The Fireside

  This fall, a 90 th Anniversary Edition of The Hobbit will be published. It will be the first edition to have illustrations by Tove Jansson – accompanied by the text in English. The anniversary portion of the book reads: “Landmark new 90th anniversary edition featuring a wealth of charming illustrations from Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, published in English for the first time.” However, that’s this fall. Next fall is the actual 90 th Anniversary, as The Hobbit was published in September of 1937. So….what edition will come out next fall?? I have a speculation on that: I believe, knowing the publishers’ lately, that it’ll be the same book…but in a deluxe tier. So, expect it to come out next year in a slipcased edition, with a ribbon-marker, possibly a frontispiece (in colour, perhaps?) and one or two other things. But I expect the book to be the same – just ‘presented’ differently.  The edition coming this fall will have one cover design. It’s poss...

With The Fall of Numenor  revitalizing the Special Edition format in November, it would be interesting to see what other Tolkien titles could make it to that format.  One of the ones I could see appearing, would be Letters From Father Christmas .  I'll go into speculating and imagining.  The 'basis' for how it could look would be the 2004/2005 editions, published by both Houghton Mifflin (at the time: now William Morrow) and HarperCollins. At least, for the dustjacket. I can see it being red, with the image of Father Christmas above being used. These Special Editions feature the image in a circle, so it could look like that rather than a square. Tolkien's name would of course be in 'signature form.'  The foil used for the font could be in silver rather than gold, an homage to HarperCollins' deluxe edition. The contents of the interior of the book itself would be what was present in the 2020 Centenary Edition, and the current hardbacks. The ribbon marker coul...

  With The Fall of Numenor  now coming to what was formerly known as the 'Author-Illustrated' Hardcovers, it makes one think on what other  Tolkien titles may come to this format.  I will 'think out loud' and speculate which other titles may arrive in this format.  ~ The Great Tales.  Next year, the first of the three standalone books, The Children of Hurin , turns 20. As such, I can see all 3 (all on the same date? Over time?) arrive in this Special Edition hardcover format. How The Fall of Numenor  was 'transferred' from its standard hardcover format into the Special Edition format could also apply to The Great Tales. The Great Tales may also appear in the Collector's Edition format - either in addition, or instead.   ~ Unfinished Tales Another title I can see coming to this style would be Unfinished Tales  - but, the one illustrated by Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith, and John Howe. All of Tolkien's own artwork was used for the Special Edition ...