Ringer Brent sent us some pictures of the Harper Collins UK edition (no, I don’t know what the difference is!). The production on both looks wonderful – and the text has been corrected by Chris Tolkien. Here’s some pictures of the HM edition. [More]
Day: December 15, 2004
“There is still hope,” I thought, even when Philippa Boyens had to beg off finishing the screenplay to “The Legend of Earthea,” and all news about the project evaporated for the next 3 years. But I’m getting fan responses to the first episode now and doesn’t make good reading. As for Le Guin’s own reaction…..[More] Ouch!!!
I really shouldn’t comment on the Sci-Fi channel’s miniseries of Earthsea, based on Ursula Le Guin’s books. I haven’t seen it, since it’s not showing in New Zealand. Thanks by the way to you generous people who offered to tape it and send me a copy – I’ll reply to you individually.
So yes, I shouldn’t comment on something I haven’t seen myself. But I am a HUGE fan of Le Guin’s work – my NAME is taken from her Earthsea books, for those of you who haven’t cottoned on yet. I was wildly excited to learn that Earthsea would be filmed, and that Philippa Boyens, who is another passionately keen Earthsea fan, would be writing the screenplay. I was aware that she’d had to let go of that project halfway through, and I was disturbed when I couldn’t seem to make any contact with the film makers after that. “There is still hope,” I thought, “if somewhat diminished.”
But now the finished film has screened, and I’ve been getting emails from people whose opinions I respect saying things like ‘I watched it and I was sick to my stomach after seven minutes.’ I can’t stand by and let it look as though TORN will recommend and promote any rubbish just because it’s a well-known fantasy series.
What really made up my mind on this was Ursula Le Guin’s own reaction to the miniseries. She finally broke silence when the director was printed in Sci Fi Magazine, “explaining” what Le Guin supposedly meant by the books, and how “true” to that his film was. As she says herself:
“But then Mr. Lieberman published a statement telling people what “Ursula” (whom he has never met) “intended” by the books. That changed the situation. They were taking advantage of my silence by sticking words in my mouth. I put a reply on my web site, and since then have spoken freely to interviewers who have asked my opinion of the production.”
You can read all about it here in Le Guin’s article Earthsea in Clorox.
One of the highlights of the latest Red Carpet LOTR tour was our visit from Daniel Reeve, mapmaker and calligrapher for LOTR. Meeting him made us realise firstly what a talent he has, and what an important role his work played in the films – and the books and games based on the films. He now has a website where you can learn more about him, and order tailor-made samples of his work. [More]
TheOne.Ring.net and Creation Entertainment are extremely pleased to announce today that the sensational DOMINIC MONAGHAN is joining his comrades to party with all of us at The One Ring Celebration, coming to Pasadena, California January 14-16, 2005. Thanks to you, this event is a home-run with our “fantastic four” headlining: ELIJAH WOOD, SEAN ASTIN, BILLY BOYD and DOMINIC MONAGHAN! They are joined by genre legend JOHN RHYS-DAVIES and more than a score of other celebrities, scholars, and artists! [More]
Other guests include: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Bruce Hopkins, John Rhys-Davies, Jorn & Jarl Benzon, Sandro Kopp, Peter Tait, Ted Nasmith, RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS Crew, Royd Tolkien (Great-grandson of JRR Tolkien), Daniel Falconer (Senior Designer WETA WORKSHOP), Katrelya Angus (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis scholar), Greg Wright (Author of Peter Jackson in Perspective), Paul Badali (Master Jeweler), George Beahm (Published over 20 books, including The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook), Colleen Doran (Artist of The Essential JRR Tolkien Sourcebook), Tim Kirk (Illustrated 1975 J.R.R.Tolkien Calendar), Doug Adams (Author of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films), Mike Foster (North American Representative of The Tolkien Society)
TheOne.Ring.net and Creation Entertainment are extremely pleased to announce today that the sensational DOMINIC MONAGHAN is joining his comrades to party with all of us at GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ORC NOW!