We hope you placed your votes in the first round of Middle-earth March madness: Clash of the Collectibles! It certainly was hard to choose amongst all those treasures – so many things we’d like to have on our shelves… But half of them have been voted out, and we’re down to 32. Let’s see how Round One played out:
Connecting to Middle-earth through favourite figures
In the first of our four brackets, we gathered statues and figures in a range of styles – even including Royal Selangor’s beautiful pewter goblets, crafted to present their own versions of various well-loved Tolkien characters. The closest dual in this bracket was between two stunning pieces from Weta Workshop – their Smaug the Terrible figure vs the charming image of Gandalf and Frodo, as the wizard arrives ‘precisely when he means to’ at the Shire. Bucolic delight triumphed over fearsome majesty, but only by 2%. At the other end of the range, a tabletop figure of the Rankin Bass Gollum was totally overwhelmed by those Argonath bookends we all know and love – only 8% of the vote went Gollum’s way!
Royal Selangor’s Aragorn goblet
Experiencing Middle-earth in Print and Music
Calendars and LPs and maps, oh my! From Howard Shore’s epic soundtracks to Alan Lee’s stunning art, there were incredible works to choose from in this bracket. It’s really hard to see some of these beauties go! But choices had to be made. The closest face-off in this bracket saw TORn’s own ‘Prancing Pony Club’ t-shirt take on the sheet music for Donald Swann’s musical settings for seven of Tolkien’s poems. That was tough competition for our shirt to face! – but somehow the apparel snuck through with just over half of the vote. Personally, this writer is sad to see the Rankin/Bass Hobbit LP fall at the first fence – I have many fond memories of listening to that LP as a kid! But coming up against The Professor’s own art, it’s not really surprising it should be defeated; it did well to secure even 18% of the vote against an item which could well go on to be this year’s Grand Champion.
The Rankin/Bass Hobbit LP
Inhabiting Middle-earth through Environments and Replicas
For many, replica props are the most coveted collectibles. Who doesn’t dream of wielding their own Sting, or wearing their own Evenstar pendant? Familiar companies such as The Noble Collection, United Cutlery and Badali Jewelry went up against the might of Weta Workshop in this bracket. This section of the round saw the most tight contests, with many vote percentages in the 40s and 50s. Even the Ring itself (as made by Jens Hansen) could not overcome Weta’s incredible Edoras environment – but it was close, with Rohan taking just 52% of the vote.
The ‘movie ring’ from jeweler Jens Hansen
Playing in Middle-earth with toys, games and other curiosities
Can anything defeat the might of LEGO in this bracket? The stunning Rivendell set took over three-quarters of the vote (against the beautiful playing cards from Kings Wild). There were some fabulous vintage items in this section; alas, the buttons from the 1960s could not defeat the pinball machine, though it was a closely fought dual! And once again, this writer was sad to see a personal fave vanquished so early in the contest – those Burger King goblets hold a special place in my heart, but only one-third of voters agreed with me! So out they go, defeated by the worthy Hobbiton Green Dragon mug.
Who could forget those Burger King goblets?
How the bracket looks now:
How the bracket looks now – down to 32!
Time to vote! But how does it work, I hear you ask. Simple! Click on the button below. This will take you to the voting site, where you can view the entire bracket, region by region. Scroll down to find the buttons to click (under ‘Open Voting’) to view each pairing of items, in all their glory – and there place your vote. Let’s get voting!
You have until the end of the day Tuesday March 31st to vote in Round Two; we’ll take a look at how the vote is going on TORn Tuesday this week, and then launch the Sweet Sixteen the next day, Wednesday April 1st. The choices will get tougher with each passing round – which precious item do you hope to see crowned Grand Champion for 2026? Rally the troops to vote for your favourites – and VOTE NOW!
Let us know YOUR thoughts – join us on TORn Tuesday each week during the competition, and tell us how you’re making your choices. And if you want to discuss the votes with other fans, head on over to the Collectibles channel on our Discord.
It’s that time of year again! Time when hares are boxing, Spring is springing, basketballs are being thrown, and TheOneRing.net brings you our annual Middle-earth March Madness contest.
This year our theme is Clash of the Collectibles.
Are your shelves and walls filled with Middle-earth masterpieces? What are your most treasured works? Do you have items from the First Age of Fandom, before even the faintest whiff of a Peter Jackson movie? Do you stroke an Etsy-crafted piece, muttering ‘Myyy Precioussss…’? Or perhaps you are particularly enjoying a Renaissance in your collection, snapping up every new release from Weta, or revelling in the work of artisans and artists who continue to add their ‘other minds and hands’ to the legacy of the Professor?
Whatever your collecting style, no doubt some of the goodies you love will be included in our bracket – and no doubt you’ll be outraged by some with have been overlooked! Remember how hard it was to choose from all the amazing artworks in our bracket last year? Our team of volunteer staffers have been grappling for weeks, to come up with a list of 64 varied collectibles to start you off. Now it is up to YOU!
The entire opening bracket of 64 treasures!
How does it work, you ask? Simple! Click on the button below. This will take you to the voting site, where you can view the entire bracket, region by region. Scroll down to find the buttons to click (under ‘Open Voting’) to view each pairing of items, in all their glory – and there place your vote. (A word of warning – some items will have links where you can buy them – so maybe lock your wallet away before you check out the bracket!). Let’s get voting!
You have until the end of the day Saturday March 28th to vote in Round One; on Sunday 29th voting will open for Round Two! But – I hear you ask – how am I supposed to choose from such an embarrassment of riches?? HOW you choose is up to you – pick the items you own, or the ones you long to own, or simply toss a coin. Vote how you wish – but VOTE NOW!
Let us know YOUR thoughts – join us on TORn Tuesday each week during the competition, and tell us what we SHOULD have included. And if you want to discuss the votes with other fans, head on over to the Collectibles channel on our Discord.
Illustration from Letters From Father Christmas 2023 ed – Christmas 1934
It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for your favourite Tolkien fan, you’ve come to the right place. The staff of TheOneRing.net have put together a list of our favourite items of the year, with price points for every budget.
From our Fellowship to yours, TheOneRing.net would like to wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday season.
Please note, unless otherwise indicated, all prices are in US Dollars.
Demosthenes recommends the Letters from Father Christmas.
Letters from Father Christmas is always a good choice, I think. The illustrations are cute and there’s a dry sense of humour to the letters and I really like how a story gradually evolves over the years.
2020 Centenary Edition
Published to celebrate the first ever ‘letter from Father Christmas’ in 1920, this beautiful oversized edition of Tolkien’s famous illustrated letters from ‘Father Christmas’, includes a wealth of charming letters, pictures and decorated envelopes, and promises to be a festive feast for Tolkien fans of all ages.
The centenary edition of Letters from Father Christmas is available from Harper Collins Australia for AUD$39.99.
Kelvarhin recommends the 2026 Tolkien Calendar: The Great Tales of Middle-earth.
This is the must have, yearly gift for every Tolkien fan, and lovers of Alan Lee’s beautiful artwork.
The official Tolkien calendar, this year containing 13 breathtaking paintings inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s three ‘Great Tales’ of Middle-earth: THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN, BEREN AND LÚTHIEN and THE FALL OF GONDOLIN. Featuring beautiful artwork by Alan Lee, including a selection of stunning new paintings and drawings appearing here for the first time.
Kristin Thompson recommends a copy of Tolkien’s Medievalism in Ruins: Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth for your academically inclined Tolkien fan.
I just received my copy of TOLKIEN’S MEDIEVALISM IN RUINS: RELICS AND RUINS IN MIDDLE-EARTH, eds. Nick Katsiadas and Carl Sell. I haven’t had a chance to read it but it looks excellent. A good gift for the academic-minded Tolkien fan, but the giver has to have deep pockets and considerable affection for the recipient.
The structural and symbolic purposes of ruins in literary texts have a long history, yet few scholars explore their importance within J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. From the ruins of Erebor and the relics of Gondolin appearing in The Hobbit to the various images of Amon Sûl, Moria, and Osgiliath in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien constructs a distinct mood—one that captures characters’ awareness of the glories of the past and a desire to emulate them. The scholars who do engage Tolkien’s relics and ruins tend to limit the scope to Tolkien’s debt to the Middle Ages. While such scholarship begins important conversations, the full story of Tolkien’s relics and ruins is left untold. Tolkien’s Medievalism in Ruins takes corrective action and expands this historical and critical literary scope. This collection seeks to promote a more comprehensive approach to Tolkien’s legendarium.
It’s $150.50 hardback on Amazon and $86.40 for the Kindle version.
Wee Tanya recommends The Bovadium Fragments.
A version of JRRT’s The Bovadium Fragments was released in America on November 18 that includes a forward and context from Christopher Tolkien. TORn’s article about the book is over here. The short story is a satire about Oxford and how congested it was getting from vehicle traffic, as seen from the future, a piece that directly speaks to Tolkien’s nostalgia for an agrarian past and his dislike of the polluting elements of modernity. Here is the blurb: “The first-ever publication of a previously unknown short satirical fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, and accompanied by illustrations from the author together with an essay, ‘The Origin of Bovadium,’ by Richard Ovenden OBE. In this new edition, Christopher Tolkien provides notes and commentary that will enable the reader to enjoy at last this tale of an imagined Oxford viewed through the lens of future (and not wholly reliable) academic study.”
Elessar recommends the Aragorn miniature from Weta Workshop.
What disembarked the great ships of Umbar™ were not the expected reinforcements; descending upon the docks was a man, an elf, and a dwarf. The dead soon followed, bound by oaths unfulfilled, their presence like shadow and fear upon the wind. Urged on by the thought of comrades hard-pressed under the siege of death, Aragorn unsheathed his blade and gave the cry of war. Thus, once more, he led the charge into the jaws of darkness.
Or if you want to get in early for next Christmas, or your favourite Tolkien fan’s birthday next year, this miniature of Sharku on Warg is available for pre-order for $179.00 and will ship in early 2026.
An Orc of withered years and many wounds, upon his seamed visage lay records of long strife and harsh labour. Sharkû was a master of the great Wild Wolves, those fell Wargs, whose cunning and savagery few could tame. Long had he dwelt among them, bearing upon his flesh their piercing bites and tearing claws. Yet he endured and, honed by skill and scar, savagely led his pack of unrelenting hunters.
As ever, Oscha have so many gorgeous items – I’d be thrilled to find any of their treasures under my tree! I asked their creators what their own choices would be; they suggested:
For her – Trees of Gondor Ithildin Scarf Elegant and ethical, this organic cotton scarf features the iconic Trees of Gondor—perfect for Tolkien fans who love style with a story.
For him – Treebeard Pine Mug Start the day in Middle-earth style. This bone china mug showcases Treebeard and his classic quote: “The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air.”
For little ones – Shire Westfarthing Baby Blanket Wrap them in warmth and whimsy with this super-soft organic cotton blanket, inspired by the peaceful Shire. Lightweight yet cosy, it’s perfect for naps, pram adventures, and treasured keepsake moments.
Oscha also have items perfect for stocking stuffers or secret Santa, with tote bags and tea towels around the $20 mark.
greendragon’s next choice is Geek Orthodox’s stained glass masterpieces
Artist Ian at Geek Orthodox creates the most gorgeous pieces. The great news is, if one of his pieces of glass art work is beyond your budget, he has window cling replicas (of a very high standard) of the stained glass; and he has lovely pins. So there is something to suit every pocket book!
greendragon adds: “And finally, I can’t very well NOT remind folks that there is Green Dragon whiskey out there, from our good friends at Syzygy Forge. To toast the holiday season – cheers, Gaffer!”
San Diego Comic Con is almost upon us – and we are looking forward to seeing our fellow fans there. Here are some of the things Tolkien fans can look forward to this year:
First and foremost, be sure to visit us at Booth #1934. There will be so much going on there! We’ll have our two new shirts designs for 2025 – official licensed apparel, a steal at just $30 each.
AND as if that wasn’t enough – returning to SDCC is the legend himself JED BROPHY, who will be signing all weekend at TORN’s booth #1934. Jed is the only actor to feature in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, AND The Rings of Power. Plus he is a fabulous guy – don’t miss your chance to meet him and snag an autograph.
More booths – don’t miss them!
When you’ve had your fill at TORn’s booth, you might stroll across the aisle and visit incredible artist Jerry Vanderstelt at #1931. You’ll want to check out all his art – and in particular, he has created a new original artwork based on the Rankin/Bass animated The Hobbit. There will be FREE prints of this amazing masterpiece – but to claim them, you’ll have to go on a quest to another booth… Middle-earth Enterprises are making their first con appearance ever, inside the Dark Horse booth #2615. We’ll say no more about it, except that you will NOT WANT TO MISS IT! The Vanderstelt prints are not the only treasures to be claimed there…
Our good friends Weta Workshop return to SDCC after a five year absence, with a big new booth #3613. You’ll also find the wonderful Badali Jewelry near door A at booth #715.
Panels to share all the latest news and views!
If you can tear yourself away from such an exciting show floor, we have PANELS for you:
Friday 2.30pm, Room 5AB: The Lord of the Rings: What’s Next?
This is TORn’s own, unofficial panel; which means you’ll get all the latest gossip and grist from the rumour mill! Our ears are to the ground and we have thoughts to share on all the goodies coming up in Tolkiendom. What will we see in The Rings of Power Season 3? When will we be hunting for Gollum…? Join us to speculate!
Sunday 2.15pm, Room 6BCF: Middle-earth: The Adventure Ahead
For this panel, TORn is collaborating with Middle-earth Enterprises to bring you official news from Weta Workshop, The Brandywine Festival, Return to Moria and more – all the latest announcements from Middle-earth Enterprises and their licensees. And there may be some very special guests!
Phew! So much to keep us all busy – and this is supposedly a ‘quiet’ year!! We don’t have an official party or offsite experience happening this year; we are drawing breath before the big year with all that will be happening in 2026! BUT there is so much to see and visit on the show floor, and we hope to see you at our booth #1934, and at our panels. Hanging with our fellow fans – it doesn’t get better than this! See you in San Diego!
Oh and – if you can’t make it to San Diego, or if you just know you’re going to have the post con blues a week from now, then you should plan on going on Comic Con The Cruise! It’s next January – but right now we are giving you the chance to WIN a Cruise for Two! Don’t delay – enter today!
This beautiful mug has on one side Oscha’s own ‘Doors of Durin’ design, and on the other, TORn’s special 25th Anniversary logo:
The mugs are only available as a limited edition; they were on sale during San Diego Comic Con, and we’ve brought them back for THIS WEEKEND ONLY; after September 3rd they’ll be gone forever! You can pre-order online direct from Oscha; and for those who are at DragonCon this weekend, you can also purchase in person from TORn’s fan table (Hyatt Exhibition Level, opposite the entrance to the Art Show). So don’t delay – order this mug or grab one at Dragon Con, and celebrate the 25 years we’ve had together so far. The road goes ever on….!
Greetings from Atlanta, fellow Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, wizards and elves, Rohirrim and Beornings, Men and Women of the West, Nazgúl and Uruks, and other glorious embodiments of the diverse denizens of Middle-earth! And Proudfoots! (‘Proudfeet!’) It’s Labor Day Weekend, which means Smaug is stirring in the form of the singular Con forged by fans for fans (why, just like TheOneRing!): it’s Dragon Con time!
Now in its 37th year, and much like the world of fantasy in general, Dragon Con has always leaned heavily into its Tolkienian roots, with Middle-earth inspired programming, cosplay, partying, and a global Fellowship serving to inspire many of the 70,000 or so fans who converge on downtown Atlanta every year. And the 2024 version will be no different! Here’s a quick rundown all the Tolkien goodness that will be happening this year, indeed when there seems to be an explosion of so much we can celebrate!
Movie Guests: The Hobbits Are Coming to Dragon Con!
It’s a long-expected celebration as we welcome three excellent and admirable hobbits back to our annual party! Billy Boyd and Elijah Wood have been here before, with 2023 serving as a Frodo first for the con. It’s great to have him back, along with an inaugural visit by Dominic Monaghan. We’ll enjoy reminiscences and revelry, past shenanigans and current updates from gentlemen who still bow to no one! Find them at various times across the weekend.
Alas they’re not bringing Orli with them to Atlanta…
Media Project Updates and an Event: So Much Happening!
International South, Hyatt, 7pm Thursday 29th – watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Prime Video was so courteous to schedule the opening of Season Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on the same day that Dragon Con kicks off! They were especially gracious to allow us to host a Release Day Watch Party in a large ballroom space in one of the host hotels where we’ll get to all three of the first episodes on a big screen with 400 or so of our closest friends. There will be swag!
L401-403, Marriott, 11.30am Monday 2nd – The Rings of Power panel
TheOneRing.net will also be hosting a panel on Monday offering an opportunity for reactions and speculations from a crackerjack panel, including our good friend Willie Jenkins aka KnewBettaDoBetta.
L601-602, Marriott, 1pm Friday 30th – The War of the Rohirrim panel
Just as exciting is the upcoming December release of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the anime collaboration between the same team that brought us both the LotR and Hobbit movies, along with director Kenji Kamiyama. We’ll have a dedicated panel to discuss the recently released trailers, and special recorded interview with producer Jason DeMarco as he digs into some details with staffer greendragon. (Also look for swag…!)
Centennial One, Hyatt, 11.30am Saturday 31st – Middle-earth Updates with TORn
We’ll even do some speculating about the recently announced next movie release coming in 2026, the PJ-produced, Serkis-directed The Hunt for Gollum. That will happen as part of a general update from TheOneRing.net staffers at Dragon Con, along with some good friends, covering a vast smorgasbord of things we have to look forward to in the Tolkienverse.
Some Scholarly Conversations: Academics Can Party?
Tolkien fans are noteworthy for also loving to dive deeply into Tolkien lore, characters, themes, and discussions as part of their experience. We’ll be scratching that itch on a number of fronts:
L401-403, Marriott, 1pm Saturday 31st – Here at the end of All Things: Tolkien’s Apocalyptic Visions
Our good friend, professor, and author, Constance Wagner, was asked recently about contributing to an upcoming publication discussing apocalyptic themes in fantasy literature. The inquirer wasn’t sure there really was much in Tolkien’s legendarium that dealt with that kind of thing. After Constance calmed down, she recruited a couple of us to join her in road-testing just how apocalyptic Tolkien can be, and across all the Ages of Middle-earth starting with the Music of the Ainur. And what better place to do that than among Dragon Con friends! We may have to hand out cookies to lighten the mood a bit, though.
L401-403, Marriott, 11.30am Sunday 1st – On Fairy Stories
Tolkien’s On Fairy Stories serves as a fundamental apologetic for the importance, depth, and suitedness of these stories in their application to the human condition. Plus they’re good reads. We’re looking forward to engaging with other fans on these foundational ideas.
L401-403, Marriott, 4pm Sunday 1st – The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
With the publication of the massive three-volume edition of The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien mere weeks away, we take an hour to focus on what we can expect from this monumental effort from scholars Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond. And we’ll probably do a bit of group confession of how many of us skipped the poems during our first LotR reading or two. We may even listen to Tolkien himself reciting some of his verses.
Parades, Partying, Dancing and Singing: Always Trust an Elf! Or a Hobbit!
Grand Ballroom, Courtland Grand, 8.30pm Friday 30th – An Evening at Bree
Dragon Con (unlike many of those “CC” alternatives around the country), is especially knows for its literal 24-hour partying spirit, both informal and officially sponsored. One of those latter parties, indeed one of the longest standing parties across Dragon Con’s history, is our annual Evening at Bree. Always happening on the first full-day of the Con, this Friday evening festival combines live bands (since back in those the Emerald Rose glory days! – this year we’ll have Landloch’d, Beth Patterson, and the Brobdingnagian Bards playing), dancing that’ll bring joy to the most curmudgeonly hobbit, a costume contest showcasing jaw-dropping cosplay talent, and a mini-concert from Bree’s own Elf Choir who gather to rehearse and present iconic fantasy tunes all on the same day. It’s a great way to kick off the Con in a celebratory mood.
Elf Choir performing at Evening at Bree in a previous year – photo courtesy of Geek Behind the Lens
Grand Ballroom, Courtland Grand, 5.30pm Friday 30th – Sing with the Elf Choir
That Elf Choir, in addition to their larger contingent who perform at Bree, also has a dedicated group of master singers, garbed in elven cloaks and sporting ethereal lanterns, who make their way through the Dragon Con masses on their long and melodic journey into the West. Fortunately, the Grey Havens are proving elusive, and they’ll be back again this year.
Grand East, Hilton, 7pm Sunday 1st – Hobbit Drinking Songs
One of the most riotously reeling renditions of Shire shenanigans happens with the Brobdingnagian Bards’ annual concert (and excuse to dance spontaneously): Hobbit Drinking Songs. They’ve been at it long enough that many in the audience join in, at least on the choruses. And they have CDs!
Grand East, Hilton, 10pm Sunday 1st – High Fantasy Goblin Ball
One of the last parties we’ll be joining this weekend is one where staffer deej will be taking the lead: The High Fantasy Goblin Ball! We always like to pick a theme for these dance parties, usually picking a favorite decade where deej focuses her musical stylings. We’re back to the 80s this year, and using a Goblinesque orientation in whatever forms our attendees might choose. The mashup cosplay has gotten pretty hilarious in years past. The Eye of Sauron in shutter shades, anyone?
Home for this Tolkien-inspired programming, and for many of us Tolkien-addicted people, is one of Dragon Con’s 35 or so dedicated fan groups, or “tracks”: The High Fantasy Track. Home base is right in the center of all the action, on the lobby level of the Marriott Marquis (L401-403). Should you be attending Dragon Con this year, come by and say hi to fellow fans there!
Grab some merch – celebrate 25 years of TORn!
You should also, of course, visit staffers greendragon and deej at TheOneRing.net’s fan table in the Atlanta downtown Hyatt, down on the Exhibit Hall level just across from the Art Show (our usual spot). There you can get some fabulous merch – shirts, buttons, and more! Show your political allegiance by voting Gollum/Smeagol 2024; or show your love for TORn with our 25th anniversary shirt and mug.
We’re looking forward to seeing friends old and new! Now forgive us as we go finish up that last flourish on our cosplay!
