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Review: Tolkien's World
Tolkien's World, The Paintings of Middle Earth, coincides with the centenary of his birth. More than a dozen artists, already famous for their interpretations of Tolkien landscapes, some newcomers to the trilogy, have created more than 50 paintings published therein ($15 from Harper Collins).
The full-page images are all illustrated with text from Tolkien's works, and they bring the stories to life in a way that is sometimes dark, sometimes lively, usually haunting. The book is clearly organized -- text on the left, painting on the right.
At the end, the artists -- they are from all over the world -- explain their interpretations and drawings and where applicable, their personal experiences with the trilogy. For a Tolkien afficionado, it's immensely satisfying to match your own imagination against those of artists like Michael Hague and Roger Garland. John Howe's "The Great Goblin" is amazing, and Inger Edelfelt has painted a stark, strange and simplistic "Gollum." As the Hobbit himself put it, "deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don't know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum -- as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face." There is more good writing in that paragraph than in plenty of fictional and mythological tales.
"Thorin, Prisoner of the Elves," "The Arkenstone," "Frodo and Gandalf." "The Haven of Morionde," "The Brandywine River " -- the collection will intrigue readers who want to prep for the movie, or newcomers who want a sense of what Tolkien's worlds might look like. It would also work beautifully for kids.
The art is uneven -- certain painters' images might not square with your own. But some, like Ted Nasmith's "Glittering Caves of Aglarond," or John Howe's "Gandalf," will make you want to frame them and hang them up. Tolkien's World is a first-rate creative achievement.
Prayers go out to a nation
i wonder why?
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Sixty years ago, our nation was playing only a supporting role in the fight against evil which was spreading over Europe like the plagues of past and would have reluctantly joined the fight had push come to shove. At the time, our nation had no stomach for a war much less one an ocean away.
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, our nation was attacked without notice and without provocation by a nation with whom we had been conducting diplomatic relations. The horror of this event was reported around the world by radio, by newspaper and by word of mouth.
Our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents did not have pictures, nor graphic simulations, nor television, nor videotape, nor cable, nor the internet and yet they understood that innocent lives were taken without notice and without provocation. There were no graphic images of death etched in their minds but they understood that our nation and way of life was attacked and they went to war. They fought that war and won and we owe them a debt of gratitude we can never repay. After much sacrifice they conquered the evil in Europe and eventually, they righted that terrible wrong.
Since then our nation has had to weather the humiliation and embarrassment of fighting in wars we were not directly involved and not willing as a nation to fight. The evil was no less menacing but without a clear understanding of who and what we were fighting for, the resolve of the nation was not there.
On the morning of 11 September, 2001, our nation was attacked, without notice and without provocation, not by any one nation but by an evil which has plagued our world for much too long.
The horrors of this terrible event unfolded for many on live television and in countless replays of video tape.
So my question is for the men and women of the misnamed X and Y generations, of which I am one:
Are you willing to defend your nation and way of life at all cost and right a very terrible wrong?
Fire this idiot.
Who the hell cares about this?!?
Get a damn clue!!
FIRE JON KATZ!!!!!
nuff said
Please don't. Alternatively, please seek LSD
therapy to help you return to reality.
Thanks and have a Jon_Katz-free weekend.
P.S.: Jon, do you have any marijuana to share?
There was a battle between the US and Japan the morning that the attack took place on Pearl Harbor. This battle took place Before the bombing. But to draw greater support from the nation, it was not mentioned.
Yes, I'm American.
which disqualifies him from any consideration as a serious poster or thinker.
September 11, 2001.
Let it be known terrorists, YOUR ASS IS NEXT!
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Oh oh! Lemmie check!
Anyone that falls for that should be forced to look at that...
Tolkien != WTC
They probably rejected it because it's dull. And you're really obnoxious to get your voice heard. Maybe you should go to kuro5hin.org if that's what you want.
acidboy
STFU Katz!
She slipped off the flimsy garment and strode toward the fascinated boggie unashamed of her nakedness. She ran a perfect hand along his hairy toes, and he helplessly watched them curl with the fierce insistent wanting of her.
"Let me make thee more comfortable," she whispered hoarsely, fiddling with the clasps of his jerkin, loosening his sword belt with a laugh. "Touch me, oh touch me," she crooned.
Frito's hand, as though of its own will, reached out and traced the delicate swelling of her elf-breast, while the other slowly crept around her tiny, flawless waist, crushing her to his barrel chest.
"Toes, I love hairy toes," she moaned, forcing him down on the silvered carpet. Her tiny, pink toes caressed the luxuriant fur of his instep while Frito's nose sought out the warmth of her precious elf- navel.
"But I'm so small and hairy, and . . . and you're so beautiful," Frito whimpered, slipping clumsily out of his crossed garters.
The elf-maiden said nothing, but only sighed deep in her throat and held him more firmly to her faunlike body. "There is one thing you must do for me first," she whispered into one tufted ear.
"Anything," sobbed Frito, growing frantic with his need. "Anything!"
She closed her eyes and then opened them to the ceiling. "The Ring," she said. "I must have your Ring."
Frito's whole body tensed. "Oh no," he cried, "not that! Anything but . . . that."
"I must have it," she said both tenderly and fiercely. "I must have the Ring!"
Frito's eyes blurred with tears and confusion. "I can't," he said. "I mustn't!"
But he knew resolve was no longer strong in him. Slowly, the elf- maiden's hand inched toward the chain in his vest pocket, closer and closer it came to the Ring Frito had guarded so faithfully . . .
insightful...
blatant flamebait:
You assume I care.
Why is George W. Bush not mentioned in this article? What kind of Katz screed is this? Here are a number of ways I figured Jon could work him into future revisions:
Ok, well the third one isn't really Tolkien-related. I guess it's more of an all-purpose disclaimer he can tack on to the bottom of everything he posts instead.
If it ain't broke, you need more software.
Burn those hairy-toes fuckers boefore they crash a flying carpet into our barrows!
Actually, it's true, the following is displayed:
We, at Goatse.cx, mourn the unprecedented loss of life on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Let it be known terrorists, YOUR ASS IS NEXT!
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I find it heartening that even the trolls are coming together with the rest of society over this tragedy.
flamebait how?
Who said anything about killing all Moslems? The topic on hand is the killing of terrorists. Start with those who have "claimed responsibility" for fatal bombings -- in other words, confessed to murder. Continue with those heads of states, and their cabinets, that support terrorism. Yeah, it's war. But it's necessary, unless you want to see a mushroom cloud over an American city one day.
This is a great opportunity for advancement of Moslem societies, as they'll have a little help in the removal of their most ignorant, medieval elements. Maybe they'll now be able to catch up to the level of democracy, freedom, and prosperity of, say, sub-Saharan Africa. Maybe you should ask Germany and Japan if eliminating their evil leaders was a good thing or not for their countries.
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SCREW YOU KATZ