The Fireside

It’s finally out. Well, released in the manner that I would like. A video game I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about since it was released.  The Witcher 3, but the Game of the Year Edition. Now, I hardly ever buy or play computer video games when they’re brand new. Especially if I have a feeling, or if it’s likely that future content will be coming somewhere down the road (great examples is The Elder Scrolls series). For starters, my hardware is never not quite up to snuff to run the game ‘properly’ (all settings maxed out!). So, when it comes to computer games I’m used to sort of waiting. What I do, is wait for the deluxe / game of the year type package to arrive before I get it. Or, if there is no ‘package’, I’ll buy everything related to the game in one shot. Once the company and developers say “that’s it, we’re finished on __. No future content will be coming.” I think “OK, now I can get it!” or shortly thereafter. That way, I get the ‘complete’...

In some of my earlier Tolkien Tuesday posts, I mentioned how I own some Tolkien books that are not 'on the shelf'. Of course, I have no desire to 'hide' them, but a) 'the shelf' is reserved for the MAIN books. and b) If I would put everything by Tolkien on the shelf, I fear it may get too full, or too heavy for everything. So I keep them in another area, yet still all together. Please note that this post will be the last of "things I own" in regards to Tolkien Tuesday. If I obtain another Tolkien book, I'll most likely do a post just about it.  This post will list them all: - The Annotated Hobbit (Revised Edition) "Seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tale, The Hobbit. Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the world, and its hero, Bilbo Baggins, has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals: Alice, P...

My my, how time flies! August is nearly at an end! I don’t know why time has seemed to flow quicker than usual as of late. I haven’t been keeping myself too busy. It may be time to finally shut off the air conditioning. I don’t put it on when it gets unbearably hot or humid, but more to keep the temperature at a specific level so it won’t get hot in the house. September is nearly upon us, which means Labour Day long-weekend is coming up for us Canadian folk. That also means that fall is nigh. Now, I really like it when it’s ‘cool’ or ‘warm’. Ideally, my preferred temperature is 20 celsius, either end of the thermometer. I also like winter. I just dislike how long we have ‘winter weather’ here up in Canada. Towards the end, it feels like it overstays its welcome. And the barren stretch of Jan & Feb is never fun either. Bit by bit I’ve been working on the book. The plot (not my work, but the story progression) is advancing at a glacial pace. I mean, of course, the...

"Books are meant to read !" I hear some of you crying aloud. I definitely agree. However, there are certain editions of certain books that appeal to collectors. Whether we want a nicer edition beyond a possibly spectacular hardback editions for our own reading, or for 'holding on to', collecting books, especially Tolkien books is definitely a popular thing. What initially attracted me to collecting them, is that I saw some of the prices the original editions (first edition, first print, first impression...) are going for. It's crazy to see how much some are worth, and how much they sell for. Also, look at other items over the years. Namely, Star Wars action figures still in the box, etc. I own two 'sets' of Tolkien books. There are my hardback editions for reading and using (although taking care of them as best as I can), and there are my 'do not read editions'. These, as you've guessed are not reading, and were purchased with ...

So lately you may have been hearing about a band in the news or on social media called The Tragically Hip. Also known as "Canada's Pearl Jam". Let me tell you why. Earlier this year, the band's singer, Gord Downie, had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Shortly after the news broke, the band announced a (potential) farewell tour. I phrase it like that, because, really, the future of the band is dependant on Gord's health as time goes on. Apparantly, he has received treatment, and it's gone well, but there's no cure for his particular case. This past Saturday, as the band's (potentially) final show, of that tour, in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Oh yes - they're Canadian! I'm unfamiliar with the band, for the most part. Since they are Canadian, I've heard a good number of their songs throughout the years - music videos on much music, on the radio, etc. Outside of that, I haven't paid that much attention. I only ...

For the very first time on November 1, all 6 Middle-earth films will be released in one package on blu-ray, consisting of 30 discs . This box set, includes the following films, in order of release: - The Fellowship of the Ring - The Two Towers - The Return of the King - The Hobbit: Part 1 - The Hobbit: Part 2 - The Hobbit: Part 3 The versions of the films is the extended editions for all 6, plus all the previously released content and special features. The official info is as reads: - For the first time ever, Academy Award®-winning director Peter Jackson's epic adventure is available in one spectacular limited collector's edition box set. - The Limited Collector's Edition includes 30 discs featuring all six Middle-earth films in their extended edition forms, housed in six stunning faux leather books and a collectible Hobbit-style wood shelf. The one-of-a-kind wood shelf is crafted from solid wood with design selected by Peter Jackson. - In addition to the ...

Happy #TolkienTuesday all! Wherein I take a moment or two to ponder about Tolkien, and his works, his influences, and things that stemmed from his legacy. Each week since I began this series of posts, I’ve ‘examined’ my reading editions of the main Tolkien books on ‘my shelf’. I’ve got a shelf on my wall dedicated to my core Tolkien books. Well, today, I’ve reached the end of that shelf. But, not the end of my #TolkienTuesday posts. Also, I own other Tolkien books (not too many others) that I call “supplementary books” which I don’t have on the shelf (amount of them to add to what’s on the shelf already, weight, size, etc) that I’ll go into at some point. Those will get one blog post for all of them. Things like art books, references, etc. However, next week I’ll tell you about my ‘other’ collection; but for the time being, let’s have a look at that last book. This last book is called The Story of Kullervo . This newest book (publication date wise) that I (physica...

My ‘shelf exam’ is nearly at an end! This week, I’ll be looking at Beowulf . This is Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf . It’s in prose, as opposed to verse – though he partially worked on a verse translation. By that fact, many Beowulf scholars may not like this edition because of the fact it’s not in verse. This publication is more substantial and ‘complete’ than The Fall of Arthur was, and feels similar to Sigurd & Gudrun . The book features the complete prose translation, as well as other goodies, which showcase Tolkien’s love and knowledge on Beowulf . Also, because it’s a translation, it’s interesting to see how Tolkien saw or interpreted certain portions. The best example I can think of is at the very beginning: “hwaet!” is “lo!” to him. So, let’s get into this book….. The dustjacket features a dragon design by Tolkien, and is quite lovely and striking and definitely looks like a Tolkien book. It feels like one too, as it uses the matte, paper-y texture commo...

Very recently, some of my blog posts (the Tolkien Tuesday series, of course) were featured in The Tolkien Society’s webpage section named “Tolkien Transactions”. I wanted to express my gratitude at being featured and mentioned. It is an honour to be recognized by such dedicated fans of Professor’s Tolkien’s works; as well as interacting with them online. So once again, thank you, and keep checking every Tuesday!

Well, I hate to say it, but it happened. About four years ago, when I began extremely early drafts of my novel and conceiving the plot, characters, and background info, it was my intent to have the first volume completed; in the earliest of draft forms by August 6 th , 2016. That day marked 20 years since the publication of A Game of Thrones, the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. That's because while reading the books that were out at the time, they served as the spark to get me to write. Well, that day is coming up this week and I’m nowhere close to meeting that. I’ve made progress, but it’s all distributed across over a few character chapters, plot notes, background info, notes on the map…..there’s still quite a bit to do, but I’ve been laying the foundation. I’m creating the world as I’m putting story elements and characters into it. It’ll go a lot better (not to mention faster) once the world building has had a lot more work. Not only that, but I work...

Continuing my trend of examining the main, primary books that I have on ‘the shelf’ (which isn’t all of my Tolkien books, but all the main, or essential ones), we have one that is very similar in style, in terms of content and subject material, to The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun . We have The Fall of Arthur . Which is not a translation, but an original poem by Tolkien. The cover artwork matches the theme of Sigurd & Gudrun , as you can see if you compare the two books side by side. I also forgot to mention in previous posts going as far back as The Children of Hurin , that from that book onwards, the ‘layout’ on the dustjackjet cover matches. Also, all of the Tolkien books I’m covering, the size dimensions match, or are VERY close to it, so they are all of an equal height. Of course, the thickness of each book varies from book to book. The Fall of Arthur , is a slimmer book compared to recent publications. Thickness wise, it’s about the size of one of the The Lord o...