Vivendi buys Houghton Mifflin

by Michael Martinez, Friday, June 1, 2001

Vivendi Universal, which bought Havas Interactive, the owner of Sierra On-Line, has announced plans to buy Houghton Mifflin. Yahoo! Finance is carrying a story detailing the international media giant's plan to buyout the last independent American publishing company, which also happens to be J.R.R. Tolkien's primary American publisher. Houghton Mifflin handles all hardback editions of Tolkien books in the United States. Sierra On-Line recently announced a series of long-awaited electronic games based on Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books. The announcement came after a long period of silence from the company, which nearly lost its game-development license in a legal dispute with Tolkien Enterprises. After the merger has been completed, approximately 48% of Vivendi's overall revenues should come from its American operations. The Tolkien properties will undoubtedly provide a significant contribution to those revenues. Vivendi Universal will move forward to the second-ranked position among world-wide media publishers, and it will have a strong presence in French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese markets. Houghton Mifflin will publish the controversial Wind Done Gone on June 28. The Alice Randall book, a parody of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind told from the perspective of black characters, inspired a lawsuit which has helped to further define free speech rights in America. Another recent acquisition by Vivendi Universal includes http://www.mp3.com/.

A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 3

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 31, 2001

This is part three of a three-part article concerning the war of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. The article was originally written for the Tolkien journal Arda. Part 1 covered events leading up to the war. Part 2 covered events during the war. Special thanks to Rick House, who provided comments and suggestions when the article was written in 1996. Notes The Silmarillion, p. 287. "Men he found the easiest to sway of all the peoples of the Earth; but long he sought to persuade the Elves to his service, for he knew that the Firstborn had the greater power; and he went far and wide among them, and his hue was still that of one both fair and wise." Unfinished Tales, p. 254. "...The note goes on to say that Galadriel was not deceived, saying that this Aulendil was not in the train of Aule in Valinor...." This and all subsequent references to Galadriel and Celeborn make use of the essay "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn", provided in Unfinished Tales, which most closely fits with the events detailed in Tolkien's other writings. However, this narrative stipulates that Amroth was their son, an idea Tolkien later abandoned, which decision is accepted by and incorporated into this work. Ibid., pp. 199-200. "A new shadow rises in the East...." The letter Gil-galad wrote to Tar-Meneldil was composed in SA 882. Since Tolkien elsewhere states that Sauron began stirring again around SA 500, it may be that Gil-galad was aware of some growing evil well before the end of the 9th Century. Read the full article here.

Life in a Peter Jackson movie town...

by Michael Martinez, Friday, May 25, 2001

Ever wish you could visit Peter Jackson's Middle-earth? Hey, everyone wanted to get into the action. Well, Johnny Fraser-Allen actually got to do just that. And not long ago he dropped us a line to tell us his story. We're pleased to be able to share Johnny's experience with online Tolkien fandom. Some minor spoilage may be gleaned from Johnny's account. My name is Johnny Fraser-Allen, and Iam a huge Tolkien fan. I have had the J.R.R. Tolkien logo tattoed on my shoulder since I was fourteen. I am a great fan of your web site and have written to tell you some news about the Lord of the Rings movie related things that I have experenced first hand. First of all, when I first heard that they were filming the Lord of the Rings in my home country New Zealand, I promptly started sending e-mails to Peter Jackson and drawings of mine. About 1 and a bit years later I recieved an e-mail back. This e-mail stated that I was personaly invited by Peter Jackson's personal publ!isher to visit the 'Edoras, capital of Rohan' set in lake Clearwater near Methven in Canterbury, as that was as close as they were going to get to my town, Christchurch. There we had to sign an agreement and contract that we would not take any photos and such the like. After security we got the tour of the upper set (the upper being the city and the lower being the gate). I'm sure you've seen photos of the set, everything, including the large stone step up to the greate hall and the huge wood carved pillers, were made of polystyrene. On the second released preview of the trilogy (the one without Peter Jackson talking), when Bernard Hill playing Theoden is knighting Pippin, they are standing exactly were I stood overlooking a completly real-life built town. it was so windy there that they had to sew Gandalf and Theoden's cape and beard to their costumes, and the insides of the town's buildings were used for the cast and crew (as the inside shots are probably done in soun!d studios). For example, the great hall was a food hall, the blacksmith's was where the cast hung out in between shots and had coffee, and a small villager's house was Peter Jackson's own private thinking room. This consisted of a comfy chair and a white board, that was at that time covered by a story board draft that I did not have enough time to make out, as this room was obviously out of bounds -- because I was led out of this hut almost straight away by the publicist. While I was there I got to try on a helmet, spear, and sheild (of the Rohan Legion). I also saw, but did not meet, Bernard Hill as Theoden. I also came close to meeting Sir Ian McKellan, but he was going to the upper set as I was going down. In fact, the closest I got to any celebrities, apart from the actors' trailers, was when I sat in the actors' director-style chairs. The humorous thing about this was that the chairs, as well as the caravans, didn't have the actors' name on them, like "Viggo" or "Or!lando"; they had "Aragorn" and "Legolas", as well as "Pippin", "Grima", "Theoden", "Arwen" and "Gimli". While I was on the set, though they did not answer many of my questions, they told me an interesting story about Viggo Mortenson. In a battle scene he actually chipped his tooth, but kept on acting, only at the end claiming that Aragorn himself would have fought on. It was also told to us that Viggo was the only cast member to use a real (steel) sword, and carried his own full weight armour around sets. All other armour and weapons were made out of a lightweight plastic-like substance. This all partook on the 23rd of September 2000 (my own Birthday and consequently the day after Frodo and Bilbo's birthday). As well as this event, on Easter day 2001, knowing the Peter Jackson would be at the Omaka (Blenheim) airshow, as he buys and restores WW1 fighter planes, I went up with my father -- who had VIP tickets because his business was sponsoring it. And through a great deal of luck, as I have no real interest in planes, my father's tent was exactly where Peter Jackson was viewing the planes (remembering that it was a VIP spot), and I ended up sitting next to him the whole 1st day of the airshow! Along with this letter I have attached photos of me at the airshow thanking Peter Jackson for the invitation to the set back in 2000 (i hope you enjoy them).

A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 2

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 24, 2001

This is part two of a three-part article concerning the war of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. The article was originally written for the Tolkien journal Arda. Part 1 covered events leading up to the war. Special thanks to Rick House, who provided comments and suggestions when the article was written in 1996. The actual war began with the assault upon Minas Ithil in SA 342932. When the city was lost, Isildur and his family escaped to Osgiliath33. From there they sailed away, leaving Anarion to defend the realm. It may be that at this time Isildur stopped at Edhellond, and passed northward to Erech to call upon the King of the Mountains to fulfill the oath his predecessors had sworn; or, it may be at this time Isildur extracted the oath from the King, to be fulfilled later when the West was ready to march against Sauron34. In any event, Anarion apparently was not troubled by the men of Ered Nimrais, though he may have prudently mounted a watch against betrayal from the west. The presence of the Elven haven at Edhellond may have been a comfort to the Dunedain, however. Also, since Sauron had gathered his allies in Mordor, the armies of Herumor and Fuinur did not attack from the south. They must have passed north into Mordor through the Nargil Pass35, or else they marched northward along the Ephel Duath to assist in the assault on Osgiliath. Elendil and Gil-galad held a council in SA 3430 where the Alliance was formally created36. The council must have been quite a large gathering of lords from Arnor, Gondor, Lindon, and other lands. Besides Gil-galad and Elendil we can guess that Isildur and Cirdan were in attendance, and perhaps also Elrond, Celeborn, Galadriel, Gildor Inglorion, and Glorfindel37. Isildur's sons Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon might also have been in attendance; at the very least Elendur was probably there. Read the full article here.

Grab some great LOTR graphics

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 24, 2001

Jeremy Palman sent us these neat Lord of the Rings graphics a few weeks ago. Technical problems prevented us from posting the wallpapers until now, but we hope that our visitors will enjoy them. Aragorn the Ranger leads a small band of hobbits across Eriador on the most dangerous quest since Beren and Luthien first sought to steal back a Silmaril from Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. A descendant of Beren and Luthien, Aragorn's personal quest is to restore his people's ancient dignity and power, and to win the hand of the Elven lady Arwen, daughter of Elrond, another descendant of Beren and Luthien. Viggo Mortensen plays Aragorn in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" movies. Arwen is nearly 3,000 years old. She has witnessed the rise and fall of great kingdoms, and has watched the decline of her Elven people as they have been diminished by wars and migrations out of Middle-earth. Soon, as the Elves account it, her father Elrond will leave Middle-earth. Then Arwen and her brothers Elladan and Elrohir must choose whether to go with their father or to remain in Middle-earth and become mortal. Only a love for the mortal warrior prince Aragorn stands between Arwen and immortality. Liv Tyler plays Arwen in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings". Until now, the Dark Lord Sauron had overlooked the existence of Hobbits in Middle-earth. But through a curious sequence of events, Hobbits have come into possession of the One Ring, Sauron's master Ring for all the Rings of Power. As the Dark Lord desperately seeks to regain what was once his, Frodo Baggins, his servant Samwise Gamgee, and Frodo's cousins Meriadoc and Peregrin, are joined by Aragorn the Ranger, Legolas the Elf, Gandalf the Wizard, Gimli the Dwarf, and Boromir the warrior on the ultimate quest: to overthrow a Dark Lord. Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Sir Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and Sean Bean are Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring. Click on any of the images to view the full-size pictures. You can save them from your Web browser. Thanks to Jeremy for the great artwork. Visit LordoftheRings.net, the official Web site for the Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings" movies.

New teaser trailer to debut on Friday, May 25

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 24, 2001

New Line Cinema will launch new teaser trailer from its Web site on Friday, May 25. Tolkien fans, eager for more teasing and revelations, will undoubtedly clog the download lines for hours when http://www.lordoftherings.net/ releases the trailer. Xenite.Org has not been participating in the weeklong promotion of the event because of technical problems.

Pause in updates

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 24, 2001

I am traveling and have very limited Internet access. I will be unable to post further updates until next week. However, I've already uploaded part two of the "History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men" to Suite101. It will become available on Friday, May 25. Visit Suite101's Tolkien and Middle-earth topic every week.

Pictures from Sierra's E3 game presentation

by Michael Martinez, Thursday, May 24, 2001

The Italian Web site Spettacolo has posted scans of drawings from Sierra's E3 presentation. The scans are of production artwork and include Gollum, Bag Eng, a couple of towers, a winged steed, and a landscape. Sierra Online is rolling out several games based on The Lord of the Rings for the home PC gaming market, as well as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

A History of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Part 1

by Michael Martinez, Saturday, May 19, 2001

In 1996 the editor of the journal Arda asked me to contribute some of my research to a twelfth volume which has, to my knowledge, never been published. I chose the war of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men as my topic because no one had really ever done a full treatment of the subject. My present circumstances have made it nearly impossible for me to continue writing essays for Suite101 or to complete other projects. So, over the next few weeks, I will provide that article here. It remains, to my knowledge, the fullest treatment of the Last Alliance ever published. Parts one and two provide the narrative for the article. Part three, the longest part, contains the end notes and source references. The material which follows has not been edited since mid-1996. I am indebted to Rick House for reviewing the article at that time and offering suggestions and corrections. The legend of Gil-galad and Elendil's war against Sauron at the end of the Second Age of Middle-earth has been the subject of much research and speculation among Tolkien's fans. As with all aspects of his mythology, the few mentions of this great struggle imply a depth which draws the imagination toward a fuller account which surely must have existed in the author's mind, if not in any of his extant writings. Most of us are familiar with the outline of the war, and many can sketch out the events in a general progression from the first assault on Minas Ithil to the final combat on Orodruin. Yet so many questions remain that one must wonder if Tolkien himself did not ask them of himself. Who were the great princes and captains the memory of whose banners made Elrond pause and sigh at his council an Age later? Where did these armies come from, and what were their reasons for joining the Alliance? If we do not know their numbers, do we know anything at all of their battle order and progressions? Perhaps. Some of what follows is necessarily speculative. It cannot be otherwise for there are gaps in the record. Yet Tolkien sprinkled here and there pieces of information concerning this great war in which "all living things were divided...save the Elves only" (The Silmarillion, p. 294). Read the full article here

Visualizing Middle-earth book tour in New Mexico

by The Master, Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Michael Martinez, Xenite.Org founder and author of Visualizing Middle-earth, will be speaking to audiences at several New Mexico book stores in June. Visualizing Middle-earth is a collection of essays about J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Martinez addresses popular fan questions about where Aragorn's people lived, whether Balrogs have wings, what life might have been like in various parts of Middle-earth, and more. The book also includes an extensive essay titled "Understanding Magic in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth". Chris Seeman, editor of Other Hands, writes: "Visualizing Middle-earth, even as a warm-up, sets a new standard for the reconstruction of the 'internal' history of Tolkien's legendarium (as distinct from its literary or linguistic criticism). It is, in fact, the first book of its kind." Michael Martinez has studied Middle-earth for more! than twenty years. He’s steeped in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and you’ll find his comments on the boxes of Toy Vault's Lord of the Nazgul action figure. Those who surf the Internet in search of information are very familiar with Michael’s work. His website, entitled "Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth", provoked this comment from Douglas A. Anderson, Editor of The Annotated Hobbit: "… your work is thorough, engaging, and illuminating. I wish I had more time to explore it…" Turgon at TheOneRing.Net says of Michael's work in Visualizing Middle-earth: "He has a chatty, opinionated and engaging style that makes you feel like you’ve pulled up a chair to his table at a pub, and got to listen in on his conversation." Michael is currently the Director of the fan-programming track dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth at Dragoncon, which is North America’s largest fan-run science fiction and fantasy convention. The event drew more than 20,000 full members last year and was reportedly attended by more than 35,000 people altogether. The event is held annually in Atlanta, GA. While Middle-earth is the topic of his book and his passion, Michael is also a charter member of the Xenite and Herkulean Webmasters Association, founded in late 1997, and he is the founder of Xena Online Resources, the Web’s largest dedicated directory of Hercules and Xena links. Along with other fans, he contributed to "Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena" before moving on to Tolkien and Middle-earth. He’s been the subject of several interviews with the release of Visualizing Middle-Earth and is currently working on a history book that will detail the events, people, and geography in Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Oh yes, lest we forget - Michael plans to become an Elf when he grows up. June 2, 2001 Saturday 2-4 PM Hastings 4315 Wyoming NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 June 7, 2001 Thursday, 730PM Borders 2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE Albuquerque NM 87110 June 9, 2001 Saturday, 2-4 PM Hastings 2414 Cerrillos RD Santa Fe, NM 87501 June 14th, 2001 Thursday 730 pm Barnes & Noble 3701 Ellison NW Albuquerque, NM 87114

Download a special LoTR PDF eBook

by Michael Martinez, Tuesday, May 15, 2001

New Line Cinema has posted a special movie book on their Web site. You can download it and save it to your disk if you have the adobe acrobat reader plugin for your browser. The booklet contains pictures (some never before published), cast biographies, and some generalized background information. Except for the poor layout and design (most of the pages are too wide to be viewed without scrolling right and left), the booklet is a prime example of how the Internet can be used by a major multimedia company to promote itself and its products. Well worth the annoyance of scrolling from right to left and back again.

Life in an Elven fishing town

by Michael Martinez, Saturday, May 12, 2001

Mithlond would have to be the only place in Middle-earth which would seem like a classic English village. "But what about the Shire?" people clamor, nodding their heads to each in knowing fashion. "We have him, this time!" Yes, the Shire's quaint little villages were clearly modelled on Warwickshire villages, but they lacked something which Mithlond possessed: the equivalent of a church. Americans who grew up in small towns know immediately what the presence of a church in any town or village means: it is the heart of the community. Forget the town square, the village green, old Jeb's friendly bar, or the school. That church is the heart and soul of the community. People are baptized there, lectured there, gossiped about there (but not by the preacher if they are discreet), get married there, suffer through the shame of divorce there, grieve over their losses there, socialize there, and ultimately are bid farewell there. Now, Mithlond was a pair of cities, not really a village. But in Lindon's heyday, during the years of Gil-galad's reign (the entire Second Age), the most important city of Lindon was probably Forlond. Mithlond was Cirdan's turf. The mariners of Brithombar and Eglarest were his people, and as many of them as he could fit onto the ships survived the fall of their ancient cities in western Beleriand. It is almost certain that most of the Falathrim settled in Mithlond in the Second Age. Harlindon was probably settled by surviving Sindar from Doriath, Nargothrond, and Hithlum (and the Green-elves of Ossiriand). Hithlum was the first Elven realm to weave those enchanted grey cloaks which eventually were given by Elves of Lorien to the Fellowship of the Ring. Lorien was originally founded by Sindar who settled among the Silvan Elves in the Vales of Anduin. And the Sindar who migrated to the east in the Second Age seem to have come from Harlindon. Read the full article here

Online Cannes coverage from the fans

by Michael Martinez, Friday, May 11, 2001

New Line Cinema invited representatives from Ringbearer.Org and TheOneRing.Net to attend Peter Jackson's blowout party at Cannes, where New Line will parade its LoTR stars in front of the world and wow festival insiders with never-before-seen footage. So, to keep up-to-date with events over the next two weeks (or however long the LoTR junket lasts), check out Joram Manka's Cannes reports at TolkienGuild.Org and TheOneRing.Net's Cannes page every day.

Is that an Orc in your pocket, or are you just happy to be evil?

by Michael Martinez, Monday, May 7, 2001

It may be a strategic shift in our social values which leads to many gamers today wanting to play Orcs and other bad guys in upcoming Tolkien-related games. Why is that? Do the bad guys really win that often in Tolkien? Or does Tolkien purism take a back seat to the opportunity for engaging in general mayhem? The evil creatures of Middle-earth are often lumped together as "evil races" but that is really a misnomer. Sure, no one ever heard of a "good" Orc, but many people believe that the Orcs were simply bred from corrupted Elves. Deep down inside, they may still have a kernel of goodness which was suppressed by the overpowering wills of Melkor and Sauron. It's a bit difficult to rationalize how Orcs could be anything like the "good" races of Middle-earth, but then, the Orcs aren't really supposed to be anything other than an aspect of the humane. They are a reflection of the worst qualities we find in ourselves. Orcs feel loyalty, express courage, and honor their oaths. But they also live in constant fear, dwell on hatred and contempt, and treat everything with absolute disregard. They are depraved, debased, and extremely selfish. In writing about the Elves, Tolkien noted that they, too, were just an aspect of the humane. They represent human artistic endeavor in an enhanced or enlightened state. But part of the Elvish enlightenment derives from their own fall. They had to sink pretty low in order to rise up as high as they are perceived to be in The Lord of the Rings. There is an echo of Tolkien's hope that humanity's artistic side will somehow overcome the bestial nature which threatens to engulf us. Read the full article at Suite101

Announcing: The One Ring, The Musical

by Michael Martinez, Sunday, May 6, 2001

Tolkien-inspired musicals aren't all the rage yet, but they may be catching on. We were recently introduced to The One Ring, The Musical. The site opens with an overview of the story told by the musical. Visitors may then step through the lyrics by clicking on navigational links on the left-hand side of the page. The site also provides a poll, guest-book, and links to other sites (including Xenite.Org, which is how we learned about the site -- Brad Marston, the Webmaster/composer, asked us for a reciprocal link). The lyrics for "One More Tomorrow" capture the haunting self-doubt Aragorn feels at one part of the story, when he is troubled by the consequences of the choices he has made: THERE ARE TOO MANY VOICES I SHALL NOT HEAR AGAIN. VOICES STILLED BY CHOICES I WAS FORCED TO MAKE, AND THEN I LIVE WITH THEIR MEM’RIES; WITH THEIR BLOOD UPON MY HANDS. AND PRAY THEY WILL FORGIVE ME OR AT LEAST UNDERSTAND. Eowyn's heart pours out in "With His Words": WHY MUST I LIVE MY LIFE IN A CAGE, FILLED WITH A LONGING? FEELING THE RAGE THAT I’LL ONLY BE FREE, I CAN LET THE HOUSE BURN WHEN MEN GO TO WARS FROM WHICH THEY WON’T RETURN. WHEN ALL THE GLORY IS WON, WILL ANYONE KNOW ALL I HAVE DONE? There are some little humorous gems embedded in the text of the various pages. We won't spoil the fun for you. Happy hunting, and may your musicals be many and Merry....

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