Volume 102/Issue 9

Researching The Frodo Franchise: Part 3, Places Full of Magic
Once again it has been a long time since I posted in this series, but what with the run-up to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure and the reaction to it, TheOneRing.net has been a busy place, and now we’re coming up on The One Expected Party on Oscar night! But I’ll delay no longer. [Read more]

Oscar countdown: Weta Digital’s artistry displayed in 6 videos
Weta Digital is nominated for Visual Effects for its work on “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” That means co-founder Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White could all be walking away from the Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday with golden statues. [Read more]

Note from the Mods: We would like to invite the moderators of other fandom communities to become 'reporters' or 'scouts' for middleearthnews. All we ask is that you send us formatted updates on your own communities for posting here.

* hobbitfilmfic (drabbles) updates:
A Weapon Forged in Anger (Thorin/Bilbo; rated G) by mithen
The Very Unexpected Diary of Bilbo Baggins (rated PG) by windfallswest

* silwritersguild updates:
Fanart: Melkor (rated G) by leyla_lovely
Fanart: Melian and Aredhel (rated G) by alasse_mirimiel

* oeam updates:
The First Day of my Life (Maglor, Eönwë; rated PG-13) by mangacrack

* lordoftherings updates:
Fanart: Melkor (rated G) by leyla_lovely

* heirs_of_durin updates:
The Very Unexpected Diary of Thorin Oakenshield (rated PG) by windfallswest
The Very Secret Diary of Smaug the Golden (rated PG) by windfallswest

* libraryofmoria updates:
Fanart: Melkor (rated G) by leyla_lovely

The current challenge at tolkien_weekly is Ailments: Cold

From lotricons:
51 The Hobbit icons (Gandalf, Bilbo, Gollum, Thorin, Bombur, Bofur, Bifur, Fili, Kili, Nori, Ori, Oin, Dori, Balin, Dwalin, Tauriel, Gloin) by cunning_croft

* Via the TORn forums:
The Elves' Ages
I was wondering if there is any elves with stated age? Also if not what is your theories on the aging (or non aging that is) regarding elves?
I supposed it would depend on whether there's talk about book verse or movie verse though.
Going by movie verse for starters then, elves are immortal so they don't age, but obviously they got to stop aging at one point as various elven actors are of different ages.
Like Hugo (Elrond) being in his 50s while Cate (Galadriel) is in her 40s, then you got Lee (Thranduil) who's in his 30s.

All playing high ranked elves.

I'm trying not to loose my trail here Laugh Anyway do you have any theories of the elves' ages, how they age and such? When is an elf considered adult? Fit to be a leader?

More folk music for Middle-earth
I don't know about anyone else, but I love Neil Finn's Song of the Lonely Mountain. Now, as we had three great female artists performing the closing songs for the Rings films, I'm wondering if it will be three male artists doing the songs for the Hobbit trilogy. I thought it would be fantastic if Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull was involved at some point, as a lot of folk/rock from that era was heavily influenced by Tolkien's writing. Maybe Robert Plant as he was always putting Tolkien references in Led Zep songs, or possibly Richie Blackmore (ex of Deep Purple) who is well versed in old English folk stuff with his Blackmore's Night project. Maybe even someone like Sting who has turned his hand to that style of music now and again. I would dearly love to see Ian Anderson asked to contribute but what do you think, any ideas? Or even any clues as to who may have already been asked to record something?

Bilbo's Choice in who to protect

Your friendly middleearthnews mods are constantly on the lookout for all things LotR-related, from fics to fandom events, comics to current news. Make them happy by emailing them at middle_earth_news@yahoo.com.

From estelanui:
Principles of Tolkien's Magic.
This is an attempt to outline some principles of magic in Middle Earth, with an eye for adaptation to role-playing games.

Monday's BOOK question: Who did Gandalf meet on the road near Bree, on his way to Isengard?
Answer: Radagast the Brown.

juliebeth, rakshi, dreamflower02, frolijahfan, lindahoyland and namarielorien answered correctly.

Today's MOVIE question contributed by estelle3974: What can Uruk-hai tolerate being subjected to that normal Orcs shun?

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