New Harper Collins Tolkien site - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 04-13-2010, 03:00 PM

Check this out - http://www.tolkien.co.uk/features/Pa...R-Tolkien.aspx

Morthoron · 04-13-2010, 09:44 PM

davem, the link seems to be broken.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 04-14-2010, 02:17 AM

Worked for me yesterday, works for me even today. Nice one.

The Might · 04-14-2010, 09:21 AM

Indeed nice link, davem!

Does anyone know where the drawing of the blue wizards at the top of the page comes from? I really like it.

Morthoron · 04-14-2010, 09:59 AM

It's working fine today. Thanks for the link.

Bêthberry · 04-14-2010, 10:09 AM

There's even a forum there for discussing Tolkien.

I wonder, do any Downers post there (incognito of course

) or is it just for book trade types?

davem · 04-14-2010, 11:57 AM

Are those of you on the other side of the pond (in North America & North North America

) able to watch the video on the page I linked to? This is a very important film, made back in 1992, & only available on VHS for a few years - it contains clips of Tolkien himself, interviews with Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger & Quene Margrethe of Denmark, but most significantly a long interview with Christopher discussing his father's work in great detail. If not, the direct link for it on You Tube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCqd9...layer_embedded

Pitchwife · 04-14-2010, 02:05 PM

Thanks for that link, davem! The video is wonderful - I don't think I'd ever tire of hearing Chris talk about his father's work (just have to love that occasional hint of a quirky smile at the edges of his mouth!). What I found especially insightful up to now (I'm only about halfway through watching it) was the part about The Machine vs Art as the central theme of LotR - I guess we're all aware of that by now, but it's nice to hear it put so succinctly and have the public reminded that LotR isn't just a source for fantasy roleplaying and movie merchandise, but a work of literature written by a contemporary of Rilke and Heidegger, treating in mythological form much of the same issues that were on the mind of the great modern critics of modernity.

As for the site itself, was anybody else amused by seeing People of Middle-Earth and other parts of HoME grouped under 'Non-fiction'?

Legate of Amon Lanc · 04-14-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

Does anyone know where the drawing of the blue wizards at the top of the page comes from? I really like it.

It gives a different picture every time you refresh the page... but I have found it eventually, and I don't know it - never seen it. All the other pictures, however, as far as I have been able to see, are by Ted Nasmith. So it might be assumed that this one is as well.

And I must say, the video is really interesting. I am watching it one part at a time, but it is wonderful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

What I found especially insightful up to now (I'm only about halfway through watching it) was the part about The Machine vs Art as the central theme of LotR - I guess we're all aware of that by now, but it's nice to hear it put so succinctly and have the public reminded that LotR isn't just a source for fantasy roleplaying and movie merchandise, but a work of literature written by a contemporary of Rilke and Heidegger, treating in mythological form much of the same issues that were on the mind of the great modern critics of modernity.

Indeed. Something just brilliant.

Quote:

As for the site itself, was anybody else amused by seeing People of Middle-Earth and other parts of HoME grouped under 'Non-fiction'?

Actually haven't noticed that originally.

!!!

...well, why the surprise?

davem · 04-14-2010, 02:26 PM

I have that documentary on the original VHS release & I know that many fans have been desperate for it to be made available for a long time. I wish it could be released on DVD (though I know it would be possible for anyone with a VHS machine & a DVD recorder to make their own DVD copy - not that I would ever advocate such an act......) I'm assuming that it is on You Tube legally - otherwise Harper Collins wouldn't have linked to it, so hopefully it will be made available on DVD soon.

Christopher's comments on the Machine are very interesting - love the 'train' annecdote -(as are his later thoughts on why his father was unable to bring The Silmarillion to completion). Overall its a lovely film, with lots of thought provoking & insightful stuff - not to mention the chance to see Tolkien's remaining children (Michael was dead by the time this was made) reminiscing about their father. Now, if only the BBC documentary 'Tolkien in Oxford' (from which the clips of the man himself included in this film were taken) could also be made available....

Pitchwife · 04-14-2010, 03:30 PM

Just finished watching the video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davem

Christopher's comments on the Machine are very interesting - love the 'train' annecdote -(as are his later thoughts on why his father was unable to bring The Silmarillion to completion).

Yep, that anecdote was very nice - the White Horse and the Railway, isn't that in a way the whole of LotR in nuce? Also the bit about JRRT realizing that we have to live in this world as it is, e.g. his interest for and use of the tape recorder (made me wonder what he'd think of our activities on the Internet nowadays...).
More highlights: definitely the interviews with Shippey and Flieger, esp. Shippey tearing snobbish academic criticism of Tolkien to bits: "You just can't do that" - yay! And Queen Margarete outing herself as a first generation Tolkien fangirl is absolutely charming, with an illustration of the Scouring of the Shire by her that's spot on to how I'd imagined it.
Not to forget, that clip of an interview with JRRT himself where he quotes Simone de Beauvoir, of all people, to illustrate the importance of death as a theme in LotR. Absolutely the first name you'd have associated with him, isn't it

? Shows that the range of his mind was much broader than is commonly imagined.
Everybody who hasn't seen that video yet, go watch it!

The Might · 04-14-2010, 07:49 PM

Thanks for the tip Legate, just googled "Nasmith Blue" and I found the original, very nice one indeed.

Here's the link: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...eying_East.jpg

Legate of Amon Lanc · 04-15-2010, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

Thanks for the tip Legate, just googled "Nasmith Blue" and I found the original, very nice one indeed.

Here's the link: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...eying_East.jpg

And thanks to you for looking for it *saves*

It's really beautiful, isn't it? I wonder what the location was supposed to be, if anything. That looks just so cool (thinking about the implications also, after all, we really don't know basically anything about these guys...)

The Might · 04-15-2010, 07:25 AM

Well, if the picture is meant to be based on the books, then the location must be somewhere in the far east of Middle-earth, because there is no Saruman in there, meaning it shows the Blue Wizards after Saruman departed and returned to the west. Who knows, some old forgotten mountain chain in the east, maybe where the fell beasts came from?!

I must agree, I also like it because of the mystery surrounding their mission and its outcome, we really don't know anything.

garm · 04-17-2010, 05:07 PM

I agree with all that has been said about the film - I bought a copy on VHS when it came out, and it's a treat to watch.

The Blue Wizards picture is featured on the cover of the catalogue of ADC books (ADC being Ted's agent). I'm scratching my head; I've had the pleasure of seeing most of Ted's original works 'in the flesh' as it were, and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this one - yet! I wonder whether it'll feature at his exhibition at Moreton-in Marsh later this year?

davem · 04-17-2010, 11:34 PM

The Blue Wizards picture is on the cover of the new Harper Collins paperback of Unfinished Tales, & is the March picture on the 2010 Tolkien Calendar. I love the landscape but, as with most of Ted's work, I don't like the figures - why are they both dressed exactly alike, & both in silly pointy hats? The only wizard referred to in Tolkien's work with a pointy hat is Gandalf, & I think its best assumed that's a bit of eccentricity on his part (actually, I think Tolkien just lazily adopted a standard fairy tale trope when he created the character for The Hobbit, & continued on with it when he came to write the 'sequel' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy...nd_conventions.

04-13-2010, 03:00 PM	#1
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	New Harper Collins Tolkien site Check this out - http://www.tolkien.co.uk/features/Pa...R-Tolkien.aspx __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

04-13-2010, 09:44 PM	#2
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,500	davem, the link seems to be broken. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

04-14-2010, 02:17 AM	#3
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Worked for me yesterday, works for me even today. Nice one. __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

04-14-2010, 09:21 AM	#4
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Indeed nice link, davem! Does anyone know where the drawing of the blue wizards at the top of the page comes from? I really like it. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

04-14-2010, 09:59 AM	#5
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,500	It's working fine today. Thanks for the link. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

04-14-2010, 10:09 AM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,979	There's even a forum there for discussing Tolkien. I wonder, do any Downers post there (incognito of course ) or is it just for book trade types? __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

04-14-2010, 11:57 AM	#7
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Are those of you on the other side of the pond (in North America & North North America ) able to watch the video on the page I linked to? This is a very important film, made back in 1992, & only available on VHS for a few years - it contains clips of Tolkien himself, interviews with Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger & Quene Margrethe of Denmark, but most significantly a long interview with Christopher discussing his father's work in great detail. If not, the direct link for it on You Tube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCqd9...layer_embedded __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

04-14-2010, 02:05 PM	#8
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Thanks for that link, davem! The video is wonderful - I don't think I'd ever tire of hearing Chris talk about his father's work (just have to love that occasional hint of a quirky smile at the edges of his mouth!). What I found especially insightful up to now (I'm only about halfway through watching it) was the part about The Machine vs Art as the central theme of LotR - I guess we're all aware of that by now, but it's nice to hear it put so succinctly and have the public reminded that LotR isn't just a source for fantasy roleplaying and movie merchandise, but a work of literature written by a contemporary of Rilke and Heidegger, treating in mythological form much of the same issues that were on the mind of the great modern critics of modernity. As for the site itself, was anybody else amused by seeing People of Middle-Earth and other parts of HoME grouped under 'Non-fiction'? __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

04-14-2010, 02:26 PM	#10
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I have that documentary on the original VHS release & I know that many fans have been desperate for it to be made available for a long time. I wish it could be released on DVD (though I know it would be possible for anyone with a VHS machine & a DVD recorder to make their own DVD copy - not that I would ever advocate such an act......) I'm assuming that it is on You Tube legally - otherwise Harper Collins wouldn't have linked to it, so hopefully it will be made available on DVD soon. Christopher's comments on the Machine are very interesting - love the 'train' annecdote -(as are his later thoughts on why his father was unable to bring The Silmarillion to completion). Overall its a lovely film, with lots of thought provoking & insightful stuff - not to mention the chance to see Tolkien's remaining children (Michael was dead by the time this was made) reminiscing about their father. Now, if only the BBC documentary 'Tolkien in Oxford' (from which the clips of the man himself included in this film were taken) could also be made available.... __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

04-14-2010, 07:49 PM	#12
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Thanks for the tip Legate, just googled "Nasmith Blue" and I found the original, very nice one indeed. Here's the link: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/...eying_East.jpg __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

04-15-2010, 07:25 AM	#14
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Well, if the picture is meant to be based on the books, then the location must be somewhere in the far east of Middle-earth, because there is no Saruman in there, meaning it shows the Blue Wizards after Saruman departed and returned to the west. Who knows, some old forgotten mountain chain in the east, maybe where the fell beasts came from?! I must agree, I also like it because of the mystery surrounding their mission and its outcome, we really don't know anything. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

04-17-2010, 05:07 PM	#15
garm Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 22	I agree with all that has been said about the film - I bought a copy on VHS when it came out, and it's a treat to watch. The Blue Wizards picture is featured on the cover of the catalogue of ADC books (ADC being Ted's agent). I'm scratching my head; I've had the pleasure of seeing most of Ted's original works 'in the flesh' as it were, and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this one - yet! I wonder whether it'll feature at his exhibition at Moreton-in Marsh later this year?

04-17-2010, 11:34 PM	#16
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	The Blue Wizards picture is on the cover of the new Harper Collins paperback of Unfinished Tales, & is the March picture on the 2010 Tolkien Calendar. I love the landscape but, as with most of Ted's work, I don't like the figures - why are they both dressed exactly alike, & both in silly pointy hats? The only wizard referred to in Tolkien's work with a pointy hat is Gandalf, & I think its best assumed that's a bit of eccentricity on his part (actually, I think Tolkien just lazily adopted a standard fairy tale trope when he created the character for The Hobbit, & continued on with it when he came to write the 'sequel' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy...nd_conventions. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."