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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3.00pm PT (Los Angeles)
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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
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Server: irc.theonering.net
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Channel: #thehalloffire
The Rings of Power, forged by Celebrinbor and the Gwaith-i-Mirdain in Eregion long ago. But why? What were the Great Rings good for? What were they meant to acheive for their users? This is the topic that Hall of Fire will broach this weekend.
We know a little. We know The One can turn its wielder invisible. And Gandalf seems to say (if in not so many words) that all the Great Rings can do likewise. Not to mention, they grant long life. They preserve, but do they all also dominate and control?
And, as Galadriel explains, they also “give power according to the measure of each possessor”. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This Saturday (October 21) at 6pm ET, Hall of Fire returns to our chapter-by-chapter read-through and discussion of Fellowship of The Ring.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time.”
Frodo Baggins is the new master of Bag End. And, to the enduring curiosity of his fellow-Hobbits, over the next 17 years he proves as “well-preserved” and eccentric — and as much of topic of gossip — as Bilbo ever was.
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past
Odd news from the outside world begin to circulate. Most “sensible” Hobbits laugh off the rumours of dark times as mere folk tales, but Frodo’s gardener, Samwise, is fascinated. Then, one evening, Gandalf returns bearing terrible news. Biilbo’s ring — now in the hands of Frodo — is far more powerful, and perilous, than anyone had guessed. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This weekend in The Hall of Fire, we’ll be turning our attention back to the prologue of The Lord of the Rings, examining the information presented to us about Hobbits.
“I suppose hobbits need some description nowadays, since they have become rare and shy of the Big People, as they call us.”
The Lord of the Rings: Prologue: Concerning Hobbits
In his introduction, Tolkien makes clear to us that Hobbits are like human beings. Yet, in some ways, that raises even more questions. In what way are they related to “the big people”? Why don’t they understand anything more complicated than a forge-bellows or a water-mill? And if they came to Eriador (and The Shire) from The Wilderland, where did they come from before that? (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire This weekend Hall of Fire will once again be doing a chapter-by-chapter weekly livechat about The Lord of the Rings — starting with The Fellowship of The Ring.
“It will have to be paid for,” they said. “It isn’t natural and trouble will come it!”
FoTR Book 1, Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Party
It’s a different Bilbo Baggins that we meet at the beginning of FoTR. Old yet remarkably well-preserved. Wealthy, yet extremely generous. And by the conservative standards of Hobbits, rather eccentric. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire