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Supporting Excellence
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The purpose of the Dark Prince AU webpage, is not simply to have a place where I could gather the AU into one place, along with people whom have so kindly used their considerable talent to write within it. It is not to self-indulgently post pretty images. (Although that is fun!) This page also gives me the space to advertise other authors who write in the Tolkien fandom, as promoting excellent fanfiction writers is something I feel passionately about. Fanfiction is real writing. It is not a poor excuse for original fiction, not when set within what is essentially a mythic history spanning thousands of years, and one in which many characters were left as well-nigh blank slates. Bringing those characters, their actions, thoughts, desires and interactions with others to believable and vivid life is creativity at its finest.
Whether their stories are set in Third Age Imladris, or First Age Beleriand, in Second Age Eregion, when Sauron as Annatar was planning to control the Elves, or in Rohan or Gondor in the Fourth Age, these people have enriched Tolkien's Middle-earth with their works.
And somehow, although the stories may take us to places strange to Tolkien himself, it is still Middle-earth, and, because of superb characterization, a richer, grander, more complex Middle-earth than the original author explored.
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I cannot thank the following authors enough for the immense pleasure their works have given me. They have stirred me, twisted me into knots, saddened me to tears, made me shout at the screen in approbation or abuse, made me think deeply about the characters and their personalities and motivations.
These writers have given true life to both canon and original characters to a degree that is rarely seen in published works. To me, these works surpass most published books that are lauded as 'Excellent.' ~~~
I have read a great deal since joining the fandom and yes, many of these names I have recommended from about this time in 07. That is not because I am a bore who refuses to read new works. I read new works every week, but as with published books, I always have a core that I read, and re-read, replace if necessary and which never bore me no matter how many times I read them; I discover new subtleties all the time. So it is with these authors. These are mostly long works or series with the exception of a couple, as these authors excel in creating their own world within Middle-earth and fill the breadth and space longer works permit with the power of their stunning imaginations and wordsmithing. Every one is different in style, every one is superb.
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The links go to the authors bio or home-page, as their works have different ratings. Please heed these. ~~~
The best thing I have found in fanfic, beside the stories of course ! is the pleasure I get in reviewing and recommending authors. If you love a story, please spend a few minutes in commenting. I did not realize when I discovered the fandom how much it means to a writer to be publicly appreciated.
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Esteliel has hooked me completely from since first reading her. Her series is not all about sex, despite the warnings and ratings, in fact it is a very skillful and thought provoking look at what is basically Stockholm Syndrome and how and why that can develop into love. The way the characters relationships develop from a terrible beginning is enthralling, deeply moving, and sympathetic, steamy and addictive. Any-one perceiving at this as just a kinky slash fic has missed the point entirely. I love this series. It is one to read and re-read. I can no longer pair Legolas or Glorfindel with any-one else; the series has influenced me to that degree. Highly recommended.
Kenaz' writing is gorgeous, elegant. It's like drinking a very good wine. Wonderful descriptions, her portrayal of the differences between the Elven realms and their customs is absorbing, and authentic. Her characters are beautifully realized, her dialogue wonderful. Reading her humbles me to dust.
heartofoshun To me A New Day
(MEFA 2008 First Place, Longer Works: General) is the ultimate Maedhros and Fingon' story. It's the story I wanted to read about them when I was still in my teens. She has a talent for writing characters and settings which make me think I open a door into that time and place and just sit and watch the tale play before me. I also adore her Maglor and Daeron pairing.
16/02/2010 Elfscribe - only just discovered and brilliant. Elegy For Númenor is superb, and I must also recomment her Swordspoint fic Windfall
(I highly recommend Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint - main pairing M/M. She is a brilliant author and Elfscribe's fic is wonderful. It goes without saying her Tolkien work is.)
Sauron as a Dark Lady, Simply stunning. And much more to come!
Steel has created a real, earthy, immensely appealing character in her ' The King's Surgeon.' A spiritually strong woman, with a heart; clever and courageous, a real gem with foibles and flaws and keen intelligence set within a enthralling story. Also co-writes with Pandemonium_213
Pink is a phenomenal writer, frighteningly talented. She also writes the steamiest het erotica I have ever read. Reading her over a year ago confirmed in me that some of the best writing is on the net, not published and on bookshelves.
For all your OC's in Second Chance and Three (I cannot believe you are but a year older than my neice !)
Glorfindel
This writer is prolific, witty and engrossing - and very clever. Her Dark Judgment enthralled me and also made me laugh. I have to love her Sauron. :D
Tolkien's science does not work. :) In the Pandë!verse it does. :D Some stories take such a different approach to Tolkien that they force those of us who like reading outside the box to stretch the boundaries of our imagination even further; to lay aside the 'absolutes' that we *know* within Tolkien's writing. Pandemonium's works portray Sauron in a way that is impossible to reject, a creator, a scientist, a genius. Her science is written in a way that even I can understand and both her original and canon characters characters are vivid and human and *real*.(Sauron/Marc Remillard. That is so perfect I don't even know where to begin !)
Silmarillion-based fiction. Keep an eye out for her forthcoming story of Maglor
Very, very clever, very witty, and with descriptions that can explode into vivid beauty, this author's ficlets leave one wanting to read a novella by her. Like, now :) Like Pandemonium she has a unique view of some of Tolkien's most vilified characters.
Amaranth Amaranth has been a great support to me from the first. She said she couldn't write. Haha. Her ficlet,
The Elf in the Mirror ( NC17 slash ) is only a taster. She is working on a couple of long stories.
Encairion This author has written a Modern-day person goes to Middle-earth with a black woman protagonist, which is far higher in quality than most such stories, and is also not a Tenth Walker, but she really unfurls her talent in her First Age and far more adult-oriented stories.
Jael For Thranduil and the Elves remaining in Middle-earth.
's Children of Lindórinand is superb and thought-provoking, and there is much else I have not yet read.
24/02/2010.
Angmar and Elfhild. Specficially, the Triumph of the Shadow; an epic look at what might have happened had Sauron won the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Slave-fic, an evil Elrond, a sadistic Aragorn, Legolas bound by a frightful spell? How does it work? It works because the AU constructed by the author ticks like a Swiss watch. It is reasoned and logical - and very disturbing.
I love Ignoble Bard's slash. It is elegant, erotic and beautiful. His Fait Accompli had me gaping at the screen at the end, I was so floored. He simply never fails to produce profoundly lovely erotica.
Celebrian's Journal is leads up to and includes the Dagor Dagorath. Epic fantasy with and believable and vivid characters brought from all of Tolkien's works.
I adore this authors gorgeous Tolkienesque language, since I fell in love with it in the Silmarillion. It is very similar to the King James Bible and having been brought up with it, I found it instantly familiar. Los Gloriol captures this wonderfully, and her work in the Valian years of the Trees has the absolute essence of Tolkien's antique prose.
(Silmarillion-fiction). Although I have only read The Work of Small Hands, that convinced me that this author is superb.
Very funny, very intelligent, versatile writer, she managed to turn a modern day Sauron/Erestor story into something as acutely funny as Terry Pratchett, but far hotter.
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Mainly shorter fics both in the Tolkien fandom and Ellen Kushner's 'Swordspoint'. Lovely, elegant writing.
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This is an organic list.
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