The MillRinger Lee sends us a link to a great article in the Telegraph: “The darkness creeps up on you in Moseley Bog. Even during the daytime, you can’t see much sky through the rotting canopy of branches, so the onset of dusk is for the most part indiscernible.

Once in the grip of evening, the bog takes on a more sinister personality. And you understand what JRR Tolkien meant when he wrote: “The trees do not like strangers. They watch you. They are usually content merely to watch you, as long as daylight lasts.” He was writing, in Book One of The Lord of the Rings, about the mysterious Old Forest, haunt of the ageless Tom Bombadil. But the woodland that inspired this description was Moseley Bog, the shadowy marsh behind the house where Tolkien lived as a small boy.” [Read More]

TORn has long been noted for reporting even the most obscure Tolkien related news (much to the chagrine of many hardcore fans – What? You don’t want to know how Orlando’s breakfast was this morning?). So we can’t necessarily be too discerning when it comes to obscure Tolkien family related news. Ringer Smeagirl sends us a link to UK’s The Sun with news about one of Tolkien’s great-grandsons who may be taking ‘pipeweed’ as a way of life! [Read more…] Feel free to voice your opinion on whether we should even report this story via our Message Boards.

Smeagirl and many other fans sent along this email from HarperCollins: As a registered member of the official HarperCollins site for J.R.R. Tolkien, we wanted to give you the best opportunity possible to take advantage of a forthcoming, special signed and limited edition of his final masterpiece – The Children Of Húrin. The book is an essential for all Tolkien fans and represents a unique opportunity, with only 500 being printed. Click here to register your interest or read on for more information. As you are doubtless aware, The Children Of Húrin was completed by his son Christopher last year and the special signed and limited edition is being released in conjunction with the Tolkien estate and publisher HarperCollins. Continue reading “HarperCollins Offers Signed Limited Editions of ‘The Children Of Húrin’!”

NEW YORK — Harry vs. Frodo. Lucy vs. Lyra. We don’t normally think of classic fantasy series as being pit against one another, because despite their differences, they have so much in common. Most of them are about little people (be they children or Hobbits) caught up in a war of good versus evil that requires a singular sacrifice to save the world, often with a bit of biblical allegory thrown in for good measure. But even if “Harry Potter,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “His Dark Materials” were all put on the same bookshelf, they’re not all friends, as “Materials” author Philip Pullman explained during his Times Talks appearance Tuesday. Continue reading “‘His Dark Materials’ Writer Philip Pullman Takes ‘Narnia,’ ‘Lord Of The Rings’ To Task”

'The History of the Hobbit' Released Sometimes, I just love being me…This week Houghton Mifflin sent me a surprise package which to my delight contained ‘The History of the Hobbit’ part 1 and 2 by John Rateliff. Each volume is available now, while the 3 book set (which included The Hobbit) is available for pre-order on Amazon.com today. Be sure to pick up your copy today!!

‘The History of the Hobbit’ Released