Ooh, now that sounds interesting.

I forgive Christopher Tolkien everything. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-20 10:12:00 UTC Reply

Everything - all the questionable decisions he made during the publication of the Silmarillion, his refusal to allow us to see a Silm TV series, his ridiculous idea that the Children of Hurin needed to be published separately: everything.

Next year, we finally get a Beren and Luthien standalone book.

"I never called Edith Luthien – but she was the source of the story that in time became the chief plan of the ‘Silmarillion.’ It was first conceived in a small woodland glade filled with hemlocks at Roos in Yorkshire (where I was for brief time in command of an outpost of the Humber Garrison in 1917, and she was able to live with me for a while). In those days her hair was Raven, her skin clear, her eyes brighter than you have seen them, and she could sing – and dance."

Super super excited.

hS

Semi-OT: Of possible note to hS... by Scapegrace on 2016-10-21 13:29:00 UTC Reply

Is this 'ere pub, in the (to him) nearby village of Wymondham. I might be telling you something you already know, but I stumbled upon it quite by chance and thought it relevant to your interests. =]

That's pretty cool. ^_^ by Huinesoron on 2016-10-21 13:42:00 UTC Reply

I assume you mean nearby to me, not to Tolkien (who lived in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Oxford, and Bournemouth, but never as far as I know Norfolk).

It's not the only Green Dragon, either. Google tells me I can find one in Cambridge, Braintree, three in London... wow, I could design the geekiest and spaced-out-iest pub crawl ever.

Alas, there doesn't appear to be a genuine Prancing Pony (though it is the name of a brewery in Australia). Or a Forsaken Inn... anywhere. There is, interestingly, an Ivy Bush inn (it's Gaffer Gamgee's local, on the Bywater road)... in central Birmingham. So maybe Tolkien knew of that one.

hS

There's 'The Hobbit' Pub in Southampton too by Storme Hawk on 2016-10-22 10:00:00 UTC Reply

It does loads of different cocktails and shots that are named after Lord of the Rings characters and is probably the only place in the world where you can say "Can I have an Elrond please?" without getting loads of weird looks.

There's a dirty joke about putting Boromir in one's mouth. by Scapegrace on 2016-10-22 13:26:00 UTC Reply

Since this is a family-friendly forum, I shall decline to make it. =]

So, when we Gather... {= D by Neshomeh on 2016-10-21 15:26:00 UTC Reply

Y'know, assuming the money comes together and all that. Which is unfortunately still a big assumption at the moment. But I can dream.

I like British pubs. I've never felt out of place in one despite not drinking.

~Neshomeh

I shall have to provide you with interesting craft sodas. =] by Scapegrace on 2016-10-21 15:36:00 UTC Reply

Since, y'know, I gave hS interesting real ale last time, and that would be pointless for you. =]

In that case... by Neshomeh on 2016-10-25 14:13:00 UTC Reply

I like ginger beer and root beer, and I'm willing to try most anything with unusual herbal flavors that most people would turn up their noses at. Can't stand anything cola-flavored, though. {= )

~Neshomeh finally thought of how to reply to this post other than "yes, that would be nice!"

Ooh, now that sounds interesting. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-25 14:48:00 UTC Reply

Much to the dismay of Britain At Large, I've never really developed a taste for beer; it was certainly worth the experience of trying Scape's gift, but I think we'd probably get more use out of craft sodas (in terms of 'hey, we could have this again'). And Kaitlyn has a vast collection of herbal teas, so she'd certainly be up for sending Smeagol to find some 'erbs.

... not that I meant to compare Scapegrace to Gollum. Um, maybe you could be Sam instead, Scape?

hS

You've made your bedses now, precious... by Smeagrace on 2016-10-26 04:51:00 UTC Reply

But yeah, I'm more than okay with fetching interesting things. There's a couple of London craft soda breweries who I reckon will be up your collective alley, so I'll look into ensuring sufficient supplies for any and all Gatherings that occur.

In the meantime: hS, do try anything by Boylan's or Goose Island if you haven't already. I'll probably go for Square Root for the actual visit, since they're small enough to evade notice and I can reliably source them. =]

Protectors of the Pub Crawl? by Scapegrace on 2016-10-21 14:17:00 UTC Reply

Drunk AU best AU. =]

One thing that intrigues me... by Huinesoron on 2016-10-21 12:46:00 UTC Reply

... is that several of the articles claim the book will mostly consist of the 'original version' of the story.

I... find that unlikely. The Tale of Tinuviel is very different from the story as presented in the Silmarillion - it takes place in a wildly different (simpler) Beleriand, and notably has Beren as a Noldo(!). And that's not even mentioning the giant cat which makes Beren its slave...

So while the idea of a Readers' Version of the Book of Lost Tales is one I've liked for a while, I think it far more likely we'll get the version found in the Quenta Silmarillion draft - ie, something slightly longer than the version that made its way into the published Silm.

What I would like - and find it unlikely I'll get - is a triple combination version which presents, in reverse order of writing, the Quenta version, the Lay of Leithian (combined from the rewrite and the original), and the Tale of Tinuviel, all in 'reader' versions. Then the latter part of the book could be the analysis. That would be a gorgeous book... but it won't happen. ;)

hS
Well, I know what I want for my birthday. (nm) by Neshomeh on 2016-10-20 15:03:00 UTC Reply
Ooh. by Desdendelle on 2016-10-20 12:18:00 UTC Reply

All on-board the hype train!