The One hundred and sixty-second Roving Ranger

-:- Strange as news from Bree -:-

Life and Works

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

• Third Age, 2994. Balin (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Lord of Moria (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), is killed by an Orc archer as he stood to watch in Mirrormere (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [Nov 10]

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My podcast: A Talk with the Tolkienist [Spotify (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) | YT (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) | RSS feed (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

Events & Shows

The Tolkien Studies Area (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) at the PCA Annual Conference has a CfP with a deadline of Nov 30.

The One Man Lord of The Rings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is coming to St Ann's Academy in Victoria, Canada.

Somewhere in Kansas there is Growing Middle-Earth - A Tolkien Terrarium Gardening Class (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The Hobbit (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) will be staged in February 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Also on May 1 + 2, 2026 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Stephen Colbert Show; Youtube]

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Scholarship & Fandom

Tom Hillman has Númenor: the Downfall is in the Details (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

There has been quite a bit of… The Lord of the Crowdfunding: Tolkien-inspired campaigns with Kickstarter, Gamefound, and more (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). [thetolkienist.com (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

David Bratman has Muskery (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) and a reaction to it (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

A Detestable Nation of Orcs: echoes of Eurasian nomads in early Fantasy and the literary ecosystem behind them (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Journal of Tolkien Research]

Jeff LaSala has The Uinendili and Political Branding in Tolkien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

doubtfulsea has To Bree (Part 1) (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Michael Martinez has How Diverse Was Middle-earth In ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)?

Miriam Ellis has The Glory of Goldberry's Washing Day (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Tom Hillman has "Foul" and "Vile" in The Book of Lost Tales (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Renga in Blue has Ringen: Under the Low Morning Sun (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

John Garth has For remembrance: Robert Quilter Gilson on the eve of war, 1914 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Lord Of The Rings Owner Blocks 'Hobbit' TM Bid (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Law360; paywall | this (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is about a vehicle application (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) by this company (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

Inter alia

Star Trek 4 Reportedly Dead as Paramount Moves On From Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto-led Cast (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Reactor; a timeline of this with Gizmodo (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]

A Revised Malazan Reading Order (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Wertzone]

Fade to Black: Hollywood’s AI-Era Jobs Collapse Is Starting (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Ankler]

Libraries are in an 'AI maximalism' ideological war (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [404 Media]

Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons to Be Racist (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Atlantic; paywall]

xkcd wins again.

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

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