Welcome to the first “Getting to know…” questions that need answering.  It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.

This month we’re asking questions of our favourite Ent, and Host of TORn Tuesday, Quickbeam.

Once again, thank you for agreeing to take part in all of this Quickbeam.

Me: Remembering, of course, that your beautiful kitty passed on just before you left for “Where the Stars are Strange“. Do you have any cats or other pets?

Quickbeam: Ah yes, that was a blow. I remember very clearly how I wanted to just “close up shop” when my little feline friend died. The thought of pleasurable vacationing in New Zealand seemed out of bounds, but obviously I went. Perhaps that is a normal response for anyone who has taken guardianship of an animal… those are the bonds of love that are peculiarly the strongest. The idea then came to me of how I might be sharing my unique trip to Middle-earth with the spirit of my lost friend. Somehow it was therapeutic and indulgent at the same time.

Continue reading “Getting to know Quickbeam”

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

*Programming Change to 4:30pm PDT* Tomorrow’s installment of “TORn TUESDAYS live with Quickbeam” (our weekly streaming video call-in show) will feature a special guest producer from 4 TANKS AND A HEALER, the lovely Marisa Zakaria! We will discuss the history of fandom related to Fantasy Gaming, and how difficult it is to start up a brand new animated series! You can interact live and pose your questions in our Barliman’s chatroom, built-in to our LIVE event section at 4:30PM Pacific Daylight Time! [LIVE Event Area] (TORn Tuesday will take place from approx 4:30-5:30pm PT – See All Times)

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

(The following is an opinion piece from long-time staffer Quickbeam aka Clifford Broadway)

This year at San Diego Comic-Con 2011 we brought tons of Hobbity goodness to all the fans who joined us to celebrate our shared love of Tolkien. It was a huge success by all accounts. Our Hobbit panel launched the weekend with wonderful buzz. We got a nice interview with Bard (Luke Evans) before he even stepped foot in New Zealand for his first day of filming! I got a brief, single question in to the legendary Francis Ford Coppola. I was delighted to feature WETA’s own Daniel Falconer and Greg Broadmore in our live feed. Here’s the big kick in the pants: overall viewership of our innovative live streaming video beat G4’s audience; proving that Ringer fans know how to bring it better than anyone! Way to go TORn!

But I look back with a bittersweet reflection on how SDCC has evolved over time. Because “much that once was… is now lost.”

At first blush any newcomer attending the mega-event titled San Diego Comic-Con International (mind you, I’m talking about the truly virginal), would expect to walk into the main hall and they would ostensibly find: comic books. Continue reading “A Look Back: Has Comic-Con Really Jumped The Shark?”

Ostadan writes: Paula Marmor (first editor of Parma Eldalamberon) has just added a Tolkien resource page to her beautiful and comprehensive “Legends” site in the “Poets and Painters” section. Among the resources to which she supplies links are two Green Books articles, Turgon’s “Beyond LotR” reading list and my own introductory article about Elvish. [More]

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

New Green Books articles are now posted!

  • Check out Turgon’s interview with Tolkien scholar Anne C. Petty [Here]
  • And also note two new Special Guest columns, one from the redoubtable Olog-Hai, continuing his series on the Science of Middle-earth, and the second being a reconsideration of our very first Special Guest column from early 2001. [Olog-Hai] [First Special Guest Postscript]

Enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

Greetings — Quickbeam here.

Huzzah! Today we proudly unveil our completely overhauled Green Books… so let the magic begin with an explosion of brand-spanking-new content!

1. Come “Out on a Limb” with me to play the best LOTR boardgames on the planet. Actually, there are only two.

2. Turgon gives us modern high-tech Tolkien publications, via Print on Demand. That’s over on his “Bookshelf.”

3. Our newest Staff person Ostadan writes his “Lore & Letters,” featuring an insightful journey into the Runes and Alphabets of JRRT.

4. Stalwart Ringer Tookish puts tongue in cheek with “Tookish’s Ticklers.” All humor, all the time. Be sure to send him your cartoons, jokes, parodies, and links.

5. The “Special Guest” column debuts with J.W. Braun’s “Fate of the Nine Walkers.” Next month YOU could be our Guest!

6. We research your toughest Q&A — feast on these and more:
  a. Was Middle-earth actually our planet Earth?
  b. Why take two silly hobbits into the service of Kings?
  c. What evil would befall Middle-earth in “The New Shadow?”
  d. Déagol– cousin or just friend to Gollum?

7. Next month our “Moon Letters” will be updated with zillions of new poems and fiction. Send us your submission today by clicking here.

Our hats are off to the hard-working Calisuri, who created the new design and navigation tools. You will find your way around easily with new Search functions, Archives, and Links.

On behalf of our hard-working Staff I salute you, the Reader, for making us the best Tolkien Study Group on the Web. Sit back, relax, and be erudite as we explore the WORDS and WORLD of Tolkien.

Much too hasty,

Quickbeam

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.