This time around in the Hall of Fire we’ll delve through one of the concepts that greatly impacted the life and mind of Professor Tolkien.
The Impact of Industrialization on Tolkien and Middle-earth
Tolkien started his life down in the south of Africa in the late 1800’s. As a youth and throughout his life, he witnessed the effect of industrialization and mechanization on both the environments he loved and humanity. A survivor and participant of World Wars, it was Tolkien’s view that in Middle-earth, goblins (orcs) can be credited as those who, “…invented some of the machines that since troubled the world…” (from The Hobbit), and clearly sees this as a bad thing. But did Tolkien think that all industrialization was negative? Evidence points to the opposite as well.
Come sit with us and explore how the industrial era changed the world, according to Tolkien. First timers welcome!
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also midnight Saturday (24:00) GMT and 10:00 am Sunday (10:00) AET]
Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 10:00 am (10:00) GMT and 5:00 am (05:00) ET]
Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) GMT [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, the time on the USA’s east coast GMT = Greenwich Mean Time, the time in Western Europe AET = Australian Eastern Time, the time on Australia’s east coast
We continue with our discussions of FotR with The Shadow of the Past.
An exciting chapter to be sure! Here we learn of the evil nature of the Ring and the epic power struggle taking place in Middle-earth. Come discuss the details, themes, movie applications, and other ideas on Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4.
Our last Fellowship chat was a massive hit, and the next one promises to be as exciting. Come see what all the hobbits are talking about at one of our three chats this weekend in The Hall of Fire!
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire
Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also midnight Saturday (24:00) GMT and 10:00 am Sunday (10:00) AET]
Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (19:00) AET [also 10:00 am (10:00) GMT and 5:00 am (05:00) ET]
Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) GMT [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, the time on the USA’s east coast GMT = Greenwich Mean Time, the time in Western Europe AET = Australian Eastern Time, the time on Australia’s east coast
Please send in your questions and topic ideas for future chats right here.
For the weekend of February 24th and 25th The Hall of Fire will focus on the work of Tolkien fans far and wide. Our guest moderator will be Smeagol7, long time Barliman’s regular, who has been working on his very own animated Lord of the Rings movie, complete with a trailer! We’ll check out Smeagol7’s work and explore what you other Middle-earth minds have created.
To get warmed up for the chat, you can check out our very own Fan Section. It’s loaded not only with pictures and writing, but also multimedia pieces, wallpaper, screen savers, and more. Bring your fannish thoughts down to the Hall of Fire as we discuss and share our favorite JRR Tolkien fan creations!
Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also midnight Saturday (24:00) GMT and 10:00 am Sunday (10:00) AET]
Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (19:00) AET [also 10:00 am (10:00) GMT and 5:00 am (05:00) ET] New time! One hour later!
Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) GMT [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to our chatroom Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire
So many folks are asking about the upcoming gathering of Barliman’s denizens that we thought it would be cool to add a new page that will give all the current details at the click of a mouse. Curunir has fixed us up with an informative, entertaining look at all the plans that are shaping up. [More]
By Order of Proclamation from The Hall of Fire, it is hereby decreed that The Fellowship of the Ring will be discussed in depth chapter by chapter, to commence the weekend of February 17 and 18!
Pretty exciting stuff!! Join us as we venture together through Tolkien’s own Lord of the Rings, beginning with the Fellowship. Every other weekend we will discuss a chapter of the story, right up until the first film comes out in December. The agenda for discussions is wide open, and first time chatters as well as first time readers of Tolkien are welcome to attend. In between chats there is time for reading each chapter, and folks are welcome to jump in at any time throughout the year.
These book discussions will not conflict with our currently scheduled debates, which will continue on their twice monthly cycle. That makes Hall of Fire active every weekend, so you’re sure to find a burning Tolkien discussion in a time zone near you every Saturday and Sunday for a long time to come here at TheOneRing.net.
Should things that Tolkien left enigmatic and unexplained remain mysterious? Should there even be speculation about these things?
Many’s the time I have wanted more detail and information about creatures, characters, races, places, and events in Middle-earth. After reading The Lord of the Rings the first time, I remember the sorrow and joy that came with its ending, and the longing for more. If you’ve read The History of Middle-earth, or other similar Tolkien Enterprises publications, then you have seen a bit deeper than others into the mind which spun such fantastic yarn. But perhaps it’s better not to know that Strider was first called Trotter… or what the fate of Middle-earth is in the end. Some mysteries are better left as such… What do you think?
Bring your thoughts down to our next Hall of Fire!
Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm EST (19:00) [also midnight Saturday (24:00) GMT and 10:00 am Sunday (10:00) in Australia]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) in Australia [also 9:00 am (09:00) GMT and 4:00 am (04:00) EST]
Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) GMT [also 1:00 pm (13:00) EST and 4:00 am (04:00)Monday morning in Australia]
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to our chatroom Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire
You can be a Hall of Fire Moderator!
That’s right folks, you can run a Hall of Fire! How you ask???
Send us your topics! If we pick your idea for discussion, you will be our guest co-moderator for that weekend. You can help us run the Saturday or Sunday chat, or both! Of course, you will not be required to work the chat; this is our way of honoring those of you who take the time to put a topic together.
