This weekend in the Hall of Fire (Saturday at 6pm ET) we’ll be gathering to discuss the differences between Art and Magic in Middle-eath.
For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy.
Magic and art
In Middle-earth, there are wizards and sorcerers, shape-changers and giant spiders, rings that make you disappear and seeing-stones. For many fantasy writers, these objects are all grist to drive the plot.
But how does Tolkien present magic to us? What do it’s nominal practitioners — people such as Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel — think of it? How do we see them use it? How is it different — if at all — from Art? Furthermore, where do objects such as the Silmarils and Galadriel’s mirror fall into these definitions?
And how does Tolkien’s treatment of art and magic distinguish him from other fantasy authors?
Come share your thoughts with us on Saturday in what’s sure to be another great Hall of Fire discussion!
Upcoming chat topics:
Saturday March 26: Thingol of Doriath
Saturday April 2: No Hall of Fire — I’m in the UK!
Saturday April 9: No Hall of Fire — I’m in the UK!
Nazgul at the Walls by Ted Nasmith.Time zone conversions
Not sure what time the chat will be where you are? Check this little conversion table out for some help. Alternatively, check our handy Event Announcer over on Time and Date for the correct time in your area.
America:
6.00pm EDT (New York)
5.00pm CDT (Chicago)
4.00pm MDT (Denver)
3.00pm PDT (Los Angeles)
Europe:
10.00pm GMT (London)
11.00pm CST (Paris)
Midnight EET (Helsinki)
Asia-Pacific
8.00am AEST (Sunday) Brisbane
9.00am AEDT (Sunday) Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne
11.00am NZST (Sunday) Wellington
How long do your topic chats go for?
Our chats usually last about an hour, and are very newbie friendly. Simply drop in and join the conversation! However, our main room, #theonering.net is open 24 hours a day. We don’t always talk Tolkien there, but if you have a burning question, you’ll usually find one or two of “the regulars” up for a chat!
Where — connection details
Chat happens on #thehalloffire on irc.theonering.net — the TORn IRC server. It is based on internet relay chat technology (that means it’s hella old skool). It’s a text-only, moderated chat room full of eccentric Tolkien fans. We’re open 24/7 (although some times are busier and more active than others).
There are many ways to connect to the chat server. However, the easiest is generally to use a browser-based client. We usually direct folks to Mibbit:
* TORn Mibbit Widget
* Mibbit direct (as opposed to the widget above, this allows you to see others joining and leaving)
If you’re more oldschool or technically adept, you can install one of the scores of standalone chat clients that available for desktop and mobile devices. Just plug in our server details (see bottom) into the client and connect.
* Xchat: http://xchat.org/ (Windoze PC and Linux. Free)
* mIRC: http://www.mirc.com/ (Windoze PC. 30-day trial)
* AndChat: http://www.andchat.net/ (Android app for mobile. Free)
* Colloquy: http://colloquy.info/ (Mac OS and Apple mobile devices. Free)
Our server details:
IRC server name: irc.theonering.net
Channel/room name: #theonering.net
Port: 6667 (6697 for SSL connections)
