More Pretty Pictures

Apparently, while we were growing up with Brothers Hildebrandt as the measuring stick for Tolkien illustrations, the Russian edition had these illustrations:
(Again, I won't violate copyright by reposting the pictures themselves.)

http://egelantier.tumblr.com/post/85739410808/my-childhood-russian-edition-of-lord-of-the-rings
http://egelantier.tumblr.com/post/85739549878/quasi-medieval-tolkien-illustrations-by-sergey
http://egelantier.tumblr.com/post/85739762858/quasi-medieval-tolkien-illustrations-by-sergey
http://egelantier.tumblr.com/post/87223083158/more-sergey-yuhimovs-lotr-illustrations-slightly

Same artist, different post, with some pictures not in the previous series:
http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/2281209/post116167073

I think the Russians got the better deal.

There are two pictures in the last post that can't place which scene they refer to.
 • small figure walking down a long red, torch-lit hallway
 • a dark lake with the broken pillar
Anyone have any guesses about those?

The 1985 Hobbit Movie from Russia

http://io9.com/5969220/

Don't think of it as a "movie."  That will only lead to disappointment.

Think of this as a video of a stage performance of The Hobbit.  In fact, the more I look at it, the more convinced I am that this is based directly from a stage performance.

I don't speak Russian, but you don't really need the words.
Here are the scenes:
   2:57 Bilbo meets Gandalf
   6:19 The Dwarves arrive at Bilbo's house
  20:36 Travelling
  23:56 The goblin's cave
  33:45 Gollum
  44:50 Forest with spiders
  49:07 Laketown
  51:26 Approaching the Lonely Mountain
  54:30 Bilbo finds the Arkenstone,  and talks to Smaug
  59:22 Smaug at Laketown
  59:55 Using the Arkenstone to negotiate
1:01:54 The Battle of "Five" Armies (though only three appear in this version)
1:03:01 Thorin's last words
1:05:15 Farewells
1:07:38 Happily ever after

If you were writing a script for a stage performance of The Hobbit - with a community theater or high school  budget - which scenes would you include?  How would you handle the special effects (Smaug, invisibility?)  How would you handle the size differences among the races?

Illustrations for Ainulindalë

Rajani sent me these links.

Fanart/comic of the Ainulindale.
(Click on the first picture in each page to make it bigger, and then keep clicking on it for each next panel.) 
Pretty much perfect.

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60248601430/part-1-of-j-r-r-tolkiens-the-ainulindale-read

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60319123248/ainulindale-part-2-thanks-for-all-the-positive

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60407063957/j-r-r-tolkiens-ainulindale-part-3-the-song-of

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60512411466/j-r-r-tolkiens-ainulindale-part-4-ea-the

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60666000172/the-ainulindale-part-5-the-birth-of-the-valar

http://evanpalmercomics.tumblr.com/post/60731398940/and-finally-part-6-of-j-r-r-tolkiens

Tom Bombadil Rap

I got this email today:

Lihan,

 

Hi.  I found you through the Tolkien Discussion Group.  I run the Odyssey Writing Workshops, and we held a flashmob at WorldCon earlier this month, which involved rapping the poetry of Tom Bombadil.  I thought you and your friends might get a kick out of it.   http://ow.ly/dtVRK

 

Best,

 

Jeanne

 

Jeanne Cavelos

Director

Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust

www.odysseyworkshop.org

 It is good to hear from other Tolkien fans! 

Pretty Pictures

See some of the prettiest Lord of the Rings illustrations ever!

I won't violate copyright by reposting them here.  See the originals at http://breathing2004.deviantart.com/gallery/30260599.

Click on each picture to enlarge it.

Makalaure Casts Silmaril In Roaring Sea -- Angeliad of Surazeus

Makalaure Casts Silmaril In Roaring Sea
Angeliad of Surazeus
http://open.salon.com/blog/surazeus

When Feanaro raised shining sword to stars
beneath towering Mindon Eldalieva of Ingwe
and bade us swear oath in name of Iluvatar
to war against all to recover glittering Silmaril
how could I foresee dark path of pain and rage
that lead me alone to roaring sea of despair
shouts Makalaure who stands in howling rain
clutching jewel of light that burns his hands.

Searing pain of guilt in raising sword with hate
to slay fellow Goldoi Elves pierces his heart
in jolting flames from core of bright Silmaril
but though Makalaure squeezes eyes tight
he sees anguish on faces of weeping Elves
who fell beneath hacking blow of bloody sword
then trembling on his knees on broken rock
he howls in wild rainstorm wordless despair.

How far from Cuivienen sea of wakening dreams
we wandered lost in search for glowing jewels
without hope of regaining paradise of lush hills
where first we sang sweet tunes under stars
and feasted on fresh fruit of Yavanna Kementari
distant memories of sparkling juice on my tongue
then Makalaure moans and clutches Silmaril
to his heart though it stabs him with hot pain.

What arrogant pride of purpose lead Feanaro
my angry father to order we slay fellow elves
at Alqualonde to steal swan ships of Teleri
on our blind quest to retrieve Jewels of Light
from Morgoth hiding in bitter Angband fort
and what blind loyalty lead me to follow close
his path of destruction over waves of rage
for though I possess this jewel glowing bright
with glorious light of Telperion and Laurelin
sacred trees poisoned by hate of Ungoliant
my heart bleeds with pain at my evil deeds.

Makalaure stares into bright depthless heart
of shining Silmaril that glows with galaxies
of stars swirling in restless evolution of life
in creation and destruction of organic forms
and floats entranced in vision of big bang
in white light that flares forth into sphere
of souls that forms Arda shape of our world
where Ainur angels of light sing sweet tune
that transforms spirits into our suffering flesh.

Standing tall with deep breath of storm wind
Makalaure glares with fierce determination
into blistering beat of rain and raises high
his burned hand clutching Jewel of Pure Light
and hurls it far away from clutches of greed
arching on streaking flame of searing desire
where Silmaril falls plunging into roaring waves
that explode in pounding surf of blasting spray
and disappears forever in dark sightless sea.

Where wanders he now tragic son of Feanaro
long black hair hiding his pain-twisted face
as jewel-burned hands clutch an oaken harp
and pluck strings that weave a melancholy tune
that enchants hearts of young innocent souls
who sit around ancient bard and listen silent
as cracked voice laments path of arrogant pride
that shines light of truth to guide young feet
safe along way of love to preserve our garden
of fruit where we hold hands and dance alive.

Angeliad of Surazeus online at Angeliad.net