Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Alan Lee Chat -- The Full Details
- Demosthenes @ 16:23 PST

Everyone is reminded that Alan Lee, the acclaimed LOTR illustrator and Academy Award-winning conceptual designer for the film trilogy, will join us in the Hall of Fire (on the TORn IRC server) on Saturday November 5 at 6pm EST for a live question and answer session. If you're wondering about pesky items such as time zone conversions and how to get onto IRC, this post has the answers for you! [More]

Friday, October 28, 2005

Hall Of Fire This Weekend -- Beleriand And Its Realms
- Demosthenes @ 05:58 PST

After the third great battle between the elves and Morgoth (Dagor Aglareb), Beleriand settled into a watchful peace and the elves -- both Sindar and Noldorin -- established the boundaries of their kingdoms. This is all recorded in Of Beleriand and its Realms -- the 14th chapter of the Silmarillion.

We wonder, though, who is telling the tale? From what era? Could it be a Sindar elf, a Noldor lord? Or even a hobbit, perhaps? [More]

The Alan Lee Live Chat Is Next Weekend!
- Demosthenes @ 05:58 PST

Readers are reminded that Alan Lee, the acclaimed LOTR illustrator and Academy Award-winning conceptual designer for the film trilogy, will join us in the Hall of Fire (on the TORn IRC server) on Saturday November 5 at 6pm EST for a live question and answer session.

Alan will be answering questions on his work illustrating Lord of the Rings, his involvement with Peter Jackson and WETA as a conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings film Trilogy and his new book The Lord of the Rings sketchbook. [More]

Friday, October 21, 2005

Hall Of Fire This Weekend -- Beleriand And Its Realms
- Demosthenes @ 08:51 PST

After the third great battle between the elves and Morgoth (Dagor Aglareb), Beleriand settled into a watchful peace and the elves -- both Sindar and Noldorin -- established the boundaries of their kingdoms. This is all recorded in Of Beleriand and its Realms -- the 14th chapter of the Silmarillion.

We wonder, though, who is telling the tale? From what era? Could it be a Sindar elf, a Noldor lord? Or even a hobbit, perhaps?

Descriptions of the slag and ash-heaps of Thangorodrim, for example, are remniscent of the fields outside Mordor's gate. With smoke constantly issuing from its lofty peaks, Thangorodrim itself feels like a forerunner of Mt Doom. [More]

Friday, October 14, 2005

Hall Of Fire This Weekend -- Essential To The Quest?
- Demosthenes @ 22:04 PST

Were Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin essential to the quest? This is the question we will be posing in the Hall of Fire this weekend.

Gimli, the stought-hearted dwarf of Erebor. What is the sum of his contribution to the quest? Is it any more than being Legolas's passenger on the back of Hasufel and helping Gandalf thread a path through the dark depths of Moria?

Then there's Legolas, the fleet-footed archer of Mirkwood. Did he do any more than ease the passage through Lothlorien and bring down a Nazgul at Sarn Gebir? [More]

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Alan Lee Live Q&A Reminder!
- Demosthenes @ 19:54 PST

TheOneRing.net -- in conjunction with Houghton Mifflin -- is delighted to announce that Alan Lee, the acclaimed LOTR illustrator and Academy Award-winning conceptual designer for the film trilogy, will join us in the Hall of Fire (on the TORn IRC server) on Saturday November 5 at 6pm EST for a live question and answer session.

That means you should mark your diaries or even submit a question now! Alan will be answering questions on his work illustrating Lord of the Rings, his involvement with Peter Jackson and WETA as a conceptual designer for the Lord of the Rings film Trilogy and his new book The Lord of the Rings sketchbook. [More]

Friday, October 07, 2005

Hall Of Fire This Weekend -- Essential To The Quest?
- Demosthenes @ 06:32 PST

Were Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin essential to the quest?

This is the question we will be posing in the Hall of Fire this weekend.

Gimli, the stought-hearted dwarf of Erebor. What is the sum of his contribution to the quest? Is it any more than being Legolas's passenger on the back of Hasufel and helping Gandalf thread a path through the dark depths of Moria? [More]

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Hall Of Fire This Weekend -- The Return Of The Noldor
- Demosthenes @ 19:46 PST

Chapter 13 of The Silmarillion, Of the Return of the Noldor, takes us back to where we left the Noldorian elves, on the northern shores of Middle Earth. Feanor and his followers making their way inland, exploring and settling. Later, we see Fingolfin and his kin come ashore to the first rising of the Sun, and meeting again with the estranged kin who left them for dead on the ice.

Although there is accord between the two groups, it is shaky at best. Meanwhile, Morgoth tests their strength against his own, sending orc hordes and balrogs and finally Glaurung the Uruloki (firedrake) to challenge the elves. The Noldorian elves are introduced to the elves of Menegroth as well as the Dwarves -- who become tentative allies in the peace of this time. [More]