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September 15, 2004 - October 27, 2004

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

The Sil/LOTR News & Reviews - Xoanon @ 12:34 PST


Click here to order the new Silmarillion

Our very own MrCere writes: There are things you want for Christmas, even if you don't know it. For example, two wonderful new additions to the Tolkien library.

J.R.R. Tolkien was dreaming about puplication of his created mythology long before the publication of even his widely known "The Hobbit." That children's tale and its 'sequel' of sorts, "The Lord of the Rings" reached publication and immense popularity while his initial work was read only among family and friends. Publication of 'Rings' was even delayed while the author pursued a publisher willing to package his oldest tales of Middle-earth along with his narrative of the War of the Ring that began as a sequel to 'The Hobbit' ended up being an integral part of his larger myth and the vehicle to introduce it most easily to readers. As it turned out, no company was willing to risk publication of both books.

Eventually Tolkien's dream of having his collection of the cosmology of Middle-earth published was realized when his son and literary heir Christopher edited and published "The Silmarillion," four years after his father's death. It immediately became a best-seller.

A testament to its lasting popularity is the new volume illustrated by renowned Tolkien artist Ted Nasmith who spoke with TheOneRing.net about his work on the book and on Tolkien's other works. Nasmith is on a US promotional tour to support the new edition. While he has met fans and received feedback in various ways including E-mail, the tour is new for him and confessed to some apprehension about the new experience.

"I am showing slides of the work and talking about it. I am hoping the promotional work has been done properly and that there are a lot of people (at the events)," Nasmith said.

He has watched the ranks of Tolkien fans swell as the Peter Jackson-helmed movies have exploded on world culture, but his own love for Middle-earth stretches back long before the recent films. While in high school and already immersed in formal art training, his sister introduced him to Tolkien which became an immediate new focus for his artistic abilities. It opened for him a love of "lost and misty times, myth and legend." He joined the Tolkien Society and dreamed of contributing to the Tolkien calendars of the late '70s and '80s which seemed a distant goal. Making his living as an architectural renderer, he made his breakthrough with a calendar piece in 1987 and then with four works included in a later calendar. From that time on Nasmith has established himself as one of the preeminent Tolkien artists which led to book covers, full Lord of the Rings calendars in and now this expansion on his 1998 illustrated version of "The Simlarillion".

"I think this will probably be the last illustrated Silmarillion for a long, long time. It will be the illustrated edition for years and years. It is pretty important to me personally and its a big title in Tolkien so I gave it 120 percent. I was delighted to be able to go back to the 1998 version and get more of what I wanted in," he said.

The book, in comparison to 'Rings' is less concrete in its physical descriptions, is more in the style of the Old Testament or Bullfinch's Mythology, leaving the artist with a greater chance for interpretation than from a traditional narrative, but it wasn't just the artist and the publisher that needed to be pleased.

"Christopher Tolkien, he was very much involved in the decision making - it was a three-way dialog. Once we settled on a list it was between Christopher and I to decide."

The editor and son of J.R.R. is known for requiring incredible fidelity to his father's work. "He is probably the one person in the world who knows his father's mind and sensibilities. To communicate with him is the closest thing to communicate with J.R.R. himself. He is difficult to please and exacting and that pushes me to put my best foot forward." The two worked out the details of the book over fax machine, phone and a period of negotiations and discussions.

Nasmith also wanted to satisfy his own sensibilities and he feels the end result is pleasing and gratifying to all parties. "I do seem to get inside the book and I get some good feedback from fans and I appreciate that, weather I am working for them or not."

Nasmith's next stop will be Wednesday, October 27 at Borders Books in Crossroads Mall, downtown Salt Lake City. The event starts at 7 p.m.. The book is a beautiful version in a solid, handsome hardback that simply deserves to be owned. Many find reading the the volume for the first time a tough go and here Nasmith's work really helps. An occasional visual representation, much of it scenic, helps readers visualize select events and characters more easily. The paintings also seem to soften the taxing text with a little break. The paintings don't cover every character or situation, not by a long shot, but the coverage is appropriate and welcome.

The book steers away from the oldest and most powerful beings in Middle-earth's history, wisely sticking with subjects easier to identify with. The artist would like to tackle some of those figures someday but this version of this book was not the place.


Click here to order The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition

"The Silmarillion" is not the only recent offering from North American Tolkien publisher Houghton-Mifflin. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the publication of "The Lord of the Rings" HM has released, along with Harper-Collins in the UK, the finest editions of 'Rings' ever published.

Online images suggest that the HM edition is blue while it is actually a gray leather that in all other ways is just like the picture that is in circulation. Clay Harper of HM explained on the TORn message boards that the picture being shown was an early production prototype that has been mistakenly used by places such as Amazon.com. This book was produced with Christopher Tolkien's input and J.R.R. Tolkien's art and design. It features, as the author originally wished, beautiful reporductions of the book of Mazarbul. A read of Tolkien's letters reveal that this is a feature the author wanted, badly, in the original version of the book.

Paper prices in England at the time of 'Ring's original publication in post WWII era, and the daunting task of printing a book bigger and quite unlike anything else done at the time, made inclusion of many of the author's suggestions impractical due to financial restraints. Publishing the book in three parts was just one concession that had to be made to potential profitability, hopes of which were dim at the time.

This book, fifty years after its first publication, has gone impossibly far beyond proving financially solid. The story of Sam and Frodo has earned wealth far, far beyond the hoard of gold Bilbo tricked away from the dragon Smaug in 'The Hobbit.' It seems fitting that HM has made available for the golden anniversary of that book an edition that realizes or surpases the finest version the author might have imagined. The pages edges are gilded gold and on high-quality paper. Included is an attached ribbon marker for those who will actually read this version which is far more likely to end up as a display in a curio cabinent than in a backback for a commuter to read. The ribbon, the paper, the stamped foil cover, the interior reproductions, the end-paper, and the fold-out maps combine to lead an owner to admire the craftsmanship and art in the book just as much as the story it contains. It has the feel of a hand-finished volume in an age of mass production and consumption.

It isn't inexpensive however. With a suggested retail price of $100, this isn't a impulse buy. However, big discounts can be found right now, while the book is still new. Amazon.com offers it for more than 30 percent off cover price while many Borders and other book stores have similar discounts.

Both books will be the cornerstone of many a collection and two highly coveted holiday presents.

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Monaghan's 'Nightmare' DVD Pre-Sale - Xoanon @ 20:22 PST
Jagged Edge Films announces the DVD Release of An Insomniac's Nightmare starring Dominic Monaghan.

The official release for this DVD is December 1, 2004, but a special pre-order period has been launched between now and that time. Should it become available before the official date, those that pre-order may receive theirs even before the December 1st release.

Contents and specifications about the DVD are available at JaggedEdgeFilms.com, where one can find the most current and accurate source of information about Jagged Edge Films productions. [More]

Saturday, October 09, 2004

New Spanish Tolkien Book - Xoanon @ 10:13 PST
The spanish website devoted to Tolkien and member of TORn Community, Elfenomeno.com, is proud to announce that three of their members (Paola Castagno, Jesus Pedrazo and Juan Manuel Villa) have published a book titled: "J.R.R. Tolkien: Preguntas frecuentes (y no tan frecuentes)" (in english would be something like: "J.R.R. Tolkien: Frequently (and not so frequently) asked questions". Edited by Ediciones Minotauro, the only owner of the rights to publish J.R.R. Tolkien books in Spain, the book was released yesterday, October 7.

As we can read in the backcover, the objective of this book is "to solve (almost) every question to Tolkien's readers, using as resource for the answers the whole works of the author, including the monumental History of Middle Earth and the History of the Lord of the Rings. This is the perfect complement to The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth (Robert Foster), because it collects more information and some characters, places and facts that are not present in it".

The book (only in Spanish) is available at book stores and shopping centres, and can also be acquired online. [elfenomeno.com]

Monday, October 04, 2004

TORN T-Shirt Inventory Blow-Out - Xoanon @ 17:48 PST
CLICK HERE FOR OUR T-SHIRT STORE!

TORnados - Since we changed our shirts featured for sale, we have had a deluge of emails asking if our old styles were still available. The answer is YES!...except when we don't have it in your size and color. We took a detailed inventory of what we have left over and the good news is, you can still buy them. That bad news is, we usually only have a few available in each size, style and color.

Since they are no longer our featured shirts, all sizes and styles will now be $20 and available through PayPal.com. PayPal processes credit cards or transfers money via your bank account (only what you authorize) into the TORn account and we ship you shirts. The TORn account is "Tshirts@TheOneRing.net"

Please be VERY careful to include all information such as style, color, and size so we can get the correct shirt to you. Any shirts purchased that are sold out will be refunded.

Our remaining inventory is listed below but be sure to check our new shirts as well (plenty of those), introduced at Dragon Con 2004 and our new embroidered style polo shirt with TheOneRing.net logo.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR T-SHIRT STORE!

INVENTORY

DON'T MAKE ME GET MY RING - NATURAL COLOR
Small - 10, Medium - 10, Large - 5, XL - 5, 2X - sold out

DON'T MAKE ME GET MY RING - NAVY
Small - 12, Medium - 20, Large - sold out, XL - sold out, 2X - 2

DON'T MAKE ME GET MY RING - STONE WASHED
Small - 5, all other sizes sold out

'LOUSY' - SPRUCE
Small - 5, all other sizes sold out

'LOUSY' - RED
Small - 6, Medium 4, 2XL - 1, all other sizes sold out

RETURN OF THE ONE PARTY - RUBY
Small - sold out, Medium - 4, Large - 3, XL - 22, 2X -8, 3X - 7, 4X - 6

RETURN OF THE ONE PARTY - SAPHIRE
Small - 22, Medium - sold out, Large - 8, XL - 11, 2X - 4, 3X - 5, 4X - 9

WANTED EVIL WIZARD - BLACK
Small - 7, Medium 1, Large 2, XL - 1, 2X - 2

WANTED EVIL WIZARD - BLUE
Small - 5, Medium 5, Large - 4, XL - 3, 2X - 1

CLICK HERE FOR OUR T-SHIRT STORE!

Monday, September 27, 2004

Amazing Cedco LOTR Products on Sale! - Xoanon @ 15:08 PST
Cedco Publishing and TheOneRing.net have joined forces to produce fans worldwide with amazing prices on all types of LOTR products!

We have setup a special "V.I.P. code" that you can use on cedco.com to get any or all LOTR items at a discount. This has never been done with LOTR products before. By typing in the V.I.P. code (6002) you can get any LOTR item for $8.50 (currently they're all about $12 each, and in a store they retail for $12.95-$15.95).

You can check it out by going to our front page (cedco.com)click on the link at the right that says "click here to enter a VIP code," then enter the number 6002 in the VIP code box.

Text will come up to explain what you've ordered--a copy of the new LOTR calendar, plus all our other LOTR-related items, for only $8.50 each (down from $12 each), with options to add more, subtract what you don't want, or check out by typing in your address and credit card.

[Click here to get amazing LOTR items at a great discount!]

Thursday, September 23, 2004

New TORN Shirts! - Xoanon @ 19:57 PST

TORn Dragon Con shirt revealed!TORn Dragon Con shirt revealed!TORn Dragon Con shirt revealed!

Four new styles of TheOneRing.net shirts are now for sale! Three of the shirts were introduced at Dragon Con this year and the fourth is a polo-style shirt with the TORn logo embroidered on the left chest, available in four colors.

Our "Thanks PJ" t-shirt comes in white and is our first full-color tee with a picture of our favorite director on the front and a list of "thank yous" on the back. We now offer the "Elf-man" shirt in red and green with a wink to those who have never read J.R.R. Tolkien's books. Our last shirt comes in yellow and blue and continues our ring theme with, "Look if you must but don't touch my precious!"

Shirts are delivered to your door and all prices include shipping. We ship them as fast as we can but most purchasers can expect to wait 2-4 weeks wtih a longer wait for the polo-style shirts. Sales from these shirts help keep TheOneRing.net on line so thanks for your support!

[Click Here to Order Today!]

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

'In the footsteps of J. R. R. Tolkien' Press Release - Xoanon @ 11:16 PST
There and Back Again - In the footsteps of J. R. R. Tolkien
By Mathew Lyons

Published in paperback by Cadogan Publishing APRIL 2004 Distributed in the United States by The Globe Pequot Press
Priced $14.95

The Lord of the Rings has become synonymous with the breathtaking New Zealand landscape thanks to the enormous success of the film trilogy. The world of Tolkien’s imagination, however, was much closer to home. In There and Back Again, Mathew Lyons explores Tolkien’s true inspiration for Middle Earth, England.

The Lord of the Rings was born from a love of England and its people. Having served in the First World War and survived the draining effects of the Second, Tolkien felt that his beloved England was slipping away. His expressed wish was to create a mythology that would celebrate his country, its history and its landscape. Middle Earth is Tolkien’s attempt to eternalise England and the English in an enduring folklore.

Mathew Lyons made a yearlong journey around England following the trail left by Tolkien’s fiction, his letters and his interviews. He searches out the physical beauty and wilderness that inspired Tolkien to create the world of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and the famous characters that inhabit them.

There and Back Again features:


About Mathew Lyons

Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Mathew Lyons was fixated by the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. He read The Lord of the Rings hundreds of times and sought out the most obscure books about Tolkien and his works. Much to Mathew’s embarrassment, he even learned Elvish.

As an adult, Mathew had lost interest in the books entirely until the release of the first film encouraged him to reread The Lord of the Rings. He found it a far darker and more complex work than he had remembered, and his passion was reborn.

In addition to his writings on Tolkien, Mathew works as a freelance journalist and is based in London. He studied English at Leeds University and gained an MA in Renaissance Literature. Most recently, he has contributed to The Guardian, The Times and History Today.

Order 'There and Back Again - In the footsteps of J. R. R. Tolkien' from Amazon.com now!

Order 'There and Back Again - In the footsteps of J. R. R. Tolkien' from Amazon.co.uk now!


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