fantasyfestival2008.jpgGloria writes: Join Fantasy Festival 2008, April 26th at the University of Utah Union Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. Programming starts at 10 am. Fantasy Festival will conclude with a dance that ends at 11pm.

The schedule includes noted speakers, including Dr. Michael Drout, head of the English department at Wheaton College. He will be the keynote speaker addressing “From Middle earth to Hogwarts.” Dr. Drout is editor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Beowulf and the Critics.” In addition he will also present a class on Beowulf. Further, there will be other scholarly presentations by professors and professionals, including Dr. Stephen Fullmer of Utah Valley University and John Kilgore of Eastern Illinois University. Continue reading “Fantasy Festival 2008 News”

Gary GygaxGary Gygax, a pioneer of the imagination who transported a fantasy realm of wizards, goblins and elves onto millions of kitchen tables around the world through the game he helped create, Dungeons & Dragons, died Tuesday at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. He was 69. Many Tolkien fans were introduced to the world of The Lord of the Rings after first being involved with D&D. It is a sad day for all fans of the fantasy realm. [NYTimes]