The One hundred and sixty-second Roving Ranger

-:- Strange as news from Bree -:-

Life and Works

Nov 10, 1963. Hobbits and Heroes (Si apre in una nuova finestra), which includes extracts of an interview with Tolkien, is published in The Sunday Telegraph.
Nov 11, 1918. The War (Si apre in una nuova finestra) comes to an end in a cease-fire.
Nov 12, 1952. Tolkien writes Letter 135a (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on expressing his gratitude for the publisher's decision to publish The Lord of the Rings (Si apre in una nuova finestra) under a profit-sharing scheme.
Nov 14, 1904. At the age of 34, Mabel Tolkien (Si apre in una nuova finestra) dies after six days in a diabetic coma.
Nov 15, 1937. Tolkien submits to Allen & Unwin (Si apre in una nuova finestra) a bundle of manuscripts including The Lay of Leithian (Si apre in una nuova finestra) ("Long Poem"); Quenta Silmarillion (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Ainulindalë (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Ambarkanta (Si apre in una nuova finestra), and The Fall of Númenor (chapter) (Si apre in una nuova finestra) ("The Gnomes Material"); The Lost Road (Si apre in una nuova finestra); and Farmer Giles of Ham (Si apre in una nuova finestra) and Mr. Bliss (Si apre in una nuova finestra). They also discuss Beowulf (Si apre in una nuova finestra).
Nov 16, 1969. Tolkien writes Letter 312 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on Miss Ronald’s health, flowers of Middle-earth and others experienced by Tolkien.
Nov 17, 1954. Tolkien writes a letter to Rayner Heppenstall (Si apre in una nuova finestra), on the rehearsal and recording of the radio play The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth (Si apre in una nuova finestra) on 3 December.

• Third Age, 2994. Balin (Si apre in una nuova finestra), Lord of Moria (Si apre in una nuova finestra), is killed by an Orc archer as he stood to watch in Mirrormere (Si apre in una nuova finestra). [Nov 10]

(Si apre in una nuova finestra)

The Roving Ranger and the many other things I am doing are reader-supported publications. To receive additional posts and make it all happen, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

My podcast: A Talk with the Tolkienist [Spotify (Si apre in una nuova finestra) | YT (Si apre in una nuova finestra) | RSS feed (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

Events & Shows

The Tolkien Studies Area (Si apre in una nuova finestra) at the PCA Annual Conference has a CfP with a deadline of Nov 30.

The One Man Lord of The Rings (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is coming to St Ann's Academy in Victoria, Canada.

Somewhere in Kansas there is Growing Middle-Earth - A Tolkien Terrarium Gardening Class (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

The Hobbit (Si apre in una nuova finestra) will be staged in February 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Also on May 1 + 2, 2026 (Si apre in una nuova finestra), in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA - in only 60 mins!

Robert Plant's Led Zeppelin Bandmates Had No Idea He Was Referencing Tolkien In The Band's Lyrics (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Stephen Colbert Show; Youtube]

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

Scholarship & Fandom

Tom Hillman has Númenor: the Downfall is in the Details (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

There has been quite a bit of… The Lord of the Crowdfunding: Tolkien-inspired campaigns with Kickstarter, Gamefound, and more (Si apre in una nuova finestra). [thetolkienist.com (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

David Bratman has Muskery (Si apre in una nuova finestra) and a reaction to it (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

A Detestable Nation of Orcs: echoes of Eurasian nomads in early Fantasy and the literary ecosystem behind them (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Journal of Tolkien Research]

Jeff LaSala has The Uinendili and Political Branding in Tolkien (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

doubtfulsea has To Bree (Part 1) (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Michael Martinez has How Diverse Was Middle-earth In ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (Si apre in una nuova finestra)?

Miriam Ellis has The Glory of Goldberry's Washing Day (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Tom Hillman has "Foul" and "Vile" in The Book of Lost Tales (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Stephen C. Winter has “Yet Now They Were Silent, and No Footsteps Rang on Their Wide Pavements, nor Voice Was Heard in Their Halls…” Pippin Journeys Through Minas Tirith, Falling into Decay (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Renga in Blue has Ringen: Under the Low Morning Sun (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

John Garth has For remembrance: Robert Quilter Gilson on the eve of war, 1914 (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Steady, paywall]

Merchandise & Franchise

If you have a bit of money to spare - Red Carpet Tours [NZ] is now offering the 7 Day Lord of the Rings Tour (Si apre in una nuova finestra).

Lord Of The Rings Owner Blocks 'Hobbit' TM Bid (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Law360; paywall | this (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is about a vehicle application (Si apre in una nuova finestra) by this company (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

Inter alia

Star Trek 4 Reportedly Dead as Paramount Moves On From Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto-led Cast (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Reactor; a timeline of this with Gizmodo (Si apre in una nuova finestra)]

A Revised Malazan Reading Order (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Wertzone]

Fade to Black: Hollywood’s AI-Era Jobs Collapse Is Starting (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Ankler]

Libraries are in an 'AI maximalism' ideological war (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [404 Media]

Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons to Be Racist (Si apre in una nuova finestra) [Atlantic; paywall]

xkcd wins again.

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).

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 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.