There was a spike of excitement on The Hobbit Discussion Board when some spoilers were found in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Annual.  Come on in and get spoiled right here.

As we are always inspired by the music of Howard Shore, the discussion on The Hobbit Board turned to sharing favorite musical moments in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  Share your favorite moments here.

You should know that those of us at TORn really do have other interests.  That was displayed most enthusiastically when the Off Topic Discussion Board wondered:  “So how do you feel about Marvel movies?”  You can dive into the fun right here.

There was quite a milestone on the Message Boards when we reached 10,000 registered members!  That’s a LOT of people doing a LOT of discussing… and there’s always so much more to talk about!!

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversations!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards NOW have over 10,000 registered fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!!

Who, or what, is evil in Tolkien? Come into the Reading Room and check out this fascinating discussion.  We’d love to hear what you think, so click here and share your thoughts.

On the Hobbit Discussion Board, a question that has been asked for decades has surfaced again… but is still fun to investigate.  Why didn’t the eagles take the Company or the Fellowship all the way to their final destinations? Come on in and tell us your theory… you know you want to!

The Main Discussion Board has been the home of many TORn locally-grown games.  One of the oldest and best is Middle-earth Conspiracy Theories.  We thought you’d like to join this week’s game and tell us why you think the Valar sent five Maiar to Middle-earth?  Have a laugh here.

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect the Hobbit  Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share some more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards have over 9,940 registered Tolkien fans just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

•  Bilbo fights off spiders (1341)
• They come to Isengard; they take leave of the King of the West at Sunset (1419)

August 22, 2941 (S.R. 1341)

1. Bilbo fights off spiders.

 (from Karen

Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)

 ”[Bilbo] sat himself down with his back to a tree, and not for the last time fell to thinking of his far-distant hobbit-hole with its beautiful pantries.  He was deep in thoughts of bacon and eggs and toast and butter when……he felt something touch him.

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 153-160 The Hobbit)

August 22, 3019 (S.R. 1419)

1. They come to Isengard; they take leave of the King of the West at Sunset.

(from the appendices)

 ”From Deeping Coomb they rode to Isengard, and saw how the Ents had busied themselves.”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 317 – 321 RotK)

Most of this past week’s action has been on The Hobbit Message Board where the speculations are flying!  Could we have seen a picture of Beorn?  Some say yes, some say no (very Elven!); but we’d like to hear what you think!

So the Hobbit Message Board is wondering about the new Favourite Elven Couple.  Join in the conversation here.

And we can’t help but wonder about The Desolation of Smaug spoilers.  Is there a battle?  And there’s more in a recent article on the film?  We’d love to hear from you!

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect the Hobbit Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net Message Boards have over 9,936 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

This weekend’s Roundup brings you The Reading Room as it hosted the very first TORn Amateur Symposium.  Many Message Board Members have found it difficult to attend national symposiums and conferences that include studies on J.R.R. Tolkien and his works.  As a result, TORn has conducted its own Symposium.  Members have contributed personal essays on philosophic opinions, scientific theories, or analytic approaches to understanding or highlighting some facet of Tolkien’s writings and world.  Please enjoy the following topics offered in this first TORn Amateur Symposium.

Day One – The Physics of Middle-earth

Day Two – Fauna of Middle-earth

Day Three – Geography and Literature, Art & Language

Day Four – The Hobbit Topics

Day Five – The Lord of the Rings Topics

Day Six – The Silmarillion Topics

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect The Hobbit Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards have nearly 9,900 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

• Bilbo’s lost in the caves (1341)
• Riddles in the dark (1341)
• Bilbo finds the dwarves and the wizard (1341)
• The Company is trapped in the trees (1341)
• The funeral escort of King Théoden sets out (1419)

July 19, 2941 (S.R. 1341)

1. Bilbo’s lost in the caves.

(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)

“Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature….”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 78  Hobbit)

2. Riddles in the dark.

(determined from text)

“Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum…”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 79-95 Hobbit)

3. Bilbo finds the dwarves and the wizard.

(determined from text)

“And here’s the burglar!” said Bilbo stepping down into the middle of them, and slipping off the Ring.”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 98-100 Hobbit)

4. The Company is trapped in the trees.

(determined from text)

“”Must we go any further?” asked Bilbo, when it was so dark that he could only just see Thorin’s beard wagging beside him…”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 103-113  Hobbit)

July 19, 3019 (S.R. 1419)

1. The funeral escort of King Théoden sets out.

(from the appendices)

“At last the day of departure came, and a great and fair company made ready to ride north from the City.”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 113  RotK)

Do you have a favourite costume design in The Lord of the Rings?  Come on over to the LotR Message Board and tell us all about it and see what others like the most, right here.

Have you wondered what it would have been like if Guillermo del Toro had completed The Hobbit?  Join in the conversation as we pull together the clues and memories of the Great GdT’s vision here.

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect the Hobbit Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you  join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards have over 9,800 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

Right now, the place to be is the Reading Room.  Normally viewed as a thoughtful, scholarly part of the TORn Message Boards, it has pulled ahead in posts and participation… an occurrence that has triggered a friendly and spontaneous party.  Join the thready fun here.

One of the reasons for the spike in activity and interest is the ongoing Silmarillion Discussion as “Roomies” study the lives and love of Beren and Luthien.  Stroll through the Reading Room and discover The Silmarillion.

Another reason for the action is the launch of discussion on The History of the Hobbit.  Join this fascinating look at how it all started here.

Want Hobbit movie news?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect The Hobbit headlines of the week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in the conversation!  Don’t forget,   have over 9,800 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

• Gandalf, the Dwarves and their Burglar leave Rivendell for the Lonely Mountain (1341)
• Aragorn and Arwen – A promise is born (1380)
• Gandalf meets Radagast the Brown (1418)
• The Wedding of Elessar and Arwen (1419)
• Frodo resigns office of mayor, and Will Whitfoot is restored (1420)
• The death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year’s Day (1482)

MIDSUMMER’S

DAY : Lithe : Mid-year’s Day

Midsummer’s Day, 2941 (S.R. 1341)

1. Gandalf, Thorin, the Dwarves and their Burglar leave Rivendell for the Lonely Mountain.

(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)

    “The next morning was a midsummer’s morning as fair and fresh as could be dreamed….”

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 63 Hobbit)

 Midsummer’s Day, 2980 (S.R. 1380)

1. Aragorn and Arwen – A promise is born.

(from the appendices)

   “Then for a season the

y wandered together in the glades of Lothlórien, until it was time for him to depart….”

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 424 RotK)

 Midsummer’s Day, 3018 (S.R. 1418)

1. Gandalf meets Radagast the Brown.

(from the appendices)

   “‘At the end of June I was in the Shire, but a cloud of anxiety

was on my mind…’”

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 336-338 FotR)

 Midsummer’s Day, 3019 (S.R. 1419)

1. The Wedding of Elessar and Arwen

(from the appendices)

   “…Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted…”

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 310 RotK)

 Midsummer’s Day, 3020 (S.R. 1420)

1. Frodo resigns office of mayor, and Will Whitfoot is restored.

(from the appendices)

   “If Sam thought himself lucky, Frodo knew that he was more lucky himself….”

 (Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 377 RotK)

 Midsummer’s Day, 3082 (S.R. 1482)

1. The death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year’s Day.

(from the appendices-no text)

   And in the full tale of days, Sam is again parted from one he loves.

 Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights.  Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions.  Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards.  Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join the fun!

Do you remember when you discovered Tolkien’s world?  Come on over to the Pollantir Message Board, and tell us how you started on your Tolkien Adventure that has ultimately brought us all here!

The great thing about TORn Message Board members is that we really do enjoy a variety of books.  Join us on the Off Topic Message Board and see the variety of top five favorite books by our readers.

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Message Board to collect the Hobbit Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net Message Boards have over 9,790 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

The action this week is happening in the Reading Room.  There are two very thoughtful investigations of female characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.  Check here as Poster wildespace leads the discussion on their presence in The Lord of the Rings, with more in Maciliel’s contribution to The Silmarillion Discussion (Chapter 16).  Join in the fun here.

Also in the Reading Room, the TORn Amateur Symposium is underway!  Inspired by the Tolkien-themed conferences and symposiums that many of our Discussion Board Members cannot attend due to cost or location, we’re going to create our own that everyone can attend right here!  Check out the program and join us with your own submissions.

Want Hobbit Movie News?  Each week, TORn poster DanielLB ventures into the very rich and fast-moving Hobbit Discussion Board to collect The Hobbit Headlines of the Week.  Check out this week’s action here.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you join in on the conversation!  Don’t forget TheOneRing.net’s Message Boards have over 9,740 registered Tolkien fans, just like you.  Let your voice be heard!

The following event(s) took place in Middle-earth on May 30^th:

• Gandalf keeps the trolls arguing until dawn (1341)

May 30, 2941 (S.R. 1341)

1. Gandalf keeps the trolls arguing until dawn.

(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)

“No sooner did Tom see Balin come into the light than he gave an awful howl. Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked).”

(Tolkien, 1965 Ballantine, p. 49-53 Hobbit)