Greetings, Quickbeam here. Our GREEN BOOKS 4th Anniversary continues with amazing new stuff:

Special Guest #1: “The Science of Middle-earth.” Our ongoing series has the brilliant Olog-hai arguing how FAR the far-seeing eyes of Elves can really see.
Special Guest #2: “Power in the Name.” Maureen McKittrick Stewart uncovers a beautiful philosophy of life within LOTR. A must read.
Tookish’s Ticklers has a bevy of raucous humor, riddles, Filk songs, and other naughty bits!

Tolkien fan ‘M’, from Philadelphia, is happily sitting at home watching The Two Towers on DVD for the second time. No, she didn’t purchase a pirated copy or any such nonsense. According to ‘M,’ “I ordered my Two Towers DVD through Science Fiction Book Club just last month. I had a huge surprise on Aug. 18th. My DVD was waiting for me at home.” Some people are just too lucky!

Nick writes: Greetings from the UK and congratulations on a great web site. I thought you might be interested in some auction prices achieved recently by Tolkien’s books and letters. Last summer Sotheby’s took a bid of £36 000 on a copy of the 1937 first edition of The Hobbit inscribed in October to Tolkien’s Aunt Jane… [More]

Ruairif writes: Thought you might like to know – Roman Reyes, one of the Weta Digital guys, is giving a talk in Dublin on Wednesday about Gollum and CGI Effects. [More]

Amir sends along word that the TTT DVD will hit store shelves in Israel on August 26th, much like the rest of the globe.

Cilghal writes: I’ve been keeping my eye on a few shopping sites that carry the United Cutlery LOTR swords, knives, etc., waiting for Anduril to come out. One of the sites, Clinch Mountain Outfitters, is now offering the following:

Daggers of Legolas (Available 11/1/03)
Strider Sword Scabbard (Available 9/1/03)
Herugrim (Available 11/1/03)
elvin Knife of Strider (Available 9/1/03)
Anduril (Available 10/1/03)
King Elendi Helmet (Their spelling, not mine!) (Available 9/1/03)
Gimli’s Helmet (Available 9/1/03)

Unfortunately, they don’t as yet have any picture or description of the items, just the price. My guess is, though, that the pictures won’t be long in coming – at least for those available the beginning of next month. [More]