Fellowship of the Backstreet

I found this in my internets the other day, and I've had no choice but to watch it again and again. Go ahead, watch it and tell me it didn't make you chuckle at least once. I dare you.

A Thief and Thirteen Fighters

Bilbo Baggins

These are the lead characters of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, all put together in one post, for consistency and your viewing pleasure. Instead of editorialising, I'll just say that I'm looking forward to seeing what Jackson can come up with this time.

Speaking of Trolling...

Sorry about that. You can go back to whatever you were doing now.

Comrade Baggins

In 1976, The Hobbit was published in the USSR. The fantasy-classic was illustrated by Mikhail Belomlinsky, and to be sure, his work has a distinctly different feel. Not at all wrong, just very different. 

The DM of the Rings

Lately I've been renewing an old acquaintance, and it was like meeting an old friend and picking it up right where you left off years ago. I am of course referring to Shamus Young's The DM of the Rings webcomic. In case anyone who comes through here haven't read DMotR, you've been missing out.


What makes it so cool? Well, if Tolkien and roleplaying doesn't do it for you, I don't think I can help you, but have a read below.

The blurb on page 1: 

Lord of the Rings is more or less the foundation of modern D&D. The latter rose from the former, although the two are now so estranged that to reunite them would be an act of savage madness. Imagine a gaggle of modern hack-n-slash roleplayers who had somehow never been exposed to the original Tolkien mythos, and then imagine taking those players and trying to introduce them to Tolkien via a D&D campaign.

Combined with Shamus' razor wit and comedic talent this makes for what's arguably the best LotR spoof and RPG-comic of all time. If you think you have something better up your sleeve, please let me know.


Page 1 of The DM of the Ring. Go read the comic if you haven't. Read it again if you have.

click to enlarge

DMotR - p. 1

Tolkien on Storytelling

Picture hosted by Strange Horizons

Having reread The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings recently I have gained a great deal of respect for the craftsmanship of the great storyteller Tolkien. The following quote from The Hobbit puts some light on the paradox of a good story, and sums up why his writing is legendary.

Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.

The Hobbit, J. J. R. Tolkien

Take Bilbo's first visit to Rivendell. In less than three and a half pages Tolkien gives us a sense of a long and wonderous stay in the Last Homely House, then the adventure continues. The House of Elrond is left in our memories as a place of peace and wonder.

Artist: J. R. R. Tolkien

Picture hosted by the Last Homely House