After the third great battle between the elves and Morgoth (Dagor Aglareb), Beleriand settled into a watchful peace and the elves — both Sindar and Noldorin — established the boundaries of their kingdoms. This is all recorded in Of Beleriand and its Realms — the 14th chapter of the Silmarillion.
We wonder, though, who is telling the tale? From what era? Could it be a Sindar elf, a Noldor lord? Or even a hobbit, perhaps?
Descriptions of the slag and ash-heaps of Thangorodrim, for example, are remniscent of the fields outside Mordor’s gate. With smoke constantly issuing from its lofty peaks, Thangorodrim itself feels like a forerunner of Mt Doom.
In describing Angband’s ceaseless furnaces and forges, is Tolkien describing the area around Birmingham and the inexorable industrialisation of his childhood home?
Yet Ard-galen, on Angband’s very doorstep, stands as a contrast. Does Morgoth leave this lush plain untouched and unpolluted as a subtle way to lull the Eldar into a false sense of security? The writer also mentions that many of the horses of Ard-galen sires came from Valinor — given to Fingolfin by Maehdros. Could these have been the ultimate ancestors of the Mearas that arose in Rohan thousands of years later?
The geo-political divisions that develop are also interesting. Maehdros moves his kin to East Beleriand, both to bear the brunt of any attack from Morgoth and to keep the Curse as quiescent as possible. Fingolfin and Fingon rule from Hithlum, one of the harshest places they could have chosen. Was it because their people were the most hardy and valiant? It’s also mentioned that they were the most feared by the Orcs and most hated by Morgoth. Why?
Of all the Noldor, it is Finrod who controls rules the greatest amount of land. Why? And why is it that in Nevrast many Sindar take Turgon for their ruler, yet Sindar elsewhere do not seem to do the same with other Noldor lords? In fact, most of the Sindar followed Cirdan or Thingol, not the Noldor. They appreciate the Noldor as a bulwark against Morgoth, but live apart from them. And the Nandor followed Thingol or no one.
It’s also mentioned that Morgoth’s minions always avoided water “to the sea none would willingly go nigh, save in dire need.” Here we have a definite statement that almost definitely explains the problems the Nazgul have in crossing water. Perhaps Ulmo was part of the reason Morgoth’s servants stayed off the water? And perhaps Ulmo’s protection is the same reason Beren and Luthien choose an an island as their home?
Finally, what of the taint on the Esgalduin and Nan Dungortheb? Was it wholly Ungoliant’s? And when she pass on, did that mean it would eventually fade away to nothing?
Join us in the Hall of Fire on the TORn IRC Server this Saturday October 22 from 5.30pm EDT as we discuss this and more and examine Chapter 14 of the Silmarillion – Of Beleriand and its Realms.
Asia-Pacific: 7.30am (Sunday) Brisbane 7.30am (Sunday) Sydney 9.30am (Sunday) Wellington
Chats usually last 45 mins to an hour, and are very newbie friendly. Simply drop in and join the conversation!
Special reminder
Don’t forget our live chat with famed Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee on November 5. Alan will be answering your questions on his work for an hour. However, this chat is sure to be popular, so send us your question early!
Where?
Chat happens on #thehalloffire on irc.theonering.net – the TORn IRC server. You can connect instantly via our java chat client that works inside your web browser (find it here! ) or choose to install a dedicated chat program such as mIRC on your computer.
To find out more about using mIRC to connect to TORn IRC server, check out these instructions.
Upcoming topics:
Sat October 22 – Silmarillion Ch 14 Sun October 30 – Silmarillion Ch 14 Sat November 5 – Alan Lee live Q&A Sun November 13 – The seven deadly sins in LoTR Sat November 19 – The seven deadly sins in LoTR
Got a topic? Let us know your idea!
If you have a burning desire to discuss something in Hall of Fire, drop us a line with your topic at halloffire@theonering.net. If we like it, we’ll probably give it a run in the coming weeks – you might even get to guest moderate the session!
Join HoF Announce!
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It’s time to open the nominations for the One Ring Awards, to be held at The One Ring Celebration in Pasadena, CA on January 21, 2006. Like last year, most of the Awards will be voted on by you, the best LOTR fans on the net. Please send all nomination submissions to: OneRingAwards@theonering.net using the format asked for, thank you. Entries will be accepted until the end of November 2005.
1 – Best Tolkien based Lecture or Paper presented at an Academic function (i.e. Marquette, Oxenmoot, etc) in 2005. Please list the event presented at, name of the scholar presenting and if known, the title of the paper or lecture. If you do not know the exact title, summarize the lecture or paper.
2 – Best Tolkien themed book published in 2005. Please provide the name of the author and the title of the book.
3 – Best Performance by a LOTR actor/actress in a Supporting Role in a TV Series, Made for TV Movie, Mini-Series or Motion Picture (for 2005). Please provide the name of the actor/actress, the show/film, and the role played. For television shows please provide the name of the network and the country it aired on.
4 – Best Performance by a LOTR actor/actress in a Leading Role in a TV series, Made for TV Movie, Mini-Series or Motion Picture (for 2005). Please provide the name of the actor/actress, the show/film, and the role played. For television shows please provide the name of the network and the country it aired on.
5 – Best Fan Fiction (PG-13 or lower, no Slash). Please submit link to the story, the title, and the name of the writer. If possible, how to contact the writer should also be included. This should be a Fan Fic that is currently available on the web so that other fans can view it and then vote on it.
6 – Best Fan website (fan fiction, fan art, actors, etc). Please provide a link, and the name of the site. This should be a website that is currently in existence so that other fans can see it and vote on it.
In order to help you in the acting categories, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of the shows and films the LOTR cast appeared in this year. You can pick from this list and you can add to it. Thank you!
Elijah Wood in Sin City (Kevin), Green Street Hooligans (Matt Buckner), and Everything Is Illuminated (Jonathan)
Billy Boyd in On A Clear Day (Danny)
Dominic Monaghan in Lost (TV) (Charlie)
Sean Astin in Smile (Mr Matthews), Hercules (TV) (Linus), and Into The West (TV) (Martin Jarrett)
Orlando Bloom in Kingdom Of Heaven (Balian) and Elizabethtown (Drew)
Viggo Mortensen in A History Of Violence (Tom)
Sean Bean in The Island (Merrick), Flightplan (Captain Rich), and North Country (Kyle)
Ian McKellen in Asylum (Dr Cleave)
Ian Holm in Lord of War (Simeon Weisz)
Brad Dourif in Deadwood Year 2 (Doc Cochran)
Marton Csokas in Kingdom Of Heaven (Guy de Lusignan) and Asylum (Edgar Stark)
John Rhys-Davies in Revelations (TV) (Professor Jonah Lampley)
Christopher Lee in Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith (Count Dooku), and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Dr Wonka)
Linuxelf writes: John Rhys-Davies makes a welcome return to New Zealand as a special guest. all three days of the upcoming tenth anniversary expo. Currently best known for his role as GIMLI THE DWARF in the hit trilogy of Lord of the Rings, John studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and in addition to his distinguished theatre work – Othello, Macbeth and Falstaff – has taken leading roles in many movies among them Victor/Victoria, The Living Daylights, King Solomon’s Mines and the 1992 remake of Conan Doyle’s The Lost World in which he starred as Professor Challenger.
Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo
TENTH ANNIVERSARY EVENT – Aotea Centre, Auckland, October 22-24th 2005
He will be signing autographs:
These are the signing times for the guests at Armageddon. Please note, these times do not include on stage panel times. Video Ezy Celebrity Signing area – Level three. All guests signing all three days between
10am to Noon & 3pm to 5pm, these guests include
Gates McFadden Dean Haglund Robin Atkins Downes Richard Hatch Cliff Simon Julie Caitlin Brown Nicole DeBoer Torri Higginson Jay Laga’aia John Rhys-Davies
Tinuvielas writes: Here are the Pro’s (many) and Con’s (some) about RingCon 2005, to be followed by a Summary & Quotes of the John Noble and (part of) the Billy Boyd panel October, 9th, 2005
“I’m sittin’ in a railway-station, gotta ticket for my destination… hmm-mmm…” – anyone remember that song? Anyone relate to that melancholy feeling of being cast out of Middle-Earth and re-emerging into the bleak reality of a crowded train-ride home, so familiar after three day’s worth of RingCon? Three days of coming-together (which is of course what “con-venire” actually means), of singing – it was a very musical Con, this time, dubbed a “Sing-Con” by some, but more of this later – of laughing and having FUN!
October 14th, 2005, just back from holiday
The above was indeed written on the train, when I was still dressed up as an elf and suffering from the after-effects of overexcitement, of being part of a large, one-minded group, of too much mead and too little sleep and food. But, to quote another ancient song, “sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe and…” to be at RingCon!!! Yes, they managed to pull it off again! Yes, they actually managed to top last year’s experience – and, what’s more, they did it in spite of not inconsiderable odds such as:
a) A totally new location. The newly-opened Esperanto Hotel in Fulda is larger than Bonn’s Maritim, conveniently situated in the Middle of Germany and endowed with a lot of nice terraces where people could go outside and enjoy the beautiful warm weather, but it was scarcely and unlovingly decorated in the opinion of several fans I spoke to, and also in large part coldly lit and not very atmospheric indeed (one fan compared it to a railway-station…). Moreover, at least initially, organisation and staff at the hotel were rather ignorant and totally overtaxed, resulting in fans erring all around Middle-Earth looking for places to leave their luggage, people waiting up late for their overbooked rooms and loooooong lines at the counters;
b) The cancellation of both major stars Sean Astin and David Wenham on short notice because of their filming-schedule. Fortunately, Billy Boyd came instead, but more of that later;
c) The cancellation of John Howe and Colleen Duran because of the flu. All of these cancellations lead to various changes of schedule which were necessary but a bit confusing;
d) Finally, a comparatively lame opening ceremony in a cold hall without funny videos, featuring a Marc B. Lee hard put to explain all of the above to several thousand disgruntled fans. He did it professionally enough and ended up offering free mead and beer to get the party going… yeah, but it still did take the Con a full day to take off, this year, which was a shame.
However, once it got going, like I said, they made it another unforgettable experience, and by “they” I mean not only the organisers, but staff, stars, guests and fans alike. For this year’s RingCon, even more than last’s imho, was a true get-together, a shared experience of those on stage and those below. The interaction was wonderful: fans singing for Billy Boyd during his panel and Billy Boyd performing a beautiful solo on stage; the “elves”-actors joining in the choreographed show put up by the sword-fighting workshop at the Closing ceremony; Mark and Craig and the “hobbit”-actors getting fans on stage to perform with them; or last-minute addition Lawrence Makoare (who said it was going to be his last Con L) playing the fool in the audience during some of the panels. Even Marc B. Lee once got down to the floor to ask Thomas Robbins (“Deagol”) (I think) a couple of questions.
Or take John Noble, who held his first panel Saturday night. Tell you what: I wasn’t excited about him as Denethor, so I didn’t much mind him coming to RingCon (or indeed, not coming last year). But wow, what a surprise: this actor is a wonderful person! A true gentleman, nice, polite, considerate and warm, appreciating the fans, giving each and everyone of them the feeling of being glad to meet them (and indeed shaking every single autograph-seeker’s hand, not to speak of the fact that he gave autographs for free). However, read for yourselves in my transcription of his panel below.
Another thing which made up for the initial difficulties, and which made RingCon 2005 a success after all, was that for the first time (again imho), this year’s several shows were truly spectacular and of professional quality. Whereas last years’ costume contests, for instance, often bore the mark of unintentional Comedy, with contestants seriously re-enacting a scene that was much better re-viewed on DVD, or Germans declaiming Tolkien-lyrics in a heavily accented English, this year’s acts were for the most part witty, funny, each with a twist to them that had the audience rolling on the floor laughing – as when two girls dressed up as “A Leaf of Lembas” and “Galadriel’s Phial” and hopped around the stage dancing to the title-song of grumpy children’s cartoon-character “Bernd, the Bread”.
However, what really totally surprised and overwhelmed everyone present on Saturday night was the following shows. After an exciting stunt-show featuring human (or rather orcish) torches and a guy unexpectedly falling off the ten-meter ceiling in the middle of the hall (onto a thick mattress, sending up billowing clouds of dust), the well-known Boromir-character (he with the wet hair in his eyes “who wants to live forever…”) entered the stage. He was joined by a huge cast of fellow Ring-Stars, all of them fans and amateurs, professionally enacting a highly entertaining quick version of The Lord of the Rings: “Ring-Stars – The Unleashed Tales”. Anyone enjoyed “Shakespeare’s works in 90 minutes”? Well, this one’s a match, and Kudos to director Marc Blasweiler! Most impressive of all (in a literal sense as well, since it was rather loud…) was the score, a perfectly mixed medley of the most hilarious songs fitting for each scene. A few examples, and thanks to my two roommates who helped my poor musical memory out:
“I’m too sexy” and “Sex bomb”/Legolas strutting along the stage
Buffy’s “Once more with feeling”/The Fellowship marching off
“We are the champions”/Helm’s Deep
“Who wants to live forever”/Boromir’s death
“Don’t stop me now”/Boromir holding the ring on top of the snowy mountain
Bon Jovi’s “It’s my life”/Faramir
Moulin Rouge “Come what may”/Aragorn and Arwen
“Love is a battlefield”/Arwen and Eowyn
“For your eyes only” and Guano Apes’ “Open your eyes”/Frodo at Galadriel’s mirror
“A fools garden”/Merry and Pippin in Fangorn.
Needless to say, everyone in the audience screamed their guts out with laughter. Anyone who wants to join in is recommend to purchase the Con-DVD (and I’m not getting any money out of this recommendation!).
To finish my cursory impressions… the above-mentioned musical aspect. When Billy Boyd was asked (again) to sing a song during his panel, and had (again) predictably declined to do so uttering his by-now-well-known simple “no”, some 60 girls and women suddenly crept up the main aisle, got up when it was their turn at the microphone, thanked him for coming to the Con, and heartily sang the Hobbit’s Drinking Song to him – sounding indeed rather drunk, I daresay, due to the excitement…
Fortunately, Billy seemed quite impressed, and after several more intelligent questions from the floor about Billy’s musical interests and career, he actually ended his panel saying that he was “kind of feeling bad about not singing to you” and asking for a guitar, which he eventually got. He tuned it lovingly, said with a little laugh “God knows how this is gonna go – gonna have fun, guys” (he was referring to a cold he’d caught waiting at the airport) and finally sang a beautiful ballad all by himself. He really is an accomplished singer with a gorgeous voice, and you could have heard a pin drop in the audience. When he’d finished, he got roaring Standing Ovations.
All in all, Billy Boyd’s appearance at this year’s RingCon totally redeemed his rather cool stance last year. He seemed almost a different person, a lot more relaxed on stage and easy with the fans this time, taking off his shoes and apparently joining in the fun everyone else now seemed to be having, which was great to witness (see my transcript of his panel below).
However, Billy Boyd wasn’t the only one to sing on (or indeed, off-) stage. Peter Tait (aka Shagrat in the film) twice performed a goose-fleshy orc-song he’d written himself, telling about the love-hate-relationship between Shagrat and Shelob, the “spider rumbling in her lair…” – wish I could give you the clever lyrics, but I’m sure you’ll find them on the net somewhere…
Finally – another premiere here – there was an official Elven-choir-workshop this year, born from last year’s enthusiastic get-together and the incredible talent and effort of a young woman, a student of Music, Carola. She had rearranged several pieces of LOTR-music for four female voices and got a disparate band of some sixty women to rehearse them and perform two of them (“Haldir’s Lament” and “Twilight and Shadow”) at the Closing Ceremony. Of course those were the same above-mentioned singers who’d decided spontaneously to surprise Billy with a warm-up-song… (And let me assure you, all were glad that it went down well with him and the audience…). Anyway, since I participated in this event I can’t really say anything about the final outcome except that it was mercifully over quickly once we’d entered the stage; but what I can say is that the rehearsals were a GREAT experience – the one thing that really made the Con worth the time and the money!!!
P.S. “Slash”. For the first time a topic on stage as far as I know, brought up during a panel, and guess whose… J. Quite fitting in so far as some of the Lord of the Rings minor actors present have posed as slashy models for Marja Kettner’s and Storm Constantine’s “Wraeththu – the picture book”, a signed copy of which was given away during the charity auction.
P.P.S. Craig’s and Mark’s panels (yeah, of course it was them with the slashy topic…) are getting to be more and more… well… intimate… (on stage and with the audience). Moreover, their jokes and wordplays slowly but surely assume Shakespearean qualities and dimensions. Like that question about Craig’s “Elven Sword”… fodder for fifteen minutes’ worth of hilarious allusions, culminating in Mark’s extending his … arm to considerable length into the air and declaring that SOME elves not only have a sword… SOME elves have – a SPEAR! (Which of course turned out to be this year’s convention’s running gag.)
P.P.P.S. I just realised I didn’t mention Royd Tolkien, J.R.R.T.s great-grandson, joining the fun. One more handsome male willing to fool around. On stage. P.
On that note… CU next year!?
TBC (tomorrow, I hope) with the transcripts of some of the panels
Are you interested in attending a premiere screening and charity event for RINGERS in Los Angeles? If so write to: info@planetbb.com. ONLY YOU can help us convince SONY that the fans should have a wonderful premiere party for RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS before it comes out on DVD November 22!! [http://www.sonypictures.com/ringers] We are sending out this EMERGENCY call to action for Southern California Tolkien fans — because YOU showing interest in the event will help make it our break it! The movie you’ve heard so much about, our award-winning documentary RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS, needs your help! If you guys respond over the weekend by writing to us, and tell your local friends to join in, we might succeed in creating another party of special magnificence!
WHAT: RINGERS is trying to put together a big premiere party (it will also be a charity fund-raiser, the select charity is TBD)
WHO: YOU and the creative team behind RINGERS
WHERE: In a major theater in metropolitan Los Angeles
WHEN: Thur., November 17, 2005, in the later afternoon/early evening
WHY: We need to see that we have enough interest from fans in order to hold the event.
WILL ANY LOTR STARS ATTEND?: We have invited them but none have confirmed.
WHAT KIND OF PARTY? WHAT IS INCLUDED?: The details are still being ironed out — but you will be the last audience to EVER see the film RINGERS in full glory in a movie theatre before its home video release. This will be a red-carpet premiere of the film followed by a catered party sure to please the hobbity appetite in all of us. There will be food, drink, and merriment! Details TBD.
TICKET PRICE?: This will be a charity fund-raiser! Therefore these tickets will be in the Oscar party range.
IMPORTANT!!!!
SONY will not confirm this event unless you write us an email, stating you have an interest and how many tickets you would like. WE MUST GET EVERYONE TO WRITE US BY END OF DAY MONDAY, OCT. 17 or this will not happen!
This email is NOT a ticket purchase.
This email is NOT a confirmation that you will buy your ticket.
You need only tell us how many tickets you are certain could be purchased for your groups’ attendance.
Thanks so much for all your continued support!
Watch the front page of TheOneRing.net and we will update you as we move forward!
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT RINGERS:
“There’s a new documentary to take you back to the Shire!” – Premiere magazine
“…Charming! Plenty of juicy factoids!” –Wired.com
“…Wildly entertaining! …A flawless combination of informative objectivity and insider enthusiasm. Unfailingly noble in spirit and delightfully comprehensive, RINGERS is a collector’s gift that can proudly stand alongside Tolkien’s books and Jackson’s timeless movie trilogy.” – Amazon.com
“RINGERS is comprehensive, entertaining and informative pop-cultural history!” – The Toronto Star
“…Will always be a salient part of ‘Lord of the Rings’ history… See it, absorb it, love it!” – FilmThreat
Winner of the “Outstanding Achievement” Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival
With just a little over 3 months to go before ORC 2006, TheOneRing.net and Creation Entertainment are proud to make a few guest announcements.
First off, one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, Mr. Sean Astin, is back again. With his wonderful part in TNT’s summer success “Into the West” and his current new role on Fox’s “24“, Sean will have some wonderful stories to share from the sets of both projects. In fact, 24 will have just begun the weekend before ORC 2006, so I expect everyone to be bursting to ask Sean for all the secret details regarding CTU and Jack Bauer.
Joining Sean at ORC 2006 will be John Noble, attending his first event with TORn and Creation. John is currently filming in Vancouver for Stargate SG1, something I know will garner loads of interest from fans. Will he be a good guy or a bad guy? Find out with us at ORC 2006.
We are also well on our way to bringing you some of the best evening entertainment out there. Charles Ross is back with his incredible “One Man Lord of the Rings Trilogy” performance. You won’t want to miss this, and this time around, he’s on Friday evening so as not to interfere with flights home. We also found, right in my own neck of the woods, The Fenians, a wicked-cool high energy band from right here in Orange County.
This is just the beginning, there will be more special guests, more evening entertainment, and more fun to announce soon. In case you think we’ve forgotten our Tolkien fan base, don’t worry. We are working hard to bring you Tolkien scholars, artists, costumers and authors. We’ll have film and video contests, a full art show, costume contest, and the One Ring awards, celebrating the full range of Tolkien Fandom out there. And of course, no show would be complete without you, the best fans in the world. We even have some interactive events in the works for all you wonderful Ringers to participate in. Get ready for the biggest bash this side of Bag End.
Get your Tickets Today by visiting the Official ORC 2005 Website! [Click Here]
