The Lord of the Rings/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth being corrupted by the ring for here.

These are recommendations made by Tropers for 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.

Authors and Websites

Morwen Tindomerel [1]

• Recommended by: Tonnocal
• Summary: 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"

Camp Glingal[2] by Araiona Dubois

• Recommended by Cathal Picard
• Summary: Basically, it is a Crack Fic of epic proportions! Gwen and Kisha are the only counsellors left at camp when suddenly, a ton of Tolkien characters show up. Gwen has a prank war with Morgoth, Varda leaves Manwe 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[3] by Miss Cam

• Recommended by Ansela
• Summary: 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
• Summary: Hobbit-centric stories, mostly G-rated and entirely gen, that are nevertheless 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
• Summary: 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.

The Fourth Age: Total War by various.

• Recommended by Revelo
• Status: ongoing.
• Has its own Trope Page
• 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, Rhun and Dunland rising up. What fate now awaits Middle-earth now the New Shadow has awoken?

Nili's Fanfiction

• Recommended by Zephyr7
• Summary: 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, humour and heartwarming moments to balance it out. A definite recommendation to read their stories.

Thundera Tiger’s fanfiction

• Recommended by Pryderi
• Summary: 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.

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.

Morlindale by The One Ring

• Recommended by Psyonif
• Synopsis: A scrupulously-researched (with footnotes!) Perspective Flip retelling of the events of The Silmarillion and LOTR, from Morgoth & Sauron's perspective.

Tales of a Dark Continent by Morthoron

• Recommended by The Enmity Of Ages 1994
• Synopsis: Well researched and daring, set in the 4th Age, as it's summary says it is 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 & 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.

A Secret Gate by elandulin

• Recommended by Robert
• Pairings: Canonical (Pippin/Diamond and Merry/Estella) but not plot central.
• Synopsis: How Merry and Pippin came to set out on their final journey, many decades into the Fourth Age.

The Adventures of Peregrin Took by Tom Fairbairn

• Recommended by Robert
• Synopsis: Several years after the quest, Pippin leaves the Shire and tumbles into adventure, touring much of the world and meeting legends.

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
• Synopsis: 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.

A time and times and half a time by Honesty

• Recommended by Hekateras
• Synopsis: Legolas, captured by Saruman, discovers *exactly* how Orcs were made; and Gimli must keep a vigil he will never forget.

The Mellon Chronicles by Cassia and Siobhan (offscreen rape, torture)

• Recommended by Kilyle
• Synopsis: This series follows the friendship of Legolas and Aragorn, starting well before 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.

The Burning of the Year by Raksha the Demon

• Recommended by Gemmifer
• 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.

Love Me and Despair by Edoraslass (AU, horror, character death, HASA link, Stories of Arda link)

• Recommended by sauronlulz
• Synopsis: What if Galadriel had taken the Ring?

The Battle of the Golden Wood by Marnie

• Recommended by Oracle Seven
• 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.

Devoted by Mariole

• Recommended by nicknack
• Synopsis: The young master of Bag End is brutalized in his home. His friends band together to help him heal emotionally and physically.

Crossed Paths, Crossed Blades by Kwaj

• Recommended by Kwaj
• Synopsis: A knight of Gondor. A soldier of Harad. An Orc of Mordor. On the fields of Pelennor their lives will cross...as will their swords.

The River by Indigo Bunting

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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.

Orcbrat by The Lauderdale [OC-centric, horror, Nausea Fuel, violence, out-of-focus non-con...]

• Recommended by D Hugo
• Synopsis: Orcs killed Maevyn's family and took her with them as a captive. It was never intended she survive.

"What Needs Looking After" by Westel [Some corporal punishment]

• Recommended by Mad 4 T
• "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.

Delw yomenie Deadly Encounter and The Roots of Evil by Imaginigma

• Recommended by Zephyr7
• 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.

The Captain and the King by plasticChevy (Link)

• Recommended by Acacia
• 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.

Moria's Revenge by Kookaburra

• Recommended by fruitstripegum
• Synopsis: AU story - The denizens of Moria decide to take revenge on the Fellowship—by way of its littlest member. WARNING: RAPE AND TORTURE.

Bee-Elves by Darth Fingon

• Recommended by Pryderi
• Synopsis: At the end of the First Age, Finarfin travels far into the backwoods of Middle Earth, hoping to bring the lost tribes of the Moriquendi back to Valinor. Oropher may take some convincing …

The Song in the Darkness by Mirach

• Recommended by YTDN
• Synopsis: AU. 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.

Shipping Fics

The King's Surgeon by Surgical Steel (AU, slash, explicit sex, surgery)

• Recommended by Ansela
• Pairings:
• Synopsis: An OC fic following Serind ë, a Gondorian surgeon, through life, marriage, motherhood and death.

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

• Recommended by Grumman
• Pairings: OC/Gimli
• Synopsis: How does one impress a dwarf lord?

All That I Had by Elenya (slash, explicit sex)

• Recommended by Rosie Bloom
• 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?"

The Price of Freedom by Erin Lasgalen (AU, some semi-explicit sex)

• Recommended by riahchan
• Pairings: Eowyn/Legolas
• Synopsis: "In the aftermath of the War of the Ring, Eowyn 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."

Snowdrops and Bluebells by Regina L.

• recommended by Theweirdwarrior
• Pairings: Faramir/Eowyn
• Synopsis: Expands on Eowyn 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.

Once in a Fair Green Country by Space Weavil

• Recommended by Pryderi
• Pairings: Gandalf/Olórin and OFC
• Synopsis: Gandalf shares a few glasses of wine (and more) with Elrond, and remembers the life he left behind in Aman.

Humourous Fics

Walt Disney Presents: The Lord of the Rings by jules14

• Recommended by clickclack
• 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.

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

• Recommended by Ack Sed
• Synopsis: We get to peek in the Fellowship's diaries of their travels, and the entries are somewhat... odd. And gay.

The Game of the Gods by Limyaael

• Recommended by Queen of Dorkness
• 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 Feanor 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.

Nine Men and a Little Lady by Kielle

• Recommended by Looney Toons
• Synopsis: Mary Sue 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 Mary Sue for what she is. Don't miss Galadriel's summary of the party's departure from Lothlorien.

How To Write a Lord of The Rings Badfic by locust

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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
• Synopsis: A chronicle of Saruman's progression into evil, from the original diary.

Pippin's Diary by Hilary Thomson

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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 by Crazyroninchic (Mary-Sue, some sex)

• Recommended by Siofra
• 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…"
  • This fic now has its own page.

Malcom Of The Rings by Hibob.

• Recommended: 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 everysingle powerful Lord of Middle Earth and be put between the Titanic Fight of Good and Evil. They are far from amused.

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

• Recommended by sauronlulz
• Synopsis: The Middle-earth version of The Onion.

How to Save Your Marriage by eleveninches

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• Synopsis: Aragorn needs an heir. Arwen wants to go home. Legolas is just there for the free food.

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

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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.

What's Up Doc? by KR Rouse

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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.

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.

The Fellowship of the Ring: The Breadbox Edition by Evadne

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• 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.

Elladan's Biograph Script by Claudi Elf

• Recommended by Amala
• 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.

Crossover Fics

The Black Company in Middle Earth by McJunker

• Recommended by Mc Junker
• Fandoms: Lord of the Rings, The Black Company
• Synopsis: In those days the Company was in service to the Eye of Barad-dur. . .

End Of The Line by Peladon.

• Recommended by Sharklady 35
• Fandoms: 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.

Monty Python: Fellowship of The Ring by Hstaphath

• Recommended by Goodwrench
• Fandoms: 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
• Fandoms: 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, etc., 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.

The Wizard in the Shadows by Nimbus Llewelyn

• Recommended by The Enmity Of Ages 1994
• 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.
  • Now has a one short prequel [4], with the promise of more to follow and eventually an Expanded Universe, with sequels being hinted at.