Until I read this article the other week over on The Mainichi I never realised that butterburs — as in Barliman Butterbur — were a type of flower.
Specifically, it’s the name for some members of the Petasites genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family. (more…)
Posted in Fellowship of the Ring, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, Return of the King
“One does not simply walk into Mordor.”
This is great. Writer-comedian Stephan Krosecz (who I’ve been a fan of since his very amusing Abridgement ofthe first season of the Attack on Titan anime) observed that Boromir’s walk into Mordor monologue from Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring could make a great premise for a heist film.
So he went away and did it. Check it out, it’s very clever — love the music. (more…)
Posted in Creations, Fans, Lord of the Rings, LotR Movies, Movie Fellowship of the Ring, ParodiesIt seems that, with those Tolkien biopics gradually approaching, more and more people are taking an interest in the biographical details of Tolkien’s life.
If that’s your thing, you might enjoy this pretty solid overview from Simon Whistler. (I didn’t know about the tarantula incident, for example, a minor controversy that you can get more background on over on Tolkien Gateway.)
Posted in J.R.R. Tolkien, Languages, Tolkien
Awaking from a sickly sleep, Frodo finds finally himself in Rivendell — a place of relative safety. Much to his delight and relief, Gandalf is there too.
“What happened at the Ford?” said Frodo. “It all seemed so dim somehow; and it still does.”
“Yes, it would. You were beginning to fade,” answered Gandalf. “The wound was overcoming you at last. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit!”
FoTR: Book Two, Chapter One — Many Meetings (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This weekend, we resume our Fellowship of the Ring read-through in Hall of Fire with Frodo still struggling toward the safety of Rivendell — and still pursued by Sauron’s minions.
With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished his sword.
‘Go back!’ he cried. ‘Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!
FoTR: Book One, Chapter 12 — Flight to the Ford (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This weekend in Hall of Fire we’re taking a quick diversion from our Fellowship of the Ring read-through to talk about a humble yet oddly important part of Middle-earth (and its peculiar inhabitants) — the village of Bree.
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire“Strange as News from Bree was still a saying in the Eastfarthing, descending from those days, when news from the North, South, and East could be heard in the inn.
This Saturday at 6pm ET, Hall of Fire rejoins the four Hobbits on the Barrows Downs as we resume our Fellowship of the Ring read-through.
‘Splendid!’ said Frodo. ‘If we make as good going this afternoon as we have done this morning, we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and be jogging on in search of a camping place.’
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 7: Fog on the Barrow-Downs
Unfortunately for the four, dense fog closes in while they nap after lunch by an ancient standing stone on a bare hill. They lose each other in the clammy, misty conditions and fall into deadly peril when a Barrow-wight captures them. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This Saturday at 6pm EST, Hall of Fire returns to the Fellowship of The Ring as the hobbits take refuge in the house of Tom Bombadil and try to put their horror encounter with Old Man Willow behind them.
“I kept [Tom] in, and as he was, because he represents certain things otherwise left out.” — JRR Tolkien, Letter 153.
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 7: The House of Tom Bombadil
Tom’s wife, Goldberry, moves Frodo in a way similar to that of the Elves, but in a homier, less rarefied fashion. Frodo asks Goldberry who Tom is, and she replies mysteriously that Tom is “master of wood, water and hill.” (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This Saturday, Hall of Fire returns to the Fellowship of The Ring as the hobbits — momentarily free of the Black Riders — finally arrive at Frodo’s new home in Crickhollow.
“Now we had better get home ourselves,” said Merry. “There’s something funny about all this, I see; but it must wait till we get in.”
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
This weekend, Hall of Fire turns to Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales as we discuss the events revealed in The Hunt for the Ring.
At length [Sauron] resolved that no others would serve him in this case but his mightiest servants, the Ringwraiths, who had no will but his own, being each utterly subservient to the ring that had enslaved him, which Sauron held.
The Hunt for the Ring (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This Saturday, Hall of Fire rejoins Frodo, Sam and Pippin on the road to Bucklebury Ferry as we return to our chapter-by-chapter read-through of Fellowship of The Ring.
“That settles it!” said Frodo. “Short cuts make delays, but inns make longer ones. At all costs we must keep you away from the Golden Perch. We want to get to Bucklebury before dark.”
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 4: A Shortcut to Mushrooms
In the morning, Gildor and his company of elves are gone. Frodo decides the road is too dangerous, and heads cross-country instead. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This weekend in the Hall of Fire, we’ll be turning our attention to the wandering elves of Middle-earth.
Journeying from his erstwhile home in Hobbiton to his new one in Buckland, Frodo serendpitously encounters a travelling band of elves — high elves at that — in the woods of Tookland.
“In the morning we shall have gone; but we will send our messages through the lands. The Wandering Companies shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on the watch.” Gildor Inglorien.
What exactly are these wandering companies? How many are there? Why do they travel? Are they wholly nomadic? And where do they go?
Join us Saturday at 6pm ET in #thehalloffire when we will explore all these questions and more as we examine the Wandering Companies of Middle-earth.
Frodo meets Gildor by Alan Lee.
Time zone conversions
Not sure what time the chat will be where you are? Check this little conversion table out for some help. Alternatively, this event announcement on Time and Date will tell you when it’s on in your city.
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How long do your topic chats go for?
Our chats usually last 45 mins to 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. You can connect instantly using our Mibbit client that works inside your web browser.
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