Whore to the Rings

Though I've occasionally featured fanfic in my regular reviews it was always a one-off thing for me, because I never really was a fan of anything. Oh, sure, I watched Star Trek and Star Wars, and knew enough about Highlander and Xena to get by, but I never loved the shows the way a true fan would. They were just TV fodder to pass the time when I was bored. Because of this, for a long time I reviewed fanfic on its literary merit only, not for how well the writers captured the emotional "feel" of a particular show.

But then Peter Jackson came along and golly gee, I'm now a bona fide fanfic junkie of something for the first time in my reviewing career... and very qualified to crit it as well, given my seven years reviewing regular erotica and porn, and my twenty-plus years as a fan of the books. And perhaps it's because I know a quality product when I see it. After all, what other blockbuster media event has been so well suited for slash? The delicious male leads, the exciting adventures, the nobility, the sacrifice, the angst. And not a small part can be laid at the feet of the creators themselves. Phillipa Boyd and Frances Walsh brought a female sensitivity to the adaptation, while Peter Jackson is the director of the too-awesome-for-words obesession flic Beautiful Creatures -- which not only portrays a slashy (female) relationship, but can also be taken as metaphor for the fantasy lives of slash writers themselves!

Another reason I am posting these reviews is because I find most fanfic recs sadly lacking. "This fic was sad, but kind of sweet. It stuck in my head for a long time after I read it." Not very helpful to readers or writers, if you ask me. I hope that these reviews can guide people to stories that truly deserve readers' attention, as well as serve as a warning to writers who should work on their writing.

So what makes a good LotR slashy fanfic? I have several criteria. 1) Can the reader really see the LotR characters they know and love doing these naughty things? 2) Has the writer done the legwork of creating a logical setup and background for it? 3) Are the characters true to themselves, or are they puppets in a series of sick-fucks? And last but not least, Does the writer convince me that this could have happened in a lost scene from the movie or the books?

Accepting Age by Oakenshield (Legolas/Eldarion, Elrohir/Elladan)

Ansereg: A Website Review by Tyellas (LotR and Silmarillion BDSM)

Comfort by Eruntalince (Aragorn/Legolas)

The Dark King by Aithilin (Aragorn/Legolas, Legolas/Elrohir)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Lothlorien by Fionnabair (Legolas/Glorinfindel mpreg)

Hidden Wounds by Lyllyn (Aragorn/Legolas, Aragorn/Orc h/c rapefic)

In The Darkness Bind Him by DarkRiver (Eomer/Wormtongue)

In the Shadow of Tol Brandir by Sparky (Aragorn/Boromir)

In the Shadows of Lothlorien by Tricia (Legolas/Aragorn, Legolas/Haldir, rapefic, h/c)

More Than a Broken End by Amy Fortuna (Aragorn/Boromir)

Not Tonight and Bondage and Discipline by Janet Elizabeth (Aragorn/Boromir/Legolas)

One Dark Night by Enros (Elrond/Lurtz)

Reassuring Galadriel by Silvan Star Singer (Beren/Galadriel)

Realm of Darkness by Aithilin (Legolas/Sauron)

Red Ripe Fruits for Legolas by Camilla (Legolas/Haldir)

Spoken in Code by Galahad (Legolas/Celeborn)

Reforging Ties by Brenda Antrim (Legolas/Aragorn rapefic)

The Test by Alys (Legolas/Arwen/Boromir)

To Comfort an Elf, Chapter 1 by Nancing Elf (Legolas/Everyone)

Through Bitter Chains, Chapters 1 - 5 by Rhysenn (Legolas/Boromir/Aragorn A/U)

Trust by Sandcat (Aragorn/Boromir)

Unwilling Consort by Red Autumn (Legolas/Erohir/Elladan rapefic, A/U)

Untitled by Abbi (Legolas/Aragorn/Boromir PWP rape and bloodfic)