The One hundred and fifty-fourth Roving Ranger

-:- Strange as news from Bree -:-

This week’s delay is due to my visit to Lauterbrunnen (“Rivendell”), more on this next week.

Events & Shows

The 3rd Thuringian Tolkien Day is happening Sept 27 (Opens in a new window) [‘my’ event in Jena where I live 😃]

The Tolkien Studies Area of the PCA (Opens in a new window) is accepting proposals [event in April 2026]

The Lord of the Rings musical pulls UK run next month (Opens in a new window) [What’s on Stage]

Lord of the Rings Musical Enters Voluntary Administration After Australian Tour (Opens in a new window) [Broadway World]

The Tolkien Tapestries will be shown at the Jean Lurçat Museum in Angers (Opens in a new window)[Apr 9, 2026 ff.; in French]

For all events check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Opens in a new window) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Opens in a new window) - and do not forget: It is Bilbo’s (Opens in a new window) and Frodo’s (Opens in a new window) Birthday soon. Sept 22. Celebrate 🎂!

I would love you to help me get this newsletter to more than 1,000 subscribers

Here are seven reasons why - could you please pass this on to people you know who would appreciate this newsletter? Thank you very much.

Scholarship & Fandom

New guest post with my blog:

John Garth has Tolkien’s hidden gift to his favourite aunt (Opens in a new window) [paywall; Steady]

Bree Crossroads #11 (Opens in a new window) & #12 (Opens in a new window) are out. [Substack]

Stephen C. Winter has “A Elbereth Gilthoniel…” Sam Gamgee’s Pentecostal Song as He Drives Shelob Away From Frodo’s Body (Opens in a new window).

doubtfulsea has AI?  Ay! (Opens in a new window)

A bibliography of Tolkien studies in French and English (Opens in a new window) has been updated.

Miriam Ellis has Sketches from my artistic process of illustrating from Tolkien (Opens in a new window).

The Journal of Tolkien Research’ volume 22, issue 2, has additional pieces (Opens in a new window).

Merchandise & Franchise

The Tolkien Society has Curtis Brown Heritage appointed to represent Tolkien Estate (Opens in a new window).

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin elected as SAG-AFTRA’s new president (Opens in a new window) [Independent]

The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation heads to retail (Opens in a new window) [ic2V]

Oxford: Parking stopped for revamp of famous Morse pub (Opens in a new window) [Oxford Mail; on the Eagle & Child]

Inter alia

The Oxford Clarion has a history of St. Giles’ Fair (Opens in a new window); the Critic has Timeless temples of the written word (Opens in a new window) [Oxford libraries.]

The Witcher has a trailer for its fourth season (Opens in a new window).

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The It's My Book They'll Walk If I Tell Them Too (ANIMATED) (Opens in a new window) [Youtube]

The Daily Heller: Science is a Laughing Matter (Opens in a new window) [Interview with Tom Gauld]

Thinking about starting a newsletter, podcast, Patreon, Substack etc.?

Then do consider using Steady (Opens in a new window) - it is an exceptionally easy to use option for all needs. Built originally for an independent journalists’ collective, Krautreporter (Opens in a new window), it is run by creative minds for creative minds. Think Patreon, just better. It is based in Germany, free of enshittification (Opens in a new window) and nazis.

Do use my invite link (Opens in a new window) and start with three months fee-free.
[Transparency note: I get a small referral bonus with no extra costs to you.]

According to German law I have to inform you all links to enterprises, artists, products etc. are [unpaid advertisements.] Some purchase links may earn me a small commission from Blackwell's (Opens in a new window), Bookshop.org (Opens in a new window), or Genialokal (Opens in a new window), the (independent) bookshops of my personal trust (one with a Tolkien connection!)

If you are interested in my other Tolkien-related work please have a look:
The Tolkienist Blog (Opens in a new window) : Facebook (Opens in a new window) : Bluesky (Opens in a new window) : Instagram (Opens in a new window) : Threads (Opens in a new window) : Mastodon (Opens in a new window).

Have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Opens in a new window)

As this is 2025 I would like to note that this newsletter is 100% human-made, curated by me, Marcel R. Bülles. This also holds true for everything I write with my blog and here at Steady. Also, the minimum time of curating this newsletter ranges from 8-12 hours every week. Please consider supporting me so I can continue offering the Roving Ranger - thank you.