The Fireside

  S omething interesting is on the way.  A new edition of The Fall of Numenor  has been spotted, and it's a.....different edition/format.  The publisher, HarperCollins, has some terminology that they use for various editions: "Collector's Edition", "Deluxe Edition" and "Special Edition" and the like.  With most Tolkien hardcovers, you usually have the normal version that features a dustjacket, and then you have a higher-tiered deluxe edition.  However, this November, a 'Special Edition' is on the way.  Here is the info: " A special edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on the Second Age of Middle-earth collected in one volume, illustrated by Alan Lee. Guided by the Dark Lord Sauron, the Elves of Eregion forge the Rings of Power. Yet in secret he has begun building the Barad-dûr in Mordor, and here, in the fires of Mount Doom, he makes the One Ring. Seeking to rule Middle-earth, Sauron begins to wage terrible war upon them. On the island...

  The 'theme' of 2027 Tolkien Calendar  has been revealed!  There are a few milestones that year (90th Anniversary of The Hobbit , 20th Anniversary of The Children of Hurin - the first of three published Great Tales - and the 50th Anniversary of The Silmarillion ) and the calendar's theme will be The Hobbit's  90th Anniversary!  The ISBN for the HarperCollins version is  9780008805234 , and the description follows: "The official Tolkien calendar, this year containing 13 stunning illustrations and paintings inspired by The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved work of fantasy. The official Tolkien calendar has become an established publishing event, eagerly anticipated by Tolkien fans the world over. Previous Tolkien calendars have become much sought after collector’s items, and this year’s will doubtless be an essential purchase for Middle-earth fans everywhere. Featuring 13 full-colour paintings of scenes inspired by the story, some of which are unique to this ...

  In the 'new blue' illustrated deluxe editions (of which The Hobbit  and The Lord of the Rings  belong to) William Morrow and HarperCollins will both be offering a deluxe illustrated edition of The Great Tales Trilogy ( The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien and The Fall of Gondolin ).  This appears to be a deluxe version of the boxed set that came out last year. I'm also really glad that they were grouping this books together, rather than individually. Perhaps they'll do a Signature Paperback Collection boxed set some day....?  The HarperCollins version arrives in June and the William Morrow one in July. For anyone wondering, The Silmarillion  turns 50 next year. I think this year (2026) will be 'quiet' for Middle-earth books, so the publishers likely issued this one out now, saving The Silmarillion for next year. After that, I can see Unfinished Tales  in 2028, The Fall of Numenor  in 2029, and then Tales From the Perilous Realm  in 2030...

  Typically, these come out the same day as the standard edition. Here's the info!  ISBN   9780008815134 "Deluxe slipcased edition of this previously unknown short satirical fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, accompanied by illustrations from the author together with an essay, 'The Origin of Bovadium', by Richard Ovenden OBE, and featuring an exclusive foldout colour frontispiece. As Christopher Tolkien notes in his Introduction,  The Bovadium Fragments  was a ‘satirical fantasy’ written by his father, which grew out of a planning controversy that erupted in Oxford in the late 1940s, when J.R.R. Tolkien was the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature. Written initially for his own amusement, Tolkien’s tale was a private academic jest that poked gentle fun at such things as 'the pomposities of archaeologists' and 'the hideousness of college crockery'. However, it was at the same time expressing a barbed  cri de...

  This boxed set was announced over the Holidays (or just  before) so I didn't have time to break the news here. So I apologize for being late to the party, but here's the details for Myths & Legends: Boxed Set II! It is arriving in May from HarperCollins (and close to around the same time by William Morrow), and here are the details. "A stunning hardcover boxed set celebrating J.R.R. Tolkien’s work inspired by the myths and legends of Europe, featuring double-sided dustjackets. This unique set contains Finn and Hengest, The Story of Kullervo, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, and The Battle of Maldon along with The Old English Exodus, reprinted for the first time in 50 years. For the first time since it was published in the 1980s, this boxed set includes The Old English Exodus, a translation of the Old English poem telling the story of the Israelites fleeing Egypt. Tolkien’s aim with this translation was to interpret the poem, reconstruct what the original may have looked...

  We go to the movies to be entertained. Indeed, movies/films/cinema...whatever term you wish to use, is ultimately a form of entertainment. Indeed, it can be - and is also - a form of art .  We all know that the story of Avatar  (the first film) has been done, and is one we're familiar with over time: Pocahontas, Dances With Wolves, Fern Gully .... The story and plot of a movie is quite important and the very soul of a film; though with the Avatar films.....that's not the main focus. The main focus of the Avatar films is to be fully immersed in a fictional setting. Indeed, the story of the first film is one we're familiar with. However, it is the details that truly make the movie. An entire language and culture was created. As was the ecosystem, with flora and fauna - everything you see, has a name. Such lengths and details weren't requited to create such a dazzling spectacle....but they were. Anyone familiar with James Cameron as a filmmaker knows that he is meticulou...

  I've always found 'Christmas' (or 'winter' in general) and 'fantasy' go hand-in-hand for a few reasons I could write an entire post (perhaps someday I'll do that....), so that means it's about time for my annual Christmas ideas for you  - for yourself, for shopping for others....this isn't neccessarily stuff I  want....but stuff I recommend .  It's not just Tolkien, however, Tolkien is on this list, and I'll start there.  TOLKIEN Paperbacks: The Hobbit  (paperback edition) ISBN  9780007458424 Description: " The Hobbit is the unforgettable story of Bilbo, a peace-loving hobbit, who embarks on a strange and magical adventure. A timeless classic. Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services - as a burglar - on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon....

  I have a bone to pick with the the Tolkien community: TCG (Tolkien Collector's Guide).  It is a fantastic resource, filled with tons of info, along with news of upcoming books, and some great photos.  But there's one issue: the moderators are hypocritical assholes.  I admit, I've had my fair share of rough history with some of the moderators (one in particular....) so there might be some bias here. However, each time I've done something they didn't like, it was addressed in a condescending manner: sorry, I don't read the rules every time I log on. Oops, I forgot to use 'search'....However, the gist of it, is this: If something happens on a topic that they  don't like or they  don't agree with (even if you're correct and they're wrong) your comment will be removed, and your account could vanish. That, and they don't seem to grasp that the way that their site is set up is in message board style....which encourages and engages discussi...

  HarperCollins is doing a great job at putting the various Tolkien books out into the Signature Collection series of paperbacks.  ....so what's left?? ~  Letters From Father Christmas  (previous paperback ISBN:  9780007280490). I noticed that various editions of  Letters From Father Christmas  typically come out Oct or November, so maybe Oct 2026 going by that...?  ~  The Fall of Numenor  (will likely occur with a future reprint. Current paperback ISBN:9780008655679) ~  The History of The Hobbit  (as 2 volumes. Part 1 ISBN:  9780007266463 . Part 2 ISBN:  9780007266470  ) or,  A Brief History of The Hobbit  (ISBN:  9780007557257 ) ~  The Song of Middle-earth  (ISBN:  9780008184 810 ) ~  The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun  (current ISBN:  9780008202156 ) ~  Author of the Century  (ISBN:  9780261104013 ) If all of the above were to be issued into the Signat...

  Today marks 70 years since The Lord of the Rings  was published in full, by way of The Return of the King  being published.  Since that The Lord of the Rings  is one novel (not a series of  them), I always choose to recognize its significant anniversaries when The Return of the King was published, not The Fellowship of the Ring .  There are a bevy of editions to choose from, however, the appropriate 70th Anniversary Edition should be showcased in this post.  The description reads: " Three-volume, deluxe slipcased hardback set of The Lord of the Rings , illustrated throughout by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Alan Lee. Features exclusive new paintings and dozens of drawings appearing for the very first time, together with three removable art cards and two foldout maps. Since it was first published, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, this work of sweeping fantasy has touched t...

  More details have come through for the upcoming Lord of the Rings  70th Anniversary Limited Edition. Info follows below: "Since it was first published seventy years ago,  The Lord of the Rings  has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, this work of sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. No edition has proved more popular than the Centenary edition illustrated by award-winning artist, Alan Lee. Now, for the first time since its publication in 1992, it has been revised and expanded with new paintings and illustrations, and is presented in a stunning three-volume boxed edition, numbered and signed by the artist and with many unique and exclusive features. This very special three-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings has been printed by Graphicom S.p.A. in Vicenza, Italy, on Munken L...

  I've updated the Master Listing for the Tolkien Signature Paperback Collection for a few items: https://insurrbution.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-tolkien-signature-paperback.html I've added Finn and Hengest  and The Monsters and the Critics .  Of the Tolkien books that currently exist in paperback, not many of them exist that aren't available in the Signature format.  This next bit is going on assumptions, though once/if these titles make it to the style, expect it as such: Collection VII: The Fall of Numenor  and The History of The Hobbit .  There may be a few more titles to make a Collection XII out of, and also once all Tolkien paperbacks by HarperCollins are out in the Signature Collection, I may re-organize some of the Collections (specifically, Collections XI & IX, for instance.  We'll see what titles continue to come out, that is. 

  I’d like to take a moment of appreciation for this edition of LotR , from back in 2014 (ISBN 9780007525546). This edition is now out of print, and is no longer sold new from the likes of Waterstones, Blackwell’s, Amazon directly, etc . Description: “A sumptuous new one-volume edition of Tolkien’s classic masterpiece that is fully illustrated throughout in watercolour by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee, and housed in a special transparent slipcase. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Well over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors’ editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. With the epic trilogy now an acclaimed, award-winning and billion-dollar success, images of the characters and landscapes have become iconic...