The One hundred and eighty-sixth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

May 18, 1972 Tolkien writes Letter 335 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), telling a fan “that if he wanted to finish The Silmarillion (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), he did not have time for answering fan-letters.”
May 19, 2006 The Ring of Words (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is published.
May 20, 1965 Tolkien writes Letter 270 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), on Smith of Wootton Major (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), (&) revising The Lord of the Rings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) to fight Ace Books (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
May 21, 2013 The Fall of Arthur (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is published.
May 22, 2014 Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is published.
May 24, 1932 R.W. Chambers (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) sends J.R.R. Tolkien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) an inscribed copy of Beowulf: An Introduction to the Study of the Poem (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).
May 25, 1944 Tolkien writes Letter 71 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), on Africa, The Lord of the Rings (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) writing, Orcs (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), dislike of Dorothy Sayers' (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) works.

The way the internet is going reliable information will be more difficult to find every day - so a curated newsletter like the Roving Ranger is more needed than ever. Share it, let people know! Thank you 😊

Events & Shows

The Société française d’héraldique et de sigillographie has an exceptional online event coming up: “Tolkien héraldiste. Place et histoire des armoiries dans les œuvres de J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)” [May 21; via Zoom (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)]¹

Olympia Family Theater (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) is showing ‘The Hobbit’ [until Jun 7; Olympia, Washington, USA]

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

Katie from Bree Crossroads has "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure!" (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - an invitation to a global Tolkien fan community space via Discord.

Robin Reid has Handout on Scene 20 (EE) The Two Towers (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) as well as Recent Queer Tolkien Scholarship (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Substack]

David Bratman has Tiptree on Tolkien (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Blogspot]

The Joy of Old Books has I own a book that Tolkien scribbled in (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [Substack]

doubtfulsea has Saruman’s Sigh (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Stephen C. Winter has “Speak Not The Soft Words of Wormtongue in My Old Ears”. Théoden Thinks About Ageing and Death in Harrowdale (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). 📝

500 posts in 5 years with Steady. More on this next week.

Merchandise & Franchise

Charles III and the film trilogy go hand in hand with the Royal Mint - here you can register your interest (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Inter alia

File770 has the Grauniad list but just the fantasy/ scifi novels named (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

'It's a Real Shame' — Peter Jackson, Architect of the Much-Loved Lord of the Rings Extended Edition DVDs, Laments the Decline of Physical Media (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) [IGN]²

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. h/t Sarah C. Schaefer. (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) ↩

2. h/t File770 (Öffnet in neuem Fenster). ↩