Volume 191/Issue 8
Volume 191/Issue 8
Circulation: One thousand one hundred and eighty-eight. Welcome all!
Note from the Mods: Please encourage friends on your friends list to join and send their news. If you have an announcement you would like to make, a fic you'd like to promote, a question you'd like to ask, we invite you to simply format it according to the rules on the info page and email it to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. You do not have to be a member to post but we are an open community and encourage everyone to join now. Only the mods may initiate new posts but comments are encouraged.
MEDIA NEWS:
From TORn: Collecting The Precious - Star Ace Toys Defo-Real Sauron and Morgul Lord
The awesome folks at Star Ace Toys have announced two new Middle-earth Defo-Real figures. The first is the Dark Lord himself, Sauron, which can be pre-ordered right now at Sideshow Collectibles for $90. This figure, unlike others in the series, has a limited edition run of only 500 pieces. [Read more]
COMMUNITY NEWS: Note from the Mods: We would like to invite the moderators of other fandom communities to become 'reporters' or 'scouts' for middleearthnews. All we ask is that you send us formatted updates on your own communities for posting here.
* tolkien_weekly (drabbles) updates:
Contraindications (Aragorn; rated G) by kortirion
Three drabbles, continuing from 'And Sew it Begins'. (Arwen, Aragorn; rated G) by curiouswombat
Ballad of Luthien's Talents (Luthien; rated PG) by hhimring
Spelling Bee (Frodo, Sam; rated G) by elwenlj
CHALLENGES/WORKSHOPS/AWARDS: The current challenge at tolkien_weekly is Contronyms: Weather
The current challenge at tolkien100 is Out on a Limb.
From hobbit_kink:
RPF prompt post #3
Prompt post #19
FIC/ART NEWS: From AO3 - Archive of Our Own:
-- TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works
-- Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
-- Lord of the Rings RPF -- The Hobbit - All Media Types
-- The Hobbit - Jackson movies
-- The Hobbit (2012) RPF
-- The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
DISCUSSIONS OF INTEREST: * Via /r/Tolkienfans:
What do you think Gothmog, Lieutenant of Minas Morgul, was?
I always assumed he was the second ranked Nazgul when reading the books. The movies of course went with a grizzled orc veteran, and I can understand the reasons they did so.
The text itself offers no information beyond his name, title and skill as a general. So he could be either Nazgul, orc, human (possibly Black Numenorean) or something else. So I think this is one where it really comes down to our different head-canons.
To me it still makes sense that with all the Nazgul on the field, if the Witch King died, it would be one of the other Nazgul that would take over, and also that a Nazgul would be second-in-charge of Minas Morgul as the city of the Wraiths.
CLASSIFIED: Your friendly middleearthnews mods are constantly on the lookout for all things LotR-related, from fics to fandom events, comics to current news. Make them happy by emailing them at middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.
RESEARCH AIDS:. From Middle-earth and J.R.R. Tolkien Blog:
Why are Men who Visit Lorien Rarely Seen Again?
When the Fellowship fled from Moria and Aragorn proposed entering Lorien, Boromir questioned his wisdom in the following passage: "'What other fairer way would you desire?' said Aragorn.
'A plain road, though it led through a hedge of swords,' said Boromir. 'By strange paths has this Company been led, and so far to evil fortune. Against my will we passed under the shades of Moria, to our loss. And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed.'"
And later, when Faramir questioned Frodo in Ithilien he told the hobbits of Boromir’s death. Frodo wondered how Boromir’s funeral boat (which Faramir had seen passing down the Anduin) could have survived the journey:
"'I know not,' said Faramir. 'But whence came the boat?'
'From Lórien,' said Frodo. 'In three such boats we rowed down Anduin to the Falls. They also were of elven-work.'
'You passed through the Hidden Land,' said Faramir, 'but it seems that you little understood its power. If Men have dealings with the Mistress of Magic who dwells in the Golden Wood, then they may look for strange things to follow. For it is perilous for mortal man to walk out of the world of this Sun, and few of old came thence unchanged, ’tis said.'"
Clearly both Boromir and Faramir feared the name of Lorien, but J.R.R. Tolkien does not elaborate on any tales that would have explained the mystery and awe with which Gondorians viewed the Elvish realm. The reader is left to infer what lead to such suspicion.
TRIVIA: Friday's BOOK question: What is the name of the Isengard Uruk-hai who was captain of the band that captured Merry and Pippin?
Answer: Ugluk.
frolijahfan answered correctly.
Today's MOVIE question contributed by estelle3974: Who insists that the care of women and children at Helm's Deep is "an honorable charge"?
All comments are screened so that only the mods can see the answers. Comments will be unscreened when the next edition is posted. Any comments on a different subject will be unscreened ASAP.
SEND MATHOMS: HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, westbeilschmidt AND dragonmad!
The mods would like to wish anyone having a special day the very best. Please send your special wishes to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.
COMICS: (Link contributions are welcome)
From Memebase:
That's it for this edition. Please send your formatted post for Friday's edition by 8:00 a.m. (Eastern time) to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. Thanks for joining us and tell your friends!
Circulation: One thousand one hundred and eighty-eight. Welcome all!
Note from the Mods: Please encourage friends on your friends list to join and send their news. If you have an announcement you would like to make, a fic you'd like to promote, a question you'd like to ask, we invite you to simply format it according to the rules on the info page and email it to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. You do not have to be a member to post but we are an open community and encourage everyone to join now. Only the mods may initiate new posts but comments are encouraged.
MEDIA NEWS:
From TORn: Collecting The Precious - Star Ace Toys Defo-Real Sauron and Morgul Lord
The awesome folks at Star Ace Toys have announced two new Middle-earth Defo-Real figures. The first is the Dark Lord himself, Sauron, which can be pre-ordered right now at Sideshow Collectibles for $90. This figure, unlike others in the series, has a limited edition run of only 500 pieces. [Read more]
COMMUNITY NEWS: Note from the Mods: We would like to invite the moderators of other fandom communities to become 'reporters' or 'scouts' for middleearthnews. All we ask is that you send us formatted updates on your own communities for posting here.
* tolkien_weekly (drabbles) updates:
Contraindications (Aragorn; rated G) by kortirion
Three drabbles, continuing from 'And Sew it Begins'. (Arwen, Aragorn; rated G) by curiouswombat
Ballad of Luthien's Talents (Luthien; rated PG) by hhimring
Spelling Bee (Frodo, Sam; rated G) by elwenlj
CHALLENGES/WORKSHOPS/AWARDS: The current challenge at tolkien_weekly is Contronyms: Weather
The current challenge at tolkien100 is Out on a Limb.
From hobbit_kink:
RPF prompt post #3
Prompt post #19
FIC/ART NEWS: From AO3 - Archive of Our Own:
-- TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works
-- Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
-- Lord of the Rings RPF -- The Hobbit - All Media Types
-- The Hobbit - Jackson movies
-- The Hobbit (2012) RPF
-- The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
DISCUSSIONS OF INTEREST: * Via /r/Tolkienfans:
What do you think Gothmog, Lieutenant of Minas Morgul, was?
I always assumed he was the second ranked Nazgul when reading the books. The movies of course went with a grizzled orc veteran, and I can understand the reasons they did so.
The text itself offers no information beyond his name, title and skill as a general. So he could be either Nazgul, orc, human (possibly Black Numenorean) or something else. So I think this is one where it really comes down to our different head-canons.
To me it still makes sense that with all the Nazgul on the field, if the Witch King died, it would be one of the other Nazgul that would take over, and also that a Nazgul would be second-in-charge of Minas Morgul as the city of the Wraiths.
CLASSIFIED: Your friendly middleearthnews mods are constantly on the lookout for all things LotR-related, from fics to fandom events, comics to current news. Make them happy by emailing them at middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.
RESEARCH AIDS:. From Middle-earth and J.R.R. Tolkien Blog:
Why are Men who Visit Lorien Rarely Seen Again?
When the Fellowship fled from Moria and Aragorn proposed entering Lorien, Boromir questioned his wisdom in the following passage: "'What other fairer way would you desire?' said Aragorn.
'A plain road, though it led through a hedge of swords,' said Boromir. 'By strange paths has this Company been led, and so far to evil fortune. Against my will we passed under the shades of Moria, to our loss. And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed.'"
And later, when Faramir questioned Frodo in Ithilien he told the hobbits of Boromir’s death. Frodo wondered how Boromir’s funeral boat (which Faramir had seen passing down the Anduin) could have survived the journey:
"'I know not,' said Faramir. 'But whence came the boat?'
'From Lórien,' said Frodo. 'In three such boats we rowed down Anduin to the Falls. They also were of elven-work.'
'You passed through the Hidden Land,' said Faramir, 'but it seems that you little understood its power. If Men have dealings with the Mistress of Magic who dwells in the Golden Wood, then they may look for strange things to follow. For it is perilous for mortal man to walk out of the world of this Sun, and few of old came thence unchanged, ’tis said.'"
Clearly both Boromir and Faramir feared the name of Lorien, but J.R.R. Tolkien does not elaborate on any tales that would have explained the mystery and awe with which Gondorians viewed the Elvish realm. The reader is left to infer what lead to such suspicion.
TRIVIA: Friday's BOOK question: What is the name of the Isengard Uruk-hai who was captain of the band that captured Merry and Pippin?
Answer: Ugluk.
frolijahfan answered correctly.
Today's MOVIE question contributed by estelle3974: Who insists that the care of women and children at Helm's Deep is "an honorable charge"?
All comments are screened so that only the mods can see the answers. Comments will be unscreened when the next edition is posted. Any comments on a different subject will be unscreened ASAP.
SEND MATHOMS: HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, westbeilschmidt AND dragonmad!
The mods would like to wish anyone having a special day the very best. Please send your special wishes to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.
COMICS: (Link contributions are welcome)
From Memebase:
That's it for this edition. Please send your formatted post for Friday's edition by 8:00 a.m. (Eastern time) to middle_earth_news@yahoo.com. Thanks for joining us and tell your friends!