Espresso Recommendations

JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings

Ensemble

Eledhwen tackles the fascinating subject of the characters' adjustments to the different demands of post-War Middle-earth. The piece is elegantly structured as a sequence of interweaving conversations covering a single day in Minas Tirith

[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Characters: Aragorn, Arwen, Faramir, Gandalf, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Gimli, Legolas, Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn, Imrahil, Elladan, Elrohir, Beregond, Ioreth]

The Face of the Enemy by Soledad

The very thoughtful & detailed evocation of the Haradric culture distinguishes this retelling of the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Cameo by Andrahar from Isabeau's Discretion & Discovery

[Added 25/06/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Characters: Imrahil, Faramir, Gandalf, Théoden, Eowyn, Witch-King of Angmar, OCs]

If I Were Queen of the Forest by Halrloprillalar

'"But you are not in the Shire," Galadriel said. She smiled again and it was more dangerous than Sam's glare. "You would do well not to refuse my requests."' Halrloprillalar treads gaily (cough) through a whole raft of fanfic clichÉs in this delightful humorous short

[Added 20/02/2003; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Characters: Galadriel, Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins, Boromir, Aragorn, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Legolas, Gimli]

Tempus Edax Rerum by Mirrordance

One of the more inventive premises I've ever seen in this fandom, thoughtfully executed, with a good mix of angst and humour. Give 'Tempus Edax Rerum' a try if you want something well off the beaten track and are prepared to put up with the occasional grammatical slip

[Added 26/06/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Characters: Legolas, Elrond, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Peregrin Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Boromir, Galadriel, OC]

Warm Beds are Good by Tyellas

I'll let this well constructed and very interesting essay sell itself: '"Sex" and "Tolkien" may seem like a contradiction in terms. It is often believed that Tolkien's works as a whole are sexless, boyish and innocent, based on the lack of sexual content in his novel The Lord of the Rings. This is not true. Sex and libido are present in Tolkien’s vision of Middle-Earth; indeed, it's inevitable in such a complete portrait of an imaginary world. Sex is marginalized in Lord of the Rings, is a destructive undercurrent in The Silmarillion, and is given rare, yet frank mentions in Tolkien’s extensive backstory of Middle-Earth. Passionate love, transgressive desire, denied sexual fulfilment, and rape are plot points in several stories. Libido and sexual love are even portrayed positively, when they take place within the proper moral bounds.'

[Added 18/10/2002; Essay; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Characters: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Aldarion, Erendis, Elves]