Films gain major convert

[William Cloud Hicklin]

CT doesn't do e-mail. He's 83 years old, and of another generation. He typed all of his published books on a manual typewriter!

In the US use:

c/o Houghton Mifflin Company
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-3764

[Sauron the White]

There is something warm and comforting about picturing CT huched over an old manual typewriter pecking out more notes on Middle-earth history. Use of a modern computer and keyboard somehow just does not seem right in that world.

[zxcvbn]

I don't know. I have most of JRRT's books in e-book form, and while the feeling is different from reading the hard copy, I find it's a lot quicker to finish. For example I first read Unfinished Tales in e-book form and finished it in just 3 hours. Later I was surprised to find that it had over 300 pages.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

You do realize that's illegal, don't you?

[Sauron the White]

zxcvbn ..... could you explain how it is so much faster to read an e-book than a regular book? This really astounds me. And everyone who would get JRRT's works in e-book form should be reminded of the personal note to potential customers placed in the LOTR Ballantine editions following the Ace Books debacle. Perhaps someone owning an old paperback can print that admonishment for us. Perhaps e-books are the new Ace Books in that regard?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

... JRRT's ... personal note to potential customers ... in the LOTR Ballantine editions following the Ace Books debacle. Perhaps someone owning an old paperback can print that admonishment for us.

Here it is, straight from the Foreword to my 1973 Ballantine's edition. The most important sentence ("This paperback edition...") is also printed on the back of each of the separate books. This paragraph is no longer included in the Foreword of new editions and certainly bears repeating under these circumstances.

I hope that those who have read The Lord of the Rings with pleasure will not think me ungrateful: to please readers was my main object, and to be assured of this has been a great reward. Nonetheless, for all its defects of omission and inclusion, it was the product of long labour, and like a simple-minded hobbit I feel that it is, while I am still alive, my property in justice unaffected by copyright laws. It seems to me a grave discourtesy, to say no more, to issue my book without even a polite note informing me of the project: dealings one might expect of Saruman in his decay rather than from the defenders of the West. However that may be, this paperback edition and no other has been published with my consent and co-operation. Those who approve of courtesy (at least) to living authors whill purchase it and no other. And if the many kind readers who have encouraged me with their letters will add to their courtesy by referring friends or enquirers to Ballantine Books, I shall be very grateful. To them, and to all who have been pleased by this book, especially those Across the Water for whom it is intended, I dedicate this edition.

May I add an official word on behalf of the Downs administration: We do not condone any illegal downloading of films and books and will remove all links and references to them from this forum. Thank you!

[zxcvbn]

Hmmm...looks like my post kicked up quite a fuss. Let me tell you that I own all those books in hard copy as well. When I want to lie down and get comfortable with a nice book I use the hard copies. I normally only use the e-book versions when I'm hunting down quotes and references for Tolkien discussions(Adobe has a 'search' function which really helps). In fact, that's the main reason I downloaded them: looking through the books for the exact lines can be time consuming.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli

In the US use:

c/o Houghton Mifflin Company
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116-3764

Thanks a lot. He lives in England though, correct?

[zxcvbn]

No, Christopher lives in France with his wife Baille. Atleast that's what the jacket of the Children of Hurin says.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

BTW, the typwriter in question was originally JRRT's purchased in 1959 and on which much of the late Middle-earth stuff was done. So there is considerable tradition there!

[MatthewM]

Nice. Hey William, I have a question for you--- when you write CT, do you enclose a self addressed envelope? I am going to, but my main question is if your answer is yes, did you put stamps on it? As I am not 100% sure as to what country CT is in --- I am thinking about not putting stamps on my letter.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

No need for an SASE- CT doesn't mind shelling out for a couple of stamps!