The One hundred and eighty-sixth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

May 18, 1972 Tolkien writes Letter 335 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), telling a fan “that if he wanted to finish The Silmarillion (Si apre in una nuova finestra), he did not have time for answering fan-letters.”
May 19, 2006 The Ring of Words (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is published.
May 20, 1965 Tolkien writes Letter 270 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on Smith of Wootton Major (Si apre in una nuova finestra), (&) revising The Lord of the Rings (Si apre in una nuova finestra) to fight Ace Books (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
May 21, 2013 The Fall of Arthur (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is published.
May 22, 2014 Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is published.
May 24, 1932 R.W. Chambers (Si apre in una nuova finestra) sends J.R.R. Tolkien (Si apre in una nuova finestra) an inscribed copy of Beowulf: An Introduction to the Study of the Poem (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
May 25, 1944 Tolkien writes Letter 71 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on Africa, The Lord of the Rings (Si apre in una nuova finestra) writing, Orcs (Si apre in una nuova finestra), dislike of Dorothy Sayers' (Si apre in una nuova finestra) works.

The way the internet is going reliable information will be more difficult to find every day - so a curated newsletter like the Roving Ranger is more needed than ever. Share it, let people know! Thank you 😊

Events & Shows

The Société française d’héraldique et de sigillographie has an exceptional online event coming up: “Tolkien héraldiste. Place et histoire des armoiries dans les œuvres de J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)” [May 21; via Zoom (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]¹

Olympia Family Theater (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is showing ‘The Hobbit’ [until Jun 7; Olympia, Washington, USA]

Please note I am the Guest of Honour of this year’s Lustrum of the Dutch Tolkien Society, Unquendor.

Registration is now open (Si apre in una nuova finestra) for June 19-21, 2026.

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Scholarship & Fandom

Katie from Bree Crossroads has "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure!" (Si apre in una nuova finestra) - an invitation to a global Tolkien fan community space via Discord.

Robin Reid has Handout on Scene 20 (EE) The Two Towers (Si apre in una nuova finestra) as well as Recent Queer Tolkien Scholarship (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Substack]

David Bratman has Tiptree on Tolkien (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Blogspot]

The Joy of Old Books has I own a book that Tolkien scribbled in (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Substack]

doubtfulsea has Saruman’s Sigh (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Stephen C. Winter has “Speak Not The Soft Words of Wormtongue in My Old Ears”. Théoden Thinks About Ageing and Death in Harrowdale (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

If you are more comfortable following me and my ventures via WhatsApp - here’s the Travelling Tolkienist Channel (Si apre in una nuova finestra). 📝

500 posts in 5 years with Steady. More on this next week.

Merchandise & Franchise

Charles III and the film trilogy go hand in hand with the Royal Mint - here you can register your interest (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Inter alia

File770 has the Grauniad list but just the fantasy/ scifi novels named (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

'It's a Real Shame' — Peter Jackson, Architect of the Much-Loved Lord of the Rings Extended Edition DVDs, Laments the Decline of Physical Media (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [IGN]²

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

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

Do use my invite link (Si apre in una nuova finestra) 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Bookshop.org (Si apre in una nuova finestra), or Genialokal (Si apre in una nuova finestra), 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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Facebook (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Bluesky (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Instagram (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Threads (Si apre in una nuova finestra) : Mastodon (Si apre in una nuova finestra) - and have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Si apre in una nuova finestra)

As this is 2026 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.

1. h/t Sarah C. Schaefer. (Si apre in una nuova finestra) ↩

2. h/t File770 (Si apre in una nuova finestra). ↩