The One hundred and eighty-sixth Roving Ranger

Life & Works

May 18, 1972 Tolkien writes Letter 335 (Opens in a new window), telling a fan “that if he wanted to finish The Silmarillion (Opens in a new window), he did not have time for answering fan-letters.”
May 19, 2006 The Ring of Words (Opens in a new window) is published.
May 20, 1965 Tolkien writes Letter 270 (Opens in a new window), on Smith of Wootton Major (Opens in a new window), (&) revising The Lord of the Rings (Opens in a new window) to fight Ace Books (Opens in a new window).
May 21, 2013 The Fall of Arthur (Opens in a new window) is published.
May 22, 2014 Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary (Opens in a new window) is published.
May 24, 1932 R.W. Chambers (Opens in a new window) sends J.R.R. Tolkien (Opens in a new window) an inscribed copy of Beowulf: An Introduction to the Study of the Poem (Opens in a new window).
May 25, 1944 Tolkien writes Letter 71 (Opens in a new window), on Africa, The Lord of the Rings (Opens in a new window) writing, Orcs (Opens in a new window), dislike of Dorothy Sayers' (Opens in a new window) 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 (Opens in a new window)]¹

Olympia Family Theater (Opens in a new window) 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 (Opens in a new window) for June 19-21, 2026.

For all events check out the Tolkien Guide (Opens in a new window).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

Robin Reid has Handout on Scene 20 (EE) The Two Towers (Opens in a new window) as well as Recent Queer Tolkien Scholarship (Opens in a new window) [Substack]

David Bratman has Tiptree on Tolkien (Opens in a new window) [Blogspot]

The Joy of Old Books has I own a book that Tolkien scribbled in (Opens in a new window) [Substack]

doubtfulsea has Saruman’s Sigh (Opens in a new window).

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

If you are more comfortable following me and my ventures via WhatsApp - here’s the Travelling Tolkienist Channel (Opens in a new window). 📝

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 (Opens in a new window).

Inter alia

File770 has the Grauniad list but just the fantasy/ scifi novels named (Opens in a new window).

'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 (Opens in a new window) [IGN]²

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

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. (Opens in a new window) ↩

2. h/t File770 (Opens in a new window). ↩