Archive for the ‘Hall of Fire’ Category
July 12, 2013 at 10:23 pm by Demosthenes

A couple of weekends back in the Hall of Fire, we discussed the events of the Two Towers chapter Flotsam and Jetsam, and the reunion of five of the Fellowship’s members. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log.
And remember, tomorrow (July 13 at 6pm EDT (New York time)) we’ll be discussing the next chapter: The Voice of Saruman. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers
July 12, 2013 at 7:54 pm by Demosthenes

This weekend, Hall of Fire returns to The Lord of the Rings as we continue our chapter discussions of The Two Towers and journey with Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden and his riders to the very door of Orthanc.
‘I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council.’ He raised his hand and spoke slowly in a clear cold voice. ‘Saruman, your staff is broken.’ There was a crack and the staff split asunder in Saruman’s hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf’s feet.
Book III, Chapter X: The Voice of Saruman (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
July 5, 2013 at 8:25 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire will focus on the stewards of Middle-earth.
“…the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?”
Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings.
Stewards of Middle-earth. Who? What? Why? (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 28, 2013 at 9:49 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire returns to The Lord of the Rings as we continue our chapter discussions of The Two Towers.
Throughout the first half of The Two Towers, Tolkien weaves together two threads of narrative. On one hand we have Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas and their efforts to find the hobbits, and then to assist the Rohirrim. On the other, Merry and Pippin’s captivity among the Uruk-hai, their escape and their burgeoning friendship with the Ents of Fangorn.
Flotsam and Jetsam finally reunites the two groups and reveals what happened after the Ents marched on Isengard. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 28, 2013 at 9:28 am by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends ago, we delved into the aftermath of the battle of Helm’s Deep and joined Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn on the short, but interesting, The Road to Isengard.
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. Plus, as a reminder: this weekend (Saturday June 29 at 6pm EDT) the Hall of Fire topic is the next chapter of The Two Towers: Book III Chapter IX – Flotsam and Jetsam. See you then! (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers, Tolkien
June 22, 2013 at 2:59 am by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends ago, we dedicated an entire, spoiler-filled session to exploring the new character Tauriel, the Silvan captain of guards that Jackson, Boyens and Walsh are introducing into their adaptation of The Hobbit. .
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. And a reminder: tomorrow (Saturday June 22 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be discussing the Desolation of Smaug trailer. (more…)
Posted in Aidan Turner, Barlimans, Evangeline Lilly, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Hobbit Movie, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Tolkien
June 15, 2013 at 4:28 am by Demosthenes

A couple of weekends ago, we dived into the big battle of The Two Towers as we discussed Helm’s Deep (Book III, Chapter VII) in Hall of Fire.
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. And a reminder: tomorrow (Saturday June 15 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be moving onto the next chapter as we examine the events of The Road to Isengard. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers, Tolkien
June 14, 2013 at 6:56 pm by Demosthenes
Throughout the War of the Ring there were several turning points, but among the most crucial to the downfall of Sauron was the battle of Helm’s Deep and the defeat of Saruman’s forces.
This Saturday, (July 15 at 6pm EDT (New York time)) the Hall of Fire crew invite you to join us as we discuss the downfall of Saruman, the wizard who would become the Lord of the Ring.
‘Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!’ he said. ‘We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness’ – here he gave the other a dig with his foot – ‘is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honourable guests.’ (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 7, 2013 at 10:56 pm by Demosthenes

A couple of weekends ago, we discussed the character of Isildur in Hall of Fire. Was he, we asked, the true shaper of the Third Age? For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. And a reminder: tomorrow (Saturday June 8 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be returning to the Hobbit movies for the first time in a while and examining the new details about Tauriel, and what they might mean for the films. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Christopher Tolkien, Green Books, Hall of Fire, J.R.R. Tolkien, Other Tolkien books, Tolkien
June 7, 2013 at 10:13 pm by Demosthenes
Earlier this week, the Hobbit production crew released the first official still (if you missed it, head here) of the Silvan elf and captain of Thranduil’s guards, Tauriel.
So, this Saturday at 6pm EDT New York time Hall of Fire will be dedicating an entire, and probably spoiler-filled, session to exploring this new character that Jackson, Boyens and Walsh are introducing into their adaptation of The Hobbit. Warning: character and plot spoilers follow below! (more…)
Posted in Aidan Turner, Barliman News, Barlimans, Evangeline Lilly, Hall of Fire, Hobbit Movie
June 1, 2013 at 8:47 am by Demosthenes
We resume our Two Towers chats a little later today in Hall of Fire and examine the clash of the mustered forces Rohan and the orc and Dunlendish legions of Saruman at Helm’s Deep.
Suddenly the clouds were seared by a blinding flash. Branched lightning smote down upon the eastward hills. For a staring moment the watchers on the walls saw all the space between them and the Dike lit with white light: it was boiling and crawling with black shapes. The Two Towers Bk III, Ch VII. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
May 25, 2013 at 3:15 am by Demosthenes

Last weekend, the Hall of Fire crew examined the confrontation between Gandalf, Theoden and Grima (plus much more) as we discussed the Two towers chapter The King the Tale of the Golden Hall. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log.
And remember, tomorrow (May 25 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be discussing Isildur and examining to what extent he was the shaper of the Third Age. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers