Fanfic Recs / The Lord of the Rings

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth destroying the Ring for here.

These are recommendations made by Tropers for The Lord of the Rings fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into sexually explicit or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

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Authors and Websites

Authors and Websites

Morwen Tindomerel (Link)

• Recommended by: Tonnocal
• Synopsis: This author is amazing. She takes the mythic of Middle-Earth and gives it just enough humanity to make it seem even more epic. The continuity of her LOTR fiction is singular, each building upon the other, but able to be read one at a time. A range of stories from the Silmarillion, Estel's youth following through Thorongil in Gondor, the War of the Ring and into the Restored Kingdoms. Has an excellent exposition of the fate of Arnor. This troper recommends starting with The Last Homely House
  • On the other hand, her writing style somewhat clashes with the original's, and this added to the author's overly fondness for short chapters and Original Characters may make the story look too simplistic and somewhat cheap. This troper gave her a try and ended up feeling somewhat cheated, having enjoyed some of the plots and concepts but being incredibly disappointed in the fics themselves.

Camp Glingal (Link) by Araiona Dubois

• Recommended by: Cathal Picard
• Synopsis: Basically, it is a Crack Fic of epic proportions! Gwen and Kisha are the only counselors left at camp when suddenly, a ton of Tolkien characters show up. Gwen has a prank war with Morgoth, Varda leaves Manwë for Maglor, and Frodo isn't the only one who lives! Morgoth becomes a good guy! The Witch King's name is Tim! People fall in love who you'd never suspect!

The Official Fanfiction University Of Middle-earth (Link) by Miss Cam

• Recommended by: Ansela, Tron 80
• Synopsis: The original (and some say the best) Official Fanfiction University. This is what started mini-Balrogs, the colour urple and the concept of Learning Through Pain. It has an as-yet-unfinished sequel, Once More Into The Urple Depths Of OFUM.

Baylor's Fanfiction

• Recommended by: Polaris
• Synopsis: Hobbit-centric stories, mostly G-rated and gen, that are wonderful character explorations and often attempt to fill in some of the events glossed over by the epic nature of the books. For instance, The Care and Feeding of Hobbits, Boromir's perspective of the Fellowship's journey and his friendship with Pippin in particular, and Fate and the High King's Falcon, about Pippin's recovery after the final battle.

Shirebound's Fanfiction

• Recommended by: Ainu Laire
• Synopsis: Hobbit-centric stories with quite a few stories including Fellowship members as well. Most of the fiction is rated G and follows book-canon with many references to film appearances. Especially delightful is her AU 'Quarantined' series, in which, by the first story, Frodo and Aragorn know one another years before the quest and become friends. If AU is not your thing, she has many strictly canon one-shots and multiple chapter stories as well.
  • I enjoyed Shirebound's fiction, but I found her works tedious after a while due to constant repetition of certain elements- specifically heavy hurt/comfort (some of her fics feel like a whump theme park, jumping from disaster to disaster) and her treatment of Aragorn and some of the other human and elf characters as somewhat bumbling compared to the hobbits (refreshing at times, but not realistic when Aragorn can't seem to ever come out on top or contribute meaningfully to solving problems).

The Fourth Age: Total War (Link) by various.

• Recommended by: Revelo
• Status: ongoing.
• Synopsis: What if a group of fans of Total War games and the books got together and expanded on an unfinished manuscript for sequel to the books? Where in the fourth age of Middle-Earth a dark cult has appeared in the lands of the Reunited Kingdom and caused a civil war. With the ancient alliance with Rohan strained and the armies of Harad, Rhûn, and Dunland rising up. What fate now awaits Middle-Earth now the New Shadow has awoken?
• Comments: The Lord of the Rings is a popular subject for game mods and this one is probably the the most well researched and comprehensive one out there. Done using Rome: Total War, it is beautifully made, filled to the brim with lore and references and made in the style of Tolkien in such a way that feels like a natural continuation of the legendarium. Amazingly it's still in development, with the final installation out this year. Whether or not it is strictly fan-fiction is your choice. But it was developed by fans for fans and seeks to create an original experience.

Nili's Fanfiction

• Recommended by: Zephyr 7
• Synopsis: Stories focusing on the friendship of Aragorn and Legolas, along with Elladan and Elrohir, with a good side helping of Elrond, Glorfindel and Erestor. The writing, plot, fighting scenes and characterization are all incredible and the author is very well-researched in LOTR-verse, as well as creating amazing original characters and villains for each of the stories. Nili's stories usually have a great combination of angst, humor and heartwarming moments to balance it out. A definite recommendation to read their stories.

Thundera Tiger’s fanfiction

• Recommended by: Pryderi
• Synopsis: Probably best-known for her short stories about Legolas and Gimli, but Thundera Tiger seems able to master any character or genre and any story length. Her work ranges from comic subversions (Hewing Naught but Wood) through character pieces (Broken) and gapfillers (Questing) to horror (The Unwilling). Highly recommended.

Yellowrose

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Synopsis: An author of several AU stories revolving around Samwise Gamgee, yellowrose is perhaps one of the best writers this fandom has produced. Whether it's creating Original Characters that you either cheer for or despise, or fleshing out minor canon characters, (s)he really does know when to make you cheer, laugh, cry, or go "Awww". I cannot recommend them enough.

telemachus

• Recommended by: Snow Glows Blue
• Synopsis: Author of many stories, mostly canon consistent but with a few A Us, revolving around Legolas and Gimli. Has a couple of Original Characters, notably Legolas's friend Caradhil, Legolas's two older brothers, and Gimli's mother, but they're rounded out and well-written. Incredibly heartbreaking, and among the best fanfiction this troper has read in a long, long time.

daw the minstrel

• Recommended by: luckyricochet
• Synopsis: She's written a great deal of stories that primarily focus on Legolas, from his childhood to adulthood. Her Original Characters are some of the best written this troper has ever come across, and her writing in general is rich and meaty with a lot of detail. Her works can largely be read as stand-alones but can also be read as one big saga covering Legolas's life and family, with just something to suit everyone: action, romance, fluff, adventure, etc. Very pleased to have discovered this author, an instant favorite.

Pearl Took

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Synopsis: One of the greatest non-slash authors. While she hasn't written anything since 2008, the works she HAS written are some of the best I have ever read. Focusing mostly on the hobbits, her stories are guaranteed to make you cheer, laugh and/or cry, or give you a Warm and Fuzzy Feeling.

General Fics

Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.

General Fics

For Every Evil by Mirrordance

• Recommended by: Helpimlost
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Legolas is a policeman in 2004. His colleagues starts to wonder why the ten-year veteran doesn't age. Though life's fallen into routine by now, he knows there's trouble ahead when he runs across the Fellowship and some old friends (and foes!) in new incarnations.
• Tags: Modern, Reincarnation, Adventure
• Comments: This was one of the first LOTR fic I have ever read and it still remains as one of the most memorable LOTR fic I've read. It basically takes place in a world where Middle Earth develops into our modern day society. It's interesting to see Legolas, and some other elves, navigate our society and their relationships with those around them. It's very much plot driven and it kind of reads as a modern thriller. The ocs are fleshed out and likeable. So if you're looking for a long epic adventure read, this ones for you. It has two completed sequels For Every Evil 2,For Every Evil 3 I recommend reading all three for a complete story.

The Raven's Blade Series by Valandhir

• Recommended by: Nox Gold
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Kili survived the battle of the five armies, thought he lost his home again. Decades later a grim dwarven warrior comes across a man searching for Imladris. Thus begins a journey across the lone lands that will lead into war.
• Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Angst, Adventure, Friendship,
• Comments: Part 1 of a 4 part series, all complete. The series is mainly told from the POV of Boromir with brief views from Kili, Faramir and others. It is a beautifully written, in some parts heartbreaking, tale of grief, duty and above all else, friendship. It is one of the best stories I have read in a long time and truly a pleasure. It also has a re-write which can be found here

Tales of a Dark Continent by Morthoron

• Recommended by: The Enmity Of Ages 1994
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The untold history of the far east of Middle-earth as told by the great chronicler of the 4th Age, Greagoir the Scribe, whose life and love is inextricably wound with the shadowy lore of the East. Essentially exploring the far eastern reaches of Middle Earth, talking of subjects from Eldarion to The Blue Wizards.
• Tags: Adventure, Romance, DRAMA, GENERAL
• Comments: Well researched and daring, set in the 4th Age, a fascinating subject with a remarkable depth and utterly gripping prose, this is for those who wish to see Tolkien's world explored and illuminated in the best fashion possible.
  • Also entered into the 2009 MEFA AWARDS, winning 2nd place.

A Secret Gate by elandulin

• Recommended by: Robert
• Status: Dead: Last update 2011
• Synopsis: How Merry and Pippin came to set out on their final journey, many decades into the Fourth Age.
• Pairing(s): Canonical (Pippin/Diamond and Merry/Estella) but not plot central.
• Tags: hobbit-centric, Friendship, Adventure, this one is a real doorstopper!
• Comments: A good story, very well told, though not yet complete. There are a few illustrations. The family scenes are heartwarming, and some of the descriptive passages are nearly poetic. There are also lengthy flashbacks to the courtships of Pippin and Merry, which show the damage Saruman did and the lasting effects of the pair's adventures, both good and ill. Much of the story is from the POV of Jamie Bucket, a charming teenage-equivalent working-class hobbit with an outsider's perspective on the Shire gentry.
  • Seconded. The story is frustratingly incomplete, but is highly recommended nonetheless - even if you don’t normally read hobbit-centric fiction, take a look at this one. The author covers a period (the later Fourth Age) that is rarely treated in fanfiction, and the depiction of the Shire and Middle Earth sixty years after the War of the Ring is painstaking and shows much thought on the part of the author. The story’s greatest strength lies in the characterization. In particular, the aged Merry and Pippin are beautifully portrayed - but even the minor roles in a huge cast have a wonderful vividness and depth.
  • Thirded. The story nicely delves into Merry and Pippin's lives after the War, doing an excellent job fleshing out the ciphers of Diamond Took and Estella Bolger. The pacing is steady and contemplative which works well with the two elder hobbits. Jamy Bucket is a great viewpoint character for seeing our heroes from an outside perspective and has a great story of his own. While sadly incomplete, it ends at a reasonably conclusive point that wraps up most of the plot threads.

The Adventures of Peregrin Took by Tom Fairbairn

• Recommended by: Robert
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: His father named him "wanderer"; but everyone called him Pippin. He was the youngest Companion of the Fellowship of the Ring, an innocent and foolish lad who walked heedlessly into legend. Twelve years after the War of the Ring, feeling trapped by responsibilities he doesn't want, Peregrin Took struggles with a restlessness he can no longer deny. Now, traveling amidst the vast and unexplored vistas of Far Harad, caught up in a war against a tyrannical Magician and the quest for a legendary Jewel, this impossibly curious, recklessly courageous hobbit discovers unexpected friends, devious foes, and a girl who will claim his heart, as he searches for the meaning of home.
• Tags: Adventure, World-building, Pippin-centric
• Comments: Good world-building for the bits of the mortal world off the map. Pippin is the only familiar character for much of the fic. Some historical in-jokes, since Lord of The Rings is supposed to be our past.

1 Review

Don't Panic and the sequel Okay, NOW Panic as well as Moments of Panic, short vignettes based on the first two stories, by: boz4PM

• Recommended by: Ansela
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Penny is panicking. Where is she? How did she get here? How is she going to get home and whose backside will she kick first when she does? A woman lost in Middle Earth wearing only her pyjamas. This can't be good... the rare "Modern Girl Winds Up in Middle Earth" fic where the transplantee doesn't get things all their own way. Penny is lost, alone, and unable to speak the language, and has no useful skills to help her survive. The story follows her as she tries to fit in, first at Rivendell, and then in Rohan and Gondor.
• Tags: Humor/Angst
• Comments:
  • Nnnnyeeuh....The first one is good, but the second one gets really preachy after about thirty chapters. Anti-war sentiments get really annoying when I can't go anywhere without them.
    • Not so much anti-war as war really, really sucks and people with post-traumatic stress disorder need treatment. The main character lambastes the shallow flirt who badmouths a soldier suffering from PTSD, and it's never said that war is evil. Penny never even tries to stop it, implying that it was necessary to stop Sauron.
  • These stories are shockingly intelligent and thoughtful (what would it really be like for a 21st-century girl to appear in Middle Earth?) and frequently too funny for the reader's good. If you don't laugh out loud at least once every few chapters, there may be something wrong with you.
  • Seconded. Poor Penny - she reacts just as you'd expect a Lord of the Rings fanatic to upon being lost in a fantasy world and meeting people and seeing places from the books - fear upon seeing Amon Sûl, for example, and wanting to weep upon coming to Imladris - but combined with amazement and awe and joy upon meeting Elrond and Gandalf. You identify with her because, let's face it, who among us wouldn't freak out then go into paroxysms of awe and amazement upon meeting Elrond Peredhel? There's also some good humour, such as Penny mixing up her Elvish languages and Aragorn remarking in disbelief, "She speaks Quenya now!" Toloth ellyn, Halbarad. Toloth!
  • A bit of an exaggeration above. The stories are good and often humorous, but the entire thing ends up in YMMV territory pretty quickly.
  • Agreed with the Troper Above. The story can come as too much: Too much drama, too much crying, too much angst that it robes the "Real Life" sense is trying to implement and it seems to hurl it to parody. This troper couldn't finish because it found her desire to "stay in Middle Earth" (Chapter 24)to be incredible stupid and was simply tired (not to mention disturbed by her lack of sickness) of her crying/screaming over the top at every single action around 15 to 20 times for chapter. I wouldn't recommend it unless you had seen too many Insert Fic and want something to mock them.
• Jcatgrl would like to know if there should be two separate works pages for the stories that would have to be ptitled, or if one works page titled "Panicverse" would suffice.

1 Review

A time and times and half a time by Honesty

• Recommended by: Hekateras
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Legolas, captured by Saruman, discovers *exactly* how Orcs were made; and Gimli must keep a vigil he will never forget.
• Tags: Horror, Angst, Torture, Body Horror, Suspense,
• Comments: Short. Beautifully written. You'll be on the edge of your seat wondering how it ends till the very last line, and beautifully, beautifully written. And it's short. There's no reason not to read it.

Boromir's Return by Osheen Nevoy

• Recommended by: Helly
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: What it says on the title. Boromir is brought back to life some two or three hours after his death, only to find himself forever tied to the river Anduìn.
• Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Bits of AU
• Comments:
• The fic, more than 500000 words long, follows Boromir through the evens of The Two Towers and The Return of the King. There are a couple of Original Characters, but the author mostly uses already established characters, and does a great work with them.
• As already said, the characterization is masterful. The author follows book canon, which is mostly important in regarding to Boromir's death and his relationship with his father. Denethor's character is maybe the best-written of the story, so layered and incredibly real, and the dynamics between him and Boromir are beautifully written. Boromir's relationships with his brother, the Fellowship and the creature who brought him back are also very good, but a special mention goes to the character of Aragorn, who is both well-written and analyzed critically, thanks to an excellent use of first-person writing. The author manages to avoid falling into the common 'mystification' of Aragorn often found in many Borormir lives fanfictions, while at the same time sounding incredibly realistic and perfectly in accord with the original. The language used is maybe too modern, and the fic is somewhat bittersweet, but it still remains one of the best pieces of work this troper has ever read.

The Mellon Chronicles by Cassia and Siobhan

• Recommended by: Kilyle
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: This series follows the friendship of Legolas and Aragorn, starting well before The Lord of the Rings gets started. It makes up a lot of events whole cloth - it has to - but it maintains a close (nonsexual) friendship between the two leads, and a close kinship between Elrond and his two sons and Aragorn (who was raised as their foster brother). Highly dramatic in places; the first story (of Legolas a long time ago) sets up Legolas's mistrust of humans with enslavement and (offscreen) rape, and there's torture and despair in places as well.
• Tags(For full series): WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, offscreen rape, torture, Kidnapping, Slavery, Child Abuse, Minor Character Death, Sexual Assault, Imprisonment, Bounty Hunters, Memory Loss, Angst, Poisoning, Aftermath of Torture, Betrayal, Beating, Whipping, Prisoner of War, Capture, Suicidal Thoughts, Injury, Hurt/Comfort Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Escape, Ghosts, Bandits & Outlaws, deafness, Deaf Character, Suspense, Haunting, Deceit, Mind Control, Threats of Violence, Psychological Torture
• Comments: The best long fanfic series Kilyle ever read.
  • Bear in mind, as I read this series, I got sucked into the action but kept feeling like I could write the writing much better. But I suppose that's the case with a lot of fanfiction where the storyline is cool but the writing isn't polished - comes from lack of editors, I think.

Misfit in Middle-Earth and sequel Misfit in Minas Tirith by Doris the Younger

• Recommended by: jyshin2
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: This isn't a movie. She's not an action hero. And Middle-earth is a very dangerous place to be. Trapped in the throes of a terrible World War, can an American college student help Princess Éowyn save her people from the deadly malice of Saruman? Can a girl-who-falls-into-Middle-earth be 'realistic' AND join in the fight against Sauron?
• Tags: Adventure, Friendship, OC-Centric
• Comments: What I like the best about this series is that it really focuses on a lot of minor characters in Rohan and Minas Tirith (in the sequel) and what it's like for them, how they contribute to the war effort even if they're not the ones going on secret quests and riding off to the field of battle. I also like that the OC recognizes her limits as a regular person, doesn't try to be the warrior princess, and just tries the best she can to be helpful.

1 Review

The Last Ringbearer by Kyril Yeskov

• Recommended by: I Hate Almost Everything
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Perspective Flip fic, based on the premise that the original books were written by elves to black-paint Mordor. In this fic, orcs are subrace of humans, elves are Scary Dogmatic Aliens who think of humans as animals and plan to enslave them, Mordor is an enlightened, prosperous and democratic civilization, and Nazguls are the Big Good. The protagonists are typical Fighter, Mage, Thief trio, with "mage" being The Medic and "thief" being spy. Large part of the fic is Spy Fiction.
• Tags: AU-canon verse, Perspective Flip
• Comments: This is not just Perspective Flip, this fic is written by a man with views completely opposite to Tolkien's, and is basically a big pro-Enlightenment statement against Romanticist stance of Tolkien, with heavy emphasis on Magic Is Evil, The Dung Ages and Screw You, Elves! tropes. Helped by the fact that the author is a biologist, fan of Science Fiction (especially Strugatsky Brothers' utopias of communism and technocracy) and popular science writer.
• In my opinion, just a very elaborate Hate Fic. It's pretty clear the author loathes the original book.

The Patient, (Triumvirate,Maedhros and The End of Days) by Scribe

• Recommended by: Morwen Edhelwen Massimo
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Aaron Stone, a New York psychiatrist, gets a mysterious patient, an elderly man with no memory of his past who claims he was sent to stop an evil in the city. Due to his appearance, the patient is nicknamed Moses. But what does Moses have to do with the headquarters of Malcolm Industries, a billion-dollar corporation?
• Tags: Modern-day LOTR fic, Adventure, Mystery
• The three sequels (Triumvirate,Maedhros and The End of Days) are even better. Especially Sauron, which really shows how much of a cunning bastard he used to be before being reduced to a shadow.
  • This is the best modern-day LOTR fanfic (if not the best LOTR fanfic at all) I've ever read. There would be a lot to say... the series really deserves a page on its own.

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The Burning of the Year by Raksha the Demon

• Recommended by: Gemmifer
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Gondor celebrates the New Year's Eve of their calendar. With Boromir gone to Rivendell, Faramir takes his place as the Year King, while Denethor broods and the people try to enjoy themselves.
• Tags: Drama
• Comments: Basically it's the heaps of foreshadowing that makes this story so enjoyable. Knowing everything that will happen to the characters in the coming year, you can shiver and grin as you recognize the omens. It's also very well written, with a voice that rings true for Tolkien's writing and the personality of Faramir without trying too hard.

Love Me and Despair by Edoraslass

• Recommended by: sauronlulz
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: What if Galadriel had taken the Ring?
• Tags: AU, horror, Angst, character death
• Comments: Also posted HASA link here and Stories of Arda link here
• Very dark, and the casual tone in which the characters' fates are revealed makes it all the worse. The beautiful writing makes it worth the read.
  • *Shivers* This fic is really quite disturbing, all the more so because it is probably very close to what would have happened. Definitely worth the read though.

The Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

• Recommended by: Oracle Seven, Goodwrench, Behindthesky
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: What Haldir was really doing during the Battle of Helm's Deep! Celeborn, Galadriel, Haldir and Thranduil and a host of OC's battle against Dol Guldur.
• Tags: action, adventure
• Comments: The epic, untold tale of things that actually happened in the books. The canon cast are all refreshingly in-character, and the Original Characters, while prominent, are extremely likable.
  • Also recommended by Goodwrench. This is the single best action/adventure LOTR fic I've ever read.
  • Thirded by Behindthesky. Would like to add that the writing is absolutely beautiful, not to mention the poetic style of dialogue makes the elves surprisingly good Deadpan Snarkers without breaking character.

Concerning Hobbits by Vana Jedi

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Young Frodo is visiting with Bilbo in Buckland and gets lost in the Old Forest and runs across a Warg. He is found and cared for by a Ranger and an Elf who are both searching for said Warg, the latter of whom has yet to experience anything of hobbits.

Devoted by Mariole

• Recommended by: nicknack
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The young master of Bag End is brutalized in his home. His friends band together to help him heal emotionally and physically.
• Tags: Hurt/Comfort, RAPE
• Comments: A wonderful Hurt/Comfort Fic revolving around Frodo's friends and family helping him to recover after he is attacked and raped. A subplot deals with Sam's unrequited love for Frodo, and how it is resolved. Steer clear if you don't like rape fics or slash stories, but other than that a great fic.

1 Review

Crossed Paths, Crossed Blades by Kwaj

• Recommended by: Kwaj
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A knight of Gondor. A Rider of Rohan. A soldier of Harad. An Orc of Mordor. On the fields of Pelennor their lives will cross...as will their swords.
• Tags: Drama
• Comments: Written in homage of Tolkien's writing style, this fic focuses on four otherwise faceless soldiers during Return of the King's climactic battle. The story's strength lies in its focus on its characters: they are each well-crafted, believable individuals, whose differing cultural backgrounds plainly contribute to their worldviews.

The River by Indigo Bunting

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The Fellowship must cross a river before it can enter the land of Hollin. When disaster strikes, Sam and Legolas find themselves trapped between the river, a party of malicious strangers, and each other.
• Tags: action, adventure, angst, drama
• Comments: Very powerful action/adventure. Has all the angst and drama you could want.
  • I second this! Love the interactions between Legolis and Samwise as they try find a way back to their companions I strongly recommend you should read this.

Orcbrat by The Lauderdale

• Recommended by: D Hugo
• Status: Dormant: Last update 2014
• Synopsis: Orcs killed Maevyn's family and took her with them as a captive. It was never intended she survive.
• Tags: OC-centric, horror, Nausea Fuel, violence, out-of-focus non-con, Fantasy, Adventure
• Comments: I wouldn't be put off by all the warnings, as this story is brilliant. It focuses on a band of orcs, plus one human girl and one elf that are their sort of captives. Yes, a large part of the fic is as disturbing as that requires, yet Lauderdale doesn't revel in that- it's simply part of the fic and is not embelished, and furthermore, she manages to balance the horror out with humour, and she does it well. Her take on the Orcs in question is intelligent- although they aren't mindless monsters here, they certainly aren't nice, yet all of the group has separate personalities, that, in context don't seem unrealistic at all. The protagonist of the piece, Maevyn, is a very well written character, pragmatic and brave, yet still very much the young girl that she is- her fight for survival is again, realistic, and the group dynamics are both dangerous and humorous... you just have to read it, really. And also, the non-con does not involve Maevyn (don't worry), is really a background thing (sort of a brutal fact of life for poor Lennie), and is certainly not played for kink. I suppose the best way to summarise the fic is as the author once had in her synopsis — creepy, though probably not in the way you're thinking.

What Needs Looking After by Westel

• Recommended by: Mad 4 T
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Sam takes care of Frodo, who is recovering from an illness, while The Gaffer and Bilbo visit a fair in another town. The tables turn somewhat when Sam takes ill himself.
• Tags: Friendship, some corporal punishment
• Comments: This is a very sweet friendship fic about Frodo and Sam. It explores some of the tension caused by class differences, and their devotion to one another transcending it (Not slash). It manages to be both humorous and heartbreaking at times, with an incredibly sweet (though maybe a bit sappy) ending. Note to the squeamish: both Frodo and Sam get whipped (moderately, with a switch) as a punishment at one point.

1 Review

Delw yomenie Deadly Encounter and The Roots of Evil by Imaginigma

• Recommended by: Zephyr 7
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis:
  • First story: When Aragorn vanishes from Imladris without any trace and an attack scares Imladris' inhabitants, can the twins and Legolas solve the mystery before they too fall into the hands of evil?
  • Second story: An old enemy seeks revenge on Aragorn by using a most wicked poison, but not only Aragorn has to pay, but his brothers as well. When Legolas is drawn into the evil game as well, things turn for the worst. And this time, not even Imladris can offer healing.
• Tags: Angst, Adventure
• Comments: Just amazing writing throughout the two stories. The first one is continued in the second one, where the author knows exactly how to pull the heartstrings of the readers, as well as to the characters, since the mortal Aragorn (unlike the elven Elladan and Elrohir) is dying faster and there is nothing Elrond, his brothers or Legolas could do about, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats when symptoms worsen and they are left wondering whether Aragorn will truly survive this ordeal.

Rusta Iira by Princess Tyler Briefs

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Hate is a hard lesson, to learn or unlearn. And even the Shire has predjiduce...a Merry and Pip friendship story unlike most you've ever read.
• Tags: Drama, Adventure, Friendship

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The Measure of a Man by Virtuella

• Recommended by: Pryderi
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Déoric, a young rider of Rohan, is crippled on the Pelennor and has little hope for his life and future after the war. But salvation comes when an unusual talent brings him to the attention of Éomer, and a position at the courts of Edoras …
• Tags:
• Comments: A well-written story from an unusual perspective. Several canon characters make appearances, including a memorable cameo from Théoden’s old minstrel Gléowine, but the story belongs to Déoric and his friends and family. The character writing is excellent – in particular, Déoric’s struggles with his physical injuries (and his pride and bitterness) are finely done. The author also has a wonderful feel for the landscape of Rohan and the texture of daily life amongst the common folk of Edoras.

Death Seeker by Technomad

• Recommended by: Tropers/Eoppen
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Grima is freed from Saruman's influence along with Theodred, and becomes Saruman's most fanatical foe of all.
• Tags: Adventure, Tragedy
• Comments: This may be the only "Grima redeemed" fic out there. Grima is the embodiment of the trope Death Seeker in this one, as he fights his way through the hordes of the enemy. However, he's no good at dying, but he's really good at killing.

The Green Knight by Le Rouret

• Recommended by: greatbigcranberries
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Two years after the War of the Ring, King Elessar's Privy Council advises him and Prince Faramir to hold a Grand Tournament in the ruins of Osgiliath to draw the strength of foreign knights and warriors to Gondor.
• Tags:
• Comments: A very well written novel length story detailing adventures after The Lord of the Rings ends. Legolas is the author's favourite character and it shows. However he bears not the slightest resemblance to Orlando Bloom's portrayal, beyond having blond hair. The writing is excellent with a suitably archaic tone, which is nevertheless wholly different from Tolkien's style. Le Rouret also draws influence from The High Middle Ages, rather than The Low Middle Ages that Tolkien preferred. It is very different, and well worth reading. The closest thing I can compare it to is Ivanhoe.
• There are also a number of sequels.

This Present Darkness by Lamiel

• Recommended by: AryaAdrianiel
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: When a new power threatens Gondor, Legolas is caught in a desperate struggle to save Aragorn's soul.
• Tags: (Warnings are posted at the beginning of each chapter.) Drama, Angst
• Comments: Going into the fic based on the synopsis leads a reader to believe that it is just another post-WOTR fic about the struggles of adjusting to a new Middle Earth. It is nothing like that. Never have I read a fic more detailed, more intense, or more downright disturbing than this one. It is one that will hold your interest throughout the whole (incredibly long) fic through sheer trepidation and morbid intrigue about what is going to happen in the next chapter. As such, while I do highly recommend it, I also recommend reading the warnings before you start the fic because it is not for the faint of heart.

Home with the Fairies by I-Mushi

• Recommended by: Anonymous, Sophiebybophie
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: 'We've all seen the horribly butchered and cliché girl-falls-into-Middle-Earth stories. So is it possible to make a semi-realistic one? Follow Maddie on her own adventure exploring Middle Earth as the opposite of a Tenth Walker.'
• Tags: Attempt rape, Sexual assault, Language barrier, Culture shock, Adventure, Fantasy
• Comments: This story is well worth a read, even for one who (like myself), isn't usually into OC stories. Maddie is a wonderfully well-rounded and likeable character, who starts off alone, confused and trying to figure out how she ended up in a strange land. The story doesn't stray into Wangst, but realistically portrays the homesickness and confusion someone would experience if they were dumped into a different world. Her interactions with other characters are excellent, and the story follows Maddie's personal story in Middle Earth, rather than have her tag-along with the Fellowship. It also addresses important moral/philosophical issues when she finally realizes where she is, such as - even if she knows some of the story, should she interfere? No strong romance theme yet, as the story is predominantly focused on Maddie's broad experience of Middle Earth and later the LOTR story. Other main characters include Boromir, Faramir, Eowyn, Eomer.

Out of All Knowledge by Budgielover

• Recommended by: hpfan4ever
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Frodo is taken to Rivendell after he is stabbed by the Ringwraith. Elrond struggles to heal him as the others wait and watch anxiously.
• Tags: Angst, Friendship
• Comments: Excellent story that shows how Frodo survived the wound from the Ringwraith. Everyone is in-character, it is one of the rare fics that made me smile as much as the original did.

A Fairer World by Losseniaiel

• Recommended by: Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: In Valinor, Gimli befriends Finrod Felagund.
• Tags: One-shot, Drama
• Comments: One of those ideas that, when you see it, makes you wonder that more people haven't done it.

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Looking for Boromir by Valante

• Recommended by: Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Faramir seeks his brother. Where is Boromir? And where, for that matter, is Faramir?
• Tags: One-Shot, Drama, Suspense
• Comments: A haunting, lyrical tale of loss, love and hope.

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Little Elfling Lost by sheraiah

• Recommended by: Sophiebybophie
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A human hunting party stumbles across the aftermath of an orc attack in which a very young elf is the only survivor.
• Tags: Drama, Angst, hurt/comfort, language barrier
• Comments: A one-shot, and a good read; It's about Legolas.

Lapsus Memoriae (Rávamë's Bane: Book 1) and Compos Mentis (Rávamë's Bane: Book 2) by RealityWarp

• Recommended by: Sophiebybophie
• Status: Complete/Dormant; last updated January 2019
• Synopsis: Every Tolkien fan has a "Tenth Walker" in them — but Eleanor Dace hasn't read a word of Tolkien since she was thirteen and was still fantasizing about adventuring in other worlds. Now she's twenty-two, a third year English Literature student about to graduate from college; when she discovers that her teenage fantasy just got a bit too realistic for her liking. Now she's trapped in Arda, a world she has little idea how to survive in, trying to recover a missing set of memories that might help get her home. Or they might just make things go from merely life-threateningly bad; to apocalyptically worse. With little more than her hazy recall of the Lord of the Rings trilogy to draw on (and a sarcastic second personality giving cryptic advice in her head) Eleanor begins to realize that there is something sinister going on in Middle Earth, besides the return of the One Ring. Something more than mere coincidence brought her here, and only remembering what it is will get her home again. Oh, and in case things weren't complicated enough already — her ears just got a whole lot more pointy.
• Tags: [Follows a mix of canon from the books and films. Rated for language and somewhat graphic descriptions.] Adventure, Fantasy
• Comments: One of the better Girls falls into Middle earth fics that I've come across. I didn't get annoyed by the main character through out the first book and I hope that remains in the sequel. Love the mystery that surrounds the main character as the plot is thicker than it seems.

Survivor's Guilt by The_Lady_Meg

• Recommended by: SilverWizard
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: In which Boromir survives Amon Hen, and Fate adjusts itself accordingly.
• Pairing(s): Boromir/Éowyn
• Tags: One-shot, AU, Angst.
• Comments: A rather beautifully written take on what would have happened to Boromir had he survived the skirmish on Amon Hen, told solely from Boromir's own perspective.

The Fords of Isen by Branwyn

• Recommended by: Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: one-shot
• Synopsis: A very unusual duo save a Rohirric warrior.
• Tags: One-shot, drama, ghost story
• Comments: A beautiful story about a friendship that transcends death.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by getoffmyrichard

• Recommended by: eeveelutionlover2000
• Status: Ongoing
• Synopsis: Elves go bonkers over children. Children are precious, gentle beings that are so rare it's a miracle that one is born. Elves think children need to be coddled and protected. So how would they react if they found an elven child who was fiercely independent, borderline savage, and only liked one person in the whole settlement who was just as standoffish and distant from everyone like she is?

Or: I can't promise you much, but I can promise you an unconventional LOTR OC that is a) not a Tenth Walker, b) not in love with Legolas, and c) says the word 'fuck' with regularity.

• Note: Has sidestory Diverged in the Yellow Woods.

Jailbird by Jaz The Bard

• Recommended by: eeveelutionlover2000
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: There is singing from the southeast tower of the citadel. There is always singing from the southeast tower of the citadel. For over three thousand years someone has lived in that tower and sung, and today Faramir wants to know why.

Alternate Universe

Alternative Universe. The characters are written into a different world/universe than the one they are typically from.

[[folder: Alternate Universe]]

The Captain and the King by plasticChevy (Archived by HASA)

• Recommended by: Acacia
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: 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.
• Tags: Boromir-lives AU , War of the Ring, Drama, Canon - Non-canonical to good purpose, Canon - Outstanding AU/reinterpretation, Characters - Family Dynamics, Characters - Friendship, Characters - Good villain(s), Characters - New interpretation, Characters - Strongly in character, Characters - Well-handled emotions, Plot - Can't stop reading, Plot - Dangerous topic w/satisfying end, Plot - Good pacing, Plot - I reread often, Subjects - Legends/Myth/History, Writing - Clear prose, Writing - Engaging style, Writing - Evocative, Writing - Well-handled dialogue, Characters - Good use of minor character(s), Characters - Outstanding OC(s), Plot - Bittersweet, Plot - Tear-jerker, Subjects - Medical/Healing, Subjects - Military, Subjects - Politics, Writing - Every word counts, Writing - Well-handled introspection, Writing - Good use of humor, Writing - Well-handled Po V(s), Fellowship of the Ring, Plot - Joy, Plot - Surprising reversals, Characters - OOC to good purpose, Canon - Solves frequent reader complaint, Characters - Unusual relationship(s), Subjects - Culture(s), Characters - Well-handled romance/eroticism, Subjects - Explores obscure facts, Writing - Mythic/Poetic,Canon - Enhances original, Writing - Foreshadowing
• A little more is different here than in the average Boromir-lives AU. I really can't say enough in its praise. It's not just a story about Boromir as a Handicapped Badass, it's about deep friendships, good people who do bad things, forgiveness, grief, trauma, and acceptance. Potential trigger warning: The early story has a number of scenes of prisoner abuse, and later, prejudice against the disabled forms a major plot point.

Moria's Revenge by Kookaburra

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: AU story - The denizens of Moria decide to take revenge on the Fellowship — by way of its littlest member.
• Tags: AU, Angst, Drama, WARNING: RAPE AND TORTURE.
• Comments: Pretty much Exactly What It Says on the Tin - Pippin is captured by the Orcs, who proceed to rape, torture, and generally play Break the Cutie with him. Even when he's rescued, it's not over. But this isn't your average Hurt/Comfort Fic, oh no. The writing is simply wonderful, with the author showing that they know EXACTLY how to make one laugh or cry depending on the situation, and while there's a bit of Ron The Death Eatering later on, the character in question gets better - I'd tell you who it is, but that would be a MASSIVE spoiler. There's also a few Original Characters, but only one has a really big role. All in all, a fantastic story that could conceivably exist in canon. Highly recommended.

1 Review

The Song in the Darkness by Mirach

• Recommended by: YTDN
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: After the battle on Pelennor fields, Aragorn is captured by the Nazgûl and brought to the Dark Tower. His will is the only thing that stands between Sauron and the One Ring.
• Tags: AU, Angst, Drama, Torture
• Comments: From the synopsis seems like your average torture fic, however it's nothing but. Beautifully written and utterly tragic, the writing and atmosphere is pure Tolkien, and it combines equal doses of Tear Jerker and Heartwarming Moments to create a fic that tugs all the heartstrings. The characterizations are spot on, and the author just gets Aragorn. Also contains wonderful references to The Silmarillion. Truly a stunning piece of work.

Where the Grass Grows Green I: We May Yet Stand by Ragnelle

• Recommended by: madamezou
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The Quest failed. Sam killed Gollum before the Ring was destroyed and now darkness rules the lands of Middle-earth. A small group from the resistance battles both hunger and mistrust, to keep hope alive. But will the sacrifices outweigh the gain? Book one of six.
• Tags: AU, Dark Fic, some Torture, Major Characters Death
• Comments: This is the first installment of six: the second, Where The Grass Grows Green II: On Bended Knee is a dead fic. It's a beautifully written dark fic: Sauron regained the Ring and now rules on all Middle Earth, many of our favorite characters are captives or dead while the only resistance comes from the Rohirrim. The author is slow with the uploads, but it's well worth the waiting.

Hideous Treachery by Faerlas

• Recommended by: klom99
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: An Alternate Timeline stemming from the events on Mount Doom in which Frodo surrenders completely to the power of the One Ring at Mount Doom.....Only for him (and Sam) to immediately be captured by the Nazgul and imprisoned by Sauron, thus ensuring his victory over the Free People and the enslavement of Middle-Earth. Enamored by the ring's power, a now-sociopathic Frodo must work his way into Sauron's good graces and seize the Ring for himself once more.
• Tags: Drama, Horror, AU
• Comments: Two-thirds of the story will play out like something of a milquetoast Ronthe Death Eater prompt.....at first. However, the word-play at work here really sells it. The post-Evil victory Middle-Earth is described in sickeningly sweet detail; and while Torture scenes are there, they are neither overused nor over-the-top. Plus, the Twist Ending to the story puts the otherwise cliche tropes to unique use. Only problem with the story is that it's rather short. At a measly four chapters, it's more of a briefly captivating prompt than a heart-fluttering epic. Those looking for a tiny gem of Deconstruction will find it here.

Shipping

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Shipping

The King's Surgeon by Surgical Steel

• Recommended by: Ansela
• Status: Complete
• Pairings:
• Synopsis: The life and adventures of a surgeon in the late Third and early Fourth Ages of Middle-earth, from south to north and back again.
• Tags: (AU, explicit sex, surgery) use of profane or obscene language, violence, adult themes, sexual content, character death
• Comments: Winner of MEF As for Races: Men: Incomplete in 2006 (First Place) and Genres: Longer Works in 2008 (Third Place).
• It's long (over 120 chapters and counting, including a happy AU where certain characters don't die) but worth it. It does contain m/m relationships and graphic medical and sexual scenes. Although the concept of Original Characters and the ever looming threat of Mary Sue (Sauron who?) may cause you to pause, this fic neatly sidesteps the common traps. If you want to read about the Middle Earth behind the gloss of bardic lyricism, this is an excellent choice. Tackles political intrigue, racism, sexism, education and war while promoting an endearing plot.

The Heads of One Thousand Goblins: A Love Story by SickleYield

• Recommended by: Grumman
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: OC/Gimli
• Synopsis: How does one impress a dwarf lord? Gimli son of Gloin never forgot the Lady Galadriel. But love can find you in the most unexpected places and the strangest ways...
• Tags: Fantasy, Adventure
• Comments: The only Lord of the Rings romance fic I'd ever recommend. Lacks elves, OOC behaviour or any of that horrible stuff.

All That I Had by Elenya

• Recommended by: Rosie Bloom
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Frodo/Sam
• Synopsis: "Frodo and Sam return to the Shire. How is their relationship affected by Frodo's illness? Why does Sam marry Rosie? Why does Frodo leave the Shire, and to what lengths is he prepared to go to keep Sam safe?"
• Tags: Rating NC-17, explicit sex
• Comments: This epic, novel-length love story spanning six decades is famous in both online and offline circles. It's been the subject of academic papers. ATIH is obsessively faithful to canon and includes detailed authors notes.

1 Review

The Price of Freedom by Erin Lasgalen (

• Recommended by: riahchan
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Eowyn/Legolas
• Synopsis: "In the aftermath of the War of the Ring, Éowyn comes to the painful realization that the wounds of the heart she still bears cannot be healed by going back to the cage, however gilded, however loving the master. Four years and hundreds of leagues later, her past is about to catch up with her in more ways than one."
• Tags: Adventure, Romance, R for content. This story is an AU. With the exception of the first chapter it is set post-ROTK. It will contain heavy violence, the mention of rape though no actual depictions, and sexual content—again, no gory details, some semi-explicit sex
• Comments: I found this novel-length, finished story when I thought I was done with LOTR fan fiction and almost didn't click the link. Now it has become one of my favorites in any genre. Éowyn's decisions make sense in the context of the story and build much sympathy for her character and the world around her. The world building is also really well done, giving a look at the effects of the War on the lands that fought with Mordor. I thought the pairing would feel strange but it was pulled off incredibly well.
• Comments: Complete in seven chapters, this is Éowyn as Tolkien posthumously wishes he could have written her. While YMMV on her characterisation in the context of medieval concepts of self and femininity, the modern reader will rejoice. This is the Éowyn who killed the Witch King of Angmar, who defied honour and the rules of society to seek death on the Pellenor fields. She's fragile, strong and utterly as she was before she met Faramir, settling down to the propriety of Gondorian society. The romance is in character and loving rather than hawt. The exploration of monarchic rulers and social mores, as well as the reach of Sauron's domination is fascinating.

Snowdrops and Bluebells by Regina L.

• Recommended by: Theweirdwarrior
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Faramir/Éowyn
• Synopsis: Eowyn's growing friendship with Merry in the Houses of Healing begins to unthaw other feelings in her heart as well. A detailing of the Eowyn & Faramir courtship. Expands on Éowyn recovering in the House of Healing. The main focus of the story is of her growing friendship with Merry and how it influences her decision to hook up with Faramir.
• Tags: Drama, Romance, Friendship
• Comments: If there's one aspect of the original books that I wish Tolkien had devoted more time to, it's Éowyn and Merry's relationship. This fic not only does that, but the writing style and characterization manage to have the feel of the books. From the charm of Éowyn eagerly learning about Merry's childhood and Hobbit culture, to the absolutely heartbreaking scene where she confides in him about all the inner turmoil she had to endure at the hands of Gríma, this fic's tone is all over the place (and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible).

The Healer and the Warrior (and it's sequels) by Maddy051280 Rated T

• Recommended by: firerose
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Éomer/Lothíriel, Faramir/Éowyn, Aragorn/Arwen
• Synopsis: A series of short (the longest is 7 chapters) fics about Éomer and Lothíriel, following their romance from their first meeting, in the aftermath of the battle of the Pelennor fields, through their engagement and well into their marriage. The stories start with The Healer and the Warrior, and are all part of the same story line.
• Tags: Romance
• Comments: The characters are well written, and Lothíriel is an intelligent and likeable heroine. It's romantic, witty and quite a worthwhile read, though it does move slowly at times. Lothíriel's brothers are hilarious, and the author does a great job writing diologue in general and theirs in particular.

The Ugly Duckling of Dol Amroth by Spake 2121

• Recommended by: shadylady105
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Éomer/Lothíriel
• Synopsis: My name is Lothíriel of Dol Amroth. Though my reputation for truth is somewhat tarnished I swear that every word of this tale, the most important of my life, is true...
• Comments: The characters (and their interactions) were such a pleasure to read that this troper has no qualms with imagining that this story was a continuation of canon. Lothíriel and Éomer's relationship progresses exactly how one might imagine it would; characters are well-rounded and completely fleshed out while dealing with courtly intrigue and the realistic aftermath of the War of the Ring.

Splint by helenamarkos

• Recommended by: Fatrat, Red-Dead-Redeemer
• Status: Dormant; last updated September 2018
• Pairings: OC(Orc Female)/OC(Human Male)
• Synopsis: Years after the War Of The Ring an injured Ranger attacked by wolves finds himself with a broken leg and an unlikely rescuer.
• Comments: Well-characterized slow burn Romance. It does a good job filling in Orcish society without whitewashing their brutality (when she finds him she seriously considers eating him, she rescues him out of loneliness as she has been on her own for so long.)

The Shire Morns series by Elderberry Wine

• Recommended by fruitstripegum
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Frodo/Sam
• Synopsis: A pre-Quest series of stories revolving around Frodo and Sam as they realize their love for each other, and deal with how the other inhabitants of the Shire react to it.

Hollow Darkness by Elderberry Wine

• Recommended by fruitstripegum
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Frodo/Sam
• Synopsis: Sam helps Frodo during the anniversary of the Witch-King's attack on Weathertop.

In Cavern's Shade by Castile 181 - Rated M (some graphic violence and semi-explicit sex)

• Recommended by: PF_Fan
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Galadriel/Celeborn, with others such as Lúthien/Beren sprinkled in.
• Synopsis: "He has dwelt in the west since the days of dawn, and I have dwelt with him years uncounted; for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains, and together through ages of the world we have fought the long defeat." This is the real story behind Middle-earth's longest and most enduring marriage, that of the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim.
• Comments: Epic doesn't even begin to describe this vast, novel-length fanfiction. 40 chapters, over 512,000 words, it spans hundreds of years during the First Age and this is only Part 1 of 3. The author intends to complete two more sequels taking the reader all the way up to the end of the Third Age and the War of the Ring. The sheer level of dedication, skill, attention to detail, character building and storytelling ability that has been poured into this work is truly astounding. The story remains completely canonical to the dates and events portrayed by Tolkien in The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and The Lord of the Rings but fills in the many, many gaps that surround Galadriel and Celeborn's courtship and marriage, with a sharp focus on the politics of Elven culture and the coming together of the Noldor and the Sindar.
  • The sequel, Canticle of the Haunted, is currently being written.
    • Canticle hasn't been updated since September 2016.

On the Wings of the Storm by Lialathuveril

• Recommended by: RoseAndHeather
• Pairings: Éomer of Rohan/Lothíriel of Dol Amroth
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "The year before the Ring War, Princess Lothíriel of Dol Amroth is sent to Rohan by her father to seek shelter from the storm brewing in Mordor. There she meets Éomer, Third Marshal of the Riddermark. Unfortunately they do not hit it off... at first."
• Comments: A compelling novel about the romance between Éomer and Lothíriel in the last days of the Third Age, with incredible attention to canon detail. It's another candidate for 'this could have really happened', with well-drawn Rohan Original Characters.

At the Edge of Lasg'len by Ann Elspeth Raven, Sona Bean Sidhe

• Recommended by: Andygal
• Status: Ongoing
• Pairings: Thranduil/OFC, OFC/OMC, OMC/OMC, F/M/M threesome.
• Synopsis: (copied from authors synopsis. We can safely say, you won't find another fic like this anywhere. It started out with the basic idea of a mortal woman meeting a faded Elvenking Thranduil in modern Ireland. Then it sprouted wings, and became a full-on epic about the elves of the Woodland Realm meeting both Ireland and the world, and all the craziness that comes along with these two vastly different entities colliding...along with a king obligated to lead his people through changes he could not initially imagine. Interpersonal relationships, thorny social/psychological problems, matters of history, culture and politics...it's all here. If you join our little world, we hope you will laugh, cry and everything in between. Nothing that happens in this story is simple, or obvious, because it is about the eternal quest for love and acceptance—of self, and others. And more besides. We hope you enjoy reading as much as we've enjoyed the writing.
• We publish a chapter a week, give or take.*
• Tags: slice of life, drama, angst, romance.
• Comments: Relationship between Thranduil and the female lead starts out slightly dubcon, but evolves pretty quickly (and the story acknowledges the questionableness of the initial interactions). Contains some instances of graphic violence and also detailed sex scenes. Contains one instance of mostly-offscreened rape (and at least one instance of Rape as Backstory). The cast contains a number of characters with traumatic backstories (parental abuse, alcoholism, parental abandonment, criminal behavior, mental illness) the effects of which are gone into detail about. The cast is almost entirely Original Characters, until the story expands to Valinor.

In All the Ways There Were by Molly Ostertag (yes, that Molly Ostertag)

• Recommended by: talewind
• Status: Complete
• Pairings: Frodo/Sam, Sam/Rosie, background Aragorn/Arwen, Legolas/Gimli, and Merry/Pippin.
• Synopsis: A retelling of the Lord of the Rings (movie canon) from Sam's perspective. Also he and Frodo are in love.

Crossovers

A fan fiction which incorporates characters, events, places, ideas, etc from another fandom.

Crossover Fics

Malcom Of The Rings by Hibob.

• Recommended by: Surt Noir.
• Status: Finished-10 chapters.
• Synopsis: By actions beyond their comprehension, Malcom, Reese, and Dewey find themselves thrown in Middle Earth just after the beggining of Frodo Travesy. Now they must find a way to survive while pissing every single powerful Lord of Middle Earth and be put between the Titanic Fight of Good and Evil. They are far from amused.
  • Comments: Irreverent, sarcastic, well thought, kind of breve, Malcom of The Rings is a good way to pass an afternoon. It follow the life of the Three brothers in parallel with the Fellowship of the Rings, exploring middle Earth and its culture by Malcom and Co. while trying to adapt and find a way home, helped by a phone (and its introduction to other key characters)and Francis and Steve. While their adventures are quite independent of the rest of the cast they still are present in some of the most crucial moments, either help it happen or hindering with their inane actions. Worth a check.

Saruman of many Devices by Saphroneth

• Recommended by: Mcnickel|
• Status: Dormant
• Crossover with: The General Series.
• Synopsis: Alone of every power in Middle-Earth, Saruman innovates, notably gunpowder. But he lost. What if he had a little help? A chipped Palantir stone has Saruman the White dial in to a master much different from Sauron. Central - an AI made to bootstrap fragments of human civilization up to the level at which it once was, one step at a time. Well, not only human.

Armed with advanced scientific knowledge and the ability to see projected futures, he sets on the uneasy task of imposing peace and progress upon the rather stagnant and traditionalist nations of Middle Earth. With an army of Uruk-hai, of course.

• Tags: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, AU
• Comments: Has trope page here.
  • Technically a crossover, but it doesn't read like one.

The Black Company in Middle Earth by McJunker

• Recommended by: Mc Junker
• Status: Complete
• Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings, The Black Company
• Synopsis: In those days the Company was in service to the Eye of Barad-dûr. . .
• Comments: Crossover with Glen Cook's famous series of military fantasy novels. Tries to reconcile Tolien's narrative with the Black Company's worldview. If you are unfamiliar with the Company, then try to imagine the War of the Ring from the point of view of the bad guys.

End Of The Line by Peladon.

• Recommended by: Sharklady35
• Status: Complete
• Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean
• Synopsis: There's a long-standing theory in the PotC Fandom, that Jack Sparrow's ancestral roots may extend beyond human boundaries (see the Pirates of the Caribbean list at WMG.) This entertaining yarn confirms it- and not a moment too soon for Jack! General Audience.
• Comments: A short rescue tale which explains quite a lot.

Monty Python: Fellowship of The Ring by Hstaphath

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings, Monty Python
• Synopsis: Humorous Crossover script of the Fellowship of The Ring movie.
• Comments: Very funny work. The Two Towers and Return of The King are here Towers and here King

Policing Middle Earth by aoteoran.

• Recommended by: Ag Prov
• Status: Dead
• Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings, Discworld
• Synopsis: Lord Vetinari has made contact with Steward Denethor via a possibly malfunctioning palantir. He is prevailed upon to send Sam Vimes into Middle Earth as a tenth member of the Fellowship of the ring, so as to hold together a party of inept dreamers and make a long-shot desperate idea work. Watch and laugh as Discworld conceptions of elves, trolls, wizards, Dwarfs, et c, clash with Middle Earth's rather nobler ideals. Vimes duly treats the War of the Rings with the same "breach of the peace" attitude he expressed over the Leshp war...
• Shipping: none. don't waste time looking for it.
• Comments:- gleefully anarchic crossover written in the best Discworld tradition as two divergent cultures collide.

Mystery Science Theater 1000 by Hardman 5509

• Recommended by: Hardman 5509 (Currently desperate to hear anything.)
• Status: Dead
• Fandoms: Shadow Hearts, Mystery Science Theater 3000, legolas by laura
• Synopsis: In the style of MST3K, the main characters from the Shadow Hearts series, Yuri Hyuga, Alice Elliot, Johnny Garland, and Shania are forced to watch/read horrible Fan Fics by Proffesor Gilbert and Nicolai. In the 9th chapter, they face legolas by laura, a story that sends them up the wall. (For some reason, the link to the story's trope page is broken. It's there, you will just have to Google it.)
  • The link got deleted because it involves incest and paedophilia.

The Wizard in the Shadows (Link) by Nimbus Llewelyn

• Recommended by: The Enmity Of Ages 1994
• Status: Complete
• Fandoms: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
• Synopsis: Harry decides to get some rest and recuperation in an out of the way world after the 2nd Wizarding War on the recommendation of Dumbledore's portrait. Unfortunately, that world was Middle Earth. 4 years later, Harry joins the Fellowship with a view to finding his way back.
• Shipping: Sticks firmly to canon shipping.
• Comments: Yo-yo's from angst to snarky humour, and a hint of Discworld and the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy in the occasionally snarky narrating. While the first chapter is short, the rest get steadily longer and rather better. Harry is powerful, but not invincible by any stretch of the imagination, and has distinct vulnerabilities. Notable also for giving the Rohirrim a day in the sun and crafting a decent Théodred, on a Word of God rationale that he deserved day in the sun because he spent his appearances in the film dead or dying.
  • Also impressive in that it manages to make Denethor likable. Albeit in Jerk with a Heart of Gold fashion. At the start of his appearance in the story, he is the same as in the films, but then Boromir manages to convince him to do better.
  • Word of God here - this fic was my first novel length piece, written between the ages of 14 and 17, and dear lord does it show in places. For me, it falls in between So Okay, It's Average and Old Shame in places. Anyone intending to read it should be aware of that.

Love Pays No Indemnity by Jana

• Recommended by: Ansv
• Fandoms: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
• Pairing(s): Bilbo x The One Ring, Bilbo x Sauron
• Status: Dormant; last updated October 2021
• Synopsis: After the Battle of the Five Armies and return to home, Bilbo feels strangely restless. Well, the way his family tries to marry him off might be contributing to this. The One Ring decides it needs to understand its bearer better in order to properly manipulate him - the hobbit is proving unexpectedly good at resisting its influence. The road to East is long and this was never supposed to happen, but violence was never Bilbo's preference when it came to solving problems - whether he was aware that a problem existed or not. The Wise and the Mighty might say that everything has already been tried against Sauron, but Good Hobbit Sense and actually communicating somehow hadn't made that list.
• Comments: Extreme slow burn fic with huge payoff in later chapters, great attention to detail and unexpected twists. Without giving away anything too major, Bilbo being Bilbo has the one ring frustrated with its inability to properly manipulate him, causing it to make a major strategic error of far-reaching consequence. Touching, hilarious, and suspenseful in turns, this is one of those rare too-good-to-be-true fanfics.

1 Review

Apples by The Amazing Maurice

• Recommended by Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: Complete
• Crossover with Discworld
• Synopsis: "It seemed to Shadowfax that the only constants in his life were swords and apples."
• Comments: The beginnings of a beautiful friendship.

Marvel Tolkien Cinematic Universe by Dr Matthattan

• Avengers of the Ring
• Return of the Avengers
• Scarlet Witch and the Thirteen Dwarves
• The Witch, the Wizard and the Sorcerer
• Avengers: Dagor Arnediad
• Avengers: Metheilien

• Recommended by: Sophiebybophie and Silver Wizard
• Status: Complete
• Crossover with: The Avengers / Marvel Cinematic Universe
• Synopsis: Due to a freak accident involving the Bifrost, the Avengers Captain America, Thor and the Hulk are thrown into the world of Middle-earth. They join the Fellowship of the Ring in their epic struggle to defeat the Dark Lord Sauron.
• Tags: Adventure/Humor
• Comments: I seriously love this fanfic. It's so so good and way better than I at first thought it was going to be. Do yourself a favor and go read this.

The Shadow of Angmar by Steelbadger

• Recommended by: Cubby T Bear, Paddy Murphy
• Status: Dormant; last updated June 2021
• Crossover with: Harry Potter
• Comments: Slow moving but epic. Rather than returning from King's Cross to the final battle with Voldemort, Harry is summoned across the worlds by the Witch-King of Angmar, who thought he was summoning Morgoth. He is ... displeased. After being freed in the fall of Angmar, Harry travels across Middle-earth, trying to find somebody who can help him find his way home. There are excellent portrayals of elves, dwarves, the proto-Rohirrim, and many others. The author has clearly done the homework on Tolkien's mythology and writes marvelously, somehow blending Rowling and Tolkien's worlds into something that works.

Throes of Fate by Ruairi J L

• Recommended by: Helpimlost
• Status: Dormant; last updated September 2018
• Crossover with: Inheritance Cycle
• Synopsis: "Time is an enhancement of Being. Never before has it been altered, and never again shall it." So says he who utters unto Eragon Shadeslayer his eternal destiny; the winds of time, wrought by magic, transfix and envelop those in their path. A Rider and his dragon, now bound to Middle-Earth, with the hidden knowledge that they have a Fellowship to aid, and a Dark Lord to destroy.
• Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
• Comments: It's slow to update but what's there is well written and the characters blend well together.

Hear Me Roar: The Lannisters in the War of the Ring by willywalkerstrikesagain

• Recommended By: Silver Wizard
• Status: Dead; last updated September 2016
• Crossover with: A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones
• Pairings: Éomer/Cerenna Lannister, maybe Faramir/Cersei Lannister and possibly Éowyn/Jaime Lannister
• Synopsis: A magical event brings the Westerlands and it's rulers House Lannister to Middle-earth just before the War of the Ring. Will the Lannisters find what little good is in their hearts or will they be corrupted into darkness and doom the world of men?
• Comments: Possibly the best LOTR/ASOIAF crossover story I've ever read. A must read for any fan of both franchises. Has its own trope page here.
  • Also available on AO3 and Spacebattles.com

Ring-Maker by LithosMaitreya

• Recommended by: Aacorn Soup, Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: Complete
• Length: 153 chapters
• Crossover with Worm
• Synopsis: Taylor Hebert forges the Rings of Power, creates Mithril, crafts armor and weapons of Middle-Earth, and is the reincarnation of Sauron, and an ancient Maia able to overpower Masters and Thinkers with ease.
• Comments: The only crossover between Middle-Earth and Worm worth noting (at the moment).
• Has a Tropes page.

The Web of Middle-Earth by HandAssassinSpider-man

• Recommended by bbb35
• Crossover with: Spider-Man
• Status: Dormant; last updated July 2018
• Synopsis: Thousands of years ago during the First Age Morgoth and Ungoliant entered an alliance that led to the creation of a being that would help them destroy the Valar and the Elves but Ungoliant's hunger and Morgoth's deceit prevented such a calamity from unfolding. Now their son must choose wheatear to side with the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth against Sauron's return or dominate them.

It's an Odd Coincidence by Telcontar Rulz

• Recommended By: Silver Wizard
• Status: Complete
• Crossover with: X-Men (film series)
• Pairings: Logan Howlett/OC, Scott Summers/OC
• Synopsis: Logan 'Wolverine' Howlett finds himself in a very strange place. He tries to figure everything out, but he seems cause more problems than solve them. Will he be able to deal with it, and will he ever get home?

Agent Of The Ring by Steve993

• Recommended By: SAM 996
• Status: Dormant; last updated January 2021
• Crossover with: Agent Carter
• Synopsis: 2 years following her venture into Middle Earth Peggy Carter has become a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D designed to watch over and protect the world from other world threats. When Peggy is called to return to Middle Earth to visit a friend she finds herself in a changed Middle Earth and also more than she bargained for as a new journey begins. Sequel to Agent Of Middle Earth. Crossover between Agent Carter and the Lord of the Rings.
• Comments: The sequel to Agent Of Middle Earth

The Arda Campaign and its sequel Star Wars: Arda Unleashed by Lord Exar Kun

• Recommended By: Silver Wizard
• Status: Complete, sequel ongoing.
• Crossover with: Star Wars
• Synopsis: When a Separatist anti-gravity well generator prototype goes haywire, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker find themselves blasted into a strange world called Arda, where they join on a quest to destroy this strange thing called the Ring of Power. However, General Grievous, a mysterious Dark Jedi and a droid army have also landed in the realm of Shadow in Mordor...

Crossing Wires by FixaIdea

• Recommended by: fruitstripegum
• Crossover with: Asterix
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The Fellowship's adventure in Moria goes... unexpectedly better than anticipated.

Game of Thrones and the Heroes of Old by ranma71016

• Recommended by: Silver Wizard
• Status: Dormant; last updated March 2020
• Crossover with: Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Chronicles of Narnia.
• Synopsis: As Ned Stark lies in the black cells in King's Landing, he finds help in young heroes sent to change his and the fate of Westeros.
• Comments:

Short Cuts by hausos

• Recommended by: Dame-Amaryllis
• Status: Ongoing
• Crossover with: Cardcaptor Sakura
• Synopsis: Sakura will hold out that it was an accident, and even if it wasn't, obviously there was some higher being at work. Still, she manages to travel sideways to Arda and finds herself joining the Fellowship of the Ring. Everything will definitely be alright! Right?
• Notes: Alternate link here.

One Shrek To Bring Them All by Scarlett Moonchild

• Recommended by: Silver Wizard
• Status: Dead; last updated June 2005
• Crossover with: Shrek
• Synopsis: Shrek finds his swamp filled with dead people, and finds himself on a quest to Mordor with the Fellowship, in a bargain to get it back.
• Tags: Humour, Parody
• Comments: Very funny and extremely hilarious. Hard not to get a laugh out of.

Quoth the Raven by thatdamnuchiha

• Recommended by: eeveelutionlover2000
• Status: Ongoing
• Crossover with: Manga/Naruto
• Synopsis: Sakura wakes up in a strange forest, with eight tiny children who are, coincidentally, the exact same size as her. Though their appearances have all changed, there’s something they all have in common – they’re all shinobi, they’re all well acquainted with each other, and they all have pointed ears. Weird and strange things have always happened to Team Seven, and shinobi are all well enough versed in survival in strange and possibly hostile climates so they make do. Then the elves find them. Alternatively, in which Sakura can and will stab people in the ankles, Ino thinks this is rather hilarious and hides her worries with a smile, Naruto still thinks he can be Hokage, Sasuke wonders what in the fresh fuck is going on, Hinata is simply glad Naruto is still there with her, Shino ponders over the insect wildlife, Kiba is really happy Akamaru is there with him, Chouji wants food, and Shikamaru thinks the whole situation is bizarre and troublesome.

Add Review

Crack/Humor

Crack/Humor Fics

Things As They Should Be: By Legolas by mbus55

• Status: Complete
• Summary: Legolas writes a fanfic and forces The Fellowship to listen. Warning: Characters will be made fun of. Lines will be changed. Every Parody Sue will die.
• This story is one of the most hilarious fanfics I have ever read. It pokes fun at all the worst fanfiction tropes, and also manages to be quite fun in its own right. It even brings back several dead characters to make it even more insane.

A Practical Guide for the Courtship of Elves, by Beren son of Barahir by Nerdy Nell

• Recommended by Sasha Honeypalm, Tron 80
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Word of bad fanfiction (particularly Legomances) reaches Middle Earth. Beren is "volunteered" to set the record straight.
• Summary: Despite the title, this is not a Silmarillion fic; the characters are from all over the Legendarium. Thranduil is angry, Legolas is clueless, Turin is crazy, and Beren would like everyone to please stop interrupting him. Highlights include the Legolas-Objectors' Autograph Page, Galadriel's Mortal Psychology class, and clashing poetry.

An Unseen Question by Rhymer/rhymer23

• Recommended by Sasha Honeypalm
• Status: one-shot
• Synopsis: Does the Ring's chain turn invisible? Inquiring hobbit minds want to know.
• Comments: Side-splittingly funny, but with a dose of serious emotion at the end.

Did I Say Bosom? by Baylor

• Summary: In which Merry is a very, very naughty hobbit. FOTR.
• Status: Complete
• Comments: A hilarious story in which hobbits are revealed to be not as innocent as first thought.

The Last Elf Standing by Suzene Campos

• Recommended by: Pryderi
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A record of the increasingly tetchy and gratuitously abusive postal exchanges between Thranduil and Elrond over the course of the Third Age. As the author warns, “Do not read if you object to two Elves of noble standing being portrayed as petty, vicious bastards”.
• Comments: Starting with a tight-lipped squabble in the aftermath of the Last Alliance, a wonderfully AU account of the Third Age unfolds, with the lords of Rivendell and Mirkwood exchanging barbs and malicious practical jokes (“To prove how high I hold you in my esteem, I have sent your son off on a very important mission. To Mount Doom. With a Dwarf.”) for the next three thousand years. Hilarious and very clever – spot how many events in Middle Earth’s history suddenly seem to be tied up in this feud.

The Fellowship of the Ring: The Breadbox Edition by Evadne

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: This is a condensed summary of the first Lord of The Rings movie.
• Comments: The author has a whole series of these parodies here Breadbox Editions and they're very funny.

Of Archery and Stuff by Draken XIII

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Synopsis: Imagine being transported into Middle Earth only to end up in an unfashionable backwater with a World War Two fighter pilot for company.
• Status: Dormant
• Comments: It's a work in progress and it's about original characters, a description that normally puts people off. This time you need to read, because the story is brilliantly hysterical.

1 Review

What's Up Doc? by KR Rouse

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Sam's just a normal guy trying to make his way in today's world, but with roommates like Frodo, Merry and Pippin, and neighbors like Gimli and Gollum, it's not easy. Modern AU.
• Comments: The story wins my vote for the most lunatic LOTR humor piece out there. It's a real marvel.

1 Review

Elladan's Biograph Script by ClaudiElf

• Recommended by: Amala
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A modern AU in which Elladan keeps a diary, and Rivendell strongly resembles modern-day Canada. The story begins the summer before the formation of the Fellowship when Elladan is fed up with his day-to-day life and decides to run away from home.
• Comments: Absolutely hilarious. A little bit OOC, but it actually works. The links to the fanfiction are at the top of the page. Start with the Vacation Log (How I Spent My Summer Vacation) and read on from there.

The Mushroom: Middle-Earth's Finest News Source by Marauder the Slash Nymph

• Recommended by: sauronlulz
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The Middle-earth version of The Onion.
• Comments: Somewhat OOC and slashy. My favorite headlines are "I'm Sorry, Rosie, But Your Husband Is As Flaming As The Pyre of Denethor" and "Completely Unrelated Hobbits Wed".
  • Seconded by Goodwrench. The story shows real creative imagination and is terribly funny.

1 Review

How to Save Your Marriage by eleveninches

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Aragorn needs an heir. Arwen wants to go home. Legolas is just there for the free food.
• Comments: Breakup fics aren't normally funny. This one is.

Should've Thought of That One, Bori by Eggo Waffles

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Dead
• Synopsis: We all wish that Boromir had survived Amon Hen, but have we ever considered the implications?
• Comments: Boromir is alive, sort of. Extremely funny.

DM of the Rings by Shamus Young

• Recommended by: Cinnathe Poet
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: The Lord of the Rings, retold via a webcomic as a fantasy roleplaying campaign. Mostly focused on the adventures of lazy Aragorn, overly-enthusiastic Legolas, and veteran roleplayer Gimli. Also featuring a Dungeon Master who is way more into the lore than the players, but occasionally forgets important details.
• Comments: A masterful work of humor, augmented by Young's great use of screenshots and heavy use of lampshading. It seems a little slow at the beginning but definitely picks up. The constant tug of war between the DM and the players is really the highlight here.
  • Has a trope page.

Walt Disney Presents: The Lord of the Rings by jules14

• Recommended by: clickclack
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: There are many diehard Tolkien fans that complain that either Peter Jackson's films destroyed their cherished images of Middle Earth or didn't capture the spirit of Middle-Earth. My answer? It could have been a thousand times worse.
• Comments: A super-hilarious parody which imagines what would happen if Disney ever made an animated version of Tolkien's books. Complete with cheesy songs (all of which were written by the author themselves), although it draws the line at having talking animals. Highly recommended for those who hate Jackson's films - after they read this, they'll never complain about them again!
  • Dellanotte: It's Mind Rape. It's nothing short of Mind Rape for anyone wanting to take any part of the trilogy seriously... Also a beautiful Take That! to Disney, with beautiful writing and Shout Outs to just about every facet of a certain franchise, which just proves that Disney will forever be far more skilled at Canon Defilement than even an army of fangirls.

1 Review

The Very Secret Diaries (Link) by Cassandra Clare (we hope) (slash)

• Recommended by: Ack Sed
• Status: Dormant
• Synopsis: We get to peek in the Fellowship's diaries of their travels, and the entries are somewhat... odd. And gay.
• Comments: First written when the films came out. This story was responsible for spawning one or two memes because it's straight-up funny — no exceptions. Sadly, abandoned after three entries were written for The Two Towers.
  • Fish Called Waldo: Also, the source for a great gnashing of teeth because of Reality Subtext from Clare's other fandom. Try to enjoy this story on its own merits.

The Game of the Gods (Link) by Limyaael

• Reccommended by: Queen of Dorkness, Veloren, sauronlulz, Spiral Gashunk
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Varda and Morgoth play a board game. Morgoth's pieces are Mary Sues. Varda's moves represent reality and canon, which she has to use to kill the Sues. The story uses a Framing Device involving Fëanor trying to steal the Silmarils. Complicating matters are an incriminating diary belonging to a certain Dark Power of the World, bad crossovers, and Nienna. The first few chapters focus on the parodies, the last few on the story's actual plot.
• Comments: The grammar is excellent, and everything ties in together. There is some OOC-ness and character exaggeration, which may bug you if you want a serious story rather than a lighthearted comedy. A few references to slashy material, but nothing explicit.
  • Hilarious. Parodies every type of Sue, while developing its own plot. Poor, poor Morgoth.

Nine Men and a Little Lady (Link) by Kielle

• Recommended by: Looney Toons
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: An OC shoulders her way into the Fellowship. And judging by the journal entries, not everyone is happy with that...
• Comments: Funny short set during The Fellowship of the Ring suggesting (with no small amount of Breaking the Fourth Wall) that despite her best efforts and special gifts, the other characters can see the OC for what she is. Don't miss Galadriel's summary of the party's departure from Lothlórien.
  • Also recommended by Goodwrench. This is the one LOTR humor piece that everyone needs to read. Simply terrific.

1 Review

How To Write a Lord of The Rings Badfic by locust

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Ever wondered what goes on in the minds of LOTR badficcers, and why they come up with their horrible creations? Here's a handy primer.
• Comments: Does a good job of covering all those cringe-inducing fanfic disasters.

Diary of the Trials and Tribulations of Saruman by Hilary Thomson

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A chronicle of Saruman's progression into evil, from the original diary.
• Comments: Saruman as pure essence of gleeful, hand-rubbing villain, and his downfall. Radagast makes great cameos.

Pippin's Diary by Hilary Thomson

• Recommended by: Goodwrench
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: What Pippin REALLY thought happened during the War of The Ring.
• Comments: Pippin as a self-serving dingbat. Filled with dark, mordant humor.

Never Leave Fanfiction Lying Around (Link) by Crazyroninchic (Mary-Sue, some sex)

• Recommended by: Siofra, Hindu Goddess
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "Several members of the Fellowship come across a strange fanfic, and begin to read. To their horror, it is a Mary-sue Legomance. Chaos ensues…A bit of light humor and M-S satire. If for nothing else, read to imagine the looks on Leggie's face…"
• Comments: I found this story years ago, and I still read it every now and then. It's a great send-up of Mary-Sues, and it's one of the funniest things in the fandom.
  • Seconded by Hindu Goddess. The humor is gut-bustingly funny, and no matter how many times you read it, it manages to stay funny. One of the few Mary-Sue parodies that manages to get through the entire trilogy. Warning, however, sometimes the actual characters slip into OOC moments (although some of it is the story taking effect on them).

The Owners Guide and Maintenance Manual series (LEGOLAS, GIMLI, ARAGORN, BOROMIR, and HOBBITS) by Theresa Green

• Recommended by: Sasha Honeypalm
• Synopsis: Just bought a new BOROMIR and don't know how to use it? Having trouble with cleaning your ARAGORN? Does your LEGOLAS keep getting stolen by fangirls? These handy manuals will guide you the process of installing, running, and maintaining your LOTR character of choice. Also includes Frequently Asked Questions and trouble-shooting.
• Comments: The fics that spawn a subgenre, the Owners Guides are a LOTR humor classic.

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We also have recommendations for The Silmarillion and The Hobbit.

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