Ringer Spy The Jazza sends in a call for extras that was placed in a local NZ papaer recently.

DarthCaesar has struck again, sending word to me of this news, which comes from the RPG Vault at IGN. [More]

Ringer Spy GC sends in word on the latest filming at Moonshine Bridge set. Highlight the area below to read.

On Saturday morning I saw the crew ‘village’ on the eastern river bank and filming atop the earthquake plateau on the west bank of the river north of the Moonshine bridge.

And it was raining again! Why does it rain every time LotR comes to Upper Hutt?

Alas, no time to stop and too far away to see anything significant. They were all gone on Sunday morning.

TORNado Basara sent me an email today with a theory about the apparent difference in publication dates for FotR. Click here for the letter. Thanks Basara!

All things considered, it could be that the publishing of FotR might have began (or ended) on 29 July 1954, and the actual release date (when the books hit the stores) was 26 August.

Being a published author myself (albeit in magazines and quarterlies), the time between the two dates sounds about right for the normal gap between printing and distribution, and as the author, Tolkien wouldn’t have had to wait until the distribution date (if even to the end of the print run!) to get his author’s copies.

So maybe both the Daily News and Tolkien’s letters are correct, but from different points of view. I wonder if there’s any way to actually confirm if this suspicion of mine is correct, concerning this. The only ways I can think of would be to actually ask the Tolkien heirs (specifically his children) if they remember, or (an outside chance) if the Daily News and/or other English newspapers had a section on book release dates back in 1954, and someone could go back to the 5-week period in question’s papers (probably on microfiche) and look for the release date in them.

Great ideas! Any gumshoes out there up for the challenge? 🙂

TheOneRing.net staff member Pippin Took is celebrating a birthday today!! So, if you happen to see this fine fellow, make sure and wish him a happy day! From all of us at TORN, Have a happy birthday Pippin, and many happy returns!