The One hundred and forty-first Roving Ranger

Life and Works

Michael Flowers has more on Roos Tolkien Statues Unveiled (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [see also this short clip (Öffnet in neuem Fenster); Youtube. See also the BBC (Öffnet in neuem Fenster); Youtube (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).]

This edition is sent early today as I am with the largest Tolkien-centred event in the world, the Tolkien Days in Germany, presenting - among other things - Smith of Wootton Major (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Instagram]

Events & Shows

Minneapolis will have a Hobbit stage rendition (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [May 8-31, 2026]

Also, Jupiter’s Eye Books in Spokane, WA, has mentioned a Tolkienian event (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)with Jed Brophy in the picture. [Instagram]

For all events check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Scholarship & Fandom

Miriam Ellis has Don't skip Tolkien's songs and poems this time.

Tom Hillman has Dreamflowers and Lotus-eaters (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Tom Emanuel has Of pride, Pride, and Pentecost (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Pre-order is now available with Paul Corfield Godfrey’s LotR Opera (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) with Volante.

Anke Eissmann has mentioned with Bluesky (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) that she is working on new Tolkien art for Legendaria Ediciones (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The legendary Brian Sibley has mentioned that he is working on another Tolkien-related project. [author’s correspondence]

Merchandise & Franchise

When I asked Bardic Brewing and Cider in Spokane, Washington, why they have a Tolkien IPA on topic their answer was:

1) We're huge nerds
2) We don't brew IPAs even though we're in the PNW
3) We decided one IPA might be a good idea
4) We now have a "Tolkien" IPA 😉😃¹

'The Rings of Power' Announces a Major Casting Update as Season 3 Begins Production (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Collider]

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Receives New Gameplay Trailer (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Nintendo Insider]

Director Andy Serkis Offers Huge Filming Update For 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Collider]

Lord of the Rings Online is ‘in the home stretch’ of its months-long server transfer process (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Massively OP]

Inter alia

The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) recently had a poll on giving names to new-born falcons - and they received Middle-earthian ones (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Facebook]

“The reason Rush could rock while referencing Bertrand Russell and Elizabethan drama”: Neil Peart’s most powerful lyrics (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (also: Tolkien) [LouderSound]

Spaceballs 2 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) certainly is the announcement of the year! [Youtube]

Stratofanatic has Defending Del Rey Books: The Misunderstood Hero (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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

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

Do use my invite link (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Bookshop.org (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), or Genialokal (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Facebook (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Bluesky (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Instagram (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Threads (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) : Mastodon (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)

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 average time of curating this newsletter ranges from 12-16 hours for the bi-weekly edition and 6-8 hours for the weekly one.

1. Bluesky skeet (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). ↩