Thursday, February 17, 2005

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend
- Demosthenes @ 18:54 PST

'Now the Three Kindreds of the Eldar were gathered at last in Valinor, and Melkor was chained. This was the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, the fullness of its glory and its bliss, long in tale of years, but in memory too brief.' (The Silmarillion) [More]

Friday, February 11, 2005

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend
- Demosthenes @ 18:38 PST

'She spoke no word; but being filled with love. Elwë came to her and took her hand, and straightway a spell was laid on him, so that they stood thus while long years were measured by the wheeling stars above them; and the trees of Nan Elmoth grew tall and dark before they spoke any word.' What better way to spend Valentine's weekend than with this sweet and enduring love story? [More]

Friday, February 04, 2005

Hall Of Fire Live Chats This Weekend
- Demosthenes @ 05:47 PST

We continue our examination of the Silmarillion this weekend with a close look at Aule's creation of the dwarves, the wakening of the Elves and the subsequent chaining of Melkor. Be sure to come along for what will be a fascinating tour through some of the seminal events that shaped the future of Middle-earth. [More]

Friday, January 28, 2005

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend
- Demosthenes @ 17:28 PST

Once upon a time, there was ... okay, wrong story - Tolkien doesn't use such hackneyed clichés to introduce his history of Middle Earth. But there is a beginning, and even in the dim, starlit ages before time, forces are at work in Arda which will one day lead a weary, wounded hobbit to the brink of Mount Doom. [More]

Friday, January 21, 2005

Hall of Fire Chat This Weekend
- Xoanon @ 13:23 PST

"The Great among these spirits the Elves name the Valar, the Powers of Arda, and Men have often called them gods." (The Silmarillion) As we continue our discussion of Tolkien’s mammoth history, we turn our thoughts to those most enigmatic and interesting of his creation, the Valar. Servants of Ilúvatar, formers of Middle Earth, of all of Tolkien’s creatures, perhaps none have been more discussed, debated and wondered at.

Likened at times to angels or Greek gods, these beings of power, wisdom and authority don’t seem to fit easily into any mold. Even their names evoke mystery and inspire the imagination - Manwë, Aulë, Lórien, Varda, Yavanna, Nienna - names that are found over and over again throughout the lore of Middle Earth.

Who were the Valar, and what was their purpose? What influenced Tolkien in his design of their characters and deeds? How did their actions and enmities shape the history of Middle Earth and the creatures who dwelled there? Join us this weekend in #thehalloffire as we continue our study of The Silmarillion with “The Silmarillion – Valaquenta.”

Place:

#thehalloffire on theonering.net IRC server. Need instructions? Click Here.

Chat Times:

Saturday Chat: 5:30pm EST (17:30)

[also 11:30pm (23:30) CET and 7:30am Sunday morning AEST]

Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) CET

[also 2:00pm (14:00) EST and 4:00am Monday morning AEST]

EST = Eastern Time, USA's East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
AEST = Australian East Coast

Friday, January 14, 2005

Hall of Fire Chat
- Xoanon @ 23:13 PST

“There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made..” (The Silmarillion)

Thus begins the history of Middle Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien’s complex, profound, captivating and increasingly popular created world. The Silmarillion, published four years after the death of its author, is an account of the Elder Days, or the First Age of the World. The first sections of this work deal with the creation of Middle Earth and the works and wars of the supernatural beings which formed and fashioned it.

As we look into the rich depths of this unique work, we will consider questions of epic history, theology, poetry, mythology and good versus evil at it’s most basic level. It might be hectic, it might even be controversial, but it certainly won’t be boring! Join us this weekend in #thehalloffire when we begin our study of The Silmarillion as we discuss “The Silmarillion – Ainulindale.”

Place:

#thehalloffire on theonering.net IRC server. Need instructions? Click here.

Chat Times:

Saturday Chat:
5:30pm EST (17:30)

[also 11:30pm (23:30) CET and 7:30am Sunday morning AEST]

Sunday Chat:
8:00 pm (20:00) CET

[also 2:00pm (14:00) EST and 4:00am Monday morning AEST]

EST = Eastern Time, USA's East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
AEST = Australian East Coast

Thursday, January 06, 2005

The Power of Song in Tolkien: This Weekend's Hall of Fire Chat
- Jincey @ 22:12 PST

"Then Ilúvatar said to them: 'Of the theme that I have declared to you, I will now that ye make in harmony together a Great Music… But I will sit and hearken, and be glad that through you great beauty has been wakened into song.'" (AINULINDALË)

In all of Tolkien’s created world, no power is greater or more evident than the power of music and song. [More]