News Archive

For a chance to win a Lord of the Rings games workshop set enter the competition at hobbycraft.co.uk.

The competition is only open to UK residents and the closing date is 9th April.

This is London has pictures of the four hobbits and Gandalf dressed for their forthcoming appearances in the London stage production of the Lord of the Rings. The show is set to open in May of this year and with productions costs of £25 million will be London’s most expensive musical ever.

Variety report that Electronic Arts now has an extended deal to produce LotR games up to the end of next year. A new game is scheduled for release in 2008 but to date there are no further details.

At The New York Times, you can find an article mentioning the upcoming release of ‘The Children of Húrin’, ‘The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar’, as well as information pertaining to upcoming Tolkien conferences and conventions. It also includes a photo from the parade at last year’s Dragon*Con. You can read the full article here.

Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to the offices of Turbine, the game developers who are making the massively multiplayer online game, The Shadows of Angmar. They gave me a preview of the game, and I got a chance to play it. You can read Part I of my article here.

LotR Online: The Shadows of Angmar launches on April 24, 2007. You can pre-order on Turbine’s website.

To celebrate the coming of spring in Elvish fashion a new area has been added to the eCard section of CoE. Pick a day! Any day! Welcome spring by sharing an eCard with a family member, a friend or a pen-pal. Check out the available cards here!

Want to create more Elf Day cards? Upload your own creations right here.

The Silmarillion
– A quick summary by Glorfirith Annun

– – “The Silmarilli were three perfect jewels, fashioned by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves. When the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, stole the jewels for his own ends, Fëanor and his kindred took up arms and waged a long and terrible war to recover them. This is the story of their rebellion against the gods and the history of the heroic First Age of Middle-Earth.”

~ A History of Arda ~
As told by the Elves

Ainulindalë
Of Ilúvatar and the Ainur

The One, Eru, created from His thought the Ainur, the Holy Ones. They were the offspring of His thought. He asked for them to sing for Him. They sang, some louder than others. In doing this, they created beautiful pictures to which Eru claimed they could create to be more than just images.

Valaquenta
Of the Valar and Maiar

Fifteen of the Ainur went down into Arda to create the vision that they had been shown by Ilúvatar that they had sang. They were called the Valar. With the help of the Maiar, they created the world. One of them, Melkor, decided that he was greater than the others and chose to make things difficult, destroying and recreating. The group of them slowly shaping Middle-earth in its beginning.

Quenta Silmarillion
Of the Elves and Men

This is mainly the history of the Elves and Men where the Silmarilli are concerned. It starts in the Years of the Trees and works its way through to the end of the Silmarils at the end of the First Age, including the Awakening of the Elves and the Coming of Men. Three beautiful jewels beyond anything ever made, other than the Two Trees themselves, and an Oath by their creator, completely change the world that the Valar built. This is the main section of the Silmarillion and tells the tale through the eyes of countless Elves and Men.

Akallabéth
Of the Downfall of Numenorë

Ever wonder where the Dunedain came from? This is a short section of the Silmarillion, but it tells the tale of the line of Elros and how Aragorn’s fore-fathers, Elendil and Isildur and his brother Anárion came to Middle-earth.

War of the Rings
Of Sauron vs. the Ringbearer

This is mostly a quick summary of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and how it ties to the history of the Silmarils.

Tips for Beginners:

– Don’t stress about the length and the pronunciation. Make it up as you go along. You can get details later.
– Go with your interests. You don’t have to read it in order. It’s not like you learn the history of your culture in order. 😉
– If you need help following it, just look around Council of Elrond. Lots of people have read it and can help explain details.
– Keep your eyes off my Glorfindel. I bite.
– Have fun! ^__^

~ How many sticky notes do you have in your copy?

Sources: The Silmarillion, obviously. ^__^

“Hunthor, not the least valiant.”

The Silmarillion
– A quick summary by Glorfirith Annun

– – “The Silmarilli were three perfect jewels, fashioned by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves. When the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, stole the jewels for his own ends, Fëanor and his kindred took up arms and waged a long and terrible war to recover them. This is the story of their rebellion against the gods and the history of the heroic First Age of Middle-Earth.”

~ A History of Arda ~
As told by the Elves

Ainulindalë
Of Ilúvatar and the Ainur

The One, Eru, created from His thought the Ainur, the Holy Ones. They were the offspring of His thought. He asked for them to sing for Him. They sang, some louder than others. In doing this, they created beautiful pictures to which Eru claimed they could create to be more than just images.

Valaquenta
Of the Valar and Maiar

Fifteen of the Ainur went down into Arda to create the vision that they had been shown by Ilúvatar that they had sang. They were called the Valar. With the help of the Maiar, they created the world. One of them, Melkor, decided that he was greater than the others and chose to make things difficult, destroying and recreating. The group of them slowly shaping Middle-earth in its beginning.

Quenta Silmarillion
Of the Elves and Men

This is mainly the history of the Elves and Men where the Silmarilli are concerned. It starts in the Years of the Trees and works its way through to the end of the Silmarils at the end of the First Age, including the Awakening of the Elves and the Coming of Men. Three beautiful jewels beyond anything ever made, other than the Two Trees themselves, and an Oath by their creator, completely change the world that the Valar built. This is the main section of the Silmarillion and tells the tale through the eyes of countless Elves and Men.

Akallabéth
Of the Downfall of Numenorë

Ever wonder where the Dunedain came from? This is a short section of the Silmarillion, but it tells the tale of the line of Elros and how Aragorn’s fore-fathers, Elendil and Isildur and his brother Anárion came to Middle-earth.

War of the Rings
Of Sauron vs. the Ringbearer

This is mostly a quick summary of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and how it ties to the history of the Silmarils.

Tips for Beginners:

– Don’t stress about the length and the pronunciation. Make it up as you go along. You can get details later.
– Go with your interests. You don’t have to read it in order. It’s not like you learn the history of your culture in order. 😉
– If you need help following it, just look around Council of Elrond. Lots of people have read it and can help explain details.
– Keep your eyes off my Glorfindel. I bite.
– Have fun! ^__^

~ How many sticky notes do you have in your copy?

Sources: The Silmarillion, obviously. ^__^

“Hunthor, not the least valiant.”

Bob Shaye’s response to this was to say that Peter Jackson would never work on The Hobbit or any other New Line film while he is still in charge of the company. The studio chief said “I don’t care about Peter Jackson anymore.” And continued, “He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he’s suing us for. He doesn’t want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we’ve paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars. Cheers, Peter.” He added that, although the decision was made “in a moment of emotion,” he did not regret it but “regrets losing a friend.”

Peter Jackson responded by saying, “It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make [the argument] personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so.” He continued by addressing the suit, “Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the ‘Fellowship’ audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative.” Jackson concluded his letter to TheOneRing.net by saying, “This outcome is not what we anticipated or wanted, but neither do we see any positive value in bitterness and rancour. We now have no choice but to let the idea of a film of The Hobbit go and move forward with other projects.”

This unfortunate fall out is far from over, people close to the lawsuit say and time will be our only judge as to how this matter will be resolved. Whether you support Shaye or Jackson, we all hope that this difficulty will be resolved peacefully and without hard feelings. Best wishes to the director who gets the opportunity to make The Hobbit and possibly a Lord of the Rings prequel. We all look forward to seeing these films realised.

Sources:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/18/business/newline.php?page=1
http://www.jeffpidgeon.com/labels/bob%20shaye.html
http://seriouslyomg.com/?p=672
http://tbhl.theonering.net/

Oracle

The grass smelled sweet in the baking sun. The soil was fresh, and the grass still clung to it in clumps. Truman grabbed the large rock. He heaved it onto the grimy table, a rickety structure of a sheet of wood on saw horses. The wood sagged under the weight. “Ian, I think you should look at this.” Ian Rockwell came over with his archeologist’s kit, and pulled out a lens.
“I want to test this at the lab.” Ian said. He drew his hammer, and tapped a small chip off the rock. Ian threw it into a bag. “Put the rest on the truck; bring it back when you’re done. I just want this for now.”
Truman laughed, and began shoveling again. Dirt flew from his shovel, and each time he had to examine the dirt he shoveled for remains. Nothing was there. Truman would have to dig yet another hole, the third of that day. But then Truman stopped.
Lying in the dirt under his boot was a piece of cloth. Truman grabbed it. It was old; yes, it was very old. Perhaps a hundred years, maybe longer. He had not seen a cloth like it before. Though it was brown, and hardly recognizable as cloth, Truman knew from the feel it was some linen, and probably white too. This was great. Truman had never found anything particularly wonderful. Maybe this was something good. Truman put it in another bag, and used his hands to carefully scrape away the dirt.
Truman hit something soft. It was firmer than the dirt, but it was soft. Using the loose fingers of his glove, Truman brushed the dirt away. But when he saw it, he ran to the truck.
Exactly what Truman saw is something he didn’t expect. Its image was so fearful, that if it were not real, the fear alone of what it might be was enough to scar one’s soul. But it was real. Or at least it looked it. It was unspeakable, the expression frozen on the woman’s face, and it almost struck Truman dumb.
Truman went back to the hole. There it was, as real as ever. Then Truman did something he regretted. He dug around the face, and found a full head, and a neck. There were shoulders too, but Truman would have to make the hole bigger to get the body completely out.
“Hello, Truman Beck.” Truman fell flat on his back. “I know your name.”
“What?” Truman shuddered these words.
“I know you,” spoke the face, “I know where you’re from, what you’re from, and where you’re going. In fact, I know everything about you, even though I have never seen you.”
“How?”
“It is an unexplained phenomenon, some call it wisdom, others demonic infestation.”
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
“I am Oracle. Years ago I was buried here, because man did not want to hear.”
“Hear what?”
“The Oracle.”
“What is the word of the Oracle?”
“That man shall die.”
“This I knew. What has the Oracle said that men wouldn’t listen?”
“Much have I said, little has been heard, except by those who refuse to believe it. The prophecy in full regarded much that is past. Some is long past, some happened but a short time ago. And then there is that which has not yet come to pass. But it is told in song. You would not know it, for its language is known to none but the Oracle.”
“I will listen.”
“First, the horse is not to be trusted, there is much mightier than he, for it is ruled by what is in its stomach. Second, even the greatest will burn, and all that is left is marvelous ruins. Third, fire will fill the sky, and man shall perish from even a small portion of it.”
“The third I understand, it prophecies that man will invent a new machine of war, the gun.”
“Already you have seen the effects of disregarding a prophecy. Fourth, there will be much trouble and pestilence, but the savior will be the waste of the mud-wallowing beasts.”
“This would be, by my guess, the black plague in Europe, which some cured by drinking large amounts of bacon grease.”
“Fifth, the Oracle says that all the world should sink into hate and greed. Twice they would fight, the second time led by a man who single-handedly was responsible for the death of thousands.”
“Hitler, the World Wars”
“Sixth that mans own destruction will be the goal of many. Through these foolish pursuits, nature will rupture. Beaches will be without sand, and wind will flatten the city deep.”
“Nuclear weapons, global warming, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, all this I have seen.”
“Then be not surprised at the seventh. With the seventh, it is finished. All of the world shall perish by fire and sword. The slaughter will be rank, the blood shall flow deep. All that was done shall be undone, and all that is made unmade, and then made again. There will be weeping, and mourning, but there will be none to save.”
“This has not yet come to pass?”
“It is yet to pass, but it is nigh at hand, and each moment makes it one moment closer. Time is unforgiving, it will not lend you aid or give rest to the weary.”
“What is it called?”
“There is no name that is known to the tongues of men, except dread, fear, and mourning. Therefore be ready for it when it comes.”
“And how am I to know this shall indeed come to pass?”
“The Oracle has spoken.”
“Will any survive this dread end?”
“The Oracle has spoken.
“Why is it that no one knew of this before it happened?”
“No one would listen. Still they would not listen. Preach yourself the truth that must be heard; only the dreamers will follow you in quaint fear.”
Truman stopped. He could go no further. But there was something he must know. “How is it that you are still alive, even though you have been in the ground for two thousand years?”
“The truth is true, it is not flesh that withers and dies. If truth is true, then the truth can never die.”