alanlee1.jpg“I have been under the spell of the faeries for most of my life. The pictures and stories that move me most are those that expose the thinness of the veil that separates us from the Otherworld, and if my own drawings do not feel animated by some unquiet presence I soon lose interest in them. For me, faeries are the creative spark in nature, the tricksters who beguile and confuse us and then point out the path that leads to further adventure, and who provoke the desire to explore and connect with processes we don’t understand.” – Alan Lee

International best-selling illustrator and Oscar winning Conceptual Designer Alan Lee is the Guest of Honor at FaerieCon International, October 10-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Continue reading “Alan Lee Makes First US Convention Appearence at FaerieCon International”

John Howe Logo Or a Few Days Abroad

I’ve always been leery of conventions in North America – once you’ve given the convention itself the once-over, there’s not a lot to do outside the convention itself, unlike European events where there’s generally much more that’s worthwhile visiting in the city itself.

Not a problem in San Diego; you can’t actually manage to see the whole convention, it’s just too huge; the exhibition hall is about half a mile long and just packed with stalls and booths and huge displays. I diligently put in the footwork – a LOT of miles, I’m sure – but still must have overlooked whole sections. San Diego Comic-Con is pretty much an assemblage of superlatives. John Howe’s Newsletter: A WORLD (OR TWO) AWAY

Ian Collier from The Tolkien Society writes: I thought that you’d be interested in the news that the Proceedings of Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On are about to be published! The Proceedings of “Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On” are being published at the end of September. 837 pages, 98 papers, 95 authors, two volumes, one very good conference!

Published in two volumes the proceedings are available to order from Tolkien Society Trading and include papers from David Bratman, Rhona Beare, John Garth, Nancy Martsch, Michael Scott Rohan, Greg Wright, Dimitra Fimi, Lynnette R. Porter, and Tom Shippey. Continue reading “The Tolkien Society Publishes ‘The Ring Goes Ever On’”

The long badge lines and crazy costums have begun, friends-not-seen since last year abound and anticipation and fun are underway – DragonCon 2008 is officially open.  TORn is preparing for its 2:30 p.m. Hobbit Spy panel today and again Saturday at 5:30 p.m..  Friends from “Reclaiming The Blade,” a documentary sword film that involves many of the key people in front and behind the camera on “The Lord of the Rings,” contacted us and made an incredible offer. Narrated by John-Rhys Davies, the film seems like to be a fan favorite, but the film’s director Daniel McNicoll contacted TORn yesterday and offered to world premeire the film’s trailer at the TORn panel and is providing a genuine sword to be given away during Saturday’s panel. Stay tuned for more details and hopefully photos of the sights and sounds that is DragonCon!

DragonCon 2008That low rumble you hear from the depths of the Internet is the annual DragonCon in Atlanta waking up from its slumber. While Smaug the Magnificent is waiting in the wings of the hearts of fantasy and movie-lovers everywhere, DragonCon 2008 has no shortage of build for the forthcoming pair of Hobbit-themed movies; and as we seem to be every year, TheOneRing.net is in the middle of it. Continue reading “TORn Goes to DragonCon”