Introduction
 

Hello all!

My name is Marlowe, attorney by trade, from the Southeastern United States.

I stumbled across this wonderful forum a few months ago and have passed many a hour reading the Chapter-by-chapter discussions.

Finally, I decided I couldn't help myself and decided to join in. Please forgive me if I grave-dig some of the Chapter-by-chapter threads - they are too interesting to let them sit! Look for my posts especially in the threads on the first few chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring (they are my favorite).

My LoTR history: I read The Hobbit and the Trilogy for the first time at age 9 (I'm 28 now). Since then I have re-read them on average about once per year, along with sporadic chapters or passages in between full runs. I have only read The Sil twice and I must humbly confess to not having read Children of Hurin or Unfinished Tales at all.

I also play Lord of the Rings Online (not sure what the feeling on that is here so please don't hold it against me).

Edit: /forehead slap/ My bad... didn't see the sticky for intros... :(

Welcome to the Downs, Marlowe221 (not related to Philip or Christopher by any chance, I presume?) ! Help yourself to a cup of distilled fog and some mouldy cakes and enjoy being dead!
Do so, by all means! There's many a nugget to be unearthed there. (Ah, I see you already have.)

Welcome to the Downs Marlowe,

those old Chapter by Chapter threads need waking up, they've slumbered far too long!

Cheers,

Rumil

Hi, Marlowe! Welcome to the Downs - it's not a problem that you started this thread. I can easily integrate it into the sticky one for newcomers. I'll leave it as is for a day or so, then merge it. Look for further greetings there.

As to the Chapter-by-Chapter threads, they've been left open with the intention that new members can join in the discussions there. I look forward to reading your contributions!

Welcome Marlowe. Enjoy our boards! By the way, I am also an attorney in the Southeast US.

Hi Marlowe! I also read LOTR for the first time when I was nine. And I also reread it aproximately once a year ever since! I haven't read the Unfinished Tales either, and neither did a lot of Downers, so don't worry about that!

Welcome Marlowe. Don't worry about not having read everything. Don't worry about not having read everything - I haven't read all of the History of ME and virtually nothing not ME related by Tolkien.

I heartily reccomend Unfinished Tales though even though it is fragmentary. Much concerns LOTR rather than the Silmarillion and if you want to know more about Wizargs, Palantiri, the battles of the Fords of Isen and Numenore you are i n for a treat.