Since the conversation is on dwarves (I was always fond of Gimli--I think his in Legolas' transition from being antagonistic toward one another to having a strong friendship born of battle was rather well-written), here are some fun Tolkien facts on dwarves!
As most fans probably know, Tolkien was a big fan of language--being fluent in twenty-some-odd real-world languages and having invented a number of other languages for his works. Tolkien was never fond of the English word "dwarfs"--the pluralization of "dwarf" with an "s" did not fit with the etymological roots of the word, and he felt that "dwarfs" had been co-opted by Disney. When it came time to write his book, he decided he wanted to use a different translation. After researching the etymology of dwarf, he decided the proper plural would probably be something like "dwarrow". However, to more closely match the plural "elves" Tolkien invented the plural "dwarves", happily admitting it was his own personal use of bad grammar. Dwarrow still appears once in his books--Dwarrowdelf is a moniker for Khazad-dûm.
In the first paperback edition of the Hobbit, the editors decided to replace every instance of "dwarves" with "dwarfs" (as well as every instance of "elvish" with "elfish"). Tolkien was quiet upset over these changes, considering how much effort he put into the etymology of his world and prose.
Yikes... You've earned yourself the Elf title on your first post.
The movie Gimli. Book Gimli is a little bit bland.
I actually prefer book Gimli. He's less of a figure of comedy in the novels and in my opinion his best lines are left out of the films. In particular, Gimli's description of the Glittering Caves always impressed me.
I understand Jackson giving Gimli the role he did, he and Legolas aren't exactly the most exciting characters most of the time in the books. I'm a firm believer that too much comedy deflates moments and removes gravitas. I feel like Gimli, especially in the second and third movies is given a little too much goofiness and Legolas turns into an OP video game character too much. Gimli in particular also kind of slips into "Generic Fantasy Dwarf" pretty often. I understand he's the source for that but at the same time I still just think he's too goofy. There are enough comical characters (even Sam gets a lot of comedy later than I feel he should via PO-TAY-TOS and etc).
I understand that. Although I little bit of comedy never hurt anybody!
The movie Gimli. Book Gimli is a little bit bland.
I actually prefer book Gimli. He's less of a figure of comedy in the novels and in my opinion his best lines are left out of the films. In particular, Gimli's description of the Glittering Caves always impressed me.
I understand Jackson giving Gimli the role he did, he and Legolas aren't exactly the most exciting characters most of the time in the books. I'm a firm believer that too much comedy deflates moments and removes gravitas. I feel like Gimli, especially in the second and third movies is given a little too much goofiness and Legolas turns into an OP video game character too much. Gimli in particular also kind of slips into "Generic Fantasy Dwarf" pretty often. I understand he's the source for that but at the same time I still just think he's too goofy. There are enough comical characters (even Sam gets a lot of comedy later than I feel he should via PO-TAY-TOS and etc).
I understand that. Although I little bit of comedy never hurt anybody!
I think Batman might disagree.
Even Batman had Batgirl and certain versions of Robin to lighten the mood. And a certain dry wit in the movies.
I understand that. Although I little bit of comedy never hurt anybody!
I think Batman might disagree.
Even Batman had Batgirl and certain versions of Robin to lighten the mood. And a certain dry wit in the movies.
Well in regards to Robins I can guarantee Jason's not a big fan of clowns.
Speaking of Batman and LOTR...For some reason when the WB Smash Bros clone info came out, the crossover fanfic part of my brain thought of all the WB-owned properties in a Kingdom Hearts style ARPG. I pictured Gandalf and Bugs Bunny having a deeply important conversation while Red Hood leans over to Hermione Granger and he's like "Are you as lost as I am?"
Hermione then summarizes the entire plot and like that one part with the owl in Ocarina of Time, the wrong button keeps getting pressed and she repeats herself like 50 times.
My mind, when it's working, is a very strange place.
Anyway, moving on:
I just had a thought, since I'm shopping around for a fresh set of the LOTR books- in what format did you first encounter the books themselves? I first read them in mass market paperback form. My copy was one of the Ballantine ones with Tolkien's own watercolors on the cover but it fell apart midway through the Council of Elrond. I mean the spine literally split right there in that chapter. My copy of Two Towers held fast and my copy of ROTK was one of the movie-branded ones published when Fellowship was in theaters.
So, did you have...
A trilogy of mass market, trade paperbacks, or hardbacks? Or perhaps an all in one of one of the above? Or perhaps you're even living in the future and read it as an ebook.
Everyone is strange around here. I mean, we used to be a cult to Tolkien before we reformed.
I have like 2 copies of most of Tolkiens books. Some are in pieces, some are intact.
I have paperback copies of all five books, but they’re buried in a box in my parents’ basement. My library has ebook copies of all the books, so I just read them whenever I get the urge lol.
I just had a thought, since I'm shopping around for a fresh set of the LOTR books- in what format did you first encounter the books themselves? I first read them in mass market paperback form. My copy was one of the Ballantine ones with Tolkien's own watercolors on the cover but it fell apart midway through the Council of Elrond. I mean the spine literally split right there in that chapter. My copy of Two Towers held fast and my copy of ROTK was one of the movie-branded ones published when Fellowship was in theaters.
So, did you have...
A trilogy of mass market, trade paperbacks, or hardbacks? Or perhaps an all in one of one of the above? Or perhaps you're even living in the future and read it as an ebook.
My first experience with LotR was with the Ballantine copies as well! They were my dad's copies from when he was younger and he passed them along to me. They fortunately survived my first reading though, sadly are no longer really intact--forty years of hard use is not great for a paperback.
I just had a thought, since I'm shopping around for a fresh set of the LOTR books- in what format did you first encounter the books themselves? I first read them in mass market paperback form. My copy was one of the Ballantine ones with Tolkien's own watercolors on the cover but it fell apart midway through the Council of Elrond. I mean the spine literally split right there in that chapter. My copy of Two Towers held fast and my copy of ROTK was one of the movie-branded ones published when Fellowship was in theaters.
So, did you have...
A trilogy of mass market, trade paperbacks, or hardbacks? Or perhaps an all in one of one of the above? Or perhaps you're even living in the future and read it as an ebook.
My first experience with LotR was with the Ballantine copies as well! They were my dad's copies from when he was younger and he passed them along to me. They fortunately survived my first reading though, sadly are no longer really intact--forty years of hard use is not great for a paperback.
I read my copy of the Silmarillion so much as a kid it literally fell apart.
I just had a thought, since I'm shopping around for a fresh set of the LOTR books- in what format did you first encounter the books themselves? I first read them in mass market paperback form. My copy was one of the Ballantine ones with Tolkien's own watercolors on the cover but it fell apart midway through the Council of Elrond. I mean the spine literally split right there in that chapter. My copy of Two Towers held fast and my copy of ROTK was one of the movie-branded ones published when Fellowship was in theaters.
So, did you have...
A trilogy of mass market, trade paperbacks, or hardbacks? Or perhaps an all in one of one of the above? Or perhaps you're even living in the future and read it as an ebook.
My first experience with LotR was with the Ballantine copies as well! They were my dad's copies from when he was younger and he passed them along to me. They fortunately survived my first reading though, sadly are no longer really intact--forty years of hard use is not great for a paperback.
I read my copy of the Silmarillion so much as a kid it literally fell apart.
I am guessing my dad probably read the paperbacks 10+ times, and I think I probably read them a dozen or more. Not to mention moving and general age. The poor things never stood a chance.
I just had a thought, since I'm shopping around for a fresh set of the LOTR books- in what format did you first encounter the books themselves? I first read them in mass market paperback form. My copy was one of the Ballantine ones with Tolkien's own watercolors on the cover but it fell apart midway through the Council of Elrond. I mean the spine literally split right there in that chapter. My copy of Two Towers held fast and my copy of ROTK was one of the movie-branded ones published when Fellowship was in theaters.
So, did you have...
A trilogy of mass market, trade paperbacks, or hardbacks? Or perhaps an all in one of one of the above? Or perhaps you're even living in the future and read it as an ebook.
My first experience with LotR was with the Ballantine copies as well! They were my dad's copies from when he was younger and he passed them along to me. They fortunately survived my first reading though, sadly are no longer really intact--forty years of hard use is not great for a paperback.
I read my copy of the Silmarillion so much as a kid it literally fell apart.
I am guessing my dad probably read the paperbacks 10+ times, and I think I probably read them a dozen or more. Not to mention moving and general age. The poor things never stood a chance.
LotR. That’s the most I can say rn. I know I haven’t been on pretty much at all. I’m really sorry about that but I’ve been really busy irl. School stuff and girl stuff mostly. Hopefully I can be on more soon but I really miss this stuff.
LotR. That’s the most I can say rn. I know I haven’t been on pretty much at all. I’m really sorry about that but I’ve been really busy irl. School stuff and girl stuff mostly. Hopefully I can be on more soon but I really miss this stuff.
LotR. That’s the most I can say rn. I know I haven’t been on pretty much at all. I’m really sorry about that but I’ve been really busy irl. School stuff and girl stuff mostly. Hopefully I can be on more soon but I really miss this stuff.
Lucky you. We're going into another semi lockdown where I am so rl/social stuff/girl stuff/etc is completely nonexistent for me.
Yikes... You've earned yourself the Elf title on your first post.
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig
That’s would be so cool
Back in black baby
I understand that. Although I little bit of comedy never hurt anybody!
Back in black baby
Even Batman had Batgirl and certain versions of Robin to lighten the mood. And a certain dry wit in the movies.
Everyone is strange around here. I mean, we used to be a cult to Tolkien before we reformed.
I have like 2 copies of most of Tolkiens books. Some are in pieces, some are intact.
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig
Merry Christmas everyone!
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig
I have paperback copies of all five books, but they’re buried in a box in my parents’ basement. My library has ebook copies of all the books, so I just read them whenever I get the urge lol.
Merry belated Christmas!
My first experience with LotR was with the Ballantine copies as well! They were my dad's copies from when he was younger and he passed them along to me. They fortunately survived my first reading though, sadly are no longer really intact--forty years of hard use is not great for a paperback.
I read my copy of the Silmarillion so much as a kid it literally fell apart.
And Merry Christmas!
I am guessing my dad probably read the paperbacks 10+ times, and I think I probably read them a dozen or more. Not to mention moving and general age. The poor things never stood a chance.
I dropped my copy in the bath one time lol.
LotR
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig
LotR. That’s the most I can say rn. I know I haven’t been on pretty much at all. I’m really sorry about that but I’ve been really busy irl. School stuff and girl stuff mostly. Hopefully I can be on more soon but I really miss this stuff.
Back in black baby
Understandable. Come back when you can.
Lucky you. We're going into another semi lockdown where I am so rl/social stuff/girl stuff/etc is completely nonexistent for me.
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig