Saturday 21 August 2021

Mid-August updates: Imaldris, Gaming in Middle-earth and Ninimiel’s gossip

 Late July update here. 



I have created updated blog posts for the following:

News

Amazon TV LOTR series

August has definitely been a busy month for news about the upcoming Amazon show. We have the first image from the show, which sent ripples of excitement through the Tolkien fandom. We now know season one will premiere on Amazon Prime on Friday 2 September 2022. Production of Season two has shockingly moved from New Zealand and will be filmed in the UK.

The date 2 September is significant: J.R.R. Tolkien died in Bournemouth on 2 September 1973. With 2 September 2021 marking one year before the series airs, perhaps we’ll get something to mark the occasion?

Here are the recent Amazon Press releases. 




“War of Rohirrim” Anime (Helm Hammerhand story)

This is older news, but one to keep an eye on. Hopefully we’ll hear more about Warner Bros. Animation/New Line Cinema “War of the Rohirrim” film soon.

 
Radio shows and podcasts

There have been a number of podcasts and radio show slots following the Amazon TV series reveals this month. Royd Tolkien has also been on several shows talking about the release of his book, “There’s a hole in my bucket.”

The Colin McEnroe Show
https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2021-08-12/to-the-hobbits-celebrating-the-lord-of-the-rings
Aired: Thursday 12 August 2021
Looking back the Lord of the Rings almost 20 years after the release of the Fellowship of the Ring film. Guests included:

  • John Garth - Author of The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Places that Inspired Middle-earth and Tolkien and the Great War, among other books
  • Susana Polo - Entertainment editor for Polygon
  • Molly Ostertag - Graphic novelist, tv writer, and author of the article “Queer Readings of the Lord of the Rings are Not Accidents”  

BBC Radio 4 Today programme
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000yt6j
Aired: Saturday 14 August 2021
Guest John Garth talks about the places that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien.
Begins at: One hour 20 mins in
Note: This show accessibility is time limited. 

BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine programme
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ynfd
Aired: Friday 13 August 2021
Jeremy Vine discusses the move of the Amazon TV show from New Zealand to the UK. Guest Brian Sibley talks to Jeremy Vine (at one hour 37 mins in).
Begins at: One hour 33 mins in
Note: This show accessibility is time limited. 

RTÉ Radio One The Ryan Tubridy
Aired: Wednesday 11 August 2021
https://www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/21992427-royd-tolkien-theres-a-hole-in-my-bucket/
Royd Tolkien, great grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, talks to Ryan about his book, “There's a Hole in My Bucket.” 

Miscellaneous 


Blue plaque at Withernsea (3 August 2021)
A blue plaque has been put up in Withernsea, organised by local author Phil Mathison, commemorating Edith Tolkien’s residence in Withernsea at 73 Queen Street (now the Lifeboat Café) during the summer 1917 whilst J.R.R. Tolkien was stationed at the nearby Thirtle Bridge Camp.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/blue-plaque-celebrates-time-lord-of-the-rings-author-tolkien-spent-near-withernsea-a-century-ago-3332992 

Recent book releases

There have been a number of book releases in August, here’s the main ones:


Switzerland in Tolkien's Middle-Earth: In the footsteps of his adventurous summer journey in 1911 - with hiking suggestions
Martin S. Monsch (Author), John Howe (Foreword)
Publisher: Martin S. Monsch
ISBN: 978-3907323021
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Switzerland-Tolkiens-Middle-Earth-adventurous-1911/dp/3907323025/ 

There's a Hole in my Bucket: A Journey of Two Brothers
Royd Tolkien
Publisher: Little A
ISBN: 978-1542027571
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theres-Hole-Bucket-Journey-Brothers/dp/1542027578/ 

The Gallant Edith Bratt: J.R.R. Tolkien's Inspiration
Nancy Bunting (Author), Seamus Hamill-Keays (Author)
Publisher: Walking Tree Publishers (Cormarë Series #46)
ISBN: 978-3905703467
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/3905703467/
http://www.walking-tree.org/books/gallant_edith_bratt.php

The next big release is on 2 September 2021: 

The Nature of Middle-earth
J.R.R. Tolkien and Carl F Hostetter
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0008387921
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nature-Middle-earth-J-R-Tolkien/dp/0008387923/ 
Online preview: link

Ongoing Events


The Magic of Middle-Earth (exhibition)
30 July 2021- 16 October 2021
Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery
Market Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7QD
https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/magic-middle-earth
https://www.cultureoncall.com/the-magic-of-middle-earth/
https://www.cultureoncall.com/the-magic-of-middle-earth-2/

Upcoming Events


Oxonmoot
Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 September 2021
Online and in-person
Annual Tolkien Society event held in Oxford. This year the event will host a blended schedule. You can find more details here:
https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2021/


Virtual date with History: J.R.R. Tolkien and the World Wars
Thursday 7 October 2021 @ 7pm CDT
Online (via Zoom)
https://cantigny.org/event/date-with-history-j-r-r-tolkien-virtual/ 

Tolkien Society Autumn Seminar: Translating and Illustrating Tolkien
Saturday 6 November 2021
Online (via Zoom)
https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-society-autumn-seminar/ 

J.R.R. TOLKIEN: THE ART OF THE MANUSCRIPT
19 August - 12 December 2022
Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University (USA)
https://www.marquette.edu/library/news/2021/tolkien-exhibit.php
https://www.marquette.edu/library/news/2021/tolkien-exhibit-faq.php
https://www.facebook.com/TolkienMarquette/ 



Fantasy Flight Games – Spreading War

The next expansion for the Journeys in Middle-earth board game has been announced – “Spreading War”. Details here:
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2021/7/8/spreading-war-announcement/

Product details: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-journeys-in-middle-earth/products/spreading-war/

FFG held an unboxing and Q&A online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuzRlxbp2yk

As noted in this video, Spreading War will be the last big box expansion, but not the end of the line for Journeys in Middle-earth.

Details on the previous expansion, Shadowed Paths, here:
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-journeys-in-middle-earth/products/shadowed-paths/
https://www.asmodee.co.uk/products/FFGJME05_the-lord-of-the-Rings-Journeys-in-Middle-Earth-Shadowed-Paths#asm-descanchor



Ultra Pro – Battle for Middle-earth and Journey to Mordor
A board game and a card game from Ultra Pro (through the Sophisticated Games’ license). These should be available now or very soon.


The Lord of The Rings: Battle for Middle Earth
SKU: 10892
https://ultraprogames.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-battle-for-middle-earth


The Lord of The Rings: Journey to Mordor
SKU: 10893
https://ultraprogames.com/products/the-lord-of-the-rings-journey-to-mordor


Magic: The Gathering - Universes Beyond (The Lord of the Rings)

A surprise announcement earlier this year, Wizards of the Coast will be adding The Lord of the Rings to the ever-growing list of expansions for their highly successful Magic: The Gathering card game line as part of the Universes Beyond series. There may be some exclusives through the Secret Lair with “curated card drops” too. Expected to release in 2022.

Press releases:
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/magics-voyages-universes-beyond-2021-02-25
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/secret-lair-universes-beyond-update-2021-06-07

Info about the Secret Lair:
https://secretlair.wizards.com/uk  
https://magic.wizards.com/en/secretlair


For reference, the Standing Stone Games team are:
  • SSG Executive Producer Severlin (Rob Ciccolini)
  • SSG Community Manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook)
  • SSG Senior World Designer Scenario (Matt Elliott)
  • SSG LOTRO Producer Raninia (Oleg Brodskiy)

Official LOTRO Events Schedule (2021)
https://greenbookofthewhitedowns.blogspot.com/2021/01/ranatuors-lore-official-lotro-events.html

LOTRO Farmers Faire/Summer festival
10 AUG – 31 AUG: Farmers Faire (8/10/21@10am to 8/31/21@3am)

Useful guides:

D&Co du Milieu Q&A with the LotRO Team
https://en.dcodumilieu.fr/qa-with-the-lotro-team/
Aired: Friday 6 August 2021
The fantastic LOTRO housing website, D&Co du Milieu, hosted a Discord chat with the LOTRO devs about all things housing. 

D&Co du Milieu 5th Anniversary
https://en.dcodumilieu.fr/dco-du-milieu-5th-anniversary/
The D&Co du Milieu website has reached its Fifth anniversary (12/8/21) and are celebrating through August.

Interviews with LOTRO Producer Raninia

Scenario’s “Casual Stroll Through…” series

LOTRO Beacon

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