[Estelyn Telcontar]

Tolkien himself used the theme of "change" in his works, so it shouldn't surprise us that his fandom is subject to that. I've been pondering this question and have divided several aspects of development, both general and personal, into Ages. These are not definitive and certainly subject to additions and revisions.

General Tolkien Fandom

First Age - (1950s to early 60s) The books are published and read, mostly in England at first. There are readers, but perhaps not to be called fans as yet.

Second Age - (late 1960s to early 70s) The books are published in paperback in the US, thereby reaching a great number of young people who become enthused fans. Societies are founded, fanzines written, artwork published as calendars, some merchandise is available, though not much. I would set the end of this age in 1973, with Tolkien's death.

Third Age - (70s to 90s) Some of Tolkien's works are published posthumously; especially the Silmarillion excites fans as new material about Middle-earth is now available. The animated movies attract some attention and keep interest in the books alive. HoME is published to satisfy the growing group of Tolkien scholars and experts.

Fourth Age - (2000 to ?) Peter Jackson's movies get a huge amount of publicity and attract new and old fans alike. The internet provides the medium for communication and communities, with discussions, fan fiction and amateur art (and parodies!) being made available to a huge public audience. Tons of merchandise accompany this and are bought by millions of fans. Secondary literature, which has been on the sideline with relatively few readers, booms as well. LotR wins readers' polls in numerous countries.

That last Age is fading now, in my opinion, and I'm sure the Fifth Age of fandom will carry on, but I would not venture to predict what it will be like. Serious scholarship will certainly be a part of it, and Society members will continue to share their ideas. What other new elements might enliven fandom, I have no idea...


Barrow-Downs Fandom

Though the main site, with its various features and games, began earlier, the discussion forum started in 2000. It too has passed through several ages:

First Age - (2000 - 2001) Pre-movie hype, speculation and news; book discussions; close-knit community spirit with relatively few members

Second Age - (2002 - 2004) Movie discussions; continued book discussions, with more details, additional works besides LotR, and secondary literature as topics; fan creativity in role-playing games, fan fiction and art; highest number of members

Third Age - (2005 - ?) Post-movies: CbC and SbS discussions; continued RPing (though less volume and participation); more fun and games, especially the Werewolf craze; continued community feeling with some long-time and some new members


My Personal Fandom

First Age - Introduction to LotR and Hobbit in 1973 by a boyfriend (Wouldn't I like to know if he's still a fan as well?!); loved the book at first read, sighted the first calendar but didn't like it because it didn't jive with my images.

Second Age - Exile: I moved to Germany a few months later, so had no one to whom I could talk about LotR and became a closet fan, rereading it occasionally. Never could warm up to the German translation(s), so neglected reading them to my own children.

Third Age - Movie hype and discovery of the internet fandom. Downs membership, spending hours of time discussing on the forum and in the chat room, leading to involvement as moderator and more creative writing than I'd ever done in my whole life (RPGs and fan fiction). Lots of reading of additional literature, from Sil and UT to biography, Letters, "minor works", HoME and supplementary books. Real life meetings with other members, trip to Oxford and Tolkien's grave, participation in the big international conference in Birmingham (my personal highlight so far!), seeing the movie exhibition, deciding to join the German Tolkien Society and attending some of their functions.

Fourth Age - Coming up, as I see it. My intensive internet involvement is gradually fading; though I'm spending more time in other activities, my personal interest will continue, I will retain my membership in the Tolkien Society and perhaps be involved there to a certain degree; I will most certainly reread the books as time allows, and probably rewatch the movies ditto. I hope that some of the friendships that began online will survive into future years...


I think the interesting thing will be to be surprised by developments we can't foresee now - after all, who would have thought 10 years ago that a blockbuster movie LotR would be so hugely successful?! I think the most important thing we fans can do to keep Middle-earth alive is to fill in the corners of the world that Tolkien created, to be sub-creators ourselves. Then history will become legend, and legend will become myth...