My only suggestion is in the first and
last stanza, it might have worked better to have four syllables rather
than just two. But it's an interesting scene, and an interesting way
to investigate it.

> Hob4-5: Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree

I liked this one in particular because it was told from so many
different POVs. It was an interesting device. I can see Frodo
struggling with this, after all he went through, and it was nice that
you managed to neither condemn nor condone it.

> HobPW4: Legacy by Anglachel

This is a brilliant piece of writing. Too often longer works taper
out, and a read feel the author almost getting tired before s/he
reaches the end. Not so with Legacy! The plot is strong throughout,
the characterizations consistent, and the conflict real, with a most
unexpected solution. Brava!

I especially liked Anglachel's use of original characters and minor
characters. Rory and Esmerelda, especially, were most enjoyable. Here
are names I've read but haven't really given much thought to, yet they
seemed perfectly hobbity. This Shire is not an easy world to read
about, it's not a comfortable world, but it feels very real. There are
good hobbits and there are bad hobbits, and then of course there are
ordinary ones in between.

I found Bilbo's character particularly convincing, especially if you
think of him more like the character in _The Hobbit_ than in the brief
glimpses we see of him in _The Fellowship of the Ring_ and _The Return
of the King_. Here is a hobbit who has let the Took side of him win
and is now really paying the consequences of it. I hadn't thought much
about how the Shire would have viewed sexual deviancy before I read
this piece, but given the statement in the Prologue that Frodo and
Bilbo were very unusual to live alone as bachelors, I can see
Anglachel's version of the Shire as believable (not necessarily the
*only* acceptable version of sexual mores, but certainly believable).

And I must say, I couldn't stop laughing at Bilbo's comparing Esmie to
an Attercop! Too true, and she was just as perilous. If only Sting
could slice through her webs as easily as it did the Mirkwood spiders'.

Marta

Msg# 2067

New Arrival: Hello Posted by maram68 September 21, 2004 - 11:03:41 Topic ID# 2067
Hello,

I am Maram68 and I am here to look into the nominated stories and
find more reading material in my favorite fandom of choice.

I am also looking forward to contact likeminded writers and readers.

Greetings from deep down south the globe,

Maram68

Msg# 2068

Re: New Arrival: Hello Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 12:52:15 Topic ID# 2067
Hi! Welcome to the list!

You're coming into the tail end of this year, but that's okay! You can
still read and comment/vote on stories that are nominated. And you'll be
ready to nominate for next year in the spring.

Welcome aboard!

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: maram68 [mailto:maram68@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 11:02 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] New Arrival: Hello

Hello,

I am Maram68 and I am here to look into the nominated stories and find more
reading material in my favorite fandom of choice.

I am also looking forward to contact likeminded writers and readers.

Greetings from deep down south the globe,

Maram68



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Msg# 2069

Amnesty Day - was [MEFAwards] Voting Season: Elanor's problems Posted by MarigoldCotton@aol.com September 21, 2004 - 16:31:31 Topic ID# 2069
I for one would really appreciate an Amnesty Day, as over the past month I have had to pack up and move my Mom to Mississippi from L.A., wait to get her phoneline hooked up, unpack, repack because of Hurricane Ivan, and then evacuate for several days, and now I am having to hustle to get ready to move back to England in about a fortnight. Too much RL stuff to get everything done online that I need to do, and when I had *time* to be online it wasn't possible as I had no internet access...

I also thought that we would have longer voting periods, and was quite surprised to see how short they were, which is my own fault as obviously I didn't read something correctly.

I would suggest making the Amnesty period 48 hours and make it clear what time zone you are in, and that will give overseas folks plenty of time to get their voting done. Also, 24 hours is not much time for people that might want to post a lot of votes, what with work, school and other RL issues.

I am certainly going to try to do all of the voting I can during the proper time periods, though.

Marigold : )

>> And I'm also considering an Amnesty Day on October 31st. One
>> last chance to
>> post any votes for any categorie.  But if I do that, will all
>> of you just
>> wait until then to post your votes?  I don't want to encourage
>> procrastination so much as give everyone one last shot to
>> read a few more
>> stories and get some more comments in.
>
>Hi Ainaechoiriel,
>I would very much appreciate if there is a Amnesty day !
>I am still struggling to write more reviews.
>I am one of those persons who first read and later write.
>
>Your advice to write votes early is a _very_ good advice
>but one I did not took to heart, because
>I thought I could steal more time from real life during
>voting season ;-)
>
>So perhaps could you make the voting season per category
>longer next time and the overlap larger ?
>
>I started writing reviews only when voting season started, my bad !
>Moreover I did not realize that there were only short time windows
>for each category, I thought
>I could vote for each category the whole season.
>Now I am struggling very hard as my main interest "men"
>came up at first.
>
>And some votes also induced in me the wish to read the
>poems etc. concerned.
>
>Another problem I have, I am not sure when Voting-seasons ends
>per category in Europe.
>
>The notice
>[MEFAwards] Men and Elves Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am
>was sent Thursday 09/21/2004 06:01
>
>while the first
>MEFAwards] Men and Elves Voting, 9/16/2004, 12:00 am
>was sent Wednesday 09/15/2004 05:55
>
>But probably the notices were sent prematurely
>as there is a time difference of 30 hours involved ?
>
>This time window accounting problem
>would be extremely serious for Amnesty day
>when one has only one day I understood.
>I would implore you to make the time window larger
>to allow for persons not living in USA to send in
>before closing hour.
>
>Sorry for being a befuddled procrastinator.
>
>According to http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
>North Dakota has 4:55 Am 09/21/2004
>while Middle Europe has 11:55 AM 09/21/2004
>six hours later. Thus I could send votes until 18:00 PM
>European time to be in time for 12:00 in Central USA.
>
>> Voting Season begins Thursday at 12:01am Central US time
>> and ends on October 30th, 11:59pm Central US time.
>
>Has North Dakota the Central US time ?
>Or can you please give the name of an US-state
>which has the Central US time ?
>
>Many thanks for your great efforts with this project
>Elanor
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>


--
Marigold's Red Book
http://marigoldsredbook.crickhollow.net/

Marigold's Recommendations Page
http://www.geocities.com/marigoldsrecommendations/

Marigold's Live Journal
http://www.livejournal.com/users/marigoldg/

Tales of The Red Book
http://www.livejournal.com/users/talesofredbook/

There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for awhile. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Sam, in Mordor, RoTK

Msg# 2070

Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc. Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 19:25:21 Topic ID# 2062
I think Amnesty Day will be a go, if you all promise not to use it as an
excuse to procrastinate. (I lost at least one award this year in the
Alt.StarTrek.Creative Awards, because one of my fans thought she had one
more day to post her votes....)

Don't let that happen to your favorite authors.

Now two Europeans have voiced concerns about Amnesty Day and the lengths of
voting periods.

While I do encourage discussion of policies, I don't make many changes,
unless there is a dire need, while the Awards calendar is running. In ASC
we have an Awards Post-Mortem where we discuss what worked, what didn't, and
how we can improve for next year. As I've borrowed heavily from ASC to make
the MEFA's, I'll be borrowing the idea of Post-Mortem as well.

For now, I want to ensure you that I do have sympathy for those in Europe.
In fact, I have quite an affinity (which I probably misspelled). I lived in
the Czech Republic for a year and fell in love with the country. I was able
to go back last year and because of the 7 hour time difference and the
unfortunate timing of a concert, I was unable to get tickets to the showing
of the trilogy here in Missouri. Sigh.

However, I want you also to see the other side of the coin. The MEFAs need
to be workable for the voter/readers, but also for the administration. I
have a hard enough tiem getting the necessary number of vote counters. To
get two dozen people to agree to be available for this for the entire 1 1/2
months would be asking too much. I can't get two dozen people to start with.
As it stands, most of us counters have 6 categories (breaking the 16
categories into their Story and Author parts) to watch for. We can take a
break when it's not our category. That's a good thing. So not having all
categories open the entire time is beneficial. Your votes will be counted,
and we can make the announcement of the winners, I predict, on time on the
15th of November. And we can be assured of the accuracy of the votes,
because three people count each category. If the numbers of voters were
thinner (and I could still use at least one more), we'd have a hard time
doing that. I almost had to cut us down to 2 per category as it was.

And now to time differences....All times in these awards have been based on
Central US time. And yes we have Daylight Savings Time here (spring forward,
fall back), but then, I think most places do nowadays. But look at this on
both ends: if Amnesty Day is only 24 hours, it's 24 hours in the US, 24
hours in Europe, 24 hours in Australia.... Given, people sleep on an average
of 8 hours per every 24. Well, we all still have 16 hours. Some will take
their sleep in the middle of the Central US Time-d 24 hours, others will
split it on either end (as we will here in the Central US).

There were polls early on (before Nomination Season opened) about the
lengths of some of the seasons, and in ASC these same debates come up.
Voting time was too short. Voting time was too long and bored people. Not
enough time per category, too much time, etc. There's really not a good way
to make everyone happy. But there was a vote, and it was decided that 1 1/2
months would be the allotted amount of time for Voting Season. When I sat
down with paper calendar and a pencil (so I could erase and start over) and
tried to work out how to fit 16 (putting Author and Story together)
categories in 6 weeks with the same number of days per category, 10 days was
the only way to work it. And that's with the 5-day stagger. (ASC has only 6
main categories and gives each group of 2 two weeks to run, with a one week
stagger.) And yet, it leaves me just one extra day. October 31st would be
the 11th day for LOTR and The Hobbit, so I came up with the idea of the
Amnesty Day. Amnesty Day wouldn't be an "addition" to Voting Season, but the
last day of the already established Voting Season.

To make it 48 hours will alter the schedule, and thus when the winners are
announced, especially when you account for the fact that all those Amnesty
votes will have to be counted, and I haven't even begun to figure out how
that will happen. Do I ask for three more volunteers to count every vote?
Do I ask the already assigned vote counters to come back on duty to count
the votes in their assigned categories? And, once all that is done being
counted, all the counters have to get their counts back to me, we have to
make sure all the counts match (and recount them if they don't) and produce
a list of winners in 14 days. At least with Amnesty Day only 24 hours, I
get 15 days.

So, if it's 12am here in Missouri (Chicago is also Central and often used as
a reference city for the Central US time zone, as New York is for Eastern
and LA is for Pacific), and the Czech Republic is 7 hours ahead of us..... A
24 hour Amnestday Day would begin at 7am in the Czech Republic and run to
7am on November 1st. One might see that that is more convenient 'awake
time' for the Czech Republic than it is for Chicago, where the Amnesty Day
starts in the middle of the night and ends in the middle of the next night.

Regardless of all that, we can discuss changing things (and put it to a
vote, if need be) for next year. This year, Amnesty Day will be one day, 24
hours, the last day of the already allotted 1 1/2 months of Voting Season.

That said, I'm going to fill you in on a little trick (for those of you
using an e-mail program--I doubt this will work with webmail or within the
YahooGroup site): You can set a delay on your e-mail. I presently have
every single official ballot for every category sitting in my Outbox. I
don't have to post them. They will go out on their proper day, so long as I
haven't made a mistake in setting that day (as I had with Hobbits and
wondered why it didn't post right when Orcs did--found I'd set it to the
24th instead of the 21st). In Outlook, for example, you click Options on
the toolbar (of the message) and set the 'Do not deliver before' settings.

So, for example, I could potentially read that last one or two Elves stories
that I want to read after the Elves category is closed, and, knowing I will
be busy or not around on October 31st (since that day is Halloween and there
will be dressing in costumes and children Trick-or-Treating....), I could go
ahead and write up the vote and set it to 'not deliver before' 12am October
31st and then simply not worry about it, except to maybe check and make sure
it went as planned.

Check the settings on your e-mail program to see if this is workable for
you.

So, in the end, we must balance the voting side with the admin side.
Amnesty Day will happen, and--at least this year--it will be just 24 hours
between 12:01am on the 31st and 12:01am on Nov. 1st. (I usually say 12:01
am just so no one will be confused between midnight and noon or midnight on
which day....).

In the Czech Republic, that will be 0700 31eho Rijna and 0700 Prvneho
Listopada. (Yes, that's 7am Oct. 31 and 7am Nov. 1/)

In Australia, it might be noon to noon (I don't know how many hours we are
different but I can find out!) but that's still time to vote before you go
to bed, and more time to vote when you wake up. Still 24 hours for
everyone. (Would you all like me to put up a Database where we can load the
equivalents of 12:00am Central with all the places members are from? I think
I will. Feel free to go and add your country/time zone.)

(And don't worry about Yahoo lags. We've had some delayed posts here and in
the MEFAStaff group, but the timestamp on all of them still showed the time
they were sent, not the time they arrived. So if your stamp says 12:02 am
Oct. 31st (It shows in the reader's time zone, thus I'll see when it is sent
in Cental US) but doesn't show up on the YahooGroup until 1:24am on Nov.
1st, it will still be counted because the timestamp will show it was sent on
time.)

And finally, just remember there will be a post-mortem and we can change
things if necessary for the 2005 MEFAs. :-)

Now, who wants to help count votes for Amnesty Day?

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2071

New Database Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 19:36:11 Topic ID# 2071
There is now a called "12am
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/database?method=reportRows&tbl=9>
Central US is what where?" in the Databases section at the MEFAwards Yahoo
site. I entered the US time zones (but didn't know a representative city for
Mountain and someone in one of those places that doesn't participate in
Daylight Savings Time could enter one of those) and the Czech Republic.

Feel free to enter your country/city (even if the time zone has already been
posted, it might be helpful to others to list a city that hasn't).

It will also be cool just to see where everyone is from!

There are no names on the database, so your privacy is assured. No one
needs to know it was you who put in the info for Zimbabwe.

(Nothing against Zimbabwe, I just like the way it sounds and it's fairly
distant from where I am and so would be a terribly expensive call--thus my
sister and I would joke about "calling Zimbabwe" if we don't lock our cell
phone keys, meaning we could potentially run up a very high bill by
accidentally dialing a foreign number.)


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2072

Re: Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc. Posted by Larian Elensar September 21, 2004 - 21:31:09 Topic ID# 2062
I can count mine.


--- Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Now, who wants to help count votes for Amnesty Day?
>
> --Ainaechoiriel
> MEFA Admin and Founder


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2073

Re: Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc. Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 21:40:31 Topic ID# 2062
Thanks!

-----Original Message-----
From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 9:31 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc.

I can count mine.


--- Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Now, who wants to help count votes for Amnesty Day?
>
> --Ainaechoiriel
> MEFA Admin and Founder


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com Archive addy
archive@ofelvesandmen.com


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Msg# 2074

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 21, 2004 - 22:03:24 Topic ID# 2057
Me again! Shorter category so a much shorter ballot. The counters should be
pleased. ;) Stories are first and then the author section.

------------------------------------

Orcs
Official Voting Ballot

------------------------------------

STORIES

------------------------------------

>>O2: Hunger by Nath

I think Iým now deeply disturbed. This was an excellent story, and part of
what made it so excellent is just how much it disturbed me. The complete and
callous disregard for life on the part of the Orcs and their need to satisfy
their hunger at any cost (well, except maybe the cost of their own skin) is
sickening. I can easily see this scene taking place within a group of Orcs,
and that doesnýt make for a pretty picture.


>>O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

I love this story because itýs soýdifferent. I donýt know how else to
describe it. The spearýs voice is wonderful. Harsh, ruthless, and strangely
poetic. The imagery of a treasure room filled with the skulls of dwarves is
conveyed very vividly, and the harsh comments of the orc-chieftain to his
spear on the subject are chilling. I love how this is interwoven with the
books and how the mithril coat foils the spear. The thoughts of chewing and
clawing its way through the metal are gorgeous, and I actually felt a pang
of fear when it mentioned the poison on its tip. One scratch is all it would
take, and we were left with no room for doubt on that count. Very visual and
very unique perspective for a story.


>>O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Orc speak at its best. Or worst. I donýt really know what to call it, but
the writing is superb. This is clearly an Orc and he is clearly reveling in
the fact that heýs got an alleged sixth finger trophy. The story doesnýt shy
away from the true nature of the Orcs, and as readers, we are treated to a
full retelling of a battle from an Orcýs perspective. The opening paragraph
starts us off with no apologies and no remorse by comparing the ease of the
Orc victory to a blade slicing through a babyýs neck. Tone and mood firmly
established, the fic takes off on a horrific narrative that describes the
deeds and actions of Orcs as well as their motivations better than anything
I can think of. The notes of characterization (such as the fact that the
Orc-chieftain is apparently blind on one side and has a lackey that can
approach from that angle) are splendid and very much in keeping with the
tone of the fic. A very disturbing and very vivid look at the world of the
Orcs. By the end, I was completely intimidated.


>>O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

Very powerful little piece that completely took me by surprise. I was not
expecting the emotional depth that I got while reading it, and I was
certainly not expecting it from Lurtz, of all people. Even more amazing was
that it was believable on his part. Boromir I could envision making these
last moment thoughts, but Lurtz was something else. Yet I found myself
nodding and accepting that this might go through his mind, which shows very
skillful storytelling on the part of the author. The ending line gave me
goosebumps and quick thrill, which I loved after the lull in the battle.
Back to the action weýre sent, and the story ends on that note. Great job!


>>O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

Wonderfully chilling account of what happens when a bad orc goes good. Well,
thereýs really not that much of a difference that I can see. He still uses
the same methods to pursue his goals. He still views elves as less than orcs
and he still seems to take pleasure in their pain. In fact, if anything I
would say that an orc with a literary interest is even more dangerous,
especially given what heýs done with his literary interest. It hasnýt opened
his mind to the possibilities offered by elven culture. Instead, he has done
essentially what Morgoth did when creating the Orcs: he has taken something
and ruined it to suit his own purposes. And heýs done it well. The poem he
writes at the end is wonderfully chilly and eerie. I had shivers. Amazing
story.

------------------------

AUTHORS

------------------------

>>OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

I canýt even begin to describe what Igenlode has done with this fic. First
of all, the Orc is clearly an Orc. No lofty elvish descriptions or wry
dwarven humor. This is an Orc, first and foremost, and the Orc is going to
tell this story the way that Orcs tell stories. It takes a very talented
author to write a style and a narrative this tightly. I couldnýt see any
spot in the story that strayed from the Orcýs perspective at all. The
imagery was frightening, the word choice brilliant, and the ending had me
quickly nodding in agreement with the Orc-chieftain. Great story.


>>OA4: Nath

Nath managed to nail down the idea that Orcs donýt really care for anyone
except themselves. No ties, no remorse, no regret, just hunger and anger and
rage. A very unnerving look at a very foreign perspective on life.

----------------------------

Whoo. That was easy. Now to tackle the much longer Hobbit ballot...

Thundera

Msg# 2075

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 21, 2004 - 23:04:27 Topic ID# 2059
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Wednesday September 22, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2076

Men and Elves Voting, 9/22/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 21, 2004 - 23:04:27 Topic ID# 2058
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Wednesday September 22, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2077

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 21, 2004 - 23:17:36 Topic ID# 2060
Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot




Drabble

HobD1: A New Season by Alexcat

Yes. A new season. Now Sam can be at rest. And he can be whole and find
himself...or a new himself.



Drabble

HobD7: What Do we Get? by Alexcat

I am always amazed when so few words can convey such strong meaning and emotion
and images. You captured Smeagol and Deagol perfectly.


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2078

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 21, 2004 - 23:20:04 Topic ID# 2057
Orcs

Official Voting Ballot


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

Oooh, this was wonderfully tense and nerve wracking. I wanted to cheer by the
end, of course. "...with blade drawn and crowned in fire, sudden and in fury
came the King." Very well done!





=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2079

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 21, 2004 - 23:33:00 Topic ID# 2021
-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Elves--Official Voting Ballot

Elves

Official Voting Ballot



>EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
Treehugger

What a nice combination for such a reader as me! The promise of much angst
from Katharine the Great and much merth from TreeHugger! I do so enjoy the
Tricksy Trio, canon or fanon or not. And I've already admitted to a penchant
for torture fic, so this really is a fun combo! But I do hope they hurry up
and finish this story! I want to know what happens next!


>E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

This made me wish I'd seen Troy already. I haven't, and I never did read the
Iliad either. The notes helped. It was a little difficult to follow,
therefore, but then so was Maglor, I suppose. It was beautifully written,
poetically.


>ES11: Speak, Friend, and Enter by Thevina Finduilas

I probably lost some of the nuances of this story, but I still thought I was
beautiful. I liked how the two story lines paralleled each other but
different in small but in portant ways. And even the same story line
paralleled itself, Legolas in Erebor, Gimli in Eryn Lasgalen.


>E1: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Coriel

Thank you, Coriel, for this fine and logical defense of Thranduil, based on
quotable remarks from canon and logical reasoning from those. I admit,
fanon made me want to read The Hobbit to see what was up with that
Evil!Thranduil. And I didn't find him there. I found a good ElvenKing.

>E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

Wow. Do I say that about all Zimraphel's stories? I probably do, but each
time it's sincere. This was justwow. I only got who the first ferryman was
when he described himself to Maeglin, and it was so fitting of him, after
millenia, of course. Feanor is the Elf I least like, with all of his sons
tying for second, but the Feanor here is one made calmer, serene even, by
his long pennance at the oars. Perhaps he was ready finally to enter Mandos
halls. And Maeglin, he's just beginning. She weaves earthly myths with that
of Tolkien in this story, but does beautifully so, and helped me come to
terms with Feanor.



>E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

Well, I'm not happy at all that Legolas had to die for this knowledge to be
gained. But this line was just precious: "The Elfs hair color could not be
determined, as it appeared to change in various lights, ranging from dark
brown to platinum blonde. Under ultra-violet light, it appeared green."


>E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

This was a touching story, told in first person, which is so fascinating
when done well. I kept trying to guess the narrator, but, in the end, my
memory of the Silm failed me. I suppose it doesn't matter just who he is.
He is, and he keeps watching.


>E14: Notes From the Field by bryn_bnw

Oh, heavens! "The Elves were timed to remain unmoving for as long as 4
hours. Their stares were noted to be particularly unnerving. Researchers
have yet to conclude why this is so." And even the shout-outs were funny! I
loved the quoted field notes, especially about so and so not thinking the
sleeping bag for band-aids was a fair trade. This is hilarious and it took
a sick genius to think it up. I wonder though, why the researchers never
thought to think that these creatures might be sentient. Of course, it
might not have been as funny if it was anthropological research instead of
biological.




AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):

>EA1: bryn_bnw

Bryn_bnw, you're a sick, sick person. But then again, I am always advising
fanfiction writers to not be afraid to be evil, aren't I? You do a
wonderful job of being evil and your humorous stories are twisted little
treats. Thanks!


>EA5: Coriel

Coriel took a sore subject and faced it with logic and calm. No name
calling, no holier-than-thou stances, but evidence and fact, and reasonable
assumptions stemming from same. A fine defender of Thranduil.

>EA7: Earmire

I don't think I've ready any other stories by Eamire but the one, but I can
say the one was beautifully and poetically written, and from the notes I
could see the author put a lot of thought, knowledge, and research into the
writing, showing much care for the craft.


>EA9: Ithilwen

I don't read a lot of Silmarillion fanfic, but I'm glad to have read one or
two of Ithilien's. I really get the sense that she knows the Silmarillion,
that she understands those times and eras better than I know the time of the
Ring War.

EA12: Katharine the Great & Treehugger

I like each of these authors separately and it's great fun seeing the result
of them working together! No one does little Legolas like Treehugger and
her original characters are just as great! Brethil and Tavor are each so
different and distinct and Tanglinna is quite amusing as the stern
straight-man. And then there's Katharine's penchant for angst. I hope to
see more from this pair. Soon. They have a story to finish!


>EA27: Zimraphel

What can I say about Zimraphel that I won't repeat each and every place
she's up for an author award? She's the standout author of the year for me.
And she's not tied down to just one genre, just one time, just one race.
Here she does Elves and accomplished what no one else has managed in me
since I read the Silm: She brought closure to Feanor. Left him where I
don't have to hate him anymore.


This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2080

Men and Elves Voting, 9/23/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 22, 2004 - 0:03:59 Topic ID# 2080
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Thursday September 23, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2081

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/23/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 22, 2004 - 0:04:00 Topic ID# 2081
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Thursday September 23, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
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Msg# 2082

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 22, 2004 - 0:54:12 Topic ID# 2021
Elves Ballot Part 2


Post-WOTR

E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great

Oh! I'm so glad I looked at this one. What a wonderful remembrance for
Legolas to receive. And such a touching story. Lovely.

=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2083

AW: [MEFAwards] Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc. Posted by elanor of aquitania September 22, 2004 - 3:28:18 Topic ID# 2083
Hi Ainaechoiriel,

thank you for Amnesty day !

> Now two Europeans have voiced concerns about Amnesty Day and
> the lengths of voting periods.
>
> While I do encourage discussion of policies, I don't make
> many changes,

<snip>

> However, I want you also to see the other side of the coin.
> The MEFAs need
> to be workable for the voter/readers, but also for the
> administration. I
> have a hard enough tiem getting the necessary number of vote
> counters.

Thank you also for your expansive explanation.
All I wrote about lengthening categories I meant to go for next year.
Though the Amnesty period was meant for this year ;-)
But I understand your problems now better.

> So, if it's 12am here in Missouri (Chicago is also Central

Thank you for mentioning the state Missouri.

> That said, I'm going to fill you in on a little trick (for
> those of you using an e-mail program-

<snip>

> Check the settings on your e-mail program to see if this is
> workable for you.

Thank you for this tip, it is workable for me.

<snip>

> Feel free to go and add your country/time zone.)

Will do.

>
> (And don't worry about Yahoo lags. We've had some delayed
> posts here and in
> the MEFAStaff group, but the timestamp on all of them still
> showed the time
> they were sent, not the time they arrived. So if your stamp
> says 12:02 am
> Oct. 31st (It shows in the reader's time zone, thus I'll see
> when it is sent
> in Cental US) but doesn't show up on the YahooGroup until
> 1:24am on Nov.
> 1st, it will still be counted because the timestamp will show
> it was sent on time.)

Thank you for this information.

> Now, who wants to help count votes for Amnesty Day?

Count me in at Amnesty Day.
For now I'm too much in struggle to read stories and write votes
when real life allows it.

Many thanks again for all your efforts you invest in this project
Elanor

Msg# 2084

Elf ballot; my votes Posted by jilba25au September 22, 2004 - 6:08:34 Topic ID# 2084
Below are my votes for this section,'

Jillian



E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elen

Rating: R Non-graphic Sexual situation


Galadriel's thoughts of her husband are so sweet. I really like that
she thinks he is so very special, which of course he is! Celeborn is
an underrated character, and this little fic shows him as the strong
elven leader and good husband he was



Romance

ER2: Handful of Grey Ashes, Handful of Silver Tears by Losseniaiel

How hard for them both, but Amarie as a grown woman at least knows
what's happening, and little boy Finrod is clearly both just a cute
little boy, and yet as clearly confused by thoughts and feelings too
adult for him and the poor little guy is also struggling with
memories. Very sweet.



Romance

ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

This has to be one of my all time favourite stories. How poor Feanor
has Really Paid for his mistakes big time! Brave Janet is a
wonderful OFC, so young and romantic, yet so very strong and
determined when she has to be, even to understanding that Feanor,
her Fairy, when changed by Ungoliant into other forms would not hurt
her. This is a changed and bitter Feanor, (not that I blame him) who
wants to make good his mistake to Janet, and at the end of tale when
Ungoliant leaves him to her, he gets his chance. It's wonderful
because you feel so much sympathy for one of two elves (Feanor and
Maeglin) that could probably be called truly evil. I still think the
line where Janet wishes she had a giant can of raid the funniest,
grimmest, most frightening lines written in Tolkien fanfic I've
read.

The Silmarillion

ES1: Brothers by Tinni

What a sweet little guy is Finarfin! He can even break through
Feanor's dislike to prove that all little brothers aren't so bad.
Strangely, although we read much about the Feanor/Fingolfin conflict
in The Silm, we read nothing of any conflict between Feanor and his
youngest brother. Maybe Tinni's hit the nail on the head, and
Finwe's eldest and youngest boys got on Ok?

The Silmarillion

ES7: Hide and Seek by Ithilwen

We start out with two little boys run away from home to find their
mother, and the strange and dangerous adventures they have until
they're rescued, then when they are safe home we see the family in
crisis. The father, Feanor, who can't comprehend, or maybe
understands all to well the longing for an absent mother, and who in
a very unelvish display of his growing oddness puts a lock on the
twin's bedroom door. We see the eldest boys, Maedhros and Maglor,
still almost children themselves trying to rear their younger
brothers with varying degrees of success. The hatred of the middle
sons, who feel abandoned by their mother, is contrasted by the
understanding of the older boys who realise something awful has
happened between their parents, and the final, simple joy of the
twins to be with their mother. The tragic figure in this story of a
family gone haywire is Nerdanel who simply can't explain even,
truly, to herself what went wrong, and who has to hide the ultimate
shame of her husband's behaviour and the knowledge her mother was
right: she should never have married Feanor. A heart-breaking story
that drags you in and keeps you hooked from beginning to end.



The Silmarillion

ES13: The Tale of Twin Stars by Cirdan

A rather different then usual tale of Elrond and Elros that shows
how they made their choices. Elrond as the elder brother tries to
sacrifice himself only to see Elros choice mortality as he knows
Elrond doesn't really want to be mortal he's just trying to be a
good older brother. I wonder, did they ever regret their choice?



E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel

This story chilled me I first read it, and it still does now.
Maeglin takes over from Feanor as The Ferryman and has to transport
those that he betrayed to their deaths. A very appropriate
punishment for the greatest betrayer of them all, to ferry the dead
for all time.



E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

This is a wonderful story, to think that Finrod still looks back
down on his beloved Atani and their achievements. It brings a whole
new perspective to the moon landings, but I hope Finrod hasn't been
watching all the terrorism and acts of violence lately, that would
make him cry too, but not in a good way.



E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen

Maeglin's actions in the Fall of Gondolin; how utterly unforgivable
his is yet the author manages to evoke a kind of sympathy for this
elf who betrays everyone he knows to Morgoth, even the woman he
agreed to betray for. Idril, Earandil and Tuor are written as brave
strong good people, and do believe that Maeglin enjoyed his death at
the end. He should have gone to Mandos, but maybe he thought he
didn't deserve to go there, and that by wandering houseless he could
atone somehow.



C:\Documents and Settings\G D\My Documents\My Pictures\2004-09-22
\Scan10114.JPG

Msg# 2085

Re: Amnesty Day, Voting Season length, etc. Posted by Naresha September 22, 2004 - 9:55:00 Topic ID# 2062
Okay... Resident Aussie speaking up here!
Australia is GMT+10 (greenwich mean time) and
Central is GMT-6.

Naresha

------
In Australia, it might be noon to noon (I don't
know how many hours we are
different but I can find out!) but that's still
time to vote before you go
to bed, and more time to vote when you wake up.
Still 24 hours for
everyone.

=====
~To forgive calls upon our love, to forget calls upon our strength~

AIM: Naresha21 MSN: candyman_gypsy@hotmail.com
ICQ: 142117881 Yahoo: fruitcake5m1
Personal LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/nareshaninya/
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My Website! Slash Me Happy
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Msg# 2086

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by chathollinn September 22, 2004 - 11:23:38 Topic ID# 2022
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...>
wrote:
>
> Men
>
> Official Voting Ballot
>
> Gondor
>
> MeG14: Leaves on the Wind by Nancy Brooke
>
>> Great title for a series of letters. They sound realistic –
except I think when Faramir said "Brother I have Failed you"
it was out of character. Sure Faramir is a sensitive guy, but I just
didn't see why he would think himself a failure, given the
circumstances and given he was writing to Boromir. Now if he had
been talking to Denethor, that would be different. Anyway, the five
letters do a good job of disclosing the slowly worsening military
situation. The reader feels for Faramir, whose guesses about the
future are somber
and chilling. I liked it.

> Gondor
>
> MeG22: The King is Dead by Altariel
>
> > A good bit of story telling here. The writer knows her craft. No
extra words. She uses the dialog to good effect. Since it is writing
and not actual conversation, the dialog can't have the verbosity
of natural conversation yet the characters sound as if they are
talking. Also, the dialog reveals the personalities' views on
winning, and does it skillfully.
>
>
>>> Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

The folksy story-telling tone hooked me and kept me reading this
story. It's a look at the Fellowship as they pass through. I did
think it was a little too talky. Dialog exchanges such as "Right
then" "Right when" "Right now" can be pared
back to good effect, but that is intended as a lightweight
criticism. The writer did a good job of showing the relationships of
the Fellowship and of telling us information we did not know about
the culture of Gondor. Enjoyable. Oh, and I figured out where the
sword move came from before the writer told us, which is always fun!


> Me7: The Believer by Cori Lannam

The reader is as mesmerized as Aragorn at Bormoir's recital. You
don't expect him to keep going, and he does. Each mishap piles
on the one before. Boromir is convinced, Aragorn is convinced, and I
was convinced. Humorous. No – practically Monty Pythonesque.

Best regards - Chathol-linn, who hopes she did this right.
>

Msg# 2087

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 22, 2004 - 13:18:12 Topic ID# 2022
A correction. Apologies, I pasted "Keepers of the Hearth" comments
into "Hearth Companions"'s comment field. Whoever is categorizing,
I'm sorry!

> Gondor
>
> MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Alawa's OFC working the field, carting bodies to the pyres does a
lovely job of juxtaposing her previous journeys delivering goods in
her cart with the grim duty of porting the dead to the funeral fires.
Sympathetic and bittersweet look at the aftermath of the fields, and
even if Halbarad STILL DOESN'T GET MENTIONED BY NAME, we know who it
is that Aragorn watches for at the pyre.

Msg# 2088

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 22, 2004 - 14:16:51 Topic ID# 2022
Okay, so this goes into the Men Ballot under Hearth Companions, replacing the
comment that was there originally, right? (And that one will show up on the
Rohan Ballot then?)

(Sorry, just want to make sure I do it right :)



--- dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com> wrote:

> A correction. Apologies, I pasted "Keepers of the Hearth" comments
> into "Hearth Companions"'s comment field. Whoever is categorizing,
> I'm sorry!
>
> > Gondor
> >
> > MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa
>
> Alawa's OFC working the field, carting bodies to the pyres does a
> lovely job of juxtaposing her previous journeys delivering goods in
> her cart with the grim duty of porting the dead to the funeral fires.
> Sympathetic and bittersweet look at the aftermath of the fields, and
> even if Halbarad STILL DOESN'T GET MENTIONED BY NAME, we know who it
> is that Aragorn watches for at the pyre.
>
>


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2089

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 22, 2004 - 14:24:45 Topic ID# 2022
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Larian Elensar
<larian_elensar@y...> wrote:
> Okay, so this goes into the Men Ballot under Hearth Companions,
replacing the
> comment that was there originally, right? (And that one will show
up on the
> Rohan Ballot then?)
>

Yup. Exactly. I will change the author comment for Hearth Companions,
too, but since that wasn't a copy-paste, it may take me longer. I'll
let you know when I can think up something suitable.

> (Sorry, just want to make sure I do it right :)

No trouble. Sorry to have made you work harder!

Dwim

Msg# 2090

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 22, 2004 - 14:29:29 Topic ID# 2022
yes, that's right. She will repost the comment when Rohan comes up so it
will be counted for the right story.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Larian Elensar [mailto:larian_elensar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 2:17 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot

Okay, so this goes into the Men Ballot under Hearth Companions, replacing
the comment that was there originally, right? (And that one will show up on
the Rohan Ballot then?)

(Sorry, just want to make sure I do it right :)



--- dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com> wrote:

> A correction. Apologies, I pasted "Keepers of the Hearth" comments
> into "Hearth Companions"'s comment field. Whoever is categorizing, I'm
> sorry!
>
> > Gondor
> >
> > MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa
>
> Alawa's OFC working the field, carting bodies to the pyres does a
> lovely job of juxtaposing her previous journeys delivering goods in
> her cart with the grim duty of porting the dead to the funeral fires.
> Sympathetic and bittersweet look at the aftermath of the fields, and
> even if Halbarad STILL DOESN'T GET MENTIONED BY NAME, we know who it
> is that Aragorn watches for at the pyre.
>
>


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com Archive addy
archive@ofelvesandmen.com


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Msg# 2091

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 22, 2004 - 14:32:02 Topic ID# 2022
No biggie, glad you caught it!


--- dwimmer_laik <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com> wrote:

> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Larian Elensar
> <larian_elensar@y...> wrote:
> > Okay, so this goes into the Men Ballot under Hearth Companions,
> replacing the
> > comment that was there originally, right? (And that one will show
> up on the
> > Rohan Ballot then?)
> >
>
> Yup. Exactly. I will change the author comment for Hearth Companions,
> too, but since that wasn't a copy-paste, it may take me longer. I'll
> let you know when I can think up something suitable.
>
> > (Sorry, just want to make sure I do it right :)
>
> No trouble. Sorry to have made you work harder!
>
> Dwim
>
>
>

Msg# 2092

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 22, 2004 - 14:41:45 Topic ID# 2022
Jumping in really fast to clarify something. I'll get out of your hair soon,
I promise!

>>I will change the author comment for Hearth Companions,
>>too, but since that wasn't a copy-paste, it may take me longer. I'll
>>let you know when I can think up something suitable.

So there *will* be a change to Alawa's author comments, too, but it's not
here yet. Your current vote under Alawa is not the correct one. Right?

*scurrying away again*

Thundera

Msg# 2093

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 22, 2004 - 23:00:16 Topic ID# 2022
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Thundera Tiger" <swordofomens@h...>
wrote:
> Jumping in really fast to clarify something. I'll get out of your
hair soon,
> I promise!
>
> >>I will change the author comment for Hearth Companions,
> >>too, but since that wasn't a copy-paste, it may take me longer. I'll
> >>let you know when I can think up something suitable.
>
> So there *will* be a change to Alawa's author comments, too, but
it's not
> here yet. Your current vote under Alawa is not the correct one. Right?
>
> *scurrying away again*

Right. For the moment, the author comments are not to be counted
towards her total, so right now she has no comments from me in the
Men-(non-poetry)-author category. Hopefully, I'll come up with
something soonish...

Dwim, also scampering

Msg# 2094

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/23/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 22, 2004 - 23:10:49 Topic ID# 2081
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Thursday September 23, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2095

Men and Elves Voting, 9/23/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 22, 2004 - 23:10:52 Topic ID# 2080
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Thursday September 23, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
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Msg# 2096

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Jillian Baade September 22, 2004 - 23:36:55 Topic ID# 2057
My votes for this category are below,

Jillian

>O2: Hunger by Nath

I really enjoyed this little story, and I can't help but feel poor
Celebrimbor erased some of his 'sins' in making rings of power by his
unpleasant death, and his body being used a standard...it took this author
to think up what happened to Celebrimbor's body after the hoardes of Sauron
finished 'flying' it, and I hope all the Orcs who ate him suffered severe
indigestion!

_________________________________________________________________
Click here for the latest chart ringtones:
http://ringtones.com.au/ninemsn/control?page=/ninemsn/main.jsp

Msg# 2097

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 22, 2004 - 23:57:44 Topic ID# 2057
Voting by proxy for Anna (white.tower@gmail.com)

(Proxy voting can only be done through the Admin by prior approval. Anna
requested this during Nomination Season. She has 4 votes. I will be posting
them at the appropriate times. Anna e-mailed her votes to me 9/18/2004.)

-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Orcs--Official Voting Ballot

Orcs

Official Voting Ballot


O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

A very well-written vignette that manages to create convincing atmosphere
and horror in a short number of words. The language is evocative and
concise, accurately creating a picture of the situation and the character;
the scene is also one that I can easily imagine occurring in the canon. The
details of the Orcish mindset were credible and interesting and I felt the
character's predicament was very well crafted. The last line certainly
succeeds at sending a shiver down the reader's spine!

This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2098

Men and Elves Voting, 9/24/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 0:16:24 Topic ID# 2098
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Friday September 24, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2099

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/24/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 0:16:24 Topic ID# 2099
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Friday September 24, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2100

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by aelfwina September 23, 2004 - 5:35:09 Topic ID# 2060
----- Original Message -----
From: Ainaechoiriel
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:06 AM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot






Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

HobD3: Mother Gamgee by Marigold

A very nice tribute to a much neglected minor canon character, I enjoyed contemplating the idea that Sam's mother must have had such an influence on Frodo.



Drabble

HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold

Sweet and melancholy,considering the different ways of mourning.


Poetry

HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos

Very nice telling of the story of Pippin's life, weaving all the events together from the universe of Baylor, and capturing the essence of them. I especially liked the imagery of Pippin as a bird, the theme repeated throughout.


Post-WOTR

Hob4-2: A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea

This is one of my favorite stories by this author. She has one of the best takes on Frodo's leaving I have seen, and her depiction of his suffering from congestive heart failure is very accurate. In addition, she came up with a very believable Fredegar Bolger as the secondary character in the story. I really liked her unique use of Saruman as "Sharkey", and the effect he had had on those hobbits he tormented. The way in which his evil machinations are overcome is clever.


Post-WOTR

Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

A masterful story, the angst felt by Merry especially, is palpable. I loved the imagery of the clock, and of how time was perceived. But the best part was Sam's explanation of what had truly happened at Sammath Naur. This use of a theme found in JRRT's Letters was beautiful.




AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

HobDA1: Alexcat

A New Season, What Do We Get?



Drabble

HobDA2: Marigold

Mother Gamgee, Resting Places, Then and Now



Drabble

HobDA3: Marta

Can't Take His Medicine, Small Hands



Poetry

HobPA1: Lindelea

Shire Songbook, Too Young



Poetry

HobPA2: Llinos

The Lay of Peregrin Took



Poetry

HobPA3: Marta

Mad Baggins



Poetry

HobPA4: Pervinca

Furry Little Thief



Poetry

HobPA5: Tanaqui, co-written with Marta

Old Will Whitfoot



Poetry

HobPA6: White Gull

Autumn's Gift



HobA1: Aelfgifu

Ring around the Merry



HobA2: Anglachel

Legacy, On Merry Yule, Unfair



HobA3: Aratlithiel

Reckoning



HobA4: Ariel

Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex



HobA5: Ariel & Aralithiel

Autumn's Requiem, Linden and Laurel



HobA6: Budgielover

Riding the Nightmare



HobA7: Chris

Weight of Stone



HobA8: Citrine

Through Shadow, A Path With No Returning



HobA9: Dana

Shining Through



HobA10: Dreamflower

The Conspiracy of Hobbits



HobA11: eretria cowritten with Murron

The Cooking Conspiracy



HobA12: Grey Wonderer

Messing About in Boats



HobA13: Jeodo Brandybuck

River Stones



HobA14: Jodancingtree

Beyond the Havens, Drunkard of Bag End, The Shaping of Samwise, Sam's Rose



HobA15: katakanadian

What Dreams May Come



HobA16: Lindelea

A Small and Passing Thing; At the End of His Rope; Firestorm; Flames; Going,
Going, Gone



HobA17: Lindelea and Jodancingtree

Runaway



HobA18: Llinos

A Partnership in Villainy, Big Enough to be Thain



HobA19: Nessime

The Farmer's Wife



HobA20: Pearl Took

A Mother's Day



HobA21: Pervinca

Because it's my Birthday



HobA22: Pippinfan1988

Gandalf and the Seahobbit, Irrepresible Pippin



HobA23: ShireDweller

A Crate of Lemons, Garden Plot



HobA24: Shireling

Sam's Garden



HobA25: Silvermoon Lady

Bedside Chatter, Moonlight on Summer Leaves, Recollections



HobA26: Snowballjane

Fair Folk At The Free Fair



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





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Msg# 2101

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 23, 2004 - 10:34:45 Topic ID# 2021
--- Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Elves
>
> Official Voting Ballot

Author Votes

Vignette
EVA5: Thundera Tiger

Thundera pointed out a new point of view on the Fellowship, at least to me.
It's hard to find new perspectives in this fandom, and this was well done.


EA8: Eresse
Eresse's stories never fail to remain consistent in characterization of the
twins and Legolas, and the elves around them. Too often, a writer seems to
continue with a story arc because they don't know how to end it, or don't want
to. Eresse doesn't do that. You know there is a point to each story in her
arc, and most of them (like these) are able to stand alone. That's a difficult
thing to do, in my opinion. She's true to her characters and gives them enough
room to grow, but they don't change too much, or too quickly just to fit the
story at the time.



EA10: Jilian Baade
Each story that I read by Jillian had such a nice surprise or something new for
me to think about. Her story, Too Late, will forever be tied to Finarfin in my
mind.


EA14: Larien Elengasse
Because I know Larien's other work in addition to these two pieces, I can
safely say that Thranduil has a die hard supporter, and not only does she say
that quite often, but she shows it by writing such wonderful stories about him.


EA16: Levade
Glorfindel was one of my favorites from the book and I love Levade's vignettes
about him.


EA18: Marnie
I don't know what else to say about Marnie, really. I love her writing, and her
fierce love of Celeborn. I know I'll never be disappointed with one of her
stories, and I eagerly devour them over and over. I can't help but think that
the Professor himself would be very happy with her characterization of Celeborn
and the other Sindar elves in his life. And she not only shows his good side,
but his weaknesses. She doesn't make Celeborn a hero by bashing Galadriel or
other Noldor. I think she's showing them all very honestly, good and bad, and
it seems so real. I always feel like she's telling me a history of Celeborn and
his people, only she does it in an entertaining format.



=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2102

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 23, 2004 - 12:58:22 Topic ID# 2022
Men Ballot - Authors

AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Poetry

MPA6: RennWench and Alstaria
I love the tempo and drive that Rennwench and Alstaria used with their piece.
Of course, I've read other stories by Rennwench and I love the rhythm she
employs in all of her pieces. They aren't all poems, but they do have a poetic
quality that's refreshing.



MA2: Alexcat
Alexcat writes with an economy of words but still manages to get her point
across without seeming vague or rushed. I like her writing style.








=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2103

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 23, 2004 - 12:59:27 Topic ID# 2060
Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot


AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Drabble

HobDA1: Alexcat
I've always liked Alexcat's concise way of writing. She still manages to
convey a lot of emotion and action in those few words though.





=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2104

RE- - Men official voting ballot Posted by sos8n September 23, 2004 - 16:41:49 Topic ID# 2104
Incomplete

MeI3: Orcbrat by The Lauderdale

a great story, with some well characterised orcs (an all too rare
thing in fan fiction). Dark and sometimes disturbing, it had me on
the edge of my seat.
Some funny moments too like the tale of Demaerion half ways and
Grymawk's fear of climbing. Really good orc banter just as Tolkien
would have wrote it, it he could have got it published. Maevyn's very
convincing although she thinks very clearly for a nine year old ...
but then i can't remember how i thought when i was nine. I think i'm
growing to like her.

looking forward to the next chapter!

Msg# 2105

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by arielphf September 23, 2004 - 16:48:22 Topic ID# 2060
Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot




Poetry

HobP1: Autumn's Gift by White Gull

URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/WhiteGull.html

Rating: R Sexual pairing

Romance Partners: Frodo/Rose

Summary: Could *you* share the same house with post-quest Frodo
Baggins and
not feel this way?

*I love the way White Gull handles her poetry – so powerful in a very
hobbity sing-song way. This one is, I think, her best and conveys a
feeling of loss and love that can't help but catch you right in the
throat.




HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1637800/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Written for Baylor's story Fate and the King's High Falcon.
It is
the song that Legolas makes for Pippin after his recovery in Ithilien
and is
based on Baylor's story.

*I like this song very much. It reads like something Tolkien himself
would have written and fits perfectly into this tale. I know Llinos
was very proud of this piece and she has every right to be.


Hob4-1: A Crate of Lemons by ShireDweller

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1247016/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The morning after 'Garden Plot' is full of surprises, when a
special delivery from Gondor arrives at Bag End.

*This was a very cute observance and the characters were very much
their charming selves. A delightful little side trip into
possibility.


Hob4-5: Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2383

Rating: PG-13 adult themes, alcohol abuse

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The malevolent voice still lingered in his mind, over a year
after
the Ring went into the Fire, till Frodo felt he must be driven mad by
it.
Could he buy a few hours of peace, with a bottle of brandy?

*A very good idea in a nicely written tale.


Hob4-7: Firestorm by Lindelea

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1322393/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: Pippin/Diamond

Summary: Peregrin Took did not automatically follow his father,
Paladin, as
Thain. This is the story of how he proved himself to the rest of the
Tooks,
earning the right to be called The Took, and Thain.

*I nice little adventure/action story that is right up my
professional alley (subjectwise). The author presents a fairly
believable premise and executes it with spare, entertaining style.
Another rip-roaring story and an easy read.


Post-WOTR

Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/Reckoning.html

Rating: PG So much angst!!!!

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Sam helps Merry and Pippin to understand why Frodo had to
cross
over the Sea.

*A breathtaking and BRILLIANT take on those Frodo loved but had to
leave behind. This story captures a point I have always held with a
clarity that few other fics have ever been able to achieve. The
characters are perfectly in character, the motivations are well
defended, the story is haunting, true and an incredible tear jerker.
In fact, this one makes me cry every single time with the sheer truth
of it. I cannot recommend any fic of this author's more highly,
though every single one is a classic and stunningly true
representation of the characters. Very definitely well worth the
read.


Post-WOTR

Hob4-14: What Dreams May Come by katakanadian

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1533920/1/

Rating: PG-13 attempted rape

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Fills in some gaps of Rose, Sam, and Frodo's lives after the
Scouring of the Shire. No slash, no profanity. Some violence.

*I have always enjoyed this fic. Some of the images are brilliant
and have stayed with me (and probably will stay with me forever).
Kata makes a wonderful case for Rosie – and her dynamics are
believable. I love these post quest stories and this is one of the
very best.

The Lord of the Rings

HobL2: Bedside Chatter by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=931

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Standing watch over the wounded at Cormallen, Eomer loses a
few
misconceptions and finds a new respect for the smallest warriors
among them.

*A lovely little study in the trials and tribulations of war, and how
perceptions can change in the face of great trials. I enjoyed this
piece a great deal.

The Lord of the Rings

HobL3: Riding the Nightmare by Budgielover

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1222

Rating: PG scary, graphic

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: On the banks of the Anduin, the surviving members of the
Fellowship
of the Ring followed their missing Ring-bearer to a terrible, tragic
ages-old secret.

*This was sort of an unusual take but an interesting idea about
Aragorn's hold on the dead. It's probably not my favorite Budgie
piece, but it is well done and executed and I must acknowledge it.




Hob6: Moonlight on Summer Leaves by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=850

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A little piece of history, long lost and now told anew, to
whisper
to the hearts of the next generation..

*I don't know if I can judge this because I beta'ed it, but it surely
is the most tender and mature take on Pippin that I have read. I
love the tenderness between father and son and the lyrical magic that
Silvermoonlady brings to the introduction of Legolas. Masterful
indeed.



Hob8: Recollections by Silvermoon Lady

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=431

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: "I didn't know my grandfather long but he so vividly marked
my
young memory that I felt I'd known him for ages."

*I ADORE this piece. It is possibly my favorite of Silvermoonlady's
works. Her grasp of human (or hobbit) relations is incredible and
she draws you in believably to this completely captivating and
heartbreaking tale. I cannot recommend her work more highly.



Hob9: Ring around the Merry by Aelfgifu

URL: http://www.geocities.com/aelfgifuemma/RATM.html

Rating: R Violence, adult situations, emotional tormant, very heavy
angst,
some slash, 1 chapter with non-con.

Romance Partners: Merry/Pippin but I would not count it as "romance"

Summary: Merry holds the Ringbearer captive at Crickhollow "for the
salvation of the Shire." with baleful results for all. Merry will be
corrupted, Pippin will be conflicted, Frodo will start to break, Sam
will
try to save him, and each of the hobbits will be challenged and
changed in
unexpected ways.

*Again, I am not sure if I should judge this one because I beta it,
but Aelfgifu has one of the most compelling styles in fandom! Typos
aside, you devour her works like candy because they are just SO
readable! If I were to pick one author of my acquaintance who I
think could go on to write professionally and do WELL, it would be
Aelfgifu. She's just such an incredibly entertaining read.

Msg# 2106

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Alex Cat September 23, 2004 - 17:53:00 Topic ID# 2022
Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:

Men

Official Voting Ballot






Poetry

MeP6: I Ride by RennWench and Alstaria



I love this oneý so much said with so little words. I like the repetitioný when read aloud it reads as more story than poem, which I like also.




Official Keeper of Yorgi's Hard Drive, Nick Maitland's Hands
and the Soldier's Hat.
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Adult_Fiction/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_northern_fences
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofelvesandmenSLASH
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alexs_story_book
http://www.journalfen.net/users/alexcat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2107

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Alex Cat September 23, 2004 - 18:45:36 Topic ID# 2021
Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
Elves

Official Voting Ballot






Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

I am a Celeborn fan and a Marnie fan and this is one of the nicest fics I have read about Celeborn and Galadriel and the coming of the Noldor to Menegroth. It explores the differences between the Noldor and the Sindarin and we see the affection between Celeborn and Galadriel throughout the story. I adore her characterization in this storyý of the other charactersý Thingolý Melianý Luthien and the rest. I look forward to the sequel!

**



Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

I love Celeborn and Galadriel fics and this one is my favorite one. It never fails to make me cry when I read it. I prefer seeing them portrayed as true lovers than any other way. Larian writes the longing and the sadness so wellý as well the lust for power. We know that without him or the promise of seeing him in the future that Galadriel would just fade away.

**


ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

The last line of this fic is my favorite-( He takes my hand, leading me away from the courtyard with a knowing and gentle smile. Where we go now matters not, as long as we go there together. ) Larienýs description of the first kiss is wonder and well done. I like first person POV and the writer does this well too.

**

Romance

ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

I love this little story with such saucy twins and sweet naughty Legolas. I loved Legolasý wide-eyed innocence about relations between males. Eresse writes the twins in a most delightful way, as if they are friends of hers as well as ours.

Arwen, tiny Arwen is a total delight. I really enjoy stories with elflings if they are well done. It would only make sense that Elrondýs little princess would grow up a tomboy. And a prankster.

I have not read all of this series but I surely intend to as every snippet I have read has been well written and fun to read.

**

The Silmarillion


ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

This story brought tears to my eyes. To see Oropher and Thranduil in such a positive light is always a good thing. This a lovely tribute from a father to his son. These particular characters are favorites of mine because Tolkien said so very little about them. I would recommend this fiction to anyone who wants a good sniffle and a sweet short story.



**

The Silmarillion

ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

This one is one of Marnieýs most interesting piecesý again laying out very plainly the differences in the Sindarin and Noldor and how even after so many centuries, Celeborn was still angry and resentful of the way the Noldor treated the Sindarin. This quote is one that to me sums up the way Marnie writes my favorite elf: ýThe day you are comfortable with mere politeness will be the day the world ends.ý These wors were spoken by Elrond and this is how Tolkien portrays Celeborn too.



**



E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

This is another excellent glimpse of Celeborn and history through his eyes. Celeborn is gentle and melancholy in his telling of his own past and the sorrows of his people. The twins are written delightfully from the first glimpse of Elladan as he comes out with his breakfast to his more timid brother. And the chestnuts! I can taste those hot roasted chestnuts!

**







Official Keeper of Yorgi's Hard Drive, Nick Maitland's Hands
and the Soldier's Hat.
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Adult_Fiction/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_northern_fences
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofelvesandmenSLASH
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alexs_story_book
http://www.journalfen.net/users/alexcat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2108

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Alex Cat September 23, 2004 - 18:45:39 Topic ID# 2021
Ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net> wrote:
Elves

Official Voting Ballot






Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

I am a Celeborn fan and a Marnie fan and this is one of the nicest fics I have read about Celeborn and Galadriel and the coming of the Noldor to Menegroth. It explores the differences between the Noldor and the Sindarin and we see the affection between Celeborn and Galadriel throughout the story. I adore her characterization in this storyý of the other charactersý Thingolý Melianý Luthien and the rest. I look forward to the sequel!

**



Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

I love Celeborn and Galadriel fics and this one is my favorite one. It never fails to make me cry when I read it. I prefer seeing them portrayed as true lovers than any other way. Larian writes the longing and the sadness so wellý as well the lust for power. We know that without him or the promise of seeing him in the future that Galadriel would just fade away.

**


ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse

The last line of this fic is my favorite-( He takes my hand, leading me away from the courtyard with a knowing and gentle smile. Where we go now matters not, as long as we go there together. ) Larienýs description of the first kiss is wonder and well done. I like first person POV and the writer does this well too.

**

Romance

ER7: With Friends Like These by Eresse

I love this little story with such saucy twins and sweet naughty Legolas. I loved Legolasý wide-eyed innocence about relations between males. Eresse writes the twins in a most delightful way, as if they are friends of hers as well as ours.

Arwen, tiny Arwen is a total delight. I really enjoy stories with elflings if they are well done. It would only make sense that Elrondýs little princess would grow up a tomboy. And a prankster.

I have not read all of this series but I surely intend to as every snippet I have read has been well written and fun to read.

**

The Silmarillion


ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

This story brought tears to my eyes. To see Oropher and Thranduil in such a positive light is always a good thing. This a lovely tribute from a father to his son. These particular characters are favorites of mine because Tolkien said so very little about them. I would recommend this fiction to anyone who wants a good sniffle and a sweet short story.



**

The Silmarillion

ES14: The Wisdom of Isildur by Marnie

This one is one of Marnieýs most interesting piecesý again laying out very plainly the differences in the Sindarin and Noldor and how even after so many centuries, Celeborn was still angry and resentful of the way the Noldor treated the Sindarin. This quote is one that to me sums up the way Marnie writes my favorite elf: ýThe day you are comfortable with mere politeness will be the day the world ends.ý These wors were spoken by Elrond and this is how Tolkien portrays Celeborn too.



**



E2: A Leaf on a Stream by Marnie

This is another excellent glimpse of Celeborn and history through his eyes. Celeborn is gentle and melancholy in his telling of his own past and the sorrows of his people. The twins are written delightfully from the first glimpse of Elladan as he comes out with his breakfast to his more timid brother. And the chestnuts! I can taste those hot roasted chestnuts!

**







Official Keeper of Yorgi's Hard Drive, Nick Maitland's Hands
and the Soldier's Hat.
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Adult_Fiction/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_northern_fences
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofelvesandmenSLASH
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alexs_story_book
http://www.journalfen.net/users/alexcat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2109

Re: OOPs Posted by Alex Cat September 23, 2004 - 18:55:11 Topic ID# 2021
Darn yahoo... sent it twice!

alex




Official Keeper of Yorgi's Hard Drive, Nick Maitland's Hands
and the Soldier's Hat.
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Adult_Fiction/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_northern_fences
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofelvesandmenSLASH
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alexs_story_book
http://www.journalfen.net/users/alexcat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2110

Elves Official Voting Ballot Posted by sulriel September 23, 2004 - 21:37:51 Topic ID# 2110
ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel
I very much enjoyed this! Lady Aranel has a wonderful gift of
wordplay and provides the reader with a fun surprise at the end.


EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie
This is one of my favorites. Marnie has a real talent of
characterization and Celeborn is especially good in this one. I love
this picture of his courtship and interaction with Galadriel's
brothers.


EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade
This is an enjoyable tale, I especially enjoy seeing Elrond and
Earendil playing Monopoly. I hope to see it finished before too long.


E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361
I always enjoy reading about my one of my favorite guys.


E4-6: War Dust by Earmire
Wonderful job in the blending of tales. Great Job. It feels
historical rather than fictional.



ER6: Unbound by Two-point
Well handled emotion and romance.


EV2 Cold Comfort Lady Aranel
Lady Aranel paints a beautiful and poignant picture of heartfelt love
and companionship in a way that we seldom see in this genre. Kudos
for so well handling an unusual situation


EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify
Fabulous use of canon wordplay.


E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel
Fabulous. Wonderful pacing and style. Characterizations are
extraordinary.



E5: Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie
Extraordinary depth of characterizations, both canon and OC. Well
plotted, with every detail thought out, but none overdone. It is
refreshing to read a novel of this length that doesn't plant red
herrings or leave loose ends.



E8: Fated Twins by Cirdan
I very much enjoyed this unique viewpoint of the attack.


E12: Lord of the House of the Golden Flower by Jilian Baade
This is well done and very enjoyable, with a heart-warming ending.


E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade
This is insightful. I like the way that the Smith connected between
Narsil and Anduril.


ES3: Coming of Age by Jilian Baade
An interesting glimpse of one of my favorite characters. I
especially like the characterizations in this fic that shows Maedhros
boarding between childhood and adulthood.

Msg# 2111

Men and Elves Voting, 9/24/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 23:13:39 Topic ID# 2098
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

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Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2112

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/24/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 23:13:40 Topic ID# 2099
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Friday September 24, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

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Msg# 2113

Men and Elves Voting, 9/25/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 23:55:10 Topic ID# 2113
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Saturday September 25, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 4 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2114

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/25/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 23, 2004 - 23:55:45 Topic ID# 2114
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Saturday September 25, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 4 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2115

AW: [MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by elanor of aquitania September 24, 2004 - 10:20:43 Topic ID# 2115
[MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot

1. part (24.09.2004)

“Gift horses” was my first review written before I knew that 1100 characters
are enough. Sorry, I have not the time to prune it.
**************************************************

Men

Official Voting Ballot

Gondor

MeG3: Chance Meetings by Tanaqui

Chance meetings is a good story gaining impact with every sentence. Yet,
style is not as good as I would wish, the words are not invoking visions but
movie scenes. That means I follow the story and see the intended pictures
but I have not the feeling of a world around me. I think this is due to the
words used, which are mostly every-day and today's words. Additionally my
usual quibble about the Numenoreans I cannot see in brothels.


MeG7: From the Other Riverbank by Dwimordene

The most powerful writer I know. Dwimordene writes so well that I followed
her through 'From the other riverbank' and was overwhelmed by her vision. It
took weeks to blot out with time this notion of Boromir’s and Denethor’s
homosexuality. And that although I really do not think that Tolkien’s
Boromir and Denethor are homosexuals. She wrote it so believable that she
managed to change my mind for some time.

Gondor

MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Woah, that was a nice surprise. I did not like “Keepers of the Hearth “
though people I highly esteem have recommended it to me. For me it was too
conventional.

But this piece truly agrees with me. I can feel the inner thinking, the
remembrances, the cart going down through the streets of Minas Tirith. And
then I’m surprised by what she is carting down. That for me is a realistic
LotR story. Well done.

“For none should lie cold and alone until time turns them into a stranger.
Not while those fires remain.“ For me this is beautiful. I found a new
author to follow. Thanks to the nominator.


MeG10: How Many Years? by Marta

I still doubt that Denethor gives Boromir an honest answer to a question he
asked as a child, but I enjoyed the story. It is well written, has a
believable plot, and feels like cannon.

Minor quibbles: Denethor feels too serene IMO, he seems not to be the
political plotter Tolkien envisioned. For me he feels and thinks more like
an apolitical mother than a ruling father, who drives himself and others
ruthlessly. But these objections are minor points. The story itself is still
beautiful.

Gondor

MeG12: In His Brother's Shadow by Celandine Brandybuck

The description of Faramir's first meeting with Gandalf and the rendering of
his relationship with Boromir. is nicely done. Celandine Brandybuck's
Steward's Family sequence belongs to the fanfics I deem to function as my
LotR-Appendix G. I like very much the lively descriptions of Faramir's
introduction into Quenya letters or the meals in the hall.

I have some quibbles though. Faramir is told to be 14 and Boromir to be 19.
Now Faramir feels more like a hero-worshipping 10 year old not old enough to
drink wine while Boromir, who joined file & rank with 18, is with 19 already
an experienced and admired captain. I would expect 18 - rank & file, 19 -
junior officer, 20 captain, 21 - minimum actual age. But you could simply
let him start in rank and file at 14. Roman boys of noble military families
started early in the army. Thus for me the two could and should be described
as nearer in age (13 and 18). With 13 Faramir should already have also some
critical thoughts about his brother.

The talk about first love in the bath feels more like timid girls' talk than
as boisterous boys' talk. Boromir's first experiences for me are real world
experiences not Tolkien's AU experiences. For me Numenoreans, as Elves,
marry once in their life and only with love. Otherwise the Gondorian kings
could have married simply a suitable woman to produce a male heir as did so
many human males. They did not and I believe the Dunedain also were not able
to do so. Thus, brothel experiences and arranged marriages IMO do not accord
with LotR.

That Faramir ressembles his mother is fannon.

Despite these quibbles I admire Celandine Brandybuck's first try in
fanfiction immensely.


MeG20: Stargazers by Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight, Acacea,
Fileg, Chris, Forodwaith)

Though Altariel writes best, I very much like to read the whole sequence of
Faramir’s education on constellations. The series gives a more rounded
picture and a repleted feeling. Thank you to all authors.




Poetry

MeP1: An Elegy for Elfhild by Alawa

Theoden’s feelings after the death of his wife in childbirth are described
rather subdued.

Well done in rhythm, but too long for me in conventional passages. I miss
the poetical old-English kennings. And I would have liked to see more of
Theoden’s remembrances of Elfhild herself instead of thoughts of Theoden
about his feelings for Elfhild. I do not feel that Elfhild was a person of
her own. She feels to me only as a prop to Theoden. That could it be what
she was for him, but how then she became his wife ?

“Then hall-faced I sat stern at table
as men filled their cups drank mead to her fame.”
Umh, do drink men of a comitatus to a queen’s fame who died during
childbirth ? I think they drink to a peace-weaver if she is present, but
rows of beer-rowdy men singing of a just deceased woman seems improbable to
me.

Hall-faced means stony-faced hiding one’s feelings because sitting in view
of all in the hall ?
Sounds wrong to me for Rohirrim (who would not use this kenning for sitting
stony-faced but for sitting merrily) as well as for Gondorians (who should
not have such a notion of hiding one’s grief).

Best passage for me:
“in the stable steamed warm breathing
as welcome was heard from whickering horses.
Softly then she stroked their noses,
ran her hand over rump and wither,
keen were they to carry her.
Wildly we galloped in golden mist-shroud
wind whipped hair as horses ran
free over fields followed the river
spring’s melt-water milk between willows. „



Post-WOTR

Me4-4: Light Lingering by Earmire/Nol

Up to now this is for me one of the best Forth Age stories. It has a series
beautiful scenes and good language. I like very much the rendering of the
relationship between wise and fatherly Faramir and strange Part-Elven
Eldarion who has to get acquainted with his Gondorian birth land and
heritage.

Passages I liked most:

Elboron’s reaction to Eldarion’s refusal to fight:
It was rude, nay, downright wrong, that a misunderstood child be thought ill
of for having the courage not to fight. Yes, for that was true courage. That
was nobility. That was truth.

Faramir’s remembrances of joyous hours in the library:
He remembered those days of joyous discovery, of dizzy pride and burning
shame as he read through triumph upon triumph, followed by folly upon folly,
recorded carefully in those bright, brittle pages.

The sword-dance:
But one could not watch this - this virtual ceremony of grace and speed and
liken it to anything else, much as a flash of lightning could not be
adequately described to one who had never seen it.

Faramir’s visions of sea-faring Eldarion.
On deck stood a man, tall as any elven-king, his dark hair flowing down his
back like a river of shadow. His eyes were bright with wisdom, and his face
was as beautiful as one of the Eldar, and as he came forth, clad in black
and silver, Faramir smiled, for the light seemed to come from within the man
himself. He was one with it.


Me4: Gift Horses by Jedishampoo

'How is Eowyn to get out of the Houses of Healing or escape an inescapable
future in Rohan?' was your question. And you provided her with an honourable
but seemingly dull escape, wise and eloquent Faramir. She has not really
realized his qualities when she agrees to marry him. I have never read such
a real Eowyn before. Finally a grumpy Eowyn, a grown woman with thoughts of
her own, not a girl simpering after handsome Faramir after the first
encounter.

Passages I liked:

what had Éowyn to look forward to? She would not be queen of any majestic
land, able to take her destiny into her own hands. She would return to her
woman's cage in the halls of Edoras to face the anger of her people at her
desertion, and to play chatelaine to what was left of Rohan's warriors until
her brother married or found her a suitable keeper. Life would go on as
before, while the glory of Gondor overshadowed everything she possessed.

She had snapped those reins of control, once. She had disobeyed the orders
of her king, disguised herself as a man, and had ridden to battle seeking
death. Yet she was not dead, and where had she ended up? Back where she had
started, under the care of men who urged her, ever with gentle respect, to
keep her place.

And his teeth were good, white and straight and evident of long care.
Perhaps as a husband he would pay attention to his duties and leave her
alone most of the time, to run a civilized household that kept the hay and
fleas where they belonged-- in the stables.
- love this !

Her dignity, both as a woman scorned and a woman of honor, would not allow
her to lie, to say that she loved him in return. I no longer desire to be a
queen, she added, to soothe him. A small worm of guilt wriggled in her soul
at this deception of omission, but some other small part of her was
comforted by the fact that is was not she who struggled now with unrequited
love.
- I'm grinning !

Her thoughts feel right for me and in accordance with LotR. She is very cool
to Faramir in LotR, she thinks more about Aragorn than about Faramir at
least in the beginning of their acquaintance. And when she will think about
Faramir she will dread to commit herself as to avoid another hurt. For me
you describe all this correctly and with quite some interesting ideas. Keep
it going like this. I cannot see Faramir falling for a simple minded chip of
girl. And yes I agree with fandom, that Faramir would love to have a family
life. Yet I cannot see him as the protector of a beautiful nitwit. The
beauty of Eowyn is surely important to Faramir, it is the first that strikes
him, but I think far more important to him are the thoughtful words in the
retorts of Eowyn. Not only in your story but also in LotR I had the feeling
that for Eowyn every said word is thought over before spoken. Ere she would
be silent than to say a word rued later.

First comes speech, understanding, emotion, then longing and butterflies in
the stomach. Thus I see the courtship of Faramir to Eowyn. And Eowyn will
surely need to be convinced of Faramir’s love before she will allow herself
to love. As long as she is unsure of his love she would be cold as not to be
scorned again. You wrote it all very convincingly.

She is surprised and bewildered by Faramir. And she could become even colder
to test him. But this bewilderment would also set her thinking why she is so
ruffled by his attention. Farseeing Faramir would see her antics easily as
uncertainty. But the daughter of kings, schooled by Wormtongue, would not be
unsure with a blushing face and faltering words. Nay, she would par and
attack. Only her ungentle behaviour would betray her. A princess would be
normally very well behaved to any who is of no account to her. So if she is
as nasty as she is to Faramir, for me that means, she feels troubled by her
emotions and attacks before she will show a weakness. For Faramir such a
fencing would be very refreshing indeed, here is a woman reacting to him,
and that with a vengeance. I think, he would be captured very fast. He had
not much people reacting to him strongly emotional, I believe, and Eowyn is
radiating malevolent emotion as he is radiating benevolent emotion. So
Faramir would search to be near her as often and as long as he could. He
needs a mind with which he can communicate, moreover he is in love early on.
But Eowyn would try to be far from Faramir to lessen her confusion.
Nevertheless, she could search the political marriage actively as you
describe it. Thus she would wonder why she acts so emotionally. Then she
would begin to wait for his caressing words, yet still feeling very
aggressive against him. She would try to find out how far could she go. She
could misinterpret his wanting to be near her as gentleness, a lord of
Gondor who takes it on him to goad the princess of Rohan into a better mood.
But a really unattached princess planning a political marriage would behave
immaculately well, cool and detached. Thus, she has to ponder, why she
cannot react cool and detached when near Faramir. She has to have learned
self-analysis at Theoden’s court with Wormtongue the ever-present nemesis of
the whole royal family. I think, she has to get an inclination that she
reacts to Faramir not only with exasperation but also with longing.

I agree, Eowyn would at first taken aback by his flow of words, but in the
end, bathed in this speech and becoming accustomed to be surrounded by
emotion would find delight in this speech. I would think, in the end she
would wait for to be spoken to, as being bathed in such speech is like being
caressed. And every human being likes to be caressed. I would think that
Eowyn is thirsting for caresses, as she lived an emotionally repressed life,
constantly in fear to fatally misstep and lay herself open to Wormtongue.
Although Faramir lived a life of repressed wishes, fatherly rebukes, and
war, he had the outlet of books and dreams. To me he seems much more
emotionally stable than Eowyn, who is in deep depression in the Houses of
Healing. I like the notion, that Faramir lures her back to the joy of life.
I think even this story renders Faramir's ability to woe Eowyn back to
happiness, though he here surely speaks not as beautiful as in LotR.

She surely can moreover feel ill treated by her family, I like this notion.
She would be torn between her solidarity and duty to her family and her bond
to her foster father and brother on one side and the thoughts about her
desertion from her duty on the other side because she was driven once in her
life by a need to prove herself through protecting her kin by her
battle-craft, for which she had to set her duties aside. There must also
have been a great need to be near Theoden and Eomer as the possibility of
their death, especially of 70 year old Theoden, was very large. Accordingly
she hovers around Theoden during the battle on the Pelennor.

For me your Eowyn is a strong mind despairing on her future. She is a bit
bitchy, but not overly. She is nasty, she rises Faramir’s hackles a bit. And
Eowyn is unsure, you did this beautifully. And that is just right: Faramir
should have to _think_ about her, he is reached by his mind, Eowyn’s beauty
is the icing on the cake. I would think, her bitchiness would draw Faramir
far more than a sweet-tempered blushing girl. For me she is an independent
mind thinking her own thoughts and not rendering her uncles and brothers
wishes. In potential sequels I would like you to keep her independent.
Loving but having independent thoughts and wishes !


Me5: Kinsmen by Dwimordene

From father to son, the line of Isildur has remained unbroken. Of the names
of Chieftains recorded, a full quarter of them died untimely but were able
to pass their title to their sons. This tale of the Dunedain, and of keeping
the line alive at all costs for me is not believable though it was written
very well. My problem here is that I cannot see Numenoreans to marry or
begat children without love. For me Numenoreans, as Elves, marry once in
their life and only with love. Otherwise the Gondorian kings could have
married simply a suitable woman to produce a male heir as did so many human
males. They did not and I believe the northern Dunedain also were not able
to do so.

Msg# 2116

Voting--A Reminder Posted by ainaechoiriel September 24, 2004 - 11:49:03 Topic ID# 2116
Remember that any characters you write are counted. Good or bad. We
don't assess negative points. So if you use negative or
just "constructive" criticm, you may be helping a story that you
think inferior to win an award.

Now, admittedly, I'll sneak in a constructive phrase here and there,
keeping it very short. You are free to write any comment you want.
But know that you are giving points to any story you write about by
the amount that you write, not the positive/negative qualities of
what you write. It's your choice, just know the consequences.

Elanor, sorry to use you an example, hon, but this is what brought
this up. Some of your votes contained "quibbles". These were long,
juicy comments, so the authors probably loved them. I know I would.
But you may not be aware that most of those votes ended up being 10
points (the maximum). Some of the stories you had quibbles with have
moved up into the top three point-getters in their
categories/subcategories. So your votes *might* help them win an
award. (I say "might" because voting is still open and there is also
Amnesty Day to come. New votes will change the totals, of course.)

So, in summary, be aware that if you write negative or constructive
crit, it counts in the points total for that story/author.

The number of characters you write is all we count. That's why it's
counter-productive to write negative criticism (or even
constructive).

The best rule of thumb is "If you can't say something nice, don't say
anything at all."

If you like a story but it has some imperfections, make your comment
shorter than the story you thought was better than that one. If you
absolutely must stick in a constructive comment, keep it very short
and the majority of your vote positive.

You can always send the author those constructive comments after the
Awards are over.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

Msg# 2117

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 24, 2004 - 13:30:59 Topic ID# 2060
Hey, look at me! I didn't expect to have this finished until Saturday
morning. Ah, see what the glories of procrastination can do. But then, I
suppose that I'll have to actually do something with myself now that I've
got this ballot off... Oh well. As a warning, this is long. It might even be
longer the ballots I had for elves or men. Sorry about that! Anyway, story
votes are first, and author votes follow at the bottom!

-------------------------------

Hobbits
Official Voting Ballot

-------------------------------

STORIES

-------------------------------

>>Drabble
>>HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold

Surprisingly upbeat little drabbles, especially considering what the theme
is. And yet the very fact that they feel optimistic is so innate to the
hobbit character that I canýt imagine it being any other way. I think I like
the drabble about Frodo best, particular his closing line which suggests a
very introspective and insightful mind.


>>Drabble
>>HobD7: What Do we Get? by Alexcat

Blissful innocence meets grim foreboding. I love the title and all that it
carries with it. Very good drabble and wonderful foreboding into what should
have been a happy day.


>>Poetry
>>HobP4: Old Will Whitfoot by Tanaqui, co-written with Marta

I can see hobbits sitting around singing this while drinking. Itýs fast,
upbeat, and has a veryýhobbity feel. Iým not sure how else to describe it.
It strikes me as the sort of thing that hobbits would sing about, and for
some reason, the ending made me smile. Now I just need the right tune to put
it to.


>>Poetry
>>HobP5: Shire Songbook by Lindelea

Sheer brilliance. From the very beginning with the notes of the one who
found the manuscripts to each individual song and accompanying music, this
is a work of art. Some of the songs are short and simple while others are
more thoughtful and complex. I could see the differences voices in the songs
and without looking, I could make a fairly good guess at each songýs author.
Lindelea knows the characters. Their various experiences feed into the
songs. One of my favorites was ýLamp in the Window,ý which is quite clearly
written by Sam. You can feel it pulling from experiences in Mordor, and I
wonder if he wrote it keeping in mind that Merry had been touched by the
Witch-kingýs shadow. It seems to be almost as much about comfort as about
coming home to a loved one. The traditional songs of the Tooks and
Brandybucks were filled with the different aspects of those families. And
then the songs brought back from other lands were stunning. A contrast was
readily apparent between them and the songs made by the hobbits. Wonderful
writing that demonstrates a very solid understanding of both the song styles
and the characters who are creating the songs.


>>Poetry
>>HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos

Very fitting poem for the story itýs named after. I love how the events of
Pippinýs life as seen by the story and by the poem are traced and always
described using words that can also relate to birds and flight. Such as the
Uruk-hai being described as vultures or Pippin taking Merry beneath his
sheltering wing after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The different birds
used to describe various members of the Fellowship fit each character, and
in the end, the little falcon is grown and weýve been privy to the journey.
Very satisfying and very complete poem.


>>Poetry
>>HobP7: Too Young by Lindelea

Free verse can be wonderfully disorienting, and itýs used here to give us a
quick but very deep look at Merryýs mind. Heýs confused and hurting and
fearful, and you can feel it all the way through the poem although he never
really comes out and says it himself. The repetition of the line ýyouýre too
youngý is done extremely well, and I like how Merry includes not only
himself but also Elrond. The poem is short and soon over, but before it ends
it tracks the entire course of Pippinýs journey up to the aftermath of the
Ring War in Ithilien. I love the contrast that Merry includes, specifically
Pippinýs quick thinking that saved them both from the Orcs in Rohan set
against his foolish actions in dropping stones in Moria. Great poem!


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-1: A Crate of Lemons by ShireDweller

I love the idea behind this story! To be honest, Iým a tad curious myself as
to how Aragorn managed to ship lemons to the Shire (Perhaps Gandalf and
Shadowfax could start up a delivery company?) but however he did it, it made
for a beautiful little tale. The hobbits are clearly hobbits, and I love how
this tale is told in the aftermath of the ýGarden Plotý story. Wonderful
sequel, and I was grinning with delight as Frodo managed to one-up BOTH Sam
and Rosie in the kitchen. Fabulous little story.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-2: A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea

Great lengthy tale of just what it took to get the Shire back on its feet.
Tolkien hints that it was a somewhat massive undertaking, and Lindelea has
taken him at his word with a very thorough, very enjoyable story. Itýs
interesting to see the differences between the various hobbits, especially
between the four who left the Shire and those who remained. I love the
insight that Merry got from Elrond about how hobbits are meant to live in
innocence, and I love also how their experiences from their travels play
into even the smallest things, such as Samýs efficiency and knowledge when
it comes to packing for long journeys. But I think my favorite character of
all was Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, who had first few chapters all to herself
and continued to remain a presence for a good while after that. What a
spitfire! I loved her attitude, I loved how she used it to help the other
prisoners, and I love how even when she was rescued she still had her pride.
I also thoroughly enjoyed poor Freddy, who never seemed to fully recover
from what happened though he made a good show of it. And I loved how this
endeared him to Frodo and seemed to provide a refuge of sorts. Brilliant
story and very thorough telling of what the Shire went through to get back
on its feet.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-5: Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree

A very intriguing tale, particularly the last chapter. I found it
fascinating to listen to the voice of Bag End itself. But the other parts of
the story were equally good. I think I enjoyed Samýs voice most because it
was so very Sam. Frodoýs voice was clearly Frodoýs with a note of
introspection and a hint of being touched by things that should never touch
a hobbit. Rosie was very much Rosie, and her devotion to both Frodo and Sam
is clearly seen. But Samýeven for hobbits, Sam is singular and unique, and I
enjoyed hearing the tale from his perspective as he comes to grips with what
has happened. Brilliant story.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-7: Firestorm by Lindelea

I very much enjoyed thisýI wouldnýt call it a coming of age, but Pippin
certainly shows the other Tooks why he is more than ready to be a Thain, and
what I love best is that Pippin is such an unconscious leader. It comes very
naturally to him, especially in a crisis. We saw inklings of this in LotR
when he was captured by the Uruk-hai, and it comes out here as they struggle
to deal with the fires. Everardýs change of heart in the end was very
well-timed. I liked him, despite his occasional hostility, and the fact that
he would admit (publicly, no less) to making a mistake only reinforces my
liking. Great ensemble cast of characters and hats off to Lindelea for
realizing that even the Tooks might think twice about being led by someone
who went off to ýforeign parts.ý


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-8: Flames by Lindelea

If nothing else, this story has given me a wonderful appreciation for the
Tooks. It fits very well with Lindeleaýs other stories from the same time
period and together they form one of the best and most complete pictures of
the Shire during and after the time of the ýruffians.ý But as for the
Tooksýwhat a family. I love how theyýre among the first to react to men
crossing the borders, I low how they buckle down and accept the necessity of
what they need to do, and I love how they recover from it. Itýs clear to me
why the Thain holds such a high position in the Shire and why heýs been a
respected figure throughout the history of Eriador. The Tooks have earned
that respect. Theyýre still hobbits and they still speak lightly when more
meaningful words might serve better, but thereýs also that spark of fire and
determination in them that has led them to become the adventurous family in
the Shire, and Lindelea shows that very well in this story.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-9: Garden Plot by ShireDweller

As is customary with hobbits in general, there is far more going on behind
the scenes of this story than what is readily apparent. The hobbit ývoiceý
is perfect, with Rosie and Sam taking on a more rural flavor and Frodo
holding to a more sophisticated speech. Yet all three are definitely
hobbits, and it shows in not only their choice of words and phrases but also
the thoughts behind their words. And it seems that Sam and Rosie have picked
up a few things from Merry and Pippin. Either that or theyýre such a matched
set that they could give even Merry and Pippin lessons. Iým actually
inclined to believe the latter after reading this story. Theyýre certainly a
pair of bookends. Characterization is great on all fronts, especially when
it comes to Rosie, who has a measure of Samýs stubbornness but also seems to
have a better sense of when that stubbornness should back off. In other
words, a very healthy sense of self that mixes wonderfully with her other
traits. The setting for this little tale is perfect as it is indeed Sam who
has more or less taken over, and I canýt think of a more suitable place for
such a story than on his own home turf. Well, technically Frodoýs turf, but
even so, itýs clear that the garden belongs to Sam. Very ýhobbityý tale and
very appropriate for the characters and this particular moment in time.
Looks like Frodo is going to get his turnips whether he likes it or not.


>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-10: Linden and Laurel by Ariel & Aralithiel

ýBut do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You shall have
neither.ý I donýt think Iýve heard that phrase used so well in a fic. I love
how itýs repeated now and again at just the right moments. At first, itýs a
tingling warning in the back of Samýs mind. Then it becomes a dark portent
of the future. Then it seems to be a death knell. But though Saruman was
denied the West, Frodo wasnýt, and that seems to have made the difference. I
love the idea of the tree and the fact that the tree is where Frodo came to
Sam. Beautiful metaphors and analogies throughout. A very heartwarming tale.



>>Post-WOTR
>>Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

Wow. Fascinating and unbelievable story. Iým not even sure where to begin. I
suppose I could start with the clock. The clock ticked its way throughout
the story and kept harmony and rhythm with the storyýs changing moods.
Initially it was hope and comfort. Familiarity with old belongings. Then it
changed to something uneasy. Some future foreboding. It changed again to
fear and trepidation, then to anger and resentment, then to wishful
thinking, and finally, in the end, to resolution and endings. As for the
story itself, itýs a wonderful interpretation of the events on Mount Doom
according to Tolkienýs letters. And I love that itýs Sam who figures things
out. I love even more his matter-of-fact way of looking at things. His
comment that you canýt both love someone and wish that things had turned out
differently. Because that would change the person you loved. Itýs a
fascinating line of reasoning that Iým going to need to think about a little
more. Great tale, and great use of the ticking clock.


>>Pre-WotR
>>HobPW8: The Shaping of Samwise by Jodancingtree

Great story about Sam pre-Quest, and I loved how it was tied so closely with
events in the first part of FotR. Samýs an ingenious hobbit if given the
chance, and I love his irrigation pipes. Characterization is very solid
throughout. Bilbo and Frodo are very much themselves, and I love how
something so simple and yet so needed as Frodoýs trust in Sam provided the
impetus for an amazing loyalty that held throughout LotR. Itýs the little
things that a gardener notices, and that comes through clearly in this
story.


>>The Lord of the Rings
>>HobL2: Bedside Chatter by Silvermoon Lady

Beautiful story that shows a surprising amount of depth and insight from
Pippin. Iýve always admired Pippin and itýs my opinion that he doesnýt get
nearly as much credit as he deserves, but that gripe is put to rest here.
His conversation with Eomer is both subdued and optimistic, reassuring and
sobering. Pippin presents an interesting combination of traits, and that
final line of the story really got to me. Itýs something I can easily
imagine Pippin saying at the end of LotR. Perhaps not at the beginning, but
he changed quite a bit during the course of his journeys and this was a
wonderful tribute to that fact. And on another note, I love the storyýs
language. There seems to be this rolling rhythm to the narrative that is
very much reminiscent of the Rohirrim. And as this is told from Eomerýs
perspective, thatýs very appropriate. Wonderfully eloquent and never
overdone, a great bedside moment between Eomer and Pippin.


>>The Lord of the Rings
>>HobL4: The Conspiracy of Hobbits by Dreamflower

Brisk, wonderfully told tale. The pace is fast and the months fly by, which
suited the story quite well. Itýs a story about preparations and last-minute
planning in an effort to avoid being left behind on all accounts. I love how
it began before any of the hobbits knew what a danger the Ring was, and yet
Merry was still suspicious of Frodo. He demonstrates a rather insightful
mind. I loved, too, the characterization of Fatty and poor Folco. Brilliant!
And the comparison between them and Merry and Pippin was great, with the
exception that neither Merry nor Pippin could be viewed as a half-wit. That
Pippin enlists Fattyýs aid to keep him in on the conspiracy just as Merry
enlisted Sam is a great plot point, and when Pippin finally confesses how
much he knows to Merry (almost when itýs too late), the confrontation is
marvelous. Also great is the very wry sense of humor that can be seen
throughout the story. It shows up primarily in errant thoughts and asides,
but it does wonders for the mood. Great gap-filler that details beautifully
just how everybody came to be in on the conspiracy and does an amazing job
of characterization in the process.


>>The Lord of the Rings
>>HobL5: Through Shadow by Citrine

Very touching, very sweet, and blessed with a mercifully light sense of
humor. I suspect Citrine is right; Tolkien probably is rolling in his grave
over Pippinýs comments. But my apologies go out to the good professor
because I found it downright hilarious. And very much in keeping with
Pippinýs cheek. Wonderful story.


>>Hob2: A Path With No Returning by Citrine

Powerful story that echoes another familiar story out of the LotR universe.
Dare I say Frodo and Sam? But their story had a happier ending. This was
beautiful in its sadness. I remember reading about this in the appendix and
in some of Tolkienýs other writings, and I remember reading that none of the
hobbits who left ever returned. So I knew what was coming, feared what was
coming, prepared for what was coming, and still grieved when it happened.
Beautiful tale of love and loyalty in the muddy, rainy aftermath of battle.


>>Hob6: Moonlight on Summer Leaves by Silvermoon Lady

I was stunned by this story. Literally stunned. The message, the imagery,
the words, the tales, the underpinningsýall beautiful and all stunning. I
love how the character are brought into the story gradually, one at a time.
First Paladin, then Faramir, then Pippin, then Diamond gets a cameo, and
finally, Legolas. The story unfolds with slow relish, nursing the tale
behind the tale until it is fully ready, and then shares it with its readers
while we sit in awe and wonder how we didnýt see it coming. The care and
concern that Pippin shows, now tasked with the burden of looking after a
father and a son, is wonderful and I love the maturity and depth he shows.
And I also love his desperation and his unwillingness to let go, which is
very reminiscent of a few events in LotR. The bargain he makes with his
father (a tale for every year if Pippin can produce an elf) made me smile. I
saw Legolas coming before he got there, but his entrance into the story was
still a pleasure. The conversation between elf and dying hobbit said as much
about Paladin as it did about Legolas, and though brief, it managed to
portray the meeting of two very different worlds. The last lines that Pippin
speaks about the silent bow and thrumming harp were an amazing capstone for
the story, and I am deeply indebted to this author for such a remarkable
tale. Thank you!


>>Hob7: Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex by Ariel

Absolutely hilarious. The gradual loosening of tongues as they go through
the ale is slow but steady, and then the secrets start coming forth.
Brilliantly told! I love how the beginning involved a rather inebriated
Aragorn and Faramir, and I love the presence of a sleeping Gandalf for the
latter half. The idea that hobbits can drink the Big Folk under the table is
a great one, and I lift my glass to all the Big Folk who try to prove
otherwise. And hereýs to Pippin, who beat the unbeatable Baggins but may not
remember doing it in the morning. Great story!


>>Hob8: Recollections by Silvermoon Lady

Like Silvermoon Ladyýs other stories, this one takes its time in unfolding,
which I enjoy immensely. It never feels rushed, and itýs never too slow.
Itýs like baking bread and watching it rise. You know how good the end will
be but youýre also content to enjoy the middle moments for all theyýre
worth. Back to the story itself, I suspected the identity of the book on the
shelf and was pleased to discover I was right. I also suspected who the
grandfather might be, but when he revealed himself as the hobbit in the
story, I was still pleasantly surprised. The timing and pace of this story
is gorgeous. I loved watching little Eowyn (more on her name in a moment)
unlock the pieces of history, and somehow it made it all new again for me. I
also love Merryýs side commentary about her being too old to take ýnoý for
an answer. I imagine this as being a hobbit saying, and there are a few
others littered about that ground the story in its setting but not too many
that it canýt take flight on other adventures. I thought it a lovely
commentary on history that Eowyn was born in a family of boys and taught how
to wield a sword. I enjoyed that repetition of events very much. And the
closing lines with Merry and Pippin off again on an adventure, young and
carefree once more, hit me hard. I love that Merry leaves Eowyn with the
charge to remember. Beautiful story and a wonderful sendoff to Merry and
Pippin as they set off for one last journey.


>>Hob10: Sam's Garden by Shireling

An exceptional tribute to one of the best friendships within LotR. I love
how the title and the first part were misleading in that the evidence didnýt
automatically point to Frodo as the creator of this garden. And thatýs very
appropriate, because this is as much a wonderful surprise for Sam as it is
for readers. They were both Ring-bearers, they were both leaders, and now
they are both gardeners. The circle is complete, the last bond between them
is connected, and the result is endlessly satisfying. Beautiful tale.


>>Hob12: The Cooking Conspiracy by eretria cowritten with Murron

This was a hilarious romp of a tale, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It
was very much a comedy of errors, with people turning up in the most
unlikely places at the most unlikely times, just in time to put Murphyýs law
to good use. Sam does indeed save the day as it is his fast thinking that
prevents events from going even further astray than they already have.
Pippinýs newfound love of washing things is hilarious, and Merryýs enjoyment
of Pippinýs punishment was beautifully in character. I can easily see that
behavior on behalf of my favorite Brandybuck. Outstanding story.


>>Hob14: Unfair by Anglachel

Brilliant short story that drops subtle hints as to what the initial problem
is but never pulls it out in the open until Otho himself does. Iým quite
fascinated by this, actually. Itýs laid out well, putting clues in just the
right places, and it sheds an entirely different light on both Lobelia and
Otho. By the end of the story, I actually liked them. I can see their
familyýs upbringing in both and I wonder if this is what set them at odds
with Bilbo and Frodo, but in spite of it, I really enjoyed watching these
two characters and must sincerely thank Anglachel for opening my eyes to a
whole new world.


>>Hob15: Weight of Stone by Chris

Very few things say as much about a culture as the kind of superstitions
they hold. And I love stories that dip into things like that. This one, for
example, about skipping stones is something I would very much expect out of
the Brandybucks, who are the hobbits most likely to go messing around with
boats and other unnatural devices. And how long you can keep your rock above
water and out of danger is how much luck youýd have. Itýs a very Brandybuck
way of looking at life, and I love the way itýs brought out in this story.

--------------------------

AUTHORS

--------------------------

>>Poetry
>>HobPA1: Lindelea

Lindelea knows her characters and she knows how to get the most out of them
with various poetic devices. The song book is an amazing collection that
takes various aspects of the Shire puts them into songs (complete with
music) and never loses sight of who or what made that particular song.
Lindeleaýs characterization is flawless, and she is able to characterize
large groups, individuals, and life in general for people within the Shire
and also for people outside of it. I think the types of songs chosen to be
included from cultures outside the Shire is very telling. Theyýre generally
light-hearted, but there are notes of sadness and longing, which reflects
how Pippin and Merry have changed. The other poem that Lindelea has here is
a wonderful example of free verse. She uses its somewhat disorderly
structure to characterize Merry without ever forcing him to say a word on
his own behalf. Powerful command over poetic devices and the characters
portrayed within them.


>>HobA16: Lindelea

Lindelea has undertaken the challenge of filling in the parts that Tolkien
never got around to writing. And she does so admirably. Her pieces on what
happens before, during, and immediately after the Scouring of the Shire
could easily fit within the books. Theyýre detailed, encompass a wide
variety of characters, and they detail the growth and changes that the Shire
goes through. And it DOES change, no matter what the hobbits might try. At
the end, thereýs a feel that maybe things are back on track and that
innocence isnýt fully lost, but even so, there are still those who remember
and their memories can be felt. I love the way she handles how the hobbits
try to resume their lives and how those who went off to ýforeign partsý are
now a bit different from their kin. Great writing that encompasses almost
everything. Incredible mind and skill for picking up the details.


>>HobA23: ShireDweller

ShireDweller has a great feel for what goes on inside a hobbitýs head, and
this feel covers not only thoughts but also the words that express those
thoughts. I believe it was Merry who told Aragorn that hobbits speak lightly
even when times are dark, and ShireDweller understands this concept very
well. The stories that are here for nomination, particularly ýGarden Plot,ý
have an edge of angst in them, but this edge has been all but blunted
because of hobbit nature. Itýs still there and ShireDweller never forgets
the charactersý past experiences, but in the end, these are still hobbits.
Even Frodo, who has suffered most. ShireDweller demonstrates a wonderful
understanding of the hobbit mindset, and earns my profound awe for being
able to work this mindset into the narrative itself. It all flows together
so tightly and every piece is fitted beautifully with the next. And each
character, even though they all share that same unique hobbit perspective,
clearly has his or her own voice and his or her own outlook on things.
Amazing grasp of the characters, the events, and the challenges that still
face them even though theyýve left most of their travels behind.


>>HobA25: Silvermoon Lady

I was very much blown away by Silvermoonýs writing. I hadnýt read any of her
stories until now, and once again, I must express gratitude to these awards
for exposing me to this writing. Itýs beautiful. We all know there are
things going on in a hobbitýs head that are deeper and more profound than
what comes out when they start to speak. Silvermoon has the ability to pull
these thoughts into the open without ever compromising the fact that these
characters are still hobbits. She seizes upon the more reflective side of
their natures and plays it for all its worth. When characters besides
hobbits are brought in, Silvermoon demonstrates an amazing ability to
describe their thoughts and impressions in but a few words. Itýs mind
boggling. Iým still reeling! The stories themselves are quiet, thoughtful,
and paced so smoothly that as a reader I slid in and out of them without
ever truly recognizing that the story had come to an end. Itýs like learning
to ride a bike and never realizing that dad has let go of the seat behind
you. The story just releases you, and you keep peddling without knowing that
itýs not there anymore. And I think a lot of that has to do with the last
lines of these stories. Not a word is wasted anywhere, but especially in the
end, the language becomes a craft of pure genius. The closing words carry an
enormous impact that keeps you thinking and dreaming. Stunning work by a
very talented author!

----------------------------------

Ta-da! *rubs hands together excitedly* Great fun. I now eagerly await the
next categories.

Thundera

_________________________________________________________________
On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to
get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

Msg# 2118

AW: [MEFAwards] Voting--A Reminder Posted by elanor of aquitania September 24, 2004 - 14:15:03 Topic ID# 2116
> Elanor, sorry to use you an example, hon, but this is what brought
> this up. Some of your votes contained "quibbles". These were long,
> juicy comments, so the authors probably loved them. I know I would.
> But you may not be aware that most of those votes ended up being 10
> points (the maximum). Some of the stories you had quibbles with have
> moved up into the top three point-getters in their
> categories/subcategories. So your votes *might* help them win an
> award. (I say "might" because voting is still open and there is also
> Amnesty Day to come. New votes will change the totals, of course.)

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
I was and I am very aware that my quibbles add points.
I took all your comments concerning negative comments deep into my heart.
I do not quibble at stories/poems I do not like ;-)

So please all you authors quibbled at by me
take my quibbles as if I had done as others
sending their loving and solely positive remarks !
Unfortunately I am a critical mind :-)

I think I can give various authors 10 points and later all the votes sent in
by various voters will be added up to find the highest scoring.

So please all you other voters do not follow my example
but heed Ainaechoiriel's advice if you choose to quibble at stories
you like less than others.

Best wishes from Elanor
who resumes writing reviews meant positive and admiring
although she includes quibbles

Msg# 2119

Re: Voting--A Reminder Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 24, 2004 - 14:26:47 Topic ID# 2116
Not a problem! :-) So long as you knew what you were doing.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 2:17 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: AW: [MEFAwards] Voting--A Reminder

> Elanor, sorry to use you an example, hon, but this is what brought
> this up. Some of your votes contained "quibbles". These were long,
> juicy comments, so the authors probably loved them. I know I would.
> But you may not be aware that most of those votes ended up being 10
> points (the maximum). Some of the stories you had quibbles with have
> moved up into the top three point-getters in their
> categories/subcategories. So your votes *might* help them win an
> award. (I say "might" because voting is still open and there is also
> Amnesty Day to come. New votes will change the totals, of course.)

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
I was and I am very aware that my quibbles add points.
I took all your comments concerning negative comments deep into my heart.
I do not quibble at stories/poems I do not like ;-)

So please all you authors quibbled at by me take my quibbles as if I had
done as others sending their loving and solely positive remarks !
Unfortunately I am a critical mind :-)

I think I can give various authors 10 points and later all the votes sent in
by various voters will be added up to find the highest scoring.

So please all you other voters do not follow my example but heed
Ainaechoiriel's advice if you choose to quibble at stories you like less
than others.

Best wishes from Elanor
who resumes writing reviews meant positive and admiring although she
includes quibbles




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Yahoo! Groups Links

Msg# 2120

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by chathollinn September 24, 2004 - 15:39:01 Topic ID# 2021
> Elves
> Official Voting Ballot
Hi, I just wanted to get these three out.

> E9: Firimar by Ithilwen

I loved this unusual look at the Fourth Age of Men, or whatever we
are in today. Nobody does Silmarillion characters like Ithilwen.
First read this at Barrowdowns and never forgot its unique look at
Mortals.


> EA17: Losseniaiel
Singing Silence

I don't much like - writers groan when a reviewer starts with
this, sorry! - interior monolog reflections, but this one achieved
what I hope for when I read fan fiction, or any fiction. It suggested
something that I didn't already know, or feel. To see the great
Thingol compare himself to Melian! He is to her and Mortals are to
Elves, and he knows it. Very insightful and haunting.


EA26: Wild Iris
Keystone

Not many writers can make a story both enjoyable and sweet to the
end. This one did it and kept my attention through telling us a
story – one where we don't know what will happen next. I
liked the details of the winter celebration although I would like to
have known more about the emotional significance of it to the Elves.
Also, I really like stories told in the third person with exterior
action. Another plus was the Elvish names. They sounded authentically
Sindarin, were beautiful and – gasp – easy to pronounce.
Someday someone is going to come up with an Elf named Aeiou-iel. Or
EEiiEEiiOwen. Just kidding. Anyway, the entire tone of the story was
most Elvish – the style of the dialog, the story about their
awakening under stars, the manifest love of the Valar; the air of
knowing the history of all the ages. The Dwarves were great – I
won't say why, just that you should read the story.

Regards - Chathol-linn

Msg# 2121

elves ballot Posted by christine September 24, 2004 - 17:40:08 Topic ID# 2121
Incomplete

EI4: Return to Middle-earth by Miriel361

This story is quite an adventure and I have found myself rapped up
in the journey of the original female character. Not only does she
have a huge task ahead of her, but she is just not getting a break
at all. From the moment she steps into Middle-earth to try and fin
the one she is searching for she became hunted. Worse is now she is
in ht e captivity of those who were hunting her. Deliciously nerve
racking and spell-binding topics have been woven in the story. I
have been captivated by the journey the female character has been
thrown into. The author has her readers waiting for an update while
the ofc has been injured and her kin are trying to find her. I can
not wait for the next chapter.


EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

This story caught my attention. Its style was unique and I have not
read many stories with the present tense occurring in it as this one
has. I feel in love with Maeglin, and I wanted to be Mandy. What
would it be like to meet with that elf in a secret cave? Boy, I read
this one in one sitting because I was so enthralled with the plot
and wondered what was going to happen to those two characters. And I
surely did not expect where she took it. Looking forward to reading
more as it is updated.

Post-WOTR

E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361

This story knocks my socks off. I absolutely love Elrohir and his
love interest. Not only does he make for an entertaining lead male
character but the interaction between the two is incredible. I truly
was impressed with the original female character's tie into the
history of Middle-earth and how it was her responsibility to guard
that "portal". But what an incredible story she has written. It is
emotional, adventurous and fun to read and I highly recommend it to
anyone who enjoys stories about Elrond's sons.


E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar

"If she was the lady of light, he was keeper of the flame." That
quote was beautiful and I really found myself intrigued to read
Galadriel parting from Middle-earth. It was nice to see how she felt
and the things she was thinking about as she sailed away from the
place she had lived for so many years.

Msg# 2122

AW: [MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot (Authors) Posted by elanor of aquitania September 24, 2004 - 18:02:33 Topic ID# 2122
[MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot

Men

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



**************************************************************************
AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



Poetry

MPA1: Alawa

An Elegy for Elfhild

This was the best poem I have seen so far in fandom (as far as I remember).
Rhythm, style, words: all very well chosen and masterly used. Though a more
frequent use of kennings would have enhanced the poem's impact on the
readers mind in my view. The author has my admiration for her abilities in
crafting a Tolkien style poem.


Poetry

MPA2: Dwimordene

Eowyn, my fair one; The Hamster

"The hamster" is very well written poem. Though it has no content to my
liking it shows the prowess of the author with words.


MA1: Alawa

"Hearth Companions" is a title which fails to invoke the story in my mind.
But the story itself is gorgeous. It is a well crafted piece which shows the
writer's abilities for invoking a whole life by words. The structure of the
story holds the reader in thrall and the finish is the story's crowning. The
author is a good writer.


MA3: Altariel

A Pale Light Lingering, Adrift, Death by Water, Lady of Silences,
Possessions, Proof, The Burial of the Dead, The King is Dead, A Kind of
Valediction, Black Captain, Fair Game, The Sickle of the Valar, Through A
Glass

Best speech of all writers I know. Altariel is the writer whose words
directly speak to my emotions. Her plots may be not as inventive as those of
others but for me the speech is of primary importance. Her much applauded
story "A game of chess" is not so much too my liking as it renders Faramir
as shell-shocked, but nevertheless this is the story which induced me to
write my first review in fandom. I remember I sat through the night reading
this story really forgetting to look at the time. Afterwards coming back
into reality I spent many hours in the following days thinking on this story
and why it bothered me so much. No other fanfiction story had me musing as
much.

Many of her stories are part of my imaginary LotR Appendix G.


MA4: Avon

I will always be your brother, Ties of Love, My Dark-haired Love

Avon writes nice stories with well set words where I can feel how long she
pondered over word choices. All three stories here involve me emotionally.
She finds evocative words, invokes haunting pictures, and grips me by
descriptions of emotions which accord with my own feelings. Her pieces
remind me of intricately woven tapestries.


MA5: Beth Winter

Singer by the shore

Beth Winter is the writer of a well crafted story. Interesting Plot, well
written, good use of Tolkien's Silmarillion lore. The suspense is held by
ever new surprising revelations to the reader. We find here a believable
blending of Silmarillion and LotR.


MA6: Celandine Brandybuck

Courting the Lady, In His Brother's Shadow

Celandine Brandybuck writes long stories which hold me enthralled. Many
passages agree very well with my views of ME though other passages are too
light-minded for my interpretation of Gondor steadily withering in the
never-ending battle. Yet she writes of the "good" years before despair
engulfed Denethor so I can understand her views. Her sequence of the
"Steward's family" belongs to my imaginary LotR Appendix G.


MA9: Dwimordene

Kinsmen

The most powerful writer I know. Her speech is not as good as Altariel's but
her plots and thoughts are mind-boggling. Dwimordene writes so well that I
followed her through 'From the other riverbank' and was overwhelmed by her
vision. It took weeks to blot out with time this notion of Boromir's and
Denethor's homosexuality. And that although I really do not think that
Tolkien's Boromir and Denethor are homosexuals. She wrote it so believable
that she managed to change my mind for some time. "Father and Sons" belongs
to my imaginary LotR Appendix G.


MA11: Earmire/Nol

Light Lingering

Earmire can write very haunting stories which grip me by their vision.
"Light Lingering" is for me one of the best Forth Age stories rendering a
wise and visionary Faramir seldom seen in fanfiction. Each personality has
her very own feeling, one can distinguish them by their words. Some passages
even come near to Tolkien quality.


MA14: Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight, Acacea, Fileg, Chris,
Forodwaith)

Stargazers

Though Altariel writes best, I very much like to read the whole sequence of
Faramir's star-looking education. The whole sequence produces a more
repleted feeling.


MA15: Isabeau of Greenlea

Blackbow; Captain, My Captain

A good writer who unfortunately for me prefers to write about an
unbelievable woman hero falling consecutively from one love interest into
the next and every time with another noble LotR character.


MA16: Jedishampoo

Gift Horses

A very interesting writer. Writes unusual plots beside the mainstream. I
like her stories. And all known to me are humorous. "Gift horses" is for me
her best until now.


MA21: Marta

How Many Years?

There are stories of her which involve me. One feels she investigates
Tolkien's publications and works on her stories. Her story is well crafted.


MA25: Tanaqui

Chance Meetings, Sufficient

Tanaqui is a writer who renders situations well. A bit more
unconventionality could give her stories more verve in my view.


MA27: Thevina Finduilas

A House Divided

Thevina Finduilas can capture the readers attention for characters nearly
unknown by providing them with flesh, wishes, emotions, thoughts making them
real.

This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time

Msg# 2123

AW: [MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by elanor of aquitania September 24, 2004 - 18:48:09 Topic ID# 2115
[MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot

Second part of story reviews (25.09.2004)
Still missing are all of Altariel's stories, my favourite author.
I am very grateful for Amnesty day !
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------


Men

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.

*****************************************************************

Gondor

MeG5: Courting The Lady by Celandine Brandybuck

This is a very lively and light-minded story (despite some jealousy) of how
Denethor did end up married to Finduilas of Dol Amroth. Though I have many
quibbles with the presentation of the Gondorian culture (e.g. Numenoreans
for whom partners in marriage might be chosen, china as table ware)
Celandine Brandybuck wrote a long story holding me enthralled. Many passages
agree very well with my views of ME though other passages are too
light-minded for my interpretation of the Gondorian realm continuously
nibbled at the frontiers by the Dark Enemy, steadily withering away in
numbers of defenders, and steadily loosing more of the hope for a bright
future during the never-ending battle since centuries. Yet concerning
Denethor she writes of the "good" years before despair engulfed Ecthelion's
son so I can understand her rendering of the events. Seen in total this is
one of my imaginary LotR Appendix G stories.


Gondor

MeG11: I will always be your brother by Avon

Beside of the use of the word "baby" I have no quibbles with this story. But
"baby" is for me a contemporary diminution which does not belong into the
LotR world. Aside of this the story is well crafted, evocative, haunting,
and simultaneously realistic.

Passages I liked most:

I slide wearily from my horse, no longer needing to be anyone but myself -
not steward's son nor Gondor's guard.
- well observed weariness from showing the public face.

For months I have longed for, dreamed of, being here but now it seems as
alien to me as it does to Alagos.
- well observed the feelings of strangeness when adjusting to the long left
home.

Suddenly I am indeed at home. As I embrace him I seem to remember a lifetime
of holding him -
- for me this feels right, by touching Faramir Boromir arrives at home and
remembers like situations, described with well chosen words.

and just so did he watch me with eyes as grey as a sky bitter with unshed
snow as I packed for this first campaign.
- beautiful words.

"Where is Myrnaur?" he questions, and for a moment I do not answer.

"Oh," says Faramir softly, and takes my hand.

There is a painful choke in my throat as I look down at him, this stupid,
ridiculous baby brother who can seem as adult as any of Father's counsellors
- but who now holds my hand like a child.
- feels very realistic.

We've both known since Mother died that no-one can promise to stay with you.
There are so many things I can't promise him. I can't promise I won't go
away. I can't promise that I'll be safe.
.
I rub his back, feeling the sharp bones that speak of both fragility and
maturity, and stroke his hair. Finally, I say,

"I will always be your brother."
- for me this is as haunting as it feels real.



Gondor

MeG23: Ties of Love by Avon

Boromir explains a Gondorian superstition to Pippin in a nicely rounded
story. I have no quibbles with this story. Well written, well plotted, and
perfectly structured.

Passages I liked most:

Without thinking, he gently rubbed the three of them together and twisted
them until they appeared a braid. It was a gesture that spoke of long
familiarity and Pippin nodded, eyes bright.
- well observed.

With typical Hobbit curiosity he had long since ferreted out a family tree
from Boromir and now he wiggled closer, hopeful of more.
- Hobbitry nicely captured.

He reached into a tunic pocket and pulled out three red cords. He flicked
the briefest of glances towards his brother with eyes as dark and unreadable
as storm clouds then stepped closer and began to tie the cords on once
again.

"One to tie you to life so you will never leave it."

It was a man's voice now, deeper and more certain, but the faintest tremor
still shook it. Boromir's heart ached as he looked at the black head, bent
to its task, that now stood on level with his own. So much the man and yet
still his small brother.

"One to tie you to this land so you will always return."

Faramir fumbled a little with the knot then took his time to ensure that the
cord was flat and lay smoothly beside its brother. The sun was warm on
Boromir's back and bathed the land in a golden light and Boromir let his
eyes soak in the dearly loved hills and valleys of his land. On the horizon,
the sun struck the whiteness of Minas Tirith and he narrowed his eyes
against the glare to trace its tall towers one more time.

With careful slowness Faramir was tying on the last cord and Boromir
whispered the final words along with him.

"One to tie you to those you love so they will never lose you."
- for me that is evocative, playing with my emotions through the words
selected, and beautiful.

Above its place, two red cords remained only, and they stained with the
darker red of Boromir's life..

One to tie you to those you love so they will never lose you.
One to tie you to this land so you will always return.
- and here the story finds an beautifully crafted haunting end.




Poetry

MeP8: The Hamster by Dwimordene

A very well written poem. Though it has no content to my liking I admire the
style and the prowess of the author with words.


Post-WOTR

Me4-6: My Dark-haired Love by Avon

A beautiful story. Though Eowyn is very unsure here (more than I would
describe her) I very much liked the description how she contemplates her
husband, how she ponders the differences between their personalities. I also
can see and feel by your description the bodily appearance of Faramir and
how Eowyn becomes acquainted with that.

I agree that Eowyn could feel a bit handicapped by her not so eloquent
speech, she is one who thinks thoroughly before speaking. But I think she
would soon become her old efficient and bold self again, even with her loved
husband. Moreover, the next weeks will see quite a few skirmishes between
them when they try to find out their ways with one another and what is
important to whom. Most probably Eowyn would like to test also her
battle-prowess with her husband. But today she is a newly wed young woman
who just lost her virginity. That surely can be a bit subduing.

Passages I liked most:

Such gentle hands. she looked away, warmth flushing her face in sudden
embarrassed memory.

My dark-haired love, she whispered to herself and felt warmth stirring
within her.

For a moment she simply traced the writing without reading it; exploring
each careful stroke of black, each bold and broad downsweep, each precise
and arching upstroke as she had that night explored the unfamiliar planes of
her husband's body.

Post-WOTR

Me4-7: Sufficient by Tanaqui

An interesting story showing the unusual pairing of Faramir and Legolas as
protagonists. For my taste Faramir acts and thinks too much as movie!Faramir
but I like the story for the plot invoking that a vision or presentiment of
Finduilas induced her to choose the name version sufficient for her second
born.


Me1: A House Divided by Thevina Finduilas

I liked the story about the lives of Morwen of Lossarnach and Thengel. A
well structured story with a broad vision. Morwen Steelsheen comes to life
in this story.


Me3: Captain, My Captain by Isabeau of Greenlea

This is a story that I admired in the first chapters but which I could not
follow to the end because Hethlin for my taste becomes too unrealistic.

Msg# 2124

Men : Official Voting Ballot Posted by sulriel September 24, 2004 - 19:10:58 Topic ID# 2124
Men
Official Voting Ballot

Gondor
MeI3: Orcbrat by The Lauderdale

This is the main reason I visit the h*ll-hole that is ff.net, to
check to see if this has been updated. I love Maevyn's attitude and
am curious to see how well she will intigrate with the Orcs or if she
will really manage revenge.

Msg# 2125

Elves voting Posted by avonaus September 24, 2004 - 19:58:33 Topic ID# 2125
Drabble

ED4: Strange to Us by Elana

I like this because it shows so clearly how Legolas is till rooted
in Middle-earth at the beginning of the quest.




Drabble

ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

Gosh, that was disturbing!


Post-WOTR

E4-6: War Dust by Earmire

Such beautiful, beautiful, beautiful words! I would never have read
that except for the MEFAs, and I'm very pleased I did. What else
can I say? Just the words and the pictures they made. It would
stand on its beauty even without its LOTR backing.



Vignette

EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1799

That's nice. I should have read it ages ago, but the title put me
off. I like stories that have hope and happiness in them.



E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

This one always makes me smile. Nicely serious nonsense.


Avon

Msg# 2126

Another reminder Posted by ainaechoiriel September 24, 2004 - 22:06:30 Topic ID# 2126
Let's not quote large chunks of the story. A line here or there is
fine if it really struck you. But otherwise, it just looks like vote
padding. This is one case in writing where you want to tell, not
show.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

Msg# 2127

OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 24, 2004 - 22:35:42 Topic ID# 2127
Or am I just special? Finally got back over here to see what's been
going on, and what do I find? "404 Object not found on server! Report
to <link>referring page</link>. If you think this is in error, contact
the <link to useless generic domain address>web master</useless link>."

This has been a problem since last week for me, can crop up at any
moment, and does not seems to affect anything but yahoo. I'd hoped it
would go away if I did. Anyone else suffering?

Dwim, annoyed

P.S. Before anyone asks if I've e-mailed yahoo tech support...

1) They have no central tech support group, because there are too many
of us and they don't want to be swamped. So I interpret their excuse,
hidden on a page that is difficult to find.

2) The text box they give for reporting problems causes my browser to
crash *every single time* I use it. Yes, computers hate me.

Msg# 2128

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/25/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 24, 2004 - 23:01:19 Topic ID# 2114
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Saturday September 25, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2129

Men and Elves Voting, 9/25/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 24, 2004 - 23:01:24 Topic ID# 2113
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Men and Elves Voting

Saturday September 25, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Saturday September 25, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2130

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 24, 2004 - 23:29:22 Topic ID# 2057
O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

[Not a comment: Cannot reach this story: URL not valid]

O2: Hunger by Nath

Poor, poor Celebrimbor. Or so I assume, unless hanging
arrow-perforated bodies on poles as standards was common practice
among the enemies of the Free Peoples. Orcish brutality at its most
basic: 'hunger', indeed.

O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

This story doesn't humanize orcs for me, although one might think it
would. Rather, it brings home to me the orcishness of humans. Absolute
egoism expressed in the belief that surely we are important enough to
merit something more than to die alone and unmissed, and being nothing
at all to the slayer but some mundane object—this is unbearable, and
Ufthaft cannot accept it. He is no hero. This is undoubtedly how most
of us would react when faced with any extraordinary and dangerous
circumstance—good job portraying it.

O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Interesting perspective, both the POV and the angle on orcish
aesthetics. Nice ending.

O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Just about what I'd imagine from orcs. Well-written, and I liked the
little bit at the end, when we realize that the orc captain is
actually narrating to us after all.

O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

Ok, this got a chuckle from me. Sauron with nail polish—yes, scarred
for life by this image.

Assorted grunts and kisses in your direction—Dwim


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

I can't quite agree with the interpretation but it's nicely written.
Boromir fans should enjoy it. (Are there Lurtz fans? God knows. If so,
come read!)

O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

I really liked this story. An orcwith curiosity—surely Grishnakh alone
could hold a candle to Grundush! I think Grundush's mother
underestimates her son, and perhaps she should watch her back later in
life. Curiosity speaks of intellect and an ability and interest in
looking to larger pictures, to strategy and a different kind of
cunning than mere gutter survival tactics. He could be more horrific
than she is capable of imaginaing (literally). All speculation, of
course, but anything goes once orcs start writing poetry.

OA7: Virvatuli

In the Absence of Her Ladyship

Virvatuli shows she can do both humorous and serious fics. She's
versatile, and that can only be good.

OA9: Werecat

You will see them at night

Werecat tries to find the unusual nitches in fandom, and I enjoyed
this glimpse into the life of an orc with a passion for something
other than blood.

Msg# 2131

Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by Thundera Tiger September 24, 2004 - 23:30:07 Topic ID# 2127
It's not just you. I was looking at posts in a different yahoo group,
changed over to this group, and then found that "404 Object not found on
server" thing. I couldn't seem to get back in at the time, but it seems to
be working now. It wasn't this afternoon...

Thundera (who is also slightly annoyed)



From: "dwimmer_laik" <dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others?
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 03:35:13 -0000

Or am I just special? Finally got back over here to see what's been
going on, and what do I find? "404 Object not found on server! Report
to <link>referring page</link>. If you think this is in error, contact
the <link to useless generic domain address>web master</useless link>."

This has been a problem since last week for me, can crop up at any
moment, and does not seems to affect anything but yahoo. I'd hoped it
would go away if I did. Anyone else suffering?

Dwim, annoyed

P.S. Before anyone asks if I've e-mailed yahoo tech support...

1) They have no central tech support group, because there are too many
of us and they don't want to be swamped. So I interpret their excuse,
hidden on a page that is difficult to find.

2) The text box they give for reporting problems causes my browser to
crash *every single time* I use it. Yes, computers hate me.

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!
hthttp://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

Msg# 2132

Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 24, 2004 - 23:39:49 Topic ID# 2127
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Thundera Tiger" <swordofomens@h...>
wrote:
> It's not just you. I was looking at posts in a different yahoo group,
> changed over to this group, and then found that "404 Object not
found on
> server" thing. I couldn't seem to get back in at the time, but it
seems to
> be working now. It wasn't this afternoon...
>
> Thundera (who is also slightly annoyed)

Thank you. I find that if I just keep following links, I inevitably
can get back to a yahoo group page with content, but there's no
guarantee it'll last--the next click could lead me right back to that
error page. And using the text box still causes my browser to crash.

Curses upon yahoo. It is most definitely evil.

Dwim

Msg# 2133

missing story? Posted by Jo Dancingtree September 24, 2004 - 23:55:43 Topic ID# 2099
I have a question - which I'm afraid is going to sound stupid - but...

I know I submitted an unfinished story titled The Queen's Orc. I can't find it in any category. Are unfinished tales hiding somewhere, not to be revealed until some future date? Or did my poor story vanish into cyberspace?

Since I've been working on this saga since last spring, I would really like it to be included...

Help, please?

jo







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2134

Re: missing story? Posted by Larian Elensar September 25, 2004 - 0:07:02 Topic ID# 2099
It's in the Men category.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa/Mennoms.html


--- Jo Dancingtree <jodancingtree@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I have a question - which I'm afraid is going to sound stupid - but...
>
> I know I submitted an unfinished story titled The Queen's Orc. I can't find
> it in any category. Are unfinished tales hiding somewhere, not to be
> revealed until some future date? Or did my poor story vanish into
> cyberspace?
>
> Since I've been working on this saga since last spring, I would really like
> it to be included...
>
> Help, please?
>
> jo
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today!
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

Msg# 2135

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/26/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 25, 2004 - 0:14:14 Topic ID# 2135
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

Sunday September 26, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2136

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/26/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 25, 2004 - 0:14:23 Topic ID# 2136
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Sunday September 26, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2137

Re: missing story? Posted by beleg1cuthalion September 25, 2004 - 0:14:50 Topic ID# 2099
I know I submitted an unfinished story titled The Queen's Orc. I
can't find it in any category. Are unfinished tales hiding
somewhere, not to be revealed until some future date? Or did
my poor story vanish into cyberspace?
>
> Since I've been working on this saga since last spring, I would
really like it to be included...
>
> Help, please?
>
> jo


I found it in the "Men"-category (surprisingly enough).

Cúthalion

Msg# 2138

Re: missing story? Posted by Jo Dancingtree September 25, 2004 - 0:18:22 Topic ID# 2099
Really? What a very odd place for it!

Thank you, Cuthalion!

jo

beleg1cuthalion <beleg1cuthalion@yahoo.de> wrote:


I found it in the "Men"-category (surprisingly enough).

Cýthalion







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2139

Voting for Men Posted by avonaus September 25, 2004 - 0:56:04 Topic ID# 2139
Gondor

MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

Like everything you write, it's beautiful. Poor dear Faramir – this
story always makes me sad. He faces such impossible odds.

Gondor

MeG2: Adrift by Altariel

I reread very little fanfiction (unlike books) but this calls to
me. As a writer I find it terribly depressing – oh to be able to
write like that! – but as a reader I love the family relationships.
If only people would write adult books about families like this.




Gondor

MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

Another satisfying read. I love both your dialogue and your light
but sure hand with characters.




Gondor

MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

If you only ever read one Original Female Character make this it.
Its another story which could stand on its own merits without the
backing of Lord of the Rings. She is such a believable character
and the whole society is captured and made real in very few words.
Love it.





Gondor

MeG16: Proof by Altariel

I find this bleak but damned well written. It's another story which
makes me shake my head and go poor, poor little Faramir. I commend
it also for its excellent Mablung.







Gondor

MeG20: Stargazers by Henneth Annun Writers (Altariel, Starlight,
Acacea,
Fileg, Chris, Forodwaith)

I enjoy all of these. I like the concept, the way it is done and
the way they all keep their own voice while producing something that
in my opinion reads seamlessly.




Gondor

MeG24: Too Late for Misgivings by Shadow975

Shadown writes fine bleak stuff and this story is no exception. I
love the way she bends and adapts the language and its rules to suit
what she wants to convey.







Poetry

MeP2: Ascension by Fileg

If I could have but one Tolkien-based fan poem then this would be
it. It has stayed with me ever since I first discovered it. I see
it unfold in my head like a movie and yet I can read two or three
interpretations in most of its lines. I love it all but I think "as
a man
ascends the steps with ashes on his face" is my favourite line.
Maybe it is my religious background that makes it seem so
significant but when I read that line I just get blown away. When I
first read this I hadn't (for twenty years) read Return of the King
so it became my image of Denethor and his death for the year I
waited to read it. I love the form of this poem – and I also love
that it doesn't need to rely on it. You can enjoy it `A sexy young
girl from Bombay…' is the limit of your poetical knowledge.


Poetry

MeP3: Darkness Falls by flick

Another poem you need no knowledge to enjoy – only heart and soul is
required. The words are beautiful and the images well crafted. In
its 400 odd words it sums up more than many a 70, 00 word epic.
It's a poem to revisit and relish.



Poetry

MeP5: Home by Morning by Fileg

And if I could have two Lord of the Rings based poems then this
would be the second one. It sings itself into your soul and offers
you a universe of pictures. It's about love and loyalty and maybe
about loss. It inspired me enough to make me write a story based
around it, so it has its very own fanfiction. ;-) Who are these
people? It doesn't matter – they are any ranger and his woman you
care to imagine and they are-every-ranger and partner.



Post-WOTR

Me4-1: A Kind of Valediction by Altariel

Not only is it a dead cool title – it's also a dead cool story.


Post-WOTR

Me4-2: Black Captain by Altariel

I hope the world post the Ring war is indeed like this.


Post-WOTR

Me4-3: Fair Game by Altariel

Oh I do like this one! I read it very early – quite out of sequence
and had no idea who these people were, mostly. It didn't matter
though – it stood on its merits alone. I find this view of Faramir
rather sad but I still enjoy the angst (if I may call it that
without upsetting anyone – I don't see it as an insult.)











Post-WOTR

Me4-9: The Unsung by Alexcat

Sad and haunting. I particularly liked this line: "who fought for
a land that they were leaving and a people not their own".

Msg# 2140

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by avonaus September 25, 2004 - 1:06:03 Topic ID# 2060
Hob13: The Farmer's Wife by Nessime

URL: http://www.mikekellner.com/Library/Story_Read_Head.php?STid=25

Nessime really captures both voice and character here of a much
neglected pair of Hobbits. To me it seems far more real than many
similar stories.

Hob15: Weight of Stone by Chris

URL: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=243&cid=907

Poor Merry! I like the way this story has such a sting in the tail.


Avon

Msg# 2141

a request for ballots in advance Posted by Marta September 25, 2004 - 11:07:44 Topic ID# 2141
Ainae-

Would it be possible or a good idea for you to put the ballots for the
different categories in the files section? This would let those of us
who have less time and are trying to get our ballots in order when we
can steal the time to get them really in order and just post them when
the category opens. It would be nice to have the list in an
easy-to-edit text format (as opposed to the table on the website),
complete with the identifying numbers.

Marta

Msg# 2142

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 12:29:47 Topic ID# 2022
-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:01 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Men -- Official Voting Ballot



Men

Official Voting Ballot

>MeG1: A Pale Light Lingering by Altariel

I think I'd read this before but couldn't remember. Whether I had or not,
I'm glad to have read it again. It gave me chills near the end, when Faramir
changed the speech. Faramir seemed very in character and the phrasing was
at times poetic, as when he thought of Boromir saying his part somewhere...
Faramir, of his family, was the one living closest to the enemy, and yet, it
seemed, he was the one with the most hope, and this showed, even through the
melancholy of the struggle.
Gondor


Gondor
MeG8: Hearth Companions by Alawa

Wow. Can a story be both chilling and heart-warming at the same time? This
one is. The care this cart driver gives to the dead is heart-warming, the
amount of dead chilling. The way the narrator speaks of the fires so
absently, without emotion, and yet, you hear the weariness that has
distanced an emotion that was there. Heart-warming.


MeG9: Homecoming by Nancy Brooke

Wow, sad but poignant little story. The images of all his forebears
standing there, caught in flashback of their lives, and then himself, in a
moment of his death.That really hit me, "arrows protruding from an empty
breast".


MeG10: How Many Years? by Marta

A nice story full of nuance. I liked the tradition and the hallowed area
where Elendil was laid. Also I liked Denethor's answer, whether or not he
meant it (based on your notes). I oculdn't help thinking, however, of
Faramir. No one took him up that road on his 20th birthday, and yet, in the
end, he would be the Steward's heir, and in irony of sorts, the one to
welcome home the king.


MeG11: I will always be your brother by Avon

This story nearly brough a tear to my eye. It was beautiful, a wonderful
picture of the love between these two brothers with just a hint of what
Faramir had to live with when Boromir was away. And the way Boromir looks
at Faramir with surprise at how he's grown...I have a brother 10 years
younger, who was shorter than me when I went to the Czech, and taller when I
returned. :-)



MeG13: Lady of Silences by Altariel

I think I've read this one before as well, but upon reading it again, I
can't say I know which son came to her at the end, and yet it doesn't matter
so much. She loves both her sons so much, to stay in such misery for them.
And so like an abused wife to feel sympathy for the abuser. Altariel got
that right.


MeG15: Possessions by Altariel

I love gap-filler's like this. We know Faramir, from Tolkien, as an adult
mostly, with few hints of his childhood. This story, and other's like it,
bring his childhood to life for us. The hints of the burdens and wisdom
Faramir carried, even then, are not hidden, and yet he is still a boy. And
in this one, we also see Gandalf's kindness and it's neat to think of the
link made by him from this boy in Minas Tirith to Frodo who will meet him so
much later.

MeG16: Proof by Altariel

Very intriguing! I didn't think I'd be interested in such a subject, but it
proved very interesting indeed in such worth hands. When seen first through
the eyes of the old hands, we see a new officer full of inexperience, but as
the story unfolds we see the method in Faramir's madness, which is no
madness at all. Mablung comes round to see it within the story just as we
do reading it. Faramir is an officer, and a good one at that.


MeG18: Requiem by Nancy Brooke

This is a character-driven story where strong characterizations weigh more
heavily than the plot. Not that there isn't plot. It's just not as
important as the dialogue and interaction between these two brothers
remembering their mother.

MeG19: Singer by the shore by Beth Winter

My favorite part was when, separately the boy's asked if the Singer was
speaking a prophecy. "Guesswork," he answered one. "Experience," the
other. And so these two meet a very old Elf and yet it never mentions him
being an Elf. Which is interesting. It would be neat to see what they
think of Legolas in later life after this experience.



MeG23: Ties of Love by Avon

I liked this story and was impressed that Avon made up the tradition. The
flashbacks were just right. As was Pippin's curiosity over Boromir's
geneology. I like the sentiment of Faramir giving Boromir the cords as an
adult.

MeG24: Too Late for Misgivings by Shadow975

Shadow975 captured this moment well, and the reasons for the choice, too.
Each brother defended his position in just the manner I would have thought
they would, and their love for each other showed, and their acknowledgement
of Denethor's love for each (given in far different measures) as well. It
nearly brought a tear to my eye.


MeP4: Eowyn, my fair one by Dwimordene

My, yes, that was quite creepy. I don't doubt that Wormtongue had such
thoughts and wishes toward Eowyn, but I'm quite glad he never got to carry
them out.


MeP5: Home by Morning by Fileg

This was sweet and touching. I wondered who was saying it before I read the
notes at the end. I thought of Boromir and Faramir, though the one never
quite came home. I liked the rhyme and the repeating 2nd and 4th lines but
only in every other stanza.


MeP6: I Ride by RennWench and Alstaria

I liked the repetion of "I ride." The same words each time, but each time
they felt different, and I could feel the turning when the poem turned to
why he rides. It's evokative and yet, I can't find many words to describe
it.


Me4-3: Fair Game by Altariel

The ending seemed a bit odd to me, but in a good way. It's hard to explain.
Anyway, the original chracters were so well drawn, Deor, especially. I
don't know his exact age, but it he seemed just right for an older boy, not
quite old enough to keep up with his brother but older than his youngest
cousin. And no matter what Faramir said about not being good with swords, I
knew he would win.


Me2: Bindings of Gold by Lyllyn

This story humanizes the Witch-King, for awhile. He was human once, which
somehow seems to flea our thoughts of him. Though he craved it and the
power it brought, his Ring enslaved him, corrupted him. Lyllyn captured
this quite well, I think.



Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

This was cute! I'm sure there had to be such quiet moments at least a few
times on the quest. Once the Hobbits had done their dancing, I just knew
Legolas wouldn't be too shy, and that, logically, he'd ask Gandalf to be his
partner.


AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):

Poetry

MPA3: Fileg

Fileg has a hand for poetry. The rhymes and rhythms work and I could see
the pattern in the stanzas without it taking away from what the poetry was
saying.



MA1: Alawa

Alawa has quite a talent. To take something so dismal as carting away
bodies and burning them but also make it heartwarming takes talent. And to
bring an original character to life in so few pages takes a skilled author
and a wonderful sense of character.


MA4: Avon

Avon is a wonderful writer. From what I remember she mostly writes short
stories, for which I'm thankful. ;-) I just don't have the time I used to
have for reading. And I think she writes mostly Men, which she does with
such affinity I feel she knows them. She knows Faramir, and she knows
Boromir, which is perhaps a bit harder.



MA5: Beth Winter

I was very impressed by the particular repetition of "Was that a prophecy?"
and Maglor's replies. That was no accident. It was purposeful and perfect.
Beth's characterizations were well-drawn and Maglor intriguingly complex.


MA9: Dwimordene

Dwimordene is one of my favorite LOTR fan writers. Even if I haven't read
all of her stories. She writes beautifully, poignantly, melogically. She
writes sympathies. I know, that's not the first time you've read that and
it's not the last time you'll read that. ;-)



MA19: Lyllyn

Lyllyn took on a subject I think few people would, especially in the way she
did. Who would think to write the Witch King as a man? Lyllyn did it very
well.


MA21: Marta

As I think of Marta's stories of Men, with my battered memory, I think of
simple moments, or traditions, told with pognancy and importance.



MA22: Nancy Brooke

Nancy has a talent for character-driven stories. Whether having the
Fellowship dance in Hollin or Boromir and Faramir remembering their mother,
her characterizations are strong and feel real.


MA24: Shadow975

I don't know that I've seen a lot of Shadow975's writing, but the
representative we have here in the Men category is enough to tell me that
she si a very good writer, with a real feeling for the characters and a
thorough knowledge of the lore behind her story.



This category ends on September 25th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2143

Elves and Men - Votes Posted by beleg1cuthalion September 25, 2004 - 12:32:18 Topic ID# 2143
MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

This is part 1 of an astonishing trilogy, describing Faramir's
experiences during the Ring War. Told with an elegant use of
words, this tale (and the following two) helped me to understand
the Captain of Gondor, his relationship to his brother and to the
frightening figure of his father. It is (and will always be) one of the
best Faramir-tales I've ever seen.


Gondor
MeG13: Lady of Silences by Altariel

This is the very first story by Altariel I ever read; I mailed her at
once and asked for her permission to translate it into german,
and my excitement about this tale is as great today as it was
then. Finduilas POV and her painful experience in an unfortunate
marriage, being abused and violated in a dreadfully silent way,
and her first experience of Faramir's physical mistreatment by
his father – this is the strong, haunting portrait of a desperate
woman, short, bitter and poignant, and one of my
All-Time-Favourites by Altariel.


Vignette
EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

Strong and surprising... a love story, never fulfilled and never
really begun. Just the bitterweet and moving attempt to comfort a
woman that loves another, a man that will never marry her, and
Legolas keeps his anticipation and his love for the beautiful
shieldmaiden deep in his heart. Wonderfully written, with strong
images, very impressive.


Incomplete
MeI4: The Queen's Orc by jodancingtree

Perhaps this is the most „surprising" story by jodancingtree... the
sequel to „Following the other wizard" has a rather unusual hero.
Her orc Canohando is fully able to „bear" the plot, the reader
eagerly follows his adventures from chapter to chapter (including
the most moving farewell to Aragorn the King after his passing
I've ever read). So far I have witnessed the orc's development
from a murderer by nature to a peace-seeker by heart and love,
friend and „shadow" of Arwen, Bloodbrother to Frodo and in the
last finished chapters even a lover... and every part of that
astonishing tale is moving, flawlessly written, heartbreaking
beautiful and absolutely convincing.

Msg# 2144

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by mirasaui@aol.com September 25, 2004 - 15:52:47 Topic ID# 2021
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 00:01:11 -0500
From: "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Subject: Elves--Official Voting Ballot

Elves

Official Voting Ballot

To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.


Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel


Lady Aranel mangaged to capture the essence of a loving moment in just a few
words - very well done!


Drabble

ED2: I Hear the Stones Lament by Avon

Poignant, sad lament for what once was. "In the cold, this winter sun..."
This line sets the mood and (to me) emphasizes the feeling of loss.



Drabble

ED3: Longing by Dwimordene


Remake us! Are you not their kinsman? But he has no craft, and only news
to give.
Although all of the Drabbles conveyed similar emotion and angst, I thought
this one extremely well-written and to the point. I tried to pull a line
from each that particularly caught my attention, and this one stuck in my mind
for days.


Drabble

ED4: Strange to Us by Elana
This drabble is another interesting interpretation of the stones lament,
focusing not only on the cries of the rocks, but also on Legolas love for
Middle-earth. I am only beginning to learn to love this Middle-Earth. I do not
ever want to leave.
Drabble

ED5: Strange Vessels by Elvenesse


Another take on the stones lament, however this one was notable as the
author did not quote from Tolkien. &yet the trees here are strangely silent
and they will not answer me. She makes an interesting point that elves have an
affinity with nature, yet it is the inanimate objects, the rocks, that call
to Legolas.



Drabble

ED6: Untitled (Mirkwood) by Wild Iris

The ending of a peaceful way of life and of the beauty that was Greenwood
seen through the eyes of a child; but oh, the angst of what he sees. We are
only given a hint of the horror. &he sees broken leaves; blood is on the
ground, and a strange, splayed outline hoisted in the tallest tree. It is the
innocence of the child that makes the scene so chilling and the ending line so
poignant. &and he somehow knows that the flowers are over, and that his
people will never return to this place. Excellent.

Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

I began reading this with reluctance, as I did not think I would enjoy elves
in a present day setting. But this is a delightful tale, full of humour,
with main characters that are believable even thought the story cries out Mary
Sue. Moira does have a few special powers, but M. Sue, she is not, and Dr.
Birdsond is to die for, his description had me drooling all over my computer.
The story itself is a modern day LOTR although packed with fun, laughter,
and riotous adventure. I wish Viv would give more background on the minor
characters, but even without that, they are interesting, even Leo - whom I like -
I wonder why the others do not? Sadly, the story is incomplete. I have it
bookmarked and definitely plan to keep an eye out for future chapters.


Incomplete

EI3: Oak and Willow by Marnie

One of the best Celeborn and Galadriel stories I have read. Marnie gives
wonderful insight into Celeborns character and that of the Noldor and
Moriquendi. The superb characterization, rich detail, and wonderful use of metaphor
bring the story to life. I especially loved the conversation between Celeborn
and Finrod about the willow and the oak: "&But oak does not endure storms as
the willow does&And willow is a healer - its bark takes away pain. Even
self-inflicted pain&My children will be breakable as a willow twig& I could
read this one over and over.
Incomplete

EI5: Uncommon Tales: Tales of the Jade King by Katharine the Great &
Treehugger
I laughed and cried and marvelled over this delightful tale of adventure and
mayhem, mostly at the pranks of mischievous elflings and their fear of
Master Archer, Tanglinna. The authors have mingled fun and frolic with a violent
event that turns the tale completely in the opposite direction. The
kidnapping of King Thranduil by a group of Easterlings during a seasonal hunt is in
dire contrast to the light-hearted tone set in the first few chapters. The
leader of the attackers is cold and calculating, and his intent deadly. Out of
the twenty elves that began the hunt, only Thranduil and two others remain.
The characterization is such that even the OCs are memorable. A pity the
tale is incomplete, and I wait with much anticipation for the next update. A
lovely blend of descriptive detail and riveting dialogue, I found it quite an
enjoyable read.

Post-WOTR

E4-2: Keeper Of The Flame by Larian Elensar
Very moving and well wrought story of Galadriels memories as she crosses
the waters to Valinor. The elves fade as the light in Narya, and leave
Middle-earth in the hands of Men. The Keeper of the Flame, a fitting title not
only for Galadriel, lady of the light, but also for Celeborn, who holds the
flame of her spirit, her heart, and the world she is leaving.


Post-WOTR

E4-3: More Than an Archer by Katharine the Great
Having just discovered the Tricksy Trio and Tanglinna, the Master Archer,
from reading Tales of the Jade King, I had to read this one next. The imagery
of the drawings fit so well with my idea of Tanglinna - an observer,
watching each move his students made in their quest to conquer archery. He was so
like the great hawk, stern, feral, beautiful. As did Tanglinna, I also could
see the elves in the drawings: Thranduil, the green-eyed eagle; his queen, the
falcon; the three bright-eyed mischievous squirrels, the tricksy trio; and
Legolas, the inquisitive yellow-winged bird. Katharine weaves a fitting requiem
to Brethil and Tanglinna, Treehuggers original characters.

Romance

ER3: Meldir: At First Sight by Eresse
I liked Eresse's vision of Greenwood and her comparison between Thranduil's
realm and Elrond's. In spite of thhe darkness that resides in the forest,
the beauty of the land and the love of its people are revealed. Her
description of the twins and Legolas make them almost too good to be true, but she
tempers this by their mischievous behaviour, all done in good-natured fun. Not
only is her story about the mischief and mayhem of the trio, she adds a bit of
humour to Tolkien with tidbits of ribald rumour - Gil-galad's hinted
dalliance with Elrond and not so secret crush on Thranduil. A fun, entertaining
read!

Romance

ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen
This one was definitely unusual, a modern day Tam Lin and Janet, with Feanor
as the fey captive of the faery queen Ungoliant! Ithilwen has stuck close
to the ballads and old tales in Janet's green cloak, the plucking of the
roses, the taking of Janet's maidenhood, and the Carterhaugh, but ties an element
of humour into the story that makes it more than just a remake of an old
tale. Two parts folklore, one part Tolkien and a dash of Christianity all blend
into an enchanting tale of myth and faery. Quite enjoyable!


Romance

ER5: The Kiss by Larien Elengasse
I admire Lariens writing and this vignette written from Ecthelions POV
about his feelings for his friend and soon-to-be lover is no exception. One can
feel the brashness of Ecthelions personality as he is determined to make
his desire known. The two captains of Gondolin, both to be steeped in legend,
caught up in the moment of their first kiss. Short, sweet, with a memorable
last line.

Romance

ER6: Unbound by Two-point
If I had to chose one story that personified Glorfindel, this would be the
one. Beautifully written, poetic and lyrical I could read this over and over
and never tire of it. It is hard to write in first person POV, but the author
carries it off brilliantly. A moving story of love between tutor and
student, even the love scene is written with finesse. I am only surprised that the
story has not received more notice. Every part is lovely, but this I must
admit is my favourite:
"Do we ever have a choice in our journeys? We walk our paths aimed with
only so much knowledge as we have gleaned through mysteries. And even seeming
death cannot keep us from the desires of our hearts. Beneath each path there
is the one small seed of our purpose, our hidden truth, and even that lies
cloaked in the guarded shadows of our minds. These longings and the promise
that each desire is justified only in the wanting, the constant moving toward
our secret heart's wish. The mysteries of fate and strong purpose did not
seem so troubling to me in that moment. What was understanding compared to my
spirit's purpose - and was there ever, really, a choice?"




The Silmarillion

ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse
Lariens descriptive and detailed writing paints a vivid portrait of young
prince Thranduil as seen through the doting eyes of his dying father. A sad,
bittersweet, narrative, Larien gives us an Oropher not often portrayed in fan
fiction - loving father, husband, king, made all the more memorable by these
haunting last lines: "Do your worst," I growl, fighting not to choke on my
own blood. "What matters to me most you cannot take." I close my eyes, the
vision of Thranduil burned upon my eyelids as I fall into darkness.


E4: Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel
Feanor and Maeglin forced to row the dead across the dark waters to Namos
realm as the boatman who rowed continuously across the River Styx. A fitting
punishment for both elves, but even more for Maeglin, who is mocked by Feanor
before he is forced to take his place at the oars, ferrying those whose
death he caused by his traitorous acts. Feanor at least, feels sorrow for those
who suffered at his hands, but we are left to wonder if Maeglin ever will.
Zimraphael weaves a bit of dark humor into the tale in the prologue banter
between Namo and Feanor, and in the underhanded way that Maeglin is coerced
into becoming the ferryman.


E10: Gofi and the Balrog by Levade
This was such a sweet story. I can easily picture the twins and their
concern for their adult friend. Levade writes young ones quite well, from the
hesitant way the elflings approach the warrior, seeking reassurance from the Elda
with a gentle touch to the hand or a shy look, to the breathless rush when
Elladan finally asks the momentous question. I think most of us can remember a
time when we asked an adult about something painful in their past.
Hopefully, the answer we received was framed just as carefully as that of Gofis. And
what a delight to see such a legend cowed by two wee ones. Glorfindels
reluctance to hold the babes brought forth a chuckle.



E13: Noldolante by Ithilwen
A chilling and extremely graphic description of the horrors that Maeglin's
treachery released on the peoples of Gondolin. Ithilwen shocks with Maeglin's
thoughts and actions, as single-minded in his purpose he searches the
streets of the city for his elusive love. We are privy to the fanaticism that
drives him, his madness, and yet, cannot help but feel a tinge of pity when he
realizes all he wrought did not gain that which he desired. Excellent
characterization of Maeglin and a riveting tale of the destruction of Gondolin.

E16: Sickness by Siobhan with Cassia
Oh, to be like the elves and never have to go through the pain and
discomfort of illness. Legolas has his first look at human sickness and shows himself
a good friend to Estel.
But I became indifferent to life in a way and took it for granted& And
then you came and you taught us once more that all life is precious. I
particularly liked this passage spoken by Elrond. Nice story.



E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade
As a metal-worker, I was interested in this vignette about the smithh who
re-forged the broken blade. Metal does 'sing' when quenched in either water or
oil, and I liked thaht the smith sings to the blade in turn. Elrond's idea
to choose a smith not so much for his craftmanship, but because he saw the
original sword in action is believable, and the smith's story is sad and
poignant. It is quite fitting that the one that forges the blade anew should name
it and pass the name on to Aragorn. Nicely done.


Mirasaui



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2145

Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 20:20:11 Topic ID# 2127
That's really odd. Because I never seem to have a problem with it. Are you
both using MAC's by any chance?

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: dwimmer_laik [mailto:dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 11:39 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others?


--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Thundera Tiger" <swordofomens@h...>
wrote:
> It's not just you. I was looking at posts in a different yahoo group,
> changed over to this group, and then found that "404 Object not
found on
> server" thing. I couldn't seem to get back in at the time, but it
seems to
> be working now. It wasn't this afternoon...
>
> Thundera (who is also slightly annoyed)

Thank you. I find that if I just keep following links, I inevitably can get
back to a yahoo group page with content, but there's no guarantee it'll
last--the next click could lead me right back to that error page. And using
the text box still causes my browser to crash.

Curses upon yahoo. It is most definitely evil.

Dwim



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Msg# 2146

Re: missing story? Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 20:22:11 Topic ID# 2099
I honestly don't remember why. The only thing I can think of is that it is
incomplete. We had to move a few of them around to get them in viable
incomplete categories. Since the story does have Aragorn..... Perhaps?

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Dancingtree [mailto:jodancingtree@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 12:18 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: missing story?

Really? What a very odd place for it!

Thank you, Cuthalion!

jo

beleg1cuthalion <beleg1cuthalion@yahoo.de> wrote:


I found it in the "Men"-category (surprisingly enough).

Cúthalion







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Msg# 2147

Re: a request for ballots in advance Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 20:26:30 Topic ID# 2141
I didn't get a chance to respond to this earlier. I just sat down at my
computer and posted my second Men ballot in case I didn't get home early
enough to get it out before midnight. I had wanted to slip a few more store
stories in, but oh well. Good thing there's an Amnesty Day. There are
still a few longer Elves and Men stories I hope to get to.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this request today and I think yes, I can
put them in the Files section. Just know this: Any votes posted before its
category is open will not be counted. So check the calendar and be sure to
post them on time but not early.

And not late. ;-) Save that for Amnesty Day.

Give me a bit to get them all in the Files Section....

I've got a lot of posts to get to. This has been a busy day on the
MEFAwards group. :-)

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 11:07 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] a request for ballots in advance


Ainae-

Would it be possible or a good idea for you to put the ballots for the
different categories in the files section? This would let those of us who
have less time and are trying to get our ballots in order when we can steal
the time to get them really in order and just post them when the category
opens. It would be nice to have the list in an easy-to-edit text format (as
opposed to the table on the website), complete with the identifying numbers.


Marta



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Msg# 2148

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by sindohte September 25, 2004 - 20:57:14 Topic ID# 2021
> EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv
> Incomplete

Now this is a story that grabbed my attention from the beginning.
The mysterious professor Birdsong, Minou the nightclub singer with a
past longer than my arm, and who the heck is Greg really? You have
done a deft job of combining the Tolkienverse with the present day.
Ooo, you just have to continue with this story instead of leaving the
reader with so many unanswered questions. I really fell in love with
Moira, the heroine of your story. You managed to find the right mix
of disbelief on her part at finding herself in the midst of a crazy,
utterly improbable situation and at the same time acceptance. And of
course you had to leave me hanging at Chapter 12 with the Middle
Earth version of the movie Deliverance. Nothing like Moira running
into a miniature Jed Clampett. Here is my final plea you must finish
up with this delightful tale and tie up the loose ends.



> Incomplete
> EI6: Wayland The Smith by Jilian Baade

This is an excellent alternative universe story of Maeglin's
redemption in the present day. And unlike some stories that I have
read involving a relationship between a Elf from Middle Earth and a
present day girl, Maeglin's relationship with Mandy was both
believable and touching. It was poignant to see how Maeglin was
starved for contact with another living being after so many eons.
After his actions at Gondolin, I had always viewed Maeglin as a
selfish individual who only looked out for himself. Yet in the end,
he proved that he had learned from his earlier mistakes. I liked
that instead of having Mandy and Maeglin living happily ever after in
present day Earth, he made the decision to return to Valinor and face
all of those he killed by his actions.



> Post-WOTR
> E4-1: Elrohir's Tale by Miriel361

Let me confess right now that I am a total sucker for stories written
about Elladan and Elrohir as a duo. And if there is one thing that I
love more than reading about the sons of Elrond, it is reading
stories that feature Elrohir. Nothing like explaining away the
presence of a handsome man with pointy as being a long lost cousin
from Ireland. If all of the men in Ireland looked like Elves, I am
booking the next Aer Lingus flight. You truly created two memorable
characters with Elrohir and Siobhan and it is a story that only gets
better with reading it again a second time.



> Romance
> ER1: By Hook or By Crook by Eresse

A throughly delightful lighthearted romp of a story. After being
portrayed so often as a dour and serious Elf, it was amusing to read
about Elrond and Celebrian in the cellar, while Thranduil and his
wife were polishing the furniture in Lord Elrond's study.



> Romance
> ER4: Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen

I decided to take a chance on this story because I am not a very big
fan of Feanor. However the extent of his suffering while being
enslaved by Ungoliant actually made me feel a shred of sympathy for
the poor Elf. I can only imagine the anguish Feanor would feel at
creating his beautiful jewels only to watch his handiwork consumed to
satisfy Ungoliant's always empty belly. As I was reading your story,
I thought the storyline seemed somewhat familiar and I was impressed
to see that it was based upon the ballard of Tam Lin. What a novel
retelling of that particular ballard.



> The Silmarillion
> ES6: Henen by Larien Elengasse

Stories that explore the relationship between fathers and sons are
always something that peak my interest. Although this was only a
short piece of writing, its brevity did not take away from its
powerful impact. You managed to convey the love that Oropher had for
his son Thranduil and that even at the moment of his death, his last
thoughts were of the love and pride that he felt for his only child.



> The Silmarillion
> ES8: Keystone by Wild Iris

The actual construction of Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood was an area
of the Tolkienverse that I had not considered previously. Your story
was filled with all sorts of small details that made it come alive
for me as I read it. The one touch that I loved was that gemstones
were placed in their ceiling as a way to comfort the Elven children
at night. The fact that you took the time to think of such seemingly
insignificant details is what made this story a true gem to read.

Msg# 2149

Re: a request for ballots in advance Posted by Marta September 25, 2004 - 21:04:22 Topic ID# 2141
<snippage majorus>
> Anyway, I've been thinking about this request today and I think yes,
I can
> put them in the Files section.

Thanks, Ainae. You've just made my life a bit simpler.

>Just know this: Any votes posted before its
> category is open will not be counted. So check the calendar and be
sure to
> post them on time but not early.
>
> And not late. ;-) Save that for Amnesty Day.
>

Understood. Can you still post the ballots to the group when the
category opens? This would be a good clue to me that it's okay to vote.

> Give me a bit to get them all in the Files Section....
>

No problem. Thanks for doing it.

> I've got a lot of posts to get to. This has been a busy day on the
> MEFAwards group. :-)
>

It has been! Good luck with that. (And the offlist email I sent you -
that can wait until whenever.)

Marta

Msg# 2150

Re: a request for ballots in advance Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 21:06:49 Topic ID# 2141
It's going to take longer than I thought. My server is trying to crash on
me. Don't even know if this will get posted....

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 9:04 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: a request for ballots in advance

<snippage majorus>
> Anyway, I've been thinking about this request today and I think yes,
I can
> put them in the Files section.

Thanks, Ainae. You've just made my life a bit simpler.

>Just know this: Any votes posted before its category is open will not
>be counted. So check the calendar and be
sure to
> post them on time but not early.
>
> And not late. ;-) Save that for Amnesty Day.
>

Understood. Can you still post the ballots to the group when the category
opens? This would be a good clue to me that it's okay to vote.

> Give me a bit to get them all in the Files Section....
>

No problem. Thanks for doing it.

> I've got a lot of posts to get to. This has been a busy day on the
> MEFAwards group. :-)
>

It has been! Good luck with that. (And the offlist email I sent you - that
can wait until whenever.)

Marta




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Msg# 2151

Re: Men -- Official Voting Ballot Posted by fourth\_moon September 25, 2004 - 21:34:17 Topic ID# 2022
Sorry to be so late! I hope I estimated the time right.

> Men - Official Voting Ballot

> Gondor



> MeG4: Choices by Lindelea

A story about characters who can still crack jokes when buried beneath
a dead troll is right up my allee. But there's more to it than jokes:
Lindelea manages to write again what I already read in LotR without
sounding as if she was just repeating. Instead she reinvents and
invents new aspects, seen through Beregond's eyes - an interesting
contrast to seeing the White City through Pippin's eyes in the book.
The shifting between the two plot lines - starting with Beregorn
trapped beneath the troll / Beregond meeting Pippin - manages to build
suspense, but not frustrate when the plot line changes again. Also:
Lindelea manages to get the feeling of kindness and otherness of elves
over, and that is very difficult to do (and not often works as well as
it does here).





MeG6: Death by Water by Altariel

I love the very powerful, wonderfully invocative descriptions of
Numenor's end – the beginning of the story throws me right into the
situation of Numenor sinking under and imitates what it must be like
to dream of it. Faramir's relation to his brother and father and the
course of his life are woven into descriptions of the dream.

The Denethor's reactions are described fits in beautifully with
Faramir's character: accepting and without resent, but not without
pain and sometimes pity. The "I am yours to command" is both sad and
sweet, and so are the short periods of understanding between Denethor
and Faramir. The end is perfect, with the mention of the light
flickering at the top of the tower hinting at troubles to come.





> MeG11: I will always be your brother by Avon

I like the way this story brings Boromir's feelings for his brother to
life, and fleshes out the lives of both brothers with events that give
an idea of what growing up was like for them. I especially enjoy the
solemness of Faramir, and how his gift of seeing into the heart of
his brother even at a young age is described by Boromir.
The phrase "to be half of each other" is lovely, and the description
of the horror and confusion of battle as well as the dilemma of
comforting a younger brother without telling him lies is excellently done.





> MeG14: Leaves on the Wind by Nancy Brooke

What I liked best about this story were the contrasting pictures used
to represent Boromir and Faramir: the swordsmen and the archer,
traveling under the sun and under the moon, Anorien and Ithilien....
In the rest of the story, too, the language is beautiful, if a bit to
twisted now and then. Now and then the language stroke me as a bit too
ornate for a fighter (even Faramir), but the content of the letters
and the sense of poetry in the language are in perfectly in character
with Faramir.



> MeG15: Possessions by Altariel

This is a sweet tale of a first meeting between Gandalf and Faramir,
with both characters portrayed beautifully – Faramir careful,
inquisitive and already a bit guarded, Gandalf with a love to show off
a bit and tell stories even when searching for important information
among the record's of Minas Tirith. I especially like the relationship
between Faramir and Denethor: it is already strained, which seems to
have left a mark on Faramir, but Denethor is still able to show some
kindness toward his younger son. This fits in beautifully with the
introduction remark by Gandalf that with the death of his wife, a
grayness begins to hang over Denethor, as well as with the readers'
knowledge of what will happen later on.






> MeG17: Reasons by Saralitazie

The scene described between Boromir and Faramir is sweet, if a bit
lacking in suspense and new developments. What I like a lot about this
story is the effortless, fluent way with words as in phrases like " a
land remembered solely in stories" – the way old-fashioned phrases
flow in without being obvious elements of style, the warm affection
between the brothers and the eery moment when Boromir last looks back
before departing.










> MeG19: Singer by the shore by Beth Winter

This story drew me right from the beginning with it's vivid
description of the two brothers wandering through the night. The
different creatures they imagine in the night – Faramir's elves and
ancient warriors versus Boromir's orcs – are a wonderful way to show
how different they think. All the events – Boromir falling, the
appearance of the Singer, - are written wonderfully expressive and
captivating. I love the characteristics of the brothers and their
relation to each other: Boromir's consciousness of dignity and
unthinking bravery, Faramir's self-assertiveness when it comes to his
knowledge, and the light squabbling between them. Only flaw: the
lyrics of the song loose something of the spell-binding quality of the
rest of the story. Leaving the actual words unspoken and just
describing the images the songs wake in the boys works far better for
me – the last song is just perfect in creating a haunting, sad mood.





> Me5: Kinsmen by Dwimordene

I like the fact that the story included Aragorn's mother Gilraen and
that the author did a very good job of giving an idea of what her life
in Imladris might have been like. The story telling is good, too, but
sadly the premise of Aragorn fathering a son with a woman he's not
married to threw me off.




> Me6: Night in Hollin by Nancy Brooke

The story picks up a scene from the movie and does a great job
building on it: first light and amusing, then with more serious tones
as Aragorn is faced with the difficulties of having lived so many
different lifes, never being quite what people see in him. All the
characters are well done (Frodo's silence, Sam's language, the
bantering of Merry & Pippin and so on), but what I really love is the
way unexpected aspects of Boromir are shown while still keeping him in
character. Apart from that, the way Merry and Pippin are inquisitive
and unable to let a subject go, but without being insufferable, is
charming. The dances are perfectly described and work great to show
how different the members of the Fellowship are, while still having
things in common. Even if I don't know whether the thought of Gimli
dancing or of Aragorn dancing with Boromir is the scarier one.




> Me8: The Sickle of the Valar by Altariel

What a lovely way with words – the way Denethor's loneliness comes
alive really makes me feel for him, no matter how much nastiness he
might show later on in LotR. Somehow this story manages to pull out
different moods and make the scenes come alive: the death of
Finduilas, Denethor sleepless and watching the night, and the hushed
conversation between Faramir and his grandfather. I love the details,
like Denethor's first exasperated reaction to hearing Faramir and
Adrahil, Adrahil's description of elves, and the way things remain
unspoken between Faramir and Adrahil – which is a lot more realistic
than an unlimited heart-to-heart. The end, too, is lovely, and very
cleverly done: not describing Denethor's reaction builds a distance
between him and the reader and stresses his loneliness. The play with
the different meanings of the Sickle – as an instrument of death and
sign of hope – is wonderful.

Msg# 2152

Re: a request for ballots in advance Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 21:38:29 Topic ID# 2141
If praying for a hard drive doesn't seem completely off the deep end to you,
please pray for this.

My server has three hard drives. Two small ones where NT 4.0 and Windows
2000 Server are installed respectively. Then there is the giant 200 GB hard
drive where all my files are: writing, MEFAs and other web pages, pics of
kitties and Europe and everything.....

If I can't get that 200GB back, I'm in deep trouble.

To say I'm near panic is not an exaggeration. And I'm a tech support
professional. Which, in a sense, makes this worse because I know just how
bad this is.

--Ainaechoiriel
Who wants her hard drive back.



-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 9:06 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] Re: a request for ballots in advance

It's going to take longer than I thought. My server is trying to crash on
me. Don't even know if this will get posted....

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Marta [mailto:MartaL0712@netscape.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 9:04 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: a request for ballots in advance

<snippage majorus>
> Anyway, I've been thinking about this request today and I think yes,
I can
> put them in the Files section.

Thanks, Ainae. You've just made my life a bit simpler.

>Just know this: Any votes posted before its category is open will not
>be counted. So check the calendar and be
sure to
> post them on time but not early.
>
> And not late. ;-) Save that for Amnesty Day.
>

Understood. Can you still post the ballots to the group when the category
opens? This would be a good clue to me that it's okay to vote.

> Give me a bit to get them all in the Files Section....
>

No problem. Thanks for doing it.

> I've got a lot of posts to get to. This has been a busy day on the
> MEFAwards group. :-)
>

It has been! Good luck with that. (And the offlist email I sent you - that
can wait until whenever.)

Marta




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Msg# 2153

Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by Thundera Tiger September 25, 2004 - 22:47:04 Topic ID# 2127
*shakes head* Nope. I'm not, anyway. I've only run into trouble once, but
I've heard other people on other groups complaining, too. *shrugs* Perhaps
we're cursed?

Thundera (The Cursed One)

From: "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
To: <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others?
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 20:19:27 -0500

That's really odd. Because I never seem to have a problem with it. Are you
both using MAC's by any chance?

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: dwimmer_laik [mailto:dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 11:39 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others?


--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Thundera Tiger" <swordofomens@h...>
wrote:
> It's not just you. I was looking at posts in a different yahoo group,
> changed over to this group, and then found that "404 Object not
found on
> server" thing. I couldn't seem to get back in at the time, but it
seems to
> be working now. It wasn't this afternoon...
>
> Thundera (who is also slightly annoyed)

Thank you. I find that if I just keep following links, I inevitably can get
back to a yahoo group page with content, but there's no guarantee it'll
last--the next click could lead me right back to that error page. And using
the text box still causes my browser to crash.

Curses upon yahoo. It is most definitely evil.

Dwim





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Msg# 2154

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/26/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 25, 2004 - 23:03:53 Topic ID# 2135
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

Sunday September 26, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2155

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/26/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 25, 2004 - 23:03:54 Topic ID# 2136
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Sunday September 26, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2156

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by ellbee\_g September 25, 2004 - 23:57:34 Topic ID# 2021
Nothing like waiting til the last minute. Actually, it turned out I
had read all the wrong stories during the reading season, and I'm
now trying to play catch up. Believe me, I'll be taking advantage of
amnesty Day. On to the ballot. -Ell


Elves

Official Voting Ballot




Drabble

ED1: Hannon Le by Lady Aranel

I'm impressed. I wouldn't have believed it was possible to make a
drabble so hot, but you've certainly done it. Nice.


Incomplete

EI1: Dawn Twilight by Viv

I've been meaning to read this for a long time, but I hesitated only
because it's such a time commitment to get into a long, multi-
chaptered story. I am so glad I finally read this, because it is
just fantastic. It kept me riveted and I read it all the way through
in one sitting. You not only make a reader want to know how the
story unfolds, but every time a question is answered it seems three
more are raised, and I MUST know the answers. Moira has a great
voice, and your Elves are suitably powerful and wise and enigmatic
and deliciously sexy. I think I know who is who, but I won't say for
fear of spoiling anything. Every character is so well drawn, so
alive, and the story itself is the perfect mixture of fantasy,
humor, and adventure. Some specific things I love: the way the mind-
reading is more than just the hearing of words, but has a physical
effect as well. It sure gave me shivers. The way she doodled around
the yummy Dr. B's name. The James Bond-type plane. The scary
monsters. The way things are slowly revealed a bit at a time, like a
verbal strip-tease. The walking purse. Greg getting all eye-
narrowingly formidable and protective. It's just altogether one of
the most exciting, sexy, and downright fun stories I've read, and I
was ridiculously disappointed to get to the end. I'll be staring at
the computer, waiting for you to update.




EV1: A Fool's Hope by Thundera Tiger

I like your take on Elrond's thought processes. Glorfindel makes an
excellent point; it certainly looks like there's very little hope as
he lays out the facts, and I would tend to agree that not all the
members of the Fellowship were the best possible choice. Your Elrond
makes the reader believe that, on the contrary, these individuals
were the only possible choice.


Vignette

EV2: Cold Comfort by Lady Aranel

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this brought a tear to my eye.
Once again, you've managed to get conjure up a compelling picture
and an incredible amount of emotion with very few words.


Vignette

EV3: Dancing Within Walls by Sphinx

This was so very moving, watching the series of thoughts that go
through Elrond's head during the dance. Sorrow, anger, hope, all
combined into the rhythm of the music and movements. You've given us
a lovely, though sad, glimpse into the heart of a father who knows
he will never see his daughter again.


Vignette

EV4: Dinner Guests by Salsify

I haven't finished The Silmarillion (and perhaps never will) so I
don't usually read Silm-fic, but this had me rolling. Love it!

Vignette

EV5: Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia

"The strongest roses fair thrive on neglect." I had to laugh at this
line, only because I like to excuse my own neglect of my roses by
saying I'm trying to breed in hardiness. Meriadoc is a hobbit after
my own heart. The contrast between the busy and practical hobbits
and Celeborn's vision of a fading Rivendell is a strong one, very
moving. I'm always glad to see stories that don't have the hobbits
as simply comic relief to the all-knowing Elves. It was refreshing
to see Merry able to offer comfort and hope to Celeborn without even
trying.




E7: Dissection of the Common WoodElf, Telerius Galadh by bryn_bnw

Bwahaha! Most educational and informative. I was very interested
(and strangely pleased) to learn of Legolas's proficiency in
swearing, and find the potential connection of Elves with jellyfish
to be fascinating.




E11: Legolas and the Olórë Mallë by Chathol-linn

This is simply fascinating. I was immediately sucked into this story
and read it through at one sitting. Your Elves and their lifestyle
feel so real, and Legolas's dream is incredibly lovely and
imaginative, every detail finely drawn. The structure of the story,
going back and forth into and out of dreams and memories could have
been wildly confusing, but you managed to make it not only
comprehensible and seamless, but beautiful and lyrical at the same
time.






E18: The Smith by Jilian Baade

You paint an amazingly vivid picture for such a short piece. I liked
the repetition of "He remembered…" through the whole thing, and I
got a little shiver when I read about the blade screaming out it's
name. Quite moving.

***

Msg# 2157

Men and Elves categories close in 2 minutes. Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 25, 2004 - 23:59:30 Topic ID# 2157
These two categories will close in about 2 minutes. I'll make a post right
at midnight. Any Men and Elves votes posted after that will not be counted
and will have to be reposted on Amnesty Day.

(I can give directions again for how to set a delay on sending, if need be)


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2158

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by ellbee\_g September 26, 2004 - 0:00:07 Topic ID# 2021
Yikes, I hope I got that one in on time. I see the stamp says 12:57,
but I understood the deadline was 12:00 central time, and it's just
that here. Let me know if this is too late and I'll adjust myself
accordingly.

-Ell

Msg# 2159

Numenor--Official Voting Season Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:01:41 Topic ID# 2159
Numenor

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top
line of the header information (ex. code: Title by Author) and then comment
beneath them.



(No Subcategories)



N1: Aglarrama by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1426628/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A shipwright of Numenor watches the departure of Alcarondas on the
eve of the Downfall.



N2: Celestial Quartet by Thevina

URL: http://www.scribeoz.com/fanfic/story.php?no=407

Rating: R sexual scenes

Romance Partners: m/f

Summary: Four vignettes spanning three ages of Middle-earth, multiple
geographies and races, and several points of view. What binds them together:
the night sky above, whether starry or clouded, and a sparkling gem that
resists disappearing into the mists of time.



N3: Confessions of a Queen Downfallen by Jen Littlebottom

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1367510/1/

Rating: R

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Here lie the last words of Tar-Miriel, by some called Ar-Zimraphel,
last, and least Queen of Numenor.



N6: Every Good and Perfect Gift by Nessime

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1757

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Tar-Elendil shares a private moment with his daughter Silmarien on
the eve of her wedding.



N4: Renuvammet by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1429808/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: While struggling to chronicle the Downfall of Numenor, Elendil
receives a very timely visitor. Vignette.



N5: The Eleventh Hour by Zimraphel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1324494/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Why did Tar-Miriel not board one of the nine ships and escape
Numenor with the other Faithful?



N7: The Sinking of Numenor by Jen Littlebottom

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1351975/1/

Rating: PG-13

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The real reason Numenor was sunk, and, on a related theme, why
there are no Fae in Middle-earth. Contains bizarre humour, angry Valar, and
a sheep.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



NA1: Jen Littlebottom

Confessions of a Queen Downfallen, The Sinking of Numenor



NA2: Nessime

Every Good and Perfect Gift



NA3: Thevina

Celestial Quartet



NA4: Zimraphel

Aglarrama, Renuvammet, The Eleventh Hour



This category ends on October 5th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2160

Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:01:43 Topic ID# 2160
Rohan

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top
line of the header information (ex. code: Title by Author) and then comment
beneath them.



(No subcategories)





Rh1: Bitter Watches of the Night by Sharpeslass

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1691584/1/

Rating: R Graphic sexual situations, somewhat non-con

Romance Partners: Grima/Eowyn

Summary: Grima finds a way to get what he wants from Eowyn.



Rh2: Complicated Allies by Sun Queen

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/840622/1/

Rating: PG-13 battle violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The battle of Helm's Deep from the perspective of an unknown
soldier, and his view of Legolas and Gimli. Proof that racism was alive and
well in Middle Earth. Book-verse.



Rh3: Daughters of Orome by Thevina Finduilas

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1436

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A story of Rohan, beginning with Eowyn's childhood and continuing
past the War of the Ring, covering around 35 years. Features Eowyn and
Frealas, an OFC who is two years Eowyn's senior. Multiple POVs, action,
drama, some angst and musings on a possible underground shieldmaiden
subculture that might have been revived in Rohan before and during the WR.



Rh4: For the Dark by Forodwaith

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1571

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Tolkien says that Gleowine, Theoden's minstrel, "made no other
song" after the King's death. What became of him?



Rh5: Gastings Night by Dwimordene

URL: http://www.dwimordenespage.org/index.php?go=7&id=4&chapter=1

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: I present you with a Harrowdale Halloween. Hama learns the meaning
of some old tales..



Rh6: Keepers of the Hearth by Alawa

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2980

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Edoras, 3021, the last year of the Third Age. Tomorrow the Golden
Hall will witness the wedding of Eomer King of the Mark and Lothiriel of Dol
Amroth. For more than thirty years another has kept it safe, but now she
must make ready for the coming of the Queen.



Rh7: Lament for the Unsung Dead by Regina

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2015

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: Eowyn broods on Theodred's death and the decline of the House of
Eorl as she helps prepare her cousin's body for burial. Canonical within the
compass of LOTR, but not UT.



Rh8: Myth and Memory by Ainaechoiriel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1256706/1/

Rating: PG

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A young door warden of Rohan and his friend observe a certain Elf
on the way to Helm's Deep.



Rh9: Namesake by Ainaechoiriel

URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1359677/1/

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: A companion piece to author's other story, Myth and Memory. An old
man speaks to his grandchild, remembers a fallen friend.



Rh10: Promises to Keep by Nessime

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=1789

Rating: G

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: The Third Marshal of the Riddermark and the Ranger who would be
King meet for the first time on the plains of Rohan. Told from a slightly
different viewpoint.



Rh11: Safe Journey, Brother by AngelsFall

URL: http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?STID=2621

Rating: PG-13 graphic, portrayal of violence

Romance Partners: n/a

Summary: When a twist of fate leaves Eomer horribly wounded, friends and
family gather to support him and each other in a time of need. AU, angst as
well as action; features Eomer, Lothliriel, Elfwine, Eowyn + assorted
friends.





AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



RhA1: Ainaechoiriel

Myth and Memory, Namesake



RhA2: Alawa

Keepers of the Hearth



RhA3: AngelsFall

Safe Journey, Brother



RhA4: Dwimordene

Gastings Night



RhA5: Forodwaith

For the Dark



RhA6: Nessime

Promises to Keep



RhA7: Regina

Lament for the Unsung Dead



RhA8: Sharpeslass

Bitter Watches of the Night



RhA9: Sun Queen

Complicated Allies



RhA10: Thevina Finduilas

Daughters of Orome



This category ends on October 5th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2161

Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:01:43 Topic ID# 2021
You did!

But yours is now the last until Amnesty Day for those two categories!

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: ellbee_g [mailto:ellbee_g@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2004 12:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Elves--Official Voting Ballot

Yikes, I hope I got that one in on time. I see the stamp says 12:57, but I
understood the deadline was 12:00 central time, and it's just that here. Let
me know if this is too late and I'll adjust myself accordingly.

-Ell



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Msg# 2162

Men and Elves are now closed categories Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:02:44 Topic ID# 2162
Save any further votes for these two categories until Amnesty Day.

Now, if I've set my dates right, Numenor and Rohan should be posting any
minute now.


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2163

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/27/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 26, 2004 - 0:03:43 Topic ID# 2163
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Monday September 27, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2164

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/27/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 26, 2004 - 0:03:49 Topic ID# 2164
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

Monday September 27, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
Birthday Reminders
Set up birthday reminders!


Copyright ©  2004  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Msg# 2165

Re: Numenor--Official Voting Season Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:06:14 Topic ID# 2159
That should really say "Official Voting Ballot"

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2004 12:01 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Numenor--Official Voting Season

Msg# 2166

In other news.... Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 0:11:22 Topic ID# 2166
Well, I got the hard drive back.

That's the good news. I still can't get the Windows 2000 server to work.
That's the bad news. While it's terribly annoying to me personally, it
wouldn't matter much to all of you except that that, because the MEFA files
live on that giant hard drive....

I can't reach them. This computer is not the server and if the server isn't
running the network, there is no netwok. If there's no network, I can't
post all the ballots. Unless I copy them from the Outbox. Might do that
tomorrow. I've just too much else going on right now tonight. I hope you
understand.

Right now, I've dug up my $$$$$ data recovery software I bought 3 years ago
when my hard drive got "confused". Yes, that's the technical term for it.
Four different programs reported 4 different partition configurations. If
that's not confused, I don't know what is. Well that hard drive had my
writing, too, and you know I couldn't just let that go without getting it
back.

So, if you ever need data recovery on a non-physically damaged hard drive
(not clanking or smoking, etc.), let me know. I'll give you a reasonable
rate.

Anyway, the server won't come up because Directory Services won't run. I
have a lead on a possible fix, but it requires me to try and retrieve a file
from a partition I deleted. Cross your fingers for me. That software has
recovered files from a hard drive that I repartitioned and formatted. It
does work. But the file may be corrupted. If it was corrupted, the data
recovery software can retrieve it, but it will still be corrupted.

And, because it is a giant 200GB hard drive....It's going to take about 29
hours to scan the thing.

Yep. 29. It said 24 when I started, darn it.

And if that still doesn't work, I've still got the hard drive with Windows
NT 4 installed. I'll go back to that and chuck the whole Win2k thing.

Fun, fun, fun. Glad I got that last vote out when I did.

And I just noticed my oldest cat lying on the floor here. He's very wide.
Very. How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2167

Re: In other news.... Posted by fourth\_moon September 26, 2004 - 4:45:13 Topic ID# 2166
Ainaechoiriel

Computer problems are such a pain - you rely on your PC, and then
suddenly nothing goes.

I'm so impressed with all the work you put into having these Awards
run as smoothly as possible. I'm keeping my thumbs pressed for you
that after this, it'll be mostly waiting for the 29 hours to pass.

> Very. How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?

Water and no bread?

And I'll be sending in my Elves Votes at Last Chance Day (I forgot the
name).

Good luck!

fourth_moon

Msg# 2168

Re: In other news.... Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 26, 2004 - 8:18:55 Topic ID# 2166
-----Original Message-----
From: fourth_moon [mailto:new_moon@gmx.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2004 4:45 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: In other news....

>Ainaechoiriel

>Computer problems are such a pain - you rely on your PC, and then suddenly
nothing goes.

Yep. I particularly rely on three of them. The laptop is just for when I
don't want to sit in the office (home) here. ;-)

>I'm so impressed with all the work you put into having these Awards run as
smoothly as possible. I'm keeping my thumbs pressed for you that after this,
it'll be mostly waiting for the 29 hours to pass.

Hey, we're down to 16 hours 30 minutes! ;-)

> Very. How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?

>Water and no bread?

I'd get put in jail for animal cruelty. It's funny because now that I have
Belle (ie. A kitten eating kitten food) the adult cats' food isn't available
for more than 20 minutes, three times a day. And I know they aren't eating
it all. I put it away. I give them 1/2 cup (split into three bowls) three
times a day. 1/2 cup is the recommended amount for an adult cat over a
certain weight (which the cat in question is definitely over). So I know
he's not eating 1/2 cup, or at least not much more. So why all the weight?
I know he doesn't play much but really?

In contrast, my 2nd oldest cat looks lke he's bigger but is really terribly
skinny. Under that long fur is a three-inch-wide cat. ;-) I can't get him
to eat anymore.

And then there's Lina, who hardly eats at all, but looks a little wide and
sometimes I can't tell if it's the semi-long hair or that she's overweight.
And she does play!

>And I'll be sending in my Elves Votes at Last Chance Day (I forgot the
name).

Amnesty Day! A beautiful thing, eh? I'm glad my selfishness (I have more
stories I want to read and didn't get them read in time--and there was that
extra day just sitting there....) can be to everyone's advantage!

Now, gotta get ready for church.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2169

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Marta September 26, 2004 - 9:52:13 Topic ID# 2160
Rohan - Marta's votes

> Rh2: Complicated Allies by Sun Queen

This produces a rather unsavoury view of Legolas & Gimli - one I'm not
entirely comfortable with. But the story was well told, and the
characterizations, if different from how I see them, seem plausible
from an Eorling perspective. Well done.

> Rh4: For the Dark by Forodwaith

Oh, I liked this story! Tolkien never mentions a custom like this, but
I can see it given the Rohirric custom. The bond between Theoden and
Gleowine is well-drawn, and Gleowine's grief was convincing. I
especially liked Forodwaith's use of details and the interaction
between Gleowine and the horse. Overall, it was a very nice story.
This was the first time I'd read it, and I wouldn't mind rereading it
some day.

> Rh6: Keepers of the Hearth by Alawa

This is probably one of the most convincing OFCs I've ever read. One
can imagine Winfrith coming from Tolkien's pen quite easily.

> Rh10: Promises to Keep by Nessime

The author says, in her notes, that she could not improve on the
Master's dialog in this scene. That may very well be true, but the
same can't be said for the scene as a whole. As much as I love the
scene in Tolkien's original, seeing it retold from Hasufel's
perspective *does* improve it. In Rohan culture (at least as portrayed
in this story) everyone has a place and a job to do - and this
includes the horses. They are living, thinking parts of the world,
with doubts and fears all their own.

Hasufel's grief at losing Garulf is very real: "Could I have saved
him? To know the answer to that question is something I both long for
and fear." These are not the thoughts of a dumb brute! This unique
perspective, a glimpse of the depth of even the horses, breathed new
breath into a scene I've read a dozen times.

> Rh11: Safe Journey, Brother by AngelsFall

My one qualm with this is how quickly Eomer died. But the interactions
of the different characters is so refreshing I always seem to forget
that nitpick. :-) It's a wonderful story.

> RhA6: Nessime

Nessime clearly loves Middle-earth, but I can't help but think that
the Riddermark has a special place in her heart. Her use of details
and her apt storytelling skills bring the land alive, making men out
of myths. She also has a real skill with minor characters; Edrys and
Gárulf fit right in with how Tolkien described Rohan, and offer us an
interesting glimpse of a fascinating character. No wonder she pulls
the same off with Hasufel!

Marta

Msg# 2170

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Larian Elensar September 26, 2004 - 12:04:06 Topic ID# 2160
Rohan

Official Voting Ballot - Larian

larian_elensar@yahoo.com




Rh2: Complicated Allies by Sun Queen

Wow! That was great. I could *see* the three of them through the soldier's
eyes. Well done!



Rh4: For the Dark by Forodwaith

Touching. Almost had me crying, especially at the part where he leaves the
hall, but says goodbye to no one.



Rh7: Lament for the Unsung Dead by Regina

So little about Theodred in the books, and of course, only a glimpse in the
movie, but yes, I've always been curious about him. Thanks for filling in a
few bits and pieces. I like your image of how he related to Eowyn. Well done.




Rh10: Promises to Keep by Nessime

Nice picture. You kept Hasufel's point of view consistent throughout, not
everyone is able to do that with pieces like this, especially in first person.
Well done.




=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2171

Re: Numenor--Official Voting Season Posted by Larian Elensar September 26, 2004 - 12:06:53 Topic ID# 2159
Numenor

Official Voting Ballot - Larian

larian_elensar@yahoo.com



N7: The Sinking of Numenor by Jen Littlebottom

*hee* I laughed loudest at the name of the plan (the one about shut up
Gil-Galad). Yeah, I always wondered why Numenor was sunk! Funny.






=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2172

Re: Numenor--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 26, 2004 - 16:39:05 Topic ID# 2172
Much shorter ballot this time. I'm sure somebody somewhere is breathing a
sigh of relief at that!

-------------------------------

Numenor
Official Voting Ballot

-------------------------------

STORIES

-------------------------------

>>N1: Aglarrama by Zimraphel

Interesting story, and one that I enjoyed very much. Here we get a view of
Alcarondas from the perspective of the shipwright. And along with his
insight, we catch glimpses of other characters. Normal, every day Nýmenýrean
characters, not all of whom were caught up in the crazy worship of Morgoth.
I enjoyed seeing the pride that Indilzar had for his ship and contrasting it
with the pride that Ar-Pharazýn. Sauron made the most of his cameo, and in
the end, Alcarondas went off accompanied by an ominous roll of thunder.
Terrific foreshadowing.


>>N2: Celestial Quartet by Thevina

Intriguing tale that makes use of one of Tolkienýs favorite plot devices:
jewelry that simply refuses to stay put. Seriously, though, the blending of
the night with the ring was fascinating, and I enjoyed watching one of the
more obscure tails wend its way through other, more prominent tales.


>>N3: Confessions of a Queen Downfallen by Jen Littlebottom

A very disturbing piece that takes a long look into the mind of Tar-Miriel.
The veiled references to things that sheýs been through and things that
sheýs subsequently done make a greater impact than if theyýd been spelled
out one by one. By only hinting and never explaining, the readerýs
imagination is free to run wild, and mine did. Because just enough hints are
given that itýs easy to do so. And the narrative itself has that rambling,
half-crazed feel, and by the end, I was very uneasy. Which seems to be the
point of the piece, and I can only say that it did its work well. Short and
slightly sinister look at a Tar-Miriel who managed to save innocence from
Sauron but who paid for it dearly.


>>N6: Every Good and Perfect Gift by Nessime

This is a wonderful story and shows the Nýmenýreans at their best. I loved
the wise and enthusiastic portrayal of Silmarien, who would go on to found
the House from which Elendil, Isildur, and ultimately Aragorn would come.
The use of the word ýestelý was extremely appropriate, and I like how the
different types of hope were examined. One being a believe in things that
are good, and the other being a trust that things will work out with the
latter example being known as ýestel.ý Along with portraying some very wise
Nýmenýreans, it sheds new light on Aragornýs tale. Wonderful gap-bridging.
The other characters were also well drawn, even down to their gifts of star
charts and stars of Elendil. I also love how Finrod was pulled into this
story. A very appropriate link considering his friendship with men and
ultimately his preservation of Berenýs life, from whom Elros and the kings
of Nýmenor were descended. And I think thatýs what I really loved most about
this story: the way it linked to both the past and the present as well as
showing some very good characterizations of Tar-Elendil and Silmarien. And
their acceptance of Manýs Gift as a gift and not a curse was a great
contrast to the darker periods of Nýmenor.


>>N4: Renuvammet by Zimraphel

I always imagined the elves of Lindon giving support and supplies to Elendil
and the Faithful who washed up on shore, but for some reason, my mind never
made the jump from this to the logical conclusions that they would also help
those who grieved. Which is why I like this fic so much. Elrond comes as a
messenger of Gil-galad, and as one who has already lost much, he helps
Elendil with his own grief. Short, touching story that remembers the
Faithful were not alone in their loss.


>>N5: The Eleventh Hour by Zimraphel

Wonderful story about sacrifice and devotion. I love the reasons Tar-Miriel
gives for her decision to stay in Nýmenor, and I love that she sends her
youngest maiden in her place, a maiden that had apparently been thought lost
by the Elendili. Sauron was at his best, sly and almost coy in his words,
only giving hints of his ultimate plans. Elendil and Isildur were
surprisingly complete characters in their small roles, and their acceptance
of Tar-Mirielýs decision as well as their sorrow was heartfelt. A good
reminder that the lords of a land are by necessity not lords of themselves.


>>N7: The Sinking of Numenor by Jen Littlebottom

Not exactly what I read in the Silmarillion, but entertaining, nonetheless.
My favorite part was probably the message sheep. Something about that made
me laugh. And I think Elrond should have kept some of the fae around. They
could have been used as expendable forces when Sauron returned to
Middle-earth.

------------------------

AUTHORS

------------------------

>>NA2: Nessime

Nessime took a tidbit of history, found other tidbits of history, found even
MORE obscure tidbits of history, and then tied them all together in a lovely
tale of Nýmenor. I very much enjoy how the history of the past narrowed to
produce some of the greatest years of Nýmenor, and how the moment in this
story alluded to Nýmenorýs ultimate downfall but also to what would save the
remnants who survived: estel. Hope. But not just hope. Trust, also. Itýs an
intriguing concept that very much makes the difference between Tar-Elendil
and the last king, Ar-Pharazýn. One has hope in trust while the other has
hope in ambition. In one little scene, Nessime is able to distill and
compare the long centuries of Nýmenor, trace their respective philosophies
back through history to an obscure debate between Finrod and Andreth, and
then push them forward in time to the last years of the Third Age in which
Estel was once again needed. Nessime hides so much in what appears to be a
simple tale on the surface but is in reality a far-reaching epic. And that,
too, is very characteristic of Nýmenor.


>>NA4: Zimraphel

Zimraphel has the ability to find the other perspective angle in dealing
with Nýmenor. The three stories nominated here are always told with
something of a slant. A different way of looking at things, if you will.
Whether itýs a gifted shipwright watching his pride and glory sail into what
will become ruin or a simple maid reunited with his parentýs kin just ere
the storm breaks, weýre shown the other side of life in Nýmenor. The main
characters and conflict are there, but Zimraphel gives it an added dimension
that makes it that much more complete.

---------------------------------

Thundera

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar ý get it now!
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/

Msg# 2173

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by silvermoonlady1 September 26, 2004 - 20:50:43 Topic ID# 2060
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...>
wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Hobbits
>
Official Voting Ballot


> Drabble
>
> HobD3: Mother Gamgee by Marigold
>
> URL: http://marigoldsredbook.crickhollow.net/fic_mothergamgee.html
>
This was both sweet and true to character and situation; much said
in few words, and with feeling and elegance.


> Drabble
>
> HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold
>
Once again, sweetness that doesn't have that cloying awfulness of
forced or clichéd expression, and the realistic idea that though all
grieve at some time in life, we all do so in our own way and
sincerity and depth of emotion don't always mean tears. Very lovely!
>


> Drabble
>
> HobD7: What Do we Get? by Alexcat
>
That made me smile, the last and prophetic promise "You'll never
guess." Indeed…


> Poetry
>
> HobP1: Autumn's Gift by White Gull
>
Beautiful! Heat-wrenching and in truth amazingly expressed! Lovely
imagery, and well-turned rhyme, not sacrificing feeling or sense for
meter, I am truly impressed and pleased, and crying, gosh-darned it!
Most excellent!


> Poetry
>
> HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos
>
I loved this the first time I read it, and it has lost nothing in
the many times since! The images are well thought out and well
expressed, and I particularly like the repeating image of Pippin as
a bird is simply too appropriate to deny; so free and needful of the
freedom, and so beautiful when in flight! A wonderful piece!


> Post-WOTR
>
> Hob4-3: At the End of His Rope by Lindelea
>
One of the first multi-chaptered masterpieces I had ever read, this
one drew me right in from the first line and I've been reading (and
writing) ever since! Well put together, imaginative and obviously
researched (which I appreciate to no end). Very enjoyable!


> Post-WOTR
>
> Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel
>
You broke my heart, utterly and beautifully, with this piece! There
is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best, saddest, most
hopeful and wonderful things I've ever read. I wish I could say we
all had to imagine how badly we would want to stop that clock, to
make time give back what it has taken, but it is all too real for us
all, in one way or another, one day or the next.


> Pre-WotR
>
> HobPW1: A Mother's Day by Pearl Took
>
Lovely and sweet, and oh so much fun! You've well captured the
sincerity of these youngsters, and the exasperated love of a mother
in the face of their seemingly wild behavior.


> Hob7: Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex by Ariel
>
> URL:
> http://www.frodosharem.org/cgi-bin/stories/display.cgi?
id=250&sort=date&cat=
> 10
>
This was wonderfully funny and well written (not unexpectedly), and
truly enjoyable to read, over and over. There are few things I find
more difficult to write than humor, and this is a wildly good
example of its clever use, without taking the people involved out of
character or the story out of probability. Worth every jot and line!


> AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the
category, not
the story, here):


> Drabble
>
> HobDA2: Marigold
>
> Mother Gamgee, Resting Places, Then and Now
>
It takes a particular and careful mind to so successfully paint a
picture in so few words, and so the art of the drabble is one not
easy to master. Marigold has done so, and with a tender and loving
eye and a sure hand for the details that make all the difference.


> Poetry
>
> HobPA2: Llinos
>
> The Lay of Peregrin Took
>
Rhyming any two words or phrases is well within the reach of most of
us, but to do so as skillfully and elegantly over such length as
this author has demonstrated takes true talent and care. A
wonderful tale told in rhyme, sacrificing none of the elements or
images for the sake of meter is a feat not often seen, and so I find
myself in happy awe of this gifted member of our community.


Poetry
>
> HobPA6: White Gull
>
> Autumn's Gift
>
To capture feelings within rhyme without resorting to the syrupy
sweet or overused cliché is a delightful gift, and one that I must
say lives and thrives in the talented hands of this author.


> HobA3: Aratlithiel
>
> Reckoning
>
Masterful, powerful, insightful and inspired are words that come to
mind in regard to this author, and I am in eternal gratitude she has
chosen to share this product of her gift with us all here. In its
content and its expression, this piece demonstrates a sure knowledge
and love for these characters and their story, and more importantly
the inner lives of their hearts and souls; but the step between
perceiving these things and binding them by words to offer to so
affect one's readers is wider than the world's oceans. This is an
author I will be watching, and so should we all; we can expect great
things!


> HobA4: Ariel
>
> Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex
>
There's no end of good things I can say about Ariel, especially as a
writer! The care and thought she puts into every word shines
through, and even in joy there is no falseness, no ill-ringing
phrase, to clash with the loving portrayal of such dear friends as
these.



> HobA5: Ariel & Aralithiel
>
> Autumn's Requiem, Linden and Laurel
>
A deadly and potent combination, these ladies could together make a
stone cry and an ice-cube melt!


> HobA16: Lindelea
>
> A Small and Passing Thing; At the End of His Rope; Firestorm;
Flames; Going,
> Going, Gone
>
Prolific, thorough and endlessly enjoyable, I hope this author never
ceases to take us ever further in her explorations of the Shire and
its inhabitants, great and small. To take the small sketch the
Professor left and expand it into such a vibrant world takes a lot
of work, insight and just plain love, and I am glad to be receiving
the pleasure of the end result.

Msg# 2174

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 26, 2004 - 21:05:30 Topic ID# 2160
Stories only. Authors for later... hopefully.

Dwim

*****

Rh1: Bitter Watches of the Night by Sharpeslass

This sort of somnabulistic sex, bordering on necrophilia for
Wormtonuge, seems about right, as does his misguided hope Éowyn will
one day bend to him while conscious. Gave me a shiver, certainly!

Rh2: Complicated Allies by Sun Queen

Nice vignette desccription of Legolas and Gimli. I'd dispute the
"racism" bit, as that requires more than recognition of differences, I
think. But well-written nonetheless.

Rh4: For the Dark by Forodwaith

Wonderful and bittersweet story that brings to life a character who
had really no more than a name. Although we anticipate the story's
ending simply by reading the title, Gléowine has in fact faced 'the
dark' before in a way that is, perhaps, more terrifying than dying in
fact. To fall from a warrior to a cripple in a day's time is in a way
to lose the life that he had, and it is to his credit, and to
Théoden's, that they force themselves to face that amputation of
Gléowine's future and to build Gléowine a new life. And Théoden is
well-repaid for his insistance that his friend not surrender to the
dark prematurely, as Gléowine serves him through the long dark of
mental debilitation following Gríma's ascendency. The two repay each
other amply, and part as friends should. I love that although
Gléowine, after Théoden's death, finally follows the old custom, in
Middle-earth, the westward lie the Undying Lands, and so perhaps a
little grace for Gléowine as well, beyond what he has earned for
himself with steadfast service to his king and friend.

Rh6: Keepers of the Hearth by Alawa

Usually, we find ourselves in sympathy with the shieldmaidens of the
Ardaverse. We crave active women who are seen being active, who force
their way to the forefront of the plot and demand acknowledgment from
the men on traditionally masculine turf. And yet there is always that
risk of anachronism or cliché to such characters. Alawa has chosen the
road less travelled by and given us a fully-realized original female
character who is everything most modern women in industrial countries
are not: a keeper of the hearth, a housekeeper who desires no more
than to hold hall and home in good order and to see its traditions
perpetuated. Winfrith has a delightful voice; the entire story is a
breath of fresh air that is lively, thoughtful, utterly humane and
believable—if ever there were anything that could justify war, it is
the preservation of Winfrith and the ideals of nurturing care and
rootedness, fidelity and love that she embodies. We need more
unearthings of the Winfriths of Middle-earth, for as with unearthing
the spirituality of nuns, it's only in trying to see, even through the
idealistic lens, what might have been counted as valuable to women
governed by the gender hierarchy far more fully than most of us, that
we can identify with them.



Rh7: Lament for the Unsung Dead by Regina

Another lovely (if morbid) look into the world of women. Éowyn takes
on the time-honored task of preparing the dead for burial. Théodred of
course gets about three mentions in the entirety of "The Two Towers",
and we never see the effect of his death on Éowyn, but in this fic, we
do see her mourn in the performance of this last duty she is called to
do for her cousin dear as brother, and more than that. Although not
officially, Éowyn acts as the mourner, doing the duty of her brother
and uncle to mourn when they are unable due to spells or absence. But
her devotion outstrips her duties, even, and as we follow Éowyn
through this ritual, we learn just how deeply she fears Gríma's plots,
and the lengths to which she goes, not even on her own behalf, but on
behalf of her kinsmen, who seem rather oblivious to the fact that she
is already putting her life (and her physical integrity) in jeopardy
for them. No wonder it needed so little to make her into
Dernhelm—Dernhelm already lived in Éowyn long before she gave him
shape under a Rider's helmet. Well drawn!


Rh8: Myth and Memory by Ainaechoiriel

There are some serious as well as some fun moments in this story, but
the major point is given in the final line of the fic: that through
the eyes of the OMC, the reader comes to recognize what Middle-earth
will lose when the Elves take ship at the Grey Havens.


Rh9: Namesake by Ainaechoiriel

I liked the theme of this story, of remembering those who fell in the
battles that happen to be not so great as some others, and by
consequence are often forgotten. But those who fought in them and died
in them deserve no less to be honored in memory, and given a certain
lease on life in those of the next generation.


Rh10: Promises to Keep by Nessime

The disguised point of view is always fun to write; my only quibble
would be that because it's a disguise that must cover a definite
difference in, um, 'kind', as it were, the characterization was not as
convincing to me in the end as it might have been. Nevertheless,
well-written. I particularly liked the account of the battle of
Fangorn, and the fact that Éothain has a brief appearance as something
other than a doubting and impatient Thomas.

Msg# 2175

Re: OT: Is Yahoo being wonky for others? Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 26, 2004 - 21:06:45 Topic ID# 2127
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...> wrote:
> That's really odd. Because I never seem to have a problem with it.
Are you
> both using MAC's by any chance?

Yes. <grrrrrrr....>

Dwim

Msg# 2176

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/27/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 26, 2004 - 23:02:43 Topic ID# 2163
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
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Msg# 2177

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/27/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 26, 2004 - 23:02:46 Topic ID# 2164
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
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Msg# 2178

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/28/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 27, 2004 - 0:01:39 Topic ID# 2178
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Tuesday September 28, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2179

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/28/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 27, 2004 - 0:01:43 Topic ID# 2179
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
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This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2180

Re: Men and Elves are now closed categories Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 27, 2004 - 3:38:30 Topic ID# 2162
>Save any further votes for these two categories until Amnesty Day.<

Just to say I am most grateful for Amnesty Day as I am on holiday in Spain at the moment and computer access via Internet cafes is not conducive to voting. I didn´t plan this too well!

Many thanks
Llinos

Msg# 2181

Re: In other news.... Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 27, 2004 - 3:44:21 Topic ID# 2166
< How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?>

Buy him some trainers and taking him jogging?

Msg# 2182

Re: A Change Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 27, 2004 - 3:55:04 Topic ID# 2182
Sorry if this is the wrong place, but is it possible to note that Moria´s Revenge by Kookaburra and Llinos is now complete and not a wip?

This happened after the story was nominated - who could have forseen such a thing happening?

:)
Llinos

Msg# 2183

AW: [MEFAwards] Another reminder Posted by elanor of aquitania September 27, 2004 - 5:37:10 Topic ID# 2126
> Let's not quote large chunks of the story. A line here or there is
> fine if it really struck you. But otherwise, it just looks like vote
> padding. This is one case in writing where you want to tell, not
> show.

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
you were probably thinking of some of my votes.
I seem to be a very aberrant voter.

So let me apologize and explain why I did it:

1) At MEFAwards I like to read other reviews
just to see if there are stories to my taste that I missed.
Moreover if I like a story I just want to learn what struck other readers.
(I am one who even reads the often meaningless but glowing reviews
at fanfiction.net if I like the story hoping I will find the one or other
informative review.)

2) As speech is for me a predominant selection factor I also would like to
see
which passages were the most impressive for other readers.
(OT: I personally would like to read the reviews to the various stories
collected in the Yahoo-database allocated beside the title and the summary.)

3) I quoted those passages because IMO
they show the craft of the author better than my poorly worked paraphrases.
Umh, yes I wanted to showcase those of
the author's abilities which impressed me most.
Especially poetical words, which are my personal predilections,
cannot be paraphrased without losing all of their beauty IMO.
And I personally would like to know from my readers which of my
words were felt as particularly evocative or beautiful.

4) I had even selected more quotes, but deleted them because I felt
I should not clog the mail-boxes of the participants ;-)

5) I was not aware that "showing" is frowned at
(probably repressed that info).


Conclusion:

a) In future I will try to paraphrase because as you rightly observed
quoting might look like padding (though I meant it as showing
which is though seemingly nearly as undesirable).

b) In future I will quote larger chunks only
if my own words have reached nearly 1100 characters as a
little bit of quoting is permissible.

Best wishes from Elanor
who is again stealing from real life
trying to explain her aberrant views :-)

Msg# 2184

AW: [MEFAwards] New Database Posted by elanor of aquitania September 27, 2004 - 7:13:26 Topic ID# 2184
> There is now a called "12am
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/database?method=repor
> tRows&tbl=9>
> Central US is what where?" in the Databases section at the
> MEFAwards Yahoo
> site. I entered the US time zones (but didn't know a
> representative city for
> Mountain and someone in one of those places that doesn't
> participate in
> Daylight Savings Time could enter one of those) and the Czech
> Republic.

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
I think now I understand what kept me befuddled for so long
12 AM is not noon as I understood when you wrote:

> between 12:01am on the 31st and 12:01am on Nov. 1st. (I
> usually say 12:01
> am just so no one will be confused between midnight and noon
> or midnight on which day....).

But it is after midnight which I would write as 00:01 AM not as 12:01 AM.

So Amnesty day is from
00:01 = 00:01 AM early morning Central US time 31.October
until 23:59 = 11:59 PM Midnight 31. October,
just the whole day of 31. October in Central USA.
Do I understand it finally correctly ?

Sorry for being such a befuddled procrastinator
who constantly confuses AM and PM.


Though you wrote already very extensively about this
(I'm very grateful for this),
I did not understand why we could not send in our votes before
31. October while these additional votes would be counted
only on this special day.
You surely have a reason and I only failed to understand.

Many thanks for all your time and efforts you invested into this project
Elanor
Please excuse me for pestering you so often !

Msg# 2185

Re: New Database Posted by ainaechoiriel September 27, 2004 - 12:57:45 Topic ID# 2184
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "elanor of aquitania" <elanor@c...>
wrote:

> Hi Ainaechoiriel,
> I think now I understand what kept me befuddled for so long
> 12 AM is not noon as I understood when you wrote:
>
> > between 12:01am on the 31st and 12:01am on Nov. 1st. (I
> > usually say 12:01
> > am just so no one will be confused between midnight and noon
> > or midnight on which day....).
>
> But it is after midnight which I would write as 00:01 AM not as
12:01 AM.

Yes, using a 24hour system as opposed to the 12 hour one we use here
as standard. The reason I went with 11:59pm and 12:01am at times
was so it would be clearly understood which day we are talking about.

I remember the uncertainty of the midnight showings of TTT and ROTK.

We'd go buy a ticket but which day do you buy a ticket for. Is
midnight part o the previous day's night (as we talk colloquially) or
part of the next day's morning (which it is technically). We ended
up saying such things as "This is for the midnight showing, right?
I'll show up at the theater on Tuesday?" just to be sure we were on
the same page.

To avoid that confusion I went with 11:59pm (clearly part of the
night of one day) and 12:01am (clearly part of the next day).
> So Amnesty day is from
> 00:01 = 00:01 AM early morning Central US time 31.October
> until 23:59 = 11:59 PM Midnight 31. October,
> just the whole day of 31. October in Central USA.
> Do I understand it finally correctly ?
>
> Sorry for being such a befuddled procrastinator
> who constantly confuses AM and PM.

;-) Well, as you can see, when it comes to 12:00, we who are very
used to AM and PM can get confused as well.

> Though you wrote already very extensively about this
> (I'm very grateful for this),
> I did not understand why we could not send in our votes before
> 31. October while these additional votes would be counted
> only on this special day.
> You surely have a reason and I only failed to understand.

Us poor vote counters. I get 5 days off here soon. I'm finished
counting Men and Elves, but I've still got Hobbits. I'm not assigned
to Numenor, Rohan, Humor, or Adventure. So I've got 5 days to not
have to count. I get a break. :-)

And because there'd be no sense at all in closing categories if you
could just post them whenever. Which I did go into in great detail.
If we had them all just open for 1 1/2 months, I'd not likely have
anyone to help me count. We are all volunteers with our own real
lives to deal with (like a crashed server that's finally running
after I stayed up to 2:30am--0230).

> Many thanks for all your time and efforts you invested into this
project
> Elanor
> Please excuse me for pestering you so often !

Thanks, and no problem.

--Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2186

Re: Another reminder Posted by ainaechoiriel September 27, 2004 - 13:13:09 Topic ID# 2126
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "elanor of aquitania" <elanor@c...>
wrote:

> Hi Ainaechoiriel,
> you were probably thinking of some of my votes.
> I seem to be a very aberrant voter.
>
> So let me apologize and explain why I did it:
>
(snipped)

> 2) As speech is for me a predominant selection factor I also would
like to
> see
> which passages were the most impressive for other readers.
> (OT: I personally would like to read the reviews to the various
stories
> collected in the Yahoo-database allocated beside the title and the
summary.)

I plan to put them up on a web page if Larian and I manage to
successfully copy each and every comment to an Excel spreadsheet in a
format conducive to mail merging (It would help us greatly if
comments didn't have hard line breaks unless a new paragraph is being
written).

I doubt it will be in a database in the YahooGroup though as it would
probably take up all our space. ;-) The database we have in the
MEFAStaff group for comparing the three counts per category has 952
entries. That's how many nominations we have between stories and
authors.


> 3) I quoted those passages because IMO
> they show the craft of the author better than my poorly worked
paraphrases.
> Umh, yes I wanted to showcase those of
> the author's abilities which impressed me most.
> Especially poetical words, which are my personal predilections,
> cannot be paraphrased without losing all of their beauty IMO.
> And I personally would like to know from my readers which of my
> words were felt as particularly evocative or beautiful.
>
> 4) I had even selected more quotes, but deleted them because I felt
> I should not clog the mail-boxes of the participants ;-)
>
> 5) I was not aware that "showing" is frowned at
> (probably repressed that info).

It really wasn't thought of until it came up and I imagine this will
come up in the post-mortem for sure. We did have one request (which
will remain anonymous) to ban quoting altogether. I don't want to go
that far. Heck, I like to quote a favorite line here and there.

It's just that, well, as somone else said (again anonymous), it's not
a comment. It's repeating the author's words. He/she would skip over
those sections because he/she'd already read them.

There is a certain logic to that. The author's words are showcased
in the nomination itself. You can tell why the words are so powerful
or evocative or whatever. But to quote a whole stanza of a poem is
redundant. It showcases those words twice. And it very definitely
does pad the vote. Though I know that was not your intent. Someone
who's story comes in second or maybe fourth may be very unhappy to
find that a story with large chunks of quoted text won the award.
They might look up all the comments, count them themselves, and see
that without those quoted chunks the winning story wouldn't have one
and their story would have.

Or, for an extreme example, if someone wrote a drabble that a voter
thought was just sheer genius, every word, they might quote the whole
drabble and just say "Genius!" Now, their comment consisted of only
7 characters, worth 1 point. But by quoting htose 100 words, they
might have 700 characters plus those 7 and now have a 9-point comment.

That just doesn't look right, does it?

So this will definitely come up in the post-mortem and we'll nail
down a rule for next year. How much can you quote and how much is
too much? That will be a tough one to nail down I think. But we'll
need to.


> Conclusion:
>
> a) In future I will try to paraphrase because as you rightly
observed
> quoting might look like padding (though I meant it as showing
> which is though seemingly nearly as undesirable).

Right, thanks.

> b) In future I will quote larger chunks only
> if my own words have reached nearly 1100 characters as a
> little bit of quoting is permissible.

;-) Okay. That will work because you'd have already hit the cap of 10
points. But do try not to do this as others may see your quotes and
think they'll quote a large chunk too, and not think about having a
10-point comment before they do. Set a good example.

> Best wishes from Elanor
> who is again stealing from real life
> trying to explain her aberrant views :-)

;-) Well, hey, I stole the whole basis of these awards from a
newgroup. I had to tweak it a bit to make it fit here though....

--Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2187

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Thundera Tiger September 27, 2004 - 16:22:21 Topic ID# 2160
Me again, with something of a mid-length ballot this time, though it's
probably on the shorter side of mid-length. Stories first and authors follow
at the end.

------------------------------

Rohan
Official Voting Ballot

------------------------------

STORIES

------------------------------

>>Rh2: Complicated Allies by Sun Queen

The description of action in this piece was wonderful, and the description
of the Three Hunters from an outside viewpoint really intrigued me. Caught
up in battle, the elf and dwarf are forced to reveal themselves for who they
really are. They canýt pretend to blend into the world of men anymore or
stand behind Aragorn and let him take the lead. Theyýre forced into action,
and it can no longer be hidden that this is not a fair, reserved man and a
short, bearded man but rather an elf and a dwarf. And the contrast,
especially given the battle, would be unnerving. Interesting take on it.


>>Rh3: Daughters of Orome by Thevina Finduilas

Fascinating tale that skirts around the edges of events in LotR and gives us
not only a back story for Eowyn and other shieldmaidens but also fills in
the gaps within the canon. I very much enjoyed this look into Rohanýs
culture and the journey of both Eowyn and Frealas. It was very much a story
of life in general, and the emotions and fears were very real. Grýma was a
terrifying and foreboding character, Aragornýs cameos were brilliant, and
the solemn Faramir was portrayed with all his various layers.


>>Rh4: For the Dark by Forodwaith

Iým not even sure where to begin my comments for this story, because it
means so much and there is so much to it, despite its short length. The
first person narrative can be an interesting phenomenon because while we get
to know the thoughts of the person speaking, itýs sometimes more difficult
to know the person himself. Others are painted much more vividly through
this narrative. But thatýs not the case here. Gleowine is just as strong a
personality as Theoden, and the portrayal of their friendship is the driving
force behind this story. And it also seems to be the driving force behind
Gleowine, for Theoden is gone and so too are the bright days for Gleowine.
LotR is filled with stories of friendship, from Frodo and Sam to Legolas and
Gimli, and I think that this story could fit right in with those. The
characters are real, the events are beautifully drawn, and the ending is
very much akin to the endings of the other friendship. Great story.


>>Rh5: Gastings Night by Dwimordene

One of my all-time favorite LotR ghost stories. Dwimordene excels at just
about everything she writes, but sheýs really outdone herself here. The
moods of the story deserve a page all their own. There is an eerie feel
throughout, a mood wonderfully set in place by the poems at the beginning
and also by the concept of the day that runs backwards, which is something
that very much intrigues me. But in spite of this eerie feel, there is also
an air of excitement and discovery, mainly on the part of Hýma who has
basically turned into the Rohirric version of ghost hunter. And then there
are moments of friendship and good-natured teasing between Hýma and his
friend Herfrith, who is a great character. Between their banter, we pick up
on the rivalry between Harrowdale and Edoras, which I imagine is encouraged
by the eerie feel of Harrowdale and the contrasting feeling of openness
associated with Edoras. The dialogue sparkles, and lines such as Herfrithýs
comment that the rest of the cousins ýhave souls suited to ride, not to
soarý create so many images in my mind that I have to stop to think about
them before moving ahead with the story. And then thereýs the meat of the
story itself, which is something of a ghost story. Or an unexplained
phenomena story. Either way, itýs downright eerie, and the pacing works well
to bring us closer and closer to Hýmaýs dream and then discovery that it
might not have been a dream after all. Brilliantly told.


>>Rh6: Keepers of the Hearth by Alawa

Perhaps one of the most fleshed-out and enjoyable OCs Iýve ever seen.
Winfrith was a pleasure to get to know and a pleasure to watch throughout
the fic. I loved her reservations regarding this strange bride from Dol
Amroth and how she warmed to her in the end. The cultural notes within this
story are amazing, and I feel as though entire worlds have been opened up
concerning the Rohirrim. The characters of both Eomer and Eowyn were great,
and Eomerýs lightheartedness was very contagious. Well, it was for me.
Perhaps not for Winfrith. Lothýriel was characterized well, and I love her
ability with languages. Great story all around, and the blessing at the end
as the fire returns to the hearth was a perfect note on which to end, but
not nearly as perfect as the last line as Winfrith returns to making sure
that this all goes forth without incident.


>>Rh7: Lament for the Unsung Dead by Regina

I very much enjoy this story. Eowynýs experience with grief is exactly what
I would have expected. She sorrows, but she remembers her duty to her
family. And she remembers, which is more or less all sheýs allowed to do at
this point in the books. Itýs very methodical process, and that is also
something I would expect from Eowyn at this point in her life. Thatýs really
all she has left. The images of childhood and Theodredýs love and comfort
were beautiful, and she finally concludes by thinking on Grýma. Itýs
somewhat of a vengeful turn for her thoughts, and its showcases the strength
and also the helplessness within Eowyn. Very good depiction of the
shieldmaiden caring for her cousins.


>>Rh8: Myth and Memory by Ainaechoiriel

Brilliant tale of a young man who meets a myth and comes to know what it (or
in this case, he) really is. The initial antics of the storyýs speaker and
his friend Yonwin were very amusing to me, and I love his initial
observations of the elf. I think I liked Yonwinýs bumbling best and his
continuing suspicion, especially in light of the speakerýs own thoughts.
That the speaker went along with it all out of both curiosity and a desire
to keep an eye on his friend says much about his personality and also about
his relationship with his friend. For some reason, I find myself thinking of
Merry and Pippin, actually. In any case, the many shades of Legolas are
presented quickly as the story nears its conclusion, and in the end, the
speaker has gained new understanding. The tale of this journey is great, and
the final notes as the speaker realizes the elves are vanishing were
beautiful.


>>Rh9: Namesake by Ainaechoiriel

Short but very fitting tribute to Yonwin, who struck me as someone full of
life, curiosity, and his own ideas about the world. Great follow up to its
predecessor and pitched just right for an older man looking back on life.


>>Rh10: Promises to Keep by Nessime

One of my favorite animal stories in the LotR fandom. I guessed it was one
of the horses when the story began, and mention of a fiery companion led me
to believe it was Hasufel, but the fact that Nessime never specifically
mentioned it was still a powerful device. These are not ordinary horses but
steeds of the Rohirrim, and that is driven home both in the way Hasufel
thinks and in the way that the riders treat him. Itýs not a matter of master
and horse but rather of lord and loyal servant. Great peak into the minds of
Rohanýs horses.


>>Rh11: Safe Journey, Brother by AngelsFall

Wonderful, touching AU of Eomerýs final moments. Itýs been said that you can
tell the nature of a person by the people around them, and that sentiment is
clearly felt and seen within this story. All of the characters are written
well, with no one stealing the spotlight from another. This is not their
story, after all, but Eomerýs. Much of it is told through his friends, but
itýs still about Eomer. Itýs a tricky balancing act on the part of
AngelsFall, and one that is pulled off convincingly. Eomerýs final gift to
his friends was poignant, and Eowynýs parting words were a brilliant
capstone to the story.

------------------

AUTHORS

------------------

>>RhA2: Alawa

Alawa managed to create an OC, give her a personality, an objective, and
very real relationships with canon characters. By itself, this is
remarkable, but Alawa also dove into Rohanýs culture, contrasting it with
other cultures as a means of getting more expression, and portraying it for
itself as well. Winfrith finds herself in a changing world, and Alawa never
forgets that, showing how Winfrith adapts little by little. Itýs not the
quick adaptations that the younger members of the story go through, but
rather itýs the slow, considered changes of the elderly. Alawa makes
Winfrith a very memorable character, and paints a wonderfully convincing
picture of Rohirric customs that round out and compliment the culture of the
Horse-lords.


>>RhA4: Dwimordene

Dwimordene is pretty much guaranteed to be good at whatever she chooses to
write. That goes without saying. But spooky stories are a tricky thing, and
this is where Dwimýs talents really shine. She is able to take us into a
legend. We experience the underpinnings of a subculture, including the
differences between those who live down on the plains and those who live in
the shadow of the Door. She takes a canon character, fleshes him out, and
gives him an OC companion who is also remarkably complete. The story is
paced to draw out a dark tale, which is very much in the true spirit of all
spooky stories. They begin with other stories. The end of the tale (bereft
of its two main characters) is nearly as unnerving, and probably gave those
in Harrowdale something to talk about for many years. Dwimordene leads us
through a broad, far-reaching story without ever losing sight of the
characters, the point, or the mood. Ghost stories are difficult to write
without coming off as contrived or using clichý techniques, but Dwimordene
gives us an excellent example of how to convincingly unnerve people and also
hwo to set it within the context of LotR canon. A remarkable achievement.
Considering the author, I canýt say Iým surprised.


>>RhA5: Forodwaith

Forodwaith accomplishes several things with the story ýFor the Dark.ý First
of all, Forodwaith portrays a friendship very much in harmony with LotRýs
other friendships. The bond between Theoden and Gleowine is like the bond
between Frodo and Sam in that there is a difference of stations, but in
spite of this difference, the friendship still burns brightly. Second of
all, glimpses of Rohirric culture can be seen throughout the story, such as
the idea that a man no longer able to support the community should simply
wander away and die. Even the haughtiness of Rohanýs steeds is addressed
when Gleowine sets out to die. Forodwaith manages to paint a very
encompassing picture of not only one of the Rohirrim but also of Rohan and
LotR in general.


>>RhA10: Thevina Finduilas

Thevina gave us a glimpse into Eowynýs world and the lengths she went to in
order to become a shieldmaiden and defend those she loves. Her motivations
and actions were very much in character, and her relationship with her
shieldsister, taking the place of an actual sister, was heartwarming.
Thevina presented a very good portrayal of subculture within Rohan.

---------------------------------

Yippee! Another ballot in. Bring on the next categories!

Thundera

_________________________________________________________________
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Msg# 2188

Re: Men and Elves are now closed categories Posted by ainaechoiriel September 27, 2004 - 16:55:19 Topic ID# 2162
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, LizaLlinos@a... wrote:
> >Save any further votes for these two categories until Amnesty Day.<
>
> Just to say I am most grateful for Amnesty Day as I am on holiday
in Spain at the moment and computer access via Internet cafes is not
conducive to voting. I didn´t plan this too well!

Glad you like it! I really did come up with it so I could vote for
more stories I hadn't yet had time to read. ;-)

--Gabrielle

Msg# 2189

Re: In other news.... Posted by ainaechoiriel September 27, 2004 - 17:06:34 Topic ID# 2166
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, LizaLlinos@a... wrote:
> < How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?>
>
> Buy him some trainers and taking him jogging?

No can do. He's also allergic to fleas.

-Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2190

Re: A Change Posted by ainaechoiriel September 27, 2004 - 17:08:22 Topic ID# 2182
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, LizaLlinos@a... wrote:
> Sorry if this is the wrong place, but is it possible to note that
Moria´s Revenge by Kookaburra and Llinos is now complete and not a
wip?
>
> This happened after the story was nominated - who could have
forseen such a thing happening?
>
What category is it in? It will have to move. It's points will be
counted with the most appropriate complete category.

It's the second story to do that, I believe.

--Ainaechoiriel

Msg# 2191

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 27, 2004 - 22:09:20 Topic ID# 2160
And now the authors, huzzah!

However, I find I have a hard time with relating author comments to
*categories*. Which category should I be paying attention to again?
Should I be commenting on how excellently an author portrays Rohirrim
or Rohan per se? On subcategories like 'poetry' or "post-WOTR"? On
incompleteness in the incomplete category? Whatever combination is
appropriate? I want to do this properly, and I realized I was
suffering from some confusion tonight.

Dwim

****

AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category,
not the story, here):


RhA1: Ainaechoiriel

Myth and Memory, Namesake

The underlying theme of memory and the obligation to remember are well
brought out by the author, particularly in 'Namesake'. Ainaechoiriel
seems to have an inter-fandom interest in this theme, which is quite a
propos to Arda.

RhA2: Alawa

Keepers of the Hearth

Going along with my other comment, Alawa once confessed to fear of
dialogue—not that you would ever guess it from reading this. Alawa has
an eye for picking the moments others don't see, and for bringing the
inner landscape of a character to life in a way that is always as
lively as her wording is lovely. She has a great sensitivity for the
points of view that are excluded from the grand narratives, whether
those views are those of a jewel-polisher, a keeper of the hearth, or
a Ranger and his lady eclipsed by their son's epic tale. Her
characters' inner voices are always very sure and carefully and
sympathetically drawn, and I really felt Rohan come alive to me in and
through her depiction of Meduseld. If you want a story where you will
feel fully immersed in a character's world, try one of Alawa's stories.


RhA5: Forodwaith

For the Dark

Forodwaith can give us a lifetime in under two thousand words, but the
reader need not fear being stinted on character development, nor that
the themes woven through this story—life, death, hope, loyalty,
friendship, courage, and resolution—are given short shrift. She ably
demonstrates her mastery of non-linear narrative, weaving past and
present together skillfully to tell this tale of two friends, both of
whom need not be ashamed to stand before all the generations past,
despite the fact that both have lived through a period of darkness
when others might have seen them as less than men. Her sensitivity to
the role of shame among the Rohirrim, of coming to terms with what
seem like life failures, and of redemption and dignity allow her to
write with depth. Keep an eye out for other stories by Forodwaith—the
reader will be well rewarded.


RhA6: Nessime

Promises to Keep

Smooth style and a solid sense of Tolkien's favorite themes—love,
duty, vocation, fellowship—are evident in Nessime's story. The author
also demonstrates her skill in breaking open a canonical scene that
has very little space for authors to write in, and in doing so, gives
voice to the bedrock of Rohirric society--the horses of the Riders.

RhA7: Regina

Lament for the Unsung Dead

Regina usually writes hobbits, and she writes them well, but here she
shows that her insight extends to other characters as well. The mood
is terrific—cold, tense, and bleak, with enough foreboding to give the
reader a chill. The characterization is well-drawn and believable, and
in Regina's hands, Meduseld is a dark and claustrophobic reality.

Msg# 2192

Re: Rohan--Official Voting Ballot Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 27, 2004 - 22:12:13 Topic ID# 2160
>
> AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category,
> not the story, here):
>
>
> RhA1: Ainaechoiriel
>
> Myth and Memory, Namesake
>
> The underlying theme of memory and the obligation to remember are well
> brought out by the author, particularly in 'Namesake'. Ainaechoiriel
> seems to have an inter-fandom interest in this theme, which is quite a
> propos

Dah! I mean "apropos".

Msg# 2193

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/28/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 27, 2004 - 22:55:23 Topic ID# 2178
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Tuesday September 28, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

Yahoo! Greetings
Send a Yahoo! Greeting.
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Msg# 2194

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/28/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 27, 2004 - 22:55:23 Topic ID# 2179
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Tuesday September 28, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
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Msg# 2195

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by whitegull1420 September 27, 2004 - 23:34:25 Topic ID# 2060
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@e...>
wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Hobbits
>
> Official Voting Ballot
>
>
>
> To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not
commenting on.
> For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep
the top 2
> lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by
Author) and
> then comment beneath them.
>
>
>
> >
>
> Poetry
>
> HobP1: Autumn's Gift by White Gull
>
> URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/WhiteGull.html
>
> Rating: R Sexual pairing
>
> Romance Partners: Frodo/Rose
>
> Summary: Could *you* share the same house with post-quest Frodo
Baggins and
> not feel this way?
>
>
>
> > Hob4-10: Linden and Laurel by Ariel & Aralithiel
>
> URL: http://www.bagendwest.net/LL.html
>
> Rating: G
>
> Romance Partners: n/a
>
> Summary: Sam knew his master had to leave the Shire, knew he could
never
> have found healing in middle earth, but did Frodo ever become
whole in the
> West? A tender and mystical tale of how Sam learned, in the end,
that he
> had.
> This is a beautiful, allegorical view of Sam & Frodo's
relationship after Frodo sailed. The medium of gardening is a
brilliant way to reveal what was in Sam's heart.
>
>

> >
>
> Hob3: Autumn's Requiem by Aratlithiel and Ariel
>
> URL: http://www.lightindarkplaces.net/ARIndex.html
>
> Rating: R Sexual content
>
> Romance Partners: Frodo/Rose
>
> Summary: A 'what if' Frodo/Rose romance which deals with the
nature of
> loyalty,love and friendship.
> This is the most stunning fanfic I've ever read. It takes one to
the pinnacle of delight, then crashes into the most devasting
reality. Rose is "fleshed out" as a character, and Frodo is
perfect. This is a must read if you enjoy filling in the cracks of
canon.
>
>
>>
> Hob7: Of Dwarvish Ale and the Fairer Sex by Ariel
>
> URL:
> http://www.frodosharem.org/cgi-bin/stories/display.cgi?
id=250&sort=date&cat=
> 10
>
> Rating: PG-13 sexual innuendo
>
> Romance Partners: m/f
>
> Summary: A barrel of Dwarvish ale loosens the tongues of our
hobbit heros.
>
> Brilliantly funny, but with layers of nuance. I loved the
reference to Autumn's Requiem, and Sam's reaction. Ariel writes a
Frodo close to "my Frodo," or Frodo as I perceive him, that it's
just about inseparable.
>

Msg# 2196

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/29/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 0:11:01 Topic ID# 2196
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Wednesday September 29, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2197

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/29/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 0:11:06 Topic ID# 2197
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Wednesday September 29, 2004
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This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2198

apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by elanor of aquitania September 28, 2004 - 5:01:36 Topic ID# 2126
> There is a certain logic to that. The author's words are showcased
> in the nomination itself. You can tell why the words are so powerful
> or evocative or whatever. But to quote a whole stanza of a poem is
> redundant. It showcases those words twice. And it very definitely
> does pad the vote. Though I know that was not your intent. Someone
> who's story comes in second or maybe fourth may be very unhappy to
> find that a story with large chunks of quoted text won the award.
> They might look up all the comments, count them themselves, and see
> that without those quoted chunks the winning story wouldn't have one
> and their story would have.

Hi Ainaechoiriel and dear offended writers or voters,

I can understand the anonymous voter's view though
I do not agree with it.
For me showing is not worse than paraphrasing.
For me paraphrasing is ere worse than showing.

If you analyze a work of literature you quote the
respective sentences, you do not destroy the author's
work by paraphrasing and by making it unrecognizable.
At least I do not like to read secondary literature on
literature where the author's words are deemed unworthy
to be cited.

The author's words are shown in the nominated text, yes.
But just the special sentences where the author achieved
her/his outstanding results are buried within the whole.
Showing these special achievements I meant with showcasing.

Example:
The quoted part of Alawa's poem is for me her highest
achievement. And I very much liked to showcase it.

Yet, the preferred procedure seems to be another.
For instance I should describe Alawa's stanza
destroying all its beauty
thereby explaining why for me it is beautiful.
This seems to me to be counterproductive.

Offending words:
Best passage for me:
"in the stable steamed warm breathing
as welcome was heard from whickering horses.
Softly then she stroked their noses,
ran her hand over rump and wither,
keen were they to carry her.
Wildly we galloped in golden mist-shroud
wind whipped hair as horses ran
free over fields followed the river
spring's melt-water milk between willows. "

This counts as 298 characters.

New words:
The best passage is for me the stanza-part "in the stable steamed warm
breathing . spring's melt-water milk between willows." where we find the
relationship of Rohirrim and their horses described in very beautiful words.
And Elfhild's joy of life is invoked in the reader's mind when Elfhild
strokes the horses' noses and husband and wife gallop through golden-tinted
mist. A very beautiful picture is raised in my mind by the words "spring's
melt-water milk".

This counts as 386 characters.

As we are discussing it already now,
is this kind of citing at least permissible
or are we really only allowed to write our own words ?

Should I write (this counts as 329 characters, also more characters than the
stanza-part itself):
The best passage is for me a part of the fifth stanza where we find the
relationship of Rohirrim and their horses described in very beautiful words.
And Elfhild's joy of life is invoked in the reader's mind when Elfhild
strokes the horses' noses and husband and wife gallop through golden-tinted
mist. A very beautiful picture is raised in my mind by the words which
describe the white melt-water.

So by describing or citing the beginning and end
of the part of the stanza and by recounting
a few mind-pictures I need even more words.
For me this procedure is not as good
as that what I did by showcasing.

Nevertheless, as my view is an aberrant view I offer
to rephrase my votes which include quotes to avoid such
unhappiness induced by quoted chunks.
But please advise me what you find acceptable.

Would that be to your liking ?
Should I send in those rephrased votes on Amnesty day ?

If this is too much work for the administrators,
please you anonymous writers who feel slighted by quoting
accept my sincere apologies.

But know also that,
if quoting had not been allowed from the beginning,
I would simply have paraphrased the quotes
(as I showed above probably leading to more characters)
with my own poor words to show the author
what I liked most of the work in discussion.
So please, dear writers, excuse my quoting
and perhaps you can also a little bit understand my view
even if you do not agree with it.

> ;-) Okay. That will work because you'd have already hit the cap of 10
> points. But do try not to do this as others may see your quotes and
> think they'll quote a large chunk too, and not think about having a
> 10-point comment before they do. Set a good example.

I will abstain in future from quoting large chunks
even in long votes to set a good example.
And I offer to rephrase my offending votes.

With my apologies to all who thought my quoting
quite undesirable
Elanor
still preferring quoting to paraphrasing
but accepting the majority's view

Msg# 2199

Re: apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by M E September 28, 2004 - 8:45:39 Topic ID# 2126
I may be the only one who thinks so, but the whole idea of voting by number
of words is a mistake. To me, much better would be one vote = one word:
best. The most best votes gets 1st, 2nd most gets 2nd, and so on. Then,
let the voters write as much or as little as they'd like about why they
voted as they did. Many fanfic readers are not gifted writers, and a long
review of something that moved them is intimidating. I joined this group to
get more exposure to good fanfic without having to sift through the ocean of
posted material that doesn't interest me. But, I'm not sure the awards are
accurate. I am willing, though, to be proved wrong.

White Gull

_________________________________________________________________
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Msg# 2200

Re: apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 9:12:43 Topic ID# 2126
-----Original Message-----
From: M E [mailto:SR_1420@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 8:45 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting

>I may be the only one who thinks so, but the whole idea of voting by number
of words is a mistake. To me, much better would be one vote = one word:
best. The most best votes gets 1st, 2nd most gets 2nd, and so on. Then,
let the voters write as much or as little as they'd like about why they
voted as they did. Many fanfic readers are not gifted writers, and a long
review of something that moved them is intimidating. I joined this group to
get more exposure to good fanfic without having to sift through the ocean of
posted material that doesn't interest me. But, I'm not sure the awards are
accurate. I am willing, though, to be proved wrong.

Hi!

I invite you to read our Mission and Charter:

http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa/mission.html

There are many awards out there that run on a popular vote format (also some
that run by panels of judges). This Awards program was not brought into
existance for that. It is a comment-based awards program, where awards are
actually a *secondary* purpose to encouragement: encouraging readers to read
and encouraging writers through feedback. This is an awards system borrowed
from Alt.Startrek.Creative's annual awards that have been running
successfully since before 1996, when I first became involved in them.
Because those awards have been such a big encouragement to me as a Trek
fanfic writer, I wanted to bring this positive experience to the LOTR
fandom.

And though ASC did used to count by lines and then characters, I don't think
they ever counted by word as words can be so different in length. Lines
were at least formatted to only 70 characters. We count by characters here.

No voter needs to be eloquent. All they have to do is say why they liked a
story. Heck, post-Mega-and GigaStress, I'm not sure my comments even make
sense let alone are eloquent. Some write large amounts, some write 3-point
votes for even their favorite story. Remember that the awards are always
secondary.

We may change some rules for next year in the post-mortem, but this one
thing will never change with the MEFAs: We are a comment-based awards
program. I'll close them down before I change that.

But I don't see that being a problem. We've had a good turn out of votes
for Elves and Men (with only 4 stories, I think, having no votes--but
there's still Amnesty Day) and I anticipate a successful Awards program this
year and thus a 2005 MEFAwards program next year.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2201

Re: apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by M E September 28, 2004 - 10:09:38 Topic ID# 2126
Thanks for your response, and yes, I did read before I joined. I have also
seen this done other places, not just online. I still had doubts as to the
accuracy of awards, but as I noted, I joined for the other benefit, of
exposure. Maybe that's where the problem, if there is one, lies. Many here
must participate mainly for the reviews. Those who join mainly for the
award will feel the voting system might be "unfair," as prompted this suject
in the first place. But, to join mainly for the reviews is flawed as well,
as if someone doesn't want you to win, they won't review your work, and you
won't benefit from their critique.

Oh well, I think I'll just appreciate the good here, and not worry about the
rest.

WG


>From: "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
>To: <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting
>Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:12:17 -0500
>
>Hi!
>
>I invite you to read our Mission and Charter:
>
>http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa/mission.html
>
>There are many awards out there that run on a popular vote format (also
>some
>that run by panels of judges). This Awards program was not brought into
>existance for that. It is a comment-based awards program, where awards are
>actually a *secondary* purpose to encouragement: encouraging readers to
>read
>and encouraging writers through feedback. This is an awards system
>borrowed
>from Alt.Startrek.Creative's annual awards that have been running
>successfully since before 1996, when I first became involved in them.
>Because those awards have been such a big encouragement to me as a Trek
>fanfic writer, I wanted to bring this positive experience to the LOTR
>fandom.
>
>And though ASC did used to count by lines and then characters, I don't
>think
>they ever counted by word as words can be so different in length. Lines
>were at least formatted to only 70 characters. We count by characters
>here.
>
>No voter needs to be eloquent. All they have to do is say why they liked a
>story. Heck, post-Mega-and GigaStress, I'm not sure my comments even make
>sense let alone are eloquent. Some write large amounts, some write 3-point
>votes for even their favorite story. Remember that the awards are always
>secondary.
>
>We may change some rules for next year in the post-mortem, but this one
>thing will never change with the MEFAs: We are a comment-based awards
>program. I'll close them down before I change that.
>
>But I don't see that being a problem. We've had a good turn out of votes
>for Elves and Men (with only 4 stories, I think, having no votes--but
>there's still Amnesty Day) and I anticipate a successful Awards program
>this
>year and thus a 2005 MEFAwards program next year.
>
>--Ainaechoiriel
>MEFA Admin and Founder
>
>"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said,
>"for
>it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.
>
>http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
>Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com
>
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!
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Msg# 2202

On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White Gull Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 28, 2004 - 10:49:47 Topic ID# 2126
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "M E" <SR_1420@h...> wrote:
> Thanks for your response, and yes, I did read before I joined. I
have also
> seen this done other places, not just online. I still had doubts as
to the
> accuracy of awards, but as I noted, I joined for the other benefit, of
> exposure. Maybe that's where the problem, if there is one, lies.
Many here
> must participate mainly for the reviews. Those who join mainly for the
> award will feel the voting system might be "unfair," as prompted
this suject
> in the first place. But, to join mainly for the reviews is flawed
as well,
> as if someone doesn't want you to win, they won't review your work,
and you
> won't benefit from their critique.

But what is the likelihood of three, four, five, x many voters all
participating in a conspiracy of silence against one person's story?
All you have to do is vote with fewer characters--you don't have to
say nothing at all--and then make sure you write more for the stories
you think are best. Proportionality is something you can jigger
without committing yourself to a refusal to vote for a story. And
frankly, if someone is that opposed to a story's winning, what is the
likelihood of that person having anything positive to say about the
story in the first place, which is the other part of the comment-based
system designed to control for flames: keep it positive; you're voting
for stories you think are *good*, not the stories you think are awful.

In general, I think we're running into a fundamental balance of
mutually opposed forces: 1) competition, and the desire for an
objective measure of what the best story is; 2) the desire to give
feedback on stories as an appropriate way of thanking the author for
his or her work. Somehow, (2) needs to be made to serve (1), and (1)
needs to insure that (2) happens.

We know from experience that (2) happens for almost every story that
gets posted--see FF.net. At the same time, we know from personal
experience *coughcough* that many of us need some "motivation" to get
off our rears and write the darned review. (1) is the carrot to get us
to do (2) in a timely fashion. (1) is also the carrot that encourages
us to read things we normally wouldn't, in an effort to honor the idea
of fair competition--as fair as we can make it knowing that no one can
have read *all* the stories in the database, but that among the lot of
us, every story should have been read by at least the person who
nominated the story, if not one other at least.

At the same time, we know that (1) is an impossible evaluation, useful
only as an ideal limiting concept. In the first place, naturally,
awards are arguably *not* for the best story in the fandom: awards are
for those stories which actually participate. I forget who in history
said this, but this isn't an original argument. So the best story
objectively might not even have been nominated for any number of
reasons like its obscure host site, that its fans don't know of the
MEFAs, that it was written in Japanese, etc.

But also, remember that Tolkien disliked Shakespeare, the acknowledged
master of English prose. Tolkien also was not happy with W.H. Auden (I
think it was Auden) when Auden made acceptance of Tolkien's work his
literary taste pass-fail test. The lesson to take from this: that kind
of objective standard does not exist for a work of art, however
derivative, and it is a mistake to think that it does or that any
award can say with finality that is has identified *the* best stories
in the fandom or even the indisputably best story presented for
evaluation. We know this. We also know that the two standards most
accepted--popular acclaim and judgment by those who have assiduously
cultivated their literary tastes--tend to give very different results,
and neither are perfect. It doesn't mean, however, that they are
meaningless.

I look forward to the post-mortem, when we can go into nitty-gritty
detail on all these issues, but I think you said it best, White Gull:


> Oh well, I think I'll just appreciate the good here, and not worry
about the
> rest.

Insofar as the set up works to get voters to read and then to actually
vote, I think the system has succeeded, at least for those voters. So
for me, personally, the awards have succeeded. The power of a deadline
is a wonderous thing! ;-) So long as the voters are participating in
good faith, I think that's as much as can be asked. It'd be great if
more readers and authors would participate as voters, but hopefully
turnout will increase either in later categories or else next year.

Dwim

Msg# 2203

Couple questions Posted by bljean@aol.com September 28, 2004 - 11:12:33 Topic ID# 2203
I have finished my first "vote" and am ready to send, but it's huge! Should I
break it into chunks and send part 1 and part 2?

I'm glad for the amnesty day. I really meant to vote on a few of the Men
stories (no time to read them all; not even time enough to read all the Hobbit
stories, my particular interest in LOTR) but didn't get my comments finished in
time.

The amnesty day is at the end of all the voting periods, is that right? How
does it work? We just send in all our leftovers?

Would it be a headache to send a partial ballot and then the rest of the
votes on amnesty day, or do you want full ballots.

Beg pardon if these questions have already been posed and answered. I've been
much distracted the past few weeks.

Thanks,
Lindelea


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2204

AW: [MEFAwards] apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by elanor of aquitania September 28, 2004 - 11:21:59 Topic ID# 2126
Hi White Gull,
I agree with Ainaechoiriel as to that the reviews should
act as feedback to the writers.

Each system of categorizing has its flaws
and I can understand your views.
But on the other hand I personally cannot even say
_which_ story is the best for me in one category
as firstly I still have not read all
and secondly I can not decide between those read.

I can only say that due to these or that merits
I like the respective story very much.
So for me this idea of counting characters is a nice idea to
spur the reviewers to take more pain with those reviews of
stories they like more than others.

And for me it is really not easy to write chiselled reviews
as English is not my native tongue. But I tried to read
and review as much as possible at least in my favourite category.
And I still dramatically failed as I found not the time
to write and send in the reviews to the stories of my favourite author.
Though I know those stories very well for a chiselled review
I have to reread them and look for the most impressive parts.

So let us all live with the flaws ;-)
But I really do not like to make writers/voters unhappy
therefore I sent my apologies
and if need be I would like to make amends.

Best wishes Elanor

White Gull wrote:
>
> Thanks for your response, and yes, I did read before I
> joined. I have also
> seen this done other places, not just online. I still had
> doubts as to the
> accuracy of awards, but as I noted, I joined for the other
> benefit, of
> exposure. Maybe that's where the problem, if there is one,
> lies. Many here
> must participate mainly for the reviews. Those who join
> mainly for the
> award will feel the voting system might be "unfair," as
> prompted this suject
> in the first place. But, to join mainly for the reviews is
> flawed as well,
> as if someone doesn't want you to win, they won't review your
> work, and you
> won't benefit from their critique.
>
> Oh well, I think I'll just appreciate the good here, and not
> worry about the
> rest.
>
> WG
>
>
> >From: "Ainaechoiriel" <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
> >Reply-To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> >To: <MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] apologies to writers/voters
> offended by quoting
> >Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:12:17 -0500
> >
> >Hi!
> >
> >I invite you to read our Mission and Charter:
> >
> >http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa/mission.html
> >
> >There are many awards out there that run on a popular vote
> format (also
> >some
> >that run by panels of judges). This Awards program was not
> brought into
> >existance for that. It is a comment-based awards program,
> where awards are
> >actually a *secondary* purpose to encouragement: encouraging
> readers to
> >read
> >and encouraging writers through feedback. This is an awards system
> >borrowed
> >from Alt.Startrek.Creative's annual awards that have been running
> >successfully since before 1996, when I first became involved in them.
> >Because those awards have been such a big encouragement to
> me as a Trek
> >fanfic writer, I wanted to bring this positive experience to the LOTR
> >fandom.
> >
> >And though ASC did used to count by lines and then
> characters, I don't
> >think
> >they ever counted by word as words can be so different in
> length. Lines
> >were at least formatted to only 70 characters. We count by
> characters
> >here.
> >
> >No voter needs to be eloquent. All they have to do is say
> why they liked a
> >story. Heck, post-Mega-and GigaStress, I'm not sure my
> comments even make
> >sense let alone are eloquent. Some write large amounts,
> some write 3-point
> >votes for even their favorite story. Remember that the
> awards are always
> >secondary.
> >
> >We may change some rules for next year in the post-mortem,
> but this one
> >thing will never change with the MEFAs: We are a comment-based awards
> >program. I'll close them down before I change that.
> >
> >But I don't see that being a problem. We've had a good turn
> out of votes
> >for Elves and Men (with only 4 stories, I think, having no votes--but
> >there's still Amnesty Day) and I anticipate a successful
> Awards program
> >this
> >year and thus a 2005 MEFAwards program next year.
> >
> >--Ainaechoiriel
> >MEFA Admin and Founder
> >
> >"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves,"
> Elrond said,
> >"for
> >it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.
> >
> >http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
> >Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com
> >
> >
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today
> - it's FREE!
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Msg# 2205

Re: Couple questions Posted by Larian Elensar September 28, 2004 - 11:24:13 Topic ID# 2203
Personally, as a vote counter, I'd rather have as many votes now as possible.
As long as you have it done, I'd say send in what you have, then the rest on
Amnesty day.

Larian


--- bljean@aol.com wrote:

> I have finished my first "vote" and am ready to send, but it's huge! Should I
>
> break it into chunks and send part 1 and part 2?
>
> I'm glad for the amnesty day. I really meant to vote on a few of the Men
> stories (no time to read them all; not even time enough to read all the
> Hobbit
> stories, my particular interest in LOTR) but didn't get my comments finished
> in
> time.
>
> The amnesty day is at the end of all the voting periods, is that right? How
> does it work? We just send in all our leftovers?
>
> Would it be a headache to send a partial ballot and then the rest of the
> votes on amnesty day, or do you want full ballots.
>
> Beg pardon if these questions have already been posed and answered. I've been
>
> much distracted the past few weeks.
>
> Thanks,
> Lindelea


=====
Larian
larian_elensar@yahoo.com
Keeper of the OEAM archive http://www.ofelvesandmen.com
Archive addy archive@ofelvesandmen.com

Msg# 2206

Re: Couple questions Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 11:44:09 Topic ID# 2203
-----Original Message-----
From: bljean@aol.com [mailto:bljean@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 11:12 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Couple questions

>I have finished my first "vote" and am ready to send, but it's huge! Should
I break it into chunks and send part 1 and part 2?

Either way. Some people break there's up into Stories and Authors or send
their votes in two posts. I've done Elves an Men in two posts because when
they opened I posed all the comments I had and then I kept reading and
making more comments and so posted those before the categories ended.

>I'm glad for the amnesty day. I really meant to vote on a few of the Men
stories (no time to read them all; not even time enough to read all the
Hobbit stories, my particular interest in LOTR) but didn't get my comments
finished in time.

Same with me (though Elves are my main interest). There are still 2 or 3
longer Elves stories I'd like to get to and 3-5 long and short stories I'd
like to get to in Men.

>The amnesty day is at the end of all the voting periods, is that right? How
does it work? We just send in all our leftovers?

Yes, though I would prefer to keep separate main categories (Elves, Men,
Humor, etc.) in separate posts. It will help us to count them.

>Would it be a headache to send a partial ballot and then the rest of the
votes on amnesty day, or do you want full ballots.

No, send what you have when you can. If you've read all the Orcs stories
that you're going to and have all your comments, by all means, post a full
ballot. But if you only get 5 Hobbits stories done before the categories
close, go ahead and send the five and save the rest for Amnesty Day. The
more we get during the categories' open times, the better. We're going to
be fairly flooded on Amnesty Day anyway, I think.

>Beg pardon if these questions have already been posed and answered. I've
been much distracted the past few weeks.

Not a problem at all!
--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2207

Re: On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White Gull Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 12:29:14 Topic ID# 2126
Thanks also to Elanor for her thoughts. I'll probably snip a lot here
because all I could say in reply is Yep! So I'll snip those parts and add a
comment here an there.

-----Original Message-----
From: dwimmer_laik [mailto:dwimmer_laik@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 10:49 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White
Gull

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "M E" <SR_1420@h...> wrote:
> Thanks for your response, and yes, I did read before I joined. I
have also
> seen this done other places, not just online. I still had doubts as
to the
> accuracy of awards, but as I noted, I joined for the other benefit, of
> exposure. Maybe that's where the problem, if there is one, lies.
Many here
> must participate mainly for the reviews. Those who join mainly for
> the award will feel the voting system might be "unfair," as prompted
this suject
> in the first place. But, to join mainly for the reviews is flawed
as well,
> as if someone doesn't want you to win, they won't review your work,
and you
> won't benefit from their critique.

When Alt.StarTrek.Creative started the awards that was a concern. The
competition, I mean. The foudners wanted to steer away from competition and
toward feedback, subjugating the first to the second. I, personally, know
that I have a competitive streak. I loved winning the times that I did and
anxiously counted every other vote in my category to see how I was fairing
(I wasn't an official vote counter). So I fully admit there is a
competitive side to the MEFAs. But it is secondary. Even when I didn't win
at ASC, I treasured the comments I received. I keep all my feedback. I
still have every bit of it (that a computer didn't eat here or there).

And Dwim wrote, responding to the issue of silencing a story:
>But what is the likelihood of three, four, five, x many voters all
participating in a conspiracy of silence against one person's story?

That's the right point. The chances are low. Now, to say there is never
sneaky-handedness going on in the ASCs would be untrue. That's why I built
punishments for vote blocking and such (like being disqualified if you vote
as two different people--see the FAQ for these rules).

But think of this like an election here in the US. No one forces us to
vote. In a way, that's good. In a way it's not. We have a lot of
non-voting citizens. And we don't always like the two or three choices for
an office. We can either choose to vote for the least offensive or not
vote at all.

There are stories that I read that I didn't vote for. I won't name them.
And just so someone won't be encouraged to go through my votes and see which
stories I didn't vote on, I'll also say that I didn't read all the stories.
I read, for example, one for which I could think of nothing positive to say.
So I didn't.

Someone else, however, did like the same story and voted for it with a
comment.

Writing, especially creative writing, is subjective. What may be wonderful
to one may be rubbish to another.

>All you have to do is vote with fewer characters--you don't have to say
nothing at all--and then make sure you write more for the stories you think
are best. Proportionality is something you can jigger without committing
yourself to a refusal to vote for a story. And frankly, if someone is that
opposed to a story's winning, what is the likelihood of that person having
anything positive to say about the story in the first place, which is the
other part of the comment-based system designed to control for flames: keep
it positive; you're voting for stories you think are *good*, not the stories
you think are awful.

Exactly! And that has been hashed out here quite a bit. Negative or
constructive comments are counted just the same as positive ones. So if you
don't like a story, you should not comment on it. Otherwise it will get
points. Some have chosen (including myself) to put a short phrase [or not
so short paragraph] of constructive comment in their otherwise positive
comments. Still get counted just the same, but they know that going in.

And just like elections, we may not always be happy because our favored
candidate didn't win. Our favorite story may not win. But the winner is
the favorite of the *whole* group *who voted*. My story Osweicim (Star Tre:
DS9) is my proudest work. It won Best DS9 General Story in 1998. Not
everyone who voted on DS9 General stories thought it was the best. But
quite a few were completely wowed by it. Some wrote short comments. Others
wrote page-long comments. Some were so awed that they still comment on it
in the Author votes six years later! It won that category clearly. This
last year a friend of mine won Best DS9 General Story with what I felt was
an inferior story. I knew she could write better. I felt her
characterizations were off. It just wasn't up to her standard. I didn't vote
for it at all. It doesn't bother me that she won anyway. Enough others
liked it enough to give her the win. And she was encouraged greatly by
their comments, and even understanding of my silence.

It's not perfect. But then neither is popular vote. How many of the
thousands of Tolkien-based fanfic readers have read the story in question?
And how many of those knew about the awards in question? A story could win
that had never been read by a majority of those thousands of readers. Can
it really be called the "best?" And with the judging-based programs, who is
to say the judges are qualified to say which is the "best?"

With comment-based, we're all the judges with equal standing. No Staff
member's vote counts any differently than any other just plain old member.
And just to keep that on the up and up, we have 3 votes per category (still
have a few openings for a Third in 6-8 categories). We try to make it as
fair as possible *within* a medium that is subjective and thus no grounds
for absolute fairness.

>We know from experience that (2) happens for almost every story that gets
posted--see FF.net. At the same time, we know from personal experience
*coughcough* that many of us need some "motivation" to get off our rears and
write the darned review. (1) is the carrot to get us to do (2) in a timely
fashion. (1) is also the carrot that encourages us to read things we
normally wouldn't, in an effort to honor the idea of fair competition--as
fair as we can make it knowing that no one can have read *all* the stories
in the database, but that among the lot of us, every story should have been
read by at least the person who nominated the story, if not one other at
least.

Certainly is motivation! I checked out of LOTR fanfic for nearly two months
so I could read stories for the ASC awards and I read some good ones I
hadn't thought of reading before. I found a great author I hadn't noticed
before. I've read more stories in Elves and Men than I thought I had time
for with the MEFAs. And even some I hadn't planned on reading at all until
I read some of the comments. You get a flood of feedback out of me during
awards seasons. From March to May or so, you see that flood on
alt.startrek.creative. Now you'll see it here in September and October.
I'm a busy person, but knowing those awards are there and these awards are
here helped me make reading and feedback a priority, even if not *the*
priority in my busy life.

>At the same time, we know that (1) is an impossible evaluation, useful only
as an ideal limiting concept. In the first place, naturally, awards are
arguably *not* for the best story in the fandom: awards are for those
stories which actually participate.

And as determined by those who participate.

>I forget who in history said this, but this isn't an original argument. So
the best story objectively might not even have been nominated for any number
of reasons like its obscure host site, that its fans don't know of the
MEFAs, that it was written in Japanese, etc.

All true. There maybe a be an absolutely wonderful, no-doubt-about it,
perfect story out there that we just don't know about yet. Or maybe it will
get nominated next year but it's 102 chapters will discourage most readers
from getting to it.

It's the best of those that participate as decided by those that
participate.

>But also, remember that Tolkien disliked Shakespeare, the acknowledged
master of English prose. Tolkien also was not happy with W.H. Auden (I think
it was Auden) when Auden made acceptance of Tolkien's work his literary
taste pass-fail test. The lesson to take from this: that kind of objective
standard does not exist for a work of art, however derivative, and it is a
mistake to think that it does or that any award can say with finality that
is has identified *the* best stories in the fandom or even the indisputably
best story presented for evaluation. We know this. We also know that the two
standards most accepted--popular acclaim and judgment by those who have
assiduously cultivated their literary tastes--tend to give very different
results, and neither are perfect. It doesn't mean, however, that they are
meaningless.

Which is why it's great that anybody can just set up their own awards
however they want. Most of you are aware that I have quibbles with the
Mithrils, so I won't go into them here. But instead of sit and grumble
about the Mithrils, I started the MEFAs. There's room for a lot out here in
cyberspace. If anyone thinks they have a better way, they can start their
own awards program, just like I did. The ones who like it that way (or are
just competitive or open to all ways) will participate (if they hear about
it, have time and access, etc.).

I may have my quibbles but I still participated in the Mithrils by nominated
and voting in their Voter's Choice, even though I like my system better. It
truly is a free world here.

>>Dwim said: I look forward to the post-mortem, when we can go into
nitty-gritty detail on all these issues, but I think you said it best, White
Gull:


> Oh well, I think I'll just appreciate the good here, and not worry
about the
> rest.

Yes, that's the best way, at least for this first year! The reason the
Mithrils didn't go comment-based was because I was the only one espousing it
(when talk of the awards program that eventually became the Mitrils came up)
and no one else (but a few lurkers perhaps) had ever participated in it.
They had concerns, felt it would be too much like a popular vote, which they
distrusted, etc. There were questions here in April before Nomination
Season opened. I told people then what I'll tell everyone now:

You may just have to trust me this first year. I have had experience in
this kind of awards program, for 8 years or more! I know it can work. I
know it can be a positive experience. You may not be sure. You may have
doubts or fears. But you're hear. So trust me. Give it a try and see how
it works out for you.

Not everyone on ASC loves the Awards (thought the majority still does). We
can't please everyone. Some people have unsubscribed from the MEFAs. It
happens. We're not always everyone's cup of tea. But give it a try and see
if it's yours. You can always move on if not, or stay and dive in deeper
next year if it is.

>Insofar as the set up works to get voters to read and then to actually
vote, I think the system has succeeded, at least for those voters. So for
me, personally, the awards have succeeded. The power of a deadline is a
wonderous thing! ;-) So long as the voters are participating in good faith,
I think that's as much as can be asked. It'd be great if more readers and
authors would participate as voters, but hopefully turnout will increase
either in later categories or else next year.

That may well be the case. Yes only a minority of members voted in Men and
Elves. (Than happens at ASC, too.) Could be because of lurkdom or RL just
getting in the way (ASCers seemed particulary smacked by RL this year and
there were almost as many apologies for not voting as as there were votes.
(That is an exaggeration.)

But maybe, just maybe, those that find this is their cup of tea will love
the MEFAs and the word will get out even more for next year. And then we'll
have new members, trusting the veterans and giving it a try.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2208

Re: Couple questions Posted by Thundera Tiger September 28, 2004 - 12:40:35 Topic ID# 2203
>> >> I have finished my first "vote" and am ready to send, but it's huge!
>> >> Should I break it into chunks and send part 1 and part 2?
>>Either way. Some people break there's up into Stories and Authors or send
>>their votes in two posts. I've done Elves an Men in two posts because when
>>they opened I posed all the comments I had and then I kept reading and
>>making more comments and so posted those before the categories ended.

And let us not forget Thundera's rather lengthy posts in both the Men and
the Elves categories. ;) I posted a few epics, and I know others have done
the same.

Speaking as a vote counter, I actually prefer the massive posts. Having it
all there at once means I can count it all at once and I'm not worried about
missing posts or things like that. *shrugs* But that's just me.

Thundera (The Epic Review Poster)

_________________________________________________________________
On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to
get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

Msg# 2209

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 13:06:10 Topic ID# 2057
-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Orcs--Official Voting Ballot

Orcs

Official Voting Ballot






O2: Hunger by Nath

Well, the summary does it justice. They were certainly acting like orcs!
Grim bit of fun this one is!


O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

Wow, Frodo escaped the spider's sting and lived, not so this poor Orc. If
one can feel sympathy for an Orc, this story will make you do it.


O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Very interesting personification here: the point of view of an Orc's spear.
It sings and drinks, and yearns for blood. And dies.



O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith

Definitely sounds like an Orc patrol to me. Poor captives. And poor Nidrak
as it happens. There's no security in an Orc patrol.



O6: Resurrection by Jillian

Interesting. Legolas and Gimli felt right to me, and I liked that the Elf
the Orc was was able to go to Mandos' Halls, and to be let out to greet
Gimli and Legolas on their arrival.



O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv

This could have fit happily in the humor category, but I'm glad it's here.
It's cute, with no attempt to be overly serious. And what a surprise there
at the end!


O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975

I got goose-bumps as I read the last line. Goose-bumps. This was
well-done, taking that moment, so quick in the movie and slowing it down to
take a look into each of their heads.



O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

That was spooky. It teased one into thinking it would be humorous, but not
so. The young Orc isn't made into comic relief. And yet he isn't
altogether sympathetic either. He doesn't despise his race for what he's
read. And he writes something more glorious and frightening of them
instead.



AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):


OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

I'm impressed by the authors in this category and their ability to capture
the Orc characters. Igenload is no less able. Her Orcs sounded like they'd
fit right in with Tolkien's.

OA2: Jillian Baade

Jillian had very nice characterizations of Gimli and Legolas and their
friendship. And she offers a hopeful outlook on what may become of the
first orcs.

OA3: Lindelea

Lindelea did a good job with something that some writers struggle with:
personification. She gave an inanimate object human (or Orc)-like qualities,
and did so believably, and even poetically.


OA4: Nath

Nath writes her Orcs with a bit of humor. Of course they're evil and mean,
but they were also a bithumorous in their fights for dominance and such. So
she writes them well in character.



OA5: shadow975

Bravo! Shadow975 can write a moment better than some can write a novel.
Many of us try to get into the heads of the Fellowhip, but fewer take on the
Orcs and Uruk-Hai and fewer still do both with equal talent.


OA7: Virvatuli

Virvatuli's Orcs were not humorous at all. And she even managed to make me
sympathize with one. That's a pertty good feat.



OA8: Viv

Viv really has a funny bone! I wasn't expecting such humor in the Orc
category but I'm glad I found it.



OA9: Werecat

Werecat successfully wrote a very complex Orc character. Odd that he would
read, we might be led to think he could turn into a good orc. But Werecat
keeps him an Orc just the same. And leaves us chilled for the experience.



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2210

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot part 1 (Drabbles & Poetry) Posted by bljean@aol.com September 28, 2004 - 14:06:23 Topic ID# 2210
Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.



Drabble

HobD1: A New Season by Alexcat
Drabbles fascinate me, the way you can say so much in so few words, paint a
picture or tell an entire story. I like the metaphor of the garden as a picture
of the stages of Sam's life, even in this brief glimpse.


Drabble

HobD2: Can't Take His Medicine by Marta
The author has taken a snapshot, a very narrow slice from the story,
surgically excised and told with the necessary economy of words required by the form.
Merry seems a helpless victim here, as his treatment by the Orcs is described,
and yet, in the last line of the piece, his spirit shows through, unbowed and
unbroken.


Drabble

HobD3: Mother Gamgee by Marigold
Four drabbles! And each a slightly different facet of the same jewel.

In the first I was struck by Mrs. Gamgee's sensitivity and understanding. So
often in real life, people are afraid to mention loss of a loved one, fearing
to cause pain, and yet avoiding the topic as if that loved one never existed
causes a great deal of pain. "The youngest of Bell's flowers"--such a lovely
descriptive phrase!

I loved the second, and could just picture Frodo helping Sam with this very
special gift. I can see Bell encouraging Sam's learning, perhaps privately,
knowing her husband's feelings on the matter, and I'm sure she treasured the gift
to the end of her life. This picture also hints at how a special bond might
have grown between Frodo and Sam, and how Sam would never forget Frodo's care
in helping him achieve something so very important for a loving son.

Third: Thinly veiled sorrow on Bilbo's face: it changed the complexion of the
drabble, begun in such a mundane and everyday fashion, with those hobbity
little touches that speak of comfort and stability.

Fourth: Very sad, indeed, and the flower images return to frame the entire
piece (the four drabbles, that is) and unify all four parts with a common theme.




Drabble

HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold

(I haven't read "A Day on the River". Filing away for future reference.) I
find myself intrigued by Frodo's way of remembering his parents. The last line
of the first drabble is a shock, and yet upon reflection I find myself nodding
soberly. Second: How common (and I mean this as the highest compliment).
Somehow we tend to find comfort, relating events aloud to someone gone from our
lives. Third: You paint a poignant picture of Merry "remembering" the sisters
that he'd never known. In his mind, they never grew up (he whittles toys and
leaves them daisy chains), and yet I'd think that his mother, all through her
life, looked at lasses the same age as her daughters, and imagined how they'd have
been at that age. Fourth: somehow you end on a comforting note.


Drabble

HobD5: Small Hands by Marta

I am a little confused. The summary says "Boromir sees Bilbo volunteer to
take the Ring at the Council of Elrond." It seems, rather, to be told from Sam's
perspective. I was thinking it sounded OOC (for Boromir, that is) and I was
right! It is, however, perfectly in character for Samwise.



Drabble

HobD6: Then and Now by Marigold

First set: I laughed at the juxtaposition. My tweenager almost never seems to
stop eating... and she was a very fussy eater as a little one. Perhaps she's
related to Pippin? It sheds a new light on the hardships of the Quest, into
the bargain.

Second set: What can I say? Stunning! I like how Merry's determination not to
lose his beloved younger cousin saves Pippin... twice.

Third set: You took me by surprise. I thought that the second drabble would
be about Merry encouraging Pippin to learn to walk all over again as he
recovered from his injuries sustained at the Black Gate.

Fourth set: Children's innocent queries can be so shattering, casually spoken
as if of only passing interest. Merry's remembrance, and sorrowing
fulfillment of the promise, is very poignant.






Drabble

HobD7: What Do we Get? by Alexcat

Very sad, and chilling. You don't see much about Smeagol and Deagol in
fanfic, and yet I imagine they were very much like the hobbits we know and love,
before the Ring came along and changed everything. And yet... perhaps hobbits did
make some progress in the intervening years, for Bilbo's hand was staid by
pity, as was Frodo's, and Frodo's cousins pitied rather than envied him, and did
all they could do to help him on his way, to rid himself of the Thing.





Poetry

HobP2: Furry Little Thief by Pervinca

It's funny, I read this without even looking at the summary, and I quickly
recognised the similarities to Sam's Troll poem. Nicely done, the rhymes are not
forced, the rhythm is steady and the story is well told.


Poetry

HobP3: Mad Baggins by Marta

LOL! A drinking song indeed! They do say that Bilbo's disappearance was
talked about for years to come, and I can just imagine it being made into a song.
Nice weaving of elements of the original speech into the poem.


Poetry

HobP4: Old Will Whitfoot by Tanaqui, co-written with Marta

Very funny! The rhythm melded itself to a tune in my head; I could almost
hear the hobbits singing it down at the Green Dragon. Never drink alone! (And
here's another good reason why, that I never thought of before: The roof might
fall in!)



Poetry

HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos
I remember writing to Baylor, when I was still pretty new to fanfiction,
asking if she needed someone to pre-read the chapters of "High King's Falcon" to
check for typos. Hah! That was before I'd heard of the redoubtable Marigold!
Waiting for each chapter to be posted was a terrible strain for this impatient
reader. This poem, in Tolkienesque epic fashion, sums up that lovely
story--indeed, sums up Pippin's life from his birth through the Quest--with grace and
feeling and power. It is complex enough that the reader might be tempted to skip
over the poem (much as I skimmed JRRT's poems, the first few times I read
LOTR), but don't! Take the time to read and savour. The imagery is well done, the
metaphor of the falcon paints the Quest in a whole new light.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2211

Re: On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White Gull Posted by M E September 28, 2004 - 14:20:09 Topic ID# 2126
Thank you, and all others who've responded. That helps. I do like it here,
and really like getting to read so many good fics in one place.

Thanks.

WG

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Msg# 2212

? Orcs--Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" Posted by elanor of aquitania September 28, 2004 - 14:22:53 Topic ID# 2212
Hello all,
does someone know what became of
Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" ?

The link
http://www.theoriginalseries.com/orcframes.htm
is broken.

I think she had entered it in the HASA challenge "Life and Times of the
Orcs"
But now she has no stories anymore in HASA.

I just wanted to write my review as I already read this story :-(

Many thanks for any information
Elanor

Msg# 2213

Re: ? Orcs--Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 16:09:54 Topic ID# 2212
I know that the story is not up any longer. It and another missing story or
two are still in the awards because, as is the case, someone may have
already read them and want to write a comment.

So, you'll need to write your comment from memory, but I do hope you
comment.

Thanks.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 2:25 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] ? Orcs--Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors"

Hello all,
does someone know what became of
Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" ?

The link
http://www.theoriginalseries.com/orcframes.htm
is broken.

I think she had entered it in the HASA challenge "Life and Times of the
Orcs"
But now she has no stories anymore in HASA.

I just wanted to write my review as I already read this story :-(

Many thanks for any information
Elanor




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Msg# 2214

Re: On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White Gull Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 16:11:04 Topic ID# 2126
And we're glad to have you! I myself found myself with misty eyes over a
Hobbit story this afternoon. And I'm not real big on Hobbits, but here I am
reading Hobbit stories. That's what these awards do to me. ;-)

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: M E [mailto:SR_1420@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 2:18 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [MEFAwards] On the objective fairness of awards--reply to White
Gull

Thank you, and all others who've responded. That helps. I do like it here,
and really like getting to read so many good fics in one place.

Thanks.

WG

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Msg# 2215

Re: ? Orcs--Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" Posted by sulriel September 28, 2004 - 16:22:00 Topic ID# 2212
Hi Elanor,

Thank you for asking.

Adventures is offline for personal reasons.

Comments, (of course!) are always appreciated, but I don't expect
them since the fic is no longer available.


--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "elanor of aquitania" <elanor@c...>
wrote:> Hello all,> does someone know what became of>
Sulriel's "Adventures in the Ettenmoors" ?> > The link>
http://www.theoriginalseries.com/orcframes.htm> is broken.
> > I think she had entered it in the HASA challenge "Life and Times
of the> Orcs">

But now she has no stories anymore in HASA.>
> I just wanted to write my review as I already read this story :-(
> > Many thanks for any information> Elanor

Msg# 2216

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:41:59 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/crossballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Crossovers -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2217

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:42:40 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/dramaballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Drama -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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Regards,

ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2218

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:42:41 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/advballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Adventure -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/files/Forms%20%26%20Ballots/advballot.txt

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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Regards,

ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2219

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:42:44 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/horballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Horror -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MEFAwards/files/Forms%20%26%20Ballots/horballot.txt

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2220

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:44:03 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/numballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Numenor -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>

Msg# 2221

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:44:14 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/humballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Humor -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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Msg# 2222

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:45:24 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/lotrballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Lord of the Rings -- Official Voting Ballot

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Msg# 2223

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:45:39 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/romballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Romance -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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Msg# 2224

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:46:06 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/mysballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : Mystery -- Official Voting Ballot

You can access this file at the URL:
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Msg# 2225

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:47:11 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
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File : /Forms & Ballots/thobballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : The Hobbit -- Official Voting Ballot

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Msg# 2226

New file uploaded to MEFAwards Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 16:47:15 Topic ID# 1
Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the MEFAwards
group.

File : /Forms & Ballots/silmballot.txt
Uploaded by : ainaechoiriel <mefaadmin@earthlink.net>
Description : The Silmarillion -- Official Voting Ballot

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Msg# 2227

Ballots in Files Section Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 16:49:59 Topic ID# 2227
As requested, and now that my network is back up, I've uploaded text copies
of the ballots for all categories to the Files section of the Yahoo group.
Just remember, do not post your ballot unless the category is open or it is
Amnesty Day.


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2228

Voting Deadlines Question Posted by Sharon September 28, 2004 - 17:13:58 Topic ID# 2228
Hi everyone,

I've not been around a whole heck of a lot lately, sorry about that--
but fortunately the bleeding's stopped and they've ruled out
cancer. ;-) I have a voting question before I dive in:

Have any deadlines irretrievably passed? Or are they collecting
until a drop-dead date?

Jasta,
Glad to Still Be Here
and
Ready to Read Like Gangbusters
:-)

Msg# 2229

Re: Voting Deadlines Question Posted by dwimmer\_laik September 28, 2004 - 17:22:56 Topic ID# 2228
--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "Sharon" <jastaelf@y...> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I've not been around a whole heck of a lot lately, sorry about that--
> but fortunately the bleeding's stopped and they've ruled out
> cancer. ;-) I have a voting question before I dive in:
>
> Have any deadlines irretrievably passed? Or are they collecting
> until a drop-dead date?
>
> Jasta,
> Glad to Still Be Here
> and
> Ready to Read Like Gangbusters
> :-)

Elves and Men are closed. But there's Amnesty Day on October 31, when
you can vote for any story in any category you missed. Glad to see you
about!

Dwim

Msg# 2230

Re: Voting Deadlines Question Posted by Sharon September 28, 2004 - 17:30:22 Topic ID# 2228
--- Dwim wrote:
> Elves and Men are closed. But there's Amnesty Day on October 31,
> when you can vote for any story in any category you missed. Glad
> to see you about!

Ah, I'm glad there's an Amnesty Day! :-) I'll do my Men & Elves
commenting then, and get off my lame butt about Hobbits and Orcs.

And thanks--it's good to be alive! Literally!

Cheers,
Jasta

Msg# 2231

Re: apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 18:43:07 Topic ID# 2126
Just a quick note as this topic should really move on to the post-mortem:

I didn't read Alawa's poem. I'm not big into poetry. But you stanza-comment
would have made me want to read it more than the quote. If the summary
didn't interest me, I didn't go to it. I'd skip over reading the quote.
But the description that you wrote in the comment tells me why you think
it's great and makes me think maybe I should check out that poem.

And remember the comments here serve three purposes:
1) voting
2) feedback to the author
3) recommending fic to other readers

I've spoken about 1) before. I've spoken about 3) just there. But take a
look at 2). The writer already knows what she's written. She wants to know
why you like it. Concentrate more on #2 if that helps

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 5:03 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] apologies to writers/voters offended by quoting


> There is a certain logic to that. The author's words are showcased
> in the nomination itself. You can tell why the words are so powerful
> or evocative or whatever. But to quote a whole stanza of a poem is
> redundant. It showcases those words twice. And it very definitely
> does pad the vote. Though I know that was not your intent. Someone
> who's story comes in second or maybe fourth may be very unhappy to
> find that a story with large chunks of quoted text won the award.
> They might look up all the comments, count them themselves, and see
> that without those quoted chunks the winning story wouldn't have one
> and their story would have.

Hi Ainaechoiriel and dear offended writers or voters,

I can understand the anonymous voter's view though I do not agree with it.
For me showing is not worse than paraphrasing.
For me paraphrasing is ere worse than showing.

If you analyze a work of literature you quote the respective sentences, you
do not destroy the author's work by paraphrasing and by making it
unrecognizable.
At least I do not like to read secondary literature on literature where the
author's words are deemed unworthy to be cited.

The author's words are shown in the nominated text, yes.
But just the special sentences where the author achieved her/his outstanding
results are buried within the whole.
Showing these special achievements I meant with showcasing.

Example:
The quoted part of Alawa's poem is for me her highest achievement. And I
very much liked to showcase it.

Yet, the preferred procedure seems to be another.
For instance I should describe Alawa's stanza destroying all its beauty
thereby explaining why for me it is beautiful.
This seems to me to be counterproductive.

Offending words:
Best passage for me:
"in the stable steamed warm breathing
as welcome was heard from whickering horses.
Softly then she stroked their noses,
ran her hand over rump and wither,
keen were they to carry her.
Wildly we galloped in golden mist-shroud wind whipped hair as horses ran
free over fields followed the river spring's melt-water milk between
willows. "

This counts as 298 characters.

New words:
The best passage is for me the stanza-part "in the stable steamed warm
breathing . spring's melt-water milk between willows." where we find the
relationship of Rohirrim and their horses described in very beautiful words.
And Elfhild's joy of life is invoked in the reader's mind when Elfhild
strokes the horses' noses and husband and wife gallop through golden-tinted
mist. A very beautiful picture is raised in my mind by the words "spring's
melt-water milk".

This counts as 386 characters.

As we are discussing it already now,
is this kind of citing at least permissible or are we really only allowed to
write our own words ?

Should I write (this counts as 329 characters, also more characters than the
stanza-part itself):
The best passage is for me a part of the fifth stanza where we find the
relationship of Rohirrim and their horses described in very beautiful words.
And Elfhild's joy of life is invoked in the reader's mind when Elfhild
strokes the horses' noses and husband and wife gallop through golden-tinted
mist. A very beautiful picture is raised in my mind by the words which
describe the white melt-water.

So by describing or citing the beginning and end of the part of the stanza
and by recounting a few mind-pictures I need even more words.
For me this procedure is not as good
as that what I did by showcasing.

Nevertheless, as my view is an aberrant view I offer to rephrase my votes
which include quotes to avoid such unhappiness induced by quoted chunks.
But please advise me what you find acceptable.

Would that be to your liking ?
Should I send in those rephrased votes on Amnesty day ?

If this is too much work for the administrators, please you anonymous
writers who feel slighted by quoting accept my sincere apologies.

But know also that,
if quoting had not been allowed from the beginning, I would simply have
paraphrased the quotes (as I showed above probably leading to more
characters) with my own poor words to show the author what I liked most of
the work in discussion.
So please, dear writers, excuse my quoting and perhaps you can also a little
bit understand my view even if you do not agree with it.

> ;-) Okay. That will work because you'd have already hit the cap of 10
> points. But do try not to do this as others may see your quotes and
> think they'll quote a large chunk too, and not think about having a
> 10-point comment before they do. Set a good example.

I will abstain in future from quoting large chunks even in long votes to set
a good example.
And I offer to rephrase my offending votes.

With my apologies to all who thought my quoting quite undesirable Elanor
still preferring quoting to paraphrasing but accepting the majority's view




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Msg# 2232

AW: [MEFAwards] Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by elanor of aquitania September 28, 2004 - 19:13:51 Topic ID# 2232
Orcs

Official Voting Ballot

I wrote the review on Sulriel's story completely from memory as the link is
broken. I hope these are the right memories.




To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top
line of the header information (ex. code: Title by Author) and then comment
beneath them.



(No subcategories)



O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel

Sulriel writes a whole Orc culture. Though the story itself seems to need
still some pruning the description of the culture is done very well. Until
now I have not seen such a detailed description of Orc culture feeling real
to boot. The captured Elf not twisted into an Orc but allowing herself to
morph into a Orc soldier due to a fierce will of survival and her adaptation
to Orc culture is written believable.


O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli

The last moments of Ufthak, an Orc of Cirith Ungol, in the Lair of Shelob
are described very chillingly. The suspense rises constantly. The dread
intensifies with every paragraph.


O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea

Umh, reading clueless the story without the summary's info I did not
recognize the spear. I thought of a device of sorcery, a large insectoid.


O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith


Wowh, that was a tour de force. Very well written Orc talk. Quite believable
recounting by an Orc leader with quite believable features as the juicy
human youngster inducing irresistible flesh hunger or the dubious sixth
finger trophy. One quibble: "boss" seems to me totally wrong, for me that is
a modern Americanism.



O6: Resurrection by Jillian

The story makes good use of the origin of Orcs.


O9: You will see them at night by Werecat

The tale of an orc with a literary interest is very well crafted. I like
this story very much. A son vilified for his literary interests by his
parent reminds me of movie!Faramir. I am smiling a bit as I feel this story
to have an humorous touch. But I am also emotionally touched. I like the
ending of the story where the Orc song just born of a dejected Orc's mind is
shown. Though the speech is not Orc speech this is explained by the aberrant
nature of the writing Orc.



AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):



OA1: Igenlode Wordsmith

Orc Patrol

Very well written Orc talk. Quite believable recounting by an Orc leader
with quite believable features as the juicy human youngster inducing
irresistible flesh hunger or the dubious sixth finger trophy.

OA2: Jillian

Resurrection

The story makes good use of the origin of Orcs.


OA3: Lindelea

In the Eye of the Beholder

Works for me only with summary. But don't worry, I do not like
personifications.

OA6: Sulriel

Adventures in the Ettenmoors

As I liked very much the detailed description of the Orc culture I would
have liked to reread the story to bolster my memory. I also liked the
description of the adaptation of an Elf to this strange culture. What I
liked about the Orcs was that they were not simple minded brutes but somehow
fierce warriors quite well adapted to their own culture of hate. Somehow I
could glimpse reflections of the elven warriors which were twisted into vile
creatures by the Dark Lord Morgoth. I have the impression that the story
itself felt not complete but somewhat raw, maybe that was a deliberate
feature used purposefully by the author. Sulriel's other stories about the
Elf Sulriel of Menegroth shows us other aspects of the Orc culture even
though these appear only in the sidelines.

OA7: Virvatuli

In the Absence of Her Ladyship

Very well crafted story with a cannon background. Well done. I am not so
sure that the medical background is correct but we could ascribe any
deviations from human experience to the Orc nature.


OA9: Werecat

You will see them at night

Not a very believable Orc but a very interesting story.

This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time

Msg# 2233

AW: [MEFAwards] skipping quotes - was: apologies Posted by elanor of aquitania September 28, 2004 - 19:50:03 Topic ID# 2233
> I didn't read Alawa's poem. I'm not big into poetry. But you
> stanza-comment
> would have made me want to read it more than the quote. If
> the summary
> didn't interest me, I didn't go to it. I'd skip over reading
> the quote.

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
now if you skip over the quotes I understand why you
want me to abstain from quotes ;-)

For me the beauty of the text still is better captured in the
author's own words but if you do not read them
I cannot convince you of their beauty,
I see that now ;-)

I already said I will abstain from quoting in future
although it is against my own views.
But a bit I can understand your view that the author
might prefer to see her words' reflections in my mind
through my paraphrasing.

This was the last comment on this topic
from Elanor
who really has to go to bed now.

Msg# 2234

Re: skipping quotes - was: apologies Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 28, 2004 - 21:39:12 Topic ID# 2233
Thanks, Elanor!

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 7:52 PM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: AW: [MEFAwards] skipping quotes - was: apologies

> I didn't read Alawa's poem. I'm not big into poetry. But you
> stanza-comment would have made me want to read it more than the quote.
> If the summary didn't interest me, I didn't go to it. I'd skip over
> reading the quote.

Hi Ainaechoiriel,
now if you skip over the quotes I understand why you want me to abstain from
quotes ;-)

For me the beauty of the text still is better captured in the author's own
words but if you do not read them I cannot convince you of their beauty, I
see that now ;-)

I already said I will abstain from quoting in future although it is against
my own views.
But a bit I can understand your view that the author might prefer to see her
words' reflections in my mind through my paraphrasing.

This was the last comment on this topic
from Elanor
who really has to go to bed now.




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Msg# 2235

Re: Orcs--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Alex Cat September 28, 2004 - 22:09:14 Topic ID# 2057
Orcs

Official Voting Bal




O8: The Eyes Of An Enemy by shadow975


This is one of the best Orc stories Ive read, to see into the mind of the Uruk in those last few seconds. The scene in the film makes me bawl my eyes out and this story fits so nicely into that... that one second in time when Boromir looks into his eyes. I love fics that fill in a second in time in either book or movie verse.





Official Keeper of Yorgi's Hard Drive, Nick Maitland's Hands
and the Soldier's Hat.
http://www.ofelvesandmen.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOTR_Adult_Fiction/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_northern_fences
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ofelvesandmenSLASH
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alexs_story_book
http://www.journalfen.net/users/alexcat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2236

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/29/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 23:18:08 Topic ID# 2197
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Wednesday September 29, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2237

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/29/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 28, 2004 - 23:18:08 Topic ID# 2196
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

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Msg# 2238

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/30/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 29, 2004 - 1:09:09 Topic ID# 2238
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Thursday September 30, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2239

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/30/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 29, 2004 - 1:10:44 Topic ID# 2239
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

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This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 22 hours, 59 minutes.

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Msg# 2240

Re: A Change Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 29, 2004 - 3:58:34 Topic ID# 2182
Sorry if this is the wrong place, but is it possible to note that
Moria´s Revenge by Kookaburra and Llinos is now complete and not a wip?
>
> This happened after the story was nominated - who could have
forseen such a thing happening?
>
What category is it in? It will have to move. It's points will be counted with the most appropriate complete category.

It's the second story to do that, I believe.


It´s in Lord of the Rings.

Sorry to be tardy in responding, but am still on hols in Spain with only Internet cafe access to mail.

Cheers
Llinos

Msg# 2241

Re: In other news.... Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 29, 2004 - 4:00:07 Topic ID# 2166
> < How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?>
>
> Buy him some trainers and taking him jogging?

No can do. He's also allergic to fleas.

-Ainaechoiriel

How do you get fleas jogging?¿

Baffled¿
Llinos

Msg# 2242

Re: In other news.... Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 29, 2004 - 9:33:46 Topic ID# 2166
-----Original Message-----
From: LizaLlinos@aol.com [mailto:LizaLlinos@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 4:00 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: In other news....

> < How do you put a cat with a food allergy on a diet?>
>
> Buy him some trainers and taking him jogging?

>No can do. He's also allergic to fleas.

>How do you get fleas jogging?¿

Fleas live outside. Jogging takes place outside. Cat goes outside. Cat
gets fleas. Cat scratches until he bleeds and is generally miserable.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2243

Re: A Change Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 29, 2004 - 9:42:00 Topic ID# 2182
-----Original Message-----
From: LizaLlinos@aol.com [mailto:LizaLlinos@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 3:58 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: A Change

> Sorry if this is the wrong place, but is it possible to note that Moria´s
Revenge by Kookaburra and Llinos is now complete and not a wip?
>
> This happened after the story was nominated - who could have
forseen such a thing happening?
>
>It´s in Lord of the Rings.

Okay, everyone please note:
Moria's Revenge has moved out of the Incomplete subcategory and thus codes
have changed:

Once More Until the Urple Depths.... is now LI4
Recaptured is LI5
The Fellowship of Mutants is LI6

Moria's Revenge is now L10
Only the Beginning is L11
Promises is L12
The Gift of Iluvatar is L13
To Dream is L14
W.W.W.W. by Gonzai is L15
Whistling Past the Graveyard is L16

The ballot in the File section has been changed to reflect this.

>Sorry to be tardy in responding, but am still on hols in Spain with only
Internet cafe access to mail.

No problem. LOTR category is still aways away. Have a good time!

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2244

Question on deadlines Posted by bljean@aol.com September 29, 2004 - 10:34:41 Topic ID# 2244
What time Thursday is the close? Did it pass already, or is it later today?

Thanks,
Lin

In a message dated 9/29/2004 7:08:33 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com writes:
Hobbits and Orcs Voting
Wednesday September 29, 2004
All Day
(This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2245

AW: [MEFAwards] Re: In other news.... Posted by elanor of aquitania September 29, 2004 - 11:44:47 Topic ID# 2245
> >No can do. He's also allergic to fleas.
>
> >How do you get fleas jogging?¿
>
> Fleas live outside. Jogging takes place outside. Cat goes
> outside. Cat
> gets fleas. Cat scratches until he bleeds and is generally miserable.
>
Hi Ainaechoiriel,
couldn't you buy a flea collar
which kills any fleas wanting to suck the cat's blood ?
At least in Germany one can buy such things.
In my experience the cat with collar has much less fleas.
Or is it allergic also against the flea collar's ingredients.
Best wishes Elanor

Msg# 2246

Re: Question on deadlines Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 29, 2004 - 12:13:17 Topic ID# 2244
It goes to 11:59 pm (23:59) on September 30th. So you have today and
tomorrow.

--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com



-----Original Message-----
From: bljean@aol.com [mailto:bljean@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 10:34 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Question on deadlines


What time Thursday is the close? Did it pass already, or is it later today?

Thanks,
Lin

In a message dated 9/29/2004 7:08:33 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com writes:
Hobbits and Orcs Voting
Wednesday September 29, 2004
All Day
(This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





Yahoo! Groups Links

Msg# 2247

Re: orcs-- official voting ballot Posted by sos8n September 29, 2004 - 12:23:37 Topic ID# 2247
(i had a go at writing my vote for adventures in the Ettenmoors,I
read it quite a while ago and didn't get the chance to re read it.)
>
>
>
> (No subcategories)
>
>
>
> O1: Adventures in the Ettenmoors by Sulriel
>
a pretty good story, there were a few bits where it was a little hard
to follow, but it left me wanting to know more...a lot more. The
ideas on orc culture were interesting, i really liked it.
>
>
>
> O2: Hunger by Nath
>
nice! (well not really..) well written bit o' orc talk
>
>
>
> O3: In the Absence of Her Ladyship by Virvatuli
>
Always felt sorry for poor Ufthak,Nasty way to die i feel even more
sympathy for him now.
Virvatuli successfully creates an atmosphere the fear and
claustrophobia I'd expect from cirith ungol.
>
>
>
> O4: In the Eye of the Beholder by Lindelea
>
ha i remember that orc! written from an interesting perspective and
very well handled.
>
>
>
> O5: Orc Patrol by Igenlode Wordsmith
>
It's good to hear the thoughts of an ordinary orc, love the trophy
and the
creative insults. The matter of fact way the orc describes the
violence in this story
is pretty disturbing but believable. Ingenlode had created a narrator
who has his
wits about him but still acts orcish..I wouldn't argue with him about
the 6th finger
>

>
>
>
> O7: Snorg: Letters from Mordor by Viv
>
I always knew about the witch kings' obsession with mirkwood soap
operas,
but Sauron? the dark lord with such a sordid foofy secret? the
horror.
Very funny letters..could have easily been longer though.

Msg# 2248

Re: In other news.... Posted by LizaLlinos@aol.com September 29, 2004 - 12:29:23 Topic ID# 2166
>Fleas live outside. Jogging takes place outside. Cat goes outside. Cat gets fleas. Cat scratches until he bleeds and is generally miserable.<

Oh simple really - sorry.

Llinos (brain not in gear due to unaccustomed heat of Spain)

Msg# 2249

Re: In other news.... Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 29, 2004 - 13:42:46 Topic ID# 2245
-----Original Message-----
From: elanor of aquitania [mailto:elanor@codacode.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 11:45 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: AW: [MEFAwards] Re: In other news....

> >No can do. He's also allergic to fleas.
>
> >How do you get fleas jogging?¿
>
> Fleas live outside. Jogging takes place outside. Cat goes outside.
> Cat gets fleas. Cat scratches until he bleeds and is generally
> miserable.
>
>Hi Ainaechoiriel,
couldn't you buy a flea collar
which kills any fleas wanting to suck the cat's blood ?
At least in Germany one can buy such things.
In my experience the cat with collar has much less fleas.
Or is it allergic also against the flea collar's ingredients.
Best wishes Elanor

Flea collar don't work nearly as well as Advantage or Frontline, but they
get expensive. A cat with flea allergies is so sensitive that even one flea
will cause him to scratch until he bleads, or lose fur in patches. One flea
tracked in from outside can live in the carpet and breed. So none of my
cats go outside at all.

Which is all rather moot anyway. How many of you have ever tried to walk a
cat on a leash, let along job with one? (Besides, I don't jog, though I can
walk faster than 4mph.)


--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com

Msg# 2250

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot part 2 Posted by bljean@aol.com September 29, 2004 - 21:31:57 Topic ID# 2250
There may be more to come but this is all I had written up by today.

Thanks,
Lin

Post-WOTR

Hob4-1: A Crate of Lemons by ShireDweller

I'm not sure I've read any of your stories before. What a delight! Makes me
glad for MEFA all over again, introducing me to this treasure-box full of gems.
You set up the situation very plausibly, and Rose's reaction to the lemons
sounds realistic. Good thing Sam saw what was in the packing crate before she
dumped it all in the dustbin! I like your description of Bilbo's old room, and
the adjoining study. (But the study sounds awfully familiar... we have piles of
papers and books strewn about our living quarters as well.) "Second breakfast
along with the first"! ...Laughing out loud, now, at the thought of drinking
unsweetened lemonade. And at the change in Rosie's expression, once Frodo had
"doctored" the drink up nicely. And a poignant ending. Thanks so much. I had a
lovely time.


Post-WOTR

Hob4-4: Beyond the Havens by jodancingtree

Ah, Jo, this was one of the first stories of yours that I read, and it still
has the capability of bringing tears to my eyes. Tolkien was a Christian,
after all, which influenced all aspects of his life, including his writing. Though
there are no explicit religious references in his work, yet his writing is
infused with the faith that was his foundation, and from which so many of the
themes to which our hearts and spirits respond, spring. (Gee, I hope that
sentence wasn't too rambling!) This story speaks of love in so many ways: your love
of the characters, your love of the story, God's love for us, such that He
gave so much in order to secure peace and healing for those who believe in Him. I
know that some would strip all Christian references from LOTR fanfic, saying
that Tolkien deliberately did so, and yet I suspect they know very little of
the Christian faith if they think his work as divorced from his belief about
spiritual things.

Post-WOTR

Hob4-5: Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree
I know I read this one as you were writing it and posting it, a chapter at a
time, but I'd forgotten how much I liked it. How I love your description of
Pippin, in the very first chapter! And Frodo's musing on Bilbo, and if he'd ever
forgive him! (And only half-joking, at that.) I love the little details that
are a trademark of your careful work. You immerse me in this world, and I
smell and taste and touch and hear and see as if I were standing, or sitting, or
lying there, a part of it all. "He would throw himself away." A chilling
picture. No wonder he could find no peace, with the memory of the Ring constantly
gnawing at him. The memory of Bilbo again... I can hear his voice, just see him
sitting across from Frodo, instructing him in the fine art of appreciating
Brandy. Bet he always kept some of the Hall's finest on hand. "a bite of green
apple after too much honey"! Just one of the word pictures that enriches your
writing. Ah, I could go on and on, but then this email would be *way* too long.
Suffice it to say that, while this could not be my favourite of your stories
(for "Sam's Rose" holds that honour, even though your Orc keeps trying to nudge
that one out of first place), it shines brightly on its own account.

Post-WOTR

Hob4-13: Shining Through by Dana

Ah, Dana. Reading this over again brings to mind long conversations and
challenges and talking over ideas. You took a pet idea of mine and gave it weight
and depth and life. It always seemed logical to me that Merry might have
anniversaries similar to Frodo's, and that part of the reason he and Pippin removed
to Crickhollow was so that Pippin could help him fight his way back to the
Light. You are a master (mistress?) of mood, and this story shines (no pun
intended) as a sparkling gem amongst your collection.

Pre-WotR

HobPW1: A Mother's Day by Pearl Took
I just love this story. It has so many of those little details that bring
fiction into the realm of reality. I have experienced at first hand the
frustration of having little ones busy about some project that burdens me with so very
much extra work... only to find that they were doing it all for *my* benefit.
Pearl, you obviously know and love your hobbits, and you've given them a Shire
that they'd be sure to feel at home in.

Pre-WotR

HobPW8: The Shaping of Samwise by Jodancingtree
This comes very close to rivaling "Sam's Rose" on my favourites list. I
remember reading this at the very beginning of my introduction to fanfic, chapter
by chapter as you posted it to a yahoo list. How I'd cheer as each new
installment arrived! Your characters are so well-drawn, believable. I can understand
how Sam might invent some way to irrigate the garden, to encourage his beloved
plants to grow, especially in a drought. Irritable Bilbo is believable: he's
been living under the influence of the Ring now for how many years? And yet he
is still, for the most part, the Bilbo we know and love. Frodo is fully
deserving of Sam's loyalty, and your picture of how he earned Sam's devotion is
completely plausible, so much so that I even referred to it in "The Rebel"--and
thanks for permission to do so.

The Lord of the Rings

HobL5: Through Shadow by Citrine

Full of imagery and the little touches that make the reader feel the
"thereness" of the piece. From the very first paragraph, with the ropes of the canvas
shelter creaking like the ship that had carried Merry to Ithilien, you hooked
me. Ah, those little details, like Merry shaking his burnt fingers! And the
description of the simple soldier's meal (though Pippin's portion was mostly
broth). And Merry undressing for bed. And Pippin's record-book bony knees and
cold feet. You said you took some inspiration from "LifeWatch", but what you have
done is added layer upon layer of rich detail to a basic sketch. The cousin's
scrutiny of each other was touching, both noticing signs of wear and tear,
both pretending to sleep so that the other might rest. Just as I'm frowning with
concern, you poke me in the ribs with an elbow with something like: "Merry,"
Pippin said patiently. "I've had an entire troll fall on me! I shan't fall
apart now if you happen to poke me with an elbow." The little bit of risque
humour is soldierly, somehow. I can imagine they'd've been exposed to such, living
with armies as they were. (Well, maybe. Tolkien did say in his Letters that
anything but monogamy--and I do think he meant male plus female equals
completeness--was under Shadow. It's why I write the way I do, in my efforts to stay
within canon. But I don't mean to start a debate on sexuality in M-e. Now look
what you've done! *g*) Well, here's the review I promised you, all those months
ago when you left me so tongue tied I couldn't comment on this story to save
my life. Better late than never.

Hob2: A Path With No Returning by Citrine
This story brought me to tears, and was part of the inspiration for the
"Bucca" chapters of "Thain", I'll have you know. I read an incredible account of
the hobbits who never returned in a book (yes! a real live book! legal,
published fanfiction! imagine it! how ever did they manage it?) I got from the
library, the title of which escapes me, and that too, played a part. I've been
avoiding it, while writing "Bucca", but have got past the battle scenes in the
draught now and dare to revisit. What, I never reviewed this story? For shame!
Belated, then: Andy's voice is very hobbity, and the battlefield, seen through his
eyes, is a terrible place. I feel his urgency, his dread, his horror, and his
determination to find his master. Your Captain Bersil is brave and true, and
I like his search for the Halflings that had been in his charge. ...my
goodness! (Stated in shock) Bucca of the Marish was at the battle where Angmar was
overthrown! So it is in "Thain" as well! Now I have to wonder if I got that idea
in passing from reading your story, or if it just makes sense that the one
elected to become the first Thain would have done such a thing....


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Msg# 2251

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 29, 2004 - 21:50:07 Topic ID# 2060
Just in case I don't get to more tomorrow....

-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:07 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot





Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot


HobD4: Resting Places by Marigold

What stands out to me in this drabble series is the peace and uplifting feel
of it. These are not mournful visits so much as loving remembrances.


HobD6: Then and Now by Marigold

This series was a nice switch between Pippin's childhood and his adulthood.
It shows well his friendship with Merry and the caring they have for each
other.



HobP5: Shire Songbook by Lindelea

Inventive. I liked the notes that accompanied each piece, giving the
provenance.


HobP6: The Lay of Peregrin Took by Llinos

This was a long poem which almost scared me away. I stuck with it though and
enjoyed it. I'm glad it rhymed as I'm worse with free verse. I liked the
symbolism of Pippin being a falcon and loved especially the stanza where he
and Merry woke up the Ents.

Hob4-10: Linden and Laurel by Ariel & Aralithiel

I had not planned on reading many Hobbit stories. Hobbits just aren't my
thing. And I had not planned on reading this one. Not sure why. But I
think it was other comments that got me to open it and see it wasn't so long
and so maybe I'd read it. I sit now with eyes brimming with unspent tears
and yet a little smile. This was beautiful and the characterizations of Sam
and Frodo (thruogh Sam's eyes were perfect), and so hobbity a feeling to all
of it.



HobL1: Because it's my Birthday by Pervinca

Cute story! Though I, for one, would have like to have seen what gift Pippin
would have given Legolas. Yes, I'm an Elf-fan, as if you didn't already
know that. :-) Pippin giving his gifts on his birthday seemed just right.

The Lord of the Rings


AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):


HobDA2: Marigold

Marigold writes Hobbits very well and hobbity and none of them ordinary.


HobA5: Ariel & Aralithiel

I don't know where one left off and the other began but together they write
beautifully. Linden and Laurel was a wonderful story, even to this
non-Hobbity reader.


HobA21: Pervinca

Pervinca seems to identify well with hobbits and so writes them well. She
handles dialogue quite nicely, too.


This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Msg# 2252

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 9/30/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 29, 2004 - 22:55:35 Topic ID# 2239
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

Thursday September 30, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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Msg# 2253

Hobbits and Orcs Voting, 9/30/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 29, 2004 - 22:55:38 Topic ID# 2238
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Hobbits and Orcs Voting

Thursday September 30, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Thursday September 30, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2254

Humor and Adventure Voting, 10/1/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 30, 2004 - 0:35:45 Topic ID# 2254
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Humor and Adventure Voting

Friday October 1, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Sunday October 10, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 2 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
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Msg# 2255

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 10/1/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 30, 2004 - 0:35:47 Topic ID# 2255
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Rohan and Numenor Voting

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This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 2 minutes.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
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You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2256

Re: Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot Posted by Ainaechoiriel September 30, 2004 - 15:53:19 Topic ID# 2060
-----Original Message-----
From: Ainaechoiriel [mailto:mefaadmin@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:07 AM
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MEFAwards] Hobbits--Official Voting Ballot





Hobbits

Official Voting Ballot



To Vote, hit Reply. Delete the stories/authors you are not commenting on.
For the stories/authors you want to comment on, make sure to keep the top 2
lines of the header information (ex. subcategory, code: Title by Author) and
then comment beneath them.


Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

I wasn't sure I agreed with Sam and even after reading Tolkien's answer, I'm
not sure I want to believe. I'd rather Frodo had given in to the ring in
the end. It made him fallible. Still, this story carried that premise and
did it beautifully. It took awhile to work out when the flashbacks were
refering to, but the symbolism of the clock was clear thoughout.


HobL2: Bedside Chatter by Silvermoon Lady

How interesting to have the chatter be between Pippen and Eomer! And yet
sometimes that is the best way. To have two people who don't know each
other very well speak so plainly. Sometimes we hide the truth from those we
love.



HobL3: Riding the Nightmare by Budgielover

This story might have done well in the horror, as it has its scary,
suspenseful moments. I really enjoyed all the interactions of the Company.
Each one got some part in this story showing why each is special or needed.
And the premise turned out to plausible within the time-frame of the quest.


Hob2: A Path With No Returning by Citrine

This is a beautiful, sad story of the Hobbit archers who went to the king's
aid against the Witch-King. With no names to go on, Citrine made two
characters come to life and then leave in death, she filled the battlefield
with the sights and sounds of the dead and her characters' memories with
beauty and peace.


Hob15: Weight of Stone by Chris

I liked best the recollection of his eight-skip day and the luck it brought
him. Chris took a simple action and turned it into a reflection.




AUTHORS (remember to comment on the writer as regards to the category, not
the story, here):




HobA3: Aratlithiel

Aratlithiel writes with beautiful syntax and woundrous detail.
Interestingly, she chose present tense for her flashbacks. It felt different
to me, but it worked, and worked well.


HobA6: Budgielover

Budgielover did a great job with characterizations. Each member of the
Fellowship seemed right. And she was able to really keep the reader in
suspense until we finally got to see the bad guys. Interesting premise,
well played.



HobA8: Citrine

I think Path is the first I've read of Citrine and her little author's note
at the end doesn't do her justicte. She did a fine job with that little
story, taking an obscure moment in Middle-Earth history and populating it
with the lives and deaths of two little hobbits.




HobA25: Silvermoon Lady

Silvermoon Lady handled the dialogue between her characters naturally and
her characterizations were wonderful.



This category ends on September 30th at 11:59pm Central US time.



--Ainaechoiriel
MEFA Admin and Founder

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves," Elrond said, "for
it is Windows-compatible, and freeware at that." --H.F.

<http://home.earthlink.net/~ainae/mefa> http://gabrielle.sytes.net/mefa The
Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
Blog: <http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com/>
http://www.ainaechoiriel.blogspot.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Msg# 2257

Official Hobbit Votes (Stories and authors) Posted by beleg1cuthalion September 30, 2004 - 17:09:56 Topic ID# 2257
Post-WOTR
Hob4-4: Beyond the Havens by jodancingtree

This was one of the very first FF's I ever read. I was surprised
and overwhelmed by the fact that jodancingtree is the only author
so far who managed to blend christian faith open and clearly
expressed into a beautifully written Tolkien-FF. Her idea that
Frodo should experience his redemption from grief and guilt
through a direct encounter with the Son of Ilúvatar is thrilling and
deeply moving at the same time. If you add the fact that this is a
masterful tale, describing Frodo's time together with Sam in Tol
Eressëa in shining colours, and if you see all the exquisite
details and the truly heartbreaking end, it is no wonder that this
is and will always be one of my favorite tales in Tolkien
Fanfiction.




Post-WOTR
Hob4-11: Reckoning by Aratlithiel

What would Frodo have done if Gollum hadn't taken the ring at
the end of the Quest? For many, many readers this has been
one of the main questions in LOTR, and in Aratlithiels amazing
story it is asked again, mainly by Merry; he isn't able to deal with
the loss of Frodo and he's still seeking for explanations.
Surprisingly enough it is Sam who offers a piercing comfort:
Frodo would never have come home again to stay anyway… I
love this tale deeply; it is clever, wise, heartbreaking, bitter and in
a strange way soothing and comforting, all the same. Masterly
written, with deep love and astonishing insight… simply
wonderful.



Pre-WotR
HobPW4: Legacy by Anglachel

This Fic was recommended to me, and I gave it a rather
hesitating try, but I didn't regret it for a single moment. This is the
best portrayal of Bilbo Baggins ever – strong, clever, loving and
caring, and one of the most haunting and thrilling tales I know.
Bilbo comes to Brandy Hall to find out if Frodo is well, and he
discovers some things that are shocking and horrible. Anglachel
manages to describe a detailed hobbit-society, difficult and even
dangerous relationships (yes, there are hobbit-villains, and
folks, they are MEAN!), and her story of love, hate, abuse and
mistreat is so strong that it still takes my breath away. I will for
good reason translate it into german to give more readers the
chance to be as amazed as I was when I read it for the very first
time.



Pre-WotR
HobPW8: The Shaping of Samwise by Jodancingtree

This story is "sweet" in the best sense of the word. Sam starts
working as a gardener in Bag End when his father gets some
health problems, and he tries to improve work by using tubes to
water the garden. But his sworn enemy, Ted Sandyman, takes
this opportunity to take revenge for a proper earful he was given
by Sam, and suddenly Bag End is full of water, Sam seems to be
an idiot, his job is lost and no one wants to believe that the
whole mess wasn't his fault at all… except Frodo, of course, and
this is the beginning of a legendary friendship. This story is told
with deep warmth, great love and by a wonderful author who
seems to know the Shire as if she was living there. Lovely, wise,
thrilling and moving!


Hob11: Sam's Rose by jodancingtree

A nearly novel-length story from Rosie's POV – amazingly
detailed, insightful and clever. The tale begins pre-quest and
ends shortly after Frodo has left for the Grey Havens. Everything
rings true, and jodancingtree's Rose is a treasure… strong,
wise and with a great heart… a shining proof what a character
can be in Fanfiction if only the author takes Tolkien for serious,
and jodancingtree does. It is thrilling to read about the hard
times when Frodo and Sam were gone, and about the rime after
the Ring War – when Rosie finds out that Frodo will go into the
West. Amazingly good!


HobA2: Anglachel

Great author with astonishing imagination and courage, making
the hobbits "real" and making them believable in a haunting and
sometimes painful way.


HobA3: Aratlithiel
Reckoning

She manages both, humor and drama, and both equally
masterful. With a richness of language, deep feelings and
wonderful understanding she brings ME to Life in an absolutely
unique way.


HobA14: Jodancingtree
Beyond the Havens, Drunkard of Bag End, The Shaping of
Samwise, Sam's Rose

I've voted for nearly all of her stories, and with good reason. She
writes with unerring love, great insight and wonderful details,
and her Frodo is priceless… a shining creature, risen from
horrible torture and redeemed to wisdom and a quiet strength.
Simply great, each single story, and more than that: most of
them can be guides through dark times, promising hope and a
good ending despite all failure. She is one of the best writers I
know, and not only in Fanfiction.

Msg# 2258

Hobbits - Official Voting Ballot Posted by sindohte September 30, 2004 - 22:12:22 Topic ID# 2258
Hobbits
Official Voting Ballot

STORY

The Lord of the Rings
HobL2: Bedside Chatter by Silvermoon Lady

What a well written character study of a meeting between two such
unlikely individuals. You managed to imbue Pippin with a depth that
is often overlooked due to his continually playful nature. And as for
Eomer, what can I say I say about the Third Marshall of the
Riddermark? He is a man's man.


AUTHOR

HobA25: Silvermoon Lady
Bedside Chatter, Moonlight on Summer Leaves, Recollections

When I read fan fiction, my natural inclination is to veer towards
stories featuring Elves, especially those from the First and Second
Ages. However, Silvermoon Lady has gradually won me over. As a
result of her writing, she has been able to broaden my horizons to
include the world of Hobbits. There is a freshness and vitality to
her writing which truly makes all of her characters, but especially
Hobbits come to life.

Msg# 2259

Humor and Adventure Voting, 10/1/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 30, 2004 - 23:12:58 Topic ID# 2254
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Humor and Adventure Voting

Friday October 1, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Sunday October 10, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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Msg# 2260

Rohan and Numenor Voting, 10/1/2004, 12:00 am Posted by MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com September 30, 2004 - 23:13:00 Topic ID# 2255
Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of MEFAwards
Rohan and Numenor Voting

Friday October 1, 2004
All Day
This event repeats every day, until Tuesday October 5, 2004.

Event Location: MEFAwards YahooGroup
Notes:
You must be a member to vote. Voting is done in replies to the ballots

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