“If one is to take a tale of this kind seriously, one must feel that, however superficially unlike the world we live in its characters and events may be, it nevertheless holds up the mirror to the only nature we know, our own,” he wrote. “In this, too, Mr. Tolkien has succeeded superbly, and what happened in the year of the Shire 1418 in the Third Age of Middle-earth is not only fascinating in A.D. 1954 but also a warning and an inspiration.” Of Tolkien’s many strengths, perhaps none have proved more important than his creation of a deeply believable universe around his narrative. He convinces the reader that the action is unfolding within a living world that stretches far beyond the immediate drama. [More]
Category: LotR Books
This weekend, Hall of Fire will focus on the stewards of Middle Earth. Several characters take up the role as stewards in Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Some are obvious – Denethor, Manwe (and – indeed – many other Vala), Theoden and Samwise, for example.
However, Treebeard, Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf and the other Istari, and maybe even Tom Bombadil and the Entwives can also be viewed as stewards. But what makes a steward in Tolkien’s milieu? And, apart from a great love for their individual ‘stewardships’, What do they have in common and what sets them apart?
Additionally, were Sauron and Saruman ever stewards? And how close is the distinction between stewarding something and seeking to dominate it?
These are just a few of the things we’ll discuss this weekend on Saturday March 18 at 5.30pm EST in The Hall of Fire.
Time zone conversions
Not sure what time the chat will be where you are? Check this little conversion table out for some help.
America:
5.30pm EST (New York)
4.30pm CST (Chicago)
3.30pm MST (Salt Lake City)
2.30pm PST (Los Angeles)
Europe:
10.30pm GMT (London)
11.30pm CET (Paris)
Asia-Pacific:
6.30am AWST (Sunday) Perth
8.30am AEST (Sunday) Brisbane
9.30am AEDT (Sunday) Sydney
11.30am NZDT (Sunday) Wellington
Our chats usually last 45 mins to an hour, and are very newbie friendly. Simply drop in and join the conversation!
Where?
Chat happens on #thehalloffire on irc.theonering.net – the TORn IRC server. You can connect instantly via our java chat client that works inside your web browser (find it here! ) or choose to install a dedicated chat program such as mIRC on your computer.
To find out more about using mIRC to connect to TORn IRC server, check out these instructions.
Upcoming topics:
Sat April 1 — Silmarillion Chapter 17: The coming of men into the west
Sat April 15 — Silmarillion Chapter 18: The ruin of Beleriand
Got a topic? Let us know your idea!
If you have a burning desire to discuss something in Hall of Fire, drop us a line with your topic at halloffire@theonering.net. If we like it, we’ll probably give it a run in the coming weeks – you might even get to guest moderate the session!
Join HoF Announce!
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Hof-announce@theonering.net
http://www.theonering.net/mailman/listinfo/hof-announce
Anthony and Jessica, Chairs of the North East Tolkien Society write: We would like to organize a trip to Frodo’s Restaurant on Tolkien Reading Day March 25th aka Downfall of Sauron and the onset of the 4th Age. We a planning to make reservations and need to know exactly how many of our readers/members would like to join us. The day will consist of fine hobbit-ish food, attendees reading from various parts of Tolkien’s work and good fellowship all around! We shall be sending out further details in the next week as to the trip i.e. time and travelling arrangements. If you plan on attending please notify Anthony and Jessica at Chairman@herenistarion.org.
25th March is Tolkien Reading Day
Tolkien Reading Day is an event to encourage the use of Tolkien’s works in education and library reading groups. 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.
Tolkien’s works encompass many themes, and can be used to illustrate or provide assessment subjects for study areas in current school curricula. 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.” 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.
There’s more to Tolkien than “The Lord of the Rings”, schools and reading groups can enjoy the mock-medieval rebellion of “Farmer Giles of Ham” complete with giants and dragons or the radio play “The Homecoming of Beohrtnoth” that looks at the aftermath of a Viking raid.
Have a Tolkien Reading Party or Dinner
Why not have a group of people gather to read aloud? As this year’s Reading Day is a Saturday schools may be closed but libraries, pubs, cafes, youth clubs, restaurants and other places won’t be. Members of the public (and schools wishing to hold an event near to rather than on the 25th) can contact the Society for free posters, bookmarks and help with publicising their event.
Tolkien Reading Day Fun in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding Libraries will be running several events to tie in with Tolkien Reading Day. A county wide art competition is being held throughout March with a theme of “The Magic of Middle Earth.” At Hessle library Games Workshop will be holding a games demonstration and running a diorama model competition “Middle Earth in Miniature,” Beverley Library will be hosting a Games Workshop tournament themed around Lord of the Rings while art and modelling workshops will be running at Bridlington and North Bridlington library. There will also be wordsearches, quizzes and displays at several libraries across the region, for more information about events being held by the library service please contact Gemma Williams on 01482-392747 or email her at Gemma.Williams AT eastriding.gov.uk
TAMPA – “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit …” That famous first line, now 70 years old, introduced J.R.R. Tolkien to a small readership, and so began the cult of Middle-earth. After his “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy hit bookstores in the mid-1950s, Tolkien was fast becoming a worldwide cultural phenomenon. As complex as they appear, Tolkien’s literary fantasies all grew from kernels, branching out into an interconnected family tree. But where did these ideas come from and how did he develop them? [More]
Henery Gee writes: Just to let you know that I’m still on the road promoting my book ‘The Science of Middle-earth’ here in the UK. I’ll be at the Brighton Science Festival on 23 February and the Cambridge Science Festival on 18 March. For full details you can visit my website henrygee.org.uk.
As you probably know, The Science of Middle-earth started life in the ‘Green Books’ section of TORn. Tom Shippey chose it as his book of 2005 in the Times Literary Supplement, and in the New York Review of Science Fiction said that it was “the most unexpectedly Tolkienian book about Tolkien that I have ever come across”.
Order ‘The Science of Middle-earth’ on Amazon.com today! [US] [CA] [UK]