kullervo1Fans in Europe were able to buy The Story of Kullervo last year; the good news is, today the wait is over at last for fans in the US!

Tolkien himself said of this previously unknown work of fantasy that it was “the germ of my attempt to write legends of my own,” and was “a major matter in the legends of the First Age.” Publishers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt tell us:

‘Kullervo, son of Kalervo, is perhaps the darkest and most tragic of all J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters. “Hapless Kullervo,” as Tolkien called him, is a luckless orphan boy with supernatural powers and a tragic destiny.

Brought up in the homestead of the dark magician Untamo, who killed his father, kidnapped his mother, and tried three times to kill him when he was still a boy, Kullervo is alone save for the love of his twin sister, Wanona, and the magical powers of the black dog Musti, who guards him. When Kullervo is sold into slavery he swears revenge on the magician, but he will learn that even at the point of vengeance there is no escape from the cruelest of fates.

Tolkien’s Kullervo was the ancestor of Túrin Turambar, tragic hero of The Silmarillion. Published here for the first time with the author’s drafts, notes, and lecture essays on its source work, the Kalevala, The Story of Kullervo is a foundation stone in the structure of Tolkien’s invented world.’

Continue reading “The Story of Kullervo published in America TODAY”

JRR Tolkien Collectors of Tolkien memorabilia may be interested in a signature of JRR Tolkien (accompanied by a letter from his secretary JM Tolhurst) that will go to auction next week in Poole in the UK.

According to the auctioneers, Cottees, Tolkien inscribed the autograph for a Mrs Gould in March 1971. Mrs Gould then worked for the Department of Health and Social Security in the Pensions Department and met Tolkien on several occasions to assist with problems with his pension.

At the time, Tolkien offered her some signed books but her contract prevented her from accepting ‘gratuities’. Instead he sent the signed slip of paper to her home which she could then attach to one of her own books. Continue reading “Tolkien signature to be auctioned in Poole next week”

Colouring books have lately had an enormous resurgence in popularity among adults, and Harper Collins and Warner Bros Consumer Products are doing their bit to help it along with the announcement of an official The Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy Colouring Book.

We understand the book will combine official character artwork from the films, including Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Frodo, Sam and Gollum, with brand-new colouring pages.

The colouring-in art, created by artist Nicolette Caven, will capture vistas from all three The Lord of the Rings movies – from the the Balrog encounter in the Mines of Moria to the battle of Pelennor Fields. Continue reading “New merch: Lord of the Rings movie colouring book!”

HobbitBotFAElronda2Another of my favorite pieces from Comic-Con 2015 is now available for Pre-Order. This statue really impressed me with the likeness, detail, and the amazing metallic paint job. Lord Elrond at Dol Guldur is the next piece from The Hobbit Trilogy that fans can get ready to add to their collections. Sculpted by Gary Hunt this amazing piece is available right now for $299(there is a NRD at the time of purchase) with an edition size of only 1500 pieces world wide. Due to ship in quarter two of this year the wait won’t be long until we have Lord Elrond in our collections.

botfaseedvduk_16Fellow Ringer The Hutt is back with their review of the last of the Extended Editions from Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy. By now I would venture to guess many of you have had a chance to get your copy and have seen what has been added to this pretty awesome film. If you’re living outside the United States and are getting the UK DVD release then you will want to make sure you listen to how impressed The Hutt was with this final release.

Continue reading “Hands-on review: The Hobbit BOTFA SEE (UK DVD)”