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Bill the pony

Happy Neigh Year!

A B Y D O S
Ambassadors Guild
Message to All Valued Embassies

January 8, 2020

    Greetings

    The Embassy we share between here and Abydos is a valued diplomatic link between our two regions. Most recently, I (my main nation is Zyris, the Abydos founder) have been named the Chief Ambassador over our Ambassadors Guild by our Grand Luxarch Zartavaria. Because of this we want to renew our diplomatic bond with you and I will be sending an Ambassador nation here so that we can further strengthen our ties and better maintain communication. You could expect other Ambassadors from the Guild to visit as well.

    Please feel free to send a diplomat over if you have not yet done so as well and share with us the news from your region and latest happenings. If you need to contact me, please telegram Zyris directly, our Grand Luxarch Zartavaria, or simply post directly to our regional message board.

    Abydos hopes that these changes will strengthen our bond and allow our shared embassies to be a symbol of prosperity for many years to come.

    Thank you all,

    Zyris

Lady eowyn

Solid advice! Creativity 101! :)

https://reparrishcomics.com/image/178086298453

https://i.imgur.com/7Fc4oWk.jpg

Tolkien teaches intro to fiction
'Who here knows the first thing an author must do when beginning their novel?'
'Develop characters?'
'No. The first step is constructing an entire Elf language from scratch. Always.'

On a more serious note though - it just goes to show. Practise your craft and create what you are passionate about. (Also, doesn't 'What is my plot about?' come before developing characters?) Anyway, the example of the Elvish languages (in the plural) - plus bits of Dwarvish and Orcish and human languages auch as Rohirric, a splash of agglutinative Entish, and some hobbit vocabulary - also shows: If you have a love for storytelling, it doesn't matter where you start, you'll end up telling stories.

Dwarf, Echoriath, and Elvish dorab

Lady eowyn wrote:

On a more serious note though - it just goes to show. Practise your craft and create what you are passionate about.

I've often wondered if Tolkien ever looked at what he was doing and asked himself "What am I doing? A grown man, and a professor to boot, writing stories about hobbits and elves and goblins and wizards. I really should be putting this aside for my more scholarly work".

Of course, he had a group of friends engaged in somewhat similar pursuits to support him, and his work met with success in his own lifetime, so such moments would have presumably been brief if they ever occurred at all.

Still, how fortunate for us that he pursued his story telling passion with such energy.

Lady eowyn, Dwarf, and A Balrog

Lady eowyn wrote:'No. The first step is constructing an entire Elf language from scratch. Always.'[/i]

That is very good. And also what separates his work from much of the fantasy that followed.

Echoriath wrote:I've often wondered if Tolkien ever looked at what he was doing and asked himself "What am I doing? A grown man, and a professor to boot, writing stories about hobbits and elves and goblins and wizards. I really should be putting this aside for my more scholarly work".

I suspect his professional career as a philologist likely made such works more appealing.

Also, there's the fact that his overarching goal was to "recreate" the lost mythology and culture of the Germanic tribes that would eventually settle the British Isles. This probably added a bit more "seriousness" to his efforts.

And then, at that time and especially in England, writing fantastical children's stories had a proud tradition -- George MacDonald, Lewis Carroll, Beatrix Potter, Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows, A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.

Lady eowyn and Echoriath

Probably worked both ways, his love for languages also made the career as a philologist so appealing.

Celtic mythology was an inspiration too in some themes. The otherworld, the land across the sea in the west...

Here's a short excerpt from the BBC archive: Tolkien being interviewed about his invented languages. He says that languages have a flavour to him. To him they aren't dry. He compares a new language to a new wine or a new sweetmeat or something.

https://twitter.com/BBCArchive/status/1111991469701824513

Dwarf and Echoriath

Lady eowyn wrote:(Also, doesn't 'What is my plot about?' come before developing characters?)

Depends what type of writer you are.

Lady eowyn, Dwarf, and Echoriath

Here is some news from your friends in 10000 Islands.


10000 Islands Emissary Update

Date: December 2019
Population: 1104
Delegate Endorsements: 308
Forum: Linkhttp://10000islands.proboards.com/
Discord: Linkhttps://discord.gg/mw27pug
Twitter: Linkhttps://twitter.com/the10000islands

TITO Command

Has your region been invaded, or do you want to get in touch with TITO? If so, contact one of the following nations:
~Chief Executive: Markanite.
~Field Commander: Kanta Hame.
~Tactical Officers: Shy Guyia, Smugglers and Mercs (EF), Mingulay isle, THX1138.
~Executive Officers: Aschente, Hakketomat.

Government

As of this report’s publication, the Government of 10000 Islands consists of:
~Chief Executive: Markanite
~WA Delegate: Kuriko
~Senior Senator for Blue Canaria North (Emissary Report): HumanSanity
~Senator for Lyonnesse East (Houses): The United Royal Islands of Euramathania
~Senator for New Republica South (Debates and Discussions): Aschente
~Senator for Himes West (RP): Marxist germany
~Minister of Labor: Paffnia
~Minister of Immigration: The knights apprentice of sargon reman
~Minister of Education: The tasmanian islands

Information about other government officials of 10000 Islands can be found Linkhere.

Additionally, some of you will have new people delivering this report this month! Haivon has been appointed emissary to Portugal, Dandhican has been appointed emissary to The North Pacific, and Dorab has been appointed emissary to Middle Earth. Congratulations to all our new emissaries!

Around the Islands

-The Mayor of Shelter's Taco Island, Louisistan has Linkclosed the general election for the Taco Island Parliament. The Dragon-Gold Coalition, under its leader Tuga nation has the plurality of seats and Linkthe opportunity to form a government. We will see how 2020 plays out in the Taco Island Parliament and Senate under Prime Minister Tuga!

-Several nations, under the leadership of Haivon have banded together to create the 10000 Islands Space Program or Xkisp. We look forward to monitoring their progress as they race for the heavens!

-Following the release of Season 2 of NS Trading Cards, several XKIers have begun putting together their 10000 Islands sets! Additionally, Minister of Education The tasmanian islands has Linkmade a list of Epic and Legendary cards of 10000 Islanders for reference.

-Chief Executive Markanite rang in the holidays with Linksome festive cheer including snowflakes for the forum and the ability for members to partake in a gift exchange! Happy holidays to all!

-Minister The tasmanian islands named Libraziland the LinkFeatured Nation for December in recognition of their RMB and forum participation and sweet flag design!

-WA Secretary The knights apprentice of sargon reman has Linkreleased new WA Secretariat Engagement Awards to reward Islanders for endorsing each other, endorsing the Delegate, and other milestones. Thanks to Isles of metanoia for their hard work on this! Additionally, in preparing for the newly established WA Secretariat, Markanite has restructured our WA voting polls! As a reminder, our discussion threads are always open to non-Islanders to come give their pitch so Islanders can read and decide how they're going to vote! The Secretariat will also be releasing occasional reports, and Secretary Reman has Linkreleased the first report including an interview with Molly Muse about the future direction of the Secretariat!

-Delegate Kuriko with the help of Marxist germany has organized a Cultural Event with The South Pacific! The event is hosted on the RMB of the region TSP XKI Cultural Event and in an event LinkDiscord server. We're sure it'll be a barn burner and help us get to know our new treaty allies!

-In celebration of the New Decade, Markanite has opened a thread for Islanders to share their goals for the upcoming Decade! Take a look here: Linkhttp://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38174/new-decade-approaches

-10000 Islands enjoyed exceptional RMB activity throughout the month of December, with many new nations joining the region and saying hello. There was, of course, lots of well-wishing around the holidays, but also lively debate, and a great deal of discussion around developing RP activity. Please enjoy this month's curated collection of posts since the last report:

We begin with a subject that was the talk of the region, relating to our Delegate, Kuriko page=rmb/postid=37095593
The always helpful Jabberwocky lends some perspective on NS economics page=rmb/postid=37102200
The Islands are always open to trying new things, but this might be a bit radical page=rmb/postid=37111144
Just when you think you're out, they drag you back in page=rmb/postid=37166225
It is what it is, says Marxist germany page=rmb/postid=37172056
Being late to the party can be confusing page=rmb/postid=37207680
Imbibing too much at the party can lead to this sort of thing page=rmb/postid=37217506
And sometimes, you just need to get back to basics page=rmb/postid=37252843

Regional Poll of the month asked Island residents to roll the dice page=poll/p=150829

-Lastly, congratulations to all! Taco Island, 10000 Islands' legendary and beloved hang out zone, has hit 100 pages! LinkJoin us in our celebration

WA Affairs

I wanted to start the WA section of the report by highlighting a few developments.

First, following the formation of the WA Secretariat, we have restructured the WA section of our forums. Our friends abroad will still have access to our public discussion threads to give their input and lobby for 10000 Islands' vote.

Second, Delegate Kuriko has opened a thread listing her proposal "approvals" and to lobby her to approve a proposal. Check it out here: Linkhttp://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38200/approved-proposals-1-20-3

Third, Congratulations to WA authors from 10000 Islands!
-Congratulations to author Kuriko and co-author THX1138 for their work on SC #291: "Commend Duxburian Union" for DUXBURIAN UNION's service to our embassy regions of European Union and The Order of the Grey Wardens

-Congratulations to author Kuriko for her work on SC #292: Repeal "Liberate Aurelia". After the passage of the resolution, the region Aurelia has been password protected and returned to native hands.

-Congratulations to author Kuriko, co-author THX1138 and the nominee 10000 Islands Chief Executive Markanite on passage of SC #293: Commend Markanite! Markanite is the current Chief Executive of 10000 Islands, a Knight of TITO, a former WA Delegate and longtime Minister of Education, and a recipient of the prestigious Heart of the Islands award which is bestowed by the Council of Nine on those who are dedicated to the spirit of the betterment of the Islands. This Christmas Day resolution represented the third Commendation for a 10000 Islander in 2019, following Woonsocket and Paffnia's Commendations.

Dec 2, 2019 SC Commend Duxburian Union: Emphasizing the many contributions of the target to their native region, and to the international community, through proxy, with specific emphasis on their work as a defender.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38083/sc-resolution-commend-duxburian-union
Regional vote: For 13 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 307)
Final WA vote: For 10731 (84%) | Against 2111 (16%)
Result: Passed Dec 5, becoming SCR#291

Dec 6, 2019 SC Repeal “Liberate Aurelia”: A brief resolution repealing the previous liberation, thus allowing defender forces to permanently secure the region from invasion.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38103/sc-resolution-repeal-liberate-aurelia
Regional vote: For 13 | Against 1
Delegate vote: For (weight 303)
Final WA vote: For 13497 (94%) | Against 911 (6%)
Result: Passed Dec 9, becoming SCR#292

Dec 8, 2019 GA Repeal: “Promoting Natural Sciences in Schools”: An effort to strike recently passed legislation, citing vague definitions and the lack of any requirement that educational material be peer reviewed.
Author: Kaschovia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38112/resolution-repeal-promoting-natural-sciences
Regional vote: For 7 | Against 8 | Delegate’s Prerogative 2
Delegate vote: Against (weight 304)
Final WA vote: For 5657 (38%) | Against 9059 (62%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 12, 2019 GA Repeal: “Ban on Secret Treaties: Another in a series of attempts to repeal the target, this one focusing specifically on the use of an out-of-context and confusing definition, that some consider frivolous.
Author: New Waldensia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38121/proposal-repeal-ban-secret-treaties
Regional vote: For 10 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 307)
Final WA vote: For 7132 (49%) | Against 7296 (51%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 16, 2019 GA Repeal: “Civilian Aircraft Accord”: Seeking repeal due to concern that assisting aircraft in distress in foreign airspace could lead to conflict.
Author: Bitely
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38123/proposal-repeal-civilian-aircraft-accord
Regional vote: For 1 | Against 12
Delegate vote: Against (weight 310)
Final WA vote: For 3693 (25%) | Against 10796 (75%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 20, 2019 GA Ensuring Commercial Vessel Navigation: Mandating universal standards for national oceanic charting, and requiring all commercial vessels ready access to that information .
Author: Terttia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38125/proposal-ensuring-commercial-vessel-navigation
Regional vote: For 7 | Against 1 | Delegate’s Prerogative 2
Delegate vote: For (weight 309)
Final WA vote: For 11876 (85%) | Against 2056 (15%)
Result: Passed Dec 24, becoming GAR#478

Dec 22, 2019 SC Commend Markanite: Celebrating the achievements of the target in the areas of regional leadership, WA Delegacy, defence of founderless regions, and international engagement.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38153/sc-resolution-commend-markanite
Regional vote: For 18 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 311)
Final WA vote: For 10192 (82%) | Against 2208 (18%)
Result: Passed Dec 25, becoming SCR#293

Dec 24, 2019 GA Don’t Shoot Strangers Act: A resolution seeking to make illegal a violent response on first contact with an unknown individual or group.
Author: Umeria
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38139/ga-proposal-shoot-strangers-act
Regional vote: For 4 | Against 8 | Delegate’s Prerogative 3
Delegate vote: Against (weight 306)
Final WA vote: For 2776 (21%) | Against 10269 (79%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 28, 2019 GA Repeal: “Convention on Animal Testing: An effort to revoke recently passed legislation due to concerns around definitions and potential difficulties with enforcement that could result.
Author: Concrete Slab
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38149/resolution-repeal-convention-animal-testing
Regional vote: For 5 | Against 3 | Abstain 1
Delegate vote: For (weight 306)
Final WA vote: For 11532 (91%) | Against 1193 (9%)
Result: Passed Jan 1, 2020, becoming GAR#479

Meet A Nation Interview

This month I sat down with Free earthian yap who is our new Deputy Cartographer-General and alongside Paffnia has added a new LinkTrade Routes and Pacts concept for the regional map.

HS: How did you originally hear about NationStates? When you signed up what were you expecting? How has that differed from why you've stayed around?

Yap: I have found out about Nationstates by an accident really, as i remember i was searching for news or trying to find an old article i have read. I didn't know about Max Barry or Nationstates, thought even finding it was exciting, I played many strategy games similiar to it couple of them were actually text based, idea of creating a nation, whole culture even a language sound intriguing, also I always liked designing flags, symbols, and best part was role playing with others, since then nothing actually changed I still like the whole system Nation states was based on.

HS: What are some interesting things about how you designed the flag or symbols of your nation?

Yap: I actually have many other puppet nations just made them to create, design flags. Flag of Free Earthian Yap isn't that good because its was my first try yet I am going to keep for a time. On Free Earthing Yap I first imagined a post-apocaliptic environment, people united under one state. Influenced from fallout games I was spending lots of times during the creation, then I wanted to add some cultural, ethnic flavors to it, I took some parts from asian countries and i made sure these were ironic/dark humored parts.
I was aiming to become an anarchist-royalist/anarco-monarchist but end up becoming an anarco-capitalist 'state', so i went with it.I also wanted to create an in depth factbook with language and more but,now i don't have enough time for it because of personal issues.

HS: Where did you get the idea for the trade routes/pacts idea that you and Paffnia released for the regional map? What direction are you expecting Islanders to take this improvement?

Yap: I'm going to tell you the entire story, when XKI was looking for a new cartographer general,i wanted to apply because i had an idea of creating an entire new map for the XKI,i found it a bit old.I wanted to modernize it as much as i can because i'm a part of this society and wanted to improve it yet i didn't know what others would think i didn't know how to proceed and many of the rules,thought i have messaged paffnia for the position believing i could learn during the process, then i saw paffnia has become the new cartographer general which was good for me because i talk to him before,so i just told him of my idea of making a new map,he said work on it and send me the files,the idea of creating trade unions or agreements was inspired from EEA,i believed it would create great opportunities for roleplaying. Throughout the process he help me a lot, guiding me to what to do, what are our basic rules for XKI's archipelago map,most of flags came from him because many Tito Knights has lost their active nation status,he send me web archives to find it,still doing the work i should do,i have to trace newly found trade unions and nations who wants a different spot on RP Maps,but like i said i don't have much time to read it all and make it all so just sends me news so i can update map weekly.
Many thanks to paffnia for it,without him this whole idea wouldn't work.
What i expect or what i hope islanders will do is create trade unions,create their own forum pages to make micro-transaction and have fun doing roleplays.I believe, if we have a live,active and fun community more nations would be eager to join us.

HS: Who apart from Paffnia are people you connected to early on in 10000 Islands' community? What else drew you to the region?

Yap: I can say New Fjordland recruited me in to XKI,formerly i was a member of 2d anime girl region which wasn't looked like that when i first joined,got weirder every day,the second i decided to leave i get a recruitment telegram from him.Also i use to in contact with Jiru namstansal,somethings on Jiru namstansal made me believe he was an alt nation of someone in XKI,if you are still out there Jiru namstansal,i miss you,please come and tell me more about your infinite long caterpillars and cola product of yours looks like cola but tastes better with less sugar.

HS: What is one of your favorite things you've done in this game or the time you've laughed the hardest? What's one of the more stressful or frustrating things you've done?

Yap: My favored thing to do is roleplaying HARD,like defending the ideology of my nation,even if i don't care about it,i like to make fun of extremist invaders whenever i see one.I don't remember the time i laughed the hardest,but the most frustrating things for me are events,as a region we are always uncoordinated like the last zombie event,for me i wanted to create zombie hordes but after seeing people working on cures,i started to work on cures until someone came to kill my entire population,i believe people should do whatever they want,we don't have work like ants but without coordination in such events,people doesn't get to have fun and feels excluded.
After all we are all here to pass time, have fun and socialize.

Interview lightly modified for readability

Until next month, your 10KI Update Staff is signing off - HumanSanity and THX1138
Read dispatch

Thorin oakenshield

Dwarf wrote:And then, at that time and especially in England, writing fantastical children's stories had a proud tradition -- George MacDonald (...)

Hmmm. George MacDonald (1824-1905). As a present-day reader, anything by him I might enjoy checking out?

Hello to everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and start to the new decade.

I was really busy over the holidays and didn't really get much of chance to post a message wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year, sorry about that.

That being said, I'm to see that there was activity while I was away.

On another note, I rewatched LOTR for the first time in while, and yes they're as entertaining as ever :)

Bombadil, Lady eowyn, Thorin oakenshield, Soramra, and 2 othersDwarf, and Elvish dorab

March of Maedhros wrote:Hello to everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and start to the new decade.

I was really busy over the holidays and didn't really get much of chance to post a message wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year, sorry about that.

That being said, I'm to see that there was activity while I was away.

On another note, I rewatched LOTR for the first time in while, and yes they're as entertaining as ever :)

I did as well though I will say I prefer the original versions to the extended cuts.

Lady eowyn and Dwarf

Thorin oakenshield wrote:Hmmm. George MacDonald (1824-1905). As a present-day reader, anything by him I might enjoy checking out?

Well, it depends...the ones I have read feel quite old-fashioned and quaint. But also very enjoyable, with a good amount of novel invention. They're kind of a cross between a fairy tale and a fantasy book. He's a very talented writer.

I liked The Princess and the Goblin, and At the Back of the North Wind.

Phantastes and Lilith have been on my "To Read" list for years now, but I never make the time. They seem to be his most well-regarded.

He was highly-influential on Tolkien and Lewis, so it's worthwhile to see the parts of their foundation that can be attributed to his work and life.

Personally, I prefer The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

Lady eowyn

I'm sorry if I missed it, but is there a regional forum?

Elvish dorab wrote:I'm sorry if I missed it, but is there a regional forum?

There is an old forum which was created in 2005, administered by Tatarica. The forum has been swallowed by Ungoliant... I mean, by Tapatalk. Tatarica can tell you some more about it. It's a general Tolkien interest forum, not just for players of NationStates, but open to a wider audience, which is nice because Tolkien fandom is huge and we're just a tiny part of it.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/middleearth/

A region specifically dedicated to roleplay
region=middle_earth_roleplay
with an interesting, complex map
http://middle-earth.ltstuff.com/roleplay/map_11.html
http://middle-earth.ltstuff.com/
(We seem to have lost the embassy to Middle Earth Roleplay to some griefer interruption. Would you like to reestablish the embassy, March of Maedhros and Tatarica?)

Then there's a Tolkien RP group on the onsite forum.
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=325671
Maybe some day somebody will revive the group by announcing a roleplay. Perhaps even The starlight will have time to return and write something there again.

An offsite forum has various advantages and drawbacks. For an ancient founderless region as we are, it has additional advantages and drawbacks. For example, advantage: if you write on the offsite forum, you aren't dependent on the NationStates website. Disadvantage: you are dependent on another website. Advantage: Several strands of conversations and roleplays can run parallel in separate threads. Disadvantage: More conversation on an offsite forum means less conversation on the RMB. etc. etc. Our conversation here on the Middle Earth RMB has the advantage that it can be maintained by whoever's around at the moment and has something they want to chat about. Most of the time, it needs only minimal administrative effort. People who are busy working/studying, with their families, hobbies, and friends can, once in a while, participate in something enjoyable, without turning it into an obligation or a time-consuming chore.

You may have come across this phenomenon: There seem to be some individuals on this website who appear to equate 'amount of activity on NationStates' with some sort of virtue. The more time an individual, or individuals within a community, appear to spend doing something related to NationStates, the more of this imagined virtue 'NationStates activity' they possess. Totally unthinking adoption of the old adage 'more is better'. I'm not here to tell others how to manage their lives, but honestly on a personal level that doesn't seem a healthy balance.

Bombadil wrote:I did as well though I will say I prefer the original versions to the extended cuts.

And now to add something on topic, I too like watching either versions once in a while. I've got both because I enjoy both. Of the Peter Jackson adaptations, I've got DVDs of all the film theatre versions, and I've got DVDs of all the extended editions with the Making Of extra DVDs and the audio commentaries. Listening to the commentary tracks lets us discover even new details.

Tatarica and Elvish dorab

I loved the LOTR movies (cut and uncut) but couldn't watch more than a half hour of the hobbit movies. Should I give them a second chance?

Lady eowyn

Echoriath wrote:I loved the LOTR movies (cut and uncut) but couldn't watch more than a half hour of the hobbit movies. Should I give them a second chance?

Personally I think the first is pretty ok, it's the 2nd and 3rd that kind of just go way off track.

Lady eowyn wrote:And now to add something on topic, I too like watching either versions once in a while. I've got both because I enjoy both. Of the Peter Jackson adaptations, I've got DVDs of all the film theatre versions, and I've got DVDs of all the extended editions with the Making Of extra DVDs and the audio commentaries. Listening to the commentary tracks lets us discover even new details.

I have the VCD of The Two Towers.. but I have it all on iTunes and, I may be wrong, but I feel they keep adding bits.

..the only change I think I would add to the originals is having the Mouth of Sauron scene replace the whole Sam & Rose bit.. it'd be fine to cut from Aragorn's coronation to the scene at Greyhaven and then to the end bit with Sam, Rose and the kids..

Lady eowyn

Bombadil wrote:Personally I think the first is pretty ok, it's the 2nd and 3rd that kind of just go way off track.

I have the VCD of The Two Towers.. but I have it all on iTunes and, I may be wrong, but I feel they keep adding bits.

..the only change I think I would add to the originals is having the Mouth of Sauron scene replace the whole Sam & Rose bit.. it'd be fine to cut from Aragorn's coronation to the scene at Greyhaven and then to the end bit with Sam, Rose and the kids..

I am rather fond of the extended versions. A part from the Gandalf Witch-King interaction. That bit pisses me off a bit. But generally I think they are decent scenes while I also think they made a good call by cutting them out of the 'short version'.

I think the Hobbit films are generally pretty rubbish but the first one isn't terrible and the Dol Gundur storyline is kind of nice and not completely lore-hostile. The elf-dwarf romance is absolutely dreadful and rather cringe and the battle in the third movie is one big middle finger to the lore on every level. Which makes it feel like the whole project was just one giant money-grab.

Also guys and gals, I have a question about dragons. How in Eru's name did they get created? Melkor can't make his own life-forms so for years I thought they probably made from corrupted eagles but I realized the other day that the first ones didn't have wings which seems to weaken that theory. So the question remains how did Melkor's R&D department create these monsters?

Lady eowyn

Christopher Tolkien has sailed into the West.

Ah geez...that bums me out

A sad day.

May the professor's son enjoy Eru's gift in peace and tranquility. He edited heaps of beauty into the world.

He brought a great deal of joy to so many people. Even lived to the age of 95. Seems like a life well lived.

https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2020/01/christopher-tolkien-has-died/

Well, 95 is a good innings, and I'll always be grateful for The Silmarillion alone.

I sometimes wonder what it must have been like to grow up as J.R.R. Tolkien's son. Especially when so much of your life was spent preserving your father's legacy and working to finish his writings. But then, I'm not aware of the other aspects of his life. I wonder if there's a book out there about Christopher Tolkien..?

Elvish dorab

Dwarf wrote:I wonder if there's a book out there about Christopher Tolkien..?

Not that I know of. If there isn't, maybe someone will write a biography now?

Here's a short newspaper notice from the département Var, the adopted home. A small ceremony just among closest family and friends.

https://www.varmatin.com/people/christopher-tolkien-lheritier-du-seigneur-des-anneaux-a-ete-incinere-dans-le-var-450340

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