BBC reports Hobbits and Elves in Russia

[lindil]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2333487.stm

[Raefindel]

That's a kick, Lindil! Thanks for posting it. smilies/smile.gif

[lindil]

my pleasure

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

If too many fans read that I have a feeling that hobbits and elves will be showing up in other countries as well.

[Diamond18]

Hehe. Now I can't wait for 2010. smilies/wink.gif

[akhtene]

WOW!!!
I saw a suggestion for doing so in one Russian forum, but I just couldn't take it setiously! Or would have defined my daughter as a goblin (she would have probably agreed) smilies/evil.gif

[Evenstar1]

Thanks, lindil! smilies/biggrin.gif (A Russian guy really swallowed his census form as a protest against U.S. policy in Iraq? Weird.) akhtene: is LOTR really as big in Russia as it is in English-speaking countries? That'd've been funny if more people took that question "seriously." ("What do you feel your nationality to be?") I'm a hobbit, too!

[ October 16, 2002: Message edited by: Evenstar1 ]

[Helkasir]

I'd be a peredhil. They're cool.

That's just great.

[akhtene]

to Evenstar1 I’d say LotR is quite a big deal in Russia, especially in the last 15 years, after it had been translated into Russian. Now there are lots of web-sites in Russian, role-playing and research teams… even a sequel to LotR (scolded by some and admired by others)

[lindil]

Great to hear directly from Rus akhtene.

I would also like to know just how popular JRRT is in Rus.

I am sure the pirated/black market copies must be everywhere!

[Evenstar1]

Cool! smilies/cool.gif Thanks, akhtene! Oooh: a sequel! I hope it gets translated into English!!!

[Thengise Greenleaf of Mirkwood]

I'd be an edhel(elf)! What the heck! I am one!

[Child of the 7th Age]

A sequel to LotR?

I am very curious. What does this sequel say? How can they do this with British copyright laws?

sharon

[Birdland]

I, too, would love to know the basic plot, at least, of the LoTR sequel. When was it written, Akhtene? Have you read it?

I can just imagine the Tolkien estate trying to hash out a copyright lawsuit in the Russian courts. smilies/biggrin.gif. I imagine they just let it go, but it will probably never be translated or offered in the U.K. or America. (unless it's online...hmmmmmm)

[HerenIstarion]

I have read that sequel (first 2 books, there are several i guess). It was horrible. Hobbit specialised on throwing knives, brrr. And folks are busying themselves searching for Nazgul rings, supposed to be buried were Nazgul hit the earth after Sauron's death.

But whatever fantasies Nick Perumov (the author) put in the thing, the mostly diversed from Tolkien is the spirit of it - it's completely dualistic.

To say it shortly, the thing is just a low rate battle fantasy, based on Tolkien and using same stage as a PR trick

and I prefer to call it 'thing', not novel

edit: Akhtene, I surely fall under those "some" who scold it, eh smilies/rolleyes.gif

[ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: HerenIstarion ]

[lindil]

Much thanks for the review H-I.

Yes, from all I have heard pursuing copyright laws in Russia would pretty much be a waste of time.

Of course it might be the best place to release, hgmhh, cough, never mind smilies/cool.gif


H-I have you had a recent census there in Georgia? Any options on "what nationality do you feel yourself to be?

[HerenIstarion]

than present me with the thing ready (as I'm not much of the help in actually getting it ready), and i'll be glad to translate it...
ahem, never mind smilies/rolleyes.gif

as for census - last year. No options about feelings, though

[Lush]

Really, well, what would that make Putin then? Gandalf, Saruman? Or shall we ditch false modesty aside and just say Eru?

*Oi russkie, russkie, ne spokoi'naya sud'ba!*

[akhtene]

In responce to people here (with apologies in advance: 6.30 am, last nap - 16 Oct)
to HerenIstarion "Hobbit specialised on throwing knives, brrr. " Well, Merry&Pippin weren't the most peace-loving lot either.

to lindil "pursuing copyright laws in Russia would pretty much be a waste of time."
smilies/tongue.gif - perhaps I'm simply egoistic

to Lush "what would that make Putin then?" I'd say Aragorn - putting together what had been... well never mind

[ October 18, 2002: Message edited by: akhtene ]

[Dimaldaeon]

Hmmn ,people searching for the Nazgûl rings.
I was writing a fan-fic about this until I lost interest in it and turned my attention back to wrtiting "The Knights of Hibrean".
Damn Russian authors stealing my ideas again

[burrahobbit]

Now I can't wait for 2010.

Don't break the law, silly pants!

[Diamond18]

Don't worry. I always take the boring but legal path in the end. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Birdland]

To say it shortly, the thing is just a low rate battle fantasy, based on Tolkien and using same stage as a PR trick.
Hey, when did Terry Brooks move to Russia?

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Maybe he likes their census-taking system.

[arelendil]

i just read that! i'm sorry i'm slow! but my mum was telling me something similar this morning. when asked about religion some people said they were Jedi! is that as bad maybe not! can i just add that i'd be an edhel as well! i mean the whole shopping thing has become "does that look elven?"

[Arwen1858]

I'd definately be an elf!! i mean the whole shopping thing has become "does that look elven?" same here! I want to make an elfish looking dress.

[Dark-Caranthir]

hehehehehehehehe...

NICE ONE!
smilies/wink.gif smilies/tongue.gif smilies/smile.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/smile.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/tongue.gif

[bombur]

In British census I heard that thousands of people marked jedi for their religion. The guardian or the Times, whichever, made a story of it and I red it through the net.

(Finnish news is rather unreliable. Language group of 5 milion is very reliant on the comercial news services, they are all US based, politics comes to play... well anyways, I read the guardian and the Times.)

The paper put a good headline to the news "Ask a stupid question..." It seems to me that the Russian census is also getting rather stupid anwsers smilies/rolleyes.gif

Sometimes I think it is sad that Finnish government does not do things like this. Nationality is only asked in the school for for the purpose of native language and b-foreign language classes in school. Religion only matters to know whether your records are in the census bureau or in church archive. (Though religious communities get tax exemption... few friends of mine tried once to apply for registration of cult of the great Cthulhu to the internal ministry. They almost made it.)

It seems we are missing a lot of fun for not having nosy gov. smilies/biggrin.gif Giving stupid anwsers to stupid questions is about the most fun thing there is.


Janne Harju

[Rimbaud]

The Jedi story is accurate. We needed ten thousand people on the Census to claim it as their primary religion in order for it to gain official recognition. The Census received a great many more than that; I have heard several figures but given the hige discrepancies in the numbers being bandied around, I will not promulgate inaccuracy. The end result was of course, success for the movement, although I don't believe anyone has been cheeky enough to request government support for the maintenance of the religion. Definitely a fun time and a good commentary on the ridiculous nature of the beast.