Ian Collier<\/b> from The Tolkien Society<\/b> writes: I thought you’d like the latest news on Tolkien 2005, so here it is. I’m really looking forward to all the great papers and panels, especially Verlyn Flieger reading from her new book, and getting my hands on the new one from Alan Lee. Day tickets are available for those people who haven’t signed up already but are tempted to come along by this. <\/p>\n
Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On, 11th – 15th August<\/p>\n
Five years in the planning and it’s here at last. This week sees the start of a 5 day conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the complete publication of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. To celebrate this the Tolkien Society and Partner Organisations are holding a conference at Aston University, Birmingham, England.<\/p>\n
Guests include renowned academics, artists and authors:<\/p>\n
Rhona Beare, Julian Bradfield, Patrick Curry, Colin Duriez, Anke Katrin Eissmann, Verlyn Flieger, Christopher Garbowski, John Garth, John Howe, Tim Kirk, Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, Michael Scott Rohan, Tom Shippey, Brian Sibley, Viv Wilkes.
(All guests are attending subject to work commitments.) <\/p>\n
Day tickets available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at £30.<\/p>\n
The event features:<\/p>\n
A civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor and Birmingham City Council to welcome the conference, the Tolkien Society and participating societies to Birmingham and to celebrate Birmingham’s links with J.R.R. Tolkien.<\/p>\n
World Exclusive: Verlyn Flieger will read from her new critical edition of Tolkien’s “Smith of Wootton Major” due to be published by Harper Collins in September 2005<\/p>\n
Author & artist autograph sessions – including Alan Lee signing his brand new “The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook” at the second of three exclusive pre-publication signings this summer.<\/p>\n
Over 165 programme items: papers; panel discussions; seminars and workshops spread across 5 streams.<\/p>\n
“Farmer Giles of Ham” staged by Birmingham’s own Shire Productions
2 hours of Brian Sibley’s 13 hour radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings<\/p>\n
Coach tours of Tolkien’s Birmingham and Oxford<\/p>\n
Art Show with displays form Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, Anke Eissman, Tim Kirk and a host of others.<\/p>\n
Dealers Room<\/p>\n