The One hundred and eighty-fourth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

May 4, 1944 While writing on The Lord of the Rings (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Tolkien sees a new character arrive on the scene. He later comments (Si apre in una nuova finestra): "(I am sure I did not invent him, I did not even want him, though I like him, but there he came walking into the woods of Ithilien (Si apre in una nuova finestra)): Faramir (Si apre in una nuova finestra), brother of Boromir (Si apre in una nuova finestra)".
May 5, 1977 J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is first published in the UK.
May 6, 1968 Tolkien writes Letter 303 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on the importance of Sarehole Mill (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
May 9, 1907 Tolkien receives the book Dictionary in Englysshe and Welshe (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
May 10, 1966 Tolkien writes Letters 287 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) and 288 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on dealing with fan telephone calls and his commemorative bust (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
May 11, 1922 A Middle English Vocabulary (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Tolkien (Si apre in una nuova finestra)'s first book, is published.

After a longish bout of illness I am returning to the usual schedule - that is, Monday, around 9pm CET.

Thank you for your patience!

Events & Shows

The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (TRSB) is happening as we speak (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Wordpress]

Last chance to register with the Austrian Tolkien Society’s Spring Festival (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [May 13-17; registration available until May 6, 4pm CET]

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

Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson is now with Substack (Si apre in una nuova finestra).¹ Have a look at his first post on Books Dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien During His Lifetime (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Stephen C. Winter has “I Summon You to The Stone of Erech!” On the Breaking of Oaths and The Authority of The Heir of Isildur (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Kelly | The Middle Page has Derry-dol, merry-dol! An Introduction to Tolkien's The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Substack]

[The] Silmarillion; book-collecting minutiae has Copy-Specific: NZ Distributed Clowes, Remaindered (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

The Green Girdle has Courage in the Tale of Beren and Lúthien (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). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

Promotional products company AODACI (a daughter company to Testa Group (Si apre in una nuova finestra), based in Portugal) has a Tolkien pen - part of a larger range of author-name-based products (like Sartre, Hawthorne, and Lewis). Not quite sure about the ©, though.

[At least they are claiming to commit “to a better, more eco-conscious world.”]

Olivia Wilde addresses comparisons to Lord of the Rings' Gollum after viral interview (Si apre in una nuova finestra): 'I'm not dead' [Entertainment Weekly]

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours has been offering quite a few jobs in recent weeks - like Gardener & Nursery Worker (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Magic: The Gathering has officially revealed the upcoming Hobbit cards.

See also: ‘Magic: The Gathering Arena’ Developers Tap Into Collective Power, Convoke To Unionize With CWA (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Cartoon Brew]

Kingdom Come devs respond to Lord of the Rings game rumour: "I cannot disclose details but I can tell it is a huge, immersive RPG" (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [RocketPaperShotgun]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) developers Warhorse Studios are refusing to confirm or deny a rumour that they're making a Lord of the Rings game for Embracer. This could indicate one of two things: firstly, they are making a Lord of the Rings game for Embracer. And secondly, they are not making a Lord of the Rings game for Embracer. [DUH!, my emphasis]

Inter alia

Ansible 466 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) has been published.

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. see his Tolkien Gateway profile (Si apre in una nuova finestra) (“History of the Hobbit”, among other things.) ↩