LotR FPS recs: gen
Posted on August 23, 2007
Filed Under LotR recs |
## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”
If you want to read not only my recs but also the reviews of the fics I read (I don’t like every one of them, naturally), go here. Chances are, you’ll like something that wasn’t quite to my tastes.
Inside the groups, stories are sorted in alphabetical order by title.
Go to: LotR FPS recs: slash
Adraefan, by Aeneid ##
Gen; R, novel-length. Summary: AU. One less arrow at Amon Hen and things go much differently for beloved good-bad son of Gondor. A veritable odyssey for Boromir ensues, complete with manipulative Valar, exiled elves, Radagast the Brown, and a helpful chorus. Action, adventure, angst, humor. Mixed writing styles (prose and poetry), with a Greco-Roman feel. Rated for violence and adult themes. A warning to the squeamish.
This story has blown me away. Or blown me to pieces. I’m giving it two ## even if it did exasperate me at the same time. It’s very long and written after the Ancient Greek tragedies, with poetic choruses from Valar as interludes. I would probably wish that it were twice shorter, that it didn’t have those poetic interludes, and that it had another ending. BUT! Although I skimmed poetic bits, I feel that the length and the ending are perfectly justified in this fic. The amassed effect is very strong.
So, the story. One less arrow at Amon Hen, and Boromir lives. He isn’t found by his companions under a pile of dead orcs and is left to die, but he’s run across by three exile Elves. These three are among the most fascinating original characters I’ve ever read. Thus begins a long journey, in which Boromir is wounded and awfully hurt. The amount of hurt in this fic is epic. Boromir loses almost everything there’s to lose, his personality among other things. Or — he nearly loses his personality. Not really. Boromir here is terribly complex. He’s awful, he’s beyond exasperating, he’s strong, he’s weak; he has fallen so low, but I don’t know if it’s possible not to love him. He’s absolutely unforgettable. His character and his fate will make you think and think and think.
When I read the coda, my reaction was reduced to mindless OMGs. I felt shivers running down my back and arms.
Years later
Thain Pippin, little minstrel-hobbit-lord, would always say,
“Oh, aye, Boromir,
I knew him well.
Boromir the Brave we called him,
or Boromir the Mad.
Either way, a true friend.” […]Years later
Gimli, son of Glóin, Lord of the Glittering Caves,
would snort and grunt,
“Oh, aye, Boromir,
I knew him well.
Boromir the Tall they called him,
or Boromir the Fool.
Either way, a doughty warrior.”I’m putting aside everything to do with how complex and real the LotR world looks in this fic: Minas Tirith, Rohan, Shire, places barely mentioned in the book. It’s a world full of wonders and amazingly life-like.
The Believer, by Cori Lannam (marzilla on lj) #
Gen, G, short. Written for the Henneth Annun Middle-earth Superstitions Challenge. Aragorn learns something odd about Boromir’s life.
I laughed my arse off at it. God, it’s funny, in a horrifying sort of way. Aragorn is arranging the Fellowship’s departure from Lorien; Boromir argues about the day. Can’t say a word more ‘cos it would totally spoil it, but it’s about a thousand words, no more, so you can have a look yourself.
Boromir’s Return, by Osheen Nevoy/Alex Service (podaros on lj) ##
Gen, PG-13, long WIP. Summary: Boromir awakens from his death and finds himself in an unexpected situation.
I think this fic is, simply put, terrific. It’s either unfinished (4 more chapters by the author’s last accounting) or just a very slow WIP (it took the author three years to write these 23 chapters) but it’s very long; its 23 chapters took me three days to read. You can see how much I loved this fic ‘cos I’m giving it two stars despite my suspicion that it’s abandoned. As for me, it’s just that good. For me it’s better to read an unfinished fic like this than a dozen completed ones. And OMG, more than a week has passed, but I’m still reading it inside my head. I was totally blown away. I whimpered when I reached the ending because to part with this story was unimaginable.
Boromir dies. He wakes up in a weird place with a wierd creature nearby. This creature, Svip, is of an original species. But this species and everything else that follows fit Tolkien’s universe so well! Boromir wants to go rescuing Merry and Pippin, but there are, of course, some complications. Very serious complications. The story, which is, in essence, a road-trip, is very slow and detailed, but the author made me treasure and enjoy every single passage, every single event and detail. She made me laugh ‘cos some lines are charming and moving; she made me cry. She made me fall in love.
I don’t think I can say what I liked best because it seems that I liked everything best. What should I pick? Perfect Boromir’s voice? Perfect, yes, it’s abso-bloody-lutely perfect. The 1st person that everybody begins to dread after reading fanfiction for a while? The author makes it work wonders, from the very first lines when it captures and holds the reader. Wonderful pacing? Indeed, it’s wonderful if 23 very long chapters read so well that one forgets the passage of time and the very fact that they are reading, not living in the fic. The sheer complexity and believability of the characters, be they major, minor or original? The world that is so refreshing and truly, deeply original but that rings very true if you think of the Tolkien’s book? The attention to detail? Any of other dozens of things that are done so amazingly well and that simply plant themselves right into reader’s heart? I don’t know. I doubt I could find sufficient words.
“When all of this is over, I told myself, when we’ve booted Sauron out of Middle Earth once and for all, I’m going to retire and become a Hobbit. I’ll move to the Shire and buy some cosy unoccupied hole, and spend the rest of my days with no more pressing concerns than tending my garden and ensuring that I get at least eight meals a day.”
I think the story like this is a gift. I love it.
The Captain and the King, by plasticChevy #
Gen, R, novel-length. Summary: “AU story - Saruman believes Isildur’s Heir is carrying the Ring, so he sends his orcs to capture the Men of the Fellowship. Aragorn and Boromir are taken prisoner at Parth Galen. Mithril Awards Finalist 2003 - Best alternate universe or crossover”
As I realised a long time ago and confirmed this realisation to myself when talking to Milady Hawk, I don’t want beauty divine in a fic. I want to be told a solid, captivating story that would make me forget the passage of time while I’m reading. Here I find it. Boromir survives and learns humility at the price of a grave loss. A blind Boromir rides into battle and rules his city while his king leads his people to Mordor. Treason, assasination attempts, rifts and reconciliations between brothers, honor and friendship, and even a very appealing female OC that is not a Mary Sue. Boromir blindness is more of the Tiresian kind, a thing that adds depth to the character rather than a mere plot device. My only regret is that it’s gen. There’s so much love between them, and I’m such a hard-hearted slasher that I would enjoy it even more were it slash, either Boromir/Aragorn or Boromir/Merri :) Alas. I knew not to hope for it to be slash ‘cos the story is archived at HASA (’cos it’s not a slash-only archive, and pairings aren’t labeled there, so when you see “Adult,” it basically means nothing; it can be slash, gen, or het). Maybe the author of this thoroughly gen piece would be horrified to hear such wishes. But it’s a good story anyway, IMO. It’s action-packed but the storyline isn’t drowned in action, as it often happens; it’s bittersweet, and I enjoyed it.
The Care and Feeding of Hobbits, by Baylor []
Gen, PG, chaptered fic. Summary: Ruminations on the Little People by Boromir, Man of Gondor. Humor Non-slash.
This story is lovely. Not overly sentimental, no. Just lovely. I don’t know, maybe canon nazies will find something non-canonical in it (I doubt it, but maybe; I’m no judge in these matters), but I found it plain enjoyable. Formally, it’s written after a standard ‘care and feeding’ manual, with short chapters devoted to various aspects of hobbits’ habits, views and mannerisms as seen by Boromir. The epilogue is very sad — well, you know that Boromir is dead — but still lovely. Very pleasant reading!
Claiming the Throne, by Eledhwen (or here) []
Gen, canon pairings, PG, chaptered novella. AU from “The Pyre of Denethor”. Gandalf persuades Denethor to make a different decision in Rath Dínen, and the course of Gondor’s future is changed.
I liked to see an AU that branches out at this point. On the whole, the fic is maybe a bit too easy, but even if so, it’s just a bit — I’d expect Denethor to be more stubborn. But anyway, I found it interesting to read a fic where he plays a major part: how he would interact with Aragorn, how he would take Aragorn’s claim etc. There are many interesting details and observations, many moving scenes. Interesting fic, from my point of view. Maybe it’s not quite comfort reading, but it was for me.
From the Grey Twilight, by Casapazzo []
Gen or very genish Aragorn/Boromir, G, short. Summary: Ever so slightly AU; on the Paths of the Dead, not all the ghosts are strangers.
I think it’s a good story. The only pity it’s very short and not really slashy :) I thought I’d forget it very soon ‘cos it’s so short, but no: my trial time is usually a day, and I remember it quite clearly, even though I’ve read another dozen LotR fics since.
Keeping Promises, by Kamira #
Gen, PG, shortish. Summary: Faramir is called upon to fulfill a promise Boromir once made. Pairing(s)/Warning(s): Well there aren’t any really…but if even a humorous kiss between a hobbit and a man bothers you, don’t read this.
In my opinion, this fic is the definition of lovely. It’s not mushy, but it made me smile a bit and cry a little bit and sigh a happy, contented sigh at the end. The punctuation could be better, but the manner in which this story was told made me turn a blind eye to occasional errors. A perfect goodnight reading, heart-lightening or heart-warming. I’d read something else by this author if I could find more; their voice is very pleasant.
The Long Road Home, by AmandaK (also at HASA) #
Gen (some non-graphic het in one chapter); PG, novel-length. Against all odds, Boromir survives Amon Hen. Ashamed and filled with remorse, he goes on a quest for redemption. Bound by his promise to a sick man, Faramir keeps the secret of his brother’s survival. But as secrets are wont to do, the truth comes out eventually and Aragorn journeys north to bring Gondor’s prodigal son home.
The story is a bit exasperating but lovely at the same time. Boromir seeks to atone for his sins (as he sees them) by traveling across Gondor anonymously and slaying stray orcs and other enemies. But on the way, while he does menial jobs, camps in the forests and rides, he keeps rescuing strays: a dog, a whore, a pair of former enemies from Harad, an orphaned boy. The story is simply very pleasant to read. It gives comfort by the very narration and the rhythm of Boromir’s travel. It’s detailed; it shows much of the life of Gondor beyond Minas Tirith, the life of common people mostly, which I found most interesting and pleasant. All in all, I enjoyed it a lot.
Small Soldiers , by Cori Lannam (marzilla on lj) []
Gen, PG, short. Faramir wants to see his mother one last time.
Certainly memorable. It shows us several scenes from the life of young Boromir and Faramir that surrond their mother’s death. Denethor himself is much more human-like there than when we see him in the book. I like kid-fics, especially well-written ones. So I liked this one too.
Go to: LotR FPS recs: slash
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