The One hundred and eighty-fourth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

May 4, 1944 While writing on The Lord of the Rings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Tolkien sees a new character arrive on the scene. He later comments (Öffnet in neuem Fenster): "(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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)): Faramir (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), brother of Boromir (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)".
May 5, 1977 J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is first published in the UK.
May 6, 1968 Tolkien writes Letter 303 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), on the importance of Sarehole Mill (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
May 9, 1907 Tolkien receives the book Dictionary in Englysshe and Welshe (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
May 10, 1966 Tolkien writes Letters 287 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) and 288 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), on dealing with fan telephone calls and his commemorative bust (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
May 11, 1922 A Middle English Vocabulary (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), Tolkien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)'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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Wordpress]

Last chance to register with the Austrian Tolkien Society’s Spring Festival (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) for June 19-21, 2026.

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

Scholarship & Fandom

Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson is now with Substack (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).¹ Have a look at his first post on Books Dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien During His Lifetime (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Kelly | The Middle Page has Derry-dol, merry-dol! An Introduction to Tolkien's The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Substack]

[The] Silmarillion; book-collecting minutiae has Copy-Specific: NZ Distributed Clowes, Remaindered (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

The Green Girdle has Courage in the Tale of Beren and Lúthien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

If you are more comfortable following me and my ventures via WhatsApp - here’s the Travelling Tolkienist Channel (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). 📝

Merchandise & Franchise

Promotional products company AODACI (a daughter company to Testa Group (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster): 'I'm not dead' [Entertainment Weekly]

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours has been offering quite a few jobs in recent weeks - like Gardener & Nursery Worker (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [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" (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [RocketPaperShotgun]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) 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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) has been published.

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

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

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

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 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (“History of the Hobbit”, among other things.) ↩