Friday, September 15, 2000

Hall of Fire Chats September 16 & 17
- Tookish @ 23:59 PST

Greetings!

Our topic for The Hall of Fire this weekend is... drumroll please......

Middle-earth the First Time Around

The first time I read The Lord of the Rings I was a young impressionable hobbit lad, and I remember it well. Going back further, I clearly remember my fist venture into Middle-earth: fifth grade, Mr. Howard's class, and he showed us the filmstrip made from the Rankin/Bass cartoon [no vcrs in those days ;)]. Being the Tolkien maniac that I am, these are memories I cherish.... how about you?

What was your introduction to Tolkien? Did it impact or influence you in any way? Are you reading Tolkien right now for the first time? How was your first reading different then subsequent times through? What about sharing Tolkien with others for their first time?

Saturday Chat: 5:30 p.m. EDT [10:30 GMT]
Sunday Chat: 6:00 p.m. GMT [1:00 EDT]
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to our chatroom Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire

Please send your Hall of Fire topic suggestions here!

Sunday, September 10, 2000

Tolkien Fun Section
- Gamgee @ 11:44 PST

Hello again Tolkienites! Gamgee here, with yet another rousing edition of the Tolkien Fun Section! Our last winner was John Foster! Good job my man! The answers were:
1) Primrose
2) Celeborn
3) Bilbo
Here are the questions for today:
1) "What was the Quenyan name for Midyear's day?"
2) "lemnpkue" (scrambled Tolkien person, place or thing....two words, found in RotK)
3) "What is that other river we can see far away there?." (Who said this?... Look in the Fellowship)
As always, Mail me with your answers, the 1st person to send all 3 correct answers in one mailing will be posted here next time! Good luck.........Gamgee

Tuesday, September 05, 2000

Worldcon Report
- Balin @ 22:42 PST

Corvar and I enjoyed a great day at Worldcon. After meeting Corvar and having breakfast, we braved the downtown Chicago traffic in one vehicle. Upon arrival at the convention Balin of Moria felt right at home, as the convention was spread out in a number of locations connected by tunnels and walkways. At times we had to go up to a passage then back down a level to get to the correct location, much like the Fellowship's trek in Moria.

Luckily, Corvar had previous experience with this maze and with a minimum of confusion we found registration and the day's adventures began. We proceeded to find the correct room for Douglas Anderson's Hobbit Slide Show. Mr. Anderson is the author of "The Annotated Hobbit". We got there early hoping to find some other Ringers. We were not disappointed. We met three people that visited Tor.Net regularly. Sadly, we did not get pictures. We did have an enjoyable time watching the Slide Show. "The Hobbit" has been translated into several languages and each country's version seems to have had very unique illustrations. Some of the illustrations were down right horrendous while others very interesting. Mr. Anderson even showed pictures of locations and objects that were the inspiration for Tolkien's own illustrations. All in all, it was a very interesting, entertaining and educational presentation.

After the slide show we briefly talked with the other Ringers. All too briefly, I fear, as we did not get a chance to invite all of them to a "tea". Next we had lunch with Mr. Anderson. (Corvar, in a very Hobbitlike fashion managed to plan our day around meals.)

After lunch we were able to check out the Dealer's Room and the Art Show. We found a hat we wanted to get for Xoanon. It was covered with Dr Who buttons and pins. We decided against getting it as the Lady wearing if might have objected. As this was a Sci Fi convention, Tolkien and Tolkien art did not have a strong presence.

By this time it was mid afternoon and Corvar and I met, as planned, with a very gracious fan of TOR.Net for "tea". We spent a couple of pleasant hours talking about the books, the site and especially the movies with Ms. Heather Nachman. She is from Virginia and was here for the convention. Thank you Heather for a wonderful discussion.

We returned to the Dealer's Room for a last quick look and then headed for home. I enjoyed meeting Corvar. He is very engaging. I hope we will be able to share more such adventures. I am afraid we did not truly do justice to Worldcon but the small piece we were able to see was excellent and a lot of fun. I recommend everyone attend at least one convention just for the experience. I know I will be looking forward to future events. I hope to meet many more Ringers at them and have many more enjoyable "teas".

Balin bows.

Tolkien Fun Section
- Gamgee @ 20:48 PST

HI again everyone! Gamgee reporting in, with yet another edition of the Tolkien fun section! Our last winner was Andṛg! Good job my friend! The answers were:
1) Celebrant
2) Proudfoot
3) Gilmi
Here are the questions for today:
1) "Who was the 9th child of Sam and Rosie Gamgee?"
2) "eenlocrb" (scrambled Tolkien person, place or thing....try The Two Towers)
3) "Who calls it? Who knows it?" (Who said this?....Take a look in The Hobbit for this one.)
As usual, Mail me with your answers, the 1st person to mail me all 3 correct answers in one mailing, will be posted here next time! Good Luck.........Gamgee

Monday, September 04, 2000

Hall of Fire for September 9th and 10th
- Tookish @ 22:25 PST

Attention Hall of Fire folks! Here's the next topic:

A Day with a Tolkien Character

If you could spend one day with any Tolkien character who would it be and why? Would you hang with Haldir and learn how to make Elvish ropes? Or maybe you'd go digging with Dain, galloping with Gandalf, or forging with Feanor.

From the Silmarillion to the Return of the King, all characters included. Would you visit the Maggots for some mushrooms, or stay by Elrond's side for a spell? Trapse with hobbits? Slink with Gollum? Guide with Aragorn? Ok... you get the picture ;)

Come one come all! And send in any future topics or suggestions here.

Saturday Chat: 5:30 p.m. EDT [10:30 GMT]
Sunday Chat: 6:00 p.m. GMT [1:00 EDT]
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; Come to our chatroom Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire.

Friday, September 01, 2000

Let us reflect on the life of a great man.....
- Gamgee @ 00:25 PST

Today is the 27th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien's death. One of the saddest days in literary and fantasy history. All who read this should please take a moment and reflect on the wonderful works of this great man, and think of how he, and the world he created has changed your lives. Mr. Tolkien.. wherever you are, all of us at TheOneRing.net take off our hats in your remembrance. The world would be a much dimmer place for us, if not for you and your work, and you are sorely missed. Thank you.

Friday, September 01, 2000

TOR.net at WorldCon
- Balin @ 22:50 PST

This weekend is the WorldCon in Chicago. It would not be proper for TOR.net to be among the missing. Corvar and I will grace the convention with our presence on Saturday, Sept 2. We will be holding forth before the Hobbit Slide Show by Douglas Anderson, a must view for all avid local Ringers. It starts at 11:30 in Regency A. Look for us. (We will be the ones in the TOR.net shirts.)

Thursday, August 31, 2000

Tolkien Fun Section
- Gamgee @ 22:15 PST

Hello again everyone!!! Gamgee here, with yet another thrilling Tolkien adventure! Our last winner was Mark S.! Way to go my friend!!! The answers were:
1) Beechbone
2) Wormtongue
3) Gandalf
Here are the questions for today:
1) "Which river's name translates to silver-course? (mentioned in Two Towers)"
2) "opftrouod" (Scrambled Tolkien person, place or thing...check "Fellowship" for this answer)
3) "You have looked in that accursed stone of wizardry!" (Who said this?... try RotK)
As usual, Mail me with your answers, the 1st person to mail all 3 correct answers in on letter will be posted here next time!....Gamgee