The Fireside

🎅🎄❄️🎁⛄ It's that time of year! I'm going to detail some Christmas Gift Ideas (not for me, for you - the reader) to spotlight certain items of fantasy anyone  would enjoy getting under their tree this year!  ` 2024 William Morrow Tolkien Collector's Editions First up, are these splendid editions of The Tolkien Trinity ( The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings  and The Silmarillion ) by William Morrow.  The ISBNs for each are as follows: The Hobbit:  9780063396203 The Fellowship of the Ring:  9780063412613 The Two Towers:  9780063412620 The Return of the King :  9780063412637 The Lord of the Rings  Boxed Set (includes a Map of Middle-earth in the set. the books do, but this is separate, detached map is only found (in terms of these titles) in the boxed set):  9780063421240   The Silmarillion :  9780063396197 These are attractive 'everyday' editions. They are dustjacket-less hardcovers, not super expensive, have foil stamped covers, ...

It's that time of year for me to suggest and feature some particular editions of Tolkien's works. I think this typically happens, because the films were released right around Christmas time. So, I've come to associate that time of the year with Tolkien (and fantasy overall, when there hasn't been much happening, Tolkien-wise). So let's get into it! First we have what I like to call the 'landscape' paperback covers. These are pretty basic, though are the 'footprint' for pretty much all editions and settings of the text. Also, the covers are different then what we typically see for a Tolkien book. Some think in a bad way, others in a good way. I believe it's due to many stating that they resemble general or average fantasy books, self-help books etc, as opposed to what we typically see for a Tolkien cover.  Boxed set ISBN:  9780008387754 The Hobbit  ISBN:  9780008376055 The Fellowship of the Ring  ISBN:  9780008376062 The Two Towers ISBN:  97800083...

  The time has come for me to issue my annual gift ideas relating to Tolkien. It should be noted that most of these don't change - primarily due to some of them being....everlasting, I suppose you could say.  There are some new items! But first, the 'classics' (meaning ones I've been on about for a few years in a row now!) Starter Paperbacks/Extra Copies: THE HOBBIT ISBN 9780007458424 Size-wise matches up with all other Tolkien paperbacks. Fantastic 'starter edition' to get someone new to Tolkien, or if you need another paperback copy. THE LORD OF THE RINGS Part 1: ISBN: 9780008376062 Part 2: ISBN: 9780008376079 Part 3: ISBN: 9780008376086 These are great paperback editions of The Lord of the Rings . Nothing special or fancy, but a good 'template' paperback set. The covers uses 'landscape style', which works with these editions, as the story is also about the physical world that the story is set in. Great 'starter' editions. Nice Ed...

  October 15, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Christmas Eve and Other Stories , which was the first instalment in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (T-S O) Christmas Trilogy. It continued on with The Christmas Attic in 1998, and concluded with The Lost Christmas Eve in 2004. The Christmas/winter theme that T-S O has become known for, was revisited in 2012 with Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night ), which I like to think of as an 'epilogue.' There have also been a few compilations, such as The Ghosts of Christmas Eve and Tales of Winter . To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the Christmas T-S O tradition, I have a great idea for a vinyl set. It would be modelled after The Christmas Trilogy CD+DVD set, in a similar way that The Lord of the Rings complete recordings trilogy on vinyl was replicated from the original CD+DVD sets. The latest, best mixes and remastering would be used for 180g vinyl for all three albums. There's a few different routes the l...

With Christmas coming up, we often 'give' and 'receive' gifts. With quite a few editions of each Tolkien book available, I wanted to showcase some - whether it's for you, or the giftee. There are a few other non-book items as well. I'm also providing links on where to get them: ~ THE HOBBIT (paperback edition) https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Hobbit-or-There-and-Back-Again-by-J-R-R-Tolkien-David-Wyatt/9780007458424 This copy is a great edition - whether you need a new one, don't have The Hobbit yet, or are looking to get someone you know into Tolkien. It's paperback, so yes, nothing special - however, it's size dimensions match the other HarperCollins paperbacks. Also, it includes chapter illustrations by David Wyatt, which can be presently found only in this edition. ~ THE HOBBIT (Collector's Edition) https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-There-Back-Again/dp/0395177111/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9780395177112&qid=157142669...

Earlier today, details from the forthcoming deluxe edition of Letters From Father Christmas have been revealed. Here's the info: ISBN: 9780008327729 "This beautiful, deluxe slipcased edition of Tolkien’s famous illustrated letters from Father Christmas to his children includes for the first time every letter, picture and envelope that he sent them, reproduced in glorious colour. The perfect Christmas gift for Tolkien lovers of all ages. This classic festive book of Tolkien’s amazing Father Christmas letters written to his children between the 1920s and the 1940s has been reworked into a sumptuous, new deluxe edition. It contains brand new high-quality digital reproductions of his wonderful letters and pictures, including a number them that have never been printed before, a revised introduction by Baillie Tolkien, and a special full-colour, foldout frontispiece. ‘My dear children, I am more shaky than usual this year. The North Polar Bear’s fault. It was ...

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...