The One hundred and forty-first Roving Ranger

Life and Works

Michael Flowers has more on Roos Tolkien Statues Unveiled (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [see also this short clip (Si apre in una nuova finestra); Youtube. See also the BBC (Si apre in una nuova finestra); Youtube (Si apre in una nuova finestra).]

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra). [Instagram]

Events & Shows

Minneapolis will have a Hobbit stage rendition (Si apre in una nuova finestra). [May 8-31, 2026]

Also, Jupiter’s Eye Books in Spokane, WA, has mentioned a Tolkienian event (Si apre in una nuova finestra)with Jed Brophy in the picture. [Instagram]

For all events check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

Tom Hillman has Dreamflowers and Lotus-eaters (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Tom Emanuel has Of pride, Pride, and Pentecost (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Pre-order is now available with Paul Corfield Godfrey’s LotR Opera (Si apre in una nuova finestra) with Volante.

Anke Eissmann has mentioned with Bluesky (Si apre in una nuova finestra) that she is working on new Tolkien art for Legendaria Ediciones (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Collider]

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Receives New Gameplay Trailer (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Nintendo Insider]

Director Andy Serkis Offers Huge Filming Update For 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Collider]

Lord of the Rings Online is ‘in the home stretch’ of its months-long server transfer process (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Massively OP]

Inter alia

The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (Si apre in una nuova finestra) recently had a poll on giving names to new-born falcons - and they received Middle-earthian ones (Si apre in una nuova finestra). [Facebook]

“The reason Rush could rock while referencing Bertrand Russell and Elizabethan drama”: Neil Peart’s most powerful lyrics (Si apre in una nuova finestra) (also: Tolkien) [LouderSound]

Spaceballs 2 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) certainly is the announcement of the year! [Youtube]

Stratofanatic has Defending Del Rey Books: The Misunderstood Hero (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

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

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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).

Have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Si apre in una nuova finestra)

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 (Si apre in una nuova finestra). ↩