tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41203723711840971112024-02-19T03:28:47.592+01:00Parma-kentaEnquiry into the books
Thoughts on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and related subjects.Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-68517580380666856622021-10-03T20:22:00.002+02:002021-10-03T20:47:57.797+02:00Unboxing a Red Book<h1 style="text-align: left;">Unboxing <i>Parma Eldaliéva Special II</i> by Elmenel</h1><div>I am certainly not used to doing these things, as you can surely see from this video, but I found that this book is worth trying it out for.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uReICVoyOlM" width="400" youtube-src-id="uReICVoyOlM"></iframe></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The book is <a href="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/ParmaEldalievaSpecial_2.html" target="_blank"><i>Parma Eldaliéva Special II</i> by Elmenel – Tsvetelina</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I believe that her work deserves a larger audience, not just to be seen by many, but also to be bought by many. There is something exceedingly satisfying about having these red books on your shelf, knowing that such a level of beauty is awaiting inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The magic, the <i>enchantment</i>, of Tolkien's fiction is in his words. It is the words themselves that capture us, that enchant us, that puts us under that Elvish spell of Secondary Belief. What Elmenel does is to take that enchantment and work yet another enchantment on top of it by making the words themselves into works of Art in one more way: she takes the beauty of Tolkien's words and adds the beauty of her own Tengwar calligraphy, and the result is enough to bring tears of joy, even though I still have to work my way painstakingly through every page using a Tengwar chart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I urge you: get yourselves to Elmenel's website, <a href="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/">www.parmaeldalieva.com</a>, and purchase yourself a book written in Tengwar, and then find the link to her Patreon site, where you can sign up for a small support to keep this unique Tolkien artist in business.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The music is “Galadriel's Song of Eldamar, Ai! Laurië Lantar” from <i>An Evening in Rivendell</i> with The Tolkien Ensemble and is used with permission. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-23425531216091462432021-07-11T17:47:00.002+02:002021-07-11T17:51:40.063+02:00Tolkien and Diversity – and Tolkienian Inclusion<p>
Re-reading this post before publishing it, I find that it appears a bit rambling
or unstructured, but I haven't been able to do much to improve on it. I suspect
that this is, at least partially, a result of trying to express some views that,
while deeply felt, I haven't had much occasion to express in a coherent manner.
If true, that could probably also explain why I have felt the need to resort to
concrete examples to explain what I mean. </p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
I have, on this blog, already tried to indicate that I support the efforts of
the Tolkien Society to open the society to be more inclusive of voices that have
found it difficult to be heard, and of perspectives and readings of Tolkien that
have long experienced being summarily – and perhaps even angrily – dismissed. I
am well aware that these efforts are not new, but they have so far been kept in
the academic domain, where they have, for many reasons, not disturbed the
broader Tolkien community.
</p>
<p>
As a life-long member of the Guide and Scout Movement, firmly grounded in the
Movements inclusive values<sup><a href="#note1" name="back1">[1]</a></sup>, I welcome this and I embrace it. But I also
recognise how extremely difficult it is – even for those who preach the
inclusion – to actually practice it, when it comes to being inclusive of those
whose views differ. Actually, my experiences in the Guide and Scout Movement has
taught me to appreciate the need to coexist in constructive dialogue with people
who hold views that I might find abhorrent.
</p>
<p>
This has taught me that I am not really inclusive myself before I can remain in
constructive dialogue with such people: firmly stating my views, and firmly
disagreeing with them, while still allowing that they are entitled to their
opinions and views (though not to deny or contradict verifiable facts ... I <i>am</i> a
physicist, after all 😉).
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
With that in mind, I have seen some rather dismissive comments about those who
support the more traditional readings – e.g. about males who disagreed with a
homoerotic reading of the relation between Frodo and Sam. Now, I haven't seen
the comments that occasioned those dismissive comments, so they may, of course,
have been entirely justified, but they made me think.
</p>
<p>
How would I express the fact that I read the text differently?
</p>
<p>
How would I express the fact that I believe that Tolkien intended the text
differently?
</p>
<p>
How would I ask the other person to allow that my reading
is also possible?
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
A few examples, not necessarily of how I would react, but of how I would <i>want</i>
to react – of how I believe that my Scout Promise would commit me to do my best, to
strive, to react (the opinions portrayed are to some extent caricatured, the
responses are my honest views & opinions).
</p>
<p>
<b>Opinion</b>: “Frodo and Sam's relation is homoerotic.”
</p>
<p>
<b>Response</b>: “Now that's an interesting reading – I can see how you can
arrive at that understanding, though I have to say that I have always, myself,
understood it differently."
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
<b>Opinion </b>(referring to the opinion above): “This is an affront against
Tolkien, who was a devout Catholic!”
</p>
<p>
<b>Response</b>: “Well, I think this would come under the freedom of the reader
that Tolkien himself allowed as ‘applicability’. While I am, for my own part,
inclined to at least agree with you that Tolkien's personal reading would be
different, I also think that this reading is possible, and in no way an affront
to Tolkien. Actually I like to believe that he would be happy to learn that the
homosexual community can find applicability and identification in his work, even
if he probably didn't himself intend the relation to be homoerotic.”
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
<b>Opinion</b>: “Fan-fiction is the most interesting topic in Tolkien studies!”
</p>
<p>
<b>Response</b>: “I am really happy for you that you enjoy fan fiction. I have
never really found it particularly appealing or interesting myself, but I think
it's great that others like it. It's certainly a field that deserves academic
research, though for my own sake, I have found it difficult to see how such
studies can inform my understanding of Tolkien – maybe you can help me with that?”
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
<b>Opinion</b>: “You can only understand Tolkien by reading him through a
Christian lens!”
</p>
<p>
<b>Response</b>: “Hmm ... for my own part, I have found that the Christian – and
indeed Catholic – lens has helped me see and understand some things or
connections in Tolkien's work, that I hadn't discovered otherwise, but I don't
agree that this is <i>necessary</i> to understand and appreciate his work per se,
nor do I think that this lens is more important than e.g. the philological/linguistic
lens or the lens of the pagan Northern Spirit, or the Classical Greek and Roman
mythologies. All of these lenses, and probably more, in my view, contribute
equally to inform my reading and understanding and appreciation of Tolkien's
work.”
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
And so on and so on.
</p>
<p>
Surely you get the idea?
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
I would have loved to have a paper at the Tolkien Society Seminar, “Tolkien and
Diversity”, that would have promoted a firmly Catholic reading of e.g. <i>The
Lord of the Rings</i>, though, in the spirit of the seminar, it would, of course,
have been inappropriate for such a paper to claim a monopoly as a lens for
understanding and appreciating the book. Unfortunately, there seems to have been
no such paper proposed (I will refrain from speculating as to the reasons for this absence, as my speculations might end up being uncharitable) – next time (yes, I do hope that there will be a ‘next
time’ for this important theme), I hope that we can see an even larger diversity
of readings and reading lenses represented – one that also includes the more
traditional lenses, so that we can have a scholarly dialogue between these
perspectives.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
Notes
</p>
<p>
</p>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>
<a name="note1"></a>
Readers whose impression of our movement is based on e.g. the attitudes of the
Boy Scouts of America of 15 years ago might find this a bit puzzling, but please
believe me when I say that they were <i>not</i> representative of the
Movement as a whole.
<a href="#back1">Back</a>
</li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-38621419206807775052021-07-03T22:11:00.002+02:002021-07-03T22:14:43.041+02:00 The Tolkien Society Seminar 2021 – part 2<p>
I have been wanting to post more about the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar on “Tolkien
and Diversity” (I started writing “Diversity and Inclusion” ... that'd be my
Scouting & Guiding background ?), but time has been scarce over the past few
weeks for me to be able to say something coherent on this topic prior to the
start of the seminar.
</p>
<p>
So, I will start out with a link to the programme of the “<a href="Tolkien Society
Summer Seminar 2021" target="_blank">Tolkien Society Summer Seminar 2021</a>”
</p>
<p>
Due to family planning, I have been unable to follow the first papers until the
break, where I had particularly looked forward to the paper by Sara Brown. Alas!
</p>
<p>
The four papers after the break have all been brilliant, and as Shaun Gunner,
the Chair of the Tolkien Society, pointed out in his remarks closing out the
first day, no-one have tried to rewrite the books or tried to speak for or on
behalf of Tolkien himself. And <i>that</i> is exactly the point here. The
presenters at the seminar do <i>not</i> attempt or claim to speak for Tolkien,
or to re-write his work, and that is <i>precisely</i> what most of those who
have ranted against the seminar are doing.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
As for the pre-seminar discussions, others have, fortunately been able to
do more than I, and I will review a few recent contributions here, starting with
Robin Reid's excellent blog post “<a href="https://tolkien-on-the-web.dreamwidth.org/4231.html"
target="_blank">Response to Backlash against Tolkien and Diversity Summer Seminar</a>”.
Also see her “ <a href="https://tolkien-on-the-web.dreamwidth.org/4539.html"
target="_blank">Overview of recent posts regarding "Tolkien and Diversity" (Tolkien Society Summer
Seminar 2021)</a>” as well as ”<a href="https://tolkien-on-the-web.dreamwidth.org/3896.html"
target="_blank">Catholicism, Tolkien, and Diversity</a>”
</p>
<p>
Brava, Robin! And kudos!<br />
</p>
<p>
To a very large extent, I think that the main problem here is a fundamental
inability to handle alterity. Those who rant against the seminar (henceforth “the
ranters”) are generally engaged in exactly what Shaun discussed: they believe
that they (and they alone) can speak for Tolkien himself, and they project
this belief onto the speakers at the seminar, believing that the speakers are
trying to speak for Tolkien. There is a Danish proverb that speaks to this kind
of projection: “Tyv tror hver mand stjæler”, which literally means “the thief
believes (that) all men steal”. The point is that someone who is doing something
morally reprehensible such as stealing projects this behaviour onto everybody,
thus justifying their own stealing by their (mistaken) belief that “everybody
does it.” I keep thinking this when I read the accusations being brought against the seminar and the papers by the ranters.</p>
<p>
This displays an inability to handle otherness in so many ways that it's left to
the reader as an exercise to list at least three ways that they (the reader)
believes significant for this situation ??.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
There have also been some nice articles relating to the queer aspect. The first
that I saw was this one:<br />
Lauren Coates,
“<a href="https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/lord-rings-sam-frodo-ship-lgbt-queer-reading-history" target="_blank">Why Queer Readings of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are so Popular –
and Important</a>”, <i>SyFy Wire</i>.
</p>
<p>
This article seems to has been spread fairly widely already:<br />
Molly Ostertag,
“<a href="https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22550950/sam-frodo-queer-romance-lord-of-the-rings-tolkien-quotes" target="_blank">Queer readings of The Lord of the Rings are not
accidents</a>”, <i>Polygon</i>.
</p>
<p>And this article appears to pick up on the theme, adding some thinking related to the future film adaptations:<br />Ben Child, “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jul/02/future-lord-of-the-rings-films-should-acknowledge-the-books-queer-leanings" target="_blank">Future
Lord of the Rings films should acknowledge the book’s queer leanings</a>”, <i>The
Guardian</i>.</p>
<p>
While the question of “authorial intention” is debateable, I have no doubt that
Tolkien would have been happy to hear that there was a possibility for queer
people to find identification in his book through, at least, the “applicability
of the reader”. And that is exactly one part of what the 2021 Tolkien Society
Seminar is about: the ability of diverse readers to find identification and
applicability in Tolkien's works, regardless of whether this was intentional by
the author. Diversity in this case can cover any dimension along which humans
have had the (bad) habit of making distinctions ... gender, race, religion,
ethnicity, class, etc.
</p>
<p>
Molly Ostertag's argument that Tolkien intended Frodo and Sam's relationship to
have homoerotic overtones is, I think, not entirely convincing, but if we tone
it down a bit, there is, I think, a stronger argument to be made that Tolkien
must have known about the <i>applicability </i>of their relations to
the homosexuals of post-war Britain (he did, after all, have good and close
friends who openly belonged to that community), and while not necessarily
<i>intending</i> it, Tolkien must have accepted this applicability.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
Another aspect that could be brought up is Tolkien's own embrace of diversity in
his professional and private life. His warm friendships with, and professional
support of, people who differed from himself. While I do not wish to attempt to
speak for Tolkien, I think that a lot of what he did say can be read in many
different ways, and it is, at least to me, not really clear that he would truly
condemn (to put it mildly) the things that most of the ranters condemn (often
anything out of the very narrowly heteronormative, anything non-white, etc.).
Robin Reid, in her “<a href="https://tolkien-on-the-web.dreamwidth.org/3896.html"
target="_blank">Catholicism, Tolkien, and Diversity</a>” blog post, provides
quotations from Tolkien's and others' letters as well as from Verlyn Flieger's
essay, “But What Did he Really Mean” from the 2014 <i>Tolkien Studies XI</i>.
Flieger discusses many of the same points in her later MythCon Guest of Honor
address, “The Arch and the Keystone”, which is more readily available from
<a href="https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol38/iss1/3/" target="_blank"><i>Mythlore</i> vol. 38 no. 1</a>.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
I will leave this small group of other articles and blog posts that address the
seminar uncommented.
</p>
<p>
Mike Glyer, “<a href="http://file770.com/purported-event-will-counter-program-the-seminar-on-diversity-in-tolkien/" target="_blank">Purported
Event Will Counter-Program the Seminar on Diversity in Tolkien</a>”, <i>File 770</i>.
<br />Anna Smol, “<a href="https://annasmol.net/2021/06/27/upcoming-tolkien-conference-sessions-tolkien-society-seminar-and-imc-leeds/" target="_blank">Upcoming
Tolkien conference sessions (Tolkien Society Seminar and IMC Leeds)</a>”.<br />John
Rateliff, “<a href="https://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2021/06/diversity-and-counter-diversity-in.html" target="_blank">Diversity
and Counter-Diversity in Tolkien Scholarship</a>”.<br />Troels Forchhammer, “<a href="https://www.parmakenta.com/2021/06/tolkien-society-seminar-2021-tolkien.html" target="_blank">Tolkien
Society Seminar 2021 – “Tolkien and Diversity”</a>”.
</p>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<p>
Finally, as discussed above, the backlash against the seminar has been savage
and, to be frank, has missed the point so badly that it is embarrassing to read.
I will nonetheless provide a few links, most of them without comment, and none
of them to the original post, so as not to generate traffic and page-hits to
these sites.
</p>
<p>
Michael Foust, “<a href="https://archive.ph/RfwJi" target="_blank">Tolkien
Society to Examine Diversity in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></a>”, <i>Christian
Headlines</i>.<br />The presumption of Albert Mohler in his utterly nonsensical
description of what “this means” is, frankly, staggering – besides being, of
course, completely mistaken.
</p>
<p>
The rest of the ranters are, to be honest, just that – incoherent and fact-resistant
rants against straw men and windmills that only they can see ... (honestly, you're probably better off not reading these, but for completeness).<br />
John Daniel Davidson, “<a href="https://archive.ph/K5twV" target="_blank">In An
Affront To Its Namesake, The Tolkien Society Goes Woke</a>”, <i>The Federalist</i>.<br />
John F. Trent, “<a href="https://archive.ph/vH6gi#selection-567.1-567.120" target="_blank">The
Society Of Tolkien Launches Counter-Programming In Response To The Tolkien Society’s
“Tolkien And Diversity” Seminar</a>”, <i>Bounding Into Comics</i>.<br />
John F. Trent, ”<a href="https://archive.ph/xVV7g#selection-567.0-567.79" target="_blank">The
Tolkien Society’s Summer Seminar 2021 Will Focus On “Tolkien And Diversity”</a>”,
<i>Bounding Into Comics</i>.</p>
Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-4567607620294117942021-06-12T18:59:00.001+02:002021-06-12T18:59:46.773+02:00Tolkien Society Seminar 2021 – “Tolkien and Diversity”<p>First: crikey! Has it really been nearly three years since my last post ...! Sorry! 😳 </p>
<p>What prompts me to write at this point is seeing reactions to the announcement of the speakers for the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar on “<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2021/06/seminar-speakers-announced-tolkien-and-diversity/" target="_blank">Tolkien and Diversity</a>”.</p>
<p>Now, let me be honest with you from the outset: it is very few (less than an handful) of the papers that I would, personally, be interested in attending, but that is really besides the point here.</p>
<p>Or perhaps it is actually <i>precisely</i> the point, because even if I am not necessarily personally interested in the individual papers, I am truly happy that the Tolkien Society is addressing this topic, and I am very happy that there are people who wish to speak on <i>all</i> of these topics, and that there will be an audience within the Tolkien Society for <i>all</i> of these papers. </p>
<p>Over the years we have seen many attempts by various special-interest groups or movements to appropriate Tolkien and/or his work, by which I mean attempts to claim that not only did Tolkien support their particular cause, but reading his work from that particular ideological perspective was actually the only ‘proper’ way to read it (and anyone claiming otherwise didn't understand his work). Examples of this ranges from the Hippie movement and the eco-environmentalist movement to neo-conservatives and far-right racist groups and from Roman Catholics to Pagans. All of these have seen examples of people claiming that Tolkien supported their views and that theirs was the only ‘right’ way to read and understand Tolkien.</p>
<p>If anything, it shows how diverse the <i>applicability</i> of Tolkien is. </p>
<p>Let's revisit this concept, which Tolkien speaks of in the Foreword to the second edition of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></p>
<blockquote>
Other arrangements could be devised according to the tastes or views of those who like allegory or topical reference. But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse ‘applicability’ with ‘allegory’; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.
</blockquote>
<p>What we see in the vicious comments on the 2021 TS Seminar is an inability to appreciate that the applicability of one's own reading to one's own particular and personal experience is not universal.</p>
<p>For instance, that Tolkien as himself a Roman Catholic does not mean that he would agree with the particular religious position of any given Roman Catholic today. Actually, I think that there are some hints in his writings that his firm faith allowed him to be quite inclusive of other people whose faith was different – something we have also seen in Scouting and Guiding in Europe, where many Muslim immigrants feel more comfortable in Scout and Guide associations with a Christian religious affiliation than in a so-called ‘open’ associated (i.e. an association that does not have a specific religious affiliation). The same, obviously, applies to any of the other positions.</p>
<p>Furthermore, we can see that Tolkien's thinking evolved throughout his life, and we cannot allow ourselves to blindly believe that the view Tolkien held in the historical context of, say, 1942, would also be the ones he would hold in the context of 2021.</p>
<p>With all of this, I think that many of the protests against both the broad theme of the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar, “Tolkien and Diversity” and against the specific papers to be given are both worrying and problematic. They are worrying because they appear to associate Tolkien with a close-mindedness that I think was alien to him (there is, for instance, the description of Hobbits in the 1963 draft letter to Mrs. Eileen Elgar, no. 246 in the published <i>Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien</i>), and they are problematic because they seem to represent a refusal to allow the intellectual investigation of a theme (these are people who would, 10 years ago, have tried to prevent research into the impact of human activity on our climate).</p>
<p>When I see the kind of comments that are posted on this topic, I worry that the critics may be right – the critics who only see the same things that these commenters are seeing, but who reject this world-view (as do I!), but then I see the considerate and appreciative recognition of the author from eminent scholars such as Verlyn Flieger and Dimitra Fimi, and I am relieved and believe again that it is possible to engage with Tolkien and his work with an inclusive mindset, recognising the problems in the texts, but also loving the story to bits.</p>
<p><br /></p><p>As I said at the beginning, whether I, personally, am interested in any given paper is irrelevant. I am joyful that the Tolkien Society is providing a platform for all of these papers, and I wish all the best for every single paper, not least a large and interested audience who will provide appreciative and useful feed-back, and I would like to thank both the Tolkien Society and every single one of the presenters for standing up and standing out on this highly important topic.</p><p>As one of the speakers at the seminar has pointed out on Facebook, let us, with the Gaffer, exclaim that “we could do with a bit more queerness in these parts.”</p>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-38194097996154373412018-09-24T23:05:00.001+02:002018-09-24T23:05:39.298+02:00Oxonmoot, Day 2<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Oxonmoot 2018 – Friday, 21 September</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/OM-logo-large-black-for-social-media-840x420.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/OM-logo-large-black-for-social-media-840x420.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The 81st anniversary of the publication of <i>The Hobbit</i>!<br />
<br />
Being at a moot or convention of any kind is at least as much about the social parts as about the special contents (such as lectures, shows, workshops etc.), so the day really does start over breakfast, which can inevitably be enjoyed in good company – often with new-found friends.<br />
<br />
The day-time programme at this year's Oxonmoot offered two separate tracks of lectures and papers, an art-room, a dealers' room and various workshops ... of course on top of just good company in the hospitality room or elsewhere around college (if you do not take a quick trip into town).<br />
<br />
<br />
I started out in the Investcorp Auditorium, hearing Fiona Tomkinson speaking on “Total War and the Eschatology of Peace: Tolkien between Hegel and Levinas”. Unfortunately I was a couple of minutes late, and in the business of finding a chair and getting settled I missed a couple of key definitions that were invoked several times throughout. Overall, however, the talk did seem promising, and I would like to get a copy of the paper in order to understand and assess it better.<br />
<br />
The next session was run by the Maggie and Mike Percival (who also organised the pub quiz on Thursday evening). The session was a preparation for a quiz they plan to run at Tolkien 2019 in Birmingham. Once more, I move that all questions about adaptations be precluded from Tolkien Society quizzes for not being about “the life and works of Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE” as per our objectives according to our Constitution (<i>obviously</i> this has <i>nothing</i> to do with my utter inability to answer such questions ... 😉). More seriously, I look forward to seeing the results come August next.<br />
<br />
<br />
After the break (and the much-craved cup of coffee), I enjoyed Colin Duriez talk in the Nissan Lecture Theatre on “Affinities between Dorothy L. Sayers and the Inklings circle of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Charles Williams”. Duriez was careful to speak of “ affinities/“ such as may arise from moving in the same circles and admiring each others' work rather than making any claims to direct literary sources. Duriez focused on Sayers' relationship with C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams, both of whom she is known to have been a personal friend with, though of course he also brought up Tolkien's personal distaste for the the later Peter Wimsey books featuring Harriet Vane, though Tolkien had liked the early stories quite well. I was a bit surprised to hear that Miss Sayers only visited Lewis and Williams by invitation, having heard an anecdote from Mr and Mrs Reynolds, stalwarts of the Tolkien Society, who had met Anne Spalding, who was Williams' landlady during the war, and whom he asked to tell her he wasn't at home, when a rather fan-girlish Miss Sayers turned up unannounced at Mr Williams' lodgings.<br />
<br />
<br />
Taking a bit of time off Oxonmoot matters to sort out a couple of private e-mails brought me to lunch, after which I settled down in the Intercorp auditorium for a set of afternoon sessions starting with Murray Smith on “Farmer Giles and George – Two monarchs and their royal houses compared and contrasted”. For me, this was more an excellent introduction to the House of Hannover than anything else, but the references to the unwritten sequel to <i>Farmer Giles of Ham</i> were both excellent and a welcome reminder to check up on more things.<br />
<br />
Then Ian Spittlehouse spoke on “The Wright Stuff, Part Two. ‘The E.D.D. and E, M, and W’”, which continued on from a talk Spittlehouse had given at Oxonmoot two years ago (featuring, among other things, a Minecraft reconstruction of the house of the Wright family). In this part, Spittlehouse focused on the <a href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22English%20Dialect%20Dictionary%22">English Dialect Dictionary (EDD) (link to search at Archive.org)</a>, of which Tolkien's later tutor, adviser, and friend, Joseph Wright, was the editor. Spittlehouse mentioned a number of dialect words from the dictionary that also appear in Tolkien's writings, starting at the letter A with “Attercop” and moving on from there through a number of interesting words, hinting at a possible source without explicitly claiming it (given Wright's influence on Tolkien, it seems highly likely – almost inevitable – to me that Tolkien would have known the EDD, though that alone does, of course, not make the EDD the source (or even <i>a</i> source) for every dialectal word that Tolkien used which also appear in the EDD.<br />
<br />
Last Seamus Harnill-Keays from the local historical society in made the claim that the Buckland we know on the east marches of The Shire was inspired, not by Buckland in Oxfordshire, but by Buckland estate in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. The evidence was, in my mind, very flimsy, and relied too much on “might-of-been” and “could-of-been” suppositions and a willingness to embrace random similarities as evidence (just how many do you think have drowned in England when going boating after a very wet party ...?). While the evidence is, admittedly, also too insufficient to reject the hypothesis, it is also much too insufficient yet for me to do other than ask for (far) more evidence.<br />
<br />
<br />
The last period of sessions, I spent going to the Art Room and the Dealers' Room (conveniently placed in the same building). The Tolkien-inspired artists in the Art Room comprised (going round counter-clockwise from the entrance), Ruth Lacon, Ted Nasmith, Tsvetelina "Elmenel" Krumova, Jay Johnstone, Pauline Baynes, Stephen Walsh, Anke Eissman, and Soni Alcorn-hender. Most of these are of course well-known and admired and need no further introduction, so I will simply let you take a look at my snaps (quite deliberately not showing the individual works in a good quality – click through to the artists' own web-sites). See my photos at the end of this post.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of the afternoon, college was flooded with the participants of the now regular Dwarven Beard Workshop – Dwarves (of all genders) sporting fine beards, both long, short and ... well ... special ... It really is such a joy to see the creativity that Oxonmooters can exhibit in constructing their Dwarven beards.<br />
<br />
<br />
At dinner on Friday we did the toasts as per the ancient Rules (well, perhaps more like guidelines ...), to the Queen, to absent friends (yes, I was thinking of <i>you</i>!) and to “The Professor!” – toasting the Professor with three hundred other people at an Oxonmoot is ... well, special.<br />
<br />
After dinner, we all waited round for the Masquerade and the “ents” –the little performances, or entertainments, of varying kinds that are put on by members of the Oxonmoot. None of this is, of course, professional, but all are enjoyed in the good spirit of the moot, though of course one may at times find one's attention wandering when it proves difficult to keep up with a long reading of own poetry (I find it increasingly difficult to sort out background noise and focus on just one source of sound, which makes it near impossible for me to follow a reading once the level of the ‘buzz’ in the room begins to rise).<br />
<br />
We had some both hilarious and wonderful performances from both Masquerades and Ents, ending with <i>A Elbereth Gilthoniel</i> in polyphonic song so beautiful I still get goosebumps when writing this up three days after ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMuP_yT1eT3HdiemMAkzrk5R70kjCDVj0nxrUwNPmBjJgzmvjq1IMQhj-uuPbQRDDo6oZkBtDuKbRyd8ZxDyxjKJpb6zJEqjUkLZvgq6c5GIIVWPsjZpzF7EtTYihRkFfkKs1ExnwAomS/s1600/20180922_135113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMuP_yT1eT3HdiemMAkzrk5R70kjCDVj0nxrUwNPmBjJgzmvjq1IMQhj-uuPbQRDDo6oZkBtDuKbRyd8ZxDyxjKJpb6zJEqjUkLZvgq6c5GIIVWPsjZpzF7EtTYihRkFfkKs1ExnwAomS/s320/20180922_135113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Tolkien-Art-of-Ruth-Lacon-237824050737/">Ruth Lacon</a> (left) and <a href="https://www.tednasmith.com/">Ted Nasmith</a> (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfUMPlRMwMX6esaU4sVFG2PhsfAcwYt79clsghQ6V9U6DRi7Zzg51itAapeYZhN2G8CqACZ4iWPeIvrBZuBOIbI9t5CX8VOVegiRDiPWVDceXJdy0YpuXpEmBxbHY5GYN8NAUGuj09xI5/s1600/20180922_135122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfUMPlRMwMX6esaU4sVFG2PhsfAcwYt79clsghQ6V9U6DRi7Zzg51itAapeYZhN2G8CqACZ4iWPeIvrBZuBOIbI9t5CX8VOVegiRDiPWVDceXJdy0YpuXpEmBxbHY5GYN8NAUGuj09xI5/s320/20180922_135122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by <a href="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/">Tsvetelina Krumova, <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">“Elmenel”</span></a><br />
See <a name="return1" href="#note1">See note 1</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0ETTeZLcVScFFhx5Y0GSdvUrl3bquGJFQ-NXRCypd4CaGfuKKFvgLhralLZEIlcldAXSdJ1v0QO9ZE5SIq4lKj1-NQ0hdUgj7NY2rTgAeMjifxePg0xJpCsAMUNNgFCT104olEpA5In1/s1600/20180922_135128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0ETTeZLcVScFFhx5Y0GSdvUrl3bquGJFQ-NXRCypd4CaGfuKKFvgLhralLZEIlcldAXSdJ1v0QO9ZE5SIq4lKj1-NQ0hdUgj7NY2rTgAeMjifxePg0xJpCsAMUNNgFCT104olEpA5In1/s320/20180922_135128.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by <a href="https://jaystolkien.com/">Jay Johnstone</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnQRIQIB7RaA_ZF-tOSaFB4fGyv4MUDAVq-bfv_L_uLCD9D2Ofvk3GozNwkN75xvG7JwZXStWzLgPywUsmViPktdeBU_Pndq03C1jUHO2njkdUSm0hc4FVMFK_wfsEb7i4gcqz479rihE/s1600/20180922_135136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnQRIQIB7RaA_ZF-tOSaFB4fGyv4MUDAVq-bfv_L_uLCD9D2Ofvk3GozNwkN75xvG7JwZXStWzLgPywUsmViPktdeBU_Pndq03C1jUHO2njkdUSm0hc4FVMFK_wfsEb7i4gcqz479rihE/s320/20180922_135136.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by Pauline Baynes (left) and Jay Johnstone (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZlNJA78H8QzFdHrzyRPtAgS6WfxRbK09gLBHFasEWELiXaD9eU6Yla7Au_afHWwYJ-ayG0l-2G72pdqTITLgN_2WPUosHmTbr_xmEE2h5kDBnzV7mED35AUpSdTmSsHJ4uQaPGzfDx1J/s1600/20180922_135142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZlNJA78H8QzFdHrzyRPtAgS6WfxRbK09gLBHFasEWELiXaD9eU6Yla7Au_afHWwYJ-ayG0l-2G72pdqTITLgN_2WPUosHmTbr_xmEE2h5kDBnzV7mED35AUpSdTmSsHJ4uQaPGzfDx1J/s320/20180922_135142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by <a href="https://www.stephenwalshillustrations.com/">Stephen Walsh</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zvHtgReq-xsRNl_Vnvwt7FhMr0TUSDPhAVXbb8ooWhb8dP9prbPOR7qb1U0Pv-3l0zQ6sP4ZaTroE_gvLBThoGnLp9q8DiRFHTDlz2wCjv-0dIUmIwSl4vd52yNPj5s8wUFxUIMwFH6f/s1600/20180922_135155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1600" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zvHtgReq-xsRNl_Vnvwt7FhMr0TUSDPhAVXbb8ooWhb8dP9prbPOR7qb1U0Pv-3l0zQ6sP4ZaTroE_gvLBThoGnLp9q8DiRFHTDlz2wCjv-0dIUmIwSl4vd52yNPj5s8wUFxUIMwFH6f/s320/20180922_135155.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by <a href="http://www.anke.edoras-art.de/">Anke Eißmann</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NPJLuu9PxYNTSICvL3k3qr4VmQR2tU-0l9Hbx7F35-bOlwH7lcQscWwCR6-KBBiD2IzFeRQpAGYlJ7FhcaxM0BQcfsdKIwanlGC28GKgibAXIF2vZUOUQ_DN2rhY_F-1-OnblniOlzZ0/s1600/20180922_135102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NPJLuu9PxYNTSICvL3k3qr4VmQR2tU-0l9Hbx7F35-bOlwH7lcQscWwCR6-KBBiD2IzFeRQpAGYlJ7FhcaxM0BQcfsdKIwanlGC28GKgibAXIF2vZUOUQ_DN2rhY_F-1-OnblniOlzZ0/s320/20180922_135102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by <a href="https://bohemianweasel.com/">Soni Alcorn-Hender</a>, “Bohemian Weasel”</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<a name="note1">Note 1:</a> Despite what I said above, I'm going to add a couple of words about the art of Tsvetelina Krumova because most of it is of a different kind from most of the other Tolkien-inspired artists we know and love. Tsvetelina Krumova mainly works with calligraphic art, where the text itself is the artwork, and for a word-lover such as me, there is a particular pleasure in seeing the words made into art at more than one level. Also, her maps are stunning examples of what might have been hanging on the walls in e.g. Bag End (in the spirit of Tolkien's Book of Mazarbûl facsimile pages, where the text transcribes into English. <a href="#return1">Back</a>
Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-4119394984734580042018-09-22T13:15:00.001+02:002018-09-22T13:15:33.178+02:00Oxonmoot, Day 1<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Oxonmoot 2018 – Thursday, 20 September</h3>
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<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/OM-logo-large-black-for-social-media-840x420.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/OM-logo-large-black-for-social-media-840x420.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had arrived at St. Anthony's on Wednesday evening, and so had the whole day on Thursday – of course in order to be able to spend some more time in the <i>Tolkien – Maker of Middle-earth</i> exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries. On Wednesday evening, I had also found out that Harm Schelhaas (from the Netherlands) was in town and had a ticket for the exhibition at the same time slot as I had, so we set out together from St. Anthony's to have a bit of breakfast on the way to the Weston Library where the exhibition is. <br />
<br />
Coming in with Harm proved a real boon (thank you very much, Harm!) as he had already visited the exhibition and could point out many of the highlights (including two or three errors – one being two swapped translations in the interactive Elvish stands, and others related to the 3-D map thing (I later also found the erroneous claim that all the Dwarf-names in <i>The Hobbit</i> were taken from the <i>Elder Edda</i> [the list of Dwarves in <i>Völvuspá</i>]).<br />
<br />
Having thus been introduced to some of the highlights (and some of the “notice this” features and exhibits), I set out to go through the exhibition.<br />
<br />
Starting with the parts showcasing Tolkien's life from childhood to world-famous author, which were very nice, but ultimately didn't add much new to neither knowledge or understanding of Tolkien's life.<br />
<br />
Seeing the original fan-letters from young Terence Pratchett, from Iris Murdoch and not least from (as she was then) Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Margrethe was quite an experience, though of course their existence and (at least most of) their contents were known, there is something a bit more magical about being in presence of the original (that same feeling of enchantment and awe filled me, both as a physicist and a Scout, when standing in front of that original World Scout Badge that Neil Armstrong brought to the moon).<br />
<br />
And that particular magic was my main take-away from the exhibition, even despite the many, many wonderful small details that could be gleaned from the exhibits.<br />
<br />
The artwork that is on display is well preserved: the colours are still full and vibrant, and the details are sharp. I was in many cases struck by the size of them – the originals are generally smaller than I had thought, making the detail even more impressive (and yes, I probably ought to have known based on the various books that often state the size of the original, but the actual meaning of those measures often doesn't really register until I stand before the actual original).<br />
<br />
Much of the artwork is of course well-known, so – besides the enchantment mentioned above – the particular experience of seeing them in the exhibition mainly contributed two things for me:
<br />
<ul>
<li>An overview coming from being able to see the entire piece with related pieces next to them. This is especially true of the many maps that have been reproduced in black and white with varying success in the <i>History of Middle-earth</i> series. </li>
<li>The ability to correlate between different pieces. I particularly wanted to take a look at all the images that Tolkien had done of Elvish architecture (not that there are very many of them) and correlate them.</li>
</ul>
<div>
This brings me to some of the main points, I came away with (yes, I did manage to get some things out of it, despite being in that enchanted state nearly throughout).<br />
<br />
The maps – particularly those for <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> really ought to be more broadly available in better reproduction than what is given in the <i>History of Middle-earth</i> series (unfortunately it is not possible in the shop to purchase a reproduction of Tolkien's own map, but you can buy a copy of Christopher Tolkien's map with his father's and Pauline Baynes' annotations, and you can buy a copy of Pauline Baynes' map).<br />
<br />
Rivendell. Tolkien never did much in the way of illustrating Elvish architecture and other results of Elvish craft, but he did do illustrations of Rivendell, which are fundamentally different from the way it is usually portrayed. Though I am not aware of any Tolkien drawings of e.g. Elvish furniture, interior decorations etc. I am convinced that Tolkien would not recognise the usual illustration (which I suppose is mostly Art Noveau in style) as depicting his Elvish cultures in Middle-earth. Tolkien did portray the city of Kôr (later renamed Tirion on the hill of Túna) on the shores of Aman (or, as one of these pictures is named, <i>The Shores of Faery</i>).<br />
Looking at the symmetrical designs Tolkien did for his Elvish heraldic devices, at the images of Rivendell, and more broadly at what we know about Tolkien, I think that the Arts & Crafts movement would be a more likely source of inspiration for artists wishing to portray Tolkien's Elvish crafts and arts (though possibly the overloaded style of e.g. Arts & Crafts wallpapers would not be appropriate for larger surfaces – there would need to be some more free space, but without the Art Noveau curls etc.).<br />
<br />
Oh, and I <i>really </i>like Tolkien's work in the <i>Book of Ishness</i> – marvellous! I shan't try to analyse or rationalise it, I just know that I like that work very, very much.<br />
<br />
<br />
Having spent some 3 to 3½ hours at the exhibition (far too short, but one does need to move on), I visited the shop to buy a few souvenirs, and then moved on for some errands in town including ordering a wreath for the Enyalië to be laid down on behalf of the Copenhagen Tolkien Society, Bri (Bree).<br />
<br />
Back at St. Anthony's it was time for registering, unloading, and a bit of dinner, and above all, for greeting friends both old and new.<br />
<br />
<br />
The only Oxonmoot-related event on Thursday was the pub-quiz in the evening. Now, that was a diabolical quiz! The maximum number of points was 90, and the winning teams (we had a tie!) scored 64. Fortunately I had some very clever team mates, so we managed to score 58½ points, which I think was quite fine. Many thanks to the Percivals for organising this (though I would, of course, prefer that anything related to adaptations was banned entirely ... I have no chance of contributing to answering that kind of questions).<br />
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Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-16017815734796032972017-12-09T20:13:00.000+01:002017-12-09T20:13:18.555+01:00Reading Experiences – Musings on a Facebook QuestionIn the Tolkien Society Facebook Group, a poster recently asked:
<br />
<blockquote>
"We have to deal with it as if it were true", one of my favorite professors once
said, and he meant how we should deal with fictional texts. It's now quiet a long
time ago, but the professor was definetly not the kind of person who has a whim
in his head. With other words, it's not a mere "pipe dream" (no matter one stands
to the habit of smoking). As I see things, that's exactly the game every sentient
reader plays anyway, and he does it in a most natural way. Now I want to ask you
for your individual approach to fantasy. How would you describe the ratio between
your reading experience and your everyday experience? Do you merge these realms
of human experience, or do you keep them apart? I am genuinely curious to read
your answers!</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
My answer to that question unfortunately had to weave through several layers, and
quickly became much too long for any reasonable comment on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Firstly, I have always felt that my experience as a reader of fiction is
expertly captured by Tolkien in his essay <i>On Fairy-stories</i>, when he writes,
<br />
<blockquote>
Children are capable, of course, of <i>literary belief</i>, when the
story-maker's art is good enough to produce it. That state of mind has been
called ‘willing suspension of disbelief’. But this does not seem to me
a good description of what happens. What really happens is that the story-maker
proves a successful ‘sub-creator’. He makes a Secondary World which
your mind can enter. Inside it, what he relates is ‘true’: it accords
with the laws of that world. You therefore believe it, while you are, as it were,
inside. The moment disbelief arises, the spell is broken; the magic, or rather art,
has failed. You are then out in the Primary World again, looking at the little
abortive Secondary World from outside. If you are obliged, by kindliness or
circumstance, to stay, then disbelief must be suspended (or stifled), otherwise
listening and looking would become intolerable. But this suspension of disbelief
is a substitute for the genuine thing, a subterfuge we use when condescending to
games or make-believe, or when trying (more or less willingly) to find what
virtue we can in the work of an art that has for us failed.<br />
‘On Fairy Stories’, in <i>Tree and Leaf</i>, Kindle edition</blockquote>
<br />
I have never been satisfied with the explanation of ‘willing
suspension of disbelief’, though I am perhaps a bit more generous than
Tolkien himself when it comes to ignoring minor discrepancies and inconsistencies
(such as e.g. appear in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> – see e.g. my old blog post <a
href="http://www.parmakenta.com/2011/02/lord-of-rings-as-transitionary-work.html"><i>‘The
Lord of the Rings’ as a Transitionary Work</i></a> from February 2011), but
as long as the magic, the enchantment, is ‘good enough’ as it were, I
will remain enchanted, and if the enchantment is broken, I can often re-create it
by thoroughly analysing the break. <br />
<br />
I am not sure what exactly is required for the enchantment to work. The ‘
inner consistency of reality’ of which Tolkien speaks elsewhere in <i>On
Fairy-stories</i> is a good starting point, though, as I have hinted above, a
perfect consistency is probably neither necessary nor even desirable (and it is
certainly not attainable).<br />
<br />
Most story-makers (to borrow Tolkien's term) takes the approach of not altering the
known reality too much, and I think this is a crucial point. If the reader ends up
not being able to relate to the experience of the Secondary World, then Secondary
Belief is, I think, not possible, or is only possible in another sense – the
enchanted state might be attainable, but it would be another kind of enchantment
than the one Tolkien describes, and which I enjoy.<br />
<br />
Many people seem to believe that the introduction of magic into a world constitutes
a massive violation of the natural laws, but in nearly any fantastic story that I
have read, this has not been the case. Actually magic is usually merely a small
lemma to the natural laws of our world – a minor addition of a way to harness
the energy of the world, and possibly and additional source of energy.
Generally the <i>effects </i>of such magic fit very neatly within the natural laws
of our own Primary World, if only we could direct the energy in the right way.
Speaking as a physicist here, I have never had any problem seeing magic as simply
an <i>addition </i>to our current understanding of nature, rather than a <i>
violation</i> of it.<br />
<br />
Where I have, however, encountered problems (in fantastical literature as well as
in other genres – historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction) is in human
behaviour. When an author insists on portraying one race as human, then I expect
that race to act according to my experience with humans. Snape's mawkish death in
the Harry Potter books was completely inconsistent with his portrayal in the
preceding seven (almost) books, and thus did not come as a revelation for me, but
rather broke the spell completely. The seventh of the Harry Potter books
remains the only one that I have read only once.<br />
<br />
This idea of building on the recognisable, the familiar, when building your sub-
creation, is something Tolkien mastered fully, though he doesn't seem to fully
acknowledge his own achievement. Instead, in <i>On Fairy-stories</i>, he seems to
think that the idea of the ‘inner consistency of reality’ is all
there is to it, and if you do it right, you can create a world with a green sun<a
name="ret1" href="#note1"><sup> 1 </sup></a>... <br />
<br />
<br />
Another point is what happens when you put away the book.<br />
<br />
Some readers appear to become, as it were, stuck in the enchantment, unable to
fully escape it. Fairy-stories are full of warning against what happens when humans
become stuck in Faërie, and I think that the same warnings ought to apply here.
Personally, I find that I have a choice. It is difficult, when reading, to <i>not</i>
come under the enchantment (though it can be done), and likewise it is difficult,
when not reading, to become enchanted (though, again, it can be done). The Primary
World, I prefer to address as the Primary World and with the solutions offered in
the Primary World. I have no use for the idea that “everything was better in
the old days”, when everything we know clearly shows us that it wasn't (it was
, admittedly, <i>simpler</i>, but also much, much worse), and the solutions that
applied a hundred years ago, are typically useless today. We cannot feed the world'
s population by “going back to the earth” or some such nonsensical
foolishness.<br />
<br />
This might also be the reason — or, more likely, a part of what is a complex system
of rational and emotional reasons — why I have so little patience with the whole
idea of a ‘true’, or ‘canonical’, conception of Middle-earth
. Such a conception is, for me, representative of the same unhealthy sort of
escapism. I agree with Tolkien that the escape is not necessarily a bad thing, but
I think his discussion of ‘Escape’ in <i>On Fairy-stories</i> ignores
that there are also kinds of escapism that <i>are</i> unhealthy. <br />
<br />
<br />
Having come this far, I think I had also better touch on some of my thinking (if
that is not too large a word for my musings) about the relations between the
Secondary and the Primary Worlds. From one perspective, this is of course a highly
utilitarian perspective, that I would rather avoid, but from another perspective,
it is fun to reflect a bit about it.<br />
<br />
Fiction, of any kind, can never represent the full complexity of the Primary World. <br />
<br />
If this statement seems puzzlingly obvious to you, it is because it is. The
consequences of this, are, however, not necessarily obvious.<br />
<br />
When a story-maker sets out to create a new detective mystery, the underlying
assumption is that the story takes place in the Primary World, with the full
complexity of that world in place. The story-maker doesn't need to say this, nor
indeed to explicate the way the world works. This is not the case with fantastic
fiction (and in this case I include science fiction), where the story-maker has to
make explicit, either by showing or by explication, which of the elements that
govern causality (from physical causality to phychological) in the Primary World
that also apply in their Secondary World. This is important, because this means
that the complexity of causality is up to the choice of the author. <br />
<br />
I am, as implied earlier, a physicist. I have some knowledge of theory of science
as well as experience with teaching science. One of the strongest features of
modern science is the concept of the model. While the philosophical aim of science
of course remains to uncover Truth, the practical aim of science is to create
sequentially better models for predicting the behaviour of any (scientific) system
in the Primary World, and the model is the crucial educational tool used to teach
science. We start with very simple models – a mass moving at a given speed
without any interactions. Then we begin adding interactions: constant acceleration
in the same direction as the velocity (often as a model of gravity), several forces,
non-linear systems (first in two dimensions, moving on a surface, then in three
dimensions), more particles (point objects with mass, then bodies (extented objects
with mass), etc. etc.<br />
<br />
The key point here is that, for educational purposes, we always choose a model
that is only just complex enough to encompass the elements (typically some sort of
interactions) that we wish the students to study, and we choose a model that is
designed to focus on the particular aspects of science, that we wish the student
to learn about.<br />
<br />
I would claim that the same is, to some extent, true for fantastic literature.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fantastic literature, as I have argued above, is capable of working in a Secondary
World of deliberately reduced complexity (as compared to the Primary World), both
with respect to the scientific complexity and with respect to psychological
complexity. Simply by virtue of this characteristic, the Secondary World of
fantastic literature becomes a model, and as any literature worth reading has
something to offer with respect to the human condition in the Primary World, it
would follow that good fantastic literature offers a Secondary World that functions
as a model of the human condition in the Primary World.<br />
<br />
If the story-maker has successfully created his Secondary World, then it will allow
her ... him ... to use it for a study of precisely those aspects of the human
condition in the Primary World that he wishes for the reader to, if not exactly <i>
learn</i> about, then at least reflect on and that way become wiser about. This is
of course not an easy thing to get right: When we complain that a story is too
‘black and white’, as we often say, in its portrayal of good and evil,
then we need to ask ourselves if that is because the story enables – or urges,
even – the reader to reflect about the very nature of Good and Evil in a way
that makes us wiser on our own perception of what is good and what is evil? Very
often the complaint will arise, when this is <i>not</i> the case, and be a result
of a model that has been simplified too far for the intended reader, who then feels
that the story lacks relevance with respect to the human condition of the Primary
World.<br />
<br />
This lack of relevance can of course also occur if the reader engages in a story
that has a far too complex model for that reader's prior understanding of the
aspects implicitly discussed in the story. <br />
<br />
Striking this balance of complexity of the Secondary World portrayed in a story is
another of the balances that need to be taken into account.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yet another balance is that of story vs. ‘message’. I put the word in
quotation marks because I use it in a rather more broad sense, than is perhaps
usual. I say above that the successful Secondary World will urge us to reflect
about some aspect(s) of the human condition of the Primary World. It is this urging
that I am referring to as the ‘message’. When it becomes unbalanced,
and the urging to reflect on the Primary World becomes too strong, it will quickly
be perceived as what is, more usually, called a message: that the story-maker
wishes the reader to adopt a particular view, or in some other way agree with the
story-maker (as this is perceived by the reader). This is the balance that has to
be found: between staying relevant to the reader, and not imposing on the reader or
the reading. The reflections on the story's relevance to the Primary World should
not be forced upon the reader while still in the process of reading, lest they
destroy the enchantment. Instead, I think that the ideal is that they come
naturally after a while, when the book has been put away and the reader is once
more firmly rooted in the Primary World.<br />
<br />
<br />
I will stop here, though I might some day return to these thoughts with a
discussion of why Tolkien is such a master in this. For now, let me just briefly
hint that a part of the explanation is that he has successfully created a Secondary
World containing within one story a multi-layered model that, as we might say,
‘just keeps giving’... <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Footnotes:<br />
<a name="note1" href="#ret1">1</a> Actually a green sun isn't all that difficult
– all you have to do is <i>nothing</i>! Human sight would only seem
affected for an observer coming suddenly to such a world from a world with, e.g. a
sun like our own. <a href="#ret1">return</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-58857365518691775162017-08-02T19:26:00.002+02:002017-08-02T19:26:23.402+02:00Tolkien Transactions: A BreakI have done some serious thinking, and I have, with regret, decided that I need to take a break from producing my Tolkien Transactions.<br />
<br />
With increasing responsibilities elsewhere, I have less time for my Tolkien interest, and I am forced to prioritise firmly with both Tolkien and other spare time activities (such as my Scouting).<br />
<br />
As an example of the reasoning, I have yet to find time to read the last couple of Tolkien books (<i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i> and <i>Beren and Lúthien</i>), making it even more difficult to justify to myself the time I spend on the transactions, and this realisation has helped me make this decision.<br />
<br />
<br />
If everything works out as hoped, I will soon be able to share the Feedly board, I use to organise my transactions, and so you can follow that board to see what would normally be the long list of articles for my transactions (i.e. including items that would not end up in my transactions). Watch this space, where I will keep you updated when I know more.<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope that you will understand this decision, and whatever may happen with the Feedly board, I hope to return to the blog transactions when time allows.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I wish you an excellent summer! Unless you're south of the Equator, in which case I wish you a fine winter :-)<br />
<br />
Warmly,<br />
TroelsTroelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-9712083194695092952017-06-18T21:14:00.001+02:002017-06-18T21:14:56.228+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXXI<h2>May 2017</h2>
Things have been rather hectic again, so I have decided to mostly go about things the easy way and use the intro I get in my feed reader, just citing the first something characters of the post. Everywhere where the description is given as “<text> […]”, the <text> is from the blog post itself. In a very few cases, I have added something or done a comment myself, but these are the exceptions. If this works well, I might choose to use this feature a bit more often, though of course I do hope to find time to comment myself.<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_luthien">1: <i>Beren and Lúthien</i></a><br />
<a href="#01_news">2: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">3: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">4: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">5: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">6: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">7: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">8: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">9: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">10: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_reading">11: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">12: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">13: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">14: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6SL5Dt1qoaQAPOebEbxcCudkOXGoc2hNRptaWop1-vYqeNttc9mTKi4qGU_2J08TPVQ8Lm6tUbqULOUJtEHGDy5TaO7sTSg0Fj9PjZJrB91wHiVV1RC42zrz-HMyTVeTkjFDWv7M9jVM/s1600/Lotesse_w400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6SL5Dt1qoaQAPOebEbxcCudkOXGoc2hNRptaWop1-vYqeNttc9mTKi4qGU_2J08TPVQ8Lm6tUbqULOUJtEHGDy5TaO7sTSg0Fj9PjZJrB91wHiVV1RC42zrz-HMyTVeTkjFDWv7M9jVM/s400/Lotesse_w400.jpg" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lótessë (Yén 15, Loa 1)<br />by Tsvetelina ‘Elmenel’ Krumova<br /><i>Lótessë</i> corresponds roughly to the month of May.<br />Enjoy it in full size in <a href="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/store_calendar_yen15_loa1.html">Elmenel's calendar</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_luthien"><i>Beren and Lúthien</i></a></h2>
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Tuesday, 02 May 2017, “<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/05/beren-and-Lúthien-waterstones-events.html">"Beren and Lúthien" Waterstones Events: An Evening With Alan Lee</a></b><br />
“ Waterstones, national bookseller of the UK, is hosting a series of Beren and Lúthien events close to the book's publication. You can read more about them here: https://www.waterstones.com/events/search?shop=&date=®ion=&author=332510 " Celebrate the launch of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Beren and Lúthien" with Alan Lee, the book's illustrator and the man behind much beautiful and iconic Tolkien artwork, […]”<br />
<br />
<b><i>Starts at 60</i>, Friday, 05 May 2017, “<a href="https://startsat60.com/entertain/books/a-powerful-long-lost-story-from-j-r-r-tolkien">A powerful long-lost story from JRR Tolkien</a></b><br />
“Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, Dwarves and […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 15 May 2017, “<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/05/beren-and-Lúthien-tease.html">Beren and Lúthien Tease</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>New Statesman</i>, Saturday, 27 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/2017/05/beren-and-Lúthien-love-war-and-tolkien-s-lost-tales">Beren and Lúthien: Love, war and Tolkien's lost tales</a></b><br />
“For Second Lieutenant J R R Tolkien the dance in the glade inspired a fairy tale, written that same summer in hospital, after a relapse of Somme trench fever. To call it a difficult birth would be the understatement of a century: it has taken 100 years […]”<br />
John Garth reviews the new Tolkien book with his deep understanding of the story and of its gestation and evolution.<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>The Telegraph</i>, Sunday, 28 May 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/man-brings-tolkien-life/">The man who brings Tolkien to life</a>’</b><br />
An interview with Alan Lee by John Garth. Requires login, but is more than worth the effort of creating the account!!<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Beer, <i>Newsday</i>, Tuesday, 30 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/books/what-s-new-a-classic-tolkien-tale-a-sgt-pepper-s-commemoration-a-new-novel-by-courtney-maum-1.13665005">What's new: A classic Tolkien tale, …</a></b><br />
“BEREN AND Lúthien, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The legend of a mortal man (Beren) who loves an immortal Elf (Lúthien) and captures a precious Silmaril jewel in order to win her hand, appeared again and again in Tolkien's writings about Middle Earth, beginning […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Liza Graham, <i>NPR</i>, Wednesday, 31 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/05/31/529749053/beren-and-Lúthien-reflects-tolkiens-real-life-love-story">'Beren And Lúthien' Reflects Tolkien's Real Life Love Story</a></b><br />
“One night in December of 1993, I stood in a frost-bound churchyard in Wolvercote, near Oxford. The tombstone in front of me bore the names of Edith Mary Tolkien and her husband John Ronald, but underneath each name was another: "Lúthien" and "Beren.". […]”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOZ-eLxqPymF9n1zCThg9ucS7hfDJIScAz1oJ-930KRW6CYe5FHJqehHo1AfMJa4Yz7yvgYejOqUf6UhgOQkB3PqW1QAMSZ-G5e4jBcqH6diXofIuhSGpXJjL0MrSFRtCcoxD4B4Jxz_r/s1600/Thrice-he-rose_w360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOZ-eLxqPymF9n1zCThg9ucS7hfDJIScAz1oJ-930KRW6CYe5FHJqehHo1AfMJa4Yz7yvgYejOqUf6UhgOQkB3PqW1QAMSZ-G5e4jBcqH6diXofIuhSGpXJjL0MrSFRtCcoxD4B4Jxz_r/s320/Thrice-he-rose_w360.jpg" width="270px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thrice He Rose</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i>Iowa Public Television</i>, Wednesday, 1 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://site.iptv.org/about/iptv-news/iptv-presents-tolkien-lewis-myth-imagination-quest-meaning">IPTV
Presents Tolkien & Lewis: Myth, Imagination & The Quest For Meaning</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sandy Elliot, <i>Cherwell Online</i>, Monday, 01 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.cherwell.org/2017/05/01/tolkien-and-the-problems-of-another-place/">Tolkien and 'the problems of another place'</a></b><br />
“I do not know precisely, or even approximately, how many hours of my life have been passed watching The Lord of the Rings. Just watching each of the three films once in their theatrical cut amounts to about twelve hours of screen time. […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Jordan Harris, <i>Express and Star</i>, Monday, 15 May 2017, “<a href="https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2017/05/15/over-90000-people-visit-tolkein-exhibitiion-in-staffordshire/">Over 90000 people visit JRR Tolkien exhibition in Staffordshire</a></b><br />
“The Exhibition, which was launched at the Museum of Cannock Chase in March 2016, is led by the Haywood Society, supported by Staffordshire Libraries and Arts, and largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Jennie Ramstad, <i>Straight.com</i>, Tuesday, 30 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.straight.com/blogra/916301/rio-theatre-gets-geeky-dungeons-dragons-comedy-and-tolkien-burlesque">The Rio Theatre gets geeky with Dungeons & Dragons comedy and Tolkien burlesque</a></b><br />
“On Friday (June 2) weary workers can celebrate the end of the week with Lord of the Schwings, a night of burlesque inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Presented by the Geekenders and Kitty Glitter, the evening will feature silly, sexy routines […]”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports or comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>23 May 2017, East Yorkshire, ‘<a href="http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/2017/05/centenary-tour-of-tolkiens-east.html">Centenary Tour of Tolkien's East Yorkshire</a>’, Michael Flowers</b><br />
Michael Flowers, Tuesday, 23 May 2017, “<a href="http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/2017/05/centenary-tour-of-tolkiens-east.html">Centenary Tour of Tolkien's East Yorkshire</a><br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
David Bratman, Saturday, 3 june 2017, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.dk/2017/06/moria-with-lights-turned-on.html">Moria with the lights turned on</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 15 June)<br />
<b>11 May – 8 July 2017, Gallerie Arludik, Paris, ‘<a href="http://www.arludik.com/indexeng2.htm">John Howe</a>’, Gallerie Arludik</b><br />
John Howe, Thursday, 20 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/blog/2017/04/20/paris-may-11-2017/">Paris, May 11, 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>24 June 2017, East Yorkshire (Hull), ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/coach-trip-around-tolkiens-east-yorkshire/">JRR Tolkien Shire Safari</a>’, Phil Mathison, Michael Flowers</b><br />
<br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”The Tolkien Society, Sunday, 14 May 2017, “<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/05/programme-announced-for-the-tolkien-society-seminar-2017/">Programme announced for The Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a><br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Anna Smol, Friday, 19 May 2017, “<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/05/19/tolkien-sessions-in-leeds-2017/">Tolkien sessions in Leeds, 2017</a><br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
Lynn Maudlin, Monday, 08 May 2017, “<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017/05/mythcon-48-progress-report-published.html">Mythcon 48 Progress Report Published</a><br />
<br />
<b>10–13 August 2017, California State University, East Bay, Hayward Campus, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.omentielva.com/">Omentielva Otsea: The Seventh International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien's Invented Languages</a>’, Omentielva</b><br />
<br />
<b>21–24 September 2017, St. Anthony's College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2017/">Oxonmoot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>3–5 November 2017, Chaska, Minnesota, USA, ‘<a href="http://tol-con.com/">Tol-Con</a>’, Tol-Con Committee</b><br />
<br />
<b>9–10 November 2017, Greenville, South Carolina, USA, ‘<a href="https://www.celebratetolkien.com/">Celebrate Tolkien</a>’, Dan Cruver</b><br />
Andrew Moore, <i>Greenville Journal</i>, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://greenvillejournal.com/2017/04/25/november-armies-middle-earth-will-invade-downtown-greenville/">In November, the armies of Middle Earth will invade downtown Greenville</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1 June – 28 October 2018, Weston Library, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/whats-on/upcoming-exhibitions">Tolkien – Maker of Middle-earth</a>’, Bodleian Libraries</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">“J.R.R. Tolkien” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Tolkien_Studies">“Tolkien Studies” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu in May (-ish ... probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Unsorted. Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:<br />
<b>Robert T. Tally Jr., <i>Popular Fiction and Spatiality: Reading Genre Settings</i> (ed. Lisa Fletcher), ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31988699/Tolkiens_Geopolitical_Fantasy_Spatial_Narrative_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">Tolkien's Geopolitical Fantasy: Spatial Narrative in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></a>’</b><br />
<b>Eric Gilhooly, <i>In-formarse</i> <b>56</b>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31890323/Death_and_the_Numenoreans_Is_This_Life_All_There_Is">Death and the Numenoreans: Is This Life All There Is?</a>’</b><br />
<b>Rune Tveitstul Jensen, <i>University of Oslo</i> thesis, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31806975/The_Role_of_Trees_in_Shakespeare_Tolkien_and_Atwood">The Role of Trees in Shakespeare, Tolkien and Atwood</a>’</b><br />
<b>Lisa Chinellato, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31657468/Nostalgia_and_homesickness_a_manifestation_of_the_yearning_for_a_better_primitive_life_in_J.R.R_Tolkien_s_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_">Nostalgia and homesickness: a manifestation of the yearning for a better, ‘primitive’ life in J.R.R Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"</a>’</b><br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, <i>Tolkien Studies 13</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31629863/The_Cauldron_at_the_Outer_Edge_Tolkien_on_the_Oldest_English_Fairy_Tales">The Cauldron at the Outer Edge: Tolkien on the Oldest English Fairy Tales</a>’</b><br />
<b>Liuwe Westra, <i>Lembas 2017</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32047843/Lembas_There_and_Back_Again_2017">There and Back Again – but Whence?</a>’</b><br />
<b>Diego Klautau, <i>Ciberteologia</i> vol. 2 no. 8, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32284742/Evil_and_Power._The_symbolism_of_the_One_Ring_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_">Evil and Power. The symbolism of the One Ring in " The Lord of the Rings "</a>’</b><br />
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32968175/Let_it_shine">Let It Shine</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Monday, 1 May 2017, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/how-social-media-has-helped-my-research/">How Social Media Has Helped my Research (or, the kindness of strangers!)</a>’</b><br />
Or perhaps ‘how modern technology expand the opportunities of scholars&rsdquo;. <br />
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<b>John Edwards, <i>Medievalists.net</i>, Sunday, 07 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/05/everyone-believe-religion-medieval-europe/">Did everyone believe in religion in medieval Europe?</a></b><br />
“ One common idea about medieval Europe was that everyone were firm believers in religion. […]”<br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 8 May 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7AJ7o1gO50">Dimitra Fimi - Tolkien and the Art of Book Reviewing: A Circuitous Road to Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
Video of Dimitra Fimi's excellent presentation at the 2016 Oxonmoot.<br />
See also <b>Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 17 May 2017, “<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-and-the-art-of-book-reviewing-a-circuitous-road-to-middle-earth/">Tolkien and the Art of Book Reviewing: A Circuitous Road to Middle-earth</a></b><br />
“ The Tolkien Society has just uploaded on YouTube my talk for Oxonmoot 2016, titled: “Tolkien and the Art of Book Reviewing: A Circuitous Road to Middle-earth”. I thought, therefore, that it would be a good idea to publish the text of the talk and slides too. The talk focuses on Tolkien's three book reviews on “Philology” for The Year's Work in English Studies , published between 1924 and 1927. […]”<br />
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<b>Annalisa Palmer, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="https://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/wilderness-faerie-and-character-in-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight/">Wilderness, Faerie, and Character in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight</a></b><br />
“ French Arthurian romances, like those of Chrétien de Troyes, often gloss over particulars of geography. Other romances involving Sir Gawain, in particular, follow suit; contrary to this, fitt II of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (SGGK) highlights specific geography of Northern England. Certainly, scholars elaborated on “Þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale” before (see Elliott and Rudd), […]”<br />
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<b>Annalisa Palmer, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="https://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/chretien-and-the-silent-majority/">Chrétien and the Silent Majority</a></b><br />
“ “Well I didn't vote for you” Silence versus speech, namely question and answers, serves as one of the central conceits of Chrétien de Troyes' The Story of the Grail (Perceval ). Perceval begins the story as an uncouth youth who states whatever he wishes, and as indicative of most bildungsroman narratives, he matures, but he matures into silence. […]”<br />
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<b>Medievalists.net, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/05/thousands-vikings-based-torksey-camp-archaeologists-find/">Thousands of Vikings were based at Torksey camp, archaeologists find</a></b><br />
“ A huge camp which was home to thousands of Vikings as they prepared to conquer England in the late ninth century has been uncovered by archaeologists.[…]”<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 31 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/reinventing-wheel-tolkiens-sources.html">Reinventing the Wheel? (Tolkien's sources)</a></b><br />
“So, while I was at Marquette on my most recent research trip, the name Holly Ordway came up as someone who had what looks to be an interesting book in the works: TOLKIEN'S MODERN SOURCES. I wasn't able to find out too much about it, other than this brief description: “My current project is a literary-critical study, <i>Tolkien's Modern Sources: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages</i>, to be published“ […]”<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Farewell-to-Lorien-726986" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img08.deviantart.net/368a/i/2002/38/1/8/farewell_to_lorien.jpg" width="500px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Farewell to Lorien</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price<br />An older piece from 2002 that I wanted to bring to your attention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Shawn E. Marchese, <i>Prancing Pony Ponderings</i>, Sunday, 16 Apr 2017, “<a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/2017/04/16/smells-like-elf-spirit/">Smells Like Elf Spirit</a></b><br />
“ In an early Prancing Pony Ponderings essay, I made brief mention of the following passage in The Hobbit … ‘Hmmm! it smells like elves!’ thought Bilbo, and he looked up at the stars. They were burning bright and blue. (The Hobbit, p. 45) … and quickly skipped past the questionable implications of “elf-smell.” […]”<br />
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<b>Alan Sisto, <i>Prancing Pony Ponderings</i>, Sunday, 30 Apr 2017, “<a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/2017/04/30/turin-simple-twist-of-fate-or-freewill/">Túrin: “Simple Twist of Fate”? or “Freewill”</a></b><br />
“ Yes, I referenced both Bob Dylan and Rush in the title of this essay. Fair warning: that may very well be the essay's high point. After all, philosophers have been debating – without a certain answer – the nature of free will for centuries, and I'm unlikely to solve it here. (Spoiler alert: I don't really try.) But it's such a fascinating subject […]”<br />
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<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 1 May 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/01/legolas-and-gimli-in-minas-tirith/">Legolas and Gimli in Minas Tirith</a>’</b><br />
“On the morning after the great battle Legolas and Gimli are eager to find Merry and Pippin. “It is good to learn that they are still alive,” said Gimli; “for they cost us great pains in our march over Rohan, and I would not have such pains all wasted.” And so they make their way up through the city towards the Houses of Healing and as they do so they ponder this greatest of cities and see […]”<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 03 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-certain-resemblance.html">A Certain Resemblance</a></b><br />
“So, after trips and scheduling conflicts and illness, we finally managed to get the Monday night D&D group together for another session of Ravenloft last week and again this week.* During the first of these we explored a place we'd been chased out of once and now got chased out of all over again; during the latter we actually snuck into (and back out of) Castle Ravenloft itself, […]”<br />
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<b>Bruce Charlton, Thursday, 04 May 2017, “<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-universal-realm-of-dream-world-in.html">The universal realm of the dream world in The Notion Club Papers - Tolkien's personal beliefs and experiences</a></b><br />
“Sleep experience, especially dreaming, lies near the hart of The Notion Club Papers (NCPs). One aspect of this is that there are multiple references to the idea that the dream world is a realm of experience which is universal - in other words, dreaming is a single, vast domain - with distinctive qualities, different from the waking state - that is potentially accessible by all people. […]”<br />
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<b>Grant P. Hudson, <i>Clarendon House</i>, Monday, 08 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/single-post/2017/05/08/Galadriel-and-Tolkiens-Imagination">Galadriel and Tolkien's Imagination</a></b><br />
“ The character of Galadriel is an instance of Tolkien's retroactive imagination at work. Not originally envisaged in his first tales of Middle-earth, Tolkien, having written her into a key role inThe Lord of the Rings, felt compelled to weave her history backwards into the tapestry of that earlier set of stories - a process which he did not complete, leaving us with various sometimes contradictory […]”<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Friday, 05 May 2017, “<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/05/aglca.html">Aglæca</a></b><br />
“ There was just something about the word aglæa -- 'awesome opponent, ferocious fighter' as the DOE defines it -- that seemed familiar. From the first time I encountered it in Beowulf , it rang a bell. There the poet most frequently uses it to describe Grendel or the Dragon as, according to the gloss in Klaeber, ' one inspiring awe or misery, formidable one, afflicter, […]”<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Sunday, 07 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/echoes-of-eowyn.html">Echoes of Eowyn</a></b><br />
“So, recently I came across a passage I'd found years ago and never been able to re-locate. I had been reading the first (and, so far as I knew at that time, only) volume of Ursula Dronke's edition, with extensive commentary, of THE POETIC EDDA, Volume I: HEROIC POEMS […]”<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Monday, 08 May 2017, “<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/08/legolas-and-gimli-speak-of-the-greatness-of-aragorn-the-heir-of-isildur/">Legolas and Gimli Speak of The Greatness of Aragorn, The Heir of Isildur.</a></b><br />
“ So it is that Legolas and Gimli meet and speak with Merry and Pippin in the gardens of the Houses of Healing. And there the Elf and the Dwarf tell of the mighty ride of the Dunedain and the hosts of the Dead through the valleys of Gondor through Lebennin to the mouth of the Great River at Pelargir. […]”<br />
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<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/2017/05/st-johanniskirche-danziggdansk.html">«debt of £700 and upwards due to me by my Brother» Brothers Daniel and John Tolkien!</a></b><br />
Here is, as you might say, the smoking gun! Congratulations – and thank you – to Ryszard Derdzinski for keeping at it and digging out the evidence.<br />
I have been critical of Ryszard Derdzinski's premature conclusion that Mr Daniel Tolkien and Mr John Tolkien were brothers, which I think was based on not considering other possibilities and concluding on rather shaky evidence. However, with the addition of this document (the last will and testament of Mr. Daniel Tolkien), the totality of the evidence is now sufficient to say that other (identified) options are now much less likely than the possibility that they were indeed brothers.<br />
Do not forget to also check the many other interesting posts that Ryszard has made during this month (see the link to the May archive in the blog roll at the bottom of these transactions).<br />
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<b>Shawn E. Marchese, <i>Prancing Pony Ponderings</i>, Sunday, 14 May 2017, “<a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/2017/05/14/pity-and-fear-the-tragic-tale-of-turin/">Pity and Fear: the Tragic Tale of Túrin</a></b><br />
“ It's been three weeks since Alan and I finished our trilogy of episodes on the story of Túrin Turambar in The Silmarillion, and no one is looking forward to Tuor showing up on the podcast more than I am. But before we say farewell to the son of Húrin, I still wish to explore the idea of Túrin as a tragic hero, as I promised to do […]”<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Monday, 15 May 2017, “<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/15/5478/">Gandalf Thinks About the Weather</a></b><br />
“ We can forgive Gandalf for mixing not just two but three metaphors because of who he is. Perhaps he mixes them deliberately in order to leave his hearers in no doubt about the point that he is making. The hearers are the lords of the allies gathered at the gates of Minas Tirith. […]”<br />
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<b>Middle-earth Reflections, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="https://middleearthreflections.com/2017/05/16/glorfindel-the-power-of-white-light-part-ii/">Glorfindel: the power of white light (II)</a></b><br />
“The rider's cloak streamed behind him, and his hood was thrown back; his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed. To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment […]”<br />
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<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom 2012</i>, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/first-in-may/">First in May</a></b><br />
“ 13.5.17 At our first meeting in May we were without Ian but were joined by Julie again, so 6 of us tackled the issues raised by ‘Mount Doom&rquo;. This led to a discussion heavily influenced by theological matters, with occasional references to World War One. […]”<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Quickbeam-Bregalad-682618372" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://orig13.deviantart.net/09f0/f/2017/145/1/1/quickbeam_bregalad_by_peet-dbaevpg.jpg" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Quickbeam / Bregalad</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 18 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/gygax-tolkien-bashing.html">Gygax Tolkien-bashing</a></b><br />
“ So, just before leaving for Kalamazoo I got a message from my local Barnes & Nobel that an item I'd pre-ordered had come in: RISE OF THE DUNGEON MASTER: GARY GYGAX AND THE CREATION OF D&D by David Kushner (text) and Koren Shadmi (art). Essentially this is a biography in graphic novel form, with word balloons sometimes representing the biographer's narration or commentary […]”<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/22/5523/">Gandalf Speaks of a Time to Risk Everything</a></b><br />
“ I never thought that I would ever quote Lenin in this blog but there is no doubt that he was a man who knew how to recognise and then to seize opportunity when it came. […]”<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Tuesday, 23 May 2017, “<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/05/things-you-find-in-grammar-books.html">Things You Find In Grammar Books</a></b><br />
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<b>Middle-earth Reflections, Tuesday, 23 May 2017, “<a href="https://middleearthreflections.com/2017/05/23/language-notes-on-galadriel/">Language notes /// On Galadriel.</a></b><br />
“Lady Galadriel, who is so poetically and very precisely described by Sam in his conversation with Faramir, came to become one of the pivotal characters in Tolkien’s mythology. […]”<br />
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<b>Allya Whiteley, <i>Den of Geek UK</i>, Friday, 26 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/books-comics/leaf-by-niggle/49699/the-little-known-fairy-stories-of-j-r-r-tolkien">The little known fairy stories of J R R Tolkien</a></b><br />
“In 1938/39 JRR Tolkien was just beginning the task of writing The Lord Of The Rings. He was a meticulous writer and rewriter, building his world one detail at a time […]”<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Monday, 29 May 2017, “<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/29/the-hopeless-journey-of-the-armies-of-the-west/">The “Hopeless Journey” of the Armies of the West.</a></b><br />
“A few days after the great battle the armies of the West gather once more upon the Pelennor Fields in order to march towards the Morannon, the same Black Gate that Frodo and Sam saw upon their journey to Mordor and realised was impossible to enter. Tolkien describes the march as a “hopeless journey”, one that must end in inevitable defeat and death, […]”<br />
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<b>Lynn Forest-hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom 2012</i>, Tuesday, 30 May 2017, “<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/last-meeting-in-may-5/">Last Meeting in May</a></b><br />
“ 27.5.17 Only four of us managed to get to the meeting today, partly on account of train cancellations, music festivals, and general Bank Holiday demands. However, Chris had sent some thoughts on the chapter(s) we had planned to discuss. Because Ian had been away for our last meeting we revisited some topics discussed then, so Carol's comments on these were included last time. Laura opened proceed”<br />
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<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Abe Kenmore, <i>The Guilfordian</i>, Monday, 1 May 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.guilfordian.com/features/2017/05/01/professor-presents-story-on-tolkiens-life/">Professor Caroline McAlister presents story on Tolkien's life</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Brenton Dickieson, Wednesday, 03 May 2017, “<a href="http://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/05/03/john-lawlor/">John Lawlor's Memories and Reflections on C.S. Lewis</a></b><br />
“ I have just had the delightful experience of reading John Lawlor's book, C.S. Lewis: Memories and Reflections (1998). Prof. Lawlor was an undergraduate student of C.S. Lewis' before and after WWII before continuing on to do his graduate work with J.R.R. Tolkien. […]”<br />
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<b>Douglas A. Anderson, Sunday, 07 May 2017, “<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2017/05/beginnings-and-endings.html">Beginnings and Endings</a></b><br />
“Some recent events have got me looking back upon how I got started in this field. I first read Tolkien in the summer of 1973, and for the next few years I looked for anything similar to Tolkien to read. There were some notable successes, like Lord Dunsany, Ursula K. Le Guin, Clark Ashton Smith, and Patricia A. McKillip. […]” – About four bibliographical resources from the late seventies that stand out still.<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 10 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/festschrift-flyer-flieger.html">festschrift flyer (Flieger)</a></b><br />
“ So, I'm happy to announce that A WILDERNESS OF DRAGONS: ESSAYS IN HONOR OF VERLYN FLIEGER now has a publisher, Gabbro Head Press. Primary editing has now been all but completed. The book still needs a second editorial pass, plus an introduction and index. We're hoping for a publication date before the end of the year. Here's the flyer I'm distributing here at Kalamazoo, […]”<br />
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<b>DB's Data Base and nal de jour, Thursday, 11 May 2017, “<a href="http://kalimac.livejournal.com/948451.html">scholarly book review</a></b><br />
“ Tom Shippey, <i>Hard Reading: Learning from Science Fiction</i> (Liverpool University Press)<br />
Tom Shippey is, of course, the renowned Tolkien scholar, famous for his lucid explanations of what Tolkien was actually trying to do, and his robust denunciations of critics who carp at Tolkien from positions of cluelessness as to either his intent or achievement. […]”<br />
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<b>Douglas A. Anderson, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-new-issue-of-orcrist.html">A New Issue of ORCRIST!</a></b><br />
“Orcrist no. 9, dated April, but published May 2017 The J.R.R. Tolkien Society at the University of Wisconsin--Madison was founded in 1966. It has met continuously for over fifty years. It also published eight issues of a journal, Orcrist, with issue one dated 1966/1967 and issue eight dated 1977. Orcrist has been dormant for forty year, but now, at long last, issue nine has just been published! […]”<br />
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<b>Anna Smol, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/05/21/forthcoming-essays-in-honor-of-verlyn-flieger/">Forthcoming: Essays in Honor of Verlyn Flieger</a></b><br />
“ I'm very happy to announce that one of my essays will be part of a festschrift for Verlyn Flieger, a renowned Tolkien scholar and someone I admire very much. The book, A Wilderness of Dragons: Essays in Honor of Verlyn Flieger, is edited by John Rateliff. […]”<br />
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<b>David Bratman, Thursday, 25 May 2017, “<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017/05/publications-ahoy.html">publications ahoy</a></b><br />
“After too long an absence from other scholarly venues than the one I edit for, I got to finalize the texts of two papers today, OKing the final tweaks from their editors. Both are fairly short, but it's good to have them out. And for one of them, it means I get to be in this. […]”<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 26 May 2017, “<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-inklings-book-of-arthur.html">The Inklings Book of Arthur</a></b><br />
“So, last week I learned about the Go Fund Me drive for Sørina Higgins' project THE INKLINGS AND KING ARTHUR, a collection of about twenty essays looking at the Arthurian works of Tolkien, Lewis, Wms, and Barfield. Apparently the book is done but permissions ran higher than expected, hence the fund drive to fill in the gap. […]”<br />
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<b>Andrew Higgins, Tuesday, 30 May 2017, “<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/10">Building Imaginary Worlds (2012) by Mark J.P. Wolf and Revisiting Imaginary World (2016) edited by Mark J.P. Wolf</a></b><br />
“Book review of Building Imaginary Worlds (2012) by Mark J.P. Wolf and Revisiting Imaginary Worlds (2016), edited by Mark J.P. Wolf, reviewed by Andrew Higgins.”<br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Šárka Škorpíková, <i>DeviantArt</i>,
Wednesday, 1 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sarkaskorpikova.deviantart.com/art/Nenuial-Lake-Evendim-666570544">Nenuial
(Lake Evendim)</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 01 May 2017, “<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/Hobbits-resting-678190753">Hobbits resting</a></b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.bigcartel.com/product/the-prancing-pony-el-poney-pisador-color-poster" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://images.bigcartel.com/product_images/185577017/_ponypos.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&w=1000" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Prancing Pony</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo<br />Currently available as a poster at reduced price<br />… I have already bought mine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 08 May 2017, “<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/160449712500">The banner of Lake Town</a>”</b><br />
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<b>Joe Gilronan, <i>Fine Art America</i>, Tuesday, 09 May 2017, “<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/late-evening-bag-end-joe-gilronan.html">Late Evening Bag End</a></b><br />
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<b>Tomás Hijo Art, Tuesday, 09 May 2017, “<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/160484217205">The banner for King Théoden of Rohan</a></b><br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 10 May 2017, “<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Lúthien-Tinuviel-679893508">Lúthien Tinuviel</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo Art, Wednesday, 10 May 2017, “<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/160520922590">Westu hál, Théoden, King of Rohan</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Rhett Whittington, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 12 May 2017, “<a href="http://whittingtonrhett.deviantart.com/art/Gandalf-Progression-680110675">Gandalf Progression</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>James Turner Mohan, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 12 May 2017, “<a href="http://turnermohan.deviantart.com/art/Going-Treeish-680168125">Going Treeish</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, <i>Fine Art America</i>, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/good-morning-joe-gilronan.html">Good Morning</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Finrod-680959365">Finrod</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Orodreth-680960466">Orodreth</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo Art, Thursday, 18 May 2017, “<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/160797251165">“The man in the moon”: As they have never landed in www.tomashijo.com, I have sold only...</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Aegeri’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 17 May 2017, “<a href="http://aegeri.deviantart.com/art/Cirith-Ungol-681057274">Cirith Ungol</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Suwi’;. <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 17 May 2017, “<a href="http://s-u-w-i.deviantart.com/art/The-King-of-the-Golden-Hall-681131446">The King of the Golden Hall</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 18 May 2017, “<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/The-passing-of-the-Elves-681268449">The passing of the Elves</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Aegeri’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://aegeri.deviantart.com/art/Mirkwood-682081730">Mirkwood</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 25 May 2017, “<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Quickbeam-Bregalad-682618372">Quickbeam/Bregalad</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 26 May 2017, “<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Ard-Gallen-682781217">Ard Gallen</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Ellthalion’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 27 May 2017, “<a href="http://ellthalion.deviantart.com/art/Sigurd-sigurd-682903571">Sigurd, sigurd</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 31 May 2017, “<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Princess-of-Nargothrond-683701569">Princess of Nargothrond</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>James Turner Mohan, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 31 May 2017, “<a href="http://turnermohan.deviantart.com/art/Beren-and-Lúthien-WIP-683773049">Beren and Lúthien (WIP)</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Austin Gilkeson, Tuesday, 09 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.tor.com/2017/05/09/smaug-vs-durins-bane-who-would-win-in-the-ultimate-dragonbalrog-showdown/">Smaug vs. Durin's Bane: Who Would Win in the Ultimate Dragon/Balrog Showdown?</a></b><br />
“ No question animates the mind of a young speculative fiction fan more than “Who would win?” It's a question that provokes our firmest cultural loyalties and the lizard part of our brain that enjoys nothing more than smashing action figures together. It's a question that's lead to untold hours of heated discussion, ruined hundreds of friendships, and earned billions of dollars at the box office […]” (And which, Troels adds, is particularly uninteresting.)<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Thursday, 11 May 2017, “<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/how-long-was-the-voyage-from-middle-earth-to-valinor/">How Long was the Voyage from Middle-earth to Valinor?</a></b><br />
“ Q: How Long was the Voyage from Middle-earth to Valinor? ANSWER: This is one of those questions that can be answered in two ways. One way is a trick response, although probably technically correct. The other way is highly speculative[…]”<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/did-the-black-riders-reach-hobbiton-in-less-time-than-gandalf-on-shadowfax/">Did the Black Riders Reach Hobbiton in Less Time than Gandalf on Shadowfax?</a></b><br />
“ Q: Did the Black Riders Reach Hobbiton in Less Time than Gandalf on Shadowfax? ANSWER: Last year a reader asked me if I could explain an apparent discrepancy between the reported time for the Nazgûl's journey to Hobbiton versus Gandalf's […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 29 May 2017, “<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/answers-too-short-for-their-own-articles/">Answers Too Short for their Own Articles</a></b><br />
“ Q: Was Celebrimbor Fëanor's only grandchild? ANSWER: A reader asked for clarification about how many grand-children Fëanor had. To the best of my knowledge, so far as I know, Celebrimbor was the only third-generation Fëanorian to live in Middle-earth. […]”<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fineartamerica.com/featured/good-morning-joe-gilronan.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18209122_1249033155214841_4010936733341454230_o.jpg?oh=43b16fd3ee06d395f1ccc3258c0de2a0&oe=59D110F3" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Good Morning</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Bruce Charlton, Tuesday, 02 May 2017, “<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/05/our-destiny-is-to-become-both-conscious.html">Our destiny is to become both conscious and free - Owen Barfield in a nutshell...</a></b><br />
“Owen Barfield's nature and achievement is usually under-sold by a partial, and therefore misleading, summary; that states his goal was to prove by evidence that human consciousness had evolved; and that this was achieved mainly via 'philological' investigations into the changing meaning of words. […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Thursday, 04 May 2017, “<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2017/05/chuck-willias-last-magician-or-third.html">Chuck Willias -- the "Last Magician" or the "Third Inkling"?</a></b><br />
“ I'm not a fan of Charles Williams, but Grevel Lindop's biography of him, Charles Williams:The Third Inkling , has been widely praised, even winning a Mythopoeic award for Inklings Studies last year. About the only criticism of Lindop's book I've seen concerned it's name. Tolkien scholar David Bratman, for example, has argued that calling CW "the third Inkling" unfairly puts CW into the shadow […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 08 May 2017, “<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/05/dreams-of-beowulf.html">Dreams of Beowulf</a></b><br />
“ Sometimes I have the coolest dreams. The other night I fell asleep at my desk (as one does) leaning on my hands, trying to hold my head up and stay awake, so I could finish my daily reading in Beowulf. […] ”<br />
<br />
<b>Joshua Dudley, <i>Observer, Wednesday</i>, 10 May 2017, “<a href="http://observer.com/2017/05/hello-from-the-magic-tavern-arnie-niekamp-adal-rafai/">People Who Podcast: Improv Meets Tolkien Adventures in 'Hello From the Magic Tavern'</a></b><br />
“This is People Who Podcast, where we talk to the people behind some of the most fun and interesting podcasts available today. Why do they make their shows? What do they love about them? And is podcasting actually a viable career option […]”<br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, Friday, 19 May 2017, “<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017/05/another-one-to-cross-off-his-list.html">another one to cross off his list</a></b><br />
“I confess I've never read much of the criticism of F.R. Leavis. What I have read was enough to demonstrate that, rather to my surprise, Frederick Crews' famous "Simon Lacerous" parody - "Another book to cross off your list" - isn't much of an exaggeration. Leavis really was that brutally waspish - or waspishly brutal. […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Grant P. Hudson, <i>Clarendon House</i>, Monday, 22 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/single-post/2017/05/22/The-Importance-of-Proofreading">The Importance of Proofreading</a></b><br />
“Have you ever been so moved by a piece of literature or so persuaded by an essay that you immediately changed your own views either of the world or regarding the topic it addressed? Have you ever re-read something just because it was so wonderful that you couldn't get enough of it? To tell you the truth, I often re-read my favourite books for just that reason […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Signum University, Friday, 26 May 2017, “<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/news/announcing-anytime-audits/">Announcing Anytime Audits</a></b><br />
“Signum University is proud to announce a new feature: Anytime Auditing! This is a brand new way of allowing people to access to our graduate-level courses whenever they like. […]”<br />
<br />
<b>Grant P. Hudson, <i>Clarendon House</i>, Tuesday, 30 May 2017, “<a href="http://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/single-post/2017/05/30/C-S-Lewis-Allegory-and-Symbolism">C. S. Lewis: Allegory and Symbolism</a></b><br />
“ Quite apart from the use of a commonplace wardrobe as a portal to a different world, and the introduction of a ‘re-booted’ God figure join the form of Aslan, Lewis used other symbology in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. […]”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>Maria Messer, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Tuesday, 16 May 2017, “<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/05/16/join-our-hobbit-book-club-in-june/">Join Our Hobbit Book Club in June!</a></b><br />
“All month long in June, Middle-earth News will host a book club were we will read Tolkien's The Hobbit. Ever wanted to discuss a scene or dialogue in The Hobbit? Something in the novel you […]”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
<br />
<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese, <a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/">The Prancing Pony Podcast</a></b><br />
Centred about the podcast done by Shawn E. Marchese and Alan Sisto, the site also includes much other content than just the podcast episodes. This includes the <i>Prancing Pony Ponderings</i>, which is a blog with short essays (usually related to the topics of contemporary podcasts).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfMeq-Tmuk38UpVt81agnsdKjLn3fqHnXoY-GZAlx63K0WcvSiuoKjfZhC-TzP-IlVgZtAZQykYRQqptffZUvpEOUf3oCRd3P4tPtbV4lZSanKZwbHEVvUgnfmLoE8AzJq5p85upyjq70/s1600/Gil-Galad_w360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfMeq-Tmuk38UpVt81agnsdKjLn3fqHnXoY-GZAlx63K0WcvSiuoKjfZhC-TzP-IlVgZtAZQykYRQqptffZUvpEOUf3oCRd3P4tPtbV4lZSanKZwbHEVvUgnfmLoE8AzJq5p85upyjq70/s320/Gil-Galad_w360.jpg" width="270px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gil-Galad</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jason Fisher, ‘<a href="http://lingwe.blogspot.com">Lingwë -- Musings of a Fish</a>’<br />
<a href="http://lingwe.blogspot.dk/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Douglas A. Anderson, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/">Tolkien and Fantasy</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Andrew Higgens, ‘<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/">Wotan's Musings</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Robin Anne Reid, <a href="https://robin-anne-reid.dreamwidth.org/">her blog</a><br />
<a href="https://robin-anne-reid.dreamwidth.org/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Annalisa Palmer, <a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/">her blog</a><br />
<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 4, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/2017_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
Stephen C. Winter, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/">Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings</a>’<br />
<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/05/">Archive of posts from May 2017</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in May 2017<br />
<b>Alan Sisto & Shawn E. Marchese, ‘<a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/category/prancing-pony-ponderings/">Prancing Pony Ponderings</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-90404107718140024042017-05-09T14:41:00.000+02:002017-05-09T14:41:26.592+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXX<h2>April 2017</h2>
Once all the reporting is done, there are always the finishing touches to put in – pictures, checking that there is no descriptions left merely as “description” (the default used in the macro I use), and not least writing up these opening comments, usually complaining about my lack of time ….<br />
Well, I <i>am</i> busy. No doubt about that, but these days I am generally busy with things I like to do, so I can't really complain (there have, however, been periods over the past year or so where my paid job has taken up more time and effort than I am paid for). This mostly involves my family, my paid job and my volunteering for the Guide and Scout movement (in that order) before I get to allocate time for my studies and discussions of the life and works of professor J.R.R. Tolkien. That of course means that these transactions, along with any other discussions of Tolkien, are done when the time is there. <br />
But no matter how much time I spend, I would never be able to guarantee anything about newness, completeness, or relevance of the contents here (or, indeed, any other implication of responsibility), so these come without any guarantees of anything other than idiosyncrasy :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_reading">10: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">11: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/A-Flower-in-the-Grey-North-674857155" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://orig03.deviantart.net/caf2/f/2017/104/b/a/a_flower_in_the_grey_north_by_peet-db5sj43.jpg" width="600px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Flower in the Grey North</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Shaun Gunner, Sunday, 16 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/04/10th-anniversary-of-the-children-of-hurin/">10th anniversary of <i>The Children of Húrin</i></a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 16 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/04/researchers-bring-old-norse-language-back-jorvik-viking-centre/">Researchers bring Old Norse language back to JORVIK Viking Centre</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>University of Arkansas, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://news.uark.edu/articles/38545/honors-college-to-launch-retro-readings-with-course-on-tolkien">Honors College to Launch 'Retro Readings' with Course on Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>The Reading Agency</i>, Friday, 21 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://readingagency.org.uk/news/media/talking-fiction-research-reveals-nations-reading-habits-and-hang-ups.html">Talking fiction? Research reveals our reading habits and hang-ups</a>’</b><br />
Lying about having read that book? This survey shows that “One quarter of 18-24 year olds (25%) admit to having lied about reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, when they have in fact just watched the film.” Not merely 25% of those who make the claim, but 25% of the total ... puts the many claims about the films bringing in millions of readers in a slightly different light, I think. <br />
See also, <b>Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, <i>c|cnet</i>, Sunday, 23 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/books-we-lie-about-reading-jrr-tolkien-lord-of-the-rings-ian-fleming-james-bond/">Are you lying about having read the 'Lord of the Rings' books?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, Tuesday 25 April, 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/04/winners-of-the-tolkien-society-awards-2017-announced/">Winners of The Tolkien Society Awards 2017 announced</a>’</b><br />
Congratulations, all!<br />
<br />
<b>‘Alice Greenleaf’, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Thursday, 27 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/04/27/soundtracks-of-middle-earth/">Soundtracks of Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/from-the-barrow-downs/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/graeme_barrowdowns_1200.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From the Barrow-Downs</i><br />
by Graeme Skinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports or comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>25 March 2017, Worldwide, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2017/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme was ‘Poetry and Songs in Tolkien's Fiction’<br />
<br />
<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 29 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/03/29/tolkien-in-vermont-2017-romances-in-middle-earth/">Tolkien in Vermont 2017: Romance in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>12–15 April 2017, San Diego, California, USA, ‘<a href="http://pcaaca.org/national-conference/">PCA/ACA National Conference</a>’, PCA / ACA</b><br />
Anna Smol, Thursday, 6 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/04/06/tolkien-studies-at-pcaaca-2017/">Tolkien Studies at PCA/ACA 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>21–23 April 2017, Warwick Arms Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2017/">Springmoot and AGM 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 10 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/04/mark-atherton-to-be-guest-of-honour-at-annual-dinner/">Mark Atherton to be guest of honour at Annual Dinner</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 May)<br />
<b>11 May – 8 July 2017, Gallerie Arludik, Paris, ‘<a href="http://www.arludik.com/indexeng2.htm">John Howe</a>’, Gallerie Arludik</b><br />
John Howe, Thursday, 20 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/blog/2017/04/20/paris-may-11-2017/">Paris, May 11, 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/thrice-he-rose/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/thrice-he-rose_col2.jpg" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thrice He Rose</i><br />
by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 7 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkien-sessions-at-kalamazoo.html">Tolkien Sessions at Kalamazoo</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>31 May 2017, Waterstones, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-alan-lee/oxford">An Evening with Alan Lee</a>’, Waterstones & HarperCollins</b><br />
Daniel Helen, Tuesday, 11 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/04/harpercollins-announce-beren-and-luthien-launch-events/">HarperCollins announce Beren and Lúthien launch events</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1 June 2017, Waterstones, Picadilly, ‘<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-alan-lee/london-piccadilly">An Evening with Alan Lee</a>’, Waterstones & HarperCollins</b><br />
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<b>2 June 2017, Waterstones, Exeter – Roman Gate, ‘<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-alan-lee/exeter-high-street">An Evening with Alan Lee</a>’, Waterstones & HarperCollins</b><br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
<br />
<b>5 June 2017, Waterstones, Liverpool, ‘<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-alan-lee/liverpool">An Evening with Alan Lee</a>’, Waterstones & HarperCollins</b><br />
<br />
<b>6 June 2017, Waterstones, Hull, ‘<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-alan-lee/hull">An Evening with Alan Lee</a>’, Waterstones & HarperCollins</b><br />
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<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”<br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2017/04/huzzah-mythcon-48-room-board.html">HUZZAH!!! Mythcon 48 Room & Board</a>’<br />
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<b>10–13 August 2017, California State University, East Bay, Hayward Campus, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.omentielva.com/">Omentielva Otsea: The Seventh International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien's Invented Languages</a>’, Omentielva</b><br />
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<b>21–24 September 2017, St. Anthony's College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2017/">Oxonmoot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>9–10 November 2017, Greenville, South Carolina, USA, ‘<a href="https://www.celebratetolkien.com/">Celebrate Tolkien</a>’, Dan Cruver</b><br />
Andrew Moore, <i>Greenville Journal</i>, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://greenvillejournal.com/2017/04/25/november-armies-middle-earth-will-invade-downtown-greenville/">In November, the armies of Middle Earth will invade downtown Greenville</a>’<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Amon-Ereb-674667623" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://orig09.deviantart.net/3966/f/2017/103/b/a/amon_ereb_by_peet-db5ogvb.jpg" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amon Ereb</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">“J.R.R. Tolkien” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Tolkien_Studies">“Tolkien Studies” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu April (-ish ... probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Unsorted. Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:<br />
<b>Jeffrey Bullins, <i>Tolkien in Vermont</i> conference paper, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32379887/Sounds_in_the_Dark_Assimilation_and_Continuity_in_The_Hobbit_An_Unexpected_Journey">Sounds in the Dark: Assimilation and Continuity in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</a>’</b><br />
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32399184/F%C3%ABanor_and_Melkor_so_different_so_alike">Fëanor and Melkor: so different, so alike</a>’</b><br />
<b>Gavin Holman, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32401015/In_the_Land_of_Mordor_Where_the_Shadows_Lie_Good_Evil_and_the_Quest_in_Tolkeins_Middle_Earth">In the Land of Mordor Where the Shadows Lie: Good, Evil and the Quest in Tolkein's Middle Earth</a>’</b> [sic]<br />
<b>Marian Makins, <i>thersites</i> 4 (2016), 199-240., ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32427002/Memories_of_Ancient_Roman_War_in_Tolkiens_Dead_Marshes">Memories of (Ancient Roman) War in Tolkien's Dead Marshes</a>’</b><br />
<b>Giovanni Costabile, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32488574/Note_concerning_the_Influence_of_Tolkiens_scholarship_on_Arthurian_Studies">Note concerning the Influence of Tolkien's scholarship on Arthurian Studies</a>’</b><br />
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32517426/In_the_shadows_of_dark_forests">In the shadows of dark forests</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jason Fisher, in <i>Middle-earth and Beyond: Essays on the World of J.R.R. Tolkien</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32543808/Sourcing_Tolkiens_Circles_of_the_World_Speculations_on_The_Heimskringla_The_Latin_Vulgate_Bible_and_the_Hereford_Mappa_Mundi">Sourcing Tolkien's "Circles of the World": Speculations on The Heimskringla, The Latin Vulgate Bible, and the Hereford Mappa Mundi</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jason Fisher, <i>Mythlore</i> 35.1, Fall/Winter 2016, p.191-200, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32544028/A_Companion_to_J.R.R._Tolkien_edited_by_Stuart_D._Lee_review_">A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Stuart D. Lee (review)</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jason Fisher, <i>Mythlore</i> 35.2, Spring/Summer 2016, p.171-175, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32621329/A_Secret_Vice_Tolkien_on_Invented_Languages_by_J.R.R._Tolkien_edited_by_Dimitra_Fimi_and_Andrew_Higgins_review_">A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages, by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins (review)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/sketching-the-stones/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/graeme_stonesketch_02_700.jpg" width="280px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sketching the Stones</i><br />
by Graeme Skinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>John Garth, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/when-tolkien-reinvented-atlantis-and-lewis-went-to-mars/">When Tolkien reinvented Atlantis and Lewis went to Mars</a>’</b><br />
I know I also included this piece last month, but I didn't comment upon it (and I'll use the 1 April update as my excuse ;) ). Besides displaying Garth usual engaging and highly readable style of writing, it also showcases the careful attention to detail that makes Garth such an enjoyable and convincing author. And do remember to read also the later conversation in comments by David Llewellyn Dodd and John Garth, which is also very enlightening. <br />
<br />
<b>Jane Beal, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 4 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/8/">Tolkien, Eucatastrophe, and the Re-Creation of Medieval Legend</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Tuesday, 4 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/jrr-tolkiens-baptism-act.html">J.R.R. Tolkien's Baptism Act!</a>’</b><br />
Ryszard Derdzinski has posted a number of bits and pieces from his research into Tolkien's ancestry. Some of this relates to evidence of various Tolkiens (of that or similar spellings) in Prussia and modern Germany, other of it relating to the etymology of the name. Here, for the sake of brevity, I will only list those that I have found the most interesting and relevant to uncovering details about the ancestry of ‘our’ Tolkien.<br />
<br />
<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Wednesday, 5 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/another-proof-of-east-prussian-origin.html">Another proof of the East Prussian origin </a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/04/appendices-that-might-have-been.html">Appendices That Might Have Been</a>’</b><br />
On a very interesting list of contents for <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> found at Marquette. Thanks to Christopher Tolkien diligent work, we do now have some idea of what all these items might have entailed, including those that did not end up in the final book. I am not sure that I find Rateliff's argument with regards to timing to be convincing, though – I would expect Tolkien to have cast his net quite widely in the first attempts immediately after giving up on the co-publication of <i>The Silmarillion</i> and <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Latham, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/04/medieval-sources-sovereignty-idea-supreme-authority-quanto-personam-glosses/">Medieval Sources of Sovereignty: The Idea of Supreme Authority in Quanto Personam and its Glosses</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/christian-tolkien-in-creuzburg-1750.html">Christian Tolkien in Creuzburg, 1750? Looking for <i>this</i> Christian Tolkien...</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/michael-tolkien-17081795-burger-und.html">Michael Tolkien (1708–1795), "Bürger und Kürschner" from Danzig</a>’</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/159969840515/goya-meets-tolkien-thats-what-a-friend-of-mine" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://68.media.tumblr.com/3d166d3587cdb289ffd746112c4e45bd/tumblr_ooygtgZlHS1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Balrog</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/daniel-tolkien-father-of-johann.html">Daniel Tolkien, father of Johann Christian (Riesenburg 1811)</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, Friday, 21 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.dk/2017/04/the-tolkien-family-tree-on-ancestrycouk.html">The Tolkien Family Tree on Ancestry.co.uk – Why I think John B. Tolkien was born in Gdańsk</a>’</b><br />
A good summary of the main results of Derdzinski's research into the origins of the Tolkien family. The research is <i>very</i> interesting, indeed, and looks quite promising, though the evidence provided so far is not quite as convincing as it may appear – as I also say in a comment to this post, there are in my view other scenarios that would explain the available evidence equally well, and which are, in my assessment, no less likely. But I encourage my readers to look through Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski's interesting posts on the topic and assess the evidence for themselves.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Medievalist.net</i>, Wednesday, 26 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/04/vikings-start-raiding-england/">When did the Vikings start raiding England?</a>’</b><br />
... earlier than the 793 attack on Lindisfarne, certainly. <br />
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<b>John William Houghton, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Thursday, 27 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/9/">Neues Testament und Märchen: Tolkien, Fairy Stories, and the Gospel</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 3 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/04/03/the-king-and-the-healing-of-faramir/">The King and The Healing of Faramir</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Jonathan S. McIntosh, Monday, 3 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/sarumans-philosophy-of-war/">Saruman's philosophy of war</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/sketching-the-stones/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/graeme_stonesketch_01_700.jpg" width="280px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sketching the Stones</i><br />
by Graeme Skinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 7 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/04/just-how-long-is-lotr-anyway-word-counts.html">Just How Long is LotR Anyway? (word counts)</a>’</b><br />
The answer to that question quite obviously depends on which words you count ...<br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Sunday, 9 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/04/09/first-meeting-in-april-3/">First Meeting in April</a>’</b><br />
The Southampton Tolkien Reading Group has now reached that last book of the narrative of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, this time discussing the first two chapters of book VI.<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Monday, 10 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/04/10/the-king-and-the-healing-of-eowyn/">The King and The Healing of Éowyn</a>’</b><br />
I usually find Winter's reflections interesting or even enjoyable, but this time I felt quite provoked by the dismissal of the northern spirit (to use Tolkien's term), claiming that it, “in the form that has come to us through the mythology of the North is ultimately bleak and without meaning.” It is quite fine that Winter himself finds it bleak and cannot find meaning therein, but Tolkien obviously didn't find it so, nor does millions of people today (far more than just those who consider themselves Ásatrú). The Danish priest (and historian, philosopher, and even philological thinker) N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783 – 1872) found a richness in that form that prompted him to use the mythology of the North to enrich his vision of Christianity in the North (Scandinavia). Having been raised in a culture strongly affected by Grundtvig's thinking to appreciate the richness and meaningfulness of the mythology of the North, I found Winter's comments here to be far off the mark.<br />
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<b>Ben, Monday, 10 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/tolkienian-eucatastrophe/">Tolkienian Eucatastrophe</a>’</b><br />
Follow-up posts: <b>Ben, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/409/">Turin and Pridefulness</a>’</b><br />
An analysis and a critique of some of the more usual attempts at explaining the story of Túrin in a manner that is compatible with Tolkien's conjecture of eucatastrophe (I call it a conjecture because I believe it to be false for fairy story as a whole, though it can be a useful lens through which to approach Tolkien himself). I have commented the second post (<i><a href="https://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/409/">Turin and Pridefulness</a></i>), and will here merely refer to that discussion. I look forward to the continuation in the hope that it will also address the questions I raise.<br />
<br />
<b>Jack Malvern, <i>The Australian</i>, Thursday, 13 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/from-terry-pratchett-to-queen-margrethe-tolkiens-fan-mail/news-story/fea8460d0c3bfc50b85934d0f3f51f6f">From Terry Pratchett to Queen Margrethe: Tolkien's fan mail</a>’</b><br />
In anticipation of the 2018 exhibition at the Bodleian, <i>Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth</i>, this article lists some notable people who wrote to Tolkien to express admiration for his fiction.<br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Hicks, <i>Quora</i> / <i>HuffPost</i>, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jrr-tolkiens-middle-earth-how-would-the-silmarillion_us_58ed829ee4b0ea028d568e11">J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth: How Would The Silmarillion Have Been Different if Feanor Didn't Burn the Ships at Losgar?</a>’</b><br />
Given what we know about the Elves being bound to the Music of the Ainur as fate, I am not sure that a question such as this is meaningful at all, and I would expect any proper discussion of such contrafactual questions to include at least a discussion also of this. I am rather unimpressed by this answer, even if I tend to agree that it would have no great impact on neither the story of the <i>Quenta Silmarillion</i> or on the history of the Wars of Beleriand.<br />
<br />
<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 17 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/04/17/the-king-and-the-healing-of-merry/">The King and The Healing of Merry</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Séamas Ó Sionnaigh, Monday, 17 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://ansionnachfionn.com/2017/04/17/destroyer-of-cities-homer-jrr-tolkien-and-george-rr-martin/">Destroyer of Cities, Homer, Jrr Tolkien and George RR Martin</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/gil-galad-was-an-elvenking/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/gil-galad_col.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gil-galad was an Elvenking</i><br />
by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, Monday, 17 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://middleearthreflections.com/2017/04/17/alone-of-the-valar-he-knew-fear/">«Alone of the Valar he knew fear»</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2017/04/tolkien-and-igor-stravinsky.html">Tolkien and . . . Igor Stravinsky?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 23 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/04/seven-things-didnt-know-medieval-dragons/">Seven Things You Didn't Know About Medieval Dragons</a>’</b><br />
Because, you know ... dragons! :) <br />
<br />
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, Monday, 24 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/04/24/the-kings-leaf-a-guest-blog-by-olga-polomoshnova/">The King's Leaf. A Guest Blog by Olga Polomoshnova.</a>’</b><br />
Introduction by Stephen C. Winter.<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan S. McIntosh, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/aragorn-vs-saruman/">Aragorn vs. Saruman</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Eric Grundhauser, <i>Atlas Obscura</i>, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tolkien-cs-lewis-disney-snow-white-narnia-hobbit-dwarves">The Movie Date That Solidified J.R.R. Tolkien's Dislike of Walt Disney</a>’</b><br />
Mr Grundhauser has combined information from various sources to tell the story of Lewis' and Tolkien's visit to the theatre to see Disney's <i>Snow White</i>, throwing additional light on the contempt of Disney that shines through some of Tolkien's comments. Personally I understand their reaction to Disney's dwarfs &ndash the ridicule of Disney is, I think, even worse than the vilification of Grimm. <br />
<b>Trish Lambert, Tuesday, 2 May 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/05/guest-post-trish-lambert-snow-white-and.html">Guest Post -- Trish Lambert -- Snow White and Bilbo Baggins</a>’</b><br />
Though posted in May, this post is a direct response to the above article (and not merely reporting on it), and so deserves to be mentioned here. <br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Wednesday, 26 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/04/26/ragnaroknroll-edda-tollers/">Ragnarök'n'roll! The Poetic Edda and Tolkien's Sigurd and Gudrún</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Wednesday, 26 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/04/barrow-wights-ringwraiths-and-william.html">Barrow-wights, Ringwraiths, and William Morris (FR 2.ii.248)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bruce Charlton, Friday, 28 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.dk/2017/04/how-important-were-inklings-to-inklings.html">How important were The Inklings to The Inklings?</a>’</b><br />
A good question. And while I do think that Charlton overstates things when he thinks (with little evidence) that “it is clear that for Tolkien and Lewis the Inklings meetings were part of a broader cultural effort”, I also think Charlton is right in concluding that the answer depended a lot on which member you asked, and that the group was more important for Tolkien and Lewis than for the other members.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 30 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/04/from-terrible-beauty-to-beacon-of-hope.html">From Terrible Beauty to Beacon of Hope -- The Silmarils from Fëanor to Eärendil</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fineartamerica.com/featured/hobbiton-gandalfs-search-for-a-burglar-joe-gilronan.html?safefilter=off" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17855202_1232294430222047_6249470696340305192_o.jpg?oh=7b7d97fab03f2eb9e3b5c0b3b66e9313&oe=59777653" width="360px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hobbiton. Gandalf's Search For A Burglar</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Friday, 7 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2017/04/upcoming-tolkien-books-of-2017-so-far.html">Upcoming Tolkien Books of 2017 [So Far...]</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, Tuesday, 11 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.dk/2017/04/tolkien-studies-14-announcement.html">Tolkien Studies 14: an announcement</a>’</b><br />
Announcing the contents. Now for waiting with waning patience ...<br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/04/12/ways-to-approach-the-silmarillion/">Approaching “The Silmarillion” for the First Time</a>’</b><br />
Not so much a review as such, but more some advice on how to approach the book for first-time readers. One of the things that is abundantly clear is that readers vary quite a lot, and the advice that helps one reader get a good reading experience may destroy the experience of another reader. Therefore, any reading advice is good – the more the merrier – but sort it through carefully before taking it. As an example, on my first reading of <i>The Silmarillion</i> I found the <i>Ainulindalë</i> entirely enchanting an captivating, and didn't get bogged down at any point before I reached the <i>Quenta Silmarillion</i> proper …<br />
See also this response / follow-up, <b>Steve Hayes, Thursday, 13 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://khanya.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/on-reading-the-silmarillion/">On reading The Silmarillion</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Fracesca T Barbini, <i>Sci-fi and Fantasy Network</i>, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/brand-new-edition-translation-tolkiens-letters/">A brand new edition and translation of Tolkien's Letters</a>’</b><br />
A new translation of <i>The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien</i> into Italian is to be published towards the end of the year.<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, Friday, 14 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/tolkien-at-exeter-college-birth-of-a-legend/">Tolkien at Exeter College: Birth of a legend</a>’</b><br />
Insofar as this is, as he claims, Garth blowing his own trumpet, at least he does so in an informative way, and lets us in on the trumpet-blowing right from the outset. And I can warmly recommend the booklet as well as the trumpet-blowing ...<br />
<br />
<b><i>Yorkshire Post</i>, Friday, 14 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/books/hobbit-forming-book-launch-celebrates-tolkien-links-with-yorkshre-1-8494264">Hobbit-forming: book launch celebrates Tolkien links with Yorkshre</a>’</b><br />
More about the upcoming (but delayed ...) release of <i>Beren and Lúthien</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Sue Bridgwater, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/historical-principles/">Historical Principles</a>’</b><br />
A response to <i>The Making of the Oxford English Dictionary</i> by Peter Gilliver<br />
<br />
<b>Alicia Fox-Lenz, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Monday, 24 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2017/04/mythlore-130-published.html">Mythlore 130 published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 27 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/04/new-arrivals.html">New Arrivals</a>’</b><br />
Comments (many of them very brief) on the following books: <i>Tolkien and Sanskrit</i> by Mark Hooker, <i>Deep Roots in a Time of Frost: Essays on Tolkien</i> by Patrick Curry, <i>Wagner and Tolkien: Mythmakers</i> by Renée Vink, <i>The Magical World of J. R. R. Tolkien</i> by Gareth Knight, <i>On the Perilous Road: An Unauthorized Biography</i> by Elizabeth Currie & Alex Lewis, <i>John Ronald'S Dragons</i> by Caroline McAlister, <i>Tolkien's Theology of Beauty: Majesty, Splendour, & Transcendence in Middle-earth</i> by Lisa Coutras, <i>Tolkien, Self & Other: "This Queer Creation"</i> by Jane Chance, <i>Critical Insights: The Hobbit</i>, ed. Stephen W. Potts as well as a few that are not directly about Tolkien.<br />
<br />
<b>Harley J. Sims, <i>Mercatornet</i>, Thursday, 27 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.mercatornet.com/features/view/the-silmarillion-tracing-the-roots-of-tolkiens-mythical-universe/19701">The Silmarillion: tracing the roots of Tolkien's mythical universe</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Amrit Sidhu-Brar, <i>Miruvor</i>, Saturday, 29 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://taruithornmiruvor.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/a-move-to-editors-new-and-the-very-late-hilary-2016-issue/">A move to Editors new, and the (very) late Hilary 2016 issue</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Sunday, 2 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/thrice-he-rose/">Thrice he rose</a>’</b><br />
Fingolfin fighting Melkor ...<br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Tuesday, 4 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/gil-galad-was-an-elvenking/">Gil-galad was an Elvenking</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Chris ‘QueenslandChris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 4 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/The-Edge-of-the-Wild-673008918">The Edge of the Wild</a>’</b><br />
Wizard, Hobbit and Dwarves ...<br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 6 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/Smaug-And-Bard-673308552">Smaug And Bard</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Kitty L, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Friday, 7 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/jay-johnstones-tolkienography-fantasy-art/">Jay Johnstone's Tolkienography & Fantasy Art</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 7 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/King-of-the-Valinorian-Noldor-673497514">King of the Valinorian Noldor</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/lords-prayer-8753280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/14491153756503041084.jpg?v=xfNEtpBd_4pVOV_jAshdZ6PcihZWoRmjosm92DAN_WU%3D" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lord's Prayer</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Sunday, 9 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/lords-prayer-8753280">The Lord's Prayer</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Thursday, 13 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Amon-Ereb-674667623">Amon Ereb</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 14 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/A-Flower-in-the-Grey-North-674857155">A Flower in the Grey North</a>’</b><br />
Peter Xavier Price's explorations of the Followers, the After-born, the Sickly, the Mortals, the Inscrutable of <i>The Silmarillion</i> are enchanting ...<br />
<br />
<b>Ted Nasmith, Saturday, 15 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.tednasmith.com/tolkien/the-return-of-the-king/battle-of-the-black-gate/">Battle of the Black Gate</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Sunday, 16 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://fineartamerica.com/featured/hobbiton-gandalfs-search-for-a-burglar-joe-gilronan.html?safefilter=off">Hobbiton. Gandalf's Search For A Burglar</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Lorien-675632714">Lorien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Abe Papakhian, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 19 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://abepapakhian.deviantart.com/art/The-Horn-of-Boromir-675827525">The Horn of Boromir</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, Thursday, 20 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/sketching-the-stones/">Sketching The Stones</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>W. Somers, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 23 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://somerswi.deviantart.com/art/FrodoAtBagEnd-676736464">Frodo at Bag End</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>W. Somers, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 23 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://somerswi.deviantart.com/art/OrcsTrollsAndOtherScaryThings-676737673">Orcs, Trolls and Other Scary Things</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/159969840515/goya-meets-tolkien-thats-what-a-friend-of-mine">Balrog – Tolkien meets Goya</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, Tuesday, 25 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/from-the-barrow-downs/">From the Barrow-Downs</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Tobi’, <i>John Howe: Flavour of the Month</i>, Thursday, 27 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6559">What Happened To The Stone Trolls?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Friday, 28 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Celegorm-677604738">Celegorm</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Olga , Wednesday, N April 2017, ‘<a href="https://middleearthreflections.com/2017/04/05/marriage-divine/">Marriage divine</a>’</b><br />
On the concept of marriage as applied to the Valar.<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 10 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/are-there-taxes-in-middle-earth/">Are There Taxes in Middle-earth?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 17 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/who-ruled-minas-tirith-when-aragorn-became-king/">Who Ruled Minas Tirith When Aragorn Became King?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jeff LaSala, <i>Tor.com</i>, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2017/04/18/the-trial-of-galadriel/">The Trial of Galadriel</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 24 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/who-were-the-bearded-easterlings-with-large-axes/">Who Were the Bearded Easterlings with Large Axes?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/04/sketching-the-stones/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/graeme_stonesketch_03_700.jpg" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sketching the Stones</i><br />
by Graeme Skinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Bruce Charlton, Tuesday, 4 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.dk/2017/04/what-is-myth-answers-from-tolkien-cs.html">What is Myth? Answers from Tolkien, CS Lewis, Charles Williams and Owen Barfield</a>’</b><br />
Quoting from a 1971 book on these four Inklings. The 1971 book reaches the conclusion that Tolkien, Lewis, and Williams, “… have <i>used</i> myth … but they have not really said why”, but for Tolkien, the amount of writings by Tolkien published since 1971 is so huge that this is now erroneous (one need just to turn to the published <i>Letters</i>), and I very much suspect that the same is true at least for Lewis. Tolkien's approach to myth is, however, in most ways far more prosaic and thus rejects the mysticism of Barfield.<br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 12 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/literary-tourism-wales-land-of-legends/">Literary Tourism: Wales, Land of Legends</a>’</b><br />
About a new website for the literary tourist of Wales. And, yes, it does have links to both Tolkien and Fimi ...<br />
<br />
<b>Brian Sibley, Tuesday, 18 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://briansibleysblog.blogspot.dk/2017/04/hobbits-and-lions-and-emus-oh-my.html">Hobbits and Lions and Emus, Oh My!</a>’</b><br />
About the Barbara Remington cover design for the 1965 Ballantine paperbacks.<br />
<br />
<b>Deniz Bevan, Monday, 24 April 2017, ‘<a href="http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.dk/2017/04/t-is-for-tolkien.html">T is for... Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
I have been asked where one can find good and rewarding discussions about Tolkien and his work these days, and how to conduct oneself in that connection. <br />
Back when I started myself (in an earlier millennium …), the place to be was definitely the Tolkien usenet groups, rec.<a href="news:rec.arts.books.tolkien">arts.books.tolkien</a> (<a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/rec.arts.books.tolkien">Google Groups link</a>) and <a href="news:alt.fan.tolkien">alt.fan.tolkien</a> (<a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/alt.fan.tolkien">Google Groups link</a>). These were vibrant, high-volume groups with a number of highly knowledgable posters. About ten years ago, the groups suffered a concerted attack trying to disrupt them (not exactly spam, but high volumes of posts using the names and addresses of regular posters, and containing bits and pieces thrown together from posts all over usenet). During this attack a lot of regulars found other places to discuss Tolkien, and the volume of posts never really recovered. <br />
In the first decade of the new century, a lot of Tolkien-related discussion fora sprang up all around. Places like <a href="http://lotrplaza.com/forum.php">lotrplaza.com</a>, <a href="http://www.barrowdowns.com/">www.barrowdowns.com</a>, <a href="http://www.xenite.org/">www.xenite.org/</a>, <a href="http://www.theonering.net/">www.theonering.net</a> and others that I have forgotten or which no longer offer discussions took over as the World Wide Web (HTTP and HTML) took over from the older NNTP of usenet as the favoured places for discussion on the internet. Many of these sites (certainly the ones listed) still offer a place for discussions about Tolkien, but they, too, no longer carry the volume of posts they once did. <br />
These days it seems that the higher volume discussions have moved on to social media, especially Facebook. The great pity about this is that most groups tend to be closed or even secret – not because they do not want anyone to find them, but because this is the only way to prevent one's activity from spilling onto the news feeds of one's non-Tolkienian friends (and this can be a substantial amount of posts for some of us …). But there you can find such groups as the “Tolkien Society” Facebook Group, “Tolkien Discussions”, “That's What I'm Tolkien About”, “Christopher Tolkien” and many, many others. Despite the downright crappy interface for discussions, this seems to be where things happen these days. Unfortunately. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
<b>Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Tuesday, 11 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2017/04/mythprint-380-published.html">Mythprint #380 Published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
Also, I am still making my way through <i>Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell</i> – enjoying it whenever I can get 10 – 20 minutes with the book.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
Well ... not so much new exciting websites as stumbling across old articles that I didn't discover at the time when they were published ... <br />
<b>Grant P. Hudson, <i>Clarendon House</i>, 25 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.clarendonhousebooks.com/single-post/2016/11/24/The-Mountain-and-the-City">The Mountain and the City</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>“Angry Staff Officer”, 4 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://angrystaffofficer.com/2016/11/04/warfighter-middle-earth/">Warfighter: Middle Earth</a>’</b> [sic]<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>Oxford Today</i>, 24 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/interviews/making-oxford-english-dictionary#">The Making of the Oxford English Dictionary</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly. <br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"> <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 4, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Emil Johansson, ‘<a href="http://lotrproject.com/blog/">LotR Project Blog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://lotrproject.com/blog/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Taruithorn, the Oxford Tolkien Society, ‘<a href="http://taruithornmiruvor.wordpress.com/"></a>’<br />
<a href="http://taruithornmiruvor.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Ben, ‘<a href="http://aussierebel.wordpress.com/">A clearer thinking oasis</a>’<br />
<a href="http://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/2017_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
Stephen C. Winter, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/">Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings</a>’<br />
<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/04/">Archive of posts from April 2017</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in April 2017<br />
<b>Olga Polomoshnova, ‘<a href="https://middleearthreflections.com/">Middle-earth Reflections</a>’</b><br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.com/p/sources.html</a> Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-67433893454609619582017-04-18T15:12:00.000+02:002017-04-18T15:12:35.298+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXIX<h2>March 2017</h2>
Given the delay of these transactions, it will be no surprise that I am keeping busy with other, non-Tolkienian, matters. The last month or so up to Easter was quite more than usually busy at work, and Easter felt deeply well-deserved :) For that reason, I continue to cut down on my personal commentary, and largely just provide links to articles that I find interesting – or which have intriqued me with the promise of being interesting if I had the time to read them ... <br />
<br />
Any claim about newness, completeness and relevance will therefore be pointless (and very much erroneous), and as usual, I also reject any other implication of responsibility :-)<br />
<br />
I would like to start out this month by highlighting a project running in the Tolkien Society called ‘Tolkien to the World’. You can read about this amazing project in this article by the society's chairman, Shaun Gunner:<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 30 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/what-is-tolkien-to-the-world-how-can-you-help/">What is Tolkien to the World? How can you help?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#00_readingday">Tolkien Reading Day</a><br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_reading">9: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#10_websites">10: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#11_blogs">11: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#12_sources">12: Sources</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/high-hope-of-8641753" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/12085919519566911353.jpg?v=NRz4xHchhmehz7QCGw5JXhz5XFhTs72WcS7M10i6u14%3D" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The High Hope of the Elves</i><br />
Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="00_readingday">Tolkien Reading Day</a></h2>
My Tolkien Reading Day this year was a fairly subdued affair due to the general business. A few verses such as the (in my opinion) hauntingly beautiful ‘<i>I sit beside the fire and think</i>’ (Bilbo in chapter 3 of book 2), but also some longer excerpts from <i>The Fall of Arthur</i> and <i>The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún</i> ... I believe I have said before that I am particularly attracted to Tolkien's headrhyming staves (or ‘alliterative poetry’ if you wish :) ) <br />
<br />
<b>‘Valdis’, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Monday, 20 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/03/20/tolkien-reading-day-2017-fun/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017 Fun!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Deniz Bevan, Wednesday, 22 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkien-reading-day-and-to-z-reveal.html">Tolkien Reading Day and A to Z reveal -- 1000 posts!</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Valdis’, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Thursday, 23 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/03/23/tolkien-reading-day-giveaways/">Tolkien Reading Day GIVEAWAYS!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ashleigh Howarth, <i>The Satellite</i>, Friday, 24 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.thesatellite.com.au/news/a-celebration-of-tolkien-at-the-library-this-week/3156762/">A celebration of Tolkien at the library this week</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Max Bennett, <i>Patch</i>, Friday, 24 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://patch.com/pennsylvania/brynmawr/channel-your-inner-hobbit-tolkien-reading-day-ludington-library-saturday">Channel Your Inner Hobbit With Tolkien Reading Day At Ludington Library Saturday</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tamra Bolton, <i>Parade</i>, Friday, 24 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://parade.com/556945/tamrabolton/tolkien-reading-day-how-to-celebrate-the-literary-legend/">Tolkien Reading Day: How to Celebrate the Literary Legend </a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Francesca T. Barbini, <i>Scififantasy Network</i>, Friday, 24 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/aist-organizes-tolkien-reading-day-event-in-rome/">AIST Organizes ‘Tolkien Reading Day’ Event In Rome</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Valdis’, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/03/25/celebrate-tolkien-reading-day-with-us-giveaway/">Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day With Us! [GIVEAWAY]</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Adele Bloem, <i>Roodeport Record</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2017/03/25/national-tolkien-reading-day/">National Tolkien Reading Day</a>’</b><br />
‘National’??<br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/today-is-tolkien-reading-day-what-are-you-reading/">Today is Tolkien Reading Day! What are you reading?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/03/25/tolkien-reading-day-2-poems-to-memorize/">Tolkien Reading Day: 2 poems to memorize</a>’</b><br />
Really brilliant commentary!<br />
<br />
<b>James Moffet, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://atolkienistperspective.wordpress.com/2017/03/25/tolkien-reading-day-2017/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017!</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Brenton Dickieson, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/03/25/tolkienreading/">A Brace of Tolkien Posts #TolkienReadingDay</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sue Bridgewater, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/03/25/happy-tolkien-reading-day/">Happy Tolkien Reading Day</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lauren Padilla, <i>USA Today College</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/25/happy-tolkien-reading-day-here-are-5-great-tolkien-quotes/">Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Here are 5 great Tolkien quotes</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Rayne, <i>Syfy Wire</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.blastr.com/2017-3-25/tolkien-reading-day-9-most-badass-underrated-characters-tolkienverse">Tolkien Reading Day: 9 of the most badass underrated characters in the Tolkienverse</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 26 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/03/thats-what-bilbo-baggins-hates-tolkien.html">"That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates!" Tolkien Reading Day (+1) 2017</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Tuesday, 28 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/last-meeting-in-march-reading-day/">Last meeting in March: Reading Day</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/1111736252305856:0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17498786_1111736252305856_107615776590310727_n.jpg?oh=1ecdb49eeb289bcb71af50fa4aef5cff&oe=597F648F" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tolkien Reading Day</i><br />
Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Eric Grundhauser, <i>Atlas Obscura</i>, Thursday, 2 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/king-england-newspaper-ad-times">A Tolkien Truther From Colorado Says He's the Real King of England</a>’</b><br />
I debated with myself about this piece. On one hand, we can easily laugh at this fool (and that's putting it nicely), but what does this mean for the way Tolkien, and his readers, are represented in the public? There are crackpots in every group of people large enough (yes, we even get them in Scouting), and in my experience, they are no more frequent among Tolkien readers (readers, fans, students, scholars, nerds, geeks, LARP'ers, artists, etc. etc.) than in the general population, but portrayals of this diverse group as odd-balls and crackpots are popular. This guy is an example of a genuine crackpot, but he is a rare thing.<br />
<br />
<b>Gill Oliver, <i>Oxford Mail</i>, Saturdayday, 4 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15133870.Historic_city_pub_set_for_major_revamp/">Tolkien's favourite watering hole in line for a makeover: St Giles pub The Eagle and Child in major redevelopment bid.</a>’</b><br />
See also <b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 16 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/visitors-will-soon-be-able-to-stay-at-tolkien-pub/">Visitors will soon be able to stay at Tolkien pub</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Valdis’, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Monday, 13 March 2017, ‘<a href="http">Dragon Con 2016: The Tolkien Track's ‘Last Goodbye’</a>’</b><br />
Having attended events such as <i>The Return of the Ring</i> and even last year's <i>Oxonmoot</i>, I think my understanding of what constitutes a ‘Tolkien scholar’ is a bit different ... but maybe I'm just spoiled :) In any case, there is no doubt that the closing of the Tolkien track at Dragon Con has affected a lot of attendees.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Tivnan, <i>Bodleian News</i>, Tuesday, 14 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/bodleian-library-unearths-new-tolkien-507701">Bodleian Library unearths new Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Excited!!!!!<br />
See also <b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 14 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/bodleian-library-to-release-tolkien-book-in-2018/">Bodleian Library to release Tolkien book in 2018</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Claire Sims, <i>Oxford Student</i>, Friday, 17 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://oxfordstudent.com/2017/03/17/weston-library-host-extensive-tolkien-exhibition-2018/">Weston Library to host extensive Tolkien exhibition in 2018</a>’</b><br />
Time to start planning how to make a 2018 trip to Oxford ‘unavoidable’ ...<br />
See also <b>Andrew Ffrench, <i>Oxford Mail</i>, Friday, 17 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15163428.Major_Tolkien_show_planned_by_Bodleian/">Major Tolkien show planned by Bodleian</a>’</b><br />
And <b>Andy Ffrench, <i>Banbury Cake</i>, Monday, 20 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.banburycake.co.uk/news/15168118.Precious_Tolkien_memorabilia_to_go_on_show_at_Bodleian_exhibition/">Precious Tolkien memorabilia to go on show at Bodleian exhibition</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>‘Altaira’, <i>TheOneRing.net</i>, Sunday, 19 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017/03/19/102794-dc-legends-of-tomorrow-features-cameo-by-j-r-r-tolkien/">DC Legends of Tomorrow features cameo by.. J.R.R. Tolkien?</a>’</b><br />
For a fuller discussion, see <b>Oliver Sava, <i>A.V. Club</i>, Wednesday, 22 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/legends-tomorrow-needs-tolkiens-help-save-all-real-252503"><i>Legends Of Tomorrow</i> needs Tolkien's help to save all of reality (and fails)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, Monday, 27 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/vote-now-in-the-tolkien-society-awards/">Vote now in The Tolkien Society Awards</a>’</b><br />
Voting is now closed, but check out the finalists ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports or comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>25 March 2017, Worldwide, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2017/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme was ‘Poetry and Songs in Tolkien's Fiction’<br />
Shaun Gunner, Wednesday, 15 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/tolkien-society-to-host-reading-day-event-in-oxford/">Tolkien Society to host Reading Day event in Oxford</a>’<br />
Also see the <a href="#00_readingday">Tolkien Reading Day</a> section above.
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 April)<br />
<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 29 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/03/29/tolkien-in-vermont-2017-romances-in-middle-earth/">Tolkien in Vermont 2017: Romance in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>12–15 April 2017, San Diego, California, USA, ‘<a href="http://pcaaca.org/national-conference/">PCA/ACA National Conference</a>’, PCA / ACA</b><br />
Anna Smol, Thursday, 6 April 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/04/06/tolkien-studies-at-pcaaca-2017/">Tolkien Studies at PCA/ACA 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>21–23 April 2017, Warwick Arms Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2017/">Springmoot and AGM 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
Shaun Gunner, Thursday, 2 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/book-now-for-the-tolkien-society-annual-dinner-2017/">Book now for The Tolkien Society Annual Dinner 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/happy-yen-15-of-8612718" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/1128600089563680239.jpg?v=N6TxmvR4khJ6aITH90bxaH5r_1J4vrkOm1h-vpXBozs%3D" width="169" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Happy Yén 15 of This Age!</i><br />
Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 7 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkien-sessions-at-kalamazoo.html">Tolkien Sessions at Kalamazoo</a>’<br />
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<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
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<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”<br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Monday, 6 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2017/03/mythcon-48-guests-of-honor-announced.html">Mythcon 48 Guests of Honor Announced</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Tuesday, 7 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2017/03/mythcon-48-call-for-papers.html">Mythcon 48 CALL FOR PAPERS</a>’<br />
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<b>10–13 August 2017, California State University, East Bay, Hayward Campus, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.omentielva.com/">Omentielva Otsea: The Seventh International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien's Invented Languages</a>’, Omentielva</b><br />
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<b>21–24 September 2017, St. Anthony's College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2017/">Oxonmoot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">“J.R.R. Tolkien” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Tolkien_Studies">“Tolkien Studies” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu March (-ish ... probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Unsorted. Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:<br />
<b>Rune Tveitstul Jensen, MA thesis: University of Oslo, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31806975/The_Role_of_Trees_in_Shakespeare_Tolkien_and_Atwood">The Role of Trees in Shakespeare, Tolkien and Atwood</a>’</b><br />
<b>Robert Tally, <i>Popular Fiction and Spatiality: Reading Genre Settings</i> ed. Lisa Fletcher, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31988699/Tolkiens_Geopolitical_Fantasy_Spatial_Narrative_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">Tolkien's Geopolitical Fantasy: Spatial Narrative in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<b>Diego Kautau, <i>Ciberteologia – Journal of Theology & Culture</i> Ano II, n. 8, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/32284742/Evil_and_Power._The_symbolism_of_the_One_Ring_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_">Evil and Power. The symbolism of the One Ring in "The Lord of the Rings"</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Saturday, 4 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/03/she-died-choice-of-luthien-and-destiny.html">'She died' -- The Choice of Lúthien and the Destiny of the Elves (FR 1.xi.191-93)</a>’</b><br />
Excellent essay by Tom Hillman! Focusing on the choice of Lúthien and Arwen, and the role of their stories in the larger legendarium (both the history and the history of the history, so to speak ...) including <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. I've posted my comments in a comment on the blog itself.<br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Saturday, 11 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkien-syllabus.html">Tolkien Syllabus</a>’</b><br />
Because teaching Tolkien is an essential part of Tolkien scholarship ...<br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, Friday, 17 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/article-on-invented-languages-on-the-times-literary-supplement-tls-online/">Article on Invented Languages on the Times Literary Supplement (TLS) Online</a>’</b><br />
Click through to the <i>TLS</i> article ...<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 21 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/milton-waldman-wednesday.html">"Milton Waldman Wednesday"</a>’</b><br />
Adding details about Tolkien's discussions with Milton Waldman (leading to the famous 1951 letter).<br />
<br />
<b>Elise Ringo, <i>TOR.com</i>, Tuesday, 28 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2017/03/28/middle-earth-a-world-on-the-edge/">Middle-earth: A World on the Edge</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John Garth, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/when-tolkien-reinvented-atlantis-and-lewis-went-to-mars/">When Tolkien reinvented Atlantis and Lewis went to Mars</a>’</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/1106745959471552:0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17353617_1106745959471552_4892361146814802686_n.jpg?oh=705ff57d78d21540a4210000fc313e94&oe=59890781" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Luthien and Huan coming for Beren</i><br />
Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Paulette Zimmerman, Thursday, 2 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://globalsistersreport.org/column/capital-e-earth/environment/wisdom-tolkien-our-present-age-45251">The wisdom of Tolkien in our present age</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 6 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/03/06/the-palantir-knowledge-and-corruption/">The Palantir, Knowledge and Corruption</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Corey Mohler, <i>Existential Comics</i>, Monday, 6 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://existentialcomics.com/comic/175">The Council of Elrond</a>’</b><br />
Not sure if this comic is scholarly comparative critique, enlightened commentary, or just intelligent humour ...<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Saturday, 11 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/03/did-boromir-fall-rk-5iv813.html">Did Boromir fall? (RK 5.iv.813)</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Bruce G. Charlton, Friday, 10 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.dk/2017/03/the-real-true-and-wishful-thinking.html">The real, the true and wishful thinking</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 13 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/03/13/merry-thinks-about-being-overlooked-just-one-more-time/">Merry Thinks About “Being Overlooked” Just One More Time</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Monday, 13 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/03/13/first-meeting-in-march-3/">First meeting in March</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Jack Malvern, <i>The Times</i>, Thursday, 16 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/writers-who-fell-under-tolkiens-spell-3s8ctf7r2">Writers who fell under Tolkien's spell</a>’</b><br />
Requires registrstion ... (you get two articles per week for free)<br />
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<b>Joseph Pearce, Friday, 17 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2017/03/seer-tribute-vision-j-r-r-tolkien-joseph-pearce.html">Seer: A Tribute to the Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Stephen C. Winter, Monday, 20 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/03/20/the-hands-of-the-king-are-the-hands-of-a-healer-aragorn-in-the-houses-of-healing/">The Hands of the King are The Hands of a Healer. Aragorn in The Houses of Healing.</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Anna Smol, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/03/25/tolkien-reading-day-2-poems-to-memorize/">Tolkien Reading Day: 2 poems to memorize</a>’</b><br />
This brilliant commentary deserves mention here as well as in the Reading Day section. <br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan S. McIntosh, Tuesday, 21 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/christs-harrowing-of-hell-in-fog-on-the-barrow-downs/">Christ's Harrowing of Hell in “Fog on the Barrow-Downs”</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Maev Kennedy, <i>The Guardian</i>, Wednesday, 22 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/22/rare-ledgers-shoe-buying-habits-of-tolkien-waugh-ducker-son">Rare ledgers reveal shoe-buying habits of Tolkien and Waugh</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Friday, 24 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2017/03/wonder-wickedness-anatomy-good-evil-joseph-pearce.html">Wonder and Wickedness: The Anatomy of Good and Evil</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 27 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/03/fear-not-and-king-revealed-fr-2ix393.html">'Fear not' and μή φοβει̃σθε -- The King Revealed (FR 2.ix.393)</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Brenton Dickieson, Tuesday, 28 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/03/28/the-tolkien-letter-must-read/">The Tolkien Letter that Every Lover of Middle Earth Must Read</a>’</b> [sic]<br />
Referring to a 1954 letter to Naomi Mitchison (no. 144 in the published <i>Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien</i>).<br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Thursday, 30 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/03/30/of-beren-and-luthien/">Of Beren and Lúthien, Of Myth and the Worlds We Love</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Kris Swank, Wednesday, 1 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/3/">Approaches to Teaching Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Other Works (2015) edited by Leslie A. Donovan</a>’</b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/road-that-must-8641890" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/3950984942961732820.jpg?v=ox1eu8EtccurmkHLU8p2CFsDDq16LtuluRorUSJa7I0%3D" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Road That Must Be Trod</i><br />
Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<b>Dennis Wise, Saturday, 4 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2017/03/review-timothy-burnishs-high-towers-and.html">REVIEW: Timothy Burnish's <i>High Towers and Strong Places</i></a>’</b><br />
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<b>John Wm. Houghton, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Sunday, 12 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/4/">Laughter in Middle-earth: Humour in and around the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien (2016) edited by Thomas Honegger and Maureen F. Mann</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Sunday, 12 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/the-book-is-out-plus-extended-table-of-contents/">The book is out! (plus “extended” table of contents!)</a>’</b><br />
About Dimitra's new book (‘monograph’ in the proper vernacular), <i>Celtic Myth in Contemporary Children’s Fantasy</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Caroline Thain, <i>The Herts Advertiser</i>, Tuesday, 14 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/everyone-s-tolkien-about-harpenden-author-s-new-book-1-4931191">Everyone's Tolkien about Harpenden author's new book</a>’</b><br />
... I really – I mean, <i>really</i> – wish we could get rid of that bad talking / Tolkien pun ... As for Rowe's book, it remains on my list of books under consideration, awaiting some more qualified reviews.<br />
<br />
<b>Deidre A. Dawson, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Wednesday, 15 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/5/">Representations of Nature in Middle-earth (2016), edited by Martin Simonson</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Dennis Wise, Wednesday, 15 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2017/03/a-look-at-zaleskis-fellowship-literary.html">A look at the Zaleski's <i>The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings</i></a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 15 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/new-arrivals.html">New Arrivals (Chris Mitchell memorial)</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 17 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkiens-requiem.html">Tolkien's Requiem</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Saturday, 18 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2017/03/review-gospel-according-to-tolkien.html">Review: The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
I am very grateful for good people like Tom Hillman, who provides us with qualified reviews of Tolkien books, allowing us to decide not to bother .... Thank you, Tom!<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 20 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkienin-newsweek-special-issue.html">Tolkien in NEWSWEEK (special issue)</a>’</b><br />
It would seem that the paper issue is better than the excerpts posted ... perhaps one really should order a copy ...<br />
<br />
<b>Martin Simonson, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/6/">Critical Insights: The Hobbit (2016) edited by Stephen W. Potts</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/the-history-of-middle-earth-exploring-tolkiens-entire-legendarium/">The History of Middle-earth: Exploring Tolkien's entire ‘legendarium’</a>’</b><br />
Refer all your friends who have liked <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to this excellent article by Dimtra Fimi on moving on to Tolkien's wider legendarium.<br />
<br />
<b>Gergely Nagy, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Sunday, 26 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/7/">Tolkien in the New Century: Essays in Honor of Tom Shippey (2014), edited by John Wm. Houghton, Janet Brennan Croft, Nancy Martsch, John D. Rateliff, and Robin Anne Reid</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2017/03/beren-and-luthien-deluxe-edition-cover.html">"Beren and Luthien" Deluxe Edition Cover Art</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 27 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/the-worst-book-on-tolkien-ever-written.html">The Worst Book on Tolkien Ever Written?</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Anders Stenström, <i>Tolkienseminariet</i>, Tuesday, 28 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://tolkienseminariet.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/16-mars-2017/">16 mars 2017</a>’</b><br />
One of the few non-English blogs that I consistently include here are the reviews by the Swedish <i>Tolkienseminariet</i>. This time they have included a number of books about Tolkien in Italian that I have not found commented elsewehere. Though brief, the reviews published here are always of high quality and well worth reading, if you are at all capable of struggling through the Swedish language.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/1104601653019316:0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17361618_1104601653019316_1675573687562732444_n.jpg?oh=abef96b42d699aafef288fc337af62b4&oe=598BE97F" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gollum</i><br />Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 22 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/Doors-of-Durin-665132038">Doors of Durin</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 27 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/You-shall-not-Pass-666151234">You shall not Pass</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Matěj Čadil, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 27 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://matejcadil.deviantart.com/art/Greenwood-the-Great-666090016">Greenwood the Great</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 8 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/Trolls-667867548">Trolls</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Caleb Hines, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 10 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://efbailey.deviantart.com/art/Mithrandir-668294826">Mithrandir</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 10 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/Riddles-in-the-Dark-668197691">Riddles in the Dark</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Riana, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 11 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Farmer-Giles-of-Ham-A-Dragon-s-Tail-668420875">Farmer Giles of Ham - A Dragon' s Tail</a>’</b><br />
More Tolkien delicacies from Riana (you may remember my praise for her <i>Leaf by Niggle</i> illustrations in <a href="http://www.parmakenta.com/2016/11/tolkien-transactions-lxxiv.html">October</a>). It is marvellous to see a gifted artist focusing on some of Tolkien's smaller (and less known) stories. <br />
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<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 13 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/158357271465/tolkien-and-with-this-gandalf-the-bookplate">Gandalf Bookplate</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 13 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/A-Light-in-Mirkwood-668781614">A Light in Mirkwood</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Queensland Chris’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 16 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://queenslandchris.deviantart.com/art/Glamdring-the-Foe-Hammer-669423630">Glamdring the Foe- Hammer</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Bruce Criswell, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 21 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://bacriswell2.deviantart.com/art/the-hobbit-670282603">the hobbit</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Franziska Pietschmann, ‘Eirieniel’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 25 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://eirieniel.deviantart.com/art/Little-black-book-page-13-671010507">Little black book page 13</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Wednesday, 29 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/happy-yen-15-of-8612718">Happy Yén 15 of This Age! </a>’</b><br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 30 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Beren-671781150">Beren</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘conzitool’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 30 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://conzitool.deviantart.com/art/House-of-Elrond-Peredhil-ranger-671895202">House of Elrond - Peredhil ranger</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘conzitool’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 30 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://conzitool.deviantart.com/art/House-of-Elrond-Peredhil-warrior-671895664">House of Elrond - Peredhil warrior</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Eva Z., <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://mirachravaia.deviantart.com/art/Tinfang-Warble-in-autumn-672103856">Tinfang Warble in autumn</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/high-hope-of-8641753">The High Hope of the Elves</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/road-that-must-8641890">The Road That Must Be Trod</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 6 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/why-theoden-assemble-the-riders-of-rohan-in-dunharrow/">Why Did Théoden Assemble the Riders of Rohan in Dunharrow?</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Thursday, 16 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/what-is-the-meaning-of-umbar-the-city-name/">What is the Meaning of Umbar (the City Name)?</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Friday, 31 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/did-the-nazgul-have-physical-bodies/">Q: Did the Nazgûl Have Physical Bodies?</a>’</b><br />
This is one of the very few cases where I have to disagree firmly with Michael Martinez. The Ringwraiths (or <i>Nazgûl</i> or <i>Úlairi</i>) definitely did have physical bodies – very nearly everything about them as told in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> would have been impossible by the internal rules governing Tolkien's sub-created world if they did not. This is not to say that I disagree with everything Martinez writes – in fact I agree with most of it, except his conclusion, which I believe to be in error.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Alicia Kort, <i>Newsweek Special Edition</i>, Saturday, 4 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/laying-foundations-jrr-tolkiens-early-influence-563481">J.R.R. Tolkien's Love for His Wife Inspired 'The Lord of the Rings'</a>’</b><br />
The author of this article probably should have read a bit more by John Garth ... <br />
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<b>David Bratman, Sunday, 5 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.dk/2017/03/gob.html">gob</a>’</b><br />
... the literary collector ... :) <br />
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<b>James Ellis, <i>Newsweek Special Edition</i>, Sunday, 5 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/legacy-lifetime-jrr-tolkiens-extended-impact-563520">How J.R.R. Tolkien Redefined Fantasy Stories</a>’</b><br />
The <i>Newsweek Special Edition</i> articles continue to underwhelm me ...<br />
<br />
<b>James Ellis, <i>Newsweek Special Edition</i>, Sunday, 5 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/road-goes-ever-after-jrr-tolkiens-passing-563534">The Road Goes On – The Making Of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Silmarillion'</a>’</b><br />
Still not impressing, but not quite as underwhelming as the previous articles ...<br />
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<b>Dennis Wise, Tuesday, 7 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2017/03/critical-theory-comics-and-lotr.html">Critical Theory (comics!) and LoTR</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 7 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2017/03/wagner-and-tolkien-or-tolkien-and-wagner.html">Wagner and Tolkien or Tolkien and Wagner?</a>’</b><br />
If a good suggestion comes up, I might just be interested myself (particularly if it works for someone who dislikes Wagner's music).<br />
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<b>David Bratman, Tuesday, 14 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.dk/2017/03/tolkien-studied.html">Tolkien studied</a>’</b><br />
To most of this ... <i>sigh!</i> (and that's putting it mildly). To the last paragraph ... brilliant! <br />
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<b>David Bratman, Thursday, 16 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.livejournal.com/938412.html">victory over wordage</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Stubby the Rocket’, <i>TOR.com</i>, Monday, 20 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2017/03/20/you-can-simply-walk-into-mordor/">Boromir Lied to Us!</a>’</b><br />
Just for fun! (Jackson-Boromir, that is, not Tolkien's)<br />
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<h2><a name="09_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
I am still making my way through Tolkien's <i>Beowulf</i>, currently on the commentary. It is slow going as I only read through the occasional lunch break (when I don't have a companion to chat with during lunch), but I am nonetheless enjoying it, finding the discussions quite interesting.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/Elmenel/posts" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCUpzxmGeQ9CwmWRIBHgW-1QyC9UNwA73RR_1C3U4YSk7KrOx2aFly8hEwYVJlkA6y9IbywTfYKvtUv2kh_KDCphM_RCywAHgwOpzQuh0Nu06PycTNeBowgip9mAtGkrED0X3zUzS7JIJ/s320/Aware+of+High+Beauty_w450.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aware of High Beauty</i><br />Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2><a name="10_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b><i>IOL</i>, Friday, 25 May 2007, ‘<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/books/the-children-of-hurin---jrr-tolkien-948885">The Children Of Hurin - JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Sometimes odd old things appear in my feeds such as this 2007 review of <i>The Children of Húrin</i><br />
<br />
<b>Katie W, <i>The Fandomentals</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.thefandomentals.com/author/katie-w/"><i>Lord of the Rings</i> Re-read</a>’</b><br />
A blog on re-reading <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. Shared by Ernest Davis on the Mythopoeic Society mailing list (thank you!)<br />
<br />
<b>‘<a href="http://elenakukanova.com/">Elena Kukanova</a>’</b><br />
Elena Kukanova's personal web-site. You will have noticed my many inclusions of Ms. Kukanova's pictures in my arts-section, and here, then, is her personal web-site.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where something has been posted to the blog. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.<br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 4, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/2017_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2017</a> (all March posts are in Polish)<br />
<br />
Stephen C. Winter, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/">Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings</a>’<br />
<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/03/">Archive of posts from March 2017</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_sources">Sources</a></h2>
No new sources in March 2017<br />
<br />
For a full list of sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-6339204844306849912017-03-08T18:23:00.001+01:002017-03-08T18:23:37.441+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXXVIII<h2>February 2017</h2>
‘Busy as a bee’ is, I believe, the English expression that matches my life at the moment, though I will happily accept that ‘bee in the bonnet’ would be an appealing expression to apply to me ….<br />
<br />
I do hope that you will notice that I have changed the URL to my own blog, even if you read this on the Tolkien Society site. My blog can now be found as <a href="https://www.parmakenta.com">www.parmakenta.com</a> (something I was advised a long time ago to do, but which I haven't really got round to until now).<br />
<br />
However, despite this, I have managed to at least find a few interesting tidbits along during this month, which I hope you will enjoy perousing. As usual I claim nothing about newness, completeness and relevance to anyone, and I furthermore reject any other implication of responsibility :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://www.parmakenta.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_reading">10: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">11: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/02/to-the-memory-of-celebrian/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/celebrian_statue_700.jpg" width="450px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>To the memory of Celebrían</i><br />
by Graeme Skinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News and General Interest</a></h2>
<b>Travis Nicol, <i>Mass Live</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/01/snapchat_5_facts_about_jrr_tolkien_125_birthday.html">Snapchat: 5 facts about J.R.R. Tolkien on his 125th birthday</a>’</b><br />
Missed this one last month. Remarkable in that the five facts all seem to be factual – something that seems noteworthy in this day and age ...<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 2 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/02/tolkien-spotting-aaronovich.html">Tolkien Spotting (Aaronovitch)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 2 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/02/tolkiens-cobbler.html">Tolkien's Cobbler</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Buxton Advertiser</i>, Monday, 6 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-and-comedy/tolkien-tale-comes-to-the-stage-1-8368413">Tolkien tale comes to the stage</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 10 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/02/new-amoeba-named-after-gandalf/">New amoeba named after Gandalf</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Frank Jacobs, <i>Big Think</i>, Monday, 13 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/has-middle-earth-joined-the-eurozone">Suburb Designs Its Neighborhood around J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth</a>’</b> [sic]<br />
The Tolkien-inspired street names in the Dutch town of Geldrop are well known and links to the area on Google Maps have been shared numerous times, but this is nonetheless a nice walk-through of the neighbourhood with the Tolkienian names with references to other areas that have mined <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> for inspiration for street names.<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 16 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/02/tolkiens-oxford-home-up-for-sale/">Tolkien's Oxford home up for sale</a>’</b><br />
The sale of 76 Sandfield Road, where the Tolkiens lived from March 1953 to July 1968, has garnered quite a bit of interest this month ... <br />
See also <b>Giulia Crouch, <i>Daily Mail</i>, Saturday, 18 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4237954/JRR-Tolkien-s-house-sale-Oxford.html">Middle Earth in Middle England! Ordinary Oxford house that was JRR Tolkien's home for 15 years and played host to CS Lewis is on sale for £1.25million</a>’</b><br />
And <b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 18 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/02/tolkiens-house-for-sale.html">Tolkien's House For Sale</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dave Broome, <i>Staffordshire Newsletter</i>, Thursday, 16 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/lord-of-the-rings-author-jrr-tolkien-s-former-home-near-stafford-is-up-for-sale/story-30141735-detail/story.html">Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien's former home near Stafford is up for sale</a>’</b><br />
... but, oddly enough, not as much as the sale of Rock Cottage in Great Haywood, where it is claimed young J.R.R. Tolkien lived briefly with Edith in the winter of 1916-17 (not to be confused with Gypsy Green). Possibly the claim that Tolkien immortalised this particular cottage as the Cottage of Lost Play in his early work contributes to this claim, but I am <i>very</i> sceptical of this claim, as Tolkien wrote the poem, <i>You and Me and the Cottage of Lost Play</i> a full year before Edith first moved to Great Haywood with Jennie Grove, but also because this does not fit with the way Tolkien used geographical inspiration in his <i>Book of Lost Tales</i>.<br />
See also <b><i>Express and Star</i>, Sunday, 19 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.expressandstar.com/news/property/2017/02/19/jrr-tolkiens-former-staffordshire-cottage-up-for-sale/">JRR Tolkien's former Staffordshire cottage up for sale</a>’</b><br />
and <b>J.J. Nattrass, <i>The Mirror</i>, Monday, 20 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-jrr-tolkiens-375k-country-9853416">Inside JRR Tolkien's £375K country home which helped inspire writer's fantasy books</a>’</b><br />
and <b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 20 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/02/and-another-tolkien-house-on-sale.html">And Another Tolkien House on Sale</a>’</b><br />
and <b>Tom Burnett, <i>Stoke Sentinel</i>, Monday, 20 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-author-j-r-r-tolkien-s-rock-cottage-up-for-sale-in-great-haywood/story-30150151-detail/story.html">Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit author J.R.R Tolkien's Rock Cottage up for sale in Great Haywood</a>’</b><br />
and <b>Daniel Helen, Wednesday, 22 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/02/cottage-of-lost-play-up-for-sale/">“Cottage of Lost Play” up for sale</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jamie Lovett, <i>Comicbook</i>, Tuesday, 21 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://comicbook.com/dc/2017/02/21/legends-of-tomorrow-jrr-tolkien/">Legends Of Tomorrow Season Finale Will Feature JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Guessing from the number of outlets that have carried these news (see a couple of examples below), I would appear to be a rare creature not to know what <i>Legends of Tomorrow</i> is (beyond what can be guessed from the article). I am sure we'll hear more about this once this season finale is published … or aired or broadcast or whatever these things are these days :-)<br />
<b>Natalie Abrams, <i>Entertainment Weekly</i>, Wednesday, 22 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://ew.com/tv/2017/02/22/legends-tomorrow-jrr-tolkien-finale/"><i>Legends of Tomorrow</i> adds J.R.R. Tolkien in finale</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jenna Anderson, <i>Comicbook</i>, Thursday, 2 March 2017, ‘<a href="http://comicbook.com/dc/2017/03/03/legends-of-tomorrow-02x15-fellowship-of-the-spear-synopsis/">The Legends of Tomorrow Meet J.R.R. Tolkien in "Fellowship of the Spear" Synopsis</a>’</b><br />
Apparently the show's main cast will meet a young Tolkien during the Battle of the Somme, which is at least a correct setting. Now I wonder if they will get the moustache right ... :-)<br />
<br />
<b>Adam Davis, <i>Wallowa County Chieftain</i>, Tuesday, 21 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.wallowa.com/opinion/20170221/the-state-of-oregons-budget-explained-in-tolkien-analogy">The state of Oregon’s budget explained in Tolkien analogy</a>’</b><br />
Another oddity to add to the pile tagged ‘Political (ab)uses of Tolkien’.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>No reports or comments on past events</u></b><br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 March)<br />
<b>25 March 2017, Worldwide, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2017/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme is ‘Poetry and Songs in Tolkien's Fiction’<br />
<br />
<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/30/cfp-romances-in-middle-earth/">CFP: Romances in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>21–23 April 2017, Warwick Arms Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2017/">Springmoot and AGM 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
Geoffrey B. Elliott, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://talesaftertolkien.blogspot.com/2017/01/kalamazoo-2017-updates.html">Kalamazoo 2017: Updates</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
Curtis, <i>Signum University</i>, Monday, 6 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://signumuniversity.org/news/preliminary-mythmoot-program-now-available/">Preliminary Mythmoot Program Now Available!</a>’<br />
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<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”<br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
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<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>10–13 August 2017, California State University, East Bay, Hayward Campus, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.omentielva.com/">Omentielva Otsea: The Seventh International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien's Invented Languages</a>’, Omentielva</b><br />
<br />
<b>21–24 September 2017, St. Anthony's College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2017/">Oxonmoot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2017/02/breaking-camp-fellowship-of-ring.html#.WLx8m9IrKHs" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfebx3ZzmQJH_Vt7MtbbcrtGsKEcXXTMKG41zv1cfEAwzPobrnA0iZPX2eR1YLkUCytPdtenwqLOtiX-ODZu_bwHiZnNo1AlPo-WiAQru1V68JS2HOTdWODkBDDZoAfWKfSJ__VFZl84/s1600/DSC_0012+%25283%2529newc.jpg" width="250px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Breaking Camp The Fellowship Of The Ring</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">“J.R.R. Tolkien” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Tolkien_Studies">“Tolkien Studies” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu February (probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Unsorted. Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:<br />
<b>Lars Konzack, in Wolf (ed) <i>Revisiting Imaginary Worlds: A Subcreation Studies Anthology</i> , ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31460357/The_Subcreation_of_J._R._R._Tolkien_s_Middle-earth_and_How_It_Became_Transmedial_Culture">The Subcreation of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and How it Became Transmedial Culture</a>’</b><br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, <i>Tolkien Studies</i>, Volume 13, 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31629863/The_Cauldron_at_the_Outer_Edge_Tolkien_on_the_Oldest_English_Fairy_Tales">The Cauldron at the Outer Edge: Tolkien on the Oldest English Fairy Tales</a>’</b><br />
<b>Christine Chism, in Chance (ed.) <i>Tolkien the Medievalist</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31211602/Middle_Earth_the_Middle_ages_and_the_Aryan_Nation_Tolkien_the_Medievalist.pdf">Middle Earth, the Middle ages, and the Aryan Nation</a>’</b><br />
<b>Lisa Chinellato, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31657468/Nostalgia_and_homesickness_a_manifestation_of_the_yearning_for_a_better_primitive_life_in_J.R.R_Tolkien_s_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_">Nostalgia and homesickness: a manifestation of the yearning for a better, ‘primitive’ life in Tolkien's <i>Lord of the Rings</i></a>’</b><br />
<b>Austin Freeman, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31491180/Flesh_World_Devil_The_Nature_of_Evil_in_Middle-earth">Flesh, World, Devil: The Nature of Evil in Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
<b>Amanda Votta, <i>Harvard, Anthropology</i>, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30359335/Linguistic_History_Language_Myths_and_L%C3%A1maty%C3%A1ve">Linguistic History, Language Myths and <i>Láamatyáve</i></a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Drout, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://wheatoncollege.academia.edu/MichaelDrout">List of Documents</a>’</b><br />
As also last month, Michael Drout has uploaded a number of documents, many of which are from various issues of <i>Tolkien Studies</i> (e.g. own articles and reviews, biographies etc.). And of course, there are many non-Tolkien documents (e.g. on medievalism) that could also be of interest to the readers here.<br />
<br />
<b>Séamas Ó Sionnaigh, Wednesday, 8 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://ansionnachfionn.com/2017/02/08/tom-shippey-discusses-jrr-tolkiens-beowulf-translation-in-three-video-lectures/">Tom Shippey Discusses JRR Tolkien’s Beowulf Translation In Three Video Lectures</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Drout, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Thursday, 16 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30918287/Tolkien_s_Creation_of_the_Impression_of_Depth">Tolkien's Creation of the Impression of Depth</a>’</b><br />
This is an article from <i>Tolkien Studies</i> (vol. 11, 2014) uploaded to Academia.edu. Full citation: “Drout, M. D. C. & Hitotsubashi, N. & Scavera, R. "Tolkien's Creation of the Impression of Depth." <i>Tolkien Studies</i>, vol. 11 no. 11, 2014, pp. 167-211.”<br />
<br />
<b>Johanna H. Brooke, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 21 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/1/">Building Middle-earth: an Exploration into the uses of Architecture in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
An interesting topic. Browsing the article briefly, it would seem that Brooke only refers to a couple of Tolkien's own illustrations of Middle-earth architecture, which is rather a pity as there is much to be gleaned from looking at his own drawings (not least with respect to Elvish architecture, which most illustrators seem to get ‘wrong’ in the sense that their images do not match Tolkien's conception).<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Flowers, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 21 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/2/">Hobbits?...And what may they be?</a>’</b><br />
While most seem to accept Tolkien's statements regarding the ‘invention’ of the word <i>Hobbit</i>, discussions are still ongoing as to the possible subconscious influence of having met the word previously and forgotten this. Such an idea naturally requires investigating any such previously recorded uses (and, presumably, any use of words that were suffiently alike, phonetically) and assessing these carefully.<br />
The appearance of the word in the Denham tracts (as the name of some creature of folk belief) has been made much of, but hobbits have also seen other uses before Tolkien's, including for metrological purposes (I believe I have seen descriptions of hobbits of both weight and volume …). Whether Flowers adds anything substantially new to this debate will require a more detailed reading than I have found time for, but he does appear not to address what is, to me, the more interesting question: why? While it is certainly possible – perhaps even likely – that Tolkien's inspiration was founded on a submerged and forgotten childhood memory, I lack the compelling reason to be interested. Even if Flowers is right in his guesswork about Tolkien's inspiration (and I can think of no way to falsify or prove his conjecture), I would like to understand what this would tell us about Tolkien and / or his work? How should I view or appreciate or understand Tolkien or his sub-creation, the Hobbits, any differently? Even in the slightest?<br />
<br />
<b>Douglas A. Anderson, Friday, 24 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2017/02/tolkien-scholars-write-fantasy.html">Tolkien Scholars Write Fantasy!</a>’</b><br />
The post may, as Doug Anderson says, be ‘way overdue’, but it is received with thanks nonetheless. It is highly interesting to see how many Tolkien scholars that have tried their hand with fantasy (I had no idea of most of these). Of course it raises a question of causes and effects – particularly of whether there is something about studying Tolkien that makes you try your own hand at sub-creation and fairy-story?<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Giovanni Carmine Costabile, Thursday, 2 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.facebook.com/desiderio.sconfinato/posts/10211359859062663">Note concerning the Influence of Tolkien's scholarship on Arthurian Studies</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan S. McIntosh, Tuesday, 7 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/the-metaphysics-of-coercion-in-tolkiens-angelology/">The Metaphysics of Coercion in Tolkien's Angelology</a>’</b><br />
I dare say that more could be said about the bodies of the Ainur (much more, in fact – and not just from a <i>Ardalogical</i> point of view), but I think this is very perceptive – particularly the description of the bodies of the Ainur as ‘ultimately a kind of “machine”’.<br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Saturday, 11 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/first-in-february/">First in February</a>’</b><br />
Spending their reading discussions in February on the last two chapters of book V of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> (see also the following post, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/02/28/last-meeting-in-february-3/">Last meeting in February</a>’ from the 25<sup>th</sup>).<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Friday, 10 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/02/some-thoughts-on-structure-and-meaning.html">Some Thoughts on Structure and Meaning in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
So far mostly a collection of points about <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> with a clear indication that they are somehow interconnected, and that these interconnections are worth pursuing. I share Hillman's implicit idea that pursuing these interconnections may very well be a good path for some real insight into one of the most enigmatic aspects of Tolkien's conception: the nature of the Master Ring and not least how free-willed creatures relate to it. I hope Hillman will pursue these ideas, and I look forward to following his thoughts. <br />
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Monday, 13 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/reading-in-lord-of-the-rings-part-i/">Reading in 'Lord of the Rings': Part I</a>’</b><br />
Some ruminations on the word ‘read’ as used by Tolkien in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>– particularly where he uses it in the older sense of ‘counsel‘. In such situations, I tend to turn to modern Danish cognates, where we have the word <i>råd</i> meaning ‘counsel‘ (the Danish word for modern English ‘read’ is unrelated, <i>læse</i>), and <i>rede</i> meaning ‘ready’ (however, <i>vildrede</i> means puzzled, in doubt, at a loss – <i>unræd</i> in the sense applied to Æthered). <br />
It is very curious how Tolkien often (well, not on every page, but still far, far more than any other author, I know) does this: uses modern words in an older sense without distinguishing it from the places where he uses it in the modern sense (thus already in the first chapter, we have Bilbo and Gandalf discussing who would <i>read</i> Bilbo's book). It is almost as if Tolkien believed that at least native speakers of English would understand the older sense without knowing it ... wait! He did believe something of that kind, didn't he? In <i>J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century</i>, Tom Shippey wrote:<br />
“.... for Tolkien was the holder of several highly personal if not heretical views about language. He thought that people, and perhaps as a result of their confused linguistic history especially English people, could detect historical strata in language without knowing how they did it.”. <br />
Also see <a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/reading-lord-of-the-rings-part-ii/">part II</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Friday, 17 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/the-view-from-the-tower/">The View from the Tower</a>’</b><br />
Building on ideas from the previous post, Cook moves on to towers and the view of Faërie that humans might get from an Elven-built tower, comparing this experience to the enchantment of a good fairy-story. This series of posts attempts to tie a lot of ideas together, and I think I will have to think it through at a slower pace (and probably read through them again) before trying to figure out what I think in more detail (but I do find them interesting enough that such an endeavour will be welcome).<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Sunday, 19 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/02/loren-eiseley-on-dunsany-and-tolkien.html">Loren Eiseley on Dunsany — and Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
I love these findings / references – the more obscure the better! They are interesting simply by existing, but often they also provide new perspectives. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Olorin-661996676" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img04.deviantart.net/29ef/i/2017/037/c/d/olorin_by_peet-day4vwk.jpg" width="250px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Olórin</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Dennis Drabelle, <i>The Record</i>, Friday, 3 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/7098030-j-r-r-tolkien-s-war-inspires-grandson-s-novel/">J.R.R. Tolkien's war inspires grandson's novel</a>’</b><br />
We have seen a number of articles about Simon Tolkien and his newest book, <i>No Man's Land</i>. I am a bit doubtful about the value of this with respect to his grandfather. Simon Tolkien was fourteen when his grandfather died in 1973 – hardly an age when he would have gotten to discuss serious matters of life and literature with his grandfather, but he has, of course, had access to primary sources succh as his own father, Christopher Tolkien. In the end, however, I would advocate that any interest in Simon Tolkien and <i>No Man's Land</i> should be based in their own literary merit and not in his family relationship with J.R.R. Tolkien, as we are unlikely to learn anything about the grandfather by reading the grandson's books. See also the following articles for a small sampling ...<br />
<b>Michael Mercshel, <i>Dallas News</i>, Tuesday, 7 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books/2017/02/07/simon-tolkien-will-dallas-friday-talks-grandson-lord-rings-creator">Simon Tolkien, in Dallas on Friday, will talk about being the grandson of 'Lord of the Rings' creator</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jay Strafford, <i>Richmond Times – Dispatch</i>, Saturday, 11 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.richmond.com/entertainment/books/article_b420759f-168d-56b8-8e66-19d9b65f6321.html">Book review (Fiction): 'No Man's Land' by Simon Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bruce Charlton, Monday, 6 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/02/review-of-return-of-king-cartoon-movie.html">Review of The Return of the King cartoon movie 1980</a>’</b><br />
Personally, I would reserve the word ‘horrible’ for this version and use less negative wording for Ralph Bakshi's experimental 1978 animated version, but tastes vary, and until we get a film version of one of Tolkien's stories that actually does capture the themes and moods of Tolkien's work and world (as does the stage adaptation of <i>Leaf by Niggle</i> by the Puppet State Theatre), I suppose there is no point in arguing degrees of bad.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Tolkienseminariet</i>, Monday, 6 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://tolkienseminariet.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/19-november-2015/">19 november 2015</a>’</b><br />
Tolkienseminariet is a Swedish group that reviews a large number of Tolkien books and articles with great insight. I therefore refer to their minutes even though these are published in Swedish, as these are always very interesting. Their <a href="https://tolkienseminariet.wordpress.com/2017/02/">postings in February</a> have covered the period up to and including November 2016.<br />
<br />
<b>Thomas Van, <i>Catholic Culture</i>, Tuesday, 14 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otc.cfm?id=1450">Tolkien the modernist: a glimpse of a unique creative process</a>’</b><br />
In the main a review of the excellent <i>Ring of Words</i> by Gilliver, Marshall and Weiner, but spiced up with some additional commentary (unfortunately it is not entirely clear when the author stops paraphrasing <i>The Ring of Words</i> and starts on his own reflections).<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 17 February 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/02/beren-and-luthien-publication-delayed/">Beren and Lúthien publication delayed</a>’</b><br />
Alas ….<br />
<br />
<b>Jeremy Edmonds, <i>Tolkien Collector's Guide</i>, Friday, 17 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2655&forum=12">Newsweek, 1954 - Fellowship cartoon</a>’</b><br />
A cartoon from <i>Newsweek</i> from 1954, illustrating a scene from the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 6 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Olorin-661996676">Olórin</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 14 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Aegnor-and-Andreth-663500091">Aegnor and Andreth</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Thursday, 16 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-storm-is-coming-hand-of-saruman.html#.WLxVfNIrKHs">A Storm Is Coming "The Hand of Saruman"...</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Saturday, 18 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2017/02/breaking-camp-fellowship-of-ring.html#.WLx8m9IrKHs">Breaking Camp The Fellowship Of The Ring</a>’</b><br />
With a link to a collaboration with composer Tim Janis – a video with imagery by Joe Gilronan and music by Tim Janis.<br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, Saturday, 25 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2017/02/to-the-memory-of-celebrian/">To the memory of Celebrían</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Arwendë Luhtiénë’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 28 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://arwendeluhtiene.deviantart.com/art/Eriador-Towards-the-Misty-Mountains-666373982">Eriador Towards the Misty Mountains</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Wednesday, 15 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/02/15/who-were-the-high-kings-and-what-realms-did-they-rule/">Who Were the High Kings and What Realms Did They Rule?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Andrew Higgins, Saturday, 18 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-look-ahead.html">2017 A Look Ahead</a>’</b><br />
Andrew Higgins takes look ahead at his planned Tolkienian activities in 2017 …<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
Whether because I have been exceedingly busy and unable to follow discussions much this month, or because there really has been a dearth of good discussions, I don't know. Still, there are some very interesting points in the discussion below:<br />
<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, , ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?79031-A-Brief-Defence-of-The-Children-of-Hu%26%23769%3Brin">A Brief Defence of The Children of Húrin</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
<b>David Russell Mosley, <i>Patheos</i>, Tuesday, 14 February 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/elflandletters/2017/02/14/rolling-english-road-rome-j-r-r-tolkien-c-s-lewis-g-k-chesterton-stratford-caldecott-helped-make-catholic/">My Rolling English Road to Rome: How J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and Stratford Caldecott Helped Make Me Catholic</a>’</b><br />
Only little help, it seems, but help. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Michael Flowers, ‘<a href="http://tolkienineastyorkshire.co.uk/index.html">Tolkien in East Yorkshire</a>’</b><br />
What is says, really. A web-site that collects Michael's extensive knowledge about Tolkien's relations to East Yorkshire, based both on his own research and that of others. Highly recommended!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-storm-is-coming-hand-of-saruman.html#.WLxVfNIrKHs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF9-4AgDdMhbAuF09_eq0ve6RhlsDLzcYhmF5V-43fIey65_UMev1jTOdPUA1IxtyidNW7mrsO8CqRhXznSobLDZHWg_My5RaHqIDe8eCsmSZKfex2a6CkM2XEhokXZnMb-LqUh5CYfg/s1600/fineartjpg.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Storm Is Coming "The Hand of Saruman"...</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.<br />
<br />
Douglas A. Anderson, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/">Tolkien and Fantasy</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Andrew Higgens, ‘<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/">Wotan's Musings</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 4, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Grey Havens Group, ‘<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.org/">The Grey Havens Group</a>’<br />
<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.org/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
Stephen C. Winter, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/">Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings</a>’<br />
<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/02/">Archive of posts from February 2017</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in February 2017<br />
Stephen C. Winter, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/">Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings</a>’<br />
Stephen C. Winter's weekly ‘homilies’ based on Tolkien's work (mainly <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>). Many of these are a bit too moralising for my tastes – or, you might say, they do not offer enough actual insight in the book (this is not exactly the applicability vs. allegory distinction, but a related one).
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="https://www.parmakenta.com/p/sources.html">https://www.parmakenta.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-20615909596270239252017-02-08T00:25:00.000+01:002017-02-08T00:58:38.611+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXXVII<h2>January 2017</h2>
These monthly introductions have become an outlet for my feelings of having too much to do – to some extent as an explanation of delays and reduced commentary. As can be seen, I am now (albeit slowly) catching up with respect to the delays, which is certainly a relief (and due to a general lightening of loads compared to the latter half of 2016). The commentary is still light as I am unable to read through all items (and a number of them I simply include because they look interesting), and this is likely to continue for quite a while. <br />
<br />
Therefore I continue to make disclaimers regarding the newness, completeness, relevance, agreement or veracity (or any other implication of responsibility) of anything on this list, individually and as a whole :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a>
(Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following
headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_birthday">1: The Birthday Toast</a><br />
<a href="#02_news">2: News</a><br />
<a href="#03_events">3: Events</a><br />
<a href="#04_scholar">4: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#05_comments">5: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#06_books">6: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#07_art">7: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#08_ardalogy">8: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#09_other">9: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#10_discussions">10: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#11_reading">11: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#12_websites">12: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#13_blogs">13: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#14_sources">14: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/luthien/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/luthien_gold.jpg" width="480px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lúthien</i><br />
by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_birthday">The Birthday Toast</a></h2>
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 13 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/how-the-world-celebrated-tolkiens-birthday/">How the world celebrated Tolkien's Birthday</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Tolkienists</b><br />
<b>Valdis, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Monday, 2 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/01/02/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Amy H. Sturgis, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com/588204.html">Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/01/happy-tolkien-day.html">Happy Tolkien Day</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/01/03/toasting-tolkiens/">Toasting Tolkien's 125th Birthday #TolkienBirthdayToast</a>’</b><br />
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<b>James Moffat, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://atolkienistperspective.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Thursday, 5 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2017/01/05/a-brace-of-tolkien/">A Brace of Tolkien Posts (125th Birthday Week)</a>’</b><br />
A list of Tolkien-related posts on his blog (so, Tolkien posts come in braces ... these things are good to know ;) ).<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Various</b><br />
<b>Russ Burlingame, <i>Comicbook</i>, Sunday, 1 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://comicbook.com/2017/01/03/remembering-jrr-tolkien-on-his-birthday/">Remembering JRR Tolkien On His Birthday</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Duncan MacLaren, <i>BBC Radio 4</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08891x8">Prayer for the Day</a>’</b><br />
A nice enough little prayer based on Tolkien's <i>Leaf by Niggle</i> (though I am favourably disposed towards the final sentiment of the prayer, I am not sure I agree with the way he comes from <i>Niggle</i> to this sentiment).<br />
<br />
<b>Felix Schlagwein, <i>Deutsche Welle</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.dw.com/en/jrr-tolkien-celebrating-an-unusual-life/a-36988803">J.R.R. Tolkien - celebrating an unusual life</a>’</b><br />
One of the better birhtday articles on Tolkien here.<br />
<br />
<b>Laura Rebello, <i>International Business Times</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jrr-tolkiens-125th-birthday-check-out-lord-rings-authors-biggest-celebrity-fans-1599028">JRR Tolkien's 125th birthday: Check out The Lord Of The Rings author's biggest celebrity fans</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Clark Mindock, <i>International Business Times</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/jrr-tolkien-birthday-quotes-facts-about-hobbit-lord-rings-author-2468411">JRR Tolkien Birthday: Quotes And Facts About The 'Hobbit' And 'Lord Of The Rings' Author</a>’</b><br />
The so-called ‘facts’ should have been reviewed more thoroughly, but at least the quotations seem to be OK (the pen & beak quotation is at a hearsay level, but at least we have someone claiming that Tolkien said so), though I haven't verified all of them for word order, punctuation etc.<br />
<br />
<b>Kate Samuelson, <i>Time</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://time.com/4620477/tolkien-125-birthday-bilbo/">J. R. R. Tolkien Fans Are Toasting the Lord of the Rings Author on His 125th Birthday</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Simonetta Dibbern, <i>Deutschlandfunk</i>, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/vor-125-jahren-der-britische-schriftsteller-j-r-r-tolkien.871.de.html?dram:article_id=375283">Vor 125 Jahren: Der britische Schriftsteller J.R.R. Tolkien geboren</a>’</b><br />
In German, but certainly one of the better articles!<br />
<br />
<b>Books News Desk, <i>Broadway World</i>, Wednesday, 4 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks/article/J-R-R-Tolkien-Fans-Celebrate-125th-Birthday-With-a-Global-Toast-20170104">J. R. R. Tolkien Fans Celebrate 125th Birthday With a Global Toast</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Illyana Zeski, <i>The Pierce Pioneer</i>, Monday, 23 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://piercepioneernews.com/10954/ae/j-r-r-tolkien-birthday/">J.R.R. Tolkien Birthday</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/gallery.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.parmaeldalieva.com/images/TsvetelinaKrumovaElmenel_TB125%20.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Happy Birthday from Elmenel</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="02_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Ben Hooper, <i>UPI</i>, Friday, 6 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2017/01/06/Great-grandmas-St-Anthony-figurine-turns-out-to-be-Lord-of-the-Rings-elf/3991483721742/">Great-grandma's St. Anthony figurine turns out to be 'Lord of the Rings' elf</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Nan Spowart, <i>The National</i>, Tuesday, 10 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.thenational.scot/culture/15012083.JRR_Tolkien___s_epic_The_Lord_of_the_Rings__depicts_the_horrors_of_the_trenches_/">JRR Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings 'depicts the horrors of the trenches'</a>’</b><br />
One of many articles taking its outset in a book by a Simon Tolkien, <i>No Man's Land</i>, in which Simon Tolkien uses inspiration from his famous grandfather's life. This article is fairly representative in both its fallacies and its correct information (don't accept any statement without verifying it).<br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 11 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/25th-anniversary-of-sauron-defeated/">25th anniversary of <i>Sauron Defeated</i></a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Arwen Kester, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Thursday, 12 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/01/12/middle-earth-news-celebrates-6-years-today/">Middle-earth News Celebrates 6 Years Today!</a>’</b><br />
Congratulations!<br />
<br />
<b>Larry Eskridge, <i>Canton Daily Ledger</i>, Saturday, 14 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.cantondailyledger.com/news/20170114/celebrating-author-of-20th-century">Celebrating the author of the 20th Century</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Kristina Lazzara, <i>Marquette Wire</i>, Tuesday, 24 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://marquettewire.org/3963435/news/marquette-purchases-rare-first-edition-of-the-hobbit/">Marquette purchases rare first edition of ‘The Hobbit’</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Cité internationale de la Tapisserie</i>, Wednesday, 25 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.cite-tapisserie.fr/en/node/681/">Aubusson weaves Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Wow! Just <em>WOW!!</em><br />
See also the <a href="http://www.cite-tapisserie.fr/sites/default/files/2017-01-25_press-release-aubusson-weaves-tolkien-ENGL-approved_0.pdf">PDF press release</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/tolkien-society-achieves-highest-ever-membership/">Tolkien Society achieves highest ever membership</a>’</b><br />
Yay! 1,287 members! Well done! No doubt the conscious on-line presence of the Tolkien Society over the past few years (e.g. with a Facebook Group with more than 25,000 members) is a strong contributing factor to the growth of the society dedicated to “educat[ing] the public in, and promote research into, the life and works” of J.R.R. Tolkien.<br />
Congratulations to our Tolkien Society and not least to our trustees, chaired by Shaun Gunner! Well done!<br />
<br />
<b>Maria Sestito, <i>Napa Valley Register</i>, Saturday, 28 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-library-celebrates-all-things-tolkien/article_196cd549-bead-569f-be32-b8de74f26567.html">Napa Library celebrates all things Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 29 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/nominations-open-for-the-tolkien-society-awards-2017/">Nominations open for The Tolkien Society Awards 2017</a>’</b><br />
Yay! Who else are making lists :) Looking at the <a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/society/awards/">list of previous winners</a>, I think it is about time we nominate the outstanding work by Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond for the “Outstanding Contribution” award! But as for the other awards, I still haven't made up my mind :) <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>No reports or comments on past events</u></b><br />
See the special <a href="#01_birthday">section on the Birthday Toast</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 January)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>25 March 2017, Worldwide, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2017/">Tolkien Reading Day 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme is ‘Poetry and Songs in Tolkien's Fiction’<br />
<br />
<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/30/cfp-romances-in-middle-earth/">CFP: Romances in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>21–23 April 2017, Warwick Arms Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2017/">Springmoot and AGM 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
Geoffrey B. Elliott, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://talesaftertolkien.blogspot.com/2017/01/kalamazoo-2017-updates.html">Kalamazoo 2017: Updates</a>’<br />
Anna Smol, Saturday, 28 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2017/01/28/kalamazoo-tolkien-symposium-and-icms-conference/">Kalamazoo: Tolkien Symposium and ICMS Conference</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
Curtis, <i>Signum University</i>, Tuesday, 22 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/news/are-you-ready-for-mythmoot-iv/">Are you ready for Mythmoot IV?</a>’<br />
Tom Hillman, Thursday, 5 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/mythmoot-iv-new-hope.html">Mythmoot IV -- A New Hope</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”<br />
Anna Milon, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 6 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/12/call-for-papers-tolkien-society-seminar-2017/">Call for papers: Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’<br /><br />
Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 31 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/book-now-for-the-tolkien-society-seminar-2017/">Book now for The Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>10–13 August 2017, California State University, East Bay, Hayward Campus, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.omentielva.com/">Omentielva Otsea: The Seventh International Conference on J.R.R. Tolkien's Invented Languages</a>’, Omentielva</b><br />
<br />
<b>21–24 September 2017, St. Anthony's College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2017/">Oxonmoot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/1061932037286278:0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/16112586_1061932037286278_3017999735407549085_o.jpg?oh=a12c39f6d23768c4cc6909ab55dfa484&oe=594A9234" width="360px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fellowship of the Ring</i><br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="04_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">“J.R.R. Tolkien” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
<b>‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Tolkien_Studies">“Tolkien Studies” on Academia.edu</a>’</b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu in December & January (probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Unsorted. Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:
<b>Paul Romney, <i>Lembas Katern</i> Iss. 76, pp. 101-114, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30206200/A_Particular_Phase_of_History_Time_Travel_Temporal_Ambiguity_and_the_Pattern_of_History_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">A Particular Phase of History: Time Travel, Temporal Ambiguity, and the Pattern of History in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<b>Robert Tally, in <i>Tolkien in the New Century: Essays in Honor of Tom Shippey</i>, pp. 41-56, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30287345/Places_Where_the_Stars_are_Strange_Fantasy_and_Utopia_in_Tolkiens_Middle-earth">Places Where the Stars are Strange: Fantasy and Utopia in Tolkien's Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
<b>Lars Schmeink, <i>Participations: Journal of Audience & Reception Studies</i>, Vol. 13, Iss. 2, pp. 430-439, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30362445/How_Bilbo_Lost_His_Innocence_Media_Audiences_and_the_Evaluation_of_The_Hobbit_as_a_Childrens_Film">How Bilbo Lost His Innocence: Media Audiences and the Evaluation of The Hobbit as a 'Children's Film'</a>’</b><br />
<b>Boris Gorelik, <i>Mallorn</i> Iss. 55, pp. 5-10, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30914032/_Africa_always_moves_me_deeply_Tolkien_in_Bloemfontein">‘Africa… always moves me deeply’: Tolkien in Bloemfontein</a>’</b><br />
<b>Dina Khapaeva, chapter in <i>The Celebration of Death in Contemporary Culture</i>, pp. 81-85, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/31099875/The_Hobbit_the_Monsters_Godfather">The Hobbit, the Monster's Godfather</a>’</b><br />
<b>Giovanni Costabilie, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30261185/Whose_Salvation_True_Immortality_Tolkiens_Elves_and_the_Fate_of_the_Artist">Whose Salvation? True Immortality, Tolkien's Elves and the Fate of the Artist</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Drout, <i>Academia.edu</i>, ‘<a href="https://wheatoncollege.academia.edu/MichaelDrout">List of Documents</a>’</b><br />
Michael Drout has uploaded a number of documents, many of which are from various issues of <i>Tolkien Studies</i> (e.g. own articles and reviews, biographies etc.). And of course, there are many non-Tolkien documents (e.g. on medievalism) that could also be of interest to the readers here.<br />
<br />
<b>Martina Juričková, Saturday, 24 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://thefellowshipoftheking.net/2016/12/24/a-journey-of-virtues-reflections-of-advent-ideas-in-the-lord-of-the-rings/">A Journey of Virtues: Reflections of Advent Ideas in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Anahit Behrooz, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 8 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/01/good-versus-evil-representations-monstrous-thirteenth-century-anglo-french-apocalypse-manuscripts/">Good versus Evil: Representations of the Monstrous in Thirteenth Century Anglo-French Apocalypse Manuscripts</a>’</b><br />
An article from <i>Forum: University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Journal of Culture and the Arts</i>, Issue 22 (2016). I am not entirely sure how this can be brought to relate more directly to Tolkien, but I was struck both by the concept of the monsters and by the sentence in the introduction, where Behrooz speaks of possibility of reading the Revelation “as an allegory or embodiment of the dichotomy or ‘near dualism’ of good and evil”, which seems to be to contrast somewhat with the Thomistic understanding of evil as an absence of good (I believe that lsquo;privation of good’ is the technical term).<br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 17 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2017/01/the-later-quenta-silmarillion-a-readers-map/">The Later Quenta Silmarillion: A Reader's Map</a>’</b><br />
An excellent work to help readers piece together something approaching a continuous (albeit far from consistent) narration of the Later Quenta Silmarillion. Goering stresses the constantly evolving nature of the texts (something that is also true of the published works, which were, in many ways, still ‘works in progress’ despite having been published), and his solutions also clearly show that there is no one right way to read these texts (though there may be ways that are wrong).<br />
<br />
<b>James Graham-Campbell, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Monday, 23 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/01/the-vikings-in-orkney/">The Vikings in Orkney</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Natalia Klimczak, Friday, 27 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/v-m-inen-finnish-deity-and-hero-who-inspired-tolkien-create-gandalf-and-tom-bombadil-021195">Väinämöinen: The Finnish Deity and Hero Who Inspired Tolkien to Create Gandalf and Tom Bombadil</a>’</b><br />
An introduction to the idea of Tolkienian inspirations from the Finnish <i>Kalevala</i> cycle, seemlingly designed with readers of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> in mind – even if the specifics of the claims may be new also to readers familiar with <i>The Story of Kullervo</i> and other <i>Kalevala</i>-references in Tolkien. I could have wished that it went just one or two steps further – just naming the particular singing quality of all the Tom Bombadil says, and merely stating that Gandalf has some echoes of Väinämöinen feels a bit too superficial to me.
<br />
<br />
<b>Angela Marion Smith, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 29 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2017/01/king-aethelstan-english-continental-scandinavian-traditions-tenth-thirteenth-centuries/">King Æthelstan in the English, Continental and Scandinavian Traditions of the Tenth to the Thirteenth Centuries</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2017/01/once-upon-shire.html#.WJdr7tIrKHs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O9dSkG_XLmqRXzoSBNrwXTmVNsEatFJieqEoUSnkKFYjgPCs0PnbR2Kc-JGHY4Z3WdeEMaU2WFO8H-yZ0C06P7_CvhH9Sx2uXErbAqotNSjiCaDysYKOtKkovqJAcFLdmatMugvvrQc/s1600/DSC_0002fart.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Once Upon A Shire</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="05_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Steuard Jensen, January 2017, ‘<a href="http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/HurinBridge.html">A Rings-Reader's Bridge to <i>The Children of Húrin</i></a>’</b><br />
An excellent guide for a reader of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to get an idea of what's going on in <i>The Children of Húrin</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>T.J. West, Friday, 6 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2017/01/06/reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-journey-to-the-cross-roads-the-stairs-of-cirith-ungol-and-shelobs-lair/">Reading “The Lord of the Rings”: “Journey to the Cross-Roads,” “The Stairs of Cirith Ungol,” and “Shelob’s Lair”</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 8 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/no-laughing-matter-ring-and-quality-of.html">No Laughing Matter: the Ring and the Quality of the Dúnedain</a>’</b><br />
... and yet humour is involved, as Hillman shows here. <br />
<br />
<b>Chris Gehrz, <i>Patheos</i>, Tuesday, 10 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/01/lewis-tolkien-world-war-i/">Lewis, Tolkien, and the Shadow of War</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Philip Seargeant, <i>The Conversation</i>, Wednesday, 11 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://theconversation.com/why-tolkiens-fantastic-imaginary-languages-have-had-more-impact-than-esperanto-71094">Why Tolkien’s fantastic imaginary languages have had more impact than Esperanto</a>’</b><br />
This has also appeared in other places with similar headline.<br />
<br />
<b>Bruce G Charlton, Thursday, 12 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/01/fantasy-fiction-is-more-important-than.html">Fantasy fiction is more important than ‘real life’: completing the argument of JRR Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories</a>’</b><br />
I am quite certain that Tolkien would have disagreed vehemently on theological, literary, and simple human groups. <br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Whalen, <i>iDigitalTimes</i>, Friday, 13 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.idigitaltimes.com/lord-rings-answer-marie-kondo-tolkiens-fantasy-coinage-those-who-clutter-578805">‘Lord Of The Rings’ Answer To Marie Kondo: Tolkien’s Fantasy Coinage For Those Who Like Clutter</a>’</b><br />
About <i>mathoms</i> ….<br />
<br />
<b> Stephen C Winter, Monday, 16 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2017/01/16/a-cock-crow-announces-the-fall-of-mordor/">A Cock Crow Announces the Fall of Mordor</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Saturday, 14 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/first-in-january-2017/">First in January (2017)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>T.J. West, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2017/01/19/reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-choices-of-master-samwise/">Reading “The Lord of the Rings”: “The Choices of Master Samwise”</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bruce G Charlton, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-romantic-theology-of-inklings.html">The Romantic Theology of the Inklings (considered as a complementary group)</a>’</b><br />
My own impression of the Inklings is such that Charlton's search for a more coherent, complementary, theory of something appears to me forced – a matter of forced applicability rather than the contemporary actuality of the group and its writers.<br />
<br />
<b>Simon J Cook, Tuesday, 24 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/lotr-early-drafts-tom-bombadil-in-passing/">LOTR: early drafts: Tom Bombadil in passing</a>’</b><br />
Cook's investigations of the early drafts of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> continue to be interesting!<br />
<br />
<b>T.J. West, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2017/01/26/reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-minas-tirith/">Reading “The Lord of the Rings”: “Minas Tirith”</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Sunday, 29 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/last-in-january/">Last in January</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Bruce G Charlton, Sunday, 1 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-of-tales-from-perilous-real.html">Review of Tales from the Perilous Realm - Brian Sibley's 1992 radio adaptations of Farmer Giles of Ham, Smith of Wooton Major, Leaf by Niggle and some Lord of the Rings scenes featuring Tom Bombadil</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Humboldt, Wednesday, 4 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-few-more-details-about-revised.html">A Few More Details About the Revised Tolkien Companion and Guide</a>’</b><br />
A very few additional details on the upcoming three-volume second edition of Scull and Hammond's essential <i>J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Saturday, 7 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2017/01/best-of-tolkien-joseph-pearce.html">The Best of Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
I suppose one might argue that ‘The Best <i>on</i> Tolkien’ would have been a more accurate title, as Pearce here lists some books that are, in his opinion, among the best books about Tolkien and / or Tolkien's work. I can see that Pearce and I have largely read, and been moved by, different books about Tolkien, but we do agree on Carptenter, Shippey, Flieger and Garth, and I find it <i>very</i> strange not to find the works by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull on this list (as for the rest, I suppose that is more easily explained by the large differences in perspective on Tolkien between Pearce and myself).<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 9 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017/01/clyde-kilbys-collected-essays.html">Clyde Kilby's Collected Essays</a>’</b><br />
Rateliff provides some lovely examples from the book, particularly from the report of Kilby's meeting with Lewis in 1953. This could well be a book inclusion in the modest collection to my right as I write (see my updated ‘shelfie’ illustrating this issue).
<br />
<b>Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Friday, 13 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017/01/mythprint-379-published.html">Mythprint #379 Published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Sunday, 15 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss3/7/">A Secret Vice (2016) by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins</a>’</b><br />
A favourable (and wholly deserved so) review of <i>A Secret Vice: Tolkien on invented languages</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey H. Ryan, Tuesday, 17 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/01/tolkien-tuesday-2017.html">Tolkien Tuesday: 2017</a>’</b><br />
A summary of some of the Tolkien books known to arrive in 2017.<br />
<br />
<b>Bruce G Charlton, Tuesday, 17 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-of-hobbit-animated-movie-1977.html">Review of The Hobbit animated movie 1977</a>’</b><br />
A review of the Rankin / Bass animated film that is somewhat more positive than mine would be …<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-tolkien-race-and-cultural.html">Review: Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-jrr-tolkiens-lost-english.html">Review: J.R.R. Tolkien's Lost English Mythology</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-beowulf-translation-and.html">Review: Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-book-of-lost-tales-part-one.html">Review: The Book of Lost Tales, Part One</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-tolkien.html">Review: Tolkien</a>’</b> (the biography by Edwards)<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-deep-roots-in-time-of-frost.html">Review: Deep Roots in a Time of Frost: Essays on Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-perilous-and-fair-women-in-works.html">Review: Perilous and Fair: Women in the Works and Life of J. R. R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-history-of-middle-earth-index.html">Review: The History of Middle-Earth Index</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-history-of-hobbit.html">Review: The History of the Hobbit</a>’</b><br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 19 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-hobbit-wardrobe-and-great-war.html">Review: A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18</a>’</b><br />
What Hillman himself describes as a ‘deluge’ of reviews (many more than these Tolkien-related ones). Some short, some longer, but worth checking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Matěj Čadil, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://matejcadil.deviantart.com/art/The-Road-Goes-Ever-On-650826858">The Road Goes Ever On</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Sunday, 1 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/01/01/luthien/">Lúthien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/my-first-artwork-7690340" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://cdn3.patreon.com/1/patreon.posts/15084945232114651228.jpg?v=sM2yzIBDysFza7_aJpUyZJRkmvGa-3hHB9hPZKsffkE%3D" width="270px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New artwork</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Monday, 2 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/happy-new-year-7640475">Happy New Year!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, Tuesday, 3 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/my-first-artwork-7659178">My First Artwork for this Year</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Šárka Škorpíková, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 4 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://sarkaskorpikova.deviantart.com/art/Bywater-pool-on-the-day-of-Bilbo-s-party-655354222">Bywater pool on the day of Bilbo's party</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 5 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Morgoth-655558821">Morgoth</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>User ‘wildelbenreiter’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 5 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://wildelbenreiter.deviantart.com/art/the-big-heart-of-a-tree-655541307">the big heart of a tree</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Matěj Čadil, Friday, 6 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://matejcadil.deviantart.com/art/Tom-and-Goldberry-s-First-Meeting-649741017">Tom and Goldberry's First Meeting</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Francesca T. Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Saturday, 14 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/silmarillion-symphony-ep-2-fall-fingolfin/">The Silmarillion Symphony Ep 2: The Fall of Fingolfin</a>’</b><br />
A work by composer Aaron M Dunn.<br />
<br />
<b>Ulla Thurnell, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 21 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://ullakko.deviantart.com/art/Hobbiton-658832678">Hobbiton</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Blacksanz, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 22 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://black3.deviantart.com/art/Gimli-658929182">Gimli</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Antonio José Manzanedo, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 22 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://manzanedo.deviantart.com/art/Gwaihir-the-Windlord-659022883">Gwaihir the Windlord</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2017/01/once-upon-shire.html#.WJdr7tIrKHs">Once Upon A Shire</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Pilla, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 28 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://danpilla.deviantart.com/art/Gandalf-and-Bilbo-660097771">Gandalf and Bilbo</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>User ‘GGoya’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 29 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://ggoya.deviantart.com/art/Don-t-Follow-The-Lights-660425355">Don't Follow the Lights</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joona Kujanen, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 31 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://tulikoura.deviantart.com/art/Battle-of-Five-Armies-King-Under-the-Mountain-660772426">Battle of Five Armies: King Under the Mountain</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="08_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Tuesday, 31 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/01/31/is-there-any-significance-to-the-number-of-steps-at-orthanc/">Is There Any Significance to the Number of Steps at Orthanc?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Tuesday, 10 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/01/10/dragoncon-cancels-the-tolkien-and-middle-earth-fan-programming-track/">DragonCon Cancels the Tolkien and Middle-earth Fan Programming Track</a>’</b><br />
Obviously these are worse news to some than to others (I don't recall reading about DragonCon before this, though I probably have ...), but of course it is upsetting to those who have been heavily involved in this. <br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan S MacIntosh, Tuesday, 17 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/entrepreneurship-vs-labor-in-middle-earth/">Entrepreneurship vs. Labor in Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Brian Castner, <i>KWAC</i>, Tuesday, 24 January 2017, ‘<a href="http://kawc.org/post/simon-tolkien-draws-his-famous-grandfathers-experiences-no-mans-land">Simon Tolkien Draws On His Famous Grandfather's Experiences In 'No Man's Land'</a>’</b><br />
See also <b>Dennis Drabelle, <i>Washington Post</i>, Thursday, 26 January 2017, ‘<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/jrr-tolkiens-war-experiences-inspire-his-grandsons-novel-no-mans-land/2017/01/26/1b8343c2-dbf1-11e6-918c-99ede3c8cafa_story.html">J.R.R. Tolkien’s war experiences inspire his grandson’s novel, ‘No Man’s Land’</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?79012-The-name-Tolkien">The Name Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Discussing the research by Derdzinski (see the section on <a href="#12_websites">web sites</a>)<br />
<br />
<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, , ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?79023-Alliterative-Revival">Alliterative Revival</a>’</b><br />
Having an expert on the alliterative metre contribute can be daunting, but not when it's the kind and helpful Nelson Goering … :-) <br />
<br />
<b>‘<a href="http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/150615/did-tolkien-ever-change-the-meanings-of-his-words">Did Tolkien ever change the meanings of his words?</a>’</b><br />
The discussion has now been closed, but an interesting topic that could do with a broader discussion (though not of <i>whether</i> Tolkien changed the meanings, but rather <i>how</i>, <i>when</i>, and particularly <i>why</i> he change the meanings of his words).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
Among other things, I will here add some old items that have come up (in some cases I'll be reposting), and which are still worth reading. So expect rather a jumble in this section. <br />
<br />
<b>Rebecca Lawes, Winter 2017, ‘<a href="http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8fa0ebba294207537d49e036d&id=87f5c7eae7">Tolkien & Latin</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Turner, <i>London Review of Books</i>, Vol. 23 No. 22, 15 November 2001, ‘<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n22/jenny-turner/reasons-for-liking-tolkien">Reasons for Liking Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
A lengthy analysis that is critical in an intelligent way. Good reading!<br />
<br />
<b>Christopher Howse, <i>The Telegraph</i>, 14 November 2014, ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11231548/Tolkien-and-the-Goths-disaster.html">Tolkien and the Goths’ disaster</a>’</b><br />
What might Tolkien have meant by saying that “the greatest disaster in history was that the Goths fell into the Arian heresy”?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Caines, <i>The Times Literary Supplement</i>, 2 December 2015, ‘<a href="http://www.the-tls.co.uk/iris-murdoch-letter-writer-and-eucatastrophist/">Iris Murdoch: letter-writer and eucatastrophist</a>’</b><br />
The theme of this article is relating and comparing Iris Murdoch and J.R.R. Tolkien. Good stuff.<br />
<br />
Apart from these, I am still working my quiet way through Tolkien's <i>Beowulf</i>, while also keeping up with various non-Tolkienian reading (I've recently bought a couple of books by Lord Baden-Powell, <i>Rovering to Sucess</i> and <i>Lessons from the Varsity of Life</i>, and I also still have some books in Danish from my birthday to get through – one a Danish translation of <i>I am Malala</i>). Good days ahead :)<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’</b><br />
A blog on the genealogy of Tolkien. Derdzinski believes to have traced the family of J.R.R. Tolkien to Danzig (modern day Gdansk) in what was, at the time, eastern Germany. I haven't had time to read the most recent posts, but he has promised to post some more convincing evidence of the link from London to Danzig, and I look forward to seeing more from this very interesting research.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRc3PrHewKbBrLf0XuQfYl0B9yqH1-GPeXdLkGXFaFRjYRXp3w7B50vQ1Q8fiGrbBiCf8Lk6i-CDFSM0wcGjB0KSBMX-okRXVGbO2erwLh-BGpxcw5m8hudKJrvEjDHPokpc0WYVaSRUn/s1600/Elrond%252BElros_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRc3PrHewKbBrLf0XuQfYl0B9yqH1-GPeXdLkGXFaFRjYRXp3w7B50vQ1Q8fiGrbBiCf8Lk6i-CDFSM0wcGjB0KSBMX-okRXVGbO2erwLh-BGpxcw5m8hudKJrvEjDHPokpc0WYVaSRUn/s320/Elrond%252BElros_400.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Elrond and Elros</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="13_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.<br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Annalisa Palmer, <a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/">her blog</a><br />
<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss3/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 3, issue 3</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Grey Havens Group, ‘<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.org/">The Grey Havens Group</a>’<br />
<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.org/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Bruce G Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2017/01/">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="14_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in January 2017<br />
Ryszard Viajante Derdzinski, ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/2017_01_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from January 2017</a><br />
<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-39691240576138481982017-01-15T23:23:00.001+01:002017-01-15T23:23:57.904+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXXVI<h2>December 2016</h2>
<p style="font-size: x-large"><b>Happy New Year!</b></p>
Yup, I know: I'm late ... again.<br />
Still, not as much as last month, and things <em>are</em> looking up, and I am now gnawing away slowly at the backlog – the ‘Mountain of Neglects’, as I joined Brenton Dickieson in quoting Tolkien last month. There are still old neglects to catch up on, but they are fewer than they were.<br />
<br />
Some of the artworks this month show that I often like my illustrations to try out new routes; to add something new to our perception of Tolkien's work, even if – and perhaps particularly if – it doesn't fit withour usual perceptions or (to be honest) with Tolkien's text. This is also the main reason why I am saddened by the many illustrations trying merely to recreate someone else's vision – it doesn't give us anything personal, just an imitation (which might be flattering to the imitated, but not very interesting), and I am quite unlikely to include such pieces.<br />
<br />
Another thing about the images this month is that three of the pictures are of pictures on my wall. For my birthday, my mother gave me a framing of three of my Tolkien pieces, and I have now finally managed to hang them (there have been a bit of problems with the frames and the wall etc.) and I want to show them off. But I do feel that I need to apologise to the artists – not for the frames, nor for wanting to have their art on my wall, but for my poor photography skills. Please believe when I insist that these pictures look <em>much</em> better when seen for real (the photographs were not improved by the fact that I had to take the photos quite close due to my Tolkien book case being about 1.5 metres from the wall). Still, I wanted to share my joy (and, I admit it, pride) in these pictures.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7AQUliQlvqaczHjnvV9p7iTmsY0IwphQiAVjzp7DTmwoqTrPtCsrqkVr3zX2rDyPWbXwBTMOme_l1eigkNvevdaatTMq_ylaw3vzVfso12XRkjXejPPYh1mCoUVBv47bWnSzM3wV6_4T/s1600/Elmenel_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7AQUliQlvqaczHjnvV9p7iTmsY0IwphQiAVjzp7DTmwoqTrPtCsrqkVr3zX2rDyPWbXwBTMOme_l1eigkNvevdaatTMq_ylaw3vzVfso12XRkjXejPPYh1mCoUVBv47bWnSzM3wV6_4T/s640/Elmenel_800.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle-earth map by Elmenel (Tsvetelina Krumova)<br />This wonderful map of Middle-earth is astonishing! I am deeply sorry <br />about the reflections, but I am immensely happy for this wonderful map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As usual, I make or accept no claims about newness, completeness and relevance (or any other implication of responsibility) :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_reading">10: Other Reading</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">11: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Marrer-of-Middle-earth-649251557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig08.deviantart.net/a9b7/f/2016/338/2/c/_marrer_of_middle_earth_______by_peet-daqjpph.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Marrer of Middle-earth ...!</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Anabelle Williams, <i>The Times</i>, Friday, 9 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-story-of-the-house-where-tolkien-lived-3lxb7wsfh">The story of Lydbrook Farm House</a>’</b><br />
— “A Georgian property with connections to the Tolkien family is for sale”. As is so often seen, the connection to J.R.R. Tolkien quickly becomes rather weak, or even tenuous, but I suppose one cannot blame the seller for trying to cash in a bit on the connection ...<br />
See also <b>Alex Matthews, <i>Daily Mail</i>, Friday, 9 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4016708/It-s-not-quite-Middle-Earth-House-JRR-Tolkien-lived-1940s-goes-sale-2million.html">It's not quite Middle Earth: House where JRR Tolkien lived in the 1940s goes on sale for £2million </a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>BroadwayWorld</i>, Tuesday, 20 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.broadwayworld.com/milwaukee/article/Marquette-Purchases-Rare-First-Edition-First-Printing-Of-The-Hobbit-20161220">Marquette Purchases Rare First Edition, First Printing Of 'The Hobbit'</a>’</b><br />
See also <b>Judith Siers-Poisson, <i>Wisconsin Public Radio</i>, Thursday, 22 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.wpr.org/rare-edition-hobbit-added-marquette-university-collection">Rare Edition Of 'The Hobbit' Added To Marquette University Collection</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Clive Hammond, <i>Basingstoke Gazette</i>, Thursday, 29 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/leisure/general/14993394.West_End_dream_complete_for_Basingstoke_composer/">Basingstoke composer Joseph Purdue completes dream to take 'Tolkien' to the West End</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>14 April–10 June 2016, Various locations, Scotland (and 10 September, St. Anthony's College, Oxford), ‘<a href="http://www.puppetstate.com/shows/leaf-by-niggle/">Leaf by Niggle</a>’, Puppet State Theatre Company</b>.<br />
Elspeth, <i>The Puppet State Blog</i>, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.puppetstate.com/leaf-by-niggle-reflections/">Leaf by Niggle Reflections</a>’<br />
Reflections on the stage play of <i>Leaf by Niggle</i> which conquered the Tolkien Society at Oxonmoot this year. It was truly a privilege to be able to watch this play, and not least to be able to do so in the company of my Tolkien Society friends. Thanks to the Puppet State Theatre and to all those from the Society involved in getting this enchanting experience to Oxonmoot. <b>Thank you!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 January)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLToOYcKXhTFEvR4LgMTOjNfvrtLqK36BockTHF3mcpP_EQ0f5Gj-Ujyon9_NFONg9k5jPk7aQbzXFLf1P6jbMNd8fRK1JX-1NIVH504-bfWdH992yNy1aFKDzbH6bJG3vTr41mzIP3m_J/s1600/Johnstone_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLToOYcKXhTFEvR4LgMTOjNfvrtLqK36BockTHF3mcpP_EQ0f5Gj-Ujyon9_NFONg9k5jPk7aQbzXFLf1P6jbMNd8fRK1JX-1NIVH504-bfWdH992yNy1aFKDzbH6bJG3vTr41mzIP3m_J/s320/Johnstone_600.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bilbo and the Red Book </i>by Jay Johnstone<br />Another piece that I am very pleased with. I <br />bought it early in 2016, and now I can finally<br />do it justice, having put it in a proper frame.</td></tr>
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<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<i>Staffordshire Newsletter</i>, Wednesday, 28 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/jrr-tolkien-exhibition-comes-to-stafford/story-30016111-detail/story.html">JRR Tolkien exhibition comes to Stafford</a>’<br />
Deniz Bevan, Wednesday, 28 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.dk/2016/12/tolkien-in-staffordshire-and-birthday.html">Tolkien in Staffordshire and Birthday Toast</a>’<br />
Jon Cook, <i>A Little Bit of Stone</i>, Thursday, 29 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://alittlebitofstone.com/2016/12/29/tolkien-exhibition-celebrates-link-staffordshire/">Tolkien exhibition celebrates link with Staffordshire</a>’<br />
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<b>3 January 2017, World-wide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>3 January 2016 and later, Lord of the Rings Online, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/news/explore-the-lord-of-the-rings-on-location/">Explore "The Lord of the Rings" – On Location</a>’, Signum Univiersity</b><br />
<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/30/cfp-romances-in-middle-earth/">CFP: Romances in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
Anna Smol, Tuesday, 29 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/29/new-tolkien-symposium-in-kalamazoo/">New! Tolkien Symposium in Kalamazoo</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
Curtis, <i>Signum University</i>, Tuesday, 22 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/news/are-you-ready-for-mythmoot-iv/">Are you ready for Mythmoot IV?</a>’<br />
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<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<b>2 July 2017, Hilton Leeds Hotel, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2017/">Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b> – The theme this year will be “<b>Poetry and Song</b> in Tolkien's works”<br />
Anna Milon, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 6 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/12/call-for-papers-tolkien-society-seminar-2017/">Call for papers: Tolkien Society Seminar 2017</a>’<br /><br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
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<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
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<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>Eleanor Parker, Friday, 20 December 2013, ‘<a href="http://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.dk/2013/12/the-anglo-saxon-o-antiphons-o-oriens-o.html">The Anglo-Saxon O Antiphons: O Oriens, O Earendel</a>’</b><br />
Retweeted for the holiday, and thus I saw it ... :-)<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>The Telegraph</i>, Thursday, 8 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/jrr-tolkien-bet-cs-lewis-wager-gave-birth-lord-rings/">When JRR Tolkien bet CS Lewis: the wager that gave birth to <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></a>’</b><br />
A very interesting article written with John Garth's usual clear and approachable style, pinning down the wager between Lewis and Tolkien that directly gave us <i>Out of the Silent Planet</i> as well as <i>The Lost Road</i> and, as Garth argues, indirectly led to <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. I am very much looking forward to see John Garth's upcoming Tolkien book, <i>Tolkien's Mirror: Creation in the Catastrophic 20th Century</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, Friday, 9 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/12/09/tanks-at-gondolin/">Tanks at Gondolin</a>’</b><br />
An excerpt from John Garth's superb <i>Tolkien and the Great War</i>. If you haven't got that book yet, read here to get a sampling of John Garth's ability to present his research in a very readable and engaging form.<br />
<br />
<b>Amanda Gilmore, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 11 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/12/trees-central-theme-norse-mythology-culture/">Trees as a Central Theme in Norse Mythology and Culture</a>’</b><br />
Trees and Old Norse mythology – how could that <em>not</em> have Tolkienian relevance :) <br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Firth, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 11 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/12/allegories-sight-blinding-power-late-anglo-saxon-england/">Allegories of Sight: Blinding and Power in Late Anglo-Saxon England</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, Saturday, 31 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/twas-the-night-before-christmas-and-j-r-r-tolkiens-tinfang-warble/">“Twas the Night Before Christmas” and J.R.R. Tolkien's Tinfang Warble</a>’</b><br />
A comparison of two poems covering metre, imagery, phrasing and other elements. Very interesting, indeed! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskJMYLx8fZdmi3eLUFbX5ShyphenhyphenUZS5B25gAv00WIaDBOA5oyOz41gK2F8qDag0tteIyAgLW2EifY8VXX1hs8HQ5eNCZutBWj3lY8IMqUGyRpLdqM4ZcbRXYNDDUw8L1NpqRAPyXqlcre6JS/s1600/Eissman_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskJMYLx8fZdmi3eLUFbX5ShyphenhyphenUZS5B25gAv00WIaDBOA5oyOz41gK2F8qDag0tteIyAgLW2EifY8VXX1hs8HQ5eNCZutBWj3lY8IMqUGyRpLdqM4ZcbRXYNDDUw8L1NpqRAPyXqlcre6JS/s400/Eissman_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Bombadil by Anke Eissmann<br />I bought this piece at Oxonmoot after wavering back and forth about this <br />work and one or two others. Fortunately I had brought my daughter, who was <br />not in doubt, and so I bought this wonderful piece by Anke Eissmann.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>T.J. West, Tuesday, 6 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2016/12/06/the-pleasures-of-reading-tolkien-criticism/">The Pleasures of Reading Tolkien Criticism</a>’</b><br />
Some thoughts on Tolkien criticism ...<br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Saturday, 10 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/december-2/">December</a>’</b><br />
Discussing ‘The Pyre of Denethor’ (V,7).<br />
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<b>T.J. West, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2016/12/12/why-are-tolkiens-villains-so-compelling/">Why Are Tolkien's Villains So Compelling?</a>’</b><br />
<b>T.J. West, Thursday, 15 December 2016, ‘<a href="http:">Reading “The Lord of the Rings”: “The Taming of Smeagol,” “The Passage of the Marshes,” and “The Black Gate is Closed”</a>’</b><br />
<b>T.J. West, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2016/12/19/reading-the-lord-of-the-rings-of-herbs-and-stewed-rabbit/">Reading “The Lord of the Rings”: “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit.”</a>’</b><br />
These are some of the reflections by T.J. West during his ‘Tolkien Appreciation Month’ as he re-read <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. You will find more on his blog.
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/the-week-before-christmas-the-story-of-the-ring-begins/">the week before christmas – the story of the Ring begins</a>’</b><br />
On the 79th anniversary (at the latest) of Tolkien setting pen to paper to begin the ‘second Hobbit’.<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2016/12/the-price-of-iluvatars-gift.html">The Price of Ilúvatar's Gift?</a>’</b><br />
An interesting juxtaposition of <i>On Fairy-stories</i> and the <i>Ainulindalë</i>. I am not convinced (meaning, of course, that I am somewhat sceptical) that ideas and concepts expressed in <i>On Fairy-stores</i> can be ported to Tolkien's Silmarillion sub-creation in quite the way that Hillman, at least as I read it, proposes here, but I quite agree that it could be interesting to see where such enquiries might lead.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2016/12/number-3-bagshot-row.html#.WHJomRsrKHs" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT-rf_9ADzNjjsX8lWn2SBqGehFC0zOQZsiVQB0M6PNgxLBDHteQyrfOseCElSohZyhQZOKa8rkheKZDfKeomRFaKX3BXb2EKpGk7NG4sR4RRYAvxvJic3_sDDkcmM8hng7vgJj2iiO8/s1600/afri2aaaa4+bagshot+rowsharp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Number 3 Bagshot Row</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Simon J. Cook, Tuesday, 20 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/lotr-the-very-first-pages/">LOTR – the very first pages</a>’</b><br />
Cook continues his exploration of the earliest writings on <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, and adds some very interesting comments along the way. When, for instance, he notes that “At this point in time, we must remember, Tolkien was very much in the world of <i>The Hobbit</i> and not at all in that which we now know as <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.”, he also, almost incidentally, points out the vast difference between the worlds of <i>The Hobbit</i> and <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> – differences that Tolkien ‘solved’ by the expedient, but brilliant, way of just ignoring them and ultimately only merging / importing those aspects of <i>The Hobbit</i> that were consistent with his Silmarillion world and <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> (a few hints of something else can, as Simon points out, be found in the early chapters – the thinking fox is an example of that). <br />
<br />
<b>Elin Nyberg, <i>ScienceNordic</i>, Tuesday, 20 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://sciencenordic.com/names-tolkiens-universe-explained">The names of Tolkien's universe explained</a>’</b><br />
A bit of etymology for a few of the names we meet in Tolkien's works.<br />
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<b>Simon J. Cook, Wednesday, 21 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/lotr-january-february-1938/">LOTR: January & February 1938</a>’</b><br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Saturday, 25 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/lotr-christmas-to-march-1937/">LOTR: Christmas 1937 to March 1938</a>’</b><br />
Cook continues his explorations of the earliest work on <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> as the story slowly and with many false starts evolves ...<br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, Wednesday, 21 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.dk/2016/12/hope-and-leadership-in-lord-of-rings.html">Hope and Leadership in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
Philogist Edmund Weiner has posted a blog post on the hard choices facing Aragorn from the fall of Gandalf in book 2 to Gandalf's return in book 3. Having been lucky enough to hear Liz Wright speak about Aragorn's leadership at Oxonmoot this year I couldn't help but compare the two approaches. Where Wright based her talk on modern leadership theory, Weiner is mainly focused on words, focusing on how Tolkien uses the word ‘hope’.<br />
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<b>Bruce Charlton, Wednesday, 28 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.dk/2016/12/tolkien-and-barfield-fantasy-and.html">Tolkien and Barfield, Fantasy and Imagination - unexplored links</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Wednesday, 28 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-uncouth-name-of-shire.html">The Uncouth Name of Shire</a>’</b><br />
What, Hillman asks, is so ‘uncouth’ about the Shire?<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Dennis Wise, Friday, 2 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/12/3-12-straussian-readings-of-tolkien.html">3 1/2 Straussian readings of Tolkien!!!!</a>’</b><br />
Mostly a review (sort of) of an article by Mary Keys <br />
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<b>Brenton Dickieson, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/12/19/1976/">Christmas With J.R.R. Tolkien: The Father Christmas Letters</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 22 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/12/my-latest-publication-on-fall-of-arthur.html">My Latest Publication (on THE FALL OF ARTHUR)</a>’</b><br />
On Rateliff's essay, ‘“That Seems to Me Fatal”: Pagan and Christian in The Fall of Arthur’ in <i>Tolkien Studies</i> vol. 13.<br />
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<b>Dennis Wise, Saturday, 24 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/12/and-newest-issue-of-tolkien-studies-is.html">And the newest issue of Tolkien Studies is out!</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTVPkW8Q7EMQq8C47ax5_UAnyBw9VKkTmEpsg9VEUCAll4YKXfEEBsOp-ZrYEXYoErIa-f6oj8r0uc01Txx-B3XlRcV8WWDChnVLaJ-UvgCOfYhR1v9iI8MQUGdAurLlNSA8cIZZOA8-9/s1600/MyWall_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTVPkW8Q7EMQq8C47ax5_UAnyBw9VKkTmEpsg9VEUCAll4YKXfEEBsOp-ZrYEXYoErIa-f6oj8r0uc01Txx-B3XlRcV8WWDChnVLaJ-UvgCOfYhR1v9iI8MQUGdAurLlNSA8cIZZOA8-9/s320/MyWall_600.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall behind me as I sit at my computer<br />writing up these transactions ... I have just<br />to swirl my chair to find this kind of inspiration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Saturday, 3 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Marrer-of-Middle-earth-649251557">Marrer of Middle-earth ...!</a>’</b><br />
Húrin cursing the Morgoth ...<br />
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<b>‘aegeri’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 4 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://aegeri.deviantart.com/art/Steward-of-Gondor-649384777">Steward of Gondor</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Joe Gilronan, Monday, 5 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2016/12/number-3-bagshot-row.html#.WHJomRsrKHs">Number 3 Bagshot Row</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Alystraea’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 6 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://alystraea.deviantart.com/art/Glorfindel-With-Battle-Hair-649737809">Glorfindel With Battle Hair</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Yeldabon’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 10 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://yeldabon.deviantart.com/art/The-Brandywine-Bridge-650419016">The Brandywine Bridge</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Alystraea’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://alystraea.deviantart.com/art/When-Eowyn-met-Glorfindel-650855453">When Eowyn met Glorfindel</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tim Catherall, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 14 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://timcatherall.deviantart.com/art/Wood-elf-651167070">Wood elf</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Szpondi’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 15 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://szpondi.deviantart.com/art/Unwanted-guest-651409458">Unwanted guest</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Gonzalo Kenny, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 16 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://gonzalokenny.deviantart.com/art/Between-the-Nazgul-and-his-prey-651513712">Between the Nazgul and his prey</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/154673931450/tolkien-lordoftherings-hobbit-mientras-sigo">Work in progress</a>’</b><br />
Not sure entirely which Tolkienian tower this is, but I look forward to seeing more.<br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 24 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Young-Turin-and-Beleg-653138713">Young Turin and Beleg</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘AncaXBre’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 25 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://ancaxbre.deviantart.com/art/Bilbo-and-Lindir-653246688">Bilbo and Lindir</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Chechula’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 26 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://faqy.deviantart.com/art/caradhras-653451840">Caradhras</a>’</b><br />
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<b>‘Blacksanz’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 27 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://black3.deviantart.com/art/The-Great-Horn-653644761">The Great Horn</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Wednesday, 28 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/The-Swan-Maiden-of-Alqualonde-653842924">The Swan-Maiden of Alqualonde</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Magda Zwierzchowska, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 29 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://labirynt.deviantart.com/art/Smaug-654092099">Smaug</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 5 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/12/05/what-happened-to-the-dunedain-after-the-war-of-the-ring/">What Happened to the Dúnedain after the War of the Ring?</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Hawke, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienscholars.org/news/ame-rpg-preview-players">Preview Review of Adventures in Middle-earth Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Player's Guide</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Friday, 16 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/12/16/did-sauron-really-believe-the-one-ring-had-been-destroyed/">Did Sauron Really Believe the One Ring Had been Destroyed?</a>’</b><br />
One of the great discussions, and one that requires a bit of careful tracking of who knew what when in order to discuss. Martinez, in my opinion, does a good job (of course it also helps that I agree with his conclusion :) )<br />
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<b>Jeff LaSala, Wednesday, 21 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/12/21/tolkien-eagles-manwes-special-ops/">The Eagles of Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Special Ops</a>’</b><br />
Possibly the most irritating of the Great Debates for me – why bother with something nobody would actually want to happen, when there are so many (and, frankly, quite obvious) reasons it would not be a good idea? Still, LaSala does a quite good job at it, including the role of the Eagles in the wider legendarium.<br />
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<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>T.J. West, Saturday, 3 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://tjwest3.com/2016/12/03/reading-tolkien-in-the-time-of-trump/">Reading Tolkien in the Time of Trump</a>’</b><br />
Starting his annual ‘Tolkien Appreciation Month’ at his blog, <i>Queerly Different</i> (likely to extend a bit into January), West shares some thoughts on setting out on his re-reading of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. As for the political application ... well, I suppose you all know where I stand with regards to mapping Tolkien to contemporary political questions and divisions. <br />
This goes into my collection of articles tagged “Political Tolkien” that I created at one point when I dreamed of one day having something intelligent to say about the use of Tolkien or his works to promote this or that modern political point of view (beyond the fairly basic ‘such is a pointless exercise in futile foolishness’). I no longer have such ambitions, but I do maintain the list. I have found that regardless of whether I agree or disagree with the political opinion being argued, I invariably <i>dis</i>agree with the reading of Tolkien used to make him relevant to the specifics of the argument (I am all for the relevance of Tolkien and his applicability to modern life in a far broader sense).<br />
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<b>Dan Trynoski, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Saturday, 3 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/12/want-new-medieval-lego-kit-vote-now/">Want a new Medieval LEGO kit? Vote now!</a>’</b><br />
Just because ... :-) (and it <em>is</em>, indeed, a <em>very</em> nice set!)<br />
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<b>Stephen C Winter, Tuesday, 6 December 2016, ‘<a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2016/12/06/the-siege-of-gondor-a-word-to-those-for-whom-hope-has-gone/">The Siege of Gondor: A Word to Those For Whom Hope Has Gone</a>’</b><br />
This is a bit too ‘preachy’ for my tastes, but I'll leave it here for those who like this sort of thing ...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Young-Turin-and-Beleg-653138713" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig01.deviantart.net/d2c1/f/2016/359/7/c/young_turin_and_beleg_by_peet-dasv121.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Young Turin and Beleg</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Eric Grundhauser, <i>Altas Obscura</i>, Wednesday, 7 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-do-dwarves-sound-scottish-and-elves-sound-like-royalty">Why do Dwarves Sound Scottish and Elves Sound Like Royalty?</a>’</b><br />
Though the author advices us to “Blame Tolkien and time”, I cannot see what Tolkien has to do with it (look at Khuzdul – does that look like something that would yield a Scottish accent? And does Royalty sound Welsh? Because then I might understand it ...). I think it is better to look elsewhere, and ‘the times’ gets blamed for so much that a little more won't make much of a difference ...<br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Monday, 12 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/first-impressions-count-on-academic-book-covers/">First impressions count? On academic book covers</a>’</b><br />
I was not surprised to see this call for getting engaged from Dimitra Fimi. Her own enthusiasm and engagement is certainly contagious (not least in person), and her caring about the impression her book covers give rhymes well with my impression of a genuinely warm and caring person (which, in the end, is more important than being a brilliant scholar – which she of course also is). <br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 19 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/12/tollers-and-jack.html">Tollers and Jack</a>’</b><br />
Follow-up on the earlier post about a stage play focusing on the friendship between Tolkien and Lewis.<br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Thursday, 22 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/12/22/did-tolkiens-legendarium-have-anything-to-do-with-the-occult/">Did Tolkien's Legendarium Have Anything to do with the Occult?</a>’</b><br />
I cannot help but wonder about the specific questions and talking points – and the reason for asking. But that is not really relevant, and I think Michael Martinez does an excellent job at an explanation, with which I agree. <br />
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<b>Nico Salvatori, <i>Erie Times</i>, Friday, 23 December 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.goerie.com/opinion/20161223/nico-salvatori-christmas-with-tolkien">Nico Salvatori: Christmas with Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>Tolkien Collector's Guide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2621&forum=17">Collecting and sales</a>’</b><br />
A question from Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull in preparation for the upcoming (is it September soon?) new edition of their <i>J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide</i>.<br />
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<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78992-Humour-in-The-Silmarillion">Humour in 'The Silmarillion'</a>’</b><br />
On examples of wit and humour in Tolkien's Silmarillion tradition (not all in the published <i>Silmarillion</i>).
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<h2><a name="10_reading">Other Reading</a></h2>
J.R.R. Tolkien, <i>Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary</i><br />
It is taking me quite a bit of time to get through Tolkien's <i>Beowulf</i> as I am, almost exclusively, reading on my Kindle in my lunch breaks, which means some 20 minutes per day (unless someone is keeping me company). Still, the pace suits me well, and allows time for reading other things when at home. I have finished the translation itself and am now reading Tolkien's comments.<br />
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Nancy Bunting, ‘Tolkien and the Boy Scouts’ in <i>Lembas Extra 2015</i>, edited by Cécile van Zon and Renée Vink.<br />
Renée kindly pointed out this essay for me, and of course I <em>had</em> to get the collection for that :-)<br />
The essay sums up what little is known about Tolkien's stint with the Boy Scouts (very little) and recounts a few things about the history and ideals of the early Scout Movement (probably good thing it wasn't me writing that essay – I probably would have had a bit more to say on those ;-) ). Bunting also tries to show how the Boy Scout motto, ‘Be Prepared’, can be seen as an undercurrent in Tolkien's work. Though I do not think we should look for a source connection here, I think that it would be worth doing more on the parallels between Tolkien and Baden-Powell simply seeing the latter as an exponent for some more general trends – after all, the Scout movement got a lot of early and eager support from all parts of society, which seems to indicate that Baden-Powell managed to connect to the <i>zeitgeist</i> of pre WWI England.<br />
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<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Baillie Tolkien, <i>Tolkien Estate</i>, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienestate.com/en/writing/tales-for-children/letters-from-father-christmas.html">Letters from Father Christmas</a>’</b><br />
An article by Baillie Tolkien about the <i>Letters from Father Christmas</i>, which she prepared. Note to self: remember to browse the Estate website more often ...<br />
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<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
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Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from December 2016</a><br />
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Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/12/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
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<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
No new sources in December 2016<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-23416308943999350382016-12-22T21:41:00.000+01:002016-12-22T21:41:28.228+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXXV<h2>November 2016</h2>
I will start this month with a post that I felt that I could have written myself, except for the details of the neglects<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Tuesday, 22 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/11/22/mountain/">Battling a Mountain of Neglects with J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
The fact that it is (at the point of writing this) less than a week until Christmas is, I suppose, telling of my own situation. I have often enough thought of Tolkien's letters when writing these introductions, and Dickieson's clever use of Tolkien's phrase, and his elegant weaving together of his own situation and Tolkien's struck me as particularly apt. <br />
For this reason, you will probably find that more of the links are given without comment than I usually do – even in months when I have been busy, but I hope you will nontheless find them interesting. This month I have also re-used a few of the best pieces of art-work that I have been permitted by the artists to use this year.<br />
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All the usual disclaimers apply about newness, completeness and relevance (or any other implication of responsibility) :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_websites">8: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#09_blogs">9: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#10_sources">10: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Rescue-of-Maedhros-644201914" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig07.deviantart.net/b71d/f/2016/310/c/8/the_rescue_of_maedhros_by_peet-danjhdm.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Rescue of Maedhros</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>David Oberhelman, Tuesday, 1 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/11/mythopoeic-awards-2017-call-for.html">Mythopoeic Awards 2017: Call for Nominations</a>’</b><br />
Also, <b><i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, Tuesday, 1 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/news-2016-11-01.htm">Mythopoeic Awards 2017: Call for Nominations</a>’</b><br />
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<b>The Bodleian Libraries, Thursday, 3 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/news/2016/nov-03">Editor and Scholar Christopher Tolkien awarded Bodley Medal</a>’</b><br />
Once more, my heartfelt gratitude and warm congratulations to Christopher Tolkien! <br />
<br />
<b>Mike Fleming Jr, <i>Deadline</i>, Monday, 7 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://deadline.com/2016/11/james-strong-j-r-r-tolkien-middle-earth-the-lord-and-the-rings-unique-features-bob-shaye-michael-lynne-1201849947/">James Strong Set To Direct J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic ‘Middle Earth’; Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne Producing</a>’</b><br />
I have been debating with myself what to do with this. It has been carried by countless news outlets, and they all seem to be purporting the same errors, so presumably errors are by the film producers, and not the individual journalist's (though many do quote this article). <br />
There is also the commentary by <b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 11 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/11/another-tolkien-biopic-project.html">Another Tolkien BioPic Project</a>’</b><br />
Noting that the very short paragraph from the above about the plot “bears only a passing similarity to reality”. Yes, exactly.<br />
However, see also <b>Adam King, <i>Ohio State Univdersity</i>, day, 12 February 2015, ‘<a href="http://oncampus.osu.edu/telling-tolkiens-story/">Telling Tolkien's story</a>’</b><br />
This does sound a little more promising, and we may hope that the other stuff is just a garbled version of something that is more historically correct ... However, to tell the truth, I rather think I'll lean back and await the reviews by other Tolkienists with a solid knowledge of Tolkien's biography before changing my mind and going to see this film. <br />
<br />
<b>Callum Keown, <i>Oxford Mail</i>, Wednesday, 9 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14876934.Son_of_JRR_Tolkien_welcomes_highest_honour_of_the_Bodleian_Libraries/">Son of JRR Tolkien welcomes highest honour of the Bodleian Libraries</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Amy Stumpfl, <i>The Tennessean</i>, Sunday, 13 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tennessean.com/story/life/arts/2016/11/13/david-payne-launches-inaugural-lewis-tolkien-festival/93481618/">David Payne launches inaugural 'Lewis-Tolkien Festival'</a>’</b><br />
On the Z. Alexander Looby Theater in Nashville staging a couple of Lewis & Tolkien inspired plays starring David Payne.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>29 November 2016, Pembroke College, Oxford, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/a-secret-vice-85-years-on/">A Secret Vice: 85 Years On</a>’, Pembroke College</b><br />
Gabriel Schenk, Pembroke College, Thursday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ytxqiYUlc">J.R.R. Tolkien's 'A Secret Vice': 85 Years On</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/wpimages/wp774fc8a0_05_06.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 December)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 December 2016, The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/yulemoot-2016/">Yulemoot 2016</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 January 2017, World-wide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>8 April 2017, Burlington, Vermont, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont</a>’, Tolkien at University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/30/cfp-romances-in-middle-earth/">CFP: Romances in Middle-earth</a>’<br />
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<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
Anna Smol, Tuesday, 29 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/11/29/new-tolkien-symposium-in-kalamazoo/">New! Tolkien Symposium in Kalamazoo</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>1–4 June 2017, National Conference Center, Virginia, US, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/event/mythmoot-iv-invoking-wonder/">Mythmoot IV: Invoking Wonder</a>’, Mythgard Institute</b><br />
Curtis, <i>Signum University</i>, Tuesday, 22 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://signumuniversity.org/news/are-you-ready-for-mythmoot-iv/">Are you ready for Mythmoot IV?</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
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<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkien-sessions-at-imc-leeds-july-2017/">Tolkien Sessions at IMC Leeds, July 2017</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b><a href="https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">Tolkien on Academia.edu</a></b><br />
A sampling of papers uploaded to Academia.edu in November (probably ... or thereabouts, the exact upload date is generally not available). Where a paper is indicated as having been previously published in a journal, this is included here:<br />
<b>Sara Brown, , ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/29545826/Stirring_the_Alembic._Alchemical_Resonances_in_The_Lord_Of_The_Rings.docx">Stirring the Alembic. Alchemical Resonances in <i>The Lord Of The Rings</i></a>’</b><br />
<b>Thomas Honegger, , ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30069444/Laughter_in_Middle-earth_Humour_in_and_around_the_Works_of_JRR_Tolkien">Laughter in Middle-earth: Humour in and around the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<b>Thom Foy, , ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/30182441/Leaf_by_Niggle_a_script_for_readers_theater"><i>Leaf by Niggle</i> by J.R.R. Tolkien adapted for Readers' Theater by Thom Foy</a>’</b><br />
<br />
The full list of papers tagged “J.R.R. Tolkien’ includes many that are not in English and some highly interesting papers for which only the abstract is uploaded (I've just ordered <i>Hither Shore</i> no. 12 as a result of one of these ...), so I can recommend taking a look at the list.
<br />
<b>Edmund Weiner, Sunday, 13 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.dk/2016/11/diction-and-narrative-in-lord-of-rings.html">Diction and narrative in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
“A paper given at the Tolkien Day, Liverpool Hope University, 11 November 2016”<br />
<br />
<b>Thijs Porck, Sunday, 13 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://dutchanglosaxonist.com/2016/11/13/hobbits/">The Medieval in Middle-earth: The Anglo-Saxon Habits of Hobbits</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Trish Lambert, Thursday, 17 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/11/17/friendship-over-family/">Friendship over Family in the Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
Some very interesting musings of the loyalties, and love, of friendship and family in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. I am not entirely sure that I agree entirely, though. Family ties play an important role in motivating characters in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, but there are no (close) family relations between the primary characters of the Company of the Ring, and therefore family ties do not appear so much in the forefront of the plot.<br />
<br />
<b>Juričková Martina, Saturday, 19 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://thefellowshipoftheking.net/2016/11/19/boromir-the-misunderstood-hero/">Boromir: The Misunderstood Hero?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sverre Bagge, Sunday, 27 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/11/making-missionary-king-medieval-accounts-olaf-tryggvason-conversion-norway/">The Making of a Missionary King: The Medieval Accounts of Olaf Tryggvason and the Conversion of Norway</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Karl E. H. Seigfried, Wednesday, 30 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.norsemyth.org/2016/11/wyrd-will-weave-us-together.html">Wyrd Will Weave Us Together</a>’</b><br />
As the Old Norse <i>wyrd</i> is among the inspirations for Tolkien's multi-faceted use of fate, I thought it appropriate to include this piece here.<br />
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/uXtcidA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/uXtcidA.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 12.3648px;"><i>Bilbo and the Red Book</i><br />by Jay Johnstone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Dennis Wise, Tuesday, 1 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/11/tolkien-and-longfellows-song-of-hiawatha.html">Tolkien and Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha</a>’</b><br />
Following on from John Garth's excellent piece ... <br />
<br />
<b>Emily Asher-Perrin, <i>TOR.com</i>, Friday, 4 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/11/04/we-can-probably-blame-the-tarantula-that-bit-j-r-r-tolkien-for-most-giant-spiders-in-fantasy/">We Can Probably Blame the Tarantula That Bit J.R.R. Tolkien For Most Giant Spiders in Fantasy</a>’</b><br />
As a good friend often says, “<i>He could of!</i>” I'm afraid that I find this kind of amateur pseudopsychological jumping to conclusions to be examplifying poor critical thinking. The problem is that they move from "proposition A cannot be refuted" to "proposition A is true" with only a brief detour to "I would like proposition A to be true". <br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Saturday, 12 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/first-meeting-in-november-2/">First meeting in November</a>’</b><br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Saturday, 26 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/last-meeting-in-november-2/">Last meeting in November</a>’</b><br />
Taking two meetings to get through ‘The Battle of the Pelennor Fields’ seems to me entirely justified.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 21 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2016/11/the-fairy-kings-honor-and-elven-kings.html">The Fairy King's Honor and the Elven King's Shame</a>’</b><br />
A comparison on one aspect of the Fairy King in <i>Sir Orfeo</i> and Tolkien's Thingol.<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan McIntosh, Monday, 28 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/iluvatars-critique-of-socialism/">Ilúvatar's critique of socialism</a>’</b><br />
Leaving aside the erroneous coupling of socialism with centralised totalitarianism, there is no doubt that was very much opposed to the idea of ‘governing’ as a central power dominating the minds of the subjects.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>C.R. Wiley <i>Patheos</i>, Tuesday, 1 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/gloryseed/2016/11/tolkiens-leaf-by-niggle-what-will-become-of-our-work/">Tolkien's Leaf by Niggle: What Will Become of Our Work?</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 3 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/11/the-lay-of-aotrou-and-itroun-published/">The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 8 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/11/the-new-arrival-lay-of-aotrou-itroun.html">The New Arrival: THE LAY OF AOTROU & ITROUN</a>’</b><br />
John Rateliff likes <i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i> ... which is, of course, not a huge surprise, but still ... :) <br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 12 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/11/a-second-tolkien-film-tolkiens-road.html">a second Tolkien film (TOLKIEN'S ROAD)</a>’</b><br />
A review of a half-hour amateur ‘biopic’ of Tolkien. Let's just say that it does not come with Rateliff's recommendation.<br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Saturday, 12 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/11/review-part-1-journal-of-tolkien.html">REVIEW (Part 1): Special Issue of Journal of Tolkien Research 3.3</a>’</b><br />
And <b>Dennis Wise, Monday, 14 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/11/review-part-ii-special-issue-of-journal_14.html">REVIEW (Part II): Special Issue of Journal of Tolkien Research 3.3</a>’</b><br />
I am very grateful to Dennis Wise for providing a review of this issue of the <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i> from a far more sympathetic view point than I would be able to. The first part deals with what Wise describes as “what may be one of the best -- if not the best -- article on Tolkien written this year” (till date). I will certainly look into ‘Attainable Vistas: Historical Bias in Tolkien’s Legendarium as a Motive for Transformative Fanworks.’ by Dawn M. Walls-Thumma (at least the first half). The second part of Wise's review is dedicated to rather shorter reviews of the other articles belonging to this special issue.<br />
<br />
<b>James Moffat, Saturday, 12 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://atolkienistperspective.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/approaching-tolkien-the-lay-of-aotrou-itroun/">Approaching Tolkien: The Lay of Aotrou & Itroun</a>’</b><br />
A favourable review of <i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i> by a young reader whose approach to Tolkien appears to be mainly through his enthusiasm for the New Line Cinema films (also seen in few mistakes regarding the nature and editor of the present book). <br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>The Telegraph</i>, Wednesday, 16 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/unseen-tolkien-sex-infertility-adultery-and-the-birth-of-galadri/">Unseen Tolkien: sex, infertility, adultery and the birth of Galadriel</a>’</b><br />
An excellent review by John Garth of <i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i>. I have not had the time to read this work yet, and so I cannot agree or disagree about specific points. I look forward to seeing how the link is presented between the Corrigan of the <i>Lay</i> and the Noldorin noble-woman, Galadriel. John Garth's phrasing (“The Corrigan [...] leads us all the way to Galadriel herself”) seems carefully guarded, as there can be many ways to lead the way, not all of which imply a direct causal connection. <br />
<br />
<b>Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull, Thursday, 24 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/tolkien-notes-14/">Tolkien Notes 14</a>’</b><br />
News of Tolkien items at auction, of a new four volume set of critical essays on Tolkien (reprinted from older works) and a note on a reduced price on <i>The Art of The Lord of the Rings</i> on Amazon UK (though the reduced price seems to have expired as the price is now £17).<br />
<br />
<b>Lee, Tuesday, 29 November 2016, ‘<a href="https://tolkienreadthrough.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/the-story-of-kullervo/">The Story of Kullervo</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 1 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Return-643276938">Return</a>’</b><br />
A vision of Finrod and Amarië after his return from Mandos.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/smaug_col.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/smaug_col.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Smaug</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 5 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Rescue-of-Maedhros-644201914">The Rescue of Maedhros</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Monday, 7 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Taniquetil-644578275">Taniquetil</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Francesca Baerald, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 7 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://francescabaerald.deviantart.com/art/The-Shire-Lord-of-the-Rings-644487204">The Shire - Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
A map of the Shire that seems to me wonderfully appropriate for the myopic and insular self-satisfied views of the Hobbits, but therefore also, despite the hint of danger represented by a single dragon lurking in a corner, to represent all the ... I don't know ... ‘tweeness’ or ‘cutesy’ that frustrate me so much about the Shire …. All in all, very well done! <br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Monday, 21 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Fen-of-Serech-647025287">Fen of Serech</a>’</b><br />
An illustration of Finrod in the Fen of Serech<br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 22 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/Black-Riders-647250710">Black Riders</a>’</b><br />
I quite like this piece. It hints without being too definite in shaping the viewers ideas. <br />
<br />
<b>Fiona Dahmen (Alagvaile), <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 25 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://alagvaile.deviantart.com/art/Bilbo-647741924">Bilbo</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Janet Georgiou West (Rearda), <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 27 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://rearda.deviantart.com/art/Sam-s-shears-648212615">Sam's shears</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 14 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/11/14/do-the-nazgul-barrow-wights-and-dead-men-of-dunharrow-have-physical-bodies/">Do the Nazgûl, Barrow wights, and Dead Men of Dunharrow have Physical Bodies?</a>’</b><br />
Interesting reflections from Michael Martinez on this question. Personally I disagree with his assessment of the Ringwraiths, who certainly <i>did</i> have physical bodies, and while they may not have been ‘living’ in the normal sense, they were definitely not ‘dead’ in <i>any</i> sense (I even presented at the Oxonmoot on this very topic). As for the Barrow-wights, I think they are, to some extent, caught up between the earlier tradition in the independent poem about Tom Bombadil, and the later tradition making them servants of the Witch-king. The Dead Men of Dunharrow were indeed dead and had no physical bodies. Thus they could simply float across the water at Pelargir contrary to the Ringwraiths at the Ford of Bruinen where there physical bodies were caught in the flood.<br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Thursday, 17 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/11/17/what-were-the-seven-stars-elendil-brought-to-middle-earth/">What Were the Seven Stars Elendil brought to Middle-earth?</a>’</b><br />
An interesting heraldic discussion ...<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 21 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/11/21/could-sauron-have-unmade-the-one-ring/">Could Sauron have Unmade the One Ring?</a>’</b><br />
I do recommend these posts by Michael Martinez, whose knowledge of Tolkien's writings, as well as of Tolkien criticism, is very great. Quite often Michael's answers fall in that category where the story internal, or Ardalogical, answer requires an amount of acute critical reading as well, and thus these small essays are not just relevant for those wanting to know ‘what really happened’. <br />
<br />
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<h2><a name="08_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Tom Harper, <i>British Library: Maps</i>, ‘<a href="http://www.bl.uk/maps/articles/what-is-a-fantasy-map#">What is a fantasy map?</a>’</b><br />
Brilliant article on fantasy maps. And yes, Tolkien does of course get a mention.<br />
<br />
<b>Richard Derdzinski (galadhon), ‘<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/">Tolknięty</a>’</b><br />
Derdzinski is pursuing Tolkien's German roots in Danzig (now Gdansk in Poland). While this blog in general is in Polish, the posts on Tolkien's ancestry are in English and can be found using the tag “<a href="http://tolkniety.blogspot.com/search/label/Tolkien%20Ancestry">Tolkien Ancestry</a>”.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2> These are blogs you really should
be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br /> Contents from
these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://orig10.deviantart.net/92ec/f/2016/312/0/9/taniquetil_by_peet-danrjs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://orig10.deviantart.net/92ec/f/2016/312/0/9/taniquetil_by_peet-danrjs3.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Taniquetil</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from November 2016</a> – Rateliff has recently been investigating biographical dramatizations of Tolkien's life, and there are some further posts on this topic that are not listed in the above. <br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jonathan S. McIntosh, ‘<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/">The Flame Imperishable</a>’<br />
<a href="http://jonathansmcintosh.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Robin Anne Reid, <a href="https://robin-anne-reid.dreamwidth.org/">her blog</a><br />
<a href="https://robin-anne-reid.dreamwidth.org/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_11_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from November 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/11/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_sources">Sources</a></h2> New sources in November 2016<br />
<br /> For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>
Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-64943450452257673802016-11-06T00:39:00.000+01:002016-11-06T00:39:46.027+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXXIV<h2>October 2016</h2>
There is nothing new, really. Except, perhaps, that I have managed (apparently without any permanent injury) to pass, as my children lovingly remind me, a farthing score decades …. Personally I like the slow polysyllabic distinguishedness to semicentenarian :) Tolkien obviously featured on my wish list, and my own present for myself, Jenny Dolfen's brilliant <i>Songs of Sorrow and Hope</i> arrived just a few days after, with more to appear at a later date. My pre-order of the second edition of Scull & Hammond's <i>J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide</i> probably being last to arrive as it will not be released until September next. <br />
As in other recent months, you will find quite few posts with thorough commentary, some with some small commentary, and many with no commentary at all from my part. As long as nobody interprets my silence as consent, this shouldn't be a huge problem (something with which you disagree can sometimes be more enlightening than something you just nod to). <br />
As always, I claim nothing about newness (items dating back more than three years), completeness (but I do proudly claim <i>in</i>completeness!), relevance, or any other implication of responsibility :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a>
(Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following
headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_beren">1: Beren and Lúthien</a><br />
<a href="#01_news">2: The Bodley Medal</a><br />
<a href="#01_news">3: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">4: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">5: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">6: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">7: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">8: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">9: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">10: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">11: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_print">12: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">13: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">14: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">15: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-V-642968125" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig12.deviantart.net/4466/f/2016/304/b/0/leaf_by_niggle_v_by_riana_art-damt1dp.jpg" width="450"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaf by Niggle V</i><br />
by Riana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_beren"><i>Beren and Lúthien</i></a></h2>
On the 18th and 19th of October, the news hit the Tolkien world that the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers were going to issue a stand-alone edition of the story of Beren and Lúthien, <i>Beren and Lúthien</i> in May 2017. Obviously this has been widely commented and shared, and a full list of articles is both impractical and impossible. Therefore I will share only a few links, and explain what sets these apart. <br />
<br />
<b>Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull, Wednesday, 19 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien/">Beren and Lúthien</a>’</b><br />
Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull were the first of the Tolkien world to comment on this, and their unrivalled Tolkien expertise along with their good relations with both the Estate and the publishers ensure that their comments are always worth reading.<br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, Wednesday, 19 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien-a-centenary-publication/">Beren and Lúthien, a centenary publication</a>’</b><br />
The recognised expert on the earliest years of Tolkien's writing career, including the writing of <i>The Book of Lost Tales</i>, John's musings on the possible contents of the upcoming <i>Beren and Lúthien</i> are highly interesting!<br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>LotR Plaza</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78974-Beren-and-Lu%CC%81thien-Five-Questions">Beren and Lúthien: Five Questions</a>’</b><br />
Philologist Nelson Goering's five-question FAQ about <i>Beren and Lúthien</i> is excellent, and the ensuing discussion thread makes this an even better read.<br />
<br />
<b>Troels Forchhammer, Wednesday, 19 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/2016/10/on-beren-and-luthien.html">On Beren and Lúthien</a>’</b><br />
My own musings on the possible contents of the book (including some comments on what some of the above had said) are supplemented with a long list of references, updated as of 5 November, including many news articles of ... variable worth. The links are grouped, and the main articles should be possible to read (they include, of course, all of the articles listed above).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_bodley">The Bodley Medal</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-I-641585552" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig01.deviantart.net/a9ee/f/2016/296/2/6/leaf_by_niggle_i_by_riana_art-dalzekw.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaf by Niggle I</i><br />
by Riana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another piece of news to hit us this month was the announcement that the Bodleian Libraries have decided to award Christopher Tolkien with the Bodley Medal “for bringing his father's literary legacy to the public”. This honour is richly deserved for Christopher Tolkien's work as both scholar and editor and both my warm congratulations and sincere gratitude go out to Mr Tolkien for his great work!<br />
<br />
The official description states that “The Bodley Medal is awarded by the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the worlds in which the Bodleian is active including literature, culture, science and communication.” To say that Christopher Tolkien has made an outstanding contribution seems to me a bit of an understatement, actually.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Bodleian Libraries, Thursday, 3 November 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/news/2016/nov-03">Editor and Scholar Christopher Tolkien awarded Bodley Medal</a>’</b><br />
Though it wasn't published until 3 November, I believe that the official announcement from the Bodleian Libraries belongs here (don't be surprised to see it again next month, though :-) ).<br />
<br />
<b>Natasha Onwuemezi, <i>The Bookseller</i>, Monday, 31 October 2016, ‘<a href="www.thebookseller.com/news/christopher-tolkien-awarded-bodley-medal-424211">Christopher Tolkien awarded the Bodley Medal</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 31 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/10/christopher-tolkien-awarded-bodley-medal/">Christopher Tolkien awarded Bodley Medal</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Leah Schnelbach, <i>TOR.com</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/10/20/gandalf-street-magic-brings-david-blaines-magic-to-middle-earth/">Gandalf Brings Street Magic to Middle-earth!</a>’</b><br />
Just for fun ...<br />
<br />
<b><i>Blackmore Vale Magazine</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/on-this-day-it-will-be-61-years-since-return-of-the-king-was-published/story-29826931-detail/story.html">On This Day... it will be 61 years since The Return of the King was published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tamlyn Jones, <i>Birmingham Mail</i>, Friday, 21 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/jrr-tolkiens-childhood-church-added-12053959">JRR Tolkien's childhood church added to 'At Risk' register</a>’</b><br />
About parts of the Birmingham Oratory being deemed as ‘in danger’ by Historic England (a UK public body).<br />
See also <b><i>Express & Star</i>, Monday, 24 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2016/10/24/jrr-tolkiens-childhood-church-on-at-risk-list/">JRR Tolkien's childhood church on 'at risk' list</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="04_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Friday, 28 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/wessexmoot-2016/">Wessexmoot 2016</a>’</b><br />
About the 2016 ‘Wessexmoot’ on 22 October.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 November)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
Andy MacDonald, <i>A Little Bit of Stone</i>, Monday, 3 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://alittlebitofstone.com/2016/10/03/exhibition-celebrates-tolkiens-link-staffordshire/">Exhibition celebrates Tolkien's link with Staffordshire</a>’<br />
<i>Lichfield Mercury </i>, Monday, 31 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/a-treat-for-fans-of-lord-of-the-rings-as-jrr-tolkien-exhibition-heads-to-lichfield/story-29843895-detail/story.html">A treat for fans of Lord of the Rings as JRR Tolkien exhibition heads to Lichfield</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>5 November 2016, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/not-oxonmoot-moot/">Not Oxonmoot-moot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>5 November 2016, Champaign, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://tolkienconference.com/">Urbana Theological Seminary: fifth annual Tolkien conference</a>’, Urbana Theological Seminary</b><br />
<br />
<b>10 November 2016, The British Library, London, ‘<a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/fantastic-maps-from-winnie-the-pooh-to-game-of-thrones">Fantastic Maps: From Winnie the Pooh to Game of Thrones</a>’, The British Library</b><br />
<br />
<b>11 November 2016, Liverpool Hope University, ‘<a href="http://www.hope.ac.uk/tolkienday/">Tolkien Day 2016</a>’, Liverpool Hope University</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 December 2016, The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/yulemoot-2016/">Yulemoot 2016</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 January 2017, World-wide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>11–14 May 2017, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, ‘<a href="https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo)</a>’, Western Michigan University, Medieval Institute</b><br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<b>3–6 July 2017, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, University of Leeds, Institute for Medieval Studies</b><br />
<br />
<b>28–31 July 2017, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-48.htm">Mythcon 48</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="05_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>Markus Altena Davidsen, <i>Academia.edu</i>, date unknown, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/25302152/The_Spiritual_Tolkien_Milieu_A_Study_of_Fiction_based_Religion_full_text_">The Spiritual Tolkien Milieu: A Study of Fiction-based Religion</a>’</b><br />
A dissertation for the doctor's degree at the University of Leiden (The Netherlands). The author's own description is as follows:<br />
“This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the organisation and development of the spiritual Tolkien milieu, a largely online-situated network of individuals and groups that draw on J.R.R. Tolkien's literary mythology for spiritual inspiration. It is the first academic treatment of Tolkien spirituality and one of the first monographs on fiction-based religion, a type of religion that uses fiction as authoritative texts. Adopting a semiotic approach to religion, the book raises questions about the persuasive power of narrative, about religious blending, and about rationalisation of beliefs. How can some readers come to believe that supernatural agents from fictional narratives are real? How do fiction-based religions emerge when their authoritative texts lack important religious building-blocks, such as descriptions of rituals? And how do adherents of fiction-based religions legitimise their beliefs, given the fact that their religion is based on fiction? In short, with Tolkien religion as a case the dissertation aims to uncover the semiotic structures and processes involved in the construction and maintenance of fiction-based religion, and the social structures that sup¬port the plausibility of such religion.”<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Hurin-of-the-Keys-638992771" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img04.deviantart.net/da76/i/2016/282/b/4/hurin_of_the_keys_by_peet-dakftz7.jpg" width="250"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hurin of the Keys</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Emine Çiftçi, <i>Academia.edu</i>, date unknown, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/25704055/The_Sings_of_On_Fairy_Stories_by_J.R.R._Tolkien_in_Alices_Adventures_in_Wonderland_and_Peter_Pan">The Signs of <i>On Fairy Stories</i> by J.R.R. Tolkien in <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i> and <i>Peter Pan</i></a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Kevin Hensler, <i>Academia.edu</i>, date unknown, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/26233510/Consideration_of_Gender-Embodiment_in_the_Works_of_J.R.R._Tolkien-Conference_Abridgement.doc">Consideration of Gender-Embodiment in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien – Conference Abridgement</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Stephen Mirarchi, <i>Academia.edu</i>, date unknown, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/27247743/Intellect_Will_and_Assent_in_Tolkiens_The_Lord_of_the_Rings._St._Austin_Review_16_4_July_August_2016_22-26">Intellect, Will, and Assent in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. <i>St. Austin Review</i> 16:4 (July/August 2016): 22-26.</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Thomas Honegger, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Tuesday, 5 April 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/24071144/We_dont_need_another_hero_Problematic_Heroes_and_their_Function_in_Some_of_Tolkiens_Works">'We don't need another hero' – Problematic Heroes and their Function in Some of Tolkien's Works</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Thomas Honegger, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Saturday, 8 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/28998191/FASTITOCALON_Studies_in_Fantasticism_Ancient_to_Modern_Vol._VI_2016_FANTASTIC_ANIMALS_ANIMALS_IN_THE_FANTASTIC_Issue_1_and_2">‘Fantastic Animals, Animals in the Fantastic’, <i>Fastitocalon – Studies in Fantasticism Ancient to Modern</i> Vol. VI, 2016, Issue 1 & 2</a>’</b><br />
The editorial introduction to this issue of <i>Fastitocalon</i> dealing with animals in relation to the fantastic.<br />
<br />
<b>Kris Swank, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Monday, 10 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/29053524/_The_Irish_Otherworld_Voyage_of_Roverandom_">The Irish Otherworld Voyage of Roverandom</a>’</b><br />
The slides from a presentation. The abstract reads: ‘Signum University M.A. graduate Kris Swank discusses her thesis, “The Irish Otherworld Voyage of Roverandom,” in which she reads Tolkien's children's story, Roverandom, as a modern immram, a type of medieval Irish tale concerned with a sea-voyage to the Otherworld. View the entire presentation @ <a href="https://youtu.be/TNvkhtTaVXw">https://youtu.be/TNvkhtTaVXw</a>‘<br />
<br />
<b><i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 23 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/10/the-mandrake-plant-and-six-anglo-saxon-cures/">The Mandrake Plant and Six Anglo-Saxon Cures</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Debby Banham and Christine Voth, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 23 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/10/the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-wounds-in-the-old-english-medical-collections-anglo-saxon-surgery/">The Diagnosis and Treatment of Wounds in the Old English Medical Collections: Anglo-Saxon Surgery?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>John Garth, <i>Oxford Today</i>, Saturday, 1 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/opinion/teaching-tolkien-nevada-former-ot-digital-editor-john-garth-his-move-las-vegas#">Teaching Tolkien in Nevada: Former OT digital editor John Garth on his move to Las Vegas</a>’</b><br />
John Garth tells the story of his year in the USA – or at least some of it. Tolkien, Las Vegas, USA and Garth's excellent journalistic (and storytelling) command of the language blend to a fine article.<br />
<br />
<b>David Russell Mosley, <i>Patheos</i>, Monday, 3 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/elflandletters/2016/10/03/can-christians-believe-myths-looking-to-tolkien-for-some-answers/">Can Christians Believe Myths? Looking to Tolkien for Some Answers</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Wednesday, 12 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/10/12/first-in-october/">First in October</a>’</b><br />
The reading group is on book V of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, discussing ‘The Siege of Gondor’ and ‘The Ride of the Rohirrim’ (though, having much to say about the former, they only just got started on the latter).<br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Thursday, 13 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/10/belloc-versus-tolkien-two-views-anglo-saxon-england-joseph-pearce.html">Belloc versus Tolkien: Two Views of Anglo-Saxon England</a>’</b><br />
Spurred by a comment in the memoirs of Jesuit Fr. Martin D'Arcy, Joseph Pearce comments on two opposing views of, particularly, the importance of Anglo-Saxon culture on English Christianity.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Friday, 28 October 2016, ‘<a href="alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/10/for-some-only-glimpse-for-some-awaking.html">'For some the only glimpse. For some the awaking.'</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/photos/a.541699285976225.1073741828.541572972655523/978455432300606/?type=3&theater" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14484595_978455432300606_2428531943872772073_n.jpg?oh=a3f3bb9cd4843d89c246afebdf885c49&oe=58D03E6A" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mûmak</i><br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="07_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Arwen Kester, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Monday, 3 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/10/03/the-proverbs-of-middle-earth-by-david-rowe/">The Proverbs of Middle-earth, By David Rowe</a>’</b><br />
A pre-review of David Rowe's <i>The Proverbs of Middle-earth</i> from Oloris Publishing.<br />
<br />
<b>Wayne Hammond & Christina Scull, Tuesday, 4 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/tolkien-companion-and-guide-2nd-ed/"><i>Tolkien Companion and Guide</i> 2nd Ed.</a>’</b><br />
A second, updated and expanded, edition is being published on 7 September next year. I have pre-ordered (need I say more :-) )<br />
See also <b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 5 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/10/second-edition-of-tolkien-companion-and-guide-announced/">Second edition of “Tolkien Companion and Guide” announced</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 4 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/10/tolkien-lewis-film.html">"TOLKIEN & LEWIS" film</a>’</b><br />
A review of the <i>Tolkien and Lewis</i> documentary.<br />
<br />
<b>Arwen Kester, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Thursday, 6 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/10/06/kings-queens-and-halflings-a-historian-looks-at-middle-earth-by-david-cofield/">Kings, Queens, and Halflings: A Historian Looks at Middle-earth, by David Cofield</a>’</b><br />
On the release of <i>Kings, Queens, and Halflings: A Historian Looks at Middle-earth</i> by David Cofield from Oloris Publishing<br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Wednesday, 12 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2016/10/my-book-from-shire-to-sea-is-now-in.html#.WB0KldIrLDc">My book "From The Shire To The Sea" released...</a>’</b><br />
Oloris Publishing has published the art book by Joe Gilronan, <i>From The Shire To The Sea</i><br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Saturday, 15 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/10/15/artbook-news-feat-maglors-g-string/">ARTBOOK NEWS (FEAT. MAGLOR'S G-STRING)</a>’</b><br />
About the hardback copies of <i>Songs of Sorrow and Hope</i> and a little production glitch ... (spot the issue with Maglor's G-string on the second to bottom book depicted). I have my copy on my shelves to enjoy whenever I wish :-) <br />
<br />
<b>Janet Brennan Croft, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Tuesday, 18 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/29218443/Seven_v._32_and_Waymeet_for_Tolkien_Teachers">Seven v. 32 and Waymeet for Tolkien Teachers</a>’</b><br />
A double review from issue 129 of <i>Mythlore</i> <br />
<br />
<b>Kris Swank, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Tuesday, 18 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/29222863/Book_Reviews_Mythlore_129_-_The_Surprising_Imagination_of_C.S._Lewis_An_Introduction_and_Ransoming_the_Wasteland_Papers_on_C.S._Lewiss_Space_Trilogy_Chronicles_of_Narnia_and_Other_Works_?campaign=upload_email">Book Reviews (Mythlore 129) - "The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis: An Introduction" and "Ransoming the Wasteland: Papers on C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, Chronicles of Narnia, and Other Works"</a>’</b><br />
Another double review from issue 129 of <i>Mythlore</i><br />
<br />
<b>Kris Swank, Wednesday, 19 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://www.academia.edu/8723548/_The_Voyage_of_the_Dawn_Treader_and_the_voyage_of_Roverandom_">The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the voyage of Roverandom</a>’</b><br />
Kris Swank's paper for Mythmoot III in 2015, in which she “Compares C.S. Lewis’ 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' and J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Roverandom,' and the influence on both of medieval Irish immrama”.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythlore/mythlore-129.htm">Mythlore 129 published, Table of Contents available</a>’</b><br />
See also <b>Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016/10/mythlore-129-published.html">Mythlore 129 published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Friday, 21 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2016/10/review-jrr-tolkien-robert-e-howard-and.html">REVIEW: J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and the Birth of Modern Fantasy by Deke Parsons</a>’</b><br />
The short version: the book left Wise ‘feeling distinctly underwhelmed.’<br />
<br />
<b>John Rateliff, Wednesday, 26 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-new-arrival-2017-tolkien-calendar.html">The New Arrival (2017 Tolkien Calendar)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Saturday, 29 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/10/a-sinister-student/">a sinister student</a>’</b><br />
About the latest in the series of murder mysteries by Kel Richards, an Australian radio broadcaster and crime novelist, featuring C.S. Lewis as the detective.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="08_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Joe Gilronan, <i>FineArtAmerica</i>, Sunday, 25 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/bilbo-baggins-joe-gilronan.html">Bilbo Baggins</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tobi, <i>John Howe: Flavour of the Month</i>, Wednesday, 5 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6521">Trees Company</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 8 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Hurin-of-the-Keys-638992771">Hurin of the Keys</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, </i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 8 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Earendil-and-Elwing-638996237">Eárendil and Elwing</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, Sunday, 9 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2016/10/mr-beard/">Mr Beard</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>CaroB, <i>John Howe: Flavour of the Month</i>, Monday, 10 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6523">Ent</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Friday, 14 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Arvedui-and-Firiel-639931255">Arvedui and Firiel</a>’</b><br />
I am growing quite fond of Elena Kukanova's style ... <br />
<br />
<b>User ‘persian-pirate’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 14 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://persian-pirate.deviantart.com/art/Hobbits-640077503">Hobbits</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ambra Bigot, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 16 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://wormholepaintings.deviantart.com/art/Sleeping-Smaug-640498321">Sleeping Smaug...</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Stewart, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 17 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://el-ste.deviantart.com/art/Galadriel-640649264">Galadriel</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>James Turner Mohan, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://turnermohan.deviantart.com/art/Telerin-Portrait-641128781">Telerin Portrait</a>’</b><br />
A ‘maiden of Alqualondë’.<br />
<br />
<b>User ‘annamare’, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 20 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://annamare.deviantart.com/art/The-First-Elves-Cuivienyarna-641163023">The First Elves – Cuivienyarna</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-III-642471636" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig03.deviantart.net/381f/f/2016/301/d/d/leaf_by_niggle_iii_by_riana_art-damieac.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leaf by Niggle III</i><br />
by Riana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Riana, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Saturday, 22 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-I-641585552">Leaf by Niggle I</a>’</b><br />
First of three images by Riana. See comments under the third (numbered ‘V’).<br />
<br />
<b>Sergiu, <i>John Howe: Flavour of the Month</i>, Saturday, 22 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6525">Tree</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 23 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/PROJECT-LOTR-landscapes-641783468">PROJECT LOTR - landscapes</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 24 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Morgoth-641930603">Morgoth</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, <i>FineArtAmerica</i>, Monday, 24 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/good-morning-gandalf-joe-gilronan.html">Good Morning Gandalf</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 24 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/152243808940/curiosity-killed-the-cat-grishnak-monoprint">Curiosity killed the cat. Grishnak </a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Norloth, <i>John Howe: Flavour of the Month</i>, Tuesday, 25 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6528">Come back to me and say my land is fair</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Tuesday, 25 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/Gollum-s-Cave-in-the-Mountains-642132064">Gollum's Cave in the Mountains</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Francesca Baerald, Wednesday, 26 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://francescabaerald.deviantart.com/art/Map-of-Middle-Earth-Lord-of-the-Rings-642266670">Map of Middle Earth - Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
Wow!<br />
<br />
<b>Riana, </i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 27 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-III-642471636">Leaf by Niggle III</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Riana, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 30 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://riana-art.deviantart.com/art/Leaf-by-Niggle-V-642968125">Leaf by Niggle V</a>’</b><br />
I really like these three illustrations for Tolkien's allegorical story, <i>Leaf by Niggle</i>. Riana captures something of the essence of the story in this pictures, the first capturing the obsession of Niggle, the second one of the key moments of the story (the two voices), and the third perfectly summarises the final scene – and particularly the indifference shown by Tompkins and Perkins ... Niggle, who?<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_ardalogy"></a>Story Internal (Ardalogy)</h2>
I do love the attempts to wring out everything from a single sentence, that is at the heart of many story internal discussions. What really happens at this or that point in the story? What is this or that character's personality in this aspect? <br />
Attempts to answer such questions can only rarely stay within the story itself, but will often need to employ various tips and tricks from the toolbox of literary analysis and critique, but always with a view to try to understand better the author's intention with some minute detail. <br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 13 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/10/hob-hayward-robin-smallburrow-and-words.html">Hob Hayward, Robin Smallburrow, and the Words of Gildor Inglorion</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 16 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/10/as-one-that-returneth-from-dead-lost.html">As One That Returneth from the Dead</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Ian Spittlehouse, Saturday, 1 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://blueplaque-tolkien-in-leeds.blogspot.com/2016/10/tolkien-and-gordon-leeds-connection.html">Tolkien and Gordon, the Leeds connection</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Friday, 21 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/10/memory-battle-somme-joseph-pearce.html">In Memory of The Battle of The Somme</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Other Minds Magazine</i>, Sunday, 23 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.othermindsmagazine.com/news/other-minds-issue-16-published">Other Minds Issue 16 Published!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>‘Hawke’, Sunday, 30 October 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienscholars.org/news/adventures-in-middle-earth-d-d-5e-tolkien-based-gaming">Adventures in Middle-earth D&D 5e Tolkien-based Gaming</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78963-Middle-Earth-s-Noldor-Population-in-Third-Age">Middle-Earth's Noldor Population in Third Age</a>’</b> [sic]<br />
Starting from the question of the Noldorin population in Middle-earth at some point in the Third Age, the discussion moves on to the question of the meaning of the word <i>High-elf</i> (and derivatives). While inconclusive, this kind of thing is interesting also in that it shows that Tolkien's usage was not always consistent – not even within a single work such as <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> (an inconsistency which Tolkien acknowledged in the index).<br />
<br />
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78786-A-Secret-Vice">A Secret Vice</a>’</b><br />
Discussions of the interpretations of this book continue with valuable input …<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_print">In Print</a></h2>
<b><i>Amon Hen</i> issue 261, October 2016, Andrew Butler (ed.), The Tolkien Society.</b><br />
I had the opportunity to sit down and read through this issue of <i>Amon Hen</i> more thoroughly than I have with a number of earlier issues, and I quite enjoyed it. The most important column, by far, for me is ‘Behind Glass Doors’ (reporting on the committee work). A number of other regular columns report on other activities of the Society, such as e.g. ‘The Burning Palantír’ which reports on antics of the Tolkien Society Facebook group, and not least ‘Michael's Miscellany’ which discusses mentions of Tolkien in the general press, and which, with its broader scope, in my own not-too-humble opinion serves as a fine supplement to my own transactions.<br />
This issue also featured an supplement to Michael Flowers' own report on his Inaugural East Yorkshire Tolkien Tour, this one by Catherine Thorn, who didn't feel any restraint in praising the organisers, and Michael in particular, for what was, by all accounts, a truly brilliant experience.<br />
Irina Metzler has written an article, ‘Eloi and Morlocks: The Inspiration for All Things Eldar and Mordor?’, arguing that Tolkien was inspired by the Eloi and Morlocks in Well's <i>The Time Machine</i> for the Elvish roots EL and MOR. The article is well written and interesting, but ultimately not very convincing given the numerous earlier appearances of these phonetic elements in related senses, a tradition that both Wells and Tolkien tapped into, though for Tolkien Wells was of course a (relatively recent) part of that tradition.<br />
Kristine Larsen wrote about polarised moon light in ‘Do Dwarves Wear Their Sunglasses at Night? Pondering the Science of Moon-letters’, which suggests that the moon-letters could be explained (or perhaps rather modelled) scientifically by the polarisation of the light reflected by the moon.<br />
The second part of Angela Nichol's ‘The Tragedy of Arvedui and Its Relevance to <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>’ also appears in this issue, which may, or may not, bring her investigations of Arvedui to a close. While there is little new to people who have carefully read <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, it is good to see the book being read with this kind of attention to detail and this kind of analytical approach.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016/10/mythprint-378-published.html"><i>Mythprint</i> no. 378, Fall 2016</a>, Megan Abrahamson (ed.), The Mythopoeic Society.</b><br />
Mythcon, Mythcon and Mythcon … and a few reviews, including Ryder W. Miller's review of <i>Tolkien Among the Moders</i> by Ralph C. Wood (ed.).<br />
<br />
<b><i>Beyond Bree</i> October 2016, Nancy Martsch (ed.), The American Mensa Tolkien Special Interest Group</b><br />
I haven't had time to look through my copy of <i>Beyond Bree</i> this month and there is, unfortunately, no table of contents from which I might at least get an overview.<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Earendil-and-Elwing-638996237" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig15.deviantart.net/eed4/f/2016/282/d/c/earendil_and_elwing_by_peet-dakfwnh.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eárendil and Elwing</a>’</b><br /></i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>‘<a href="http://www.bl.uk/maps">British Library Maps Collection</a>’</b><br />
I don't know if it's for being a Scout ... or a scientist ... or a Tolkienist, but I do love maps and I know a lot of other people who do so as well, including many other Tolkien enthusiasts, so therefore …. <br />
Not least, check out this great article: <b>Tom Harper, <i>Bristh Library – Maps</i>, ‘<a href="http://www.bl.uk/maps/articles/what-is-a-fantasy-map">What is a fantasy map?</a>’</b><br />
And yes, Tolkien does get mentioned along with a lot of other fantasy map makers.<br />
<br />
<b>Edward Platt, <i>aeon</i>, 25 july 2013, ‘<a href="https://aeon.co/essays/why-lost-civilisations-under-the-waves-still-fascinate-us">Out of the deep</a>’</b><br />
“From Atlantis to Noah's Ark, we have long been drawn to stories of submerged lands. What lies beneath the flood myths?”<br />
I'll also put this old article here about the attraction of (some might say obsession with) flood and submersion narratives. The article doesn't mention Tolkien or Númenórë, but it deals with a tradition into which Tolkien's own flood narrative fits nicely. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="14_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in
Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that
I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However,
you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog
has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some
cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<br />
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too
Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from
October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's
Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October
2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's
Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October
2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/">
<i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss3/">Archive
of contributions for the on-going volume 3, issue 3</a> – no new articles in October 2016.<br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October
2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts
from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The
Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html">Archive of
posts from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from
October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hillman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's
The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_10_01_archive.html">Archive
of posts from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/10/">Archive of posts from October 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="15_sources">Sources</a></h2>
No new sources in October 2016<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/photos/a.541699285976225.1073741828.541572972655523/977605625718920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14517418_977605625718920_7129466633362722593_n.jpg?oh=417e3ba9a9448737ee7a75e97856f7be&oe=58889E19" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nazgûl and Galadriel</i><br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-23432605291803628742016-10-19T23:46:00.002+02:002016-11-05T17:26:27.441+01:00On Beren and Lúthien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://wayneandchristina.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/beren-and-luthien-wip-2.jpg?w=199&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://wayneandchristina.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/beren-and-luthien-wip-2.jpg?w=199&h=300" width="131" /></a></div>
I am sure that you have all heard that there will be a new book out in May next year, <i>Beren and Lúthien</i> will be published in 4 May, within weeks of the centenary of the event where young Edith danced for John Ronald near Roos in the spring of 1917 (see e.g. Michael Flowers' excellent analysis, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2014/06/a-hemlock-by-any-other-name/" target="_blank">A Hemlock by any other name…</a>’). Personally, I am already thinking of this book as ‘the Centenary Edition’.<br />
<br />
Not much is known at this point, and Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull, unsurprisingly, collect the known facts in their <a href="https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien/" target="_blank">blog post on the new book</a>. John Garth has also produced <a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien-a-centenary-publication/" target="_blank">an excellent blog post</a> on the book, summarising, <i>inter alia</i>, what material Christopher Tolkien is likely to draw from.<br />
<br />
When you've read these two blog posts, you probably will not need to read the rest of mine (except, perhaps, to be nice to me :-) ).<br />
<br />
The book will start with the story in ‘its original form’, which Hammond & Scull presume will be the version published in <i>The Book of Lost Tales 2</i> (though I will retain some small hope that it has proven possible to reconstruct some of the deleted pencil version under the published ink-version ...).<br />
<br />
Then we will get ‘passages in prose and verse from later texts that illustrate the narrative as it changed.’ I assume – and very much hope – that this will be commented, and that Christopher Tolkien will take the opportunity to take a more ‘longitudinal’ view on the story, rather than the more ‘transversal’ view employed in <i>The History of Middle-earth</i>. By this, I mean the emphasis on the individual story and its evolution, contextualising the story amid earlier and later versions rather than amid the stage in the evolution of the legendarium to which it belongs.<br />
<br />
Such an approach could possibly belong in the same scholarly tradition as Gergely Nagy's paper ‘The great chain of reading: (Inter-)textual relations and the technique of mythopoesis in the Túrin story’ in Jane Chance's (ed) <i>Tolkien the Medievalist</i> (Routledge 2003). Not (at least I would consider that quite unlikely) in the research points being made in the paper, but in the study of the variations of a single of the great stories.<br />
<br />
And that is about it – nothing little more is known, really, though at least a little more may be said.<br />
<br />
First, this book will not be anything like <i>The Children of Húrin</i>. I have seen a number of comments suggesting that some readers think that they will get something of that sort, but I am afraid that these are going to be disappointed. It seems likely that the book will be more accessible to the non-academic reader than <i>The History of Middle-earth</i>, but it will not be a self-contained narrative other than the promised full text of the original version, and personally I would be rather disappointed, if it is not accompanied by some notes and commentary by Christopher Tolkien on the evolution of the story. <br />
<br />
Changes in style, form, and even changes in plot, show-case Tolkien's own changing ideas and opinions on literary aesthetics, ethics, etc., and these deserve to be contextualised by the person who is best able to do so. Here I am reminded of some Carl Hostetter's points in his paper, ‘<a href="http://www.elvish.org/articles/" target="_blank">Elvish as She is Spoke</a>’, and I believe that just as Tolkien's changing <i>linguistic</i> ideas and tastes are reflected in the evolution of his invented languages, so are his changing <i>literary</i> ideas and tastes (among other things) reflected in the evolution of the great stories.<br />
<br />
Whether there will be any new material seems at this point doubtful, but I will not give up hope entirely until I have the book in hand. John Garth has some intriguing speculations, and I would like nothing better than for this to be the case, but I have to admit that I doubt it, as news outlets claim that the texts for this book have been extracted from <i>The History of Middle-earth</i> to be presented in this new context, and they quote the HarperCollins press release as saying that the stories are here ‘presented together for the first time’.<br />
<br />
Another possible source for new material might be in relation to the more personal aspect – for instance quotations from Tolkien's diaries from 1917, or from letters to his children about the 1917 incident or about the personal significance of the story. Such things would also be a dream come true.<br />
<br />
<b>Update 1 (2016-10-20)</b>:<br />
The description at the HarperCollins product page (see below), is somewhat confusing. The description first mentions something “Painstakingly restored from Tolkien’s manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story”, and later has the description of first presenting the story in “its original form” before moving on to present “passages in prose and verse from later texts that illustrate the narrative as it changed.” These two descriptions seem to me oddly inconsistent – certainly if the idea of the ‘original form’, as suggested by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull, refers to the version given in <i>The Book of Lost Tales 2</i>.<br />
<br />
Discussing this on Facebook, John Garth has suggested that he feels “all the more strongly that something derived from the texts behind the 1937 "Quenta Silmarillion" offers the best fit for the description – an "epic tale of Beren and Lúthien" that has been "painstakingly restored from Tolkien’s manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story". And that does sound rather like Christopher's method in "The Children of Húrin", doesn't it?”<br />
<br />
This seems a good guess, and it certainly fits the descriptions better than reproducing the Tale of Tinúviel from <i>The Book of Lost Tales 2</i>, though it would require a rather special interpretation of the word ‘original’ as used in the description. This would of course also make the connection to the centenary of the original event somewhat more tenuous (which I think would be a great shame), and, as John Garth also points out, it would make the choice of ‘passages in prose and verse from later texts’ rather less impressive, as the later texts will then be rather fewer (and with less significant changes).<br />
<br />
I cannot help but hope for something less akin to the method from <i>The Children of Húrin</i>, as I find the story of Beren and Lúthien (or the Lay of Leithian) to be rather less suited for this treatment. Even if constrained to texts belonging to the creative period that brought us the 1937 ‘Quenta Silmarillion’, this approach will require a degree of conflation and homogenisation that is not, in my opinion, beneficial for our understanding of Tolkien and his own relationship with his mythology.<br />
<br />
Instead, I will – at least for a while longer – keep hoping for a book where the central focus is on the earliest surviving version (the ‘original form’, in my eyes), and then highlighting and describing the author's changing literary thoughts, tastes and ideas through commented samples from the many later versions of the story. Regardless of any new material, that will still be a book, I would be <i>very</i> eager to include in my collection.<br />
<br />
<br />
Links to articles — <i>not</i> an exhaustive list! (updated):<br />
The really good ones:<br />
‘<i><a href="https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien/" target="_blank">Beren and Lúthien</a></i>’, Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, blog post, 2016-10-19<br />
‘<a href="https://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/beren-and-luthien-a-centenary-publication/" target="_blank">Beren and Lúthien, a centenary publication</a>’, John Garth, blog post, 2016-10-19 (updated 2016-10-20)<br />
‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78974-Beren-and-Lu%CC%81thien-Five-Questions" target="_blank">Beren and Lúthien: Five Questions</a>’, Nelson Goering, <i>The LotR Plaza</i>, 2016-10-20<br />
<br />
The official ones:<br />
‘<i><a href="http://www.tolkien.co.uk/product/9780008214197/BEREN+AND+L%C3%9ATHIEN" target="_blank">Beren and Lúthien</a></i>’, HarperCollins product page<br />
‘<a href="http://www.hmhco.com/media-center/press-releases/2016/october/jrr-tolkien-beren-and-luthien" target="_blank">Return to Middle-Earth for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt</a>’, press release, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016-10-19<br />
<br />
The first:<br />
‘<a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/new-tolkien-tale-come-hc-2017-414541" target="_blank">New Tolkien tale to come from HC in 2017</a>’, <i>The Bookseller</i> (staff), 2016-10-18<br />
<br />
Alison Flood in <i>The Guardian</i> has a long history of well-informed reporting on Tolkien matters:<br />
‘<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/19/jrr-tolkiens-middle-earth-love-story-published-beren-and-luthien" target="_blank">JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth love story to be published next year</a>’, Alison Flood, <i>The Guardian</i>, 2016-10-19<br />
<br />
The Tolkien Society<br />
‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/10/new-tolkien-book-beren-and-luthien/" target="_blank">New Tolkien book: Beren and Lúthien</a>’, Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, 2016-10-19<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Some small subset of the rest ....<br />
Wednesday, 19th October 2016<br />
‘<a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/19/jrr-tolkien-beren-and-luthien-2017" target="_blank">J.R.R. Tolkien's <i>Beren and Lúthien</i> to be published in 2017</a>’, Christian Holub, <i>Entertainment Weekly</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/new-jrr-tolkien-book--beren-and-luthien-to-be-published-in-2017/" target="_blank">New JRR Tolkien book Beren and Lúthien to be published in 2017</a>’, Tristram Fane Saunders, <i>The Telegraph</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tolkien-beren-luthien-book_us_58078560e4b0dd54ce369376" target="_blank">New Tolkien Book Will Tell The Sweetest, Most Middle Earth Love Story Of All Time</a>’, Claire Fallon, <i>Huffington Post</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/10/19/an-illustrated-edition-of-jrr-tolkiens-beren-and-luthien-to-be-published-in-2017/">J.R.R. Tolkien’s Beren and Lúthien Will be Published in 2017</a>’, Stubby the Rocket, <i>TOR.com</i><br />
‘<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/10/19/j-r-r-tolkiens-beren-and-luthien-set-for-publication/">J.R.R. Tolkien's Story, ‘Beren and Lúthien,’ Will Be Published a Century After It Was Written</a>’, Jennifer Maloney, <i>Wall Street Journal (blog)</i><br />
<br />
Thursday, 20th October 2016<br />
‘<a href="http://www.themarysue.com/beren-and-luthien-100-years-later/" target="_blank">HarperCollins is Publishing J.R.R. Tolkien’s <i>Beren and Lu´thien</i>, 100 Years After It Was Written</a>’, Maddy Myers, <i>The Mary Sue</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/lifestyle/2016/10/20/New-J.R.R.-Tolkien-book-coming-in-2017">New J.R.R. Tolkien book coming in 2017</a>’, <i>Sunday Times</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2016/10/20/New-JRR-Tolkien-book-Beren-and-Luthien-to-be-published-in-2017/9581476964549/">New J.R.R. Tolkien book, 'Beren and Luthien,' to be published in 2017</a>’, Sarah Mulé, <i>UPI</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/723417/JRR-Tolkien-Beren-and-Luthien-Middle-Earth-Lord-of-the-Rings-Aragon-Arwen">New Tolkien book announced: Middle-earth love story to be published in 2017</a>’, George Simpson, <i>Express</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2016/10/20/102403-new-edition-of-tolkiens-luthien-and-beren-coming-may-2017/">New edition of Tolkien’s Luthien and Beren coming May 2017</a>’ [sic], ‘Greendragon’, TheOneRing.net<br />
‘<a href="https://ansionnachfionn.com/2016/10/20/j-r-r-tolkiens-stories-of-beren-and-luthien/">J.R.R. Tolkien's Stories of Beren and Lúthien</a>’, Séamas Ó Sionnaigh, An Sionnach Fionn<br />
‘<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/20/13345876/lord-of-the-rings-author-jrr-tolkien-beren-and-luthien">One of J.R.R. Tolkien's oldest stories is being published as a standalone novel</a>’, Andre Liptak, <i>The Verge</i><br />
<br />
Friday, 21st October 2016<br />
‘<a href="https://www.blogger.com/mashable.com/2016/10/21/new-tolkien-book/#_oi5pHGpT5qd">Stop what you're doing and weep with joy, new Tolkien book is coming</a>’, Lindsay Davis, <i>Mashable</i><br />
‘<a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/new-romance-jrr-tolkien-coming-next-year-244605">New romance from J.R.R. Tolkien is coming next year</a>’, Dennis DiClaudio, <i>A.V. Club</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Saturday, 22nd October 2016<br />
‘<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4120372371184097111">Lord of the Rings Spinoff Beren and Lúthien to be Published in 2017</a>’, Alex Osborn, <i>IGN</i><br />
<br />
<br />
‘<a href="http://www.kazakh-tv.kz/en/view/culture/page_176687_new-j-r-r-tolkien-book-to-be-published-100-years-after-it-was-written/">New J.R.R. Tolkien book to be published 100 years after it was written</a>’, <i>Kazakh TV</i>, 2016-10-24<br />
‘<a href="http://www.geek.com/culture/were-set-to-get-a-new-tolkien-book-in-2017-1676741/">We're Set to Get a New Tolkien Book in 2017</a>’, Carli Velocci, <i>Geek.com</i>, 2016-10-25<br />
‘<a href="https://www.inverse.com/article/22783-the-silmarils-are-vital-to-j-r-r-tolkien-s-lost-book-and-middle-earth">Tolkien's Lost Book Is Vital to the History of Middle-Earth</a>’, Caitlin Busch, <i>Inverse</i>, 2016-10-27Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-22125610306431254112016-10-06T12:20:00.001+02:002016-10-06T12:20:19.018+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXIII<h2>September 2016</h2>
I begin to feel that I am copying Tolkien with my perpetual excuses about time – having too much to do and too little time to do it. But a lack of time (or, rather, an excess of things to do) is nonetheless a very real part of my life, so my usual disclaimers apply about newness, completeness and relevance (or any other implication of responsibility) are as pertinent as ever (all errors, omissions, inaccuracies etc. are of course my own). One way that I indent to deal with this is to leave more entries uncommented, and merely trust that you can judge the merits for yourselves :-) <br />
<br />
In September, I was off to Oxonmoot with my daughter, and we had a wonderful time! I do intend to write up some kind of report (I had hoped to have it done by now, but ...) to appear at a later time. Though I am very fond of Frodo, Merry and Pippin, I am somewhat more restrained in my enthusiasm for Hobbits in general, and I the September celebration of hobbit characters is the one Tolkienian event that I don't really care about, but it's good and fine that many enjoy it. October is the month of my own birthday (towards the end of the month), and I am getting to the age of adventure (at least according to Tolkien), so if my blogging suddenly stops within the next year, don't be too alarmed: I may just be off on an adventure and return after a year or two to settle down again.<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news"> 1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events"> 2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar"> 3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments"> 4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books"> 5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art"> 6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy"> 7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other"> 8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions"> 9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_print">10: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">11: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2016/09/starlight-shire.html#.V_FxNvB96Hs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz25tYLF6Z-t4gUMxhk-dCoI3q3nXOcAXo6LQCuIMax3SM_1gKH5i7FgMkE2IFbkHtDtBR5nFeSLzZdqRN5JEVhwXJTpx9pzaz8BGokRw1QPla44DP2EQM9GBOaJmboko0arVgPYViX7o/s1600/fbhobbit.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Starlight Shire</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Swissinfo, Monday, 5 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/cashing-in-on-tolkien-s-switzerland/42415364">Cashing in on Tolkien's Switzerland</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Koshy, <i>New Straits Times</i>, Saturday, 17 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/173857/world-commemorates-death-anniversary-lord-writers-jrr-tolkien">World commemorates death anniversary of Lord of the Writers, JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Clayton Utz, <i>Lexology</i>, Monday, 19 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=70a938f4-cf28-487f-a1f3-5937ff1108c5">One infringement to rule them all: Federal Court finds jewellery infringes copyright in Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
All thoughts of law and justice aside, I cannot help but find it oddly appropriate to rid this world of a few more copies of a symbol of the uttermost evil – symbolic of the desire for power over others, for power to make others into will-less slaves ...<br />
<br />
<b>Arwen Kester, Wednesday, 21 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/09/21/happy-hobbit-day/">Happy Hobbit Day!</a>’</b><br />
See also<br />
<b>Amy Sturgis, Thursday, 22 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com/571672.html">Long live the Halflings!</a>’</b><br />
<b>Marcel Aubron-Bülles, Thursday, 22 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.thetolkienist.com/2016/09/22/happy-birthday-bilbo-frodo-baggins/">Happy Birthday, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins</a>’</b><br />
Well, yeah, happy birthday, Bagginses!<br />
<b>Alya Rehman, <i>USC News</i>, Thursday, 22 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://news.usc.edu/108390/happy-birthday-to-j-r-r-tolkiens-bilbo-and-frodo/">Happy birthday to J. R. R. Tolkien's Bilbo and Frodo</a>’</b><br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Thursday, 22 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/09/happy-hobbit-day.html">Happy Hobbit Day!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bonnie North, <i>WUWM</i>, Monday, 26 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://wuwm.com/post/milwaukee-documentarian-explores-true-myth-tolkien-lewis#stream/0">Milwaukee Documentarian Explores True 'Myth' in 'Tolkien & Lewis'</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">Mythcon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
<br />
<b>3–4 September 2016, Sarehole Mill, UK, ‘<a href="http://www.middleearthfestival.co.uk/">Middle-earth Festival</a>’</b><br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 2 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/09/middle-earth-festival-returns-to-sarehole-mill/">Middle-earth Festival returns to Sarehole Mill this weekend</a>’<br />
Graham Young, <i>Birmingham Mail</i>, Sunday, 4 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/watch-how-tolkien-inspired-middle-11839491">Watch how Tolkien inspired Middle Earth Festival is fun for all the family – whatever the weather</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>The Tolkien Society</i></b><br />
Andrew Wells, Sunday, 11 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://wellinghall.livejournal.com/1239260.html">Three good things: Sunday</a>’ ('twas good to see you, too!)<br />
<br />
<b>24–25 September 2016, Newcastle Castle, ‘<a href="http://newcastlecastle.co.uk/tolkien-weekend-2016">Tolkien Weekend 2016</a>’, Time and Tide Events</b><br />
Francesca Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Tuesday, 20 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/tolkien-weekend-2016/">Tolkien Weekend 2016</a>’<br />
Francesca T. Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Saturday, 24 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/illuminating-tolkien-exhibition/">“Illuminating Tolkien” Exhibition</a>’ – I think it was a good thing for our savings-account that I was unable to go to Newcastle ... <br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 September)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<i>Express and Star</i>, Thursday, 29 September 2016, ‘<a href="www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/09/29/jrr-tolkien-display-on-show/">JRR Tolkien display on show</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>5 November 2016, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/not-oxonmoot-moot/">Not Oxonmoot-moot</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>11 November 2016, Liverpool Hope University, ‘<a href="http://www.hope.ac.uk/tolkienday/">Tolkien Day 2016</a>’, Liverpool Hope University</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 January 2017, World-wide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-birthday-toast-2017/">Tolkien Birthday Toast 2017</a>’, The Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPni0h8h6vOwFP-6FXlYLWq-L1YfchGhwJ9npgejepWUa8iYdQtNDLj9wc2NH7vVxwUttmCY2RhROH9TIuOKF9365O5hSR2Dn0-0La1pdvA4j9NFlhdMQFSb-2SvX_h6AQdezn-DNx498v/s1600/glorfindel-w300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPni0h8h6vOwFP-6FXlYLWq-L1YfchGhwJ9npgejepWUa8iYdQtNDLj9wc2NH7vVxwUttmCY2RhROH9TIuOKF9365O5hSR2Dn0-0La1pdvA4j9NFlhdMQFSb-2SvX_h6AQdezn-DNx498v/s1600/glorfindel-w300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Glorfindel</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
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Yes, I discovered that I had forgotten the papers uploaded to Acedemia.edu in August. Please note that one does need to have an account and to sign in for downloading the papers at this site. The papers listed below are only a subset of the papers reported to the “<a href="http://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">J.R.R. Tolkien</a>” research interest, others being excluded e.g. for being in languages I don't speak, or for just making an abstract available.<br />
<br />
<b>Rolf Bremmer, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Upload date unknown, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/2202200/Across_Borders_Anglo-Saxon_England_and_the_Germanic_World">Across Borders: Anglo-Saxon England and the Germanic World</a>’</b><br />
Bremmer, Rolf Jr. ‘Across Borders: Anglo-Saxon England and the Germanic World’ in <i>The Cambridge History of Early Medieval English Literature</i>, ed. Clare A. Lees (Cambridge: CUP, 2012), pp. 185-208<br />
<br />
<b>Nataša Tučev, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Upload date unknown, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/28888648/The_Knife_the_Sting_and_the_Tooth_Manifestations_of_Shadow_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">The Knife, the Sting and the Tooth: Manifestations of Shadow in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
Tučev, Nataša. ‘The Knife, the Sting and the Tooth: Manifestations of Shadow in The Lord of the Rings’ in <i>Linguistics and Literature</i> Vol. 3, No 1, 2004, pp. 111 - 121<br />
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<b>Janet Brennan Croft, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Sunday, 7 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27597848/Doors_Into_Elf_Mounds">Doors Into Elf Mounds</a>’</b><br />
Slide show on “J.R.R. Tolkien’s Introductions, Prefaces, and Forewords”<br />
<br />
<b>Janet Brennan Croft, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Friday, 12 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27733157/_Perilous_and_Fair_Ancient_and_Modern_Luminous_and_Powerful_Critical_Directions_for_the_Study_of_Tolkiens_Women_in_the_21st_Century">"Perilous and Fair, Ancient and Modern, Luminous and Powerful" : Critical Directions for the Study of Tolkien's Women in the 21st Century</a>’</b><br />
An author talk given at Rutgers University on 27 July, based on the introduction (co-written with Leslie Donovan) to the book <i>Perilous and Fair: Women in the Life and Works of JRR Tolkien</i>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, vol. 3, issue 3, Thursday, 1 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss3/">Authorizing Tolkien: Control, Adaptation, and Dissemination of J.R.R. Tolkien's Works</a>’</b><br />
The peer-reviewed articles of issue 3 (vol. 3) of the <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i> have a theme introduced by Robin A. Reid and Michael D. Elam. I have to admit that though I do consider the study of ‘fan’ activities a relevant area of academic research, I have never found that it relates very well to the research on the specific franchise. In other words, I have skipped these articles as not telling us anything worth-while about Tolkien or his works. Others will certainly disagree, and I'll welcome comments about what this may tell us about Tolkien and / or his works, but given my lack of interest, I don't have the time to engage with these articles myself.<br />
<br />
<b>Annalisa Palmer, Friday, 9 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/tolkien-and-fairy-story/">Tolkien and Fairy-Story</a>’</b><br />
An interesting commentary on Faërie in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. Though I do not agree with everything, and have found a couple of mistakes, I found it a good and interesting post.<br />
<br />
<b>Donald E. Warden, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Friday, 9 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/09/09/the-extent-of-indigenous-norse-contact-and-trade-prior-to-columbus/">The Extent of Indigenous-Norse Contact and Trade Prior to Columbus</a>’</b><br />
Merely because I think the topic and the developments in recent years would have interested Tolkien.<br />
<br />
<b>Annalisa Palmer, Sunday, 18 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/hobbits-and-heroes/">Hobbits and Heroes</a>’</b><br />
An excellent look at the Four Travellers as modern heroes (many will probably have realised that I do not much admire Samwise ‘Halfwit’ Gamgee, but perhaps especially therefore it is good to read analyses that value him more than I do myself).<br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Friday, 23 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss3/6/">Tolkien and Sanskrit (2016) by Mark T. Hooker</a>’</b><br />
A very excellent review (and discussion) by Nelson Goering of Mark Hooker's book, <i>Tolkien and Sanskrit</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 26 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/09/these-are-not-elves-youre-looking-for-i.html">These Are Not The Elves You're Looking For. (I)</a>’</b><br />
Fascinating! I certainly look forward to seeing the next steps.<br />
<br />
<b>Edmund Weiner, Tuesday, 27 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/devilry-in-lord-of-rings.html">Devilry in the Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
On Tolkien's use of the word <i>devilry</i> in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-King-of-the-Golden-Hall-635242856" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img05.deviantart.net/aa22/i/2016/262/c/3/the_king_of_the_golden_hall_by_peet-dai7giw.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The King of the Golden Hall</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Matthew Walter, <i>The Federalist</i>, Friday, 26 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://thefederalist.com/2016/08/26/tolkien-influenced-rock-velvet-underground/">Tolkien Influenced Rock More Than The Velvet Underground Did</a>’</b><br />
Though I do, of course, sympathise with the idea that Tolkien's influence is staggering and reaches unexpected areas, this article, however, leaves me unconvinced. While it is true that Tolkien did become an exponent for, and to some extent shaped, the rise of fantasy and medievalism, these themes would, in my considered opinion, have emerged also without Tolkien, and in forms only slightly different from what we saw. The world was ready for these (as it is still), and if not Tolkien, then some other authors would have been its exponents (there were precursors to Tolkien, just as there were both contemporary and later authors who were uninfluenced by him). However, while I think the article exaggerates Tolkien's thematic influence, the listing of his more direct influence is still impressive.<br />
<br />
<b>James, Friday, 16 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://atolkienistperspective.wordpress.com/2016/09/16/northern-courage-ofermode-and-thorin-oakenshields-last-stand/">Northern Courage, Ofermōde and Thorin Oakenshield's last stand</a>’</b><br />
While I can see the temptation, I think it is a misunderstanding to see Thorin's attack in the Battle of Five Armies as an example of <i>ofermod</i> (modern Danish, <i>overmod</i>) – certainly in Tolkien's interpretation of the word. <br />
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<b>Tom Hilmann, Thursday, 22 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-dwimordene-in-lorien-tt-3vi514.html">In Dwimordene, In Lórien (TT 3.vi.514)</a>’</b><br />
On the word <i>Dwimordene</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Brandon TheGrey, Friday, 23 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://brandonthegrey.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-hobbit-on-western-front-jrr-tolkiens.html">A Hobbit on the Western Front: JRR Tolkien's First World War</a>’</b><br />
A rather short (as it must be for a blog post), but seemingly reasonably accurate (I haven't had time to read it in detail) summary based, of course, on John Garth's brilliant <i>Tolkien and the Great War</i>. Perhaps a post for those who haven't read Garth's book and wish a taste of what it may reveal.<br />
<br />
<b>Rostislav Kurka, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Friday, 23 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/temptation-power-bombadil-bendu/">The Temptation of Power, Bombadil, and the Bendu</a>’</b><br />
Curious – in many ways it is more about Star Wars than about Tolkien, but the parallels are striking and well-made.<br />
<br />
<b>Dennis Wise, Saturday, 24 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.com/2016/09/tolkien-and-sidney-on-rhetoric.html">Tolkien and Sidney on Rhetoric?</a>’</b><br />
A reference to and a very short discussion of an article by Tanya Caroline Wood in <i>Tolkien and His Literary Resonances</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Tuesday, 27 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/september/">September</a>’</b><br />
Now on book V, discussing ‘The Muster of Rohan’ and ‘The Siege of Gondor’.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Lee WL, Tuesday, 6 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://tolkienreadthrough.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/roverandom/">Roverandom</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Wednesday, 7 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-lay-of-aortrou-and-itroun-full.html">"The Lay of Aortrou and Itroun" Full Details</a>’ [Sic]</b><br />
Some details on the forthcoming edition of <i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i> (edited by Verlyn Flieger), including the publisher's blurp. The blurpish insistence on creating specific links to Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium is perhaps regrettable as the book will surely sell well enough without such claims (I will, in any case, be sure to get one). <br />
<br />
<b>Lee WL, Sunday, 18 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://tolkienreadthrough.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/smith-of-wootton-major/">Smith of Wootton Major</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Kitty, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Monday, 19 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/on-eagles-wings-thayer-on-tolkien/">On Eagles' Wings – Thayer on Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
An interview with Anna Thayer, in particular about her book <i>On Eagles' Wings: An exploration of Eucatastrophe in Tolkien</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Wednesday, 28 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/09/28/bandersnatch-and-creative-collaboration-by-diana-pavlac-glyer/">Bandersnatch and Creative Collaboration by Diana Pavlac Glyer</a>’</b><br />
A self-proclaimed “glowing review” of Diana Pavlac Glyer's <i>Bandersnatch</i> by a “fan of Glyer’s work”<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Maria Tsianti, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 5 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://mariatsianti.deviantart.com/art/Smaug-the-Stupendous-632657818">Smaug the Stupendous</a>’</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/150496236580/the-great-goblin-original-scratchboard-9x12-el" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/0d44c807ee280a34dc298fec726b394b/tumblr_odlu41ZjUo1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Great Goblin</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 8 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Haleth-sketch-633252293">Haleth – sketch</a>’</b><br />
I like this :-) <br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Thursday, 8 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Maglor-633283749">Maglor</a>’</b><br />
I think this must be a portrait of Maglor after he and Maedhros had realised that they had forfeited all claim to the Silmarils … singing in pain and regret.<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Friday, 16 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/150496236580/the-great-goblin-original-scratchboard-9x12-el">The Great Goblin</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Sunday, 18 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-King-of-the-Golden-Hall-635242856">The King of the Golden Hall</a>’</b><br />
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<b>James Turner Mohan, Sunday, 18 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://turnermohan.deviantart.com/art/The-First-Men-635140475">The First Men</a>’</b><br />
In the style of concept sketches for the three tribes and some of their artifacts ...<br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Friday, 23 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Caranthir-sketch-636057215">Caranthir – sketch</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Joe Gilronan, Monday, 26 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2016/09/starlight-shire.html#.V_FxNvB96Hs">Starlight Shire</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miruna Lavinia, <i>DeviantArt</i>, Monday, 26 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://miruna-lavinia.deviantart.com/art/Emyn-Muil-636704451">Emyn Muil</a>’</b><br />
An unusual topic, but quite nicely done!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 25 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-last-temptation-of-galadriel.html">The Last Temptation of Galadriel -- Catechism, Gospel, and Fairy-story in 'The Mirror of Galadriel'</a>’</b><br />
A discussion placed in that intersection of story-internal and story-external concerns; where you need to draw on story-external knowledge in order to understand and contextualise what his going on within the story. I do tend to like these discussions on the marches of Faërie ...<br />
<br />
<b>Jeff LaSala, <i>TOR.com</i>, Wednesday, 14 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/09/14/luthien-tolkiens-badass-elf-princess/">Lúthien: Tolkien's Badass Elf Princess</a>’</b><br />
A retelling of the story of Lúthien and Beren in a modern (and, I would say, simpler) vernacular and with comments by the reteller. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Séamas Ó Sionnaigh, Monday, 5 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://ansionnachfionn.com/2016/09/05/imaginary-maps-in-fantasy-fiction/">Imaginary Maps in Fantasy Fiction</a>’</b><br />
A summary of a series of articles by the Library of Congress titled <i>Imaginary Maps in Literature and Beyond</i>. It should be fairly easy to find the specific article dealing primarily with Tolkien, but the whole topic is of course relevant, and later authors in the fantasy genre have had to at least consider his statement that “I wisely started with a map, and made the story fit (generally with meticulous care for distances).” (Letter to Naomi Mitchison).<br />
<br />
<b>Marcel Aubron-Bülles, Saturday, 10 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.thetolkienist.com/2016/09/10/why-tolkien-and-lewis-would-never-have-been-friends-on-facebook/">Why J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would never have been friends in the age of Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp</a>’</b><br />
There's a Danish expression that applies in situations such as this, and which translates to ‘Well roared, lion!’ It needed to be said, it is well said and to the point – thank you, Marcel!<br />
<br />
<b>Myla Malinalda, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Friday, 16 September 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/09/16/tolkien-the-musical/">TOLKIEN: The Musical</a>’</b><br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78786-A-Secret-Vice">A Secret Vice</a>’</b><br />
I which I managed go get myself entangled in a discussion with a philologist on the likelihood of Tolkien having invented Fonwegian (one would think I had somewhere managed to get to know better, but alas …)<br />
<br />
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78952-Goldberry-and-the-water-lillies">Goldberry and the water lillies</a>’</b><br />
Worth browsing even if only to go watch the video that user ‘Dorwiniondil’ links to on 29 September …<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_print">In Print</a></h2>
Once more I have not had time yet to read what I have received (the latest issue of <i>Beyond Bree</i>). In my (upcoming) Oxonmoot report, I will write about the treasures that my daughter and I brought back from Oxford. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="http://www.stephenwalshillustrations.com/">Stephen Walsh – Fantasy Artist</a>’</b><br />
I saw his pencil <i>Éowyn</i> at Oxonmoot and was impressed, and many of his other Tolkienian works are also excellent. <br />
<br />
<b>‘<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/">Annalisa Palmer</a>’</b><br />
A relatively new (August 2016) blog with Tolkienian contents.<br />
<br />
<b>Lee LW, ‘<a href="http://tolkienreadthrough.wordpress.com">Tolkien Read Through</a>’</b><br />
Lee LW blogs as he works his way through the Tolkien's works.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0291CoqUeuzAA8QL13m9HJPHFrwHlstm1BTcrIEqr2nLudCkcrw3QGpDSwzMWwx-3cRpGNHed9mOo27fP4BGD7wjMCcgQd5i87eHvP4u0jvjY-40XW0Mi7KxTsDOKL99vAmeH93zlPsWZ/s1600/mostofme-w300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0291CoqUeuzAA8QL13m9HJPHFrwHlstm1BTcrIEqr2nLudCkcrw3QGpDSwzMWwx-3cRpGNHed9mOo27fP4BGD7wjMCcgQd5i87eHvP4u0jvjY-40XW0Mi7KxTsDOKL99vAmeH93zlPsWZ/s1600/mostofme-w300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More of Me</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Marcel Aubron-Bülles, ‘<a href="http://thetolkienist.com/">The Tolkienist</a>’<br />
<a href="http://thetolkienist.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Annalisa Palmer, <a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/">her blog</a><br />
<a href="http://annalisapwrites.wordpress.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 2, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/">Expressions of Substance</a>’<br />
<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/09/">Archive of posts from September 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
See section “<a href="#11_websites">Websistes</a>” for new sources in September 2016<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>
<br />
<br />
Currently reading:<br />
<i>Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary</i> by J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Christopher J.R. Tolkien.<br />
<i>Læringsteorier: Seks Aktuelle Forståelser</i> edited by Knud IllerisTroelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-9923800880879573832016-09-18T15:59:00.001+02:002016-09-19T12:15:50.651+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXII<h2>August 2016</h2>
I had these transactions something like 80% done before going to Oxonmoot, but couldn't get the last bit finished due to my other preparations. Now, however, I wish to get it out – to get it off my mind, so that I can work on other things (such as e.g. a report from my first Oxonmoot). This means that most entries will appear without commentary, and that there will be things I ignore simply because I haven't the time to dig out all my notes (if anything important turns up later, I will of course include it in a later issue). <br />
<br />
All the usual disclaimers apply about newness, completeness and relevance (or any other implication of responsibility) :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a>
(Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following
headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_print">9: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#10_websites">10: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#11_blogs">11: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#12_sources">12: Sources</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/radagast-the-brown-joe-gilronan.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZtVNRNaZkKgQNCmPqHWwYnGqGFtVgroaCsC7AjQv3-t0-KYnafJT5wIoCom1ZA7fXfGoi3762649IrhRRGuIfDs-I6TmTy6OSQp9fBbP1t0x4WCgkkUIEeiK4kfJ7SlJWbFahFFMyO8/s1600/radagast.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Radagast the Brown</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>David Oberhelman, <i>Mythopoeic Society</i>, Sunday, 7 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/news-2016-08-07.htm">Mythopoeic Awards: 2016 Winners Announced</a>’</b><br />
Congratulations to all winners and finalists!<br />
<br />
<b>Bradley Barth, <i>SC Magazine</i>, Monday, 8 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scmagazine.com/lord-of-the-spy-ring-strider-apt-cites-tolkien-found-snooping-on-russian-targets/article/514745/">Lord of the spy ring: Strider APT cites Tolkien, found snooping on Russian targets</a>’</b><br />
Finally some solid evidence linking Tolkien to spying! … 43 years after his death, and spyware rather than military intelligence, but still :-) Have ‘Elansea’ turned hackers to build their otherwise non-existent case?<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Cowie, <i>The Age</i>, Thursday, 11 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/one-ring-to-fool-them-all-court-orders-destruction-of-fake-tolkien-jewellery-20160811-gqqhpc.html">One ring to fool them all: court orders destruction of fake Tolkien jewellery</a>’</b><br />
In cases like this, I generally find myself siding with the Estate on <i>moral</i> grounds …<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">Mythcon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
David Bratman, Tuesday, 2 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-pre-port.html">Mythcon pre-port</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>Mythopoeic Society</i>, Sunday, 7 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016/08/congratulations-2016-mythopoeic-award.html">CONGRATULATIONS, 2016 Mythopoeic Award Winners</a>’<br />
David Bratman, Tuesday, 9 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-report-part-1.html">Mythcon report, part 1</a>’ (also see <a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-report-part-2.html">part 2</a>, <a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-report-part-3-music.html">part 3</a>, and <a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-report-part-4-place.html">part 4</a>)<br />
John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 13 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/mythcon-and-mythsoc-awards.html">MythCon and the MythSoc Awards</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 September)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<b>3–4 September 2016, Sarehole Mill, UK, ‘<a href="http://www.middleearthfestival.co.uk/">Middle-earth Festival</a>’</b><br />
Justine Halifax, <i>Birmingham Mail</i>, Wednesday, 31 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/fans-tolkien-treat-middle-earth-11822862">Fans of Tolkien are in for a treat at Middle Earth Festival in Birmingham</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>The Tolkien Society</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>24–25 September 2016, Newcastle Castle, ‘<a href="http://newcastlecastle.co.uk/tolkien-weekend-2016">Tolkien Weekend 2016</a>’, Time and Tide Events</b><br />
Will also feature the <i><a href="http://vimeo.com/169382392">Illuminating Tolkien</a></i> exhibition of art and illustration.<br />
<br />
<b>16–18 June 2017, Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, ‘<a href="http://middleearthbeerfestival.co.uk/">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’, The Ale House Clitheroe</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149215222105/proofing-my-latest-piece-wich-is-for-the-middle" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://67.media.tumblr.com/5bd285da597497c69f0e0728fdb6cadb/tumblr_oc7auwmtdz1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Middle Earth Beer & Music Festival (B/W proof)</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Simon Cook, Thursday, 4 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/tolkien-christianity-and-paganism/">Tolkien: Christianity and Paganism</a>’</b><br />
and
<b>Simon Cook, Thursday, 4 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/heathen-kings-under-a-swift-sunrise/">Heathen kings under a swift sunrise</a>’</b><br />
I find these two posts very interesting. There are so many things to take into consideration here, that trying to grasp these issues, I usually feel as if I was trying to hold on to too many bits and pieces, so that whenever I try to hold on to something new, I drop something that I had already gotten a hold on. Sometimes I feel convinced that there is a way to hold on to them all, while at other times, I wonder if Tolkien's own ideas are too diverse to all fit in one way. Still, discussions such as these help, so keep up the good work! <br />
<br />
<b>Bradford Lee Eden, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Thursday, 4 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss2/3/">A newly-discovered transcript: The 1995 Patrick Hobson Memorial Lecture of Rev. John F.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Stuart Lee, <i>BBC Radio 4</i>, Saturday, 6 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mvd5z">Tolkien: The Lost Recordings</a>’</b><br />
The show that was announced last month. Still available for listening on 17 September ...<br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Hasseler, Saturday, 6 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/08/06/do-you-not-know-i-am-a-healer-royal-authority-and-miracles-of-healing-in-high-medieval-lives-of-kings/">‘Do You Not Know I am a Healer?’ Royal Authority and Miracles of Healing in High Medieval Lives of Kings</a>’</b><br />
While Aragorn's healing powers, within the Tolkien's sub-creation itself, stems from his descendance from Lúthien, in external terms, they place him firmly in medieval tradition.<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Sunday, 7 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/08/07/talks-on-tolkien-ii-patrick-curry-on-enchantment-hypermodernity/">Talks on Tolkien II: Patrick Curry on Enchantment & Hypermodernity</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Edmund Weiner, Monday, 8 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/08/did-tolkien-invent-fonwegian.html">Did Tolkien invent Fonwegian?</a>’</b><br />
The discussion is carried on in <b>Edmund Weiner, Wednesday, 10 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/08/fonwegiana-rejoinder.html">Fonwegian—a rejoinder</a>’</b><br />
This is something I would have liked to be able to address at some greater length, but maybe later …. So far, I am leaning towards Weiner's position on this: given the evidence so far, the explanation offered by Fimi and Higgins just doesn't ‘feel right’ to me (which is absolutely not a scientific argument at all!)<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Tuesday, 16 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/08/16/talks-on-tolkien-ii-dimitra-fimi-on-tolkien-childhood-studies/">Talks on Tolkien II: Dimitra Fimi on Tolkien & Childhood Studies</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sophia Cornelia Mösch, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Sunday, 21 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/08/21/augustine-of-hippo-and-the-art-of-ruling-in-the-carolingian-imperial-period/">Augustine of Hippo and the Art of Ruling in the Carolingian Imperial Period</a>’</b><br />
A 2015 Ph.D. dissertation from King's College London.<br />
<br />
<b>Douglas A. Anderson, Saturday, 27 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2016/08/tolkiens-desks.html">Tolkien's Desks</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 6 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/tolkien-burroughs-lupoff-green.html">Tolkien & Burroughs, Lupoff & Green</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Wednesday, 10 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/last-meeting-in-july-3/">Last Meeting in July</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 10 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/ace-vs-ballantine-1962.html">Ace vs. Ballantine, 1962</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Sunday, 14 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/08/14/first-meeting-in-august-2/">First Meeting in August</a>’</b><br />
Also see the two following posts, which contain comments to this part.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149512419045/this-is-the-most-difficult-block-to-print-i-have" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://67.media.tumblr.com/d17a0b0b58370cf19d5c3b8b94515b8e/tumblr_ocixb2jYjx1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Battle of the Pelennor Fields</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginary Conservative</i>, Tuesday, 16 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/08/celebrating-tolkien-lewis-joseph-pearce.html">Celebrating Tolkien and Lewis</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Russell Mosley, <i>Patheos</i>, Thursday, 11 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/elflandletters/2016/08/11/darkness-in-elfland-tolkien-on-whether-fairies-are-demons-and-a-hopefully-fuller-account-of-enchantment/">Darkness in Elfland: Tolkien on Whether Fairies Are Demons and a (Hopefully) Fuller Account of Enchantment</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Friday, 12 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/08/12/something-has-gone-crack-tolkien-on-rob-gilson-the-tcbs-100-years-ago-today/">“something has gone crack”; Tolkien on Rob Gilson & the TCBS, 100 years ago today.</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jacob Clifton, <i>TOR.com</i>, Wednesday, 17 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/08/17/i-have-forgiven-aslan-for-being-jesus-but-i-still-hate-fairytales/">I Have Forgiven Aslan for Being Jesus, But I Still Hate Fairytales</a>’</b><br />
I am less forgiving (unable to enter the state of Literary Belief – not even by painstaking suspension of disbelief) of Lewis' <i>Narnia</i> books, but on the other hand, I never blamed fairy-stories as such. <br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Walther, <i>The Federalist</i>, Friday, 26 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://thefederalist.com/2016/08/26/tolkien-influenced-rock-velvet-underground/">Tolkien Influenced Rock More Than The Velvet Underground Did</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, Monday, 29 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/paul-mccartneys-the-fool-on-the-hill-tolkiens-early-drawings-and-the-rider-waite-tarot/">Paul McCartney's “The Fool on the Hill”, Tolkien's early drawings, and the Rider-Waite Tarot</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Tuesday, 30 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/last-meeting-in-august-3/">Last meeting in August</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 31 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-return-of-tolkienian-gloom.html">The Return of "Tolkienian Gloom"</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David P. Goldman, <i>PJ Media</i>, Wednesday, 31 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://pjmedia.com/spengler/2016/08/31/why-did-tolkien-care-about-the-jews/">Why Did Tolkien Care About the Jews?</a>’</b><br />
I wish that people would see Tolkien's comments about Dwarves and Jews for what they are. In his early Silmarillion and in <i>The Hobbit</i> the Dwarves are based on the Dwarves of the Old Norse mythology (their names are a dead give-away, you know). When Tolkien, while writing <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> added some new layers to these Nordic Dwarves (because he needed at least Durin's folk to be less avaricious and vindictive than their Norse models), he probably did so without conscious model at first, but came to realise that he had given them some certain linguistic and cultural characteristics that were reminiscent of the Jews. His comments must be seen in this light – <i>nothing</i> about the Dwarves that is part of their portrayal in the Silmarillion work prior to 1937 and <i>The Hobbit</i> can be used to indicate anything about Tolkien's thoughts about Jews. Nothing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Michael Straight, <i>New Republic</i>, 16 January 1956, ‘<a href="http://newrepublic.com/article/136543/fantastic-world-professor-tolkien">The Fantastic World of Professor Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
On-line reprint of a 1956 review of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 1 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/08/tolkien-tuesday-fall-of-arthur.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Fall of Arthur"</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Higgins, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Wednesday, 10 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss2/4/">Parma Eldalamberon XXII (2015), by J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 17 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-new-arrival-leaf-by-niggle.html">The New Arrival (LEAF BY NIGGLE)</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 1 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/148290137745/the-man-in-the-moon-was-drinking-deep-tolkien">The Man in the Moon was drinking deep</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Monday, 1 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Witch-king-of-Angmar-625415182">The Witch-king of Angmar</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149365554765/this-is-the-last-panel-of-my-thorins-song" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://67.media.tumblr.com/7ed304309b03949f742ca1f27b8ee7c1/tumblr_ocd35zdDzd1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thorin's Song – last panel</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Elena Kukanova, Wednesday, 3 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Angamaite-625826475">Angamaitë</a>’</b><br />
Angrod in Valinor ...<br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Wednesday, 3 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Irmo-Lorien-625841873">Irmo Lórien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Thursday, 4 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/148445150940/returning-to-middle-earth-this-is-for-a-tolkien">Returning to Middle Earth.</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Friday, 12 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2016/08/radagast-brown-in-search-of.html">Radagast The Brown "In search of enlightenment"..</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Saturday, 20 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149215222105/proofing-my-latest-piece-wich-is-for-the-middle">The Middle Earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’</b><br />
“Proofing my latest piece, wich is for The Middle Earth Beer & Music Festival of Clitheroe, Lancashire (UK).”<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 22 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149325672870/el-cartel-est%C3%A1-listo-pongan-la-cerveza-a-enfriar">The Middle-earth Beer & Music Festival</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Tuesday, 23 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149365554765/this-is-the-last-panel-of-my-thorins-song">Thorin's Song – last panel</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 24 August 2016, ‘<a href="tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149416596970/puedo-decirlo-hago-grabados-tan-grandes-como-un">Thorin's Song – full print</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Thursday, 25 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Forge-630414961">Forge</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Manuel Castañón , Thursday, 25 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://castaguer93.deviantart.com/art/Chartreuse-630441451">Chartreuse</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Thursday, 25 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149468225495/la-buena-noticia-es-que-mi-th%C3%A9oden-es-portada">Good news and bad</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Friday, 26 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149512419045/this-is-the-most-difficult-block-to-print-i-have">The most difficult block ...</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Tuesday, 30 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Ork-sketch-631489047">Ork - sketch</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Wednesday, 31 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/calendars-2017/">Calendars 2017!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 2 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/08/answers-to-the-terence-tiller-tolkien-trivia-questions/">Answers to the Terence Tiller Tolkien Trivia Questions</a>’</b><br />
Clever … :-) <br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 15 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/08/15/were-all-the-great-elven-artifacts-evil/">Were All the Great Elven Artifacts Evil?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Thursday, 18 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/08/18/can-melkor-ever-return/">Can Melkor Ever Return?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/929899310489552:0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13882194_929899310489552_5164136245727094945_n.jpg?oh=4039a422152bc939bf35550d0d9470c2&oe=5882A304" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Éomer</i><br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Marissa Martinelli, <i>Slate</i>, Thursday, 4 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/08/04/stephen_colbert_fields_questions_about_lord_of_the_rings_is_huge_tolkien.html">Stephen Colbert Explains How Gandalf Is a Maia Who's Been in Arda Since Ilúvatar Cried “Eä!”</a>’</b><br />
Colbert's reputation as a Tolkien lover is undoubtedly <i>fully</i> and richly deserved, but his reputation as a Tolkien expert is not quite as justified. Obviously he knows more than his ‘big three’ and he has paid attention to what he has read, but his knowledge is not exhaustive, and his explications are often flawed (as e.g. with details of his earlier comments on Gollum, or in the present clip, his failure to understand the nature of Gandalf's trust in providence or the nature of the Istari's recollection of their time as Maiar) – as is his Elvish, by the way: Do <i>not</i> adopt his pronunciation! <br />
See also
<b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 27 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/08/stephen-colbert-is-brilliant-frodo-ring.html">Stephen Colbert is Brilliant (Frodo & the Ring)</a>’</b><br />
Fortunately I can see from the comments-stream that I am not the only one to be somewhat less impressed than Rateliff …<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Arwen Kester, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Wednesday, 17 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/08/17/my-own-shire-living-a-hobbit-life-in-the-modern-world/">My Own Shire: Living a Hobbit Life in the Modern World</a>’</b><br />
It is curious, interesting, and wonderful how we engage with Tolkien's work in so many different ways. For me, the Shire is a place of insular myopia and narrowmindedness – I can barely stand Sam – but for others it is a place of rest and beauty. I do not wish to imply that there is any right or wrong, but only emphasise the value and wonder of the differences.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_print">In Print</a></h2>
My records show that I have received my monthly <i>Beyond Bree</i>, and my July issue of <i>Amon Hen</i> did arrive by mail in August, though I had downloaded it from the Tolkien Society web-site in July. Unfortunately, I have not had time to read these. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="http://www.kiprasmussen.com/">Kip Rasmussen: Illustrator</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/148290137745/the-man-in-the-moon-was-drinking-deep-tolkien" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://65.media.tumblr.com/7bd26ce87071e43e3ab0775eefc0491f/tumblr_ob84172Uly1t2keyfo1_500.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Man in the Moon was drinking deep</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Douglas A. Anderson, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/">Tolkien
and Fantasy</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive
of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's
Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's
Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August
2016</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive of
posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/">
<i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/">Archive
of contributions for the on-going volume 2, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August
2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts
from August 2016</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/149416596970/puedo-decirlo-hago-grabados-tan-grandes-como-un" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://66.media.tumblr.com/0704749c20d37ef91fd46595a759488b/tumblr_ocf51pmWzs1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thorin's Song</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The
Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive of
posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts from
August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive of posts
from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August
2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's
The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_08_01_archive.html">Archive
of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/08/">Archive of posts from August 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_sources">Sources</a></h2>
No new sources in August 2016<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>
<br />
<br />
Currently reading:<br />
<i>Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary</i> by J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Christopher J.R. Tolkien.<br />
<i>Læringsteorier: Seks Aktuelle Forståelser</i> edited by Knud Illeris<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Witch-king-of-Angmar-625415182" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://orig04.deviantart.net/fdc9/f/2016/214/0/a/the_witch_king_of_angmar_by_peet-dacctfy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Witch-king of Angmar</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-49017460121375214252016-08-02T17:01:00.000+02:002016-08-02T17:01:57.632+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXXI<h2>July 2016</h2>
As you will see below, July has been a deliciously busy month with conferences and interesting papers coming up. And due to the summer holiday season in Denmark, I've been able to keep up better than usual.<br />
<br />
As I can see that the end of August and start of September is going to be quite busy for me, I had better warn that the next transactions may end up being somewhat delayed. If I haven't posted when I take off for Oxonmoot on the 8th, there is a good chance that I'll merge the August and September issues ... <br />
<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_somme">1: Somme Centenary</a><br />
<a href="#03_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#04_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#05_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#06_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#07_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#08_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#09_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#10_discussions">9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#11_print">10: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#12_websites">11: Web Sites, Blogs, Etc.</a><br />
<a href="#13_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#14_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/Elmenel" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4blg1ax62acunZIj7q4NAvIwbmzKzy9TImthhK_spfMzbUKcgXaaWUcsBtEqEIljiw_Abo7QgJWp0r4xVJbm32nx2fAnZDXiVze-M6O18TkoTTS0_kEPQDRZVnZz4nojmFRowg9oZ0Uj/s400/7-years+Anniversary_w600.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 7th Anniversary to Parma Eldalieva!<br />image by Tsvetelina ‘Elmenel’ Krumova<br />See also the <a href="#07_art">arts-section</a> below</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Alison Flood, <i>The Guardian</i>, Friday, 1 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jul/01/jrr-tolkien-war-novelgrandson-simon-tolkien-no-mans-land">JRR Tolkien's war experiences inspire novel by his grandson</a>’</b><br />
Marginally relevant, but it ties in well also with the Somme Centenary theme below ... :) <br />
<br />
<b><i>The Guardian</i>, Friday, 15 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/jul/15/the-hobbit-review-tolkien-peter-jackson-williamson-park-lancaster-dukes">The Hobbit review – Tolkien's epic unfolds in Lancastrian landscape</a>’</b><br />
A nice setting for a ‘stage’ adaptation of Tolkien's children's book (but ... a <i>green</i> Gandalf the Grey??). Personally I could do with more comparison with Tolkien and less with Jackson (two entirely different things, really). <br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 29 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/bbc-to-broadcast-lost-tolkien-recordings/">BBC to broadcast lost Tolkien recordings</a>’</b><br />
Announcing the broadcast of the previously unaired parts of the interview Tolkien gave for the BBC <i>Tolkien in Oxford</i> documentary in 1968 ... to say I am excited doesn't quite fit the bill ...<br />
See also <b>SW, <i>BBC Media Centre</i>, Thursday, 28 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2016/32/tolkien-the-lost-recordings">Tolkien: The Lost Recordings</a>’</b><br />
The programme will be available for listening here for an international audience after being broadcast:<br />
<b><i>BBC Radio 4</i>, Saturday, 6 August 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07mvd5z">Tolkien: The Lost Recordings</a>’</b><br />
Also, it is possible to listen live at 8 PM British Summer Time on Saturday 6 August at <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4">http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4</a> (click “Listen live”).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_somme">Somme Centenary</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/jennydolfen" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenwfv1dqZheLeYXVexJJGvEhP9hL8MUu9yyMgJndsshkvNUIeUfVpV6dvL_z58W87X9w4Pr3B4TsSxYL8zDjt0_3pl6W7jhESM_F6UnXX8i66l156jtiCMATBVew309iQrAE6bvGOI2cG/s320/Faramir_2_w300.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Faramir</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Battle of the Somme in in WWI started on 1 July 1916, and though Tolkien was not on the battle field from the beginning, this is where he served and had his front-line experience during the Great War. The battle itself, as well as the participation of Tolkien (and other well-known people) has been commemorated along, of course, with discussions and commentary on how this experience affected his later work.<br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Loconte, <i>International New York Times</i>, Thursday, 30 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/opinion/sunday/how-jrr-tolkien-found-mordor-on-the-western-front.html?_r=0">How J.R.R. Tolkien Found Mordor on the Western Front</a>’</b><br />
Though dated 30 June, this was put on-line on 1 July, and I wanted to use it to start my Somme section.<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 1 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/tolkien-fans-remember-the-tcbs-on-the-centenery-of-the-battle-of-the-somme/">Tolkien fans remember the T.C.B.S. on the centenary of the Battle of the Somme</a>’</b><br />
Also listing other resources, including the video documentaries made for King Edward's School in Birmingham.<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 1 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/07/the-somme.html">The Somme</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>BBC</i>, Friday, 1 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-36587877">In pictures: Battle of the Somme</a>’</b><br />
Not specifically about Tolkien<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Warren, Friday, 1 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-battle-of-the-somme-and-tolkien-100-years-later/article/2003105">The Battle of the Somme and Tolkien, 100 Years Later</a>’</b><br />
Heavily based on the above article from the <i>International New York Times</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Sunderland Echo</i>, Friday, 15 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.sunderlandecho.com/lifestyle/retro/revealed-the-link-between-a-sunderland-sailor-and-jrr-tolkien-1-8012137">Revealed: The link between a Sunderland sailor and JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
A sailor on the Hospital Ship Asturias that took young Tolkien home to England after he caught trench fever at the Somme.<br />
<br />
<b>Jerry Bowyer, <i>Forbes</i>, Tuesday, 26 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jerrybowyer/2016/07/26/the-inklings-at-war-c-s-lewis-j-r-r-tolkien-and-wwi/">The Inklings At War: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, And WWI</a>’</b><br />
Mostly included because it is there. In truth, if you want to know about Tolkien and the Great War, read John Garth (and Carpenter, Edwards and Scull & Hammond). I am sure that equally good, and non-tendentious biographies exist for Lewis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_events">Events</a></h2>
<b><u>Reports & comments on past events</u></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147833156780/honored-to-contribute-with-a-couple-of-pieces-yo" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/7daeb4b99d8c6828d5b1c486562bcd94/tumblr_oar6xih6T41t2keyfo1_500.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>3 July 2016, Hilton Hotel, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi, Saturday, 9 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/leeds-2016-tolkien-society-seminar-and-imc/">Leeds 2016: Tolkien Society Seminar and IMC</a>’<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 10 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/07/7-videos-from-the-tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">7 videos from The Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>4–7 July 2016, Leeds University, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, Institute for Medieval Studies </b><br />
Anna Smol, Saturday, 2 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/07/02/tolkien-events-in-leeds/">Tolkien events in Leeds</a>’<br />
Dimitra Fimi, Saturday, 9 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/leeds-2016-tolkien-society-seminar-and-imc/">Leeds 2016: Tolkien Society Seminar and IMC</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>16 July 2016, Baruch College, New York City, ‘<a href="http://newyorktolkienconference.com/about/">New York Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
<b>Joe Hoffman, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.idiosophy.com/2016/07/notes-from-the-ny-tolkien-conference/">Notes from the NY Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
Including videos of several presentations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Info on upcoming & on-going events</u></b> (as of 1 July)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
<i>Leek Post and Times</i>, Tuesday, 5 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.leek-news.co.uk/8203-tolkien-exhibition-reveals-how-horrors-of-the-somme-shaped-middle-earth/story-29478559-detail/story.html">Tolkien Exhibition reveals how horrors of the Somme shaped Middle-Earth</a>’<br />
<b>Craig Campbell, <i>Sunday Post</i>, Wednesday, 27 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.sundaypost.com/fp/staffordshire-was-all-write-for-jrr-tolkien/">It's time to celebrate Staffordshire – the inspiration for JRR Tolkien's books</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">Mythcon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Tuesday, 5 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/07/mythcon-47-progress-report-2-now.html">Mythcon 47 - Progress Report #2 now available</a>’ –
Read about the 47th Mythcon; what you are going to experience, or what you'll be hoping to see some good reports about :)<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>The Horn of Rohan Redux</i>, Monday, 11 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/07/mythcon-47-tshirts-totes-available.html">Mythcon 47 Tshirts & Totes Available</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Wednesday, 13 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/07/room-board-deadline-for-mythcon-47_13.html">Room & Board deadline for Mythcon 47</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Thursday, 21 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/07/mythcon-47-day-rates-and-at-door-prices.html">Mythcon 47 Day Rates and At-the-Door Prices</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Wednesday, 27 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.dk/2016/07/mythcon-47-program-schedule-now.html">Mythcon 47 Program Schedule Now Available</a>’ –<br />
I certainly hope that those who speak on Tolkienian topics will keep in mind that the <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i> publishes conference papers ... (looking at the papers and presenters, many of them should certainly meet the academic requirements of the Journal).<br />
<br />
<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>The Tolkien Society</i></b> — I have booked! :-) <br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/leaf-by-niggle-comes-to-oxonmoot/">Leaf by Niggle comes to Oxonmoot</a>’ – <em>and</em> the Bodleian will be displaying the Tolkien / Baynes annotated map ... you're reading the words of a <em>very</em> happy man with a ticket to Oxonmoot 2016! :-) <br />
<br />
<b>24–25 September 2016, Newcastle Castle, ‘<a href="http://newcastlecastle.co.uk/tolkien-weekend-2016">Tolkien Weekend 2016</a>’, Time and Tide Events</b><br />
Will also feature the <i><a href="http://vimeo.com/169382392">Illuminating Tolkien</a></i> exhibition of art and illustration.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="04_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>The Tolkien Society, <i>YouTube</i>, Wednesday, 6 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkpQ0nmDRSo">Dimitra Fimi - Joyful sorrow in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi's paper from the Tolkien Society's seminar in Leeds. An excellent paper, that I enjoyed quite a lot. <br />
<br />
<b>Sue Bridgwater, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Friday, 8 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/26828750/_Fairest_of_all_Tolkiens_L%C3%BAthien_Tin%C3%BAviel_and_Tennysons_Guinevere">“Fairest of all”: Tolkien's Lúthien Tinúviel and Tennyson's Guinevere</a>’</b><br />
In essence a literary comparison of the two characters – their similarities and their differences. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147938604015/de-vuelta-a-la-taberna-de-el-hombre-de-la-luna" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/2a27fdb3d16767e6cf7cb3411654f43d/tumblr_oav5s235U61t2keyfo1_500.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Man in the Moon</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Monday, 11 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/26869694/Tolkien_Lydney_and_the_Vyne.doc">Tolkien, Lydney and the Vyne: patterns of loss and discovery</a>’</b><br />
A paper on the so-called Vyne ring, and the possibility of a connection with Tolkien and, more specifically, the Master Ring in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. The analysis is OK, but I have to say I disagree with Forest-Hill's assessment of the probabilities involved. Given the utter lack of evidence for it, I would certainly not agree that it is <i>likely</i> that Tolkien heard about the ring at all – it may be <i>possible</i> (as he did have access to people who did know about it), but that is it. The connections between the Master Ring and the Nodens curse tablet from Lydney (which Tolkien certainly <i>did</i> know) are, in my opinion, already tenuous (there are other possible sources that could inspire the same narrative elements and which are known to have influenced Tolkien), and trying to extend them to the Vyne ring requires, in my opinion, rather more speculative extrapolation than is sound.<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Monday, 18 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/07/18/talks-on-tolkien-ii-summer-series-flieger-on-kullervo/">Talks on Tolkien II: summer series. Flieger on Kullervo</a>’</b><br />
Anna Smol resumes her series of podcasts & videos with scholars talking about Tolkien. In this second series, she starts with Verlyn Flieger speaking about Kullervo at Exeter College in October last year. Flieger is as brilliant as ever, and I think the power of her lecturing style, drawing the audience in, translates quite well on the audio. <br />
<br />
<b>Danièle Cybulskie, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/07/20/did-medieval-people-believe-in-king-arthur/">Did Medieval People Believe in King Arthur?</a>’</b><br />
An interesting question and a fine introduction to the discussion. In my mind this also ties up with some of Tolkien's internal discussions (e.g. in the ‘Myths Transformed’ texts) in which he seems to think that his mythology needed to be in some sense believable even for modern people (“When however […] it is the general belief that we live upon a 'spherical' island in 'Space' you cannot do this [flat earth made round, red.] any more.”). I have always felt that Tolkien was wrong here – what mattered is rather what people believe that their <i>ancestors</i> were willing to believe. And discussions such as this imply that even our ancestors may have had a more refined outlook, being able to distinguish between what we might call the historical truth and the mythological truth.<br />
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/tolkiens-tower/death-and-the-tower/">Death and the Tower</a>’</b><br />
A very good article by Simon Cook about an aspect of Tolkien's long-standing ‘meditation upon death’, which Cook observes stands ‘[a]t the root of Tolkien's fantasy’. To me, this piece sparked thoughts on Tolkien's use of water (and in particular the Sea). I have often seen in popular expositions of our early medieval history (say, the latter half of the first millennium) that, water was the <i>connecting</i> parts of geography, while land, with all the huge forests, the <i>Myrkviðr</i>, were the barriers, the no-man zones where the boundaries lay. This idea of water, and particularly the sea, as that which connects us to others, and which may bring us to new and strange lands (think Leifr Eiríksson, Odysseus, Gulliver, etc. etc.), seems to be present in many ways in Tolkien's work.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2016/07/gandalf-pipe-weed.html#.V55s1bh96Hs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtRyeKUEWxqIm3Qq9bX4fa5XWj_51wyZ_6hQPpxmKTgPcz231D_KcZ3hcc_1-YJhKTedPYjLv2kMy3KtpeP2jHwyw5glvHn0l_VhA3ETN0lHGWOBEwpu4UGCU8Lc-HY_bu_b7tkLHNS8/s1600/gandalf%252Cpipeweed.....jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gandalf Pipe-Weed</i><br />
by Joe Gilronan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Dennis Wilson Wise, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss2/1/">Harken Not to Wild Beasts: Between Rage and Eloquence in Saruman and Thrasymachus</a>’</b><br />
In <i>The Hobbit</i> Tolkien (through Bilbo) notes that the good things are soon told about, while the uncomfortable parts make for a longer telling. I really enjoyed reading this paper by Wise, and I think he has some very excellent points that are in no way undermined by my minor complaints below. The overarching theme of looking at Saruman's speech from a rhetorical perspective and applying the framework of Plato's arguments against rhetorics works really fine, and his inclusion of <i>thymos</i> is enlightening.<br />
Wise appears to overlook the first mention of Saruman, which (besides Tolkien's foreword) occurs already in the second chapter, ‘The Shadow of the Past’ when Gandalf says things like ”I might perhaps have consulted Saruman the White, but something always held me back” and “I let [Gollum] go; for I had much else to think of at that time, and I still trusted the lore of Saruman” It is a pity, for I think these instances would strengthen his argument.<br />
On the other hand, Wise also claims that Tolkien, in a statement in the published letters, “states that there is nothing magical about Saruman’s Voice.” This is a strong overstatement of what Tolkien actually says anywhere in the letters. The implications in the book is that Saruman's voice <em>does</em> have a power that the Hobbits would most likely describe as ‘magic’ – a power that “corrupted the reasoning powers” and thus undermines the will, making it more difficult (but not impossible) to reject his voice (there is more to it than that). I suppose that it is possible to read the book as saying that there is nothing magical about Saruman's voice, but I do not agree that it is a reasonable reading to claim that “Anyone with skill,
talent, and patience can learn the speech-craft possessed by Saruman.”(9) In this connection, it is worth remembering that Tolkien also often uses his magic (or whatever you wish to call it – what the Hobbits would call ‘magic’, anyway) to emphasise the natural causality of the Primary World, strengthening a causal relation by magic to make also the natural connection appear more obvious. Thus the indications of something magical about Saruman's voice are, in my opinion, in many ways a <em>stronger</em> argument in favour of Wise's overall ideas than his (Wise's) insistence that Saruman's voice is not magical (because it, in my opinion, shows Tolkien emphasising this aspect of causation).<br />
See also <b>Dennis Wise, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/07/a-good-week.html">A Good Week For Publication</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Renée Vink, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Saturday, 23 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27203963/Human-stories_or_Human_Stories">Human-stories or Human Stories?</a>’</b><br />
Renée's paper from the 2015 Tolkien Seminar in Aachen. The paper takes its outset from Tolkien's remark in <i>On Fairy-stories</i> that “the human stories of the elves are doubtless full of the Escape from Deathlessness.” This starts an investigation to see which of Tolkien's stories might qualify as examples of this. Renée concludes that the story of Beren and Lúthien is probably the best example (probably with Aragorn and Arwen coming in second). I like that she also notes that if <i>enchantment</i> is a part of the <i>Faërie</i> of the fairy-stories of humans, then some kind of <i>disenchantment</i> should be part of the human stories of the Elves. I think, however, that the specifik context in which Tolkien uses the term would suggest something other than then usual interpretation of this phrase, but rather something that would be an antithesis to his concept of the enchantment of the Elves (something akin to, but stronger than, Secondary Belief).<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Kristine Larsen, Sunday, 24 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/07/24/talks-on-tolkien-ii-kristine-larsen-on-the-inklings-science/">Talks on Tolkien II: Kristine Larsen on the Inklings & Science</a>’</b><br />
Kristine Larsen's keynote speech, “Lewis, Tolkien, and Popular Level Science: What the Well-Educated Inklings Actually Knew about the Universe (As Reflected in the Details of Narnia, Middle-earth, and Other Secondary Worlds)” from the New York Tolkien Conference. Larsen clearly prefers to keep her titles in the tradition of the sciences – precise rather than poetic ... :-) Oh, and the talk, despite some sound buffering problems, is really good! <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Pippin-Comforts-Merry-621398870" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://pre02.deviantart.net/0ce7/th/pre/i/2016/195/8/4/pippin_comforts_merry_by_peet-da9yqfq.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pippin Comforts Merry</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Andrew Higgins, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 26 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss2/2/">'Those Who Cling in Queer Corners To The Forgotten Tongues and Memories of an Elder Day': J.R.R. Tolkien, Finns and Elves</a>’</b><br />
A longer version of Andrew Higgins' paper from the Leeds conference, in which Andy explores the connections between Tolkien's early fascination of the Finnish <i>Kalevala</i> and his <i>Book of Lost Tales</i>. The connections explored range from the conceptual over the narrative to the lingustic, and are followed by some interesting commentary. A really fine paper!<br />
I am, however, a little curious about what constitutes a ‘primitive’ language in modern linguistic research? Andy seems to accept Max Müller's 1881 description, leading to his assertion, that “Therefore Finnish and Qenya both represent the most primitive of these phases in language.” I am curious whether this also reflects the modern linguistic view (I wouldn't say that I don't speak a word of Finnish – I speak six. But I have had a life-long contact with Finnish, and I wouldn't have thought of the language as primitive).<br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>Journal of Inklings Studies</i> (<i>Academia.edu</i>), Friday, 29 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27365477/The_Fall_of_Arthur_and_The_Legend_of_Sigurd_and_Gudr%C3%BAn_A_Metrical_Review_of_Three_Modern_English_Alliterative_Poems"><i>The Fall of Arthur</i> and <i>The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún</i>: A Metrical Review of Three Modern English Alliterative Poems</a>’</b><br />
A very interesting article, which I dare say though I haven't finished it yet (I need to concentrate and take it slowly, OK :-) ). Nelson analyses the three long, narrative alliterative poems by Tolkien that have been published in recent years (two in <i>The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún</i> and one in <i>The Fall of Arthur</i>) for their metrical structure, showing both haw Tolkien stayed within the medieval tradition, though at times tweaking it a bit to accomodate the needs of modern English.<br />
<br />
<b>Nelson Goering, <i>Transactions of the Philological Society</i> (<i>Academia.edu</i>), Friday, 29 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27360034/Early_Old_English_Foot_Structure">Early Old English Foot Structure</a>’</b><br />
I have not had time to read this paper, but check the abstract yourself ...<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Irina Metzler, Sunday, 31 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/07/31/talks-on-tolkien-ii-irina-metzler-on-tolkien-disability-studies/">Talks on Tolkien II: Irina Metzler on Tolkien & Disability Studies</a>’</b><br />
From the 2016 Tolkien Society seminar. Also see elsewhere.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="05_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/user?u=2820768" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13626543_912272088918941_6223663807557497041_n.jpg?oh=acb4cb3bbd4e5299730c09c55e5019ee&oe=585D5151" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thranduil & Legolas</i><br />
by Katarzyna ‘Kasiopea’ Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Konstantin Kakaes, <i>Slate</i>, Tuesday, 5 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/07/the_true_magic_of_the_lord_of_the_rings_books.html">The Magic of the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> Books</a>’</b><br />
An excellent reading / review, and I do not think that I can add anything to David Bratman's comments in<br />
<b>David Bratman, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 6 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/07/todays-article-on-tolkien/">today's article on Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Bratman responds to the discussion of his critique of Kakaes' use of the word ‘fight’ to describe the scene when Gandalf comes to Isengard and is put on the pinnacle of Orthanc after a discussion with Saruman <b>David Bratman, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Saturday, 9 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/07/word-fight/">word fight</a>’</b><br />
While I accept that the word may be ... not <i>in</i>appropriate in an informal modern vernacular, I would still never dream of describing this scene as a fight (not even a quarrel), as there is no aggression, no raised voices, and despite scoffing and scorn, only hints at an underlying anger, and ultimately Gandalf resigns to go quietly with the people who put him at the pinnacle.<br />
Further commentary on both Kakaes' piece and Bratman's reaction can be found be here,<b>Dennis Wise, Monday, 11 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-on-webz.html">Tolkien on the Webz</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, Sunday, 10 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/first-meeting-in-july-2/">First meeting in July</a>’</b><br />
This month starts with ‘The Stairs of Cirith Ungol’ (TLotR IV, 8)<br />
<br />
<b>Tim Lomas, <i>Scientific American</i>, Tuesday, 12 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-magic-of-untranslatable-words/#">The Magic of "Untranslatable" Words</a>’</b><br />
Though it doesn't mention Tolkien, I think there is something very Tolkienian about this article. I certainly think that discussing this over a pint (or perhaps a ‘pant of Thong-ale’) with good Tolkien friends would be <i>hyggeligt</i> ... :-)<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Flowers, Tuesday, 12 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.dk/2016/07/a-weekend-in-tolkiens-staffordshire.html">A Weekend in Tolkien's Staffordshire</a>’</b><br />
The story of a very special magical trip ... Unfortunately I am unlikely to be able to visit Staffordshire anytime soon, but one day ...<br />
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, Monday, 18 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/the-shadow-in-the-nameless-east/">The Shadow in the Nameless East</a>’</b><br />
A commentary on the on-line essay, <i><a href="http://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/08/all-the-east-is-moving">All the East is moving</a></i> by Tom Holland. Holland mentions Tolkien in the essay, and Cook finds that “in general this seems to me yet another case of someone using Tolkien's fantasy for their own ends”. Having read the essay I agree with Cook's assessment of the invokation of Tolkien – also that some of the parallels might be worth investigating in context without the personal political agenda.<br />
<br />
<b>Bruce Charlton, Tuesday, 19 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.dk/2016/07/the-next-step-in-inklings-studies.html">The next step in Inklings studies? The Inklings as group complementarity</a>’</b><br />
I will leave assessing the scholarly value of this commentary on the Inklings to those more knowledgeable about this club-group-whatever – I found it interesting without being immediately compelling, and certainly thought-inspiring.<br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 22 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/07/did-tolkien-read-burroughs.html">Did Tolkien Read Burroughs?</a>’</b><br />
A question arising from a reading of the extended <i>Smith of Wootton Major</i> (edited by Verlyn Flieger and Douglas A. Anderson – an absolute must-have gem, by the way!). <br />
Rateliff answers the titular question himself in <b>John D. Rateliff, Monday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-definitely-read-burroughs.html">Tolkien Definitely Read Burroughs</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 28 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2016/07/radagast-bird-tamer-and.html">'Radagast The Bird-Tamer!' and the Characterization of Saruman (FR 2.ii.238-39)</a>’</b><br />
An interesting observation on Saruman's rhetorical tricks when insulting Radagast and glorifying himself.<br />
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<br />
<h2><a name="06_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 4 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-tuesday-unfinished-tales-30th.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "Unfinished Tales" (30th Anniversary Hardback Edition)</a>’</b><br />
Another description of a delightful Tolkien hardback edition.<br />
<br />
<b>'Trotter', <i>Tolkien Collector's Guide</i>, Thursday, 7 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2530&forum=15">Sotheby's Auction</a>’</b><br />
A number of Tolkien lots up for auction at Sotheby's on 12 July.<br />
<br />
<b>Wayne G. Hammond, Friday, 8 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/tolkien-biographies-continued-part-three/">Tolkien Biographies Continued, Part Three</a>’</b><br />
A review of a new ‘biography’ by Currie and Lewis, <i>On the Perilous Road: An Unauthorised Biography of J.R.R. Tolkien</i>. The review is sharp and to the point, though it is also my impression that it is rather patient and generous towards the book and the idiosyncracies of the authors.<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 11 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-tuesday-children-of-hurin.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Children of Hurin"</a>’</b><br />
On the hardback <i>Children of Húrin</i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/tomashijo/posts/10208554353550106" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13668711_10208554368430478_1716304906701628796_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Under the Sign of the Prancing Pony</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Alison Flood, <i>The Guardian</i>, Thursday, 14 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jul/14/rare-jrr-tolkien-poem-the-lay-of-aotrou-and-itroun-to-be-republished-lord-of-the-rings">Rare JRR Tolkien poem The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun to be republished</a>’</b><br />
A good article – and one for the shelves, obviously :)<br />
I feel somewhat with Ms Flood when I see how her fine article is treated (<i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i> becoming the ‘Galadriel poem’ in the URL …): <b>Daniel White, <i>Time</i>, Thursday, 14 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://time.com/4407241/jrr-tolkien-galadriel-poem/">Rare J.R.R. Tolkien Poem Will Be Republished After 70 Years</a>’</b><br />
Alison Flood's article in <i>The Guardian</i> has inspired a number of other articles, that are all depending on the article above such as
Carli Velocci, <i><a href="http://io9.gizmodo.com/70-year-old-tolkien-poem-to-be-republished-will-probab-1783710866">Gizmodo.com</a></i> (14 July),
Nick Romano, <i><a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/15/lord-rings-jrr-tolkien-poem">Entertainment Weekly</a></i> (15 July),
Carolyn Fox, <i><a href="http://www.themarysue.com/tolkien-poem-republished/">The Mary Sue</a></i> (15 July),
Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, <i><a href="www.cnet.com/news/70-year-old-tolkien-poem-reveals-early-lord-of-the-rings-character/">CNET</a></i> (17 July),
Nate Pedersen, <i><a href="http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2016/07/long-out-of-print-tolkien-poem-to-be-republished.phtml">Fine Books & Collections</a></i> (19 July),
, <i><a href=""></a></i> ( July),
OK … to be completely honest, they are not all horribly bad, some of them are just ‘meh!’, but as usual I find the interest in Tolkien publications interesting in itself. For a humorous reaction to the hype see Simon Cook's laundry list post under ‘<a href="#09_other">Other Stuff</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Thursday, 14 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/405455/Tolkien_Race_and_Cultural_History_From_Fairies_to_Hobbits">Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits</a>’</b><br />
If you have been in doubt on whether to buy this book (I cannot imagine why, but still), Fimi has uploaded the contents and the index to give you an idea of the contents (the short version: if you haven't already, then go buy it – there's also a link to the publisher).<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 18 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-tuesday-tales-from-perilous.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "Tales From the Perilous Realm"</a>’</b><br />
Personally I will <em>strongly</em> recommend the expanded editions – do not rob yourself of such gems from Tolkien's pen as “for nowhere does time ‘fly’ so fast compared with daily experience as when sitting and drinking and conversing with dear friends in an inn.” and “The love of Faery is the love of love: a relationship towards all things, animate and inanimate, which includes love and respect, and removes or modifies the spirit of possession and domination.“ ... Expanded editions, friends!<br />
<br />
<b>John Rateliff, Thursday, 21 July 2016, ‘<a href="sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/07/the-lay-of-aotrou-and-itroun-next-new.html">THE LAY OF AOTROU AND ITROUN (Next New Tolkien Book)</a>’</b><br />
Discussing the news about the upcoming relase of <i>The Lay of Autrou and Itroun</i> (also see above).<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Friday, 22 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2016/07/the-story-of-kullervo-paperback.html">"The Story of Kullervo" Paperback</a>’</b><br />
On the August 2017 of the paperback version of <i>The Story of Kullervo</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.dk/2016/07/tolkien-tuesday-legend-of-sigurd-and.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun"</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, <i>Mallorn</i> (<i>Academia.edu</i>), Thursday, 28 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27329676/Tolkien_and_Folklore_Sellic_Spell_and_The_Lay_of_Beowulf">Tolkien and Folklore: <i>Sellic Spell</i> and <i>The Lay of Beowulf</i></a>’</b><br />
Dimitra Fimi's review from <i>Mallorn</i> 55 (Winter 2014) of <i>Beowulf – A Translation and Commentary</i> by J.R.R. Tolkien and edited by Christopher Tolkien.<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 27 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/facsimile-first-edition-of-the-hobbit-to-be-published-on-22-september/">Facsimile first edition of The Hobbit to be published on 22 September</a>’</b><br />
This time the release date is reportedly firm and certain … almost … sort of … perhaps …. As this book has been promised for something like 2½ years with a release date constantly on the move, I'm solidly in the ‘let's wait and see’ camp.<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 28 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/leaf-by-niggle-published-in-its-own-volume/">Leaf by Niggle published in its own volume</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Tomás Hijo, Tuesday, 12 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147285655495/restocking-reponiendo-inventario-the-shop">Restocking</a>’</b><br />
It would seem that Hijo's <i>Smaug</i> image is one of those being restocked ...<br />
<br />
<b>Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska, Tuesday, 12 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/912272088918941:0">Thranduil & Legolas</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Wednesday, 13 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Pippin-Comforts-Merry-621398870">Pippin Comforts Merry</a>’</b><br />
... in Minas Tirith after finding him in an alley after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Friday, 15 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147458331150/como-este-proyecto-salga-adelante-amigos-ay">Crossing fingers for this new ultra secret project. </a>’</b><br />
No hints at what this ‘ultra secret project’ might be unless there is a hint in the picture, which illustrates a couple of lines from the Dwarves' song in <i>The Hobbit</i> (<i>Far over the misty mountains cold</i>).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/user?u=2820768" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13718772_917677135045103_1681159412907180249_n.jpg?oh=10e1a95746c6977274424fb493052e40&oe=582BADC1" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Witch-king</i><br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska (Kasiopea)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Manuel Castañón, Saturday, 16 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/The-Dragon-and-the-Star-622008972">The Dragon and the Star</a>’</b><br />
A quite good depiction of the fight between Ancalagon the Great and Eärendil in Vingilot.<br />
<br />
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, ‘Elmenel’, Monday, 18 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/happy-seventh-to-6104587">Happy Seventh Anniversary to the "Parma Eldaliéva" Project!</a>’</b><br />
First, congratulations on the anniversary to Elmenel (Tsvetelina)! May the stars and moon continue to light up your beautiful calligraphy! Secondly I'll encourage anyone with a bit of monthly surplus to consider supporting one or more of the fantastic Tolkien-related artists on Patreon (I'm sure that there are other, similar, sites that I don't know), such as e.g. Tsvetelina's amazingly beautiful <i>Parma Eldaliéva</i> project. (Post restricted to patrons)<br />
<br />
<b>Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska, Tuesday, 19 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/917677135045103:0">Witch-king</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/tomashijo/posts/10208554353550106">Under the Sign of the Prancing Poney</a>’</b><br />
Celebrating the first anniversary of the coloured version of Hijo's award-winning piece, <i>Under the Sign of the Prancing Pony</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147691063400/esta-se-va-a-newcastle-uk-a-la-expo-illuminating">What have I got in my pocket?</a>’</b><br />
“This goes to Newcastle, UK, for the exhibition <i>Illuminating Tolkien</i> ...”<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Saturday, 23 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147833156780/honored-to-contribute-with-a-couple-of-pieces-yo">The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells</a>’</b><br />
Another frame from Hijo's Dwarf-song work.<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147938604015/de-vuelta-a-la-taberna-de-el-hombre-de-la-luna">The Man in the Moon</a>’</b><br />
From Hijo's illustration of the song that Frodo sings in <i>The Prancing Pony</i> ...<br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Tuesday, 26 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.dk/2016/07/gandalf-pipe-weed.html#.V55s1bh96Hs">Gandalf Pipe-Weed</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, <i>John-Howe.com</i>, Sunday, 31 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6506">Bookplates</a>’</b><br />
Three ornate, Tolkien-theme bookplates for books from the libraries of some of Tolkien's well-loved characters.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="08_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 17 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.dk/2016/07/galadriel-and-fall-of-gandalf.html">Galadriel and the Fall of Gandalf</a>’</b><br />
Hillman continues his close investigation of the reception of the Company of the Ring in Caras Galadhon, particularly what Galadriel knew when about Gandalf's fate (at the time when Celeborn and Galadriel were greeting the Company, Gandalf was still fighting the Balrog in the depths below the mines).<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, Saturday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/07/25/why-didnt-the-elves-sail-to-numenor/">Why Didn't the Elves Sail to Númenor?</a>’</b><br />
Michael discusses this question, and in a following post discusses “What is the significance of height among Númenoreans?”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 8 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.dk/2016/07/stretches-incredulity.html">'stretches incredulity'</a>’</b><br />
With a few words on what is going to be the contents of Rateliff's next Tolkien-related publication.<br />
<br />
<b>Simon Cook, Saturday, 16 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/tolkiens-undiscovered-previously-discovered-laundry-list-with-new-annotations/">Tolkien's undiscovered previously discovered laundry list with new annotations</a>’</b><br />
Probably a comment on the comments on the coming release of <i>The Lay Aotrou and Itroun</i>, but I am not entirely sure of the target of the humour – the sometimes horribly poor articles that get written about it, the attempts by the HarperCollins marketing team to tie just about everything Tolkien ever wrote to his legendarium in order, presumably, to boost sales (one <i>could</i> argue that this is to some extent not entirely false, but then it is in a very general, and vague, sense), or the fact of the publication at all?<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Faktorovich, <i>Pennsylvania Literary Journal</i> (<i>Academia.edu</i>), Wednesday, 20 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/27140088/Interview_with_Janet_Brennan_Croft_Editor_of_Mythlore">Interview with Janet Brennan Croft, Editor of <i>Mythlore</i></a>’</b><br />
This 2011 interview has now been uploaded to Academia.edu by Janet Brennan Croft. <br />
<br />
<b>Suzanne Simard <i>TED</i>, Friday, 22 July 2016, ‘<a href="www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other">How trees talk to each other</a>’</b><br />
Nope, no ‘hoom hom’ or trees moving about. But nonetheless discussing the internet of tree roots ... (mostly for fun)<br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, Monday, 25 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tackling-your-first-academic-conference-paper-a-practical-guide/">Tackling your first academic conference paper: a practical guide</a>’</b><br />
Not Tolkien-related as such, but the Tolkien community has a large number of people presenting papers at various conferences and seminars, many of whom have never given a paper before, and this guide will undoubtedly come in handy for many of those. Thank you, Dimitra!<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Martinez, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 26 July 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/07/the-terence-tiller-tolkien-trivia-quiz/">The Terence Tiller Tolkien Trivia Quiz</a>’</b><br />
Those are good questions for now – but how long before all the answers are considered ordinary Tolkien trivia? Though I dare say that Terence Tiller will be remembered more for his work for the BBC than for this. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78873-Jrr-tolkien-style">J.R.R. Tolkien Style</a>’</b><br />
On Tolkien prose style. <br />
<br />
<b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78860-Goblin-or-Orc">Goblin or Orc</a>’</b><br />
Nothing new, really, unless it be in the specific combination of information :) Still, it does both bear and need to be restated every once in a while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_print">In Print</a></h2>
<b><i>Beyond Bree</i> July 2016</b><br />
Leading with an hypothesis regarding the word <i>Mewlips</i> by Mark Hooker, whose linguistic analyses leave with the overall feeling that “it may well be possible, and while <i>some</i> of them must almost certainly be true, most of them almost certainly aren't” – I just have no idea which are which. Still, the linguistic playfulness is always enjoyable for those who love words. Nancy Martsch reviews <i>A Secret Vice</i> edited by Fimi and Higgins, and Nancy Bunting offers ‘An autobiographical reading’ of Tolkien's <i>Roverandom</i>. All in all a fairly good issue.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Amon Hen</i> 260, July 2016</b><br />
This issue has not yet reached my door, but I have found it for download at the Tolkien Society web-site (members' section). The main pleasure for me about <i>Amon hen</i> is always to see what is going on in the Tolkien Society – including in on-line discussions I have participated in, but also including fascinating reports from various events (all of them being ‘abroad’ for me, but some also for the UK readers). This time these are complemented by a hilarious article by Kristine Larsen on the structural geology textbook that feature the <i>Bree Creek Quadrangle</i>, and an interesting analysis of Arvedui by Angela Nicholas. Again, July has proven a good month! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/147458331150/como-este-proyecto-salga-adelante-amigos-ay" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/7019fe6f3dea8e7ad9a5f57fe2511d0a/tumblr_oadfkeFdFz1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The dragon's ire more fierce than fire</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="12_websites">Web Sites, Blogs, Etc.</a></h2>
<b>Dennis Wilson Wise, ‘<a href="http://stratofanatic.blogspot.com/">Stratofanatic's Emporium</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<br />
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"><i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss2/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 3, issue 2</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/07/">Archive of posts from July 2016</a><br />
<br />
For a full list of sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>
Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-1131356362380102272016-07-03T22:19:00.000+02:002016-07-03T22:19:13.787+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXX<h2>June 2016</h2>
I seem to spend a lot of space here apologising for, or complaining about, my lack of time, though the first half of this year seems to have been worse than usual (hopefully culminating in June). My available time seems unlikely to change much, so the reduced commentary this month is likely to stay the norm, at least for a while.
<br />
AS usual I make no claims about newness, completeness or relevance of any of this, and I reject any other implication of responsibility :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_ardalogy">7: Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a><br />
<a href="#08_other">8: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#09_discussions">9: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#10_print">10: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#11_websites">11: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#12_blogs">12: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#13_sources">13: Sources</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/photos/a.541699285976225.1073741828.541572972655523/887681684711315/?type=3&theater" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13332956_887681684711315_252498999203537283_n.jpg?oh=e8ccf9610488fe8d69c042f307634fb7&oe=57F4D764" width="450"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Defenders of Gondor</i><br />Bergil and his company (Patreon commission)<br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>David Oberhelman, Thursday, 2 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/news-2016-06-02.htm">2016 Mythopoeic Awards Finalists Announced</a>’</b><br />
With the Inklings Studies Scholarship award finalists including Verlyn Flieger (<i>The Story of Kullervo</i>) and Christopher Tolkien (<i>Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary</i>). Now for waiting for the announcement of the winners from MythCon later this summer.<br />
<br />
<b>Leon Siciliano, <i>The Telegraph</i>, Sunday, 5 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/05/toklien-fans-dress-up-and-do-battle-in-a-czech-forest/">Tolkien fans dress up and do battle in a Czech forest</a>’</b><br />
See also<b><i>TVNZ</i>, Sunday, 5 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/ever-wanted-see-tolkien-battle-in-real-life-head-prague">Ever wanted to see a Tolkien battle in real life? Head to Prague</a>’</b><br />
And <b><i>Daily News & Analysis</i>, Saturday, 11 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/photo-gallery-in-pictures-fans-recreate-epic-battle-sequence-from-tolkien-s-the-hobbit-2222445">In Pictures | Fans recreate epic battle sequence from Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Collins, <i>iTech Post</i>, Saturday, 11 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.itechpost.com/articles/20579/20160611/tolkien-the-hobbit-anthropology.htm">Meet Hobbits in Real Life: What Tolkien's Creatures Were Really Like</a>’</b><br />
Despite the rather bad headline (hopefully done by an editor), this is an article about the <i>Homo Floresiensis</i>, interesting in this context mainly because of the ill-composed headline ... <br />
<br />
<b><i>Fine Books Magazine</i>, Monday, 13 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/press/2016/06/rare-map-of-middle-earth-goes-on-display-at-the-bodleian-libraries.phtml">Rare Map of Middle-earth Goes on Display at the Bodleian Libraries</a>’</b><br />
The display was on 23 June, but we have been told that the map will be on display again in September for Oxonmoot, which is really good news!<br />
<br />
<b>Francesca T. Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Wednesday, 22 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/tolkien-great-war/">Tolkien In The Great War</a>’</b><br />
About the excellent Instagram / Twitter project that the Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft is currently running to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and Tolkien's involvement therein.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What's on? – Bodleian Libraries</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/whats-on/upcoming-events/2016/jun/tolkien-middle-earth-map">Middle-earth map annotated by JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
The Bodleian Libraries' notification of the exhibition of the map.<br />
<b><i>BBC Radio 4</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07gh4pd">Today</a>’</b><br />
Starting about 1h 21m, there is a piece of about 5 minutes on the exhibition of the Tolkien/Baynes map, including an interview with Chris Fletcher, Keeper of Special Collections for the Bodleian Library, who tells that they “do have plans for major Tolkien exhibition in 2018, so people will be able to see it again then.” The programme will be available for international listening until 23 July.<br />
See also <b>Duncan Kennedy, <i>BBC</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36604583">J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings ‘Middle-earth’ unveiled</a>’</b>,<br />
<b>Naomi Herring, <i>Oxford Times</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/14573617.Rare_map_of_Middle_earth_goes_on_display_for_Tolkien_fans_for_one_day_only/">Rare map of Middle-earth goes on display for Tolkien fans for one day only</a>’</b>,<br />
and <b><i>BBC Oxford</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36597055">JRR Tolkien's annotated Middle-earth map on show at Bodleian</a>’</b><br />
This one is not bad – even has some relevant background information ...<br />
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<b>Gunnar Bjornson, Friday, 24 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://katehon.com/article/what-would-jrr-tolkien-say-about-brexit">What would J.R.R. Tolkien say about Brexit?</a>’</b><br />
Time to once more comment on the basic fallacy – not to say fraud – inherent in any claim to know what Tolkien might say to this or that political issue. It is quite likely that, if Tolkien had been asked in 1970 whether he would wish the UK to enter into en EU-like cooperation with consequent surrender of sovereignty, he would have refused, but the world of 2016 is very different from the world of 1970, and claiming to be able to extrapolate is clearly fallacious.<br />
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<b>Lynn Maudlin, Saturday, 25 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016/06/remembrance-of-things-past-while.html">Remembrance of Things Past While Looking Forward--</a>’</b><br />
New blog from the Mythopoeic Society – and first post is about the new Mythopoeic Society website.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/jennydolfen" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHA5DlVWCfaX1hH7ks5RR7kan6WP2kU8d6kZ4kYB5l3HE7eR7yOlKoetzPPayn5p9sZhxESc6jXtSlAPaEfJfBkN9vp6ziRK6ORTb__388djIdOAQk84pbYRAd_L1uJUsn1dyCmWT1dEK/s400/noldolante_w600.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Noldolantë</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b>Reports & comments on past events</b><br />
<b>17–19 June 2016, Leiden | Den Haag, ‘<a href="http://www.unquendor.nl/lustrum2016">Lustrum 2016: Unlocking Tolkien, Unquendor – The Dutch Tolkien Society</a>’</b><br />
Photos from Lustrum 2016 by Bart Spee: ‘<a href="http://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNVNZ4ToZrUZiUAb-Q5oFcetdpPKqgBObSFCLLojRwMygcJz1gtGwFMFFwl1H7lIw?key=Ri1yTkpOaWFoWVlleGZzYkFiOHlCRnkzZFdERXFn">Lustrum Unquendor 2016 Den Haag-Leiden</a>’<br />
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<b>Info on upcoming & on-going events</b> (as of 1 July)<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
See also:
<b><i>Staffordshire Newsletter</i>, Tuesday, 28 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/tolkien-exhibition-reveals-how-somme-shaped-middle-earth/story-29454050-detail/story.html">Tolkien Exhibition reveals how Somme shaped Middle-Earth</a>’</b>[sic]<br />
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<b>3 July 2016, Hilton Hotel, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme will be ‘Life, Death, and Immortality’ in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. See also Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 3 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/programme-announced-for-the-tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">Programme announced for the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a><br />
Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 26 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/06/dont-miss-out-on-the-best-tolkien-event-this-summer/">Don't miss out on the best Tolkien event this summer</a>’<br />
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<b>4–7 July 2016, Leeds University, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, Institute for Medieval Studies </b><br />
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<b>16 July 2016, National World War I Museum, Kansas City, ‘<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-the-ghosts-of-world-war-i-came-back-to-haunt-the-lord-of-the-rings-tickets-26038598148">How the Ghosts of World War I Came Back to Haunt The Lord of the Rings</a>’ a talk by John Garth, The National World War I Museum and Memorial</b><br />
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<b>16 July 2016, Baruch College, New York City, ‘<a href="http://newyorktolkienconference.com/about/">New York Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
Jacob Keener (‘Nolondil’), Wednesday, 1 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://nolondil.tumblr.com/post/145277004991/ny-tolkien-conference-programs">NY Tolkien Conference Programs</a>’<br />
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<b>18–20 July 2016, University of Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany, ‘<a href="http://medievalism.net/conference/">International Conference on Medievalism – 2016: Tradition or Myth</a>’, International Society for the Study of Medievalism</b> &ndash: I am not sure if there will be anything specifically Tolkienian at this conference, but looking at the theme of the 2016 conference, I would very much expect that Tolkien will be mentioned ... more than once.<br />
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<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">MythCon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>Mythopoeic Society</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mc47-room-board-available/">Mythcon 47 Room & Board packages available.</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Monday, 21 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mythcon-47-pr1-available/">Mythcon 47 Progress Report #1 Available</a>’<br />
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<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>The Tolkien Society</i></b> — I have booked! :-) <br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 27 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/06/bodleian-to-exhibit-annotated-middle-earth-map-during-oxonmoot/">Bodleian to exhibit annotated Middle-earth map during Oxonmoot</a>’ ... YAY!<br />
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<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>Robert Foster, Random House, ‘<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345339683&view=tg">Teacher's Guide to The Hobbit</a>’</b><br />
Random House appears to have made the full text, including lesson plans, from Robert Foster's 1981 teacher's guide available on their web-site.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/art-of-elmenel-i-5699936" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/patreon.posts/15773162526162263679.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Parma Eldaliéva I, p.163</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova (‘Elmenel’)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Carl Hostetter, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/5084766/Tolkienian_Linguistics_The_First_Fifty_Years">Tolkienian Linguistics: The First Fifty Years</a>’</b><br />
This paper was first published in <i>Tolkien Studies IV</i> from 2007. In it, Hostetter describes the evolution of the study of Tolkien's languages (the ‘Tolkienian Linguistics’ of the headline) from its first steps with enquiries sent by interested readers to Tolkien himself. Hostetter also gives an account of the discussions that have divided the Tolkienian linguists. I am once more struck by the many parallels between the specific study of Tolkien's languages, and the broader study of Tolkien's Middle-earth writings.<br />
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<b>Simon J. Cook, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Tuesday, 7 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/25945822/How_to_Do_Things_with_Words_Tolkien_s_Theory_of_Fantasy_in_Practice">How to Do Things with Words: Tolkien's Theory of Fantasy in Practice</a>’</b><br />
(Login required) A copy of Cooks recent paper for the <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i> (vol. 3, issue 1)<br />
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<b>Nelson Goering, <i>Academia.edu</i>, Sunday, 19 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/26307725/Old_Mercian_in_Tolkiens_Rohan_and_in_Beowulf">Old Mercian in Tolkien's Rohan and in <i>Beowulf</i></a>’</b><br />
A slide set from a talk given on 18 June. Unfortunately (for those of us who couldn't be present) uploaded without slidenotes<br />
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<b>Katherine Langrish, <i>TOR.com</i>, Wednesday, 22 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/06/22/faerie-led-thoughts-on-writing-meaningful-fantasy/">Faerie-led: Thoughts on Writing Meaningful Fantasy</a>’</b><br />
Also includes video of Terri Windling's 2016 Tolkien lecture at Pembroke College.<br />
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<b>Wayne G. Hammond & Christina Scull, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/06/23/lord-of-the-rings-comparison-3/"><i>Lord of the Rings</i> Comparison 3</a>’</b><br />
Another of the great posts from Scull and Hammond detailing the textual minutiae of recent editions of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> – highly recommended, if not mandatory, reading for anyone who cares about the text of their book ...<br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, Saturday, 25 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/odd-words-from-essex-wills.html">Odd words from the Essex Wills</a>’</b><br />
One of Weiner's posts about the language of Essex ...<br />
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<b>Marianne Petra Ritsema van Eck, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Tuesday, 28 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/06/28/baptism-in-anglo-saxon-england/">Baptism in Anglo-Saxon England</a>’</b><br />
This Master's thesis one caught my eye – I couldn't help but wonder if Tolkien would not have found the topic interesting.<br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Wednesday, 29 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/researching-tolkiens-secret-vice/">Researching Tolkien's ‘Secret Vice’</a>’</b><br />
A very interesting description of elements of collaborative research work that went into the recent critical edition of Tolkien's <i>A Secret Vice</i>. The diagram of the contents of MS Tolkien 24 is quite interesting. I do wonder at many points what made exactly these folios end up in exactly that folder in that sequence? Do we really see Tolkien's mind jumping about, or is this appearance of disorder a result of later meddling with the sheets (whether by Tolkien himself or others who have sorted his material).<br />
See also <b>Dimitra Fimi, Thursday, 30 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/tolkiens-a-secret-vice-first-reviews/">Tolkien's A Secret Vice: first reviews</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Anna Smol, Thursday, 30 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/06/30/kzoo-2017-calls-for-tolkien-papers/">Kzoo 2017 calls for Tolkien papers</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Brett and Kate McKay, Tuesday, 31 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/05/31/against-the-cult-of-travel-or-what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-the-hobbit/">Against the Cult of Travel, or What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Hobbit</a>’</b><br />
I am always a bit sceptical when people claims to know what “everyone gets wrong” (or what everyone misses). In this case, I would say that my scepticism is justified – where the authors are not merely repeating well-known facts, their extrapolations generally seem very tenuous. Thus they seem, for instance, though writing about <i>The Hobbit</i> and travelling, to completely ignore the fact that parts of the book are inspired by Tolkien's own trip to Switzerland as a young man.<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 2 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/06/inquiries-while-at-marquette.html">Inquiries while at Marquette</a>’</b><br />
Textual enquiries at the Marquette (on behalf of readers of the blog), trying to decipher Tolkien's handwriting.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/photos/a.541699285976225.1073741828.541572972655523/897437123735771/?type=3&theater" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13450776_897437123735771_5351309605184649087_n.jpg?oh=b3c9b69efe28e2f89e4a403f8d899bc1&oe=58036F09" width="250"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Caranthir</i><br />Patreon commission.<br />
by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Zebbie Watson, <i>Inverse</i>, Friday, 3 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.inverse.com/article/16501-how-warcraft-is-rewriting-tolkien-s-fantasy-world-invention-the-orc">How 'Warcraft' is Rewriting Tolkien's Fantasy World Invention, The Orc</a>’</b><br />
Not just Warcraft, though. This rewriting has been going on for a long time.<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Monday, 6 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/06/in-dead-marshes-we-hear-no-larks-at.html">In the Dead Marshes We Hear No Larks at Morning</a>’</b><br />
On larks. Their role in English literature, and Tolkien's twist.<br />
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<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Saturday, 11 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/first-meeting-in-june-2/">First meeting in June</a>’</b><br />
This month (including the 29 June post about <a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/last-meeting-in-june/">Last meeting in June</a>) moves the reading group through ‘The Forbidden Pool’ (IV, 6) and ‘Journe to the Cross-roads’ (IV, 7) with some few comments pertaining to ‘The Stairs of Cirith Ungol’ (IV, 8).<br />
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<b>Bruce Charlton, Thursday, 30 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016/06/transition-between-french-norman-to.html">Transition from French-Norman to Germanic romance in The Notion Club Papers</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 1 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/06/contents-of-tolkien-studies-volume-13-announced/">Contents of “Tolkien Studies” volume 13 announced</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 5 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/06/leaf-by-niggle-to-be-published-in-its-own-volume/">“Leaf by Niggle” to be published in its own volume</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Francesca T. Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Tuesday, 7 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/the-return-of-the-ring-9th-of-june-release/">Tolkien's “The Return Of The Ring” – 9th of June Release</a>’</b><br />
To be fair, this is about the release of the proceedings from the <i>Return of the Ring</i> conference held in Loughborough in 2012. <br />
See also <b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 9 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/06/the-return-of-the-ring-proceedings-published/">“The Return of the Ring” proceedings published</a>’</b><br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Thursday, 9 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/06/keeping-it-close-to-his-chest.html">Keeping it close to his chest . . .</a>’</b><br />
Comments (rather than a proper review) of Raymond Edwards' book, <i>Tolkien</i>, a biography from 2014. Helpful commenters have posted references to proper reviews of this, and of Edwards' earlier, shorter, book on the subject.<br />
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<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Friday, 10 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-lay-of-aotrou-and-itroun.html">"The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun"</a>’</b><br />
I was extremely pleased to hear of the publication this autumn of <i>The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun</i>, which will also include Tolkien's ‘Corrigan poems’. Edited by Verlyn Flieger and with a prefatory note by Christopher Tolkien, we can look forward to this book, which will fill another of the holes in the available works by J.R.R. Tolkien.<br />
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<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Tuesday, 14 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/06/tolkien-tuesday-hobbit-70th-anniversary.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Lord of the Rings" (Revised Edition Hardback Box Set, or, 60th Anniversary)</a>’</b><br />
This time about the wonderful 60th anniversary boxed hardback set ... (which I got for Christmas, and have recently finished reading ... blissful!)<br />
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<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 20 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/06/tolkien-tuesday-lord-of-rings-revised.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Hobbit" (70th Anniversary Hardback Edition)</a>’</b><br />
As this deals mostly with the physical book, I think it is better placed here. <br />
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<b>David Bratman, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 21 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/06/three-tolkien-novels/">Three Tolkien novels</a>’</b><br />
That is, not three novels <i>by</i> Tolkien, but three novels featuring Tolkien as a character. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Second-Sorrow-Of-Turin-613377570" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://orig06.deviantart.net/d4de/f/2016/157/e/b/the_second_sorrow_of_turin_by_peet-da56t5u.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Second Sorrow of Túrin</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Jeffrey R. Hawboldt, Monday, 27 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2016/06/tolkien-tuesday-silmarillion-30th.html">Tolkien Tuesday: "The Silmarillion" (30th Anniversary Hardback Edition)</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Tomás Hijo, Friday, 3 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/145360419510/c%C3%B3mo-molas-hombre-de-la-luna-wwwtomashijocom">The Man in the Moon</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, Sunday, 5 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Second-Sorrow-Of-Turin-613377570">The Second Sorrow of Túrin</a>’</b><br />
When Thingol's messengers returned from Morwen in Hithlum, but without Morwen, “this was the second sorrow of Túrin.”<br />
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<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 6 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/145511870590/aqu%C3%AD-sigo-singin-the-thorin-song">The Thorin Song</a>’</b><br />
<i>Far over the misty mountains cold</i><br />
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<b>Elena Kokanova, Wednesday, 8 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Namo-Mandos-614061683">Namo Mandos</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 8 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/145617013940/dije-que-lo-estampaba-hoy-se-recuerda-al">Thorin Song Printed</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Graeme Skinner, Thursday, 30 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6503">Star Gazing in the Shire</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="07_ardalogy">Story Internal (Ardalogy)</a></h2>
<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 6 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/06/06/are-orcs-trolls-and-dragons-immortal-unless-killed/">Are Orcs, Trolls and Dragons Immortal, Unless Killed?</a>’</b><br />
A discussion of some of the philosophical problems that Tolkien's approach to the Fates of Men and Elves create. There are questions that, while they are quite natural to most readers, simply cannot be discussed in a meaningful way from a story-internal perspective. Martinez does a good job at showing the uncertainty without getting into the underlying criticial and philosophical (and, indeed, theological) discussions.<br />
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<b>John Howe, Wednesday, 15 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/blog/2016/06/15/a-few-words-about-dragons/">A Few Words About Dragons</a></b><br />
‘The Dragons of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth[sic]’ An excellent, mostly story-internal, article with a high degree of accuracy. Overall, I think it is a pity to limit the discussion only to the dragons of Middle-earth (and Howe is not entirely consistent in this delimitation), which cuts out Tolkien's own treatment of the mighty dragon of Norse legend, Fáfnir.
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<b>Tom Hillman, Tuesday, 28 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/06/getting-to-bottom-of-celeborn.html">Getting to the Bottom of Celeborn</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="08_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Beth Carswell, ‘<a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/books/avid-reader/dragons-literature.shtml?cm_mmc=nl-_-nl-_-UPrpt21-h00-dragonAM-000000xx-_-htm-bdy-01cta&abersp=1">Here Be Dragons in Literature</a>’</b><br />
Books with dragons ...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/145511870590/aqu%C3%AD-sigo-singin-the-thorin-song" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/db5726afa6ec4d21ded4ac7a32097e82/tumblr_o8cye3rswg1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Thorin Song</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Andy Ffrench, <i>Oxford Times</i>, Thursday, 23 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/theatre/14575401.JRR_Tolkien__39_s_grandson_Simon_talks_to_us_about_his_new_novel_No_Man__39_s_Land_based_on_his_famous_grandfather__39_s_experiences_at_The_Somme_/">JRR Tolkien's grandson Simon talks to us about his new novel No Man's Land based on his famous grandfather's experiences at The Somme.</a>’</b><br />
Not so much for the book itself, but for fragments of Simon Tolkien reminiscing on his grandfather.<br />
<br />
<b>David Wilcock, <i>The Independent</i>, Wednesday, 29 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/battle-of-the-somme-centenary-facts-adolf-hitler-jrr-tolkien-siegfried-sassooon-ralph-vaughan-a7109056.html">Battle of the Somme: From Adolf Hitler to JRR Tolkien – the battle's most famous combatants</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Deniz Bevan, Wednesday, 29 June 2016, ‘<a href="http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2016/06/oxford-part-ii-tolkien.html">Oxford! Part II Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
From a trip to Oxford ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b><i>The Lord of the Rings Plaza</i>, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78838-Reading-the-books">Reading the books</a>’</b><br />
Some discussion of the language and archaisms of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_print">In Print</a></h2>
I had lost track a bit, so I went back to see what I reported last month ...<br />
<br />
<b><i>Mythprint</i> 53:2 (#377) – Summer 2016</b><br />
This landed in my inbox on the last day of June. It contains news on MythCon 47 (now just a month away – I hope that everybody will have a fantastic Con), and the Mythopoeic Awards finalists (see elsewhere). The new Mythopoeic Society Social Media Manager, Alicia Fox-Lenz, introduces herself (welcome, and thank you for taking on this important role!), and David Oberhelman advertises for his successor as Mythopoeic Awards Administrator (a bit of a tough decision here – being too honest in the praise of David's effort might scare away others who might think themselves unable to lift the baton). Janet Brennan Croft announces that the the <i>Mythlore</i> index plus can be downloaded for free as searchable PDF at <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/press/mythlore-index-plus.htm">http://www.mythsoc.org/press/mythlore-index-plus.htm</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Beyond Bree</i> June 2016</b><br />
To be perfectly honest, I found this issue of <i>Beyond Bree</i> to be ... not what I am subcribing to <i>Beyond Bree</i> for.
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b><a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/">Mythsoc – The Mythopoeic Society</a></b><br />
The Mythopoeic Society has a nice new web-site which is quite easy to navigate (and wonderfully responsive). Well done! <br/>
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<br />
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/">Too Many Books and Never Enough</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Douglas A. Anderson, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/">Tolkien and Fantasy</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/jennydolfen" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGHb6jAdfIIA32ksoFOeBMjWr22TnCY9WqKTwvyLPWijJW4baiZJTpnvhYjqPcBRGJIGQ1w8b9EtZ-0ptENngU3ylWtocf5o6E00tkS0Hzwxym4-K-mT2lN_Qa3X5khvPyFCvJNoI2AM9/s200/Kili_w325.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kili</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news-archive.htm">News archive</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"> <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 3, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’<br />
<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/06/">Archive of posts from June 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in June 2016<br />
<b>Various, <i>The Mythopoeic Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://mythsoc-rohan.blogspot.com/">The Horn of Rohan Redux</a>’</b><br />
“the occasional blog from The Mythopoeic Society”<br />
<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-58681255127658390752016-06-05T19:58:00.000+02:002016-06-05T19:58:42.486+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXIX<h2>(April &) May 2016</h2>
As I explained a month ago, I managed to overwrite the work I had been doing on my April transactions, leaving me with just a few scraps. These, then, form the basis for this month's work, along with a few other bits and pieces from April, and, of course, what I have come across during May.<br />
<br />
As time is still in very short supply and obligations are in excess, you will find that nearly all links are given without comments. These are links I would either have liked to have time to comment upon, or even that I would have liked to have time to read in full, but which seem interesting enough to share. In other cases, my commentary will be limited. June is promising to be even more hectic, except for the last week, so I hope to be able to use that week to return to normal.<br />
<br />
As usual, I make no claims about newness, completeness and relevance, and refuse to accept responsibility of other than my personal idiosyncracies :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This time it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_secretvice">2: <i>A Secret Vice</i></a><br />
<a href="#03_kzoo">3: Kalamazoo</a><br />
<a href="#04_events">4: Events</a><br />
<a href="#05_scholar">5: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#06_comments">6: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#07_books">7: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#08_interviews">8: Interviews</a><br />
<a href="#09_art">9: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#10_other">10: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#11_discussions">11: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#12_print">12: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#13_websites">13: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#14_blogs">14: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#15_sources">15: Sources</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Return-of-Hurin-and-Huor-602247539" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://orig06.deviantart.net/90d2/f/2016/102/0/e/the_return_of_hurin_and_huor_by_peet-d9yk96b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Return of Hurin and Huor</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Clive Hammond, <i>Basingstoke Gazette</i>, Monday, 2 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/14461867.New_musical_explores_the_life_of_JRR_Tolkien/">New musical explores the life of JRR Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bodleian Libraries, Tuesday, 3 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/news/2016/may-03">Bodleian Libraries acquires rare map of Middle-earth annotated by Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Maev Kennedy, Tuesday, 3 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/03/jrr-tolkien-annotated-map-middle-earth-bodleian-lord-rings-hobbit">Tolkien annotated map of Middle-earth acquired by Bodleian library</a>’</b><br />
This is about the copy of CJRT's map of Middle-earth with annotations by both J.R.R. Tolkien and Pauline Baynes.<br />
See also, <b>Christian Holub, <i>Entertainment Weekly</i>, Tuesday, 3 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/03/tolkien-annotated-middle-earth-map-oxford">Newly discovered Middle-Earth map, with annotations by J.R.R. Tolkien, acquired by Oxford</a>’</b><br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Wednesday, 4 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/bodleian-acquires-map-of-middle-earth-annotated-by-tolkien/">http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/bodleian-acquires-map-of-middle-earth-annotated-by-tolkien/</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>La Sociedad Tolkien Espanola, May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.sociedadtolkien.org/certamenes/bases/bases-certamen-ensayo-aelfwine/">Bases del certamen de ensayo "Ælfwine" - Edición 2016 (Rules for the 2016 edition of the ‘Ælfwine’ Essay Award)</a>’</b><br />
English essays are allowed, and the rules can be downloaded at the site in English also.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_secretvice"><i>A Secret Vice</i></a></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma7_BlKZh3FXxeNjvH1W81tPRk9NZaSMszb_U56-GYOn5oWsG_u1GDZ6ansOOSY6UX2qBwxI8J85b2u7iuBGzz2yznk7TzzllXtpTUorRxWkBgymuEVAsAKK3d_yKrupCWEcnyjZn-UrJ/s1600/Fingon_200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma7_BlKZh3FXxeNjvH1W81tPRk9NZaSMszb_U56-GYOn5oWsG_u1GDZ6ansOOSY6UX2qBwxI8J85b2u7iuBGzz2yznk7TzzllXtpTUorRxWkBgymuEVAsAKK3d_yKrupCWEcnyjZn-UrJ/s320/Fingon_200.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fingon</i><br />by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Curiously, there has been less noise about this book, than I had expected based on my own excitement, but what I have found is listed here. <br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 7 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/04/a-secret-vice-tolkien-on-invented-languages-published/">“A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages” published</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Vivien Stocker, Monday, 11 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiendil.com/tolkien/interview/fimi_et_higgins_en">Interview of Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, <i>New Statesman</i>, Friday, 15 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2016/04/teach-yourself-dwarvish-behind-tolkien-s-invented-languages">Teach yourself Dwarvish: behind Tolkien's invented languages</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Various, <i>Amazon</i>, , ‘<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Vice-J-R-Tolkien/product-reviews/0008131392/">Costumer reviews</a>’</b><br />
At the time of writing this, there are five reviews, most of which are helpful, and most of which are <i>very</i> positive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_kzoo">Kalamazoo</a></h2>
The annual Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo is a huge event that draws a lot of the finest Tolkien scholars from all over the world. The Tolkien track at Kalamazoo is always of a high quality, and very often there is extensive reporting. This year is no different, and therefore I have chosen to put the K'zoo news and reports under a special headline. <br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Friday, 29 April 2016, ‘<a href="https://annasmol.net/2016/04/29/tolkien-unbound-entertainment-at-kzoo/">Tolkien Unbound entertainment at Kzoo</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John Rateliff, Saturday, 12 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/05/vaughn-is-my-hero.html">Vaughn is my Hero!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Larry Swain, Monday, 16 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://theruminate.blogspot.com/2016/05/kzoo-2016.html">Kzoo 2016</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John Rateliff, Sunday, 22 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-picture-from-kalamazoo.html">A picture from Kalamazoo</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Anna Smol, Friday, 27 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/05/27/tolkiens-king-sheave-story/">Tolkien's King Sheave story</a>’</b><br />
Some comments on Anna Smol's paper on Tolkien's <i>King Sheave</i> story, which is embedded in his <i>Notion Club Papers</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="04_events">Events</a></h2>
<b>Reports & comments on past events</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/art-of-elmenel-i-5555536" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/patreon.posts/18245178453432665425.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Art of Elmenel: Parma Eldaliéva I, p.306</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>8–10 April 2016, The Middletons Hotel, York, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2016/">Springmoot and AGM 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 8 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/watch-alan-lee-discusses-his-artwork-at-the-tolkien-society-annual-dinner-2016/">Watch: Alan Lee discusses his artwork at the Tolkien Society Annual Dinner 2016</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>8–9 April 2016, University of Vermont, USA, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont 2016</a>’, Tolkien Club of University of Vermont</b><br />
<br />
<b>26 May 2016, Pembroke College, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://tolkienlecture.org/2016/03/09/terri-windling-to-deliver-the-2016-tolkien-lecture-at-pembroke/">2016 Tolkien Lecture</a>’, Pembroke College</b><br />
Daniel Helen, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-lecture-2016-terri-windling/">Tolkien Lecture 2016: Terri Windling</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28 May 2016, East Yorkshire, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-tour-east-yorkshire-may-2016/">Tolkien Tour: East Yorkshire</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
Michael Flowers, Sunday, 29 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/2016/05/inaugural-east-yorkshire-tolkien-tour.html">Inaugural East Yorkshire Tolkien Tour</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Info on upcoming & on-going events</b> (as of 1 June)<br />
<b>14 April–10 June 2016, Various locations, Scotland, ‘<a href="http://www.puppetstate.com/shows/leaf-by-niggle/">Leaf by Niggle</a>’, Puppet State Theatre Company</b>. You can find the tour plan from there.<br />
See also:
Mary Palmer, <i>Daily Record</i>, Tuesday, 1 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/new-play-based-jrr-tolkien-7471559">New play based on J.R.R. Tolkien short story to tour Scotland</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>26 April 2016 – 27 February 2017, Various, Staffordshire, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/events/j-r-r-tolkien-staffordshire-1915-1918-a-literary-landscape-3/">Exhibition: J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
See also: <i>Staffordshire Newsletter</i>, Monday, 9 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Tolkien-exhibition-comes-Cannock/story-29250469-detail/story.html">Tolkien exhibition comes to Cannock</a>’<br />
<b>Ross, <i>Lichfield Live</i>, Wednesday, 11 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2016/05/11/exhibition-exploring-jrr-tolkiens-link-to-staffordshire-to-visit-lichfield-library/">Exhibition exploring JRR Tolkien's link to Staffordshire to visit Lichfield Library</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>2–5 June 2016, Taylor University, Indiana, ‘<a href="http://library.taylor.edu/cslewis/2016-colloquium/index.shtml">C.S. Lewis & Friends Colloquium 2016</a>’, Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis & Friends</b><br />
<br />
<b>17–19 June 2016, Leiden | Den Haag, ‘<a href="http://www.unquendor.nl/lustrum2016">Lustrum 2016: Unlocking Tolkien, Unquendor – The Dutch Tolkien Society</a>’</b><br />
See also, Francesca T. Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasty Network</i>, Wednesday, 25 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/lustrum-a-tolkien-gathering-in-the-hague/">Lustrum – A Tolkien Gathering in The Hague</a>’<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3 July 2016, Hilton Hotel, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme will be ‘Life, Death, and Immortality’ in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. See also Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 3 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/programme-announced-for-the-tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">Programme announced for the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016<br />
<br />
<b>4–7 July 2016, Leeds University, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, Institute for Medieval Studies </b><br />
<br />
<b>16 July 2016, Baruch College, New York City, ‘<a href="http://newyorktolkienconference.com/about/">New York Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>18–20 July 2016, University of Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany, ‘<a href="http://medievalism.net/conference/">International Conference on Medievalism – 2016: Tradition or Myth</a>’, International Society for the Study of Medievalism</b> &ndash: I am not sure if there will be anything specifically Tolkienian at this conference, but looking at the theme of the 2016 conference, I would very much expect that Tolkien will be mentioned ... more than once.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/142072892745/ive-made-my-own-trilogy-of-hobbit-films-and-i" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://40.media.tumblr.com/7edc15327970dc917ad9216b2d4182da/tumblr_o4ypdfcUPO1t2keyfo1_500.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A ‘film’ of <em>The Hobbit</em></i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">MythCon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>Mythopoeic Society</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mc47-room-board-available/">Mythcon 47 Room & Board packages available.</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Monday, 21 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mythcon-47-pr1-available/">Mythcon 47 Progress Report #1 Available</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>The Tolkien Society</i></b> — I have booked! :-) <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="05_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>Edmund Weiner, Friday, 1 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/tolkiens-english-and-fiction-of.html">Tolkien's English and the ‘Fiction of Authenticity’</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, <i>The Conversation</i>, Thursday, 7 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://theconversation.com/how-to-invent-a-tolkien-style-language-57380">How to invent a Tolkien-style language</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Edmond Weiner, Tuesday, 12 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-words-of-sixteenth-century-essex.html">The Words of Sixteenth Century Essex Woman and Man</a>’</b><br />
The first of a number of posts about the philology of Essex ...<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Flowers, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 24 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/04/tolkiens-tinuviel/">Tolkien's Tinúviel: The Nightingale in Tolkien's Writings</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John Garth, Wednesday, 11 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/rob-gilson-tcbs-a-documentary/">Robert Quilter Gilson, TCBS – a documentary</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Tuesday, 17 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/05/17/simone-de-beauvoirlotr/">Simone de Beauvoir and the Keyspring of the Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Friday, 27 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-silmarillion-at-marquette.html">The Silmarillion at Marquette</a>’</b><br />
A little something about what is hiding in the archives ...<br />
<br />
<b>Janet Brennan Croft, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Friday, 27 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/2/">Bibliographic Resources for Literature Searches on J.R.R Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
I will turn to Tolkien (unsurprisingly) to express my reaction at being included in this formidable list: “There are no words left to express his staggerment since Men change the language that they learned of elves in the days when all the world was wonderful.” Apart from that, this list is an extremely valuable contribution to Tolkien scholarship, simply by guiding scholars and others on how to search for prior work on a topic.<br />
<br />
<b>Andrew S. Higgins, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Saturday, 28 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/3/">Tolkien's A Secret Vice and 'the language that is spoken in the Island of Fonway'</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, Monday, 30 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/05/tolkien-studies-13-announcement.html">Tolkien Studies 13: an announcement</a>’</b><br />
And so we can start looking forward to the next volume ...<br />
<br />
<b>Kristine Larsen, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 31 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/5/">Medieval Cosmology and Middle-earth: A Lewisian Walk Under Tolkienian Skies</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Simon J. Cook, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Tuesday, 31 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/6/">How to Do Things with Words: Tolkien’s Theory of Fantasy in Practice</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="06_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Azhar Chowdhury, Tuesday, 13 January 2015, ‘<a href="http://www.ibanaway.com/1647/tolkien/">Tolkien's Middle Earth: Lessons for the Muslim Reader</a>’</b><br />
A rather interesting alternative take on the applicativity of Tolkien.<br />
<br />
<b>Brenton Dickieson, Wednesday, 6 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/04/06/the-stories-before-the-hobbit/">The Stories before the Hobbit: Tolkien Intertextuality, or the Sources behind his Diamond Waistcoat</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 1 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/05/gollum-could-have-been-even-more.html">Gollum Could Have Been Even More Appalling -- HoMe VI.264</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Pearce, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Thursday, 5 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/05/lord-of-the-rings-allegory.html">Is “The Lord of the Rings” an Allegory?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Michael Schaub, <i>L.A. Times</i>, Monday, 9 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-jc-harry-potter-brain-damage-20160509-snap-story.html">School principal: 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' cause brain damage</a>’</b><br />
While the headline is a bit of an exaggeration, there is a very interesting underlying debate here about how to view children. Here it seems to me that Tolkien was also very modern in his views, not seeing children as innocent little, fragile things that had to be protected from the realities of the world, but rather as robust human beings with an appetite for the world. Perhaps it is this underlying attitude towards children that the principal finds hard to accept.<br />
<br />
<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom</i>, Thursday, 12 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/first-meeting-in-may-3/">First meeting in May</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 19 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/05/oh-stephen/">oh, Stephen!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 25 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/05/herumillion-and-ring-of-earth.html">HERUMILLION and the Ring of Earth</a>’</b><br />
Regardless of the minor transcription error (should be <i>Heru-i-million</i> or perhaps merely <i>Heruimillion</i>), this really deserves to be highlighted!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Men-proved-easier-to-ensnare-610580131" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img03.deviantart.net/166d/i/2016/143/5/6/_men_proved_easier_to_ensnare__by_peet-da3iun7.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Men proved easier to ensnare'</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 28 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/05/kemen-ear-menel.html">KEMEN, EAR, & MENEL</a>’</b><br />
A follow-up on the previous post, noting the origianl names for the Three Rings of the Elves.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="07_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Christian Kriticos, Tuesday, 5 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.themillions.com/2016/04/origin-stories-the-darker-side-of-j-r-r-tolkien.html">Origin Stories: The Darker Side of J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Review of <i>The Story of Kullervo</i><br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Bottum, <i>Washington Free Beacon</i>, Saturday, 23 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://freebeacon.com/culture/review-jrr-tolkien-story-kullervo/">Traces of Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Review of <i>The Story of Kullervo</i><br />
<br />
<b>Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 28 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/04/pre-order-the-return-of-the-ring-proceedings-today/">Pre-order “The Return of the Ring” proceedings today</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Mark Sommer, <i>Examiner.com</i>, Sunday, 1 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/author-explores-spiritual-themes-tolkien-s-hobbit-and-lord-of-the-rings">Author explores spiritual themes in Tolkien's 'Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings'</a>’</b><br />
A review of <i>Moments of Grace and Spiritual Warfare in <em>The Lord of the Rings</em></i> by Anne Marie Gazzolo.<br />
<br />
<b>Maria Messer, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Sunday, 1 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/05/01/exclusive-cover-reveal-tolkien-calendar-2017/">Exclusive Cover Reveal: Tolkien Calendar 2017</a>’</b><br />
The 2017 calendar will feature Tolkien's own art. YES!!<br />
<br />
<b>Mark Fisher, Wednesday, 4 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/04/leaf-by-niggle-review-retelling-tolkien-unruffled-clarity-artistic-vision">Leaf by Niggle review – Tolkien's lord of small things gets a one-man show</a>’</b><br />
The stage production of <i>Leaf by Niggle</i> has been <em>very</em> well received by both critics and audience. It has been proposed (ahem ...) that it would be a brilliant idea to have the show set up for Oxonmoot ... I <i>really</i> hope this will happen! <br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 19 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/leaf-by-niggle-play-continues-to-popular-acclaim/">Leaf by Niggle play continues to popular acclaim</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, Saturday, 7 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/05/mythopoeic-scholarship.html">mythopoeic scholarship</a>’</b><br />
On (unnamed) books nominated for the Mythopoeic Scholarship Awards ...<br />
<br />
<b>Tara Creel, <i>Deseret News</i>, Saturday, 7 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653756/Book-review-Tolkiens-previously-unpublished-Story-of-Kullervo-is-a-diamond-in-the-rough.html?pg=all">Book review: Tolkien's previously unpublished 'Story of Kullervo' is a diamond in the rough</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Sue Bridgwater, Tuesday, 10 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/deep-rooted-curry/">Deep-Rooted Curry</a>’</b><br />
A review of Patrick Curry's <i>Deep Roots in a Time of Frost: Essays on Tolkien</i><br />
<br />
<b>Mark Sommer, <i>Examiner.com</i>, Saturday, 14 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/latest-tolkien-title-explores-the-roots-of-middle-earth">Latest Tolkien title explores the roots of Middle-earth</a>’</b><br />
On <i>The Story of Kullervo</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Joseph Reninger, <i>Patheos</i>, Friday, 27 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/happycatholicbookshelf/2016/05/the-legend-of-sigurd-and-gudrun-by-j-r-r-tolkien/">The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dimitra Fimi, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Sunday, 29 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/4/">The Story of Kullervo (2015) by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Verlyn Flieger</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Bratman, Monday, 30 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/05/tolkien-studies-13-announcement.html">Tolkien Studies 13: an announcement</a>’</b><br />
And so we can start looking forward to the next volume ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="09_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Tomás Hijo, Friday, 1 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/142072892745/ive-made-my-own-trilogy-of-hobbit-films-and-i">I've made my own trilogy of Hobbit films …</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Saturday, 2 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/rivendell-joe-gilronan.html">Rivendell</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, ‘Elmenel’, Monday, 4 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/tengwarin-art-of-5077147">"TENGWARIN" ~The Art of Elmenel~ : "The Imladris Edition", Test Booklet</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Tuesday, 5 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Luthien-and-Huan-601221084">Luthien and Huan</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 6 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/142355802460/shop-restocked-i-have-fresh-prints-of-theoden-and">Shop restocked! </a>’</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/dark-wings-downstream/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/blackswans_col.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dark wings downstream</i><br />
by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Peter Xavier Price, Sunday, 10 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/The-Return-of-Hurin-and-Huor-602247539">The Return of Hurin and Huor</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Jenny Dolfen, Thursday, 21 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/dark-wings-downstream/">Dark wings downstream</a>’</b><br />
Not Tolkien, but ...<br />
<br />
<b>Graeme Skinner, Saturday, 23 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2016/04/laurelin/">Laurelin</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Elena Kukanova, Wednesday, 27 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Earwen-605627632">Earwen</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska, Wednesday, 27 April 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/868379229974894:0">Is there no other way?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Thursday, 5 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/rivendell-home-of-elves-joe-gilronan.html">Rivendell Home Of Elves</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dan Reeder, Sunday, 8 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://papermacheblog.com/2016/05/08/paper-mache-smaug/">Paper Mache Smaug</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Monday, 9 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/144103705600/the-man-in-the-moon-is-coming-tolkien-poem">The man in the moon is coming!</a>’</b><br />
Tomás Hijo is making a cut based on Tolkien's poem, <i>The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late</i>, which Frodo sings in <i>The Prancing Pony</i> in Bree.<br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Tuesday, 10 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/144151789640/upper-half-ready-terminada-la-mitad-superior">Upper half ready!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Tuesday, 17 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/144507576370/yes-the-man-in-the-moon-is-ready-si-he">YES! ‘The man in the moon’ is ready!</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Joe Gilronan, Wednesday, 18 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-silmarillion-voyage-of-earendil-joe-gilronan.html">The Voyage of Eärendil</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Sunday, 22 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Men-proved-easier-to-ensnare-610580131">'Men proved easier to ensnare'</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Tomás Hijo, Wednesday, 25 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/144911707460/this-is-the-first-step-of-my-new-project">Thorin's Song?</a>’</b><br />
Tomás Hijo writes: “This is the first step of my new project, conceived as the ‘Man in The moon’ twin. No title yet… Maybe ‘Thorin's song’?”<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="10_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>John Howe, Sunday, 15 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/blog/2016/05/15/journey-into-wilderland/">Journey into Wilderland</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Shaun Gunner, Wednesday, 18 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/05/international-museum-day-a-museum-for-tolkien/">International Museum Day – a museum for Tolkien?</a>’</b><br />
Yes, please! Preferably in, or close to, Oxford (for the closeness to all the Tolkien papers in the Bodleian Libraries). Also, I think it'd be fair to dedicate a corner to adaptations, but please without giving preference to any of the many adaptations of Tolkien's work!<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Livingston, <i>TOR.com</i>, Tuesday, 31 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/05/31/robert-jordan-americas-tolkien/">Robert Jordan: America's Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
While I think that both Jordan and Martin would prefer to be the first of themselves, this kind of comparisons also, I think, suggest something about Tolkien's role and status within mythopoeic fiction.<br />
<br />
<b>Marcel Aubron-Bülles, Tuesday, 31 May 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.thetolkienist.com/2016/05/31/support-kickstarter-project-bandersnatch-goes-audio-today/">Support Kickstarter project “BANDERSNATCH Goes Audio!!” today</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="11_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78800-Why-was-Nain-I-not-named-Durin-VII">Why was Nain I not named Durin VII?</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>LotR Plaza</i>, ‘<a href="http://lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78807-Ancalagon-the-Black-a-case-study">Ancalagon the Black: a case study</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="12_print">In Print</a></h2>
These two months have brought me my copy of <i>A Secret Vice</i> edited by Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins, which I look very much forward to reading (that will probably be in July), as well as the latest copy of <i>Mythlore</i> (issue 128), which is a rather Lewis-heavy issue, but still with a couple of articles that look interesting. <br />
<br />
<i>Amon Hen</i> no. 259 contains reports from the Tolkien Society AGM as well as the regular columns I always read: ‘The Burning Palantír’: news from the Tolkien Society Facebook Group, ‘Behind Glass Doors’: from the board of the society, and ‘Michael's Miscellany’ which collects a lot of Tolkienian stories from the news, including a number that I either don't find or decide to skip. The high point in this issue was, however, Shaun Gunner's masterful review of the latest atrocity (as far as the text goes) from David Day, which I enjoyed reading with my daughter. It seems that one will have to find something very tasteful to cover up all the text in this book, as it is reportedly very beautifully made and illustrated.<br />
<br />
In addition to the above, I have also found in my e-mail, the latest issue of <i>Mythprint</i> from the Mythopoeic Society, and two issues of <i>Beyond Bree</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="13_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>‘<a href="http://tolkien.soc.ucam.org/consequence">Consequences Generator</a>’</b><br />
From the Cambridge Tolkien Society, Minas Tirith, a random generator for a bit of amusing procrastination.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomashijoart.tumblr.com/post/144507576370/yes-the-man-in-the-moon-is-ready-si-he" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://66.media.tumblr.com/02d8892b5b20db626b69a4d37e29a145/tumblr_o7bwqwZBty1t2keyfo1_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The man in the moon</i><br />
by Tomás Hijo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2><a name="14_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
<br />
<br />
John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Marcel Aubron-Bülles, ‘<a href="http://thetolkienist.com/">The Tolkienist</a>’<br />
<a href="http://thetolkienist.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/2016/">Archive of posts from 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/"> <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 3, issue 1</a><br />
<br />
Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Grey Havens Group, ‘<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.com/">The Grey Havens Group</a>’<br />
<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.com/2016/04/">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_04_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from April 2016</a><br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/05/">Archive of posts from May 2016</a><br />
<br />
<h2><a name="15_sources">Sources</a></h2>
No new sources in April 2016<br />
<br />
For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-53933498590363872862016-05-01T19:45:00.000+02:002016-05-01T19:45:01.030+02:00The Ninnyhammer“You're nowt but a ninnyhammer, Troels Forchhammer!”<br />
<br />
<br />
I have just accidentally synchronised my Tolkien Transactions in the wrong direction, overwriting a full day's work ...<br />
<br />
Attempts to recover this have proved futile.<br />
<br />
I will not have time to recreate this – I was already planning to mostly just post links to articles that I would have liked to have time to read, and recreating it will take considerably longer than the original work (as I delete the links from my list as I put them into the transactions).<br />
<br />
This means that there will be no Tolkien Transactions for April 2016.<br />
<br />
Issue LXIX will be posted at the beginning of June, covering May (and perhaps what is salvageable from April ... insofar as I have time).<br />
<br />
The gaffer's paternal word-hoard does come easily to mind at the moment ...Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-2267317718332621962016-04-03T21:36:00.000+02:002016-04-25T05:16:26.731+02:00Tolkien Transactions LXVIII<h2>March 2016</h2>
Oh, what a month! I had a good, long Easter holiday, getting rested up and re-energized, and on Tolkien Reading Day there was less than a handful of Tolkien-related stories that I hadn't already dealt with, so I thought I was in good time. Then something happened, and what a great week that was. The amount of great stuff that came out over the last week of March was impressive! So if you haven't caught up yet (and I won't blame you, if you haven't), you certainly have something to look forward to.<br />
<br />
All the usual disclaimers apply about newness, completeness and relevance (or any other implication of responsibility) :-)<br />
<br />
These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a>
(Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
<br />
This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following
headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_other">7: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#08_discussions">8: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#09_print">9: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#10_websites">10: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#11_blogs">11: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#12_sources">12: Sources</a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/4896738" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/patreon.posts/10173776571985219357.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"TENGWARIN" ~The Art of Elmenel~ : "The Imladris Edition", Test Booklet</i><br />
by Tsvetelina Krumova – Elmenel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b><i>Liverpool Hope Library</i>, Friday, 18 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://liverpoolhopelibraryblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/unusual-provenance-discovery-in-special-collections/">Unusual Provenance Discovery in Special Collections</a>’</b><br />
About the discovery, in their special collections, of a Latin-English Dictionary owned by Tolkien while at King Edward's School in Birmingham. The book has previously been owned by <a href="http://www.birminghamoratory.org.uk/about-the-oratory/biographies-of-past-members/f-henry-dudley-ignatius-ryder/">F. Henry Dudley (Ignatius) Ryder</a> (the book is signed by him in 1859) of the Birmingham Oratory where he died in October 1907 – young Tolkien signed the book (with all his names in full) in 1908.<br />
<br />
<b>‘Greywolfe359’, <i>Daily Kos</i>, Friday, 18 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/3/17/1503088/-It-s-Over-Gandalf-We-Need-to-Unite-Behind-Saruman-to-Save-Middle-Earth-from-Sauron">It's Over Gandalf. We Need to Unite Behind Saruman to Save Middle Earth from Sauron!</a>’</b><br />
An example of people using Tolkienian (or, in this case, perhaps more rightly Jacksonian) references to carry political messages. Whether Tolkien – or the characters referred to – would have any sympathy for the political views expressed generally doesn't seem to concern such authors. From a Tolkienian point of view, this, however, does show how Tolkien's work manages to stay relevant in its <i>applicability</i> for the modern reader (though sometimes one might wish that they'd be just a bit more concerned also with the views of Tolkien himself …).<br />
<br />
<b>Alex Wheatle, <i>The Guardian</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/mar/15/alex-wheatle-tolkien-language-liccle-bit-crongton-knights">Alex Wheatle: I was mesmerised by Tolkien's inventiveness of language</a>’</b><br />
On how one author of young adult fiction was inspired by Tolkien's ‘inventiveness of language’ and says that ‘it is that force of Tolkien's innovation that has long remained with me.’<br />
<br />
<b><i>Leek Post and Times</i>, Tuesday, 22 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.leek-news.co.uk/ways-celebrate-Tolkien-Staffordshire-Easter-break/story-28968882-detail/story.html">Three ways to celebrate Tolkien in Staffordshire during the Easter break</a>’</b><br />
Most of these will also be available after the Easter break … <br />
<br />
<b>Hanna Somerville, <i>Oxford Mail</i>, Thursday, 24 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14383075.Memorial_plaque_for_J_R_R_Tolkien_set_to_be_created_at_Pembroke_College/">Memorial plaque for J.R.R. Tolkien set to be created at Pembroke College</a>’</b><br />
About the plans for a plaque at Pembroke. There is an error in the article, though: Tolkien was a fellow at Pembroke College from 1925 when he was elected Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford until 1945 when he was elected Merton Professor of English (at which point he became a fellow at Merton College, obviously).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b>Reports & comments on past events</b><br />
<b>22 - 25 March 2016, Seattle, WA, USA, ‘<a href="http://pcaaca.org/national-conference/">PCA/ACA National Conference, PCA/ACA</a>’</b><br />
Anna Smol, Sunday, 20 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/03/20/tolkien-studies-at-pca-2016/">Tolkien Studies at PCA 2016</a>’ – not really a report, but a preview of what I hope to find some reporting / commentary on … and would it be too much to hope for some papers to be put on-line? <br />
<br />
<b>25 March 2016, Worldwide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2016/">Tolkien Reading Day, <i>Tolkien Society</i></a>’</b> – the 2016 theme is “Life, Death, and Immortality”.<br />
John Ledger, <i>Yorkshire Post</i>, Wednesday, 23 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/a-precious-good-friday-in-store-for-lovers-of-tolkien-1-7813574">A precious Good Friday in store for lovers of Tolkien</a>’<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Radagast-the-Brown-595769062" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pre14.deviantart.net/1c20/th/pre/f/2016/070/6/4/radagast_the_brown_by_peet-d9upecm.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Radagast the Brown</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anna Swartz, <i>Mic.com</i>, Thursday, 24 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://mic.com/articles/138828/tolkien-reading-day-2016-here-s-the-story-behind-the-day-every-lotr-fan-can-appreciate">Tolkien Reading Day 2016: Here's the Story Behind the Day Every 'LOTR' Fan Can Appreciate</a>’<br />
Anna Smol, Friday, 25 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/03/25/tolkien-reading-day-2016/">Tolkien Reading Day 2016</a>’<br />
Anthony Venutolo, <i>NJ.com</i>, Friday, 25 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/03/tolkien_reading_day_2016_celebrate_the_life_of_the.html">National Tolkien Reading Day 2016: Celebrate 'Lord of the Rings' author</a>’ – missing an ‘Inter-’ in the title there.<br />
Toni Betzner, Friday, 25 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://mywriteofpassageblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/life-death-and-the-immortal-four/">Life, Death, and the Immortal Four</a>’ (thanks to Sue Bridgwater to pointing me to this!)<br />
<b>Christian Holub, <i>Entertainment Weekly</i>, Friday, 25 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/24/silmarillion-tolkien-reading-day">5 reasons to read J.R.R. Tolkien's <i>The Silmarillion</i> – It is Tolkien Reading Day, after all.</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Info on upcoming & on-going events</b> (as of 1 April)<br />
<b>27 February–9 April 2016, Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton, ‘<a href="http://www.millbridgegallery.co.uk/exhibitions">Dales of a Perilous Realm</a>’, John Cockshaw, Shaun Richardson, Mill Bridge Gallery</b><br />
See, John Cockshaw, <i>YouTube</i>, Monday, 22 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC698UcsFP0">INSIDE LOOK: "Dales of a Perilous Realm" Tolkien-inspired exhibition</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>7 March–24 April, Museum of Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, UK, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/2016/02/j-r-r-tolkien-soldier-and-myth-maker/">J.R.R. Tolkien – Soldier recruitment and Myth Maker</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
‘Greendragon’, <i>One Ring.net</i>, Thursday, 10 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2016/03/10/100497-j-r-r-tolkien-solider-and-myth-maker-exhibition-in-the-uk/">‘J.R.R. Tolkien – Soldier and Myth Maker’ exhibition in the UK</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>31 March–2 April 2016, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, ‘<a href="http://www.jbu.edu/cs-lewis-inklings/">C.S. Lewis & Inklings Society Conference 2016 – ‘Is Man a Myth?’</a>’, John Brown University C.S. Lewis & Inklings Society</b><br />
<b>Jason Fisher, Thursday, 24 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://lingwe.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-decennial-conference-paper.html">Decennial conference</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>8–10 April 2016, The Middletons Hotel, York, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2016/">Springmoot and AGM 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, Sunday, 6 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/03/alan-lee-to-be-guest-of-honour-at-springmoot/">Alan Lee to be guest of honour at Springmoot</a>’<br />
Francesca Barbini, <i>SciFi-Fantasy Network</i>, Saturday, 19 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/alan-lee-the-tolkien-society/">Alan Lee & The Tolkien Society</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>8–9 April 2016, University of Vermont, USA, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont 2016</a>’, Tolkien Club of University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Monday, 19 October 2015, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2015/10/19/cfp-tolkien-in-vermont-2016/">CFP: Tolkien in Vermont 2016</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>21&ndash22 May 2016, Hayworth, ‘<a href="http://">ALS Weekend 2016</a>’, The Alliance of Literary Societies</b><br />
Daniel Helen, <i>The Tolkien Society</i>, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/alliance-of-literary-societies-agm-2016/">Alliance of Literary Societies AGM</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>14 April–10 June 2016, Various locations, Scotland, ‘<a href="http://www.puppetstate.com/shows/leaf-by-niggle/">Leaf by Niggle</a>’, Puppet State Theatre Company</b>. You can find the tour plan from there.<br />
See also:
<b>Mary Palmer, <i>Daily Record</i>, Tuesday, 1 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/new-play-based-jrr-tolkien-7471559">New play based on J.R.R. Tolkien short story to tour Scotland</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>6–8 May 2016, University of Jena, ‘<a href="http://www.walking-tree.org/conference/16_jena.php">Tolkien Conference 2016</a>’, Deutsche Tolkiengesellschaft and Walking Tree Publishers</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Tolkien's Philosophy of Language’<br />
<br />
<b>12–15 May 2016, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, , ‘<a href="http://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">51st International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo '16)</a>’, The Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University</b><br />
John D. Rateliff, Friday, 26 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/02/kalamazoo-2016-tolkien-events-schedule.html">Kalamazoo 2016 Tolkien Events schedule</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>28 May 2016, East Yorkshire, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-tour-east-yorkshire-may-2016/">Tolkien Tour: East Yorkshire</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
<br />
<b>2–5 June 2016, Taylor University, Indiana, ‘<a href="http://library.taylor.edu/cslewis/2016-colloquium/index.shtml">C.S. Lewis & Friends Colloquium 2016</a>’, Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis & Friends</b><br />
<br />
<b>17–19 June 2016, Leiden | Den Haag, ‘<a href="http://www.unquendor.nl/lustrum2016">Lustrum 2016: Unlocking Tolkien, Unquendor – The Dutch Tolkien Society</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>3 July 2016, Hilton Hotel, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme will be ‘Life, Death, and Immortality’ in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. See also Daniel Helen, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 19 January 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/01/call-for-papers-tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">Call for Papers: Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>4–7 July 2016, Leeds University, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, Institute for Medieval Studies </b><br />
<br />
<b>16 July 2016, Baruch College, New York City, ‘<a href="http://newyorktolkienconference.com/about/">New York Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>18–20 July 2016, University of Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany, ‘<a href="http://medievalism.net/conference/">International Conference on Medievalism – 2016: Tradition or Myth</a>’, International Society for the Study of Medievalism</b> &ndash: I am not sure if there will be anything specifically Tolkienian at this conference, but looking at the theme of the 2016 conference, I would very much expect that Tolkien will be mentioned ... more than once.<br />
<br />
<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">MythCon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, <i>Mythopoeic Society</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mc47-room-board-available/">Mythcon 47 Room & Board packages available.</a>’<br />
Lynn Maudlin, Monday, 21 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mythcon-47-pr1-available/">Mythcon 47 Progress Report #1 Available</a>’<br />
<br />
<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>Tolkien Society</i></b> — I have booked! :-) <br />
<br />
<br />
<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b><i>Medievalist.net</i>, Tuesday, 1 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/03/01/the-medieval-magazine-anglo-saxon-england-volume-2-issue-5/">The Medieval Magazine: Anglo-Saxon England (Volume 2 Issue 5)</a>’</b><br />
If you wish to learn more about the Anglo-Saxon England that loomed so large in Tolkien's professional life and in his imagination. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqvoP0YDazgMxlaN0erW0JmmWP_BtdmH1gjYQlK8EkDY2Kx8BpWIqMtajOLttfz3qFszD-VXStOKAesdnwS7iFsXIcY8QivituCWm7oXPfpN6aE3Tx-7t8RLgLCp2crIh5-Q_MeZ6VQQl/s1600/Hobbit_Maiden_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqvoP0YDazgMxlaN0erW0JmmWP_BtdmH1gjYQlK8EkDY2Kx8BpWIqMtajOLttfz3qFszD-VXStOKAesdnwS7iFsXIcY8QivituCWm7oXPfpN6aE3Tx-7t8RLgLCp2crIh5-Q_MeZ6VQQl/s320/Hobbit_Maiden_325.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hobbit Maiden</i><br />By Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Simon J. Cook, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Monday, 14 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/1/">Fantasy Incarnate: Of Elves and Men</a>’</b><br />
Simon Cook's essay takes its outset in Tolkien's comments, in ‘On Fairy-stories’, about the relation between language and myth as well as the ideas expressed by Friedrich Max Müller and Owen Barfield. From there, Cook moves through discussions of the capacity for ‘fantasy’ in Men and Elves. Cook's paper is interesting and intriguing, and I think that the overall thrust is going in the right direction, but the going is rough, and the paper seems to me rather uneven, appearing in places very well-thought-out with well-developed arguments, while at other places it reads more as trying out some ideas for crossing some rough ground, and at times taking unnecessary and unconvincing detours. Overall, I am convinced that Cook is moving in the right direction, and that his overall thesis is sound, but there are still elements of the argumentation that fail to convince me, and where I think it would be better to find a different path.<br />
See also <b>Simon J. Cook, Monday, 14 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/journal-of-tolkien-research/">Journal of Tolkien Research</a>’</b><br />
<br />
<b>Edmund Weiner, Wednesday, 23 February 2016, ‘<a href="philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/tolkien-and-aesthetics-of-philology.html">Tolkien and the aesthetics of philology</a>’</b><br />
This post, originally a talk given to Taruithorn, the Oxford Tolkien Society, in March 2015, explores what Weiner thinks is at the heart of Tolkien's delight in language and in linguistic invention. The post moves from simple delight in the sounds of a language, through enjoying fitting relations between sounds and meaning, to more complex ideas such as Tolkien's concept of ‘native language’, grammatical arrangements, language history, and the conscious construction and controlled change of languages. Weiner ends on the idea of language as <i>music</i> – language not as communication, but as art in and of itself (albeit still art that conveys a meaning, but so may a painting or more conventional music). It is in this way, Weiner argues, that we should understand at least parts of Tolkien's delight in languages, both real and of his own invention. <br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, Friday, 25 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/wan-dim-and-pale-oed-and-tolkien.html">Wan, dim, and pale: the OED and Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Weiner continues posting talks about Tolkien and various aspects of language, here a talk about Tolkien's use of words that imply a lessening of light (in amount and / or quality). The three words are all among those that Tolkien have glossed in dictionaries, <i>wan</i> he edited for the OED and he included it in his Glossary to <i>Fourteenth-century Verse and Prose</i>, <i>pale</i> also appears in the Glossary, as does <i>dim</i>. In all three cases Weiner looks at Tolkien's linguistic notes for the word before turning to Tolkien's use of the word in his own writings. I am reminded of Tolkien's comment about wishing rather to “try to wring the juice out of a single sentence, or explore the implications of one word” – here much juice is wrung out of three words. <br />
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<b>Dimitra Fimi, Saturday, 26 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/authorial-control-and-world-building-some-thoughts-on-j-r-r-tolkien-j-k-rowling-catherine-fisher-and-umberto-eco/">Authorial control and world-building: Some thoughts on J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Catherine Fisher and Umberto Eco</a>’</b><br />
A fascinating post by Dimatra Fimi. The discussion of the relative weight of the author's intentions and the reader's perceptions in literary criticism is certainly not new, but the attempts by authors such as Tolkien and Rowling to control the reading (or at least the critical reading) of their own works add another aspect to this discussion. <br />
Personally I am very comfortable giving more weight to the author than to anyone else – actually, more weight than to all else combined. To this there are two reasons. First, the author's intentions is still the only interpretation of the work that is shared by all readers – this is the common starting point, and the only perspective that doesn't make criticism wholly egocentric. And that is the other reason: I would be very uncomfortable with the idea that my personal ‘filters’ should be interesting to others, and, frankly, I am not particularly interested in how you might experience it differently from me.<br />
Also, I think the importance of this personal reconstruction of meaning has been grotesquely exaggerated. Experience shows that words generally do get the meaning across quite well – and when the writer chooses their words with some care, the intended meaning is very nearly completely reconstructed in the mind of the reader (this is obviously even more so in the sciences where mathematical notation helps in making the intended meaning unambiguous).<br />
So I will continue to focus on Tolkien's intention and Tolkien's opinions. Not that I always agree with Tolkien (or that he always agreed with himself, for that matter), but I do think it is important to attempt to understand what he felt about his own work, and it is certainly far more interesting and relevant for me than what any of the rest of us might feel.<br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, Saturday, 26 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/sources-of-tolkiens-language-making.html">Sources of Tolkien's language-making</a>’</b><br />
There has long been discussions about the possible sources for Tolkien's linguistic inventions – in a number of cases, a word in one of Tolkien's (sub-)created languages is too close to a real-world word with a similar meaning for this to be accidental (Black Speech <i>nazg</i> for ‘ring’ and Irish <i>nasc</i> for ‘link’ is just one example). In this talk, given to Taruithorn on 13 November last year, Weiner discusses this question, offering numerous examples from several both real-world languages and invented languages. Weiner suggests that Tolkien worked primarily from a sense of phonological aesthetics and a sense of the fitness of the assocition of sound and meaning (see also his earlier talk to Taruithorn, ‘<a href="philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/tolkien-and-aesthetics-of-philology.html">Tolkien and the aesthetics of philology</a>’). All in all a <i>very</i> interesting post (as are, indeed, all of the posts that Weiner has so far posted to his blog).<br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner,, Sunday, 27 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-possibly-unnoticed-instance-of-echoes.html">A possibly unnoticed instance of echoes of G. K. Chesterton in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Introducing the play <i>Magic</i> by G.K. Chesterton that premiered and was published in November 1913, and noting some thematic parallels between the ‘fantastic comedy by G. K. Chesterton’ and the, mainly poetic, work that Tolkien was doing in the following year, such as the first evidence for his ‘nonsense fairy language’ and the <i>Eärendel</i> poem.<br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, Thursday, 31 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/tolkien-and-language-especially-english.html">Tolkien and Language, especially English</a>’</b><br />
Another Tolkien talk that Weiner has given, this one at Nine Worlds Geekfest 11 August 2013, and drawing on an earlier talk, which he has since also published on the blog (on 1 April). Weiner notes that ‘Seasoned Tolkienists will find little here that isn't common knowledge, but it may be of interest to others.’ – doubtlessly Weiner is well aware that his blog, in the few short days since his first post, has already attracted many ‘seasoned Tolkienists’ among its readers. Still, there is a lot to know about Tolkien and language, and I, at least, was reminded of much that I had forgotten. This post works quite well in conjunction with earlier posts about Tolkien's relations to language and language invention, and Weiner here also takes in Tolkien's use of language for the telling of tales (something I suspect Tolkien would have claimed was more than mere communication).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Sauron-Brought-Werewolves-598077443" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pre00.deviantart.net/74d7/th/pre/f/2016/081/3/2/sauron_brought_werewolves_by_peet-d9w2vib.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sauron Brought Werewolves</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Academia.edu – A (non-exhaustive) list of papers on Tolkienian topics uploaded to the website academia.edu in March</b><br _/>
I have not had the time to read through all of these, and so I will merely list them here as relevant. There are likely many more papers uploaded that should appear here, but these are the ones that I have noticed. <br />
For a full list of papers that have been tagged ‘J.R.R. Tolkien’ (without date information), please see <a href="http://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien">www.academia.edu/Documents/in/J._R._R._Tolkien</a>.<br />
<b>Ana María Mariño Arias, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23418731/Women_of_Middle-Earth._An_approach_to_the_role_of_women_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">Women of Middle-Earth. An approach to the role of women in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<b>Simon Cook, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23820170/History_of_European_Ideas_The_Tragedy_of_Cambridge_Anthropology_Edwardian_Historical_Thought_and_the_Contact_of_Peoples">The Tragedy of Cambridge Anthropology:Edwardian Historical Thought and the Contact of Peoples</a>’ in <i>History of European Ideas</i></b><br />
<b>Janet Brennan Croft, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23709345/The_Art_of_the_Foreword_Tolkiens_Shortest_Works">The Art of the Foreword: Tolkien's Shortest Works</a>’</b><br />
<b>Michaela Eskew, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23546492/Judging_a_Cover_By_Its_Book_A_Study_of_the_Iconography_in_J.R.R._Tolkien_s_Dust_Jacket_Designs_for_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">Judging a Cover By Its Book: A Study of the Iconography in J.R.R. Tolkien's Dust Jacket Designs for The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<b>Andrew Higgins, , ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23452014/Glossopoeia_and_World-Building_Exploring_J.R.R.Tolkiens_Four_Key_Characteristics_for_Art-Languages_by_Other_Practioners_of_the_Secret_Vice">Glossopoeia and World-Building: Exploring J.R.R.Tolkien's Four Key Characteristics for Art-Languages by Other Practioners of the 'Secret Vice'</a>’</b><br />
<b>Thomas Honegger, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/22686422/Splintered_Heroes_Heroic_Variety_and_its_Function_in_The_Lord_of_the_Rings">Splintered Heroes – Heroic Variety and its Function in The Lord of the Rings</a>’</b><br />
<b>William Matross, ‘<a href="http://www.academia.edu/23698314/The_Shaved_Chin_Cultural_Imperialism_and_Gender_Norms_in_Dwarves">The Shaved Chin: Cultural Imperialism and Gender Norms in Dwarves</a>’</b><br />
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>Dwight Longenecker, Tuesday, 1 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/blog/longenecker/j.r.r.-tolkien-was-a-great-catholic-evangelist">J.R.R. Tolkien Was a Great Catholic Evangelist</a>’</b><br />
In some ways, I can understand what would make Longenecker feel the way he does, but at the same time, I have to disagree with him. In my opinion, Longenecker seems to believe that the <i>applicability</i> that <i>he</i> sees in Tolkien's work must be universal rather than accepting that this, as Tolkien pointed out, “resides in the freedom of the reader” and is not “the purposed domination of the author.” Many aspects of Tolkien's work are certainly inspired by his faith-based world-view, but the ‘arrow’ doesn't necessarily point both ways. <br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Sunday, 6 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/03/wraiths-he-wailed-wraiths-on-wings-tt.html">'Wraiths!' he wailed. 'Wraiths on Wings' -- (TT 4.ii.629-30)</a>’</b><br />
A commentary & analysis of the situation where Frodo, Gollum, and Sam are passed by a Ringwraith in the Dead Marshes (book IV, ch. 2). Hillman's focus is on the changes this event brings about, particularly in Frodo and Gollum. There are some interesting ideas here, especially about the development of Frodo, though I do think that Hillman goes one or two steps too far in his analysis of Frodo's mental state at the Black Gate (IV,3). <br />
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<b>Philip Kosloski, <i>National Catholic Register</i>, Wednesday, 9 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/blog/philip-kosloski/j.r.r.-tolkien-and-st.-augustine-knew-that-we-are-exiles">J.R.R. Tolkien and St. Augustine Knew That We Are Exiles</a>’</b><br />
Reading this as a comparative comment, there are some interesting thoughts. Personally I think that Kosloski applies a bit too much applicability to his reading of Tolkien, which I do not think is entirely consistent with Tolkien's concept of the Gift, but insofar as the comparison does hold, the parallels to Augustine are intersting enough.<br />
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<b>Lynn Forest-Hill, <i>Southfarthing Mathom 2012</i>, Saturday, 12 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/first-meeting-in-march-2/">First Meeting in March</a>’</b><br />
Discussions of ‘The Palantír’ (book III, ch. 11) and ‘The Taming of Sméagol’ (book IV, ch. 1).<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 31 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/03/and-yet-remain-evil-some-parallels-in.html">And Yet Remain Evil -- Some Parallels in Tolkien and Sassoon</a>’</b><br />
Tom Hillman has been reading <i>The Memoirs of George Sherston</i> by Siegfried Sassoon, and has there found aspects that remind him of Tolkien, and which Hillman believes stem from the parallel experiences of the two authors in the trenches of the Great War.<br />
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<b>Bradley Birzer, <i>The Imaginative Conservative</i>, Tuesday, 29 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2016/03/tokien-anglo-saxon-england-protectors-of-christendom.html">Tolkien & Anglo-Saxon England: Protectors of Christendom</a>’</b><br />
The first parts of this article gives a fine, albeit popularised, account of the origins of Tolkien's legendarium, moving through his fascination with Anglo-Saxon language and culture (though I think his antipathy to things French has been exaggerated), through his academic endeavours to keep language, and not least Old and Middle English, on the syllabus of the Oxford English school. From there Birzer moves on through Tolkien's friendship with C.S. Lewis to his work on his sub-created mythology.<br />
Unfortunately Birzer, from this point, moves on to a special kind of applicability, but presented as if it was the intention of the author – something for which there is no evidence. Specifically, Tolkien's mythology remained very much an English mythology (though the aspect of it being <i>about</i> England largely disappeared). Tolkien is also careful never to preach – the spiritual elements of e.g. <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>can easily be understood from a Catholic perspective, but they do not force that perspective upon the reader, leaving the reader free to understand the spirituality of the book through whatever religious (or non-religiously spiritual) applicability they would prefer.<br />
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<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Tuesday, 1 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/03/flieger-day.html">Flieger Day</a>’</b><br />
On collecting contributions for the upcoming Flieger festschrift, <i>A Wilderness of Dragons</i>. I look forward to see this book, even if one should, of course, remember that the people who contribute to such a festschrift are not the scholar they celebrate. Still, if the Shippey festschrift is anything to go by, there is a very good chance of some first-class papers here.<br />
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<b>David Bratman, Sunday, 6 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016/03/at-work.html">at work</a>’</b><br />
I am ... intrigued! My best guess right now would be to look forward to seeing the a list of contents for the Flieger festschrift, and otherwise there might be other projects about that I haven't heard of, which might be an even better thing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/smaug/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://goldseven.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/smaug_col.jpg?w=656" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Smaug</i><br />
by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Eric Metaxas, <i>Christian Post</i>, Tuesday, 8 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/c-s-lewis-tolkien-hobbit-wardrobe-great-war-book-joe-loconte-158899/#eAycG4mgkkHsdGJe.99">What Hobbits and Wardrobes Teach About Faith Amid Tragedy</a>’</b><br />
Not really sure what to do with this one ….<br />
This article is an advertisement for a now book, <i>A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War</i>, by one Joe Loconte, who writes about C.S. Lewis' and J.R.R. Tolkien's experiences in the Great War. I don't recall hearing about this book elsewhere (anyone who has heard about it?), and I have to admit that I find it rather weakens my confidence to find it advertised like this by a writer who calls the book's author ‘my good friend’ – and the description doesn't really begin to rebuild my interest. I wonder what the author might have to say about Tolkien's WWI experiences that hasn't already been discussed better by John Garth and others. I will certainly steer clear of this book unless it comes with very favourable reviews by reviewers whose good opinion I trust.
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<b>Mark Sommer, <i>The Examiner</i>, Saturday, 12 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/a-definitive-tolkien-biography-for-a-new-generation-1">A definitive Tolkien biography for a new generation</a>’</b><br />
A very positive review of Colin Duriez' book, <i>J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend</i>. It is extremely frustrating to see the reviewer ignore Carpenter's authorised biography and the original research presented by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond in their <i>J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide</i> and the recent (2014) biography by Raymond Edwards, <i>Tolkien</i>, and say that “no comprehensive biography on Tolkien had come forth until now” – an easily refutable claim.<br />
For a different take on Duriez' book, see the December 2015 review by Christina Scull, ‘<a href="http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/tolkien-biographies-continued-part-one/">Tolkien Biographies Continued, Part One</a>’<br />
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<b>Andrew Higgins, Saturday, 12 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1555564658"><i>Tolkien</i> by Raymond Edwards</a>’</b><br />
A review of Edwards' new Tolkien biography at the Goodreads site. Higgins is positive, as are most other readers, ranking the book with Carpenter's authorised biography and Garth's <i>Tolkien and the Great War</i>.<br />
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<b>Jenny Dolfen, Wednesday, 23 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/artbook-update/">Artbook update!</a>’</b><br />
The forthcoming artbook by Jenny Dolfen, <i>Songs of Sorrow and Hope</i> has been delayed. Not that we're impatient to get it in hand … oh, no, not at all … just get it out yesterday, will you?<br />
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<b>Sue Bridgwater, Monday, 28 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/perilous-and-fair/">Perilous and Fair</a>’</b><br />
A ‘brief review’, as Bridgwater points out, of the collection <i>Perilous and Fair: Women in the Works and Life of J.R.R. Tolkien</i> edited by Janet Brennan Croft and Leslie A. Donovan. Brief as it is, Bridgwater manages to sneak in phrases such as ‘an outstanding book’ and ‘a turning point in the study of women in Tolkien's life and writing’. High words, indeed, from a well-respected Tolkienist.<br />
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<b>John Garth, Wedesday, 30 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/a-turbulent-darkness-tolkiens-first-story/">A turbulent darkness: Tolkien's first story</a>’</b><br />
A reproduction of Garth's review of Tolkien's <i>The Story of Kullervo</i> (ed. Verlyn Flieger) from the <i>Mail on Sunday</i>. As Garth points out, “1914 was the Big Bang for Tolkien’s imagination, and in The Story of Kullervo you can just about sense Middle-earth waiting to take shape just months later.” Very perceptive, and I certainly agree.<br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska, Sunday, 15 March 2015, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/661955490617270:0">Lúthien & Beren</a>’</b><br />
Starting out with a year old picture by Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska. This image was one of my top-three candidates for nominating for this year's Tolkien Society Award for Best Artwork (the other two were <i>Cuiviénen</i> by Jenny Dolfen and <i>The Battle of the Pelennor Fields</i> by Tomás Hijo), so when I realised that I hadn't included this work at the time, I just had to.<br />
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<b>Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska, Thursday, 3 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/theArtOfKasiopea/posts/832200133592804:0">You are not helping me, master Peregrin!</a>’</b><br />
Boromir carrying Pippin through the snow at Caradhras.<br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, Thursday, 10 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Radagast-the-Brown-595769062">Radagast the Brown</a>’</b><br />
A glimpse of Radagast seen through the trees. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Wait-for-me-beyond-the-Western-Sea-597229234" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pre09.deviantart.net/b99c/th/pre/f/2016/077/5/4/_wait_for_me_beyond_the_western_sea______by_peet-d9vkp0y.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>‘Wait for me beyond the Western Sea ...’</i><br />
by Peter Xavier Price</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Peter Xavier Price, Thursday, 17 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Wait-for-me-beyond-the-Western-Sea-597229234">Wait for me beyond the Western Sea ...</a>’</b><br />
Lúthien's farewell to Beren after Carcharoth's death.<br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, Monday, 21 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Sauron-Brought-Werewolves-598077443">Sauron Brought Werewolves</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Jenny Dolfen, Thursday, 24 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/smaug/">Smaug</a>’</b><br />
A wonderful picture of Smaug on his hoard (though to my eyes a rather excessive hoard)<br />
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<h2><a name="07_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b><i>TOR.com</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/03/15/show-off-your-love-of-dragons-with-wallpaper-by-todd-lockwood/">Show Off Your Love of Dragons with Wallpaper by Todd Lockwood!</a>’</b><br />
Not really Tolkien, I know … but … but … <i>dragons!</i> :-)<br />
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<b>Ellen Cheeseman-Meyer, <i>TOR.com</i>, Tuesday, 15 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/03/15/a-horse-lovers-guide-to-the-hobbit/">A Horse-lovers' Guide to <i>The Hobbit</i></a>’</b><br />
While I would certainly agree that it is possible to level some unfavourable criticism at <i>The Hobbit</i> (see for instance Verlyn Flieger's brilliant essay, ‘Tolkien on Tolkien: <i>“On Fairy-Stories,” </i>The Hobbit<i>, and </i>The Lord of the Rings’ in <i>Green Suns and Faërie: Essays on J.R.R. Tolkien</i>), and I also acknowledge that people can find any or all of Tolkien's works to be entirely outside their sympathies – unreadable, even – this piece is merely nonsensical. It's like complaining that Bilbo and the dwarves apparently do not use the toilet – pointless.<br />
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<b>John D. Rateliff, Sunday, 20 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/03/birminghams-folly-perriots-tower.html">Birmingham's Folly (Perriot's Tower)</a>’ [sic]</b><br />
On the latest round of folly about Perrotts Folly in Birmingham. I would certainly support that Kickstarter without hesitation :-)<br />
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<b>‘A Clerk of Oxford’, Wednesday, 23 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2016/03/this-doubtful-day-of-feast-or-fast-good.html">'This doubtful day of feast or fast': Good Friday and the Annunciation</a>’</b><br />
In <i>J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century</i>, Tom Shippey notes that 25 March was once believed to be the original date of the crucifixion, and thus the original Good Friday, as well as the Annunciation. Having also noted that the Company of the Ring sets out from Rivendell on 25 December, he comments that “The main action of _The Lord of the Rings_ takes place, then, in the mythic space between Christmas, Christ's birth, and the crucifixion, Christ's death.” (p. 208-9)<br />
Having this idea in mind about the symbolism embedded in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, I found this article that deals with the Christian symbolism of this date highly interesting. I do not doubt that Tolkien would have known at least the majority of the texts referenced in the article.
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<b>Eric, Monday, 28 March 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=6482">Four dragons</a>’</b><br />
Dragons and intricate devices … though not explicitly Tolkienian, there's enough right there to put it here :-)<br />
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<h2><a name="08_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>LotR Plaza: ‘<a href="http://www.lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78659-E%26%23772%3Barendil-and-Auzandil">Ēarendil and Auzandil</a>’</b><br />
A philological comment …<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrujkuhzrV5V9pi9LEm5Y2UADYiExfvkw346b7jVQY2IeChqajW3ZSOZ6uGYQZMknOCCjl4MvR221HEy9diN01sbgU-cKCrqD4JbYfx5kKtmr2soMLKVzQ8cx_nt28dUwgMq_mmP914qjL/s1600/WP_20160306_15_24_57_Pro__highres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrujkuhzrV5V9pi9LEm5Y2UADYiExfvkw346b7jVQY2IeChqajW3ZSOZ6uGYQZMknOCCjl4MvR221HEy9diN01sbgU-cKCrqD4JbYfx5kKtmr2soMLKVzQ8cx_nt28dUwgMq_mmP914qjL/s320/WP_20160306_15_24_57_Pro__highres.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A philologist in Lejre –Nelson Goering at the site<br />of the earliest hall found (so far) in Lejre<br />Photo: Troels Forchhammer</td></tr>
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<h2><a name="09_print">In Print</a></h2>
<b><i>Amon Hen</i> 258, March 2016</b><br />
<i>Amon Hen</i> is, to a large extent, the glue that holds our far-flung Tolkien Society together – a large part of our <i>Zusammenhangskraft</i> (or cohesive force). This is where we tell each other what is going on in the society, such as in the column ‘Behind Glass Doors’ (always my first read), ‘The Burning Palantír’ and ‘Mathom’, the newsletter from the Smials. This bulletin is also where members can try out new ideas, as in Anne Marie Gazzalo's piece, ‘The Effect of War on Tolkien's Mythology’ and Ellen Walker's ‘Whatever became of the Stone Giants’. The wider Tolkien world also has a place in <i>Amon Hen</i>, not least in Michael Flowers' collection of Tolkien-releated clippings from both paper and digital editions, ‘Michael's Miscellany’. Thank you, Andrew, for an always enjoyable read!
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<b><i>Beyond Bree</i>, March 2016</b><br />
The March issue of <i>Beyond Bree</i> has the 21st instalment in Dale Nelson's tale, <i>Days of the Craze</i>, this one subtitled ‘Lord of the Flies: The First Fan-organized Tolkien Conference, Belknap College, 1968, and Beyond’. An article on people trying to (ab)use Tolkien when peddling their pipes and tobacco and some comments on earlier articles completes what has not been dealt with in greater detail elsewhere.<br />
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<h2><a name="10_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b>Tsvetelina Krumova, , ‘<a href="https://www.patreon.com/Elmenel">Elmenel</a>’</b><br />
Please consider supporting Tsvetelina Krumova's work to bring out books of beautiful Elvish calligraphy. I would very much like to think that Tolkien's dream of publishing his book in Elvish would today be possible as a project of art.<br />
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<h2><a name="11_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
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Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Jason Fisher, ‘<a href="http://lingwe.blogspot.com">Lingwë -- Musings of a Fish</a>’<br />
<a href="http://lingwe.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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John D. Rateliff´, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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John Garth, ‘<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/">John Garth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Andrew Higgens, ‘<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/">Wotan's Musings</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoloblog</a>’<br />
<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Various, <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org">The Mythopoeic Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/news">Archive of news</a><br />
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Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/">
<i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 2, issue 1</a><br />
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Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Sue Bridgwater, ‘<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/2016/03">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/03/">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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Pieter Collier, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/">The Tolkien Library</a>’<br />
See the front page for a list of recent posts.<br />
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Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from March 2016</a><br />
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<h2><a name="12_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in March 2016:<br />
<b>Sue Bridgwater, <i><a href="http://sarannarandir.wordpress.com/">Skorn: A world of wanderers, wizards, deserts, seas, forests – and adventure.</a></i></b><br />
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<b>Edmund Weiner, ‘<a href="http://philoloblog.blogspot.com/">Philoblog</a>’</b><br />
Philogist at the Oxford English Dictionary, co-author of <i>The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary</i>.<br />
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For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a>Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120372371184097111.post-76189252984623417572016-03-04T21:29:00.000+01:002016-03-05T18:40:36.252+01:00Tolkien Transactions LXVII<h2>February 2016</h2>
February was a month where I tried something new for the very first time in my life! Our oldest moved out, leaving us to reorganise the house, which has included setting up a nice office space, where I have been able to gather my Tolkien matters right next to my desk. Being quite satisfied with the set-up, I share a few pictures of my new ‘Troels den’ below. <br />
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As usual, I make no claims that any of this is new or relevant to anyone, and I certainly do not claim to be complete (given the many things I choose to ignore, that would be silly, indeed). <br />
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These transactions are posted on my blog, <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com">Parma-kenta</a> (Enquiry into the books) and on the Tolkien Society <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/category/tolkien-transactions/">web-site</a>.<br />
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This month it has suited my purposes to sort the contents under the following headlines: <br />
<a href="#01_news">1: News</a><br />
<a href="#02_events">2: Events</a><br />
<a href="#03_scholar">3: Essays and Scholarship</a><br />
<a href="#04_comments">4: Commentary</a><br />
<a href="#05_books">5: Reviews and Book News</a><br />
<a href="#06_art">6: Tolkienian Artwork</a><br />
<a href="#07_other">7: Other Stuff</a><br />
<a href="#08_discussions">8: Rewarding Discussions</a><br />
<a href="#09_print">9: In Print</a><br />
<a href="#10_websites">10: Web Sites</a><br />
<a href="#11_blogs">11: The Blog Roll</a><br />
<a href="#12_sources">12: Sources</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/4392764" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiX7j8NXy_zKsEP9Fb24wu-bUxVRi07KCFQLCUXT6soWQyI1GXnoOa0q-sZ_TBvtcS3SMcah-iC7TzkngqGUfthC5dtc895i0Uehejg7bjio2_Wnzp_RAuqp9-fEGVpb0Ntn_HRQNmzWH/s400/Earwen_400.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Swan's wings and seafoam</i><br />Eärwen by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
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<h2><a name="01_news">News</a></h2>
<b>Justyna Tomtas, Wednesday, 3 February 2016, ‘<a href="www.chronline.com/old-toby-s-in-chehalis-gets-stained-glass-windows/article_1f0f37ec-cadd-11e5-bd2a-3f1079a12a78.html">Old Toby's in Chehalis Gets Stained Glass Windows</a>’</b><br />
I am not sure how keen Tolkien would have been on being associated with a ‘Recreational Marijuana Dispensary’ such as Old Toby's in Chehalis, Washington, but there is a part of me finding this an almost nostalgic reminder of an earlier view of Tolkien – see especially Dale Nelson's series <i>Days of the Craze</i> about the reception of Tolkien's work in the 1960s USA.<br />
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<b>Jim Durkin, the Bournemoth <i>Daily Echo</i>, Thursday, 18 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14286431.Rare_JRR_Tolkien_signature_to_go_under_the_hammer/">Rare JRR Tolkien signature to go under the hammer</a>’</b><br />
On the auctioning of a signature card Tolkien signed for Mrs. Gould in Bournemouth for insertion into her book.<br />
See also <b>Martin Lea, the <i>Dorset Echo</i>, Monday, 22 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14292729.It___s_a_lot_of_Tolkien___Rare_letter_by_Lord_of_the_Rings_author_goes_under_hammer/">It's a lot of Tolkien - Rare letter by Lord of the Rings author goes under hammer</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Troels Forchhammer, Monday, 22 February 2016, ‘<a href="http:">“The Shadow Man” and “Noel” – the longer story ...</a>’</b><br />
About the whole business with these two poems and their discovery in the 1936 <i>Annual</i> of Our Lady's School in Abingdon, and not least of the school finding their own copy of said annual. This post also has references to nearly all the posts and articles I have seen about this (omitting only a couple of duplicates). Two blog posts by Tolkien scholars provide additional information that is not in my post:<br />
<b>John D. Rateliff, Saturday, 20 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-shadow-man.html">The Shadow Man</a>’</b><br />
<b>Douglas A. Anderson, Wednesday, 24 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2016/02/some-tolkienian-updates-lost-poems-and.html">Some Tolkienian updates: "lost" poems and secret vices</a>’</b><br />
In which Anderson also comments on the upcoming annotated edition of <i>A Secret Vice</i>, and on a review of Grevel Lindop's biography about Charles William by A.N. Wilson.<br />
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<h2><a name="02_events">Events</a></h2>
<b>Info on upcoming events</b> (as of 1 March)<br />
<b>27 February–9 April 2016, Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton, ‘<a href="http://www.millbridgegallery.co.uk/exhibitions">Dales of a Perilous Realm</a>’, John Cockshaw, Shaun Richardson, Mill Bridge Gallery</b><br />
See, John Cockshaw, <i>YouTube</i>, Monday, 22 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC698UcsFP0">INSIDE LOOK: "Dales of a Perilous Realm" Tolkien-inspired exhibition</a>’<br />
For more information, see <b>Francesca Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Sunday, 21 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/dales-of-a-perilous-realm-a-tolkien-inspired-exhibition/">Dales Of A Perilous Realm – A Tolkien-Inspired Exhibition</a>’</b><br />
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<b>5 March 2016, Pembroke College, Cambridge, UK, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/minas-tirith-smial-annual-dinner/">Minas Tirith Smial Annual Dinner</a>’, Minas Tirith, the Cambridge Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>7 March – 24 April 2016, Museum of Cannock Chase, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/j-r-r-tolkien-in-staffordshire-exhibition-2016/">J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire</a>’, The Haywood Society</b><br />
Staff, the <i>Staffordshire Newsletter</i>, Tuesday, 16 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/JRR-Tolkien-Staffordshire-1915-8211-1918/story-28742817-detail/story.html">JRR Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918 exhibition</a>’<br />
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<b>22 - 25 March 2016, Seattle, WA, USA, ‘<a href="http://pcaaca.org/national-conference/">PCA/ACA National Conference, PCA/ACA</a>’</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWevjgkQkBrvkFAUzXTvPJ1jr_NmTv78A3jp9FVuiLVRZ87tcfbGVPNbPCMStr_LNZjL26KtHRvV_Kwmn74aaoK9_PUA2GmWUQ0RAYbpIx0E4P3RxpQy_Xay49jAAGo2IrwEl6pcqVNVc/s1600/Tolkien_Shelfie1_2016-03-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWevjgkQkBrvkFAUzXTvPJ1jr_NmTv78A3jp9FVuiLVRZ87tcfbGVPNbPCMStr_LNZjL26KtHRvV_Kwmn74aaoK9_PUA2GmWUQ0RAYbpIx0E4P3RxpQy_Xay49jAAGo2IrwEl6pcqVNVc/s320/Tolkien_Shelfie1_2016-03-04.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Tolkien shelves<br />Photo: Troels Forchhammer</td></tr>
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<b>24 March 2016, Oslo, Norway, ‘<a href="http://www.arthecon.no/english/">ArtheCon 2016</a>’, Arthedain</b><br />
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<b>25 March 2016, Worldwide, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2016/">Tolkien Reading Day, <i>Tolkien Society</i></a>’</b> – the 2016 theme is “Life, Death, and Immortality”.<br />
Lily Milos, <i>Middle-earth News</i>, Thursday, 25 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/02/25/celebrate-tolkien-reading-day-with-middle-earth-news-and-around-the-world/">Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day With Middle-earth News and Around the World!</a>’<br />
Lily Milos, Thursday, 25 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/02/25/celebrate-tolkien-reading-day-2016-with-the-brisbane-tolkien-fellowship/">Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day 2016 With The Brisbane Tolkien Fellowship</a>’<br />
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<b>8–10 April 2016, The Middletons Hotel, York, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/springmoot-and-agm-2016/">Springmoot and AGM 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>8–9 April 2016, University of Vermont, USA, ‘<a href="http://tolkienvt.org/">Tolkien in Vermont 2016</a>’, Tolkien Club of University of Vermont</b><br />
Anna Smol, Monday, 19 October 2015, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/2015/10/19/cfp-tolkien-in-vermont-2016/">CFP: Tolkien in Vermont 2016</a>’<br />
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<b>14 April–10 June 2016, Various locations, Scotland, ‘<a href="http://www.puppetstate.com/shows/leaf-by-niggle/">Leaf by Niggle</a>’, Puppet State Theatre Company</b>. You can find the tour plan from there.<br />
See also: Shaun Gunner, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, Monday, 29 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/02/stage-play-of-leaf-by-niggle-to-tour-scotland/">Stage play of Leaf by Niggle to tour Scotland</a>’<br />
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<b>6–8 May 2016, University of Jena, ‘<a href="http://www.walking-tree.org/conference/16_jena.php">Tolkien Conference 2016</a>’, Deutsche Tolkiengesellschaft and Walking Tree Publishers</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Tolkien's Philosophy of Language’<br />
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<b>12–15 May 2016, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, , ‘<a href="http://wmich.edu/medievalcongress">51st International Congress on Medieval Studies (K'zoo '16)</a>’, The Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University</b><br />
John D. Rateliff, Friday, 26 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/02/kalamazoo-2016-tolkien-events-schedule.html">Kalamazoo 2016 Tolkien Events schedule</a>’<br />
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<b>28 May 2016, East Yorkshire, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-tour-east-yorkshire-may-2016/">Tolkien Tour: East Yorkshire</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
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<b>2–5 June 2016, Taylor University, Indiana, ‘<a href="http://library.taylor.edu/cslewis/2016-colloquium/index.shtml">C.S. Lewis & Friends Colloquium 2016</a>’, Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis & Friends</b><br />
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<b>17–19 June 2016, Leiden | Den Haag, ‘<a href="http://www.unquendor.nl/lustrum2016">Lustrum 2016: Unlocking Tolkien, Unquendor – The Dutch Tolkien Society</a>’</b><br />
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<b>3 July 2016, Hilton Hotel, Leeds, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">the Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’, the Tolkien Society</b><br />
This year's theme will be ‘Life, Death, and Immortality’ in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. See also Daniel Helen, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, Tuesday, 19 January 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/01/call-for-papers-tolkien-society-seminar-2016/">Call for Papers: Tolkien Society Seminar 2016</a>’<br />
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<b>4–7 July 2016, Leeds University, ‘<a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125137/international_medieval_congress">International Medieval Congress</a>’, Institute for Medieval Studies </b><br />
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<b>16 July 2016, Baruch College, New York City, ‘<a href="http://newyorktolkienconference.com/about/">New York Tolkien Conference</a>’</b><br />
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<b>18–20 July 2016, University of Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany, ‘<a href="http://medievalism.net/conference/">International Conference on Medievalism – 2016: Tradition or Myth</a>’, International Society for the Study of Medievalism</b> &ndash: I am not sure if there will be anything specifically Tolkienian at this conference, but looking at the theme of the 2016 conference, I would very much expect that Tolkien will be mentioned ... more than once.<br />
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<b>5–8 August 2016, San Antonio, Texas, US, ‘<a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-47/">MythCon 47</a>’, The Mythopoeic Society</b>. The 2016 theme is ‘Faces of Mythology: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern’<br />
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<b>8–11 September 2016, Saint Anthony's, Oxford, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2016/">Oxonmoot 2016</a>’, <i>Tolkien Society</i></b> — I have booked! :-) <br />
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<h2><a name="03_scholar">Essays and Scholarship</a></h2>
<b>Bradford Lee Eden, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Monday, 1 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/7/">Michael H.R. Tolkien (1920-84): a research travelogue</a>’</b><br />
Though I am normally not particularly interested in the details of the lives of the Tolkien children (or grand-children), Bradford Lee Eden manages to tell the story of his research into Tolkien's second son, Michael Hilary Reuel Tolkien, in a way that is engaging and interesting. I fully understand the curiosity that drives this kind of exploration, and Eden's way of narrating the process of discovery rather than the dry facts of the results helps to make this article a worthwhile read. What unfortunately remains unexplored is what, if anything, this can tell us about J.R.R. Tolkien and <i>his</i> work, and thus it remains unclear why this story is relevant in a journal focusing on the father.<br />
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<b>Jane Beal, <i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i>, Thursday, 4 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/8/">Why is Bilbo Baggins Invisible?: The Hidden War in The Hobbit</a>’</b><br />
This is a very interesting article with a solid overall thrust, but also with some problems that make me rather torn about it. Beal looks at the concept of invisibility as developed in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, and applies a number of critical techniques to this, giving the article a well-rounded approach to the topic. <br />
Comparing Bilbo's role in conveying the messages of the leader (Thorin) while the Dwarves are captives of the Elves in <i>The Hobbit</i> to Tolkien's rank as signalling officer is well spotted, as is the idea of soldiers feeling in some sense ‘invisible’ on the battle-field, but other biographical comparisons do not work as well as these, and attempts to link Tolkien's role as signalling officer with the concept of invisibility feel particularly unconvincing. <br />
Beal's discussions of the moral, literary, and theological aspects of invisibility in the context of this power of the Master Ring as it evolved in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> are masterful, but attempts to apply this to aspects of the earlier story (outside of the opdated ‘Riddles in the Dark’ chapter) are, in my considered opinion, mistaken – here Beal tries to force something into the earlier book that simply isn't there. <br />
A minor weakness, which I suppose primarily concerns me qua my education in physics, is the references to optical theory that are just simply incorrect from a physical point of view, and which therefore, to my physicist's mind, weaken the argument. <br />
Overall, however, I do think it is very much worth your while to read this article, though it would have benefitted much from some additional editing, cutting away the weaker arguments (cutting it by, perhaps, a third) would leave the strengths so much clearer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPWRZZww2f8ObDAnPqkRZZ0PUIeR13df071_lY2CsQsVALzrnOqPl5_9e-FZxGVu2oGh_izrlcu8MgbeuTjlYr1DFCrr_54TD7wA7p_9kAkoAkHV3Ij8bzqnYDZeHA1q8LVpYng9pOwYU/s1600/Tolkien_Shelfie2_2016-03-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPWRZZww2f8ObDAnPqkRZZ0PUIeR13df071_lY2CsQsVALzrnOqPl5_9e-FZxGVu2oGh_izrlcu8MgbeuTjlYr1DFCrr_54TD7wA7p_9kAkoAkHV3Ij8bzqnYDZeHA1q8LVpYng9pOwYU/s320/Tolkien_Shelfie2_2016-03-04.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiding behind the door ...<br />fortunately the door is usually kept<br />closed, so that I can enjoy these.<br />Photo: Troels Forchhammer</td></tr>
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<b>Simon J. Cook, Sunday, 7 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/war-of-the-ghosts/">War of the Ghosts</a>’</b><br />
In this post, Cook makes an important point about the scholarly context in which Tolkien worked. Cook points out that, <br />
“The context of intellectual debate was different back then. Disciplinary divisions counted for less, and the scholarly mind roamed over a much larger intellectual terrain. Scholars from a wide variety of specialized fields were engaged in the same or similar conversations.”<br />
This is important in order to understand that Tolkien would, in his scholarly work, be interested in, and work with, questions that would, by modern standards, belong to other disciplines. The example Cook uses here is the relationship of memory (and hence forgetfulness) and story (including folk-lore, and probably also fairy story) in the creation (I nearly wrote <i>sub</i>-creation) and transmission of history. <br />
All in all an excellent post!<br />
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<b>Li Tang, <i>University of Iceland</i> and <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Wednesday, 17 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/02/17/number-symbolism-in-old-norse-literature/">Number Symbolism in Old Norse Literature</a>’</b><br />
Presenting a Master's Thesis from the University of Iceland, <i>Number Symbolism in Old Norse Literature: A Brief Study</i>. This 50-page thesis should go very well together with Christopher Kreuzer's paper, ‘Numbers in Tolkien’, in <i>The Ring Goes Ever On: Proceedings of the Tolkien 2005 Conference</i>, which are still available from the Tolkien Society.<br />
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<b>Karl E.H. Seigfried, Monday, 29 February 2016, ‘<a href="www.norsemyth.org/2016/02/the-wanderer-old-english-poem.html">The Wanderer: An Old English Poem</a>’</b><br />
Karl Seigfried here provides his own prose translation (following the example of e.g. Tolkien's prose translation of <i>Beowulf</i>) of the Old English poem, <i>The Wanderer</i>. The poem is often cited as an important source for Tolkien, not least the <i>Lament for the Rohirrim</i> recited by Aragorn (“Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? […]”), and Seigfried touches on this and a number of other parallels in his commentary / annotations. Instead of here trying to summarise all the Tolkien-relevant parts of Seigfried's comments (risking to overlook something), I invite you to read through the whole article.<br />
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<h2><a name="04_comments">Commentary</a></h2>
<b>John D. Rateliff, Wednesday, 3 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016/02/blurbs-that-never-were.html">Blurbs That Never Were (Richard Burton on Tolkien)</a>’</b><br />
More from the 1966 <i>Diplomat</i> magazine with its Tolkien theme. Interesting, to say the least.<br />
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<b>Henry Karlson, <i>patheos</i>, Tuesday, 9 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2016/02/tolkien-and-kullervo/">Tolkien and Kullervo</a>’</b><br />
In this excellent post, Karlson addresses comments, e.g. by Garth and Flieger, that Tolkien's fascination with the story of Kullervo from Lönnrot's <i>Kalevala</i> was strange in the context of his faith, suggesting that it was inconsistent with his Roman Catholic faith. Karlson disagrees with this assessment, and instead finds that Tolkien “shows us that what might seem impossible if we rely upon a fundamentalist mindset is possible, and not because of lack of faith, but in and with it.” Tolkien, according to Karlson, was a twentieth century representative of a Roman Catholic tradition of entering into dialogue with “the followers of other religions” (or in this case, their myths and beliefs) and find what is good and true and valueable therein. <br />
Though I do not know if this is Karlson's intention, this also, to me, offers a frame for understanding both why it is important to take Tolkien's Roman Catholic faith into account when trying to understand him, but also why it is insufficient in itself. There is much more to Tolkien's life and work that one needs to take into account, but his faith is a part of the metaphorical lens through which he saw and understood the world (as was his philological training, his war-time experiences, and much else). <br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 11 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/02/we-will-burn-like-heathen-kings-before.html">"We will burn like heathen kings before ever a ship sailed hither from the West." (RK 5.iv.825)</a>’</b><br />
A very fine analysis of Tolkien's use of <i>heathen</i> twice in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. Though I suspect that Hillman puts too much into the word ‘back’ in the statement from the ‘Akallabêth’ that Ar-Pharazôn “turned <i>back</i> to the worship of the Dark”, this is, overall, probably the finest analysis I have seen of Denethor and Gandalf's use of ‘heathen’.<br />
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<b>Alina H, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Sunday, 14 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/jrr-tolkiens-writing-credibility-the-one-trait-that-makes-it-all-believable/">JRR Tolkien's Writing Credibility: The One Trait that Makes It All Believable</a>’</b><br />
Asserting that Tolkien's writing style is more reminiscent of the myths and legends of ancient days, Greek histories, Norse sagas or the Middle-eastern Bible, is of course not new. Alina H here also claims that this is a essential ingredient in making the work believable – what I might have called establishing that inner consistency of reality that induces literary belief. I think this is, to some extend, correct, but I would also say that the validity of this argument goes along with the metafiction of ‘Tolkien the translator’. A more traditional work of fiction without this metafictional transmission would, by the logic of this argument, not benefit from Tolkien's writing style – and that statement probably highlights what I think is the greatest weakness in Alina H's analysis.<br />
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<b>Simon J. Cook, Tuesday, 16 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://yemachine.com/tolkien/faerie-as-nature/">Faërie as Nature</a>’</b><br />
Simon Cook is entirely right when claiming that Tolkien's Faërie is not just some magical otherworld of make believe. Faërie is not just Valinor, reachable only on the mystical ships of the Elves, but it is far more present. He is also right in pointing out the connections between Faërie and the natural world, but identifying the two as the same thing is an error. Smith goes into the woods to reach Faërie, but he moves <i>through</i> the woods and at some point reaches Faërie. Faërie is more than just the natural world – even “as experienced by those who truly belong to it” – but it is connected to the natural world, and I suspect that Tolkien might say that Faërie can <i>only</i> be reached through the natural world (except by enchantment, as when reading a good story).<br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Wednesday, 17 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/02/boromir-fear-and-pity-of-frodo-fr-2x396.html">Boromir, Fear, and the Pity of Frodo (FR 2.x.396-402)</a>’</b><br />
Excellent post, well worth reading! <br />
One minor point is that Christopher Tolkien does, in <i>The War of the Ring</i> p.97, state that the differences between the versions of Gandalf's words in book I, ch. 2 and book IV, ch. 1 “remain different in detail of wording, perhaps not intentionally <i>at all points</i>.” I would say that the final words, which I have emphasised, are precisely an acknowledgement that the differences <i>are</i> intentional at <i>some</i> points, and Christopher Tolkien's discussion of the words Hillman stresses, “fearing for your own safety”, strongly suggests that he thinks that this is indeed intentional.<br />
A further discussion of these points, taking Tolkien's discussions in various letters into account, would be very welcome, indeed!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIjFR9BXEesfNIiu2se-0sj6nOrdIN-KU7mOt5JX8xEyegQ9hDzDuc_hLJhEbqliLc-C9pSYHxSM38F-37FKu8mitN06bZUvrTu-p96_OnCmAt6rz0Y5fFhmUFBc_vONFB5Wd9wqz4Dj0/s1600/Tolkien_Shelfie3_2016-03-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIjFR9BXEesfNIiu2se-0sj6nOrdIN-KU7mOt5JX8xEyegQ9hDzDuc_hLJhEbqliLc-C9pSYHxSM38F-37FKu8mitN06bZUvrTu-p96_OnCmAt6rz0Y5fFhmUFBc_vONFB5Wd9wqz4Dj0/s320/Tolkien_Shelfie3_2016-03-04.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right behind the desk -- the <br />largest free wall space in the room<br />Photo: Troels Forchhammer<br /></td></tr>
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<b>Morangles, <i>Medievalist.net</i>, Wednesday, 17 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.medievalists.net/2016/02/17/of-myths-fairy-tales-and-tv-series/">Of Myths, Fairy Tales, and TV series</a>’</b><br />
Not explicitly Tolkien, but combining myth, fairy stories and modern viking stories (in this case the History Channel TV-series, <i>Vikings</i>) can never be wholly disconnected from Tolkien. <br />
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<b>Tom Hillman, Thursday, 18 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016/02/an-observation-on-ring-verse-fr-1ii50.html">An Observation on The Ring Verse (FR 1.ii.50)</a>’</b><br />
An excellent point, really. It is, however, typical of the more anthropocentric view of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> that the focus is on <i>death</i> rather than on the key part of the Gift (or Doom): freedom. Freedom to shape their lives <i>beyond</i> the Music, and thus to shape it beyond, or around, their Doom of death. I would argue that it is only Men who could do this, not because the other races cannot die, but because only Men have the power to, as Flieger suggest, actually reshape the Music (“the free choices of Men will have the power to alter the destinies of Elves.” <i>Splintered Ligh</i>, ch. 15).<br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, Monday, 22 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/02/22/did-ofermod-influence-frodos-decision-to-claim-the-one-ring/">Did Ofermod Influence Frodo's Decision to Claim the One Ring?</a>’</b><br />
As Martinez says, “great question”! And a fine answer.<br />
Adding to this, I think that Tolkien's assertion than Frodo's was not a <i>moral</i> failure, particularly in the context of Tolkien's explications of this moment in this and other letters, suggests that Frodo was <i>not</i> acting with free will in this moment – that his choice to claim the Master Ring for his own was not made as a free choice. <br />
At a minor point, I disagree with the implication that the Master Ring has a ‘will’ as such – the Master Ring is, in my considered opinion, <i>not</i> sapient in any way.<br />
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<h2><a name="05_books">Reviews and Book News</a></h2>
<b>Roz Kaveney, Thursday, 24 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1671145.ece">Tolkien's English mythology</a>’</b><br />
I strongly suspect that nobody will ever see me complain too much about a Tolkien piece where the main message appears to be that “it's not quite that simple” …<br />
Roz Kaveney opens with the question of whether “Can we accept, perhaps, that The Lord of the Rings is a good, intelligent, influential and popular boo but not a transcendent literary masterpiece or a work of supreme wisdom?” I see it as a rhetorical question – possibly a tongue-in-cheek warning that if you do believe that <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> is “a transcendent literary masterpiece or a work of supreme wisdom”, then you might not want to read the review. <br />
Personally I hope that nobody, myself included, will ever trust me to identify supreme wisdom, and much less transcendent literary masterpieces. I can recognise what I, personally, like when I meet it, but I'll keep it at that! <br />
As for the rest of the review, I think that Kaveney exaggerates the reflexive fan-boyish defensiveness of some academic Tolkien scholarship (not that this doesn't exist at the level she implies, and worse than that, but not really in academic scholarship, I would say), but the overall call is precisely to avoid the simplistic binary thinking inherent also in Tolkien's own poetic comment that, “The Lord of the Rings / Is one of those things: / If you like you do: / If you don't, then you boo!”<br />
The human mind apparently likes to keep things simple, but reality rarely is, and I think Kaveney should be lauded for trying to point out that things are more complex, really. <br />
See also <b>LotR Plaza, ‘<a href="http://www.lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78632-TLS-review">TLS Review</a>’</b>,<br />
and <b>Mythsoc Yahoo group, , ‘<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mythsoc/conversations/topics/26232">"An English mythology": Review in TLS of JRRT books</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Johnathan Svendsen, <i>Narnia Fans</i>, Friday, 5 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://narniafans.com/2016/02/tumnus-bookshelf-the-narniafans-book-reviews-bandersnatch-cs-lewis-jrr-tolkien-and-the-creative-collaboration-of-the-inklings/#sthash.PB0ogScl.DT5m98gW.dpuf">Tumnus' Bookshelf: The NarniaFans Book Reviews: Bandersnatch: CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings</a>’</b><br />
A review of Diana Pavlac Glyer's 2015 book, <i>Bandersnatch: CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings</i>. Svendsen is clearly very enthusiastic, praising also the illustrations and the accessiblity of the book. One sentence probably highlights the differences in Svendsens and my approaches. He writes, “She admitted that the earlier book was more for scholars, but this was for general readers.” If I had written that, I would probably have said that Glyer had admitted that this was a reworking of her earlier book for the general public. Personally I much prefer the language and structure of scholarly works that require their readers to think and reflect, and this seems to be no exception. <br />
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<b>Joe Gilronan, Tuesday, 16 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://joegilronanlordoftherings.blogspot.com/2016/02/from-shire-to-sea-art-of-joe-gilronan.html">From the Shire to the Sea: The Art of Joe Gilronan (PRE-ORDER).</a>’</b><br />
The art book by Joe Gilronan from Oloris Publishing, <i>From the Shire to the Sea</i> is now available for pre-order!<br />
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<b>Rizal Johan, <i>Star2</i>, Sunday, 21 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.star2.com/culture/books/book-reviews/2016/02/21/book-review-kullervo-by-jrr-tolkien/">Tolkien's first prose work is full of magic and bruality</a>’</b><br />
A review of Tolkien's <i>The Story of Kullervo</i> edited by Verlyn Flieger that gives the book 8 out of 10.Most of the review is a summary of the story of Tolkien's Kullervo retelling, and the reviewer does not really engage with Tolkien's <i>Kalevala</i> essay.<br />
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<b>Daniel Helen, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, Friday, 19 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/02/extended-version-of-tolkiens-a-secret-vice-to-be-published-in-april/">Extended version of Tolkien's “A Secret Vice” to be published in April</a>’</b><br />
About the upcoming release of this extended edition, <i>A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages</i> edited by Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins. I'm certainly looking forward to that one!<br />
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<h2><a name="06_art">Tolkienian Artwork</a></h2>
<b>Graeme Skinner, Monday, 1 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.graeme-skinner.co.uk/wordpress/2016/02/meanwhile-in-moria/">Meanwhile in Moria ….</a>’</b><br />
Gandalf lighting up a pipe in Moria.<br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Sunday, 7 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Finrod-Galadriel-Orodreth-fragment-589280945">Finrod Galadriel Orodreth- fragment</a>’</b><br />
This is a fragment from the next picture, <i>Lord of the Third House in Middle-Earth</i>.<br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Sunday, 7 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Lord-of-the-Third-House-in-Middle-Earth-589311684">Lord of the Third House in Middle-Earth</a>’</b><br />
Portraying “Finarfin's farewell to his children”.<br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Monday, 15 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Somewhere-under-the-same-sky-590706587">Somewhere under the same sky</a>’</b><br />
Presumably Andreth thinking of Aegnor ...<br />
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<b>Elena Kukanova, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Monday, 15 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ekukanova.deviantart.com/art/Finrod-and-Aegnor-The-last-conversation-590959070">Finrod and Aegnor. The last conversation</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Ebe Kastein, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Wednesday, 17 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ebe-kastein.deviantart.com/art/Young-Nerdanel-591360592">Young Nerdanel</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Peter Xavier Price, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Sunday, 21 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://peet.deviantart.com/art/Turin-Journeys-to-Dor-Lomin-592281873">Turin Journeys to Dor-Lomin</a>’</b><br />
I think this piece excellently captures some of the atmosphere of the Narn – the sense of dark doom and a single man against the world ...<br />
See also his <i>Gloomy Woods II</i> piece from 29 February. Though not made to illustrate Tolkien's Middle-earth, this piece could also easily portray one of the gloomy forests of Tolkien's world.<br />
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<b>Ebe Kastein, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Thursday, 25 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ebe-kastein.deviantart.com/art/Young-Nerdanel-in-colour-592993359">Young Nerdanel in colour</a>’</b><br />
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<b>Ebe Kastein, <i>Deviant Art</i>, Saturday, 27 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ebe-kastein.deviantart.com/art/Haudh-en-Elleth-593343116">Haudh-en-Elleth</a>’</b><br />
The ghost of Finduilas on her mound, the <i>Haudh-en-Elleth</i>.<br />
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<h2><a name="07_other">Other Stuff</a></h2>
<b>Chris Lough, <i>TOR.com</i>, Tuesday, 2 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tor.com/2016/02/02/the-earth-isnt-flat-but-middle-earth-is/">The Earth Isn't Flat, But Middle-earth Is</a>’</b><br />
This piece is not more wrong than most of what you see, and it's more right than many. Still, I do wish that writers would do a bit of research before making such blanket statements – if the author would just have limited his piece to apply to the published <i>Silmarillion</i>, the more serious problems would have disappeared (there would still be some minor issues for readers to nitpick). <br />
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<b>Ben, <i>Aussierebel</i>, Wednesday, 3 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/george-r-r-martins-inane-commentary-on-tolkien/">George R.R. Martin's inane commentary on Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
Addressing some relevant questions pertaining to Martin's comments on the lack of information about Aragorn's tax policies. Well said!<br />
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<b>James Moffet, Friday, 5 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://atolkienistperspective.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/my-decade-old-tolkien-book/">My decade-old Tolkien book</a>’</b><br />
It is always good to hear of someone who loves their old Tolkien books and keep them around. I haven't thrown out any of my Tolkien books, though the Danish paper-back book club edition of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>, <i>Ringenes Herre</i> from Gyldendals Bogklub, that I got for my 18th birthday (more than three decades ago) is in tatters.<br />
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<b>Steve Hayes, Tuesday, 9 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/the-one-ring/">The One Ring</a>’</b><br />
I know I am not the only one with an interest in how references to Tolkien is used in modern political argumentation, and clearly Hayes has given this some thought, here offering some reflections on a specific way of using Tolkien references (specifically to the Master Ring) to make a political point.<br />
Incidentally, I think Hayes is spot on with his comment that “even attempting to answer [a question posted in a Tolkien newsgroup] would indicate that one had missed a central point of the story.” This could be extended to a great many of the questions I see asked in various Tolkien fora.<br />
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<b>Francesca Barbini, <i>SciFiFantasy Network</i>, Saturday, 20 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/the-greek-ts-at-the-greisinger-museum/">The Greek TS At The Greisinger Museum</a>’</b><br />
On the visit of the Greek Tolkien Society, The Prancing Pony, to the Greisinger Tolkien Museum in Switzerland.<br />
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<b>Michael Martinez, <i>Tolkien Society</i>, Thursday, 18 February 2016, ‘<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/blog/2016/02/mythmaking-in-the-golden-age-of-tolkien/">Mythmaking in the Golden Age of Tolkien</a>’</b><br />
In this post, Martinez seems to me to discuss the relations of fan receptions, scholarly receptions, and scholarship on fan receptions (all of Tolkien's work – both his own scholarship and his fiction). I am not entirely sure what Martinez is trying to say here. At one point he sets up two worlds, one of scholarship and one of fiction, that he appears to think of as entirely separate things (which I don't think they are), and at another point, he seems to suggest that future scholarship will treat Tolkien's own work and the fan receptions as one and the same (which I doubt). In both cases, I actually think that my reading is flawed, but I am not sure what Martinez' intention is.<br />
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<h2><a name="08_discussions">Rewarding Discussions</a></h2>
<b>LotR Plaza: ‘<a href="http://www.lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78582-One-Ring-to-Rule-Them-All-Who">One Ring to Rule Them All - Who?</a>’</b><br />
About whom, or what, the Master Ring was intended to rule.<br />
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<b>LotR Plaza:, , ‘<a href="http://www.lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?78590-Tolkien-Trivia-Time!">Tolkien Trivia Time!</a>’</b><br />
The Plaza has managed to get a nice thread of trivia game running ... <br />
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<b>Rec.arts.books.tolkien: ‘<a href="news:Tr6dnSC0TP8VWi3LnZ2dnUU7-TOdnZ2d@giganews.com">Orcs and Hobbits</a>’</b><br />
A long thread with many side-tracks that takes its starting point in the simple question of how on Middle-earth Treebeard could have mistaken Merry and Pippin for small orcs?<br />
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<h2><a name="09_print">In Print</a></h2>
<b><i>Beyond Bree</i>, February 2016</b><br />
Dale Nelson is officially my favourite regular contributor to <i>Beyond Bree</i>! This month, he has contributed a new instalment of his ‘Days of the Craze’ series as well as notices on
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<h2><a name="10_websites">Web Sites</a></h2>
<b><a href="http://www.lastallianceuofa.com/">The Last Alliance</a>, The University of Alberta Tolkien Society</b><br />
The web site features a podcast series by the society, which includes both lectures by scholars, both resident and visiting, and the society's own discussions of Tolkien's works. From February 2016 you can find e.g. <i>The Cycle of Order and Chaos in the Lord of the Rings</i> by Dr Natalie Van Deusen, and Dr. William Thompson's lecture, <i>Of Hobbits, Elves, and Talking Dragons: J.R.R. Tolkien and the Journey into Faerie</i>.<br />
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<b>‘<a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/484971415020402/">Confirming J.R.R. Tolkien Quotations</a>’</b><br />
A new public Facebook group aiming at confirming – or more likely <i>dis</i>confirming – quotation attributed to professor J.R.R. Tolkien, and if possible discover the true source, when this is not Tolkien.<br />
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A couple of old posts from the Oxford Dictionaries blog should have been included long ago, but will now have to be included here: <br />
<b>Peter Gilliver, Jeremy Marshall, and Edmund Weiner, 7 January 2013, ‘<a href="http:">J.R.R. Tolkien and the definition of ‘hobbit’</a>’</b> – An excerpt from the book <i>The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary</i><br />
<b>Jonathan Dent, 5 March 2013, ‘<a href="http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/03/walrus-in-the-oed/">Whale-horses and morses: Tolkien and the walrus in the OED</a>’</b> – About Tolkien's work on the entry for ‘walrus’.<br />
<b>Tim William Machan, 13 November 2013, ‘<a href="http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/11/archaic-language/">Why did Tolkien use archaic language?</a>’</b> – About Tolkien's archaisms and why some people may see them as problematic, but unfortunately Machan doesn't really attempt to answer his titular question.<br />
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<h2><a name="11_blogs">The Blog Roll</a></h2>
These are blogs you really should be following yourself if you're interested in Tolkien ...<br />
Contents from these blogs will only be reported here if there is something that I find particularly interesting, or posts that fit with a monthly theme. However, you will find below links to monthly archives of posts for months where the blog has featured interesting posts with at least some Tolkien connection. In some cases you may find a headline for a post, if I wish to recommend it particularly.
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Dimitra Fimi, ‘<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/">Dr. Dimitra Fimi</a>’<br />
<a href="http://dimitrafimi.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Douglas A. Anderson, ‘<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/">Tolkien and Fantasy</a>’<br />
<a href="http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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John D. Rateliff -- ‘<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com">Sacnoth's Scriptorium</a>’<br />
<a href="http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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David Bratman, ‘<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/">Kalimac's Journal</a>’<br />
<a href="http://kalimac.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/posts/4546102" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBQ8hKNhrGJOhDuZfDqGIaqqiGBlez9vY82la3bB4eIFlSS6khnQPuvg2eEHA87qAie6UCTJJEkgIFwPV6L727MSUsqciSF2EAGiUHV_XXt9oPSJswjJjLSvE8XVPOyZkrv9hxkDDYSlf/s320/WIP-Laerminuial%252BEstel_400.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Laerminuial and Estel</i><br />a work in progress by Jenny Dolfen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jenny Dolfen, ‘<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/">Jenny's Sketchbook</a>’<br />
<a href="http://goldseven.wordpress.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Andrew Higgens, ‘<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/">Wotan's Musings</a>’<br />
<a href="http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Anna Smol, ‘<a href="http://annasmol.net/">A Single Leaf</a>’<br />
<a href="http://annasmol.net/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Various (Bradford Eden, ed.)<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/">
<i>Journal of Tolkien Research</i></a> (JTR)<br />
<a href="http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/">Archive of contributions for the on-going volume 2, issue 1</a><br />
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Various, <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/">The Tolkien Society</a> (TS)<br />
<a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Simon Cook, <a href="http://yemachine.com/">Ye Machine</a><br />
<a href="http://yemachine.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/"><i>Southfarthing Mathom</i></a><br />
<a href="http://southfarthingmathom2012.wordpress.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a> – the group's discussions this month cover III,8 ‘The Road to Isengard’<br />
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Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’<br />
<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Michael Martinez, ‘<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/">Middle-earth</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Ben, ‘<a href="http://aussierebel.wordpress.com/">A clearer thinking oasis</a>’<br />
<a href="http://aussierebel.wordpress.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Grey Havens Group, ‘<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.com/">The Grey Havens Group</a>’<br />
<a href="http://greyhavensgroup.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Bruce Charlton, ‘<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/">Tolkien's The Notion Club Papers</a>’<br />
<a href="http://notionclubpapers.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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Various, ‘<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/">Middle-earth News</a>’<br />
<a href="http://middleearthnews.com/2016/02/">Archive of posts from February 2016</a><br />
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<h2><a name="12_sources">Sources</a></h2>
New sources in February 2016<br />
<b>Tom Hilman, ‘<a href="http://alasnotme.blogspot.com/">Alas, not me</a>’</b><br />
description<br />
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For older sources, see <a href="http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html">http://parmarkenta.blogspot.com/p/sources.html</a><br />
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Updated 2016-03-05 to correct errors. Thank you to Ian Collier for spotting a misspelled name :) Troelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07515711722551393026noreply@blogger.com0