The Week Behind, and what lies ahead – Issue 04 | 7 March 2021

 

Issue 004 | 7 March 2021

Welcome to newsletter four looking at the Tolkien-related news from the previous week and what is coming up in the week(s) ahead.

Wrath of the Ents by Ted Nasmith. This week by the Shire Reckoning, the Ents attack Isengard.

LOTRO roundup

In last Friday’s +Cord of the Rings (5 March 2021) we got a few news updates:

• The Ill Omens event is extended until 15 March at 3am EST
• The Producer’s Letter will possibly be this coming Wednesday (10 March 2021)
• Update 29 will not be next week
• There will be another chat with Executive Producer Severin in a few weeks hopefully
• Interest in doing more Dev Diaries

Double Bonus Points have returned – you can get twice the bonus points in LOTRO Store through 14 March.

The latest LOTRO Beacon (#195) can be found here: https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/lotro-beacon-issue-195

SSG World Builder Scenario is giving another live Twitch hangout and Q&A chat about LOTRO landscapes on Wednesday 10 March 2021. Based on the vote here, he’ll be visiting Angmar. It’s set for 3pm EST (8pm GMT) and you can watch it live here: https://www.twitch.tv/lotrostream

The Spring Festival will soon be upon us. Starts 18 March 2021 (10am EST) and ends 7 April 2021 (3am EST).

Free League’s The One Ring RPG

The big news is that Free League’s The One Ring RPG closed its Kickstarter campaign at SEK 17,070,638 (about £1,446,375 or $2,001,783) with 16,596 backers. A fantastic result!

Francesco gave a few interviews before the Kickstarter closed:

'War of the Ring' and 'One Ring' Designer on the Problems of Adapting Tolkien to Tabletop
https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy8qkk/interview-war-of-the-ring-one-ring-designer-francesco-nepitello

The Free League One Ring Kickstarter countdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEF09ekRXQA

The Tolkien Society

These items are from previous weeks but still relevant – the Proceedings of the Tolkien Society Seminar 2020 are available pre-order in printed form and the Tolkien Society Seminar #1 2021 can be watched now on YouTube. 

Adapting Tolkien: Proceedings of the Tolkien Society Seminar 2020
Release date 12 April 2021
Peter Roe Series XX
https://www.lunapresspublishing.com/product-page/adapting-tolkien

Tolkien Society Seminar #1 2021: Twenty-first Century Receptions of Tolkien
The Tolkien Society
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoyx2jXs6Le9KChyyjvHiZE1wgUnACrFT

The Tolkien Society is also running the Tolkien Reading Day, details in the Upcoming talks/events section below.

Upcoming talks/events 

Tolkien Reading Day - “Hope and Courage”
Thursday 26th March 2021 – online - free
The Tolkien Society and the Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic (University of Glasgow)

Each year the Tolkien Society marks the day the Ring was destroyed whilst also celebrating the life of J.R.R. Tolkien with an international day of reading. People are encouraged to read their favourite passages from Tolkien’s books. The theme this year is “Hope and Courage.” 

You can book on one of three sessions to suit you – morning, afternoon or early evening. Details can be found on the link below.
https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-reading-day-2021/

Mythmoot VIII: Annual Speculative Literature Conference – “The World Ahead”
24-27 June 2021
https://signumuniversity.org/mythmoot/

The call for papers ends 31 March 2021 at 11.59pm EST.

Tolkien Society Seminar #2 “Tolkien and Diversity”
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July 2021 – online - free

The next Tolkien Society Seminar will be in July and is focusing on the theme of “Tolkien and Diversity.” There is currently a call for papers, deadline is Friday 23rd April 2021. Details here:
https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-summer-seminar/
https://www.tolkiensociety.org/2021/02/call-for-papers-released-tolkien-society-summer-seminar-tolkien-and-diversity/ 

International Medieval Congress
Monday 5th to Friday 9th July 2021 – online - £120 (full) / £75 (concessionary)
Leeds University
https://www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/imc-2021/ 

The Tolkien sessions for the International Medieval Congress have been finalised. Dr. Andrew Higgins is taking over organising these from Dr. Dimtra Fimi. There looks to be some wonderful talks lined up, Details can be found here:
http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com/2021/02/eglerio-tolkien-sessions-at-leeds-imc.html

Shelob’s around the Web round-Up

Sir Ian McKellen recently spoke with The National Arts Club, New York City, about his career and Shakespeare. Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so9bua05rLs

After a few targeted adverts on Facebook, I noticed some great t-shirts are now being produced by Oscha in their Middle-earth collection. Oscha also makes tote bags and baby slings. Details:
https://oschaclothing.teemill.com/?cgi=1&camp=39000
https://www.oschaslings.com/collections/middle-earth-collection/

American cinema chain Drafthouse are running a LOTR reunion hosted by Stephen Colbert alongside 4K LOTR screenings:
https://drafthouse.com/movies/lord-of-the-rings-with-reunion-q-a