Richard writes: Maybe you could help spread the news about an interesting event in Poland on July 12-15. “Gondolin – the city found by Turgon – the one of the Noldors – hidden in the Tumladen Valley, guarded by the eagles. There was only one entrance leading to the city strongly guided by the residents. Unfortunately, envy and the will of possession among the elves caused the fall of Gondolin When the secret way has been given away, Melkor’s armies supported by the Dragons and the Barlogs destroyed the city. The ruler has also been killed. You also can act out this history. The topic of the IX TOLK FOLK is preparation and taking part in an open-area performance The Fall of Gondolin. Anybody can take part in it. The organizer secures more part of costumes and props. On the website you can load down an incidental music for the performance.” More can be found at Elendilion’s English (Westron) department website. [More]
Category: Other Events
It will be an important and historical day in Tolkien history when the new book, “The Children of Hurin” goes on sale. It will be even more significant for a few hundred people who manage to snag a copy signed by Christopher Tolkien and illustrator Alan Lee! At the Manhattan’s Barnes & Noble (555 Fitfh Ave., between 45th & 46th streets) fans will start lining up at 8 a.m. to get one of the rarest of rare, highly coveted copies. TheOneRing.net will be on hand to distribute edible breakfast stuff to keep fans alive until the book goes on sale at noon. Better yet, the first 500 fans in line will get a great (and we mean great) prize from Sideshow Collectibles!
Our friends at Sideshow Collectibles have a surprise (except that we just let it slip) for the first 500 people attending. This is no promotional trinket, but is worth virtually what an unsigned book costs. (What the signed books might sell for on Ebay is anybody’s guess.) In addition Sideshow has provided 10 or so bigger prize items for a lucky few and Turbine Inc., producers of the ready-to-launch online Tolkien game “The Lord of the Rings Online” have another dozen grand prizes. (Something do to with the game perhaps?!) So, in the course of waiting for the almost unthinkably cool copy of “Children of Hurin” signed by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son and literary heir, Christopher Tolkien, TheOneRing.net, courtesy of Houghton-Mifflin, Sideshow Collectibles and Turbine Inc. will distribute many thousands of dollars worth of prizes!
Barnes & Noble will have a security agent on hand and all people participating in the 8 a.m. line are expected to behave in an orderly and polite fashion. Our goal is to make an event out of the greatest Tolkien literary event in 30 years! (Not to disrupt business.)
Those TORnados planning to attend (part of the greater Tolkien public sure to attend) please go to Barnes & Noble line party and sign up. This will help us know how much breakfast stuff to plan for! Rumour has it that the publisher may rally local media and we definitely want to show the world that the Tolkien era is far from over and the heady days of Hollywood blockbusters was just another stage in many decades of Tolkien fandom. See you there!
Ian Collier from The Tolkien Society writes: Are you a dad, mum, grandparent, uncle, aunt with an interest in Tolkien? Are you a young person with an interest in Tolkien? Then Reading Day is designed for YOU
Tolkien Reading Day encourages the use of Tolkien’s works in education and library reading groups, as this year’s day falls on a Sunday the emphasis is on families reading together.
A chance for grownups and children to read together and share their thoughts about whatever stories by Tolkien they have read and to discover new ones. J.R.R. Tolkien’s books appeal to all ages and readers worldwide find pleasure, entertainment and deep significance in his work.
Information packs are available online and in hard copy
For children and adults reading together is fun, and stimulates good conversation, vocabulary development, an interest in history and for some an interest in linguistics. 25th March has significance to Tolkien’s readers, as it is the day of the Downfall of Sauron at the conclusion of the ‘War of the Ring’ in “The Lord of the Rings.” There’s more to Tolkien than “The Lord of the Rings” though. Families and reading groups can enjoy the story of the dog “Roverandom” and his adventures on the moon or the mock-medieval rebellion of “Farmer Giles of Ham” complete with giants and dragons.
Members of the public (or libraries and schools wishing to hold an event near to rather than on the 25th) can contact the Society for free posters and help with publicising their event.
Ideas for exploring Tolkien’s books together are available online and in hard copy
e-mail us at education@tolkiensociety.org or write to:
The Tolkien Society Education Officer, 18 Magnolia Road, Bitterne,
Southampton, SO 19 7LH
Launched in 2003 the reading day event has sparked interest in reading and reading groups across several nations and ages from Primary schoolchildren to University students and library users of all ages. Hence the circulation of this release to the media, educational press and county library services.
Ramen, Community Relations Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: We’ve posted the first in our series of Alpha Journals today, containing the first impressions of some of our LOTRO Alpha Program participants: We simply couldn’t wait any longer to bring you Thursday’s update, so we decided to post it today. Take a look at some of the first impressions of LOTRO from members of our Alpha Program! [More]
Today is Billy Boyd’s Birthday! Billy was born on August 28th, 1968 in Glasgow, Scotland. That makes him 38 years old today! Happy Birthday Billy!
Sideshow Collectibles has posted a poll asking ‘Which character is the most tragic?’ While the list is limited to the licenses they carry, KING KONG and LOTR characters do make an appearance. TORnadoes will probably prefer the ‘Boromir’ option. The poll is located in the red bar on the right side of their homepage. Cast your vote!
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