The One hundred and forty-first Roving Ranger

Life and Works

Michael Flowers has more on Roos Tolkien Statues Unveiled (Opens in a new window) [see also this short clip (Opens in a new window); Youtube. See also the BBC (Opens in a new window); Youtube (Opens in a new window).]

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 (Opens in a new window). [Instagram]

Events & Shows

Minneapolis will have a Hobbit stage rendition (Opens in a new window). [May 8-31, 2026]

Also, Jupiter’s Eye Books in Spokane, WA, has mentioned a Tolkienian event (Opens in a new window)with Jed Brophy in the picture. [Instagram]

For all events check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Opens in a new window) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Opens in a new window).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

Tom Hillman has Dreamflowers and Lotus-eaters (Opens in a new window).

Tom Emanuel has Of pride, Pride, and Pentecost (Opens in a new window).

Pre-order is now available with Paul Corfield Godfrey’s LotR Opera (Opens in a new window) with Volante.

Anke Eissmann has mentioned with Bluesky (Opens in a new window) that she is working on new Tolkien art for Legendaria Ediciones (Opens in a new window).

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 (Opens in a new window) [Collider]

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Receives New Gameplay Trailer (Opens in a new window) [Nintendo Insider]

Director Andy Serkis Offers Huge Filming Update For 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (Opens in a new window) [Collider]

Lord of the Rings Online is ‘in the home stretch’ of its months-long server transfer process (Opens in a new window) [Massively OP]

Inter alia

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

“The reason Rush could rock while referencing Bertrand Russell and Elizabethan drama”: Neil Peart’s most powerful lyrics (Opens in a new window) (also: Tolkien) [LouderSound]

Spaceballs 2 (Opens in a new window) certainly is the announcement of the year! [Youtube]

Stratofanatic has Defending Del Rey Books: The Misunderstood Hero (Opens in a new window).

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

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

Do use my invite link (Opens in a new window) 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 (Opens in a new window), Bookshop.org (Opens in a new window), or Genialokal (Opens in a new window), 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 (Opens in a new window) : Facebook (Opens in a new window) : Bluesky (Opens in a new window) : Instagram (Opens in a new window) : Threads (Opens in a new window) : Mastodon (Opens in a new window).

Have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Opens in a new window)

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 (Opens in a new window). ↩