[Formendacil]

As long as I live, there will be at least one Tolkien fan in the world. Once I'm dead, 'tis my hope and expectation to meet Tolkien- and finally read a complete, authoritative, and canonical Silmarillion.

Meanwhile, here on this Earth, I foresee no end to the Tolkien fandom. There have been enough generations now to prove that it's a fairly timeless tale. We should, with the movies gone, reach a more or less constant plateau of fan numbers (or back to the slower, steady growth of the pre-movie days).

When the Silmarillion and the HoME finally (if ever) go into the Public Domain (an event that, incidentally, I dread...) I suspect that we shall see a number of new Silmarillions on the market. Quite frankly, I don't see that as a bad thing- unless it should confuse beyond reckoning what the "real" Middle-Earth is. And, while I may not like that inevitable befuddlement, I think that Tolkien might rather approve the confusing of tradition and the infusion of new, alien elements... It gives it a greater air of historical tradition. And it'll be fun, if nothing else, to see what people come up with... a complete "Notions Paper", anybody? How about "The Lost Road"? Or "Tal-Elmar"? I predict MANY variations of the "New Shadow".

So, as a bit of a reactionary by nature, I'm not eager to see such things happen (although I must confess that I have asperations- if no more- to put together my own Silmarillion), but they will be exciting times indeed. And even if I dreaded the coming of the movies, I cannot say that they have been for ill...

I also predict more Tolkien movies within my lifetime... though I dare not say when. Certainly a Hobbit. And, hopefully, a whole series on the Silmarillion.