The One hundred and forty-first Roving Ranger

Life and Works

Michael Flowers has more on Roos Tolkien Statues Unveiled (Abre numa nova janela) [see also this short clip (Abre numa nova janela); Youtube. See also the BBC (Abre numa nova janela); Youtube (Abre numa nova janela).]

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 (Abre numa nova janela). [Instagram]

Events & Shows

Minneapolis will have a Hobbit stage rendition (Abre numa nova janela). [May 8-31, 2026]

Also, Jupiter’s Eye Books in Spokane, WA, has mentioned a Tolkienian event (Abre numa nova janela)with Jed Brophy in the picture. [Instagram]

For all events check out the International Tolkien Fellowship (Abre numa nova janela) [FB] and the Tolkien Guide Calendar (Abre numa nova janela).

Scholarship & Fandom

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

Tom Hillman has Dreamflowers and Lotus-eaters (Abre numa nova janela).

Tom Emanuel has Of pride, Pride, and Pentecost (Abre numa nova janela).

Pre-order is now available with Paul Corfield Godfrey’s LotR Opera (Abre numa nova janela) with Volante.

Anke Eissmann has mentioned with Bluesky (Abre numa nova janela) that she is working on new Tolkien art for Legendaria Ediciones (Abre numa nova janela).

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 (Abre numa nova janela) [Collider]

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Receives New Gameplay Trailer (Abre numa nova janela) [Nintendo Insider]

Director Andy Serkis Offers Huge Filming Update For 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (Abre numa nova janela) [Collider]

Lord of the Rings Online is ‘in the home stretch’ of its months-long server transfer process (Abre numa nova janela) [Massively OP]

Inter alia

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

“The reason Rush could rock while referencing Bertrand Russell and Elizabethan drama”: Neil Peart’s most powerful lyrics (Abre numa nova janela) (also: Tolkien) [LouderSound]

Spaceballs 2 (Abre numa nova janela) certainly is the announcement of the year! [Youtube]

Stratofanatic has Defending Del Rey Books: The Misunderstood Hero (Abre numa nova janela).

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

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

Do use my invite link (Abre numa nova janela) and start with three months fee-free.
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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 (Abre numa nova janela), Bookshop.org (Abre numa nova janela), or Genialokal (Abre numa nova janela), 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 (Abre numa nova janela) : Facebook (Abre numa nova janela) : Bluesky (Abre numa nova janela) : Instagram (Abre numa nova janela) : Threads (Abre numa nova janela) : Mastodon (Abre numa nova janela).

Have a look at all Roving Rangers published so far. (Abre numa nova janela)

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 (Abre numa nova janela). ↩