This month on J.W. Braun’s Bookshelf, J.W. reviews Jude Fisher’s Lord of the Rings Visual Companion series.
Category: Books Publications
The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature is given to the fantasy novel, multi-volume, or single-author story collection for adults published during 2010 that best exemplifies the spirit of the Inklings. Books are eligible for two years after publication if not selected as a finalist during the first year of eligibility. Books from a series are eligible if they stand on their own; otherwise, the series becomes eligible the year its final volume appears. The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature honors books for younger readers (from Young Adults to picture books for beginning readers), in the tradition of The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia. Rules for eligibility are otherwise the same as for the Adult Literature award. The question of which award a borderline book is best suited for will be decided by consensus of the committees. Continue reading “2011 Mythopoeic Awards Finalists”
Over the Hedge goes geek with utiki-kilt jokes. I say what’s wrong with a utili-kilt?! I’m wearing one right now! Thanks to Nairn for the link! More..
Sheldon goes geek again with ‘Reginald: The Widdlest Balgrog’. Check it out at sheldoncomics.com
“What business does an Elf, a Ranger and a Ninja have in the Riddermark? – Speak quickly!” Is this a play on the famous meeting of Ẻomer and Aragon or in fact a question that rings out a connection that has never been looked at before? Is there a connection between an Elf, a Ranger of the North and the historical Ninja of feudal Japan? Indeed there is, more than most people realise.
When looking at Tolkien’s view of an Elf, especially in The Children of Húrin, we see the Elf as a silent scout, a “man” who treads where others can not and goes unseen by all, creeping, hiding and being invisible. But then so is a Ranger, Legolas and Strider are companions of skill and share their ability to journey unseen, to the comic underplay of the “clunking dwarf”. Thus, enter the Ninja! First, forget anything you know, ignore the figures screaming in black as they jump through screens and get cut down by the heroic Samurai, this is all media misunderstanding, the real and very historical Ninja of Japan were the real life Elves and Rangers of the East.
Continue reading “Guest Article: Elves, Rangers and The Ninja”
J.W. Braun is back with another trivia question and a review of The Art of the Lord of the Rings book series by Gary Russell. If you like Braun’s reviews, be sure to check out his new facebook page.