Christopher Tolkien to finish lost Middle Earth novel - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 03-29-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balrog

Wrong. http://www.tolkienshop.com/contents/en-uk/d42.html says:

True, it's not an original cassette, but the recording itself is the important part, isn't it? It's very interesting to hear Tolkien chant part of the Dies Irea.

Well, that's put me in my place. However, I'm not sure about the exact legality of the particular CD in question. Tolkien did record Beortnoth for the BBC in the fifties, so I'm not sure its the same recording I spoke about - though it may be. Thanks for the info anyway.

Lalwendë · 03-29-2007, 10:05 AM

I wouldn't lay bets on the fact that those first in line will include a large number of those hoping to 'sell on' as quickly as possible. *cough* eBay *cough*

There's currently an issue in the UK with people snapping up sought after gig and festival tickets and selling them on - about 400,000 people registered for Glastonbury tickets and the site only holds about 100,000 people. An enormous number of these tickets then get put up on eBay or other sites (not just to blame eBay to be fair!) and those who are real fans have to pay the inflated prices or simply not have what they want.

So yes, I'm annoyed too. Mostly because I can see what will happen...

davem · 04-01-2007, 12:09 PM

The Bookseller reports on Harper Collins plans for promoting CoH here

Quote:

HarperCollins will be advertising the book in Earls Court around the London Book Fair, and working in partnership with the Telegraph over the weekend of 21st and 22nd April. The Telegraph partnership will include full-page advertorials, ad placements throughout the whole newspaper, and a competition to "return to Middle-earth" by winning a trip to New Zealand. This will be supported by a month-long campaign on the Telegraph website, that includes a specially created Tolkien microsite, run-of-site advertising, advertorials, downloads and interviews.

Publicity will see a slew of reviews, features and interviews, including a major feature in the Sunday Times Culture magazine the weekend before launch, and interviews on news programmes giving the story behind the new book.

HarperCollins is also planning blanket targeting of the online Tolkien fan base through promotions with key fansites, search portals and social network sites, and a bespoke online PR campaign. There will be a dedicated website at www.tolkien.co.uk.

An all-day event at Waterstone's Piccadilly will launch the book, attended by the author's grandson, Adam Tolkien, and featuring a talk by Alan Lee. A leading "Lord of the Rings" actor will read extracts from the new book, and characters from "The Lord of the Rings" stage show will also be present. Lee will be giving talks and signing books at selected bookshops around publication as well.

davem · 04-08-2007, 02:22 AM

Sunday Times article here http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle1613657.ece

narfforc · 04-08-2007, 08:13 AM

Alan Lee will be at the Moreton-in-Marsh Exhibition along with Ted Nasmith on the 20th and 21st of this month, I will get my book signed there, along with the last version of The Silmarillion which Ted has given his marvellous interpretation to.

04-08-2007, 08:50 AM

I think that certainly profit is the motive. Would J.R.R. Tolkien approve? Not to changes of any kind, since we know he carefully pondered every word, to see if it harmonized with the vision he had 'to report'.
Tolkien wanted foremost to entertain. Knowing that his manuscript would now do so, and that very many of us long to enter his world and view new vistas, he would concede with reservations.
I think it should only be done so long as there is a clear differentiation between the text written by J.R.R. Tolkien and that of Mr. Christopher. I do not at all support a text that gives no indication of where the Father ends and the Son begins. Otherwise I am tempted to believe that the whole thing is a fraud, not written by either Tolkien, and we will see that it contains shallow and swift scenes and heavy dialogue, and no doubt will form the basis of a new screneplay. After writing this and just now deliberating on the subject, I would say no.
If we still have questions and long to penetrate deeper into Tolkiens world, then let us become still, and silent, and meditate on this, and see if to us, like to Tolkien, that it might be revealed. Perhaps the desire for more is because we have not fully comprehended the grandeur beauty of what we have.

Bêthberry · 04-08-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davem

Sunday Times article here http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle1613657.ece

Very fine article there, davem, with some valuable observations about Tolkien's work. I can imagine some fans having hairy fits over the comment that Tolkien was not a writer, but there are some very intriguing avenues of thought to persue there.

Thanks for linking.

William Cloud Hicklin · 04-10-2007, 08:07 PM

Neithan:

You have Christopher Tolkien all wrong. He's most emphatically NOT in it for the money. If he were he could easily have pulled an Audrey Seuss long since and milked the cash cow shamelessly. Instead, he has opposed (or tried to) virtually all forms of commercial exploitation (although he has no control over what Saul Zaentz licenses). And there's no consideration of a screenplay, since the film rights to CoH will only be sold over CRT's dead body.

The Estate website says that CoH will be "entirely in the author's own words;" my source indicates that this includes a small amount of narrative material which has come to light since Unfinished Tales was published a quarter-century ago.

04-10-2007, 08:46 PM

I admit that my knowledge of these outside the box subjects is limited. I know that Tolkien pondered every word, and I do not read ANY of CT's middle Earth history because much of that material was rejected by Tolkien himself as it did not entirely harmonize with his inner vision. Therefore, in order not to pollute my grasp of the pure and true meaning of Tolkiens revelation I read only what I feel in confidence that Tolkien himself would have been satisfied with, having reached that final developmental stage whereat the text harmonized with the chill that ran up and down his spine when he first spoke the word, "Earendil". For I am concerned, and if I daresay, gifted, above all, with meaning. Most people here ask, 'what did Tolkien say?' I ask, 'what did Tolkien mean?' But thank you, perhaps you have saved the gentlemen from the Inquisition I plan for after I succeed in taking over the world.

03-29-2007, 10:05 AM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I wouldn't lay bets on the fact that those first in line will include a large number of those hoping to 'sell on' as quickly as possible. cough eBay cough There's currently an issue in the UK with people snapping up sought after gig and festival tickets and selling them on - about 400,000 people registered for Glastonbury tickets and the site only holds about 100,000 people. An enormous number of these tickets then get put up on eBay or other sites (not just to blame eBay to be fair!) and those who are real fans have to pay the inflated prices or simply not have what they want. So yes, I'm annoyed too. Mostly because I can see what will happen... __________________ Gordon's alive!

04-08-2007, 02:22 AM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Sunday Times article here http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle1613657.ece __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

04-08-2007, 08:13 AM	#5
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	Alan Lee Alan Lee will be at the Moreton-in-Marsh Exhibition along with Ted Nasmith on the 20th and 21st of this month, I will get my book signed there, along with the last version of The Silmarillion which Ted has given his marvellous interpretation to. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

04-08-2007, 08:50 AM	#6
Neithan Tol Turambar Guest Posts: n/a	I think that certainly profit is the motive. Would J.R.R. Tolkien approve? Not to changes of any kind, since we know he carefully pondered every word, to see if it harmonized with the vision he had 'to report'. Tolkien wanted foremost to entertain. Knowing that his manuscript would now do so, and that very many of us long to enter his world and view new vistas, he would concede with reservations. I think it should only be done so long as there is a clear differentiation between the text written by J.R.R. Tolkien and that of Mr. Christopher. I do not at all support a text that gives no indication of where the Father ends and the Son begins. Otherwise I am tempted to believe that the whole thing is a fraud, not written by either Tolkien, and we will see that it contains shallow and swift scenes and heavy dialogue, and no doubt will form the basis of a new screneplay. After writing this and just now deliberating on the subject, I would say no. If we still have questions and long to penetrate deeper into Tolkiens world, then let us become still, and silent, and meditate on this, and see if to us, like to Tolkien, that it might be revealed. Perhaps the desire for more is because we have not fully comprehended the grandeur beauty of what we have. Last edited by Neithan Tol Turambar; 04-08-2007 at 08:57 AM. Reason: grammer

04-10-2007, 08:46 PM	#9
Neithan Tol Turambar Guest Posts: n/a	sounds encouraging I admit that my knowledge of these outside the box subjects is limited. I know that Tolkien pondered every word, and I do not read ANY of CT's middle Earth history because much of that material was rejected by Tolkien himself as it did not entirely harmonize with his inner vision. Therefore, in order not to pollute my grasp of the pure and true meaning of Tolkiens revelation I read only what I feel in confidence that Tolkien himself would have been satisfied with, having reached that final developmental stage whereat the text harmonized with the chill that ran up and down his spine when he first spoke the word, "Earendil". For I am concerned, and if I daresay, gifted, above all, with meaning. Most people here ask, 'what did Tolkien say?' I ask, 'what did Tolkien mean?' But thank you, perhaps you have saved the gentlemen from the Inquisition I plan for after I succeed in taking over the world. Last edited by Neithan Tol Turambar; 04-11-2007 at 12:23 AM.

04-10-2007, 08:07 PM	#8
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Neithan: You have Christopher Tolkien all wrong. He's most emphatically NOT in it for the money. If he were he could easily have pulled an Audrey Seuss long since and milked the cash cow shamelessly. Instead, he has opposed (or tried to) virtually all forms of commercial exploitation (although he has no control over what Saul Zaentz licenses). And there's no consideration of a screenplay, since the film rights to CoH will only be sold over CRT's dead body. The Estate website says that CoH will be "entirely in the author's own words;" my source indicates that this includes a small amount of narrative material which has come to light since Unfinished Tales was published a quarter-century ago.