The Fireside

Hard to believe that that time of year is nearly upon us again . Where has the rest of December gone?? Anyway, I'll share with you some suggested items that I believe are essential to any geek. Though it may be late, here are some ideas (last minute it seems) for the geek on your list - even if it's you.  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN:  9780007458424 The beginning of the re-invention of the fantasy genre as we know it. I highly suggest this paperback edition of The Hobbit  if you need a replacement copy, or are starting someone on Tolkien.  Here are the other books that will match this one: Middle-earth: ~ The Fellowship of the Ring: ISBN  9780261103573 ~ The Two Towers: ISBN:  9780261103580 ~ The Return of the King : ISBN  9780261103597 ~ The Silmarillion : ISBN  9780007523221 ~ Unfinished Tales : ISBN  9780261102163 ~ The Children of Hurin : ISBN  9780007252268 ~ Beren and Luthien:  ISBN  9780008214227 [coming...

  Since the announcement of the Amazon Middle-earth series (which will take place after The Hobbit: Part 3 but before The Fellowship of the Ring ) I’ve been mulling things over. First off, all the major news announcements etc have said “Lord of the Rings”. In terms of plot , that is simply not true – we are not going from Hobbiton to Mount Doom with Frodo etc. HOWEVER , the material in which the Amazon series will be based on is found within the pages of the book known as The Lord of the Rings , or to be more precise, The Return of the King . It will be based on what is found within the Appendices, most likely. A re-boot or remake of the Peter Jackson films to me would be a terrible idea. Any adaptation has changes from its source material from one medium into another. The films have been very well received by both critics and fans. The Hobbit films, is another manner. Opinion on them is a bit more more…divided. Since the Amazon series will most likely ‘supplement’ both ...

Today is a big day for fans of fantasy - Oathbringer , the third book in Brandon Sanderson's 10-book Stormlight series is published today. Sanderson is one of the best new(er) authors in fantasy, proving himself with a strong debut ( Elantris ) the Mistborn series, and now with Stormlight. The first two books, The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance , have both been well-received. The Stormlight series is a different type of fantasy, with immense world-building and lore. It is the spiritual successor to The Wheel of Time series. They are both apples and oranges, however Stormlight follows down the path that The Wheel of Time began. They are not related by any means, I mean to say that the vein of fantasy is close. Please note that you can't (and shouldn't) compare Sanderson with Martin, or Stormlight with Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones. So whether or not you've read The Wheel of time, if you like fantasy period, be sure not to miss the Stormlight series. Book...

Well, I promised you all an update, so here it is! My lady and I took a one-week trip to Nova Scotia and Quebec City mid to late October. We drove from Ottawa to Quebec City, then Quebec City to Nova Scotia. We enjoy taking trips, and thought we were due for one. Also, my uncle had a wedding during then. So, the purpose of the trip was for the wedding, although we greatly elaborated on it by doing more sight-seeing and vacationing. Needless to say, we both want to retire to Cape Breton Island [seriously – hop on google images. Or rather…don’t….the less people there the better!] It was great, great fun – the entire trip. Our Escape performed admirably and kept us going along the way. As did McDonald’s – their coffee, muffins and other things for ‘road travel’ were definitely welcome. Plus, they also have the Monopoly going on, as well. So there’s that. That aside, “life” has been happening! Hard to believe we already into November. Winter, and Christmas, are coming. On th...

I owe you a general update, but first up, is the info about the new illustrated editions of  Fantastic Beasts . The newly illustrated edition is now available in both hardback, and a special edition (hardback with slipcase). “This glorious new edition of Newt Scamander's  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them  (considered a classic throughout the wizarding world) features an extraordinary array of magical creatures, from Acromantula to Yeti via ten different breeds of dragon - all beautifully illustrated in full colour by the brilliantly inventive, Greenaway Medal shortlisted Olivia Lomenech Gill. Famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander's years of adventure and exploration have yielded a work of unparalleled importance, admired by scholars, devoured by young witches and wizards, and even made available to Muggles in the early years of this century. With this dazzling illustrated edition, readers can explore the magical fauna of five continents from the comfort of their ow...

Well, that was an enjoyable Tolkien Week, as well as Hobbit Day. To celebrate, I organized a "Rather Merry Gathering" at the Mill St Ottawa Brewpub on Hobbit Day. I had a few pints of their Portage Ale on draught, and bought their fall mixed pack for take home. I ordered the most hobbit-y item on the menu: the mushroom flatbread. It was great to see everyone, as it's been a few months. I primarily did this, because "The Hobbit" turned 80. If it wasn't a milestone event or To lkien anniversary - well, the pub still may have happened anyway, for Hobbit Day. Then, I began reading "The Annotated Hobbit". Next time I open the book, it'll be onto Chapter 4. Following this, I'll dive into Corey Olsen's "Exploring The Hobbit". I'll check out the podcasts (Tolkien Professor, Mythgard and Signum) sometime after I finish the book. That'll be two books off my reading list! (on my Kobo ereader, for travel and commute, I'm...

A picture is worth a thousand words, as the old saying goes. For as long as there's been Middle-earth books published (beginning in 1937), there have also been quite a few images over the years. Far too many to recount in a single post. However, I wish to acknowledge some as my absolute favourites. Before I do so, I wish to say that I hope I'm not breaching any copyright. I am uploading, or linking, these images and giving the artists their well-deserved due credit. If I don't know the exact official title of a piece, I apologize. I do however know the artists' names. The images, where applicable, come directly off their official sites. THE HOBBIT I am going to showcase these art pieces in order of publication of the texts which have been illustrated on artistic level. First up, is "The Hill: Hobbiton Across the Water" done by none other than Tolkien himself! Depending on the edition of The Hobbit  you own, this could very well be the first piece o...

Today is a very special day. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien turns 80 years old. As monumental as The Lord of the Rings  was for fantasy; those volumes wouldn't have existed if it weren't for The Hobbit . The Lord of the Rings  initially began as a sequel to The Hobbit , but the tale grew in the telling, as Tolkien often said. The Hobbit  somewhat did, as well. It is slightly long - for a children's book. The Hobbit  wasn't planned, or initially part, to be joined with Tolkien's mythology he was devoted most of his life to. It was in The Hobbit  that he dropped hints, breadcrumbs, and planted seeds. These would grow and flourish in The Lord of the Rings  (if you read them back-to-back, you'll see). It was intended to be fire-side reads for his children, as well some other fare, most of which can be found in Tales From the Perilous Realm . Not only did Tolkien write one of the best stories ever, he also gave it life. Tolkien provided artwork, runes, an...

When The Lord of the Rings  60th Anniversary Illustrated Edition came out a few year's back, I noticed how it was essentially an updated version of the Centenary Edition. I thought it would be neat if The Hobbit  and The Silmarillion  also got editions to "match." This post examines how I would like an 80th edition to be presented, and contain with that in mind. Please note, this is all wishful thinking on my part. - transparent slipcase - re-scanned paintings - chalk-white paper (original text?) - unjacketed book: the iconic image of Smaug on the front cover, Gandalf leaving the company at Mirkwood on the back cover - Thror's map as front endpaper [reverse of board] and Map of Wilderland as rear endpaper [reverse of board] - 1/4 bound burgundy ["spine colourization"] - dimensions would match the 60th anniversary of  The Lord of the Rings  illustrated by Alan Lee I think this would make a great edition, and would match quite well the 60th anniversary illu...

Good day all! I'm back. Well, I never left. Things have been busy, so apologies that I have not been posting and writing as much as I wished. Looking for work, domestic life, and enjoying my self (reading, shows, movies and games) has put my blogging onto the back-burner. Let's see what's new...... Let's start with TV. I watched Game of Thrones  Season 7, which is always entertaining. I watch the show to enjoy the spectacle of it. At this point, and looking back, I think it's safe to say that the show and the books have differed greatly ever since the Red Wedding has happened. I'm looking forward to both Season 8, as well as Books 6 and 7, and any other Seven Kingdoms material that Martin publishes. Regardless of when Book 6 is published, I'm going to re-read Books 1-5 anyway. I finished Book 5 sometime in 2012, so it's been awhile. That, and the books and the show are so different, by starting fresh with Book 1 again, it'll be better for my mind. I...

. When The Lord of the Rings  60th Anniversary Illustrated Edition came out out a few years back, I noticed how it was essentially an updated version of the Centenary Edition. I thought it would be neat if The Hobbit  and The Silmarillion  also got editions to 'match' that. This post examines how I would like a 40th (or 50th or beyond) edition to be presented, and contain with that in mind. Please note, this is all wishful thinking on my part. - transparent slipcase - re-scanned paintings - the most recent, and accurate, text setting of  The Silmarillion  [including Tolkien's letter] - chalk-white paper - unjacketed book: the iconic image of Maglor casting a Silmaril into the Sea on the front cover; Beren and Luthien being flown to safety on the back cover.  -  The Realms of the Noldor and the Sindar  map is located on the last integral page. The  Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North  coloured by H.E. Riddett appearing on both...

Today is a special Tolkien-related day: The Silmrillion  is celebrating its 40th anniversary. As of this writing, there doesn't appear to be any celebratory editions, related publications or events; however, I wished to make note of the occasion. The Silmarillion  is the myths and legends of Middle-earth, and includes the epic history of the elves. It is a book, yes, but not neccessarily a "novel" in the sense that it has a narrative. The books reads more like a historic account, or more akin to mythic fantasy; much like The Bible , and other religious texts. Because of this, it is a slightly more difficult read than The Lord of the Rings , because of this (as well as the fact that it also covers the events from The Lord of the Rings ) it is recommended to read The Silmarillion  after The Lord of the Rings ; including the Appendices and post-story material. Other the years, there have been a few editions of The Silmarillion  (thought not as many as The Hobbit ...