The One-hundredth Roving Ranger

There has been a break for some time with the Roving Ranger; it will continue on its bi-weekly basis from now on. Thank you for your patience.

Life and Works

May 5, 1977. J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) by Humphrey Carpenter is first published.
May 5, 2009. The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is first published.
May 9, 1957. Tolkien writes Letter 197 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - in answer to his publisher letting him know about the immense success of LotR.
May 10, 1966. Tolkien writes Letter 288 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - about the bronze bust that can today still be seen with the English Faculty in Oxford.
May 11, 1922. A Middle English Vocabulary (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Tolkien's first book, is published.
May 13, 1964. Tolkien writes Letter 256 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - about The New Shadow.
May 15, 1945. Charles Williams (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) dies - see Tolkien’s Letter 99. (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
May 17, 1954. Tolkien writes a letter to Henry Willink (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), stating that in a talk with C.S. Lewis he managed to convince him to accept the chair in Cambridge.

New translations: Romansh (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (Hobbit) and Mongolian (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (Lord of the Rings).

Book of the Year: Collected Poems (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (Hammond / Scull);

Added to the Oxford DNB this year: Christopher Tolkien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The Iron Room has published a piece on Barrow’s Stores (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - see TCBS (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
(Öffnet in neuem Fenster)

All dates are taken from Tolkien Gateway (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Events & Shows

The Tolkien 50th Anniversary Seminar Series is continuing (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) at Oxford.

I am not quite sure what a Spring Hobbit Hoedown entails but Larp Shire LLC (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) are definitely organising one in May (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) in Ohio. [Instagram; Eventbrite]

However, I am quite sure I have already mentioned the West Stow Anglo-Sacon Village & Country Park before (can there be a better Tolkien location? 🤩) They have been quietly running the Ring Quest for 22 years now (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - and this video (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) will show you this seems to be a really fun event; you’ll have to wait for their 23rd edition, though. [Youtube]

The New York Tolkien Conference is gearing up nicely and offering suggestions for your visit (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (guests so far include Donato Giancola, Kristine Larsen and Nicholas Birns). [June 15]

The incredibly successful third rendition of the Lord of the Rings musical (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is obviously leaving its mark - by moving to Chicago (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). Tickets are already available (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [What’s on Stage; Chicago Shakespeare Theater]

The Hobbit (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is on in Pittsburgh (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (Oct-Nov).

For all event (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)s (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Scholarship and Fandom

Oronzo Cilli, author of Tolkien’s Library and co-curator of the Italian Tolkien exhibition on tour right now, has a blog post on his recent unearthing (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) of the reading of Tolkien’s Notion Club Papers at Stonyhurst.

Another first generation Tolkienist has left us: Richard Plotz, founder of the Tolkien Society of America (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) in 1965, has passed away [Obituary (Öffnet in neuem Fenster); David Bratman (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

The Tolkien Society has announced another publication: Tolkien and the Gothic (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [via Luna Press Publishing (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)] - and its award winners (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Germanic Heroes, Courage, and Fate: Northern Narratives of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium by Richard Z. Gallant is now available with Walking Tree Publishers (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

John D. Rateliff has a few thoughts on invented languagues (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

After a break of almost seven years Jason Fisher has reactivated his blog on Tolkien’s uncle Wilfred (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Lingwë - Musings of a Fish]

Another great blog has returned after more than two years: Hail and Farewell (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Too Many Books and Never Enough]

A topic and a response worth reading: Nine Tolkien Scholars Respond to Charles W. Mills’s “The Wretched of Middle-Earth: An Orkish Manifesto” (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)[Mythlore]

When the city of Prague was asking for suggestions on what street names to use for city development the Tolkien fans came to its aid - it was all about Rohan (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - or rather, Rohanské nábřeží (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Google Translate] The petition is ongoing, h/t to the lovely people of Tolkien Con (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Research on sound aesthetics on conlangs is ongoing as well - and you can participate (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Stuart Lee’s chapter on the 1955-1956 radio dramatization of LotR is freely available (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (first published in Great Tales Never End (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)).

Douglas A. Anderson has an interesting piece on Richard Adams on THE SILMARILLION (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

David Bratman has a few choice things to say on Nick Groom, Tolkien in the Twenty-First Century: The Meaning of Middle-Earth Today (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Mirial Ellis has some thoughts on Éowyn, Faramir and the Houses That Healed Them (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The Tolkien Society Outstanding Contribution Award Winner, John D. Rateliff, gave his talk at last year’s Oxonmoot - Writing to Inklings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Youtube]

According to some people Led Zeppelin seem to have been Middle-earth enthusiasts for quite some time during their career - and they frequently get it wrong. Like this one: The Story Behind “Over the Hills and Far Away” by Led Zeppelin and How It Was Inspired by a Tolkien Poem (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [American Songwriter]
The poem was only published in 1983 with the Book of Last Tales, Part 1 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), and unless you can show me proof Robert Plant was a close friend of CJRT this ain’t working.

Franchise and Merchandise

The King has died - Bernhard Hill passed away (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [BBC]

The upcoming ‘cozy’ game Tales of the Shire has a trailer and a website (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The producer of the 1968 BBC Hobbit radio adaptation (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), John Powell, has passed away (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Guardian]

The Oxford Student has a piece on book’s covers and particularly The Lord of the Rings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

FYI:‘The Rings of Power’ Showrunners Sign New Amazon Deal, Begin Early Work on Season 3 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Hollywood Reporter]; a great interview with Charlotte Brandström (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), lead director on season 2. [Drama Quarterly]

Embracer, the group that bought Middle-earth Enterprises (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), continues on its course of consolidation (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Game Informer]

The twenty year anniversary of Return of the King’s sweep at the Oscars has seen many posts, see: “Too Many Endings, Man”: How The Lord of the Rings Conquered the Oscars (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Vanity Fair]

Hobbiton’s Bagshot Row has won an architectural award (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [NZ Herald]

You may have seen the Unexpected Parody (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) of the Hobbit film trilogy eleven years ago? The Hillywood Show recently published a Behind the Scenes (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Inter alia & Back in the day

You know that Tolkien has long since become mainstream when a Tory minister resigns using his words (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

An excellent piece (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) on how censorship really works - and is, in fact, most of the times self-censorship (in connection with the Hugo Awards issue) [Reactor] See also David Bratman’s recollection of how the Hugo Awards worked thirty years ago (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

An original model of the USS Enterprise has resurfaced (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). Even better, it has been authenticated by some of the best people behind the camera.

Left to right: Daren Dochterman (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Gary Kerr (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Mike Okuda (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Denise Okuda (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Doug Drexler (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Jules Urbach (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Rod Roddenberry (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Gene Kozicki (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), John Goodson (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), and Brian Chanes (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). © Doug Drexler (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

I do not mind at all that film memorabilia are being auctioned off decades after they have played any role, like an ‘unbound and incomplete’ manuscript of Star Wars IV left behind by Harrison Ford in a rental back then (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). But am I the only one who finds these Age of Celebrity statements creepy?

“It’s got his DNA on it. It might even have [Ford’s] sweat on it,” Sarah Torode, co-owner of Excalibur Auctions, said during the auction. [Source: Deadline (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

Way more entertaining to buy - imho - are some chicken stilts (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) used in Star Wars. And although I do not usually like to share trillion dollar companies, well, this fan-including video is pretty hilarious (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). A ‘Star Wars’ Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)[Hollywood Reporter] And a lovely look back with Carrie Fisher (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) from the BBC.

An excellent interview with John Plotz “on Earthsea, Anarchism, and Ursula K. Le Guin (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)” [PublicBooks.org (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)] - and a great homage to her from The Itch (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

If you are into weird af films - BORDERLANDS (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) seems to be a good fun fit [Youtube] (h/t to PhantaNews (Öffnet in neuem Fenster))

A very good write-up by Adam Whitehead on Marvel’s issues and plans (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [The Wertzone]

Harry Potter fans will rejoice: all seven novels will be done as full-cast audio books (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). And this write-up on “Harry Pottourism” is quite excellent (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). Dennis Wise has the link to a review on two books discussing J.K. Rowling’s legacy (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Mythlore] The Warner Bros. Discovery CEO made clear that production of the Harry Potter series is aiming for a release in 2026 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Hollywood Reporter]

Fans could have had three movies instead of thirteen episodes (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) for the end of Game of Thrones [Variety]

Neil Gaiman is auctioning off part of his collection - and an amazing 126 pieces of art these are (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Fine Books Magazine] These are the results (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). And Anthony Daniels is (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), too (C-3PO, that is). [Hollywood Reporter]

Star Trek’s Discovery has seen some special recognition: a Toronto production stage is now named after it (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). And Sweden played a Trek theme when joining NATO - there is a running gag involved, obviously (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

It may sound like fun and giggles but medieval murders in Oxford (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is an excellent example of showing you what really happened in 14th century Oxenforde.

A Pratchett / Discworld RPG is in the making (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [TerryPratchett.com (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)] The inaugural Pratchett Prize (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) has been awarded - and a very special book is coming out in November (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Quite an interesting read, with a nod to Tolkien: Folklore is philosophy (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Aeon.co (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)] (h/t Taz Cooper)

Always good to see how relevant and important the support of children’s literature is: The Indigenous Literacy Foundation wins $725,000 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [ABC.net.au (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

If you need more suggestions on what to read the New York Times has its best from 2000-2023 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

You may find this useful: A guide to finally getting into Brandon Sanderson books (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Polygon]

An outstanding career: John Williams Faces His Legacy: 54 Oscar Noms, ‘Star Wars’ Mistakes and Changing the Movies Forever (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Variety]

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As this is 2024 I would like to note that this newsletter is 100% human-made, curated by me, Marcel R. Bülles. This also holds true for everything I write with my blog and here at Steady. Also, the average time of curating this newsletter ranges from 12-16 hours.