Music is thought to be nearly as old as civilization itself, and perhaps is older than that. Some people teach that music was invented by the ancient Mesopotamians, who sent drummers out to the fields to frighten away evil spirits (who comes up with this nonsense?). Supposedly, the drummers got bored and started developing some…
Author: Michael Martinez
Sky Captain and the World of Yesterday’s Movies
The art of movie-homage has exploded on the silver screen over the past decade. Hollywood has lost some of its creative spark and is seeking new inspiration in the past. George Lucas popularized movie-homage film-making by recreating the pizzazz of the old Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serializations which were popular in movie theaters in…
In the Merry Old Land of Oz
“The Wizard of Oz” is without doubt, unquestionably, the best, most greatest fantasy movie of all time. It has a little bit of everything: beautiful women, violence, danger, terror, good acting, bad acting, Busby Berkeley dance routines, hot dogs, and H.R. Puff’n’Stuff. Okay, Puff’n’Stuff isn’t really in the movie, but the Munchkins make up for…
Inklings Roundtable of Houston – Lord of the Rings Fans in Houston
Inklings Roundtable of Houston Lord of the Rings Fans in Houston Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Peter Jackson “Lord of the Rings” movies have been meeting in Houston at special dinner parties for several years. Dr. Jane Chance, Professor of English at Rice University, is an internationally recognized scholar and authority on…
The Final Eldarin Genealogy
Every in-depth discussion of Middle-earth’s pseudo-history eventually gets around to the parentage of Gil-galad. In November 1996, I read The Peoples of Middle-earth for the first time and decided to set out for everyone (who could find this information) to see just what the authoritative sources had to say regarding Gil-galad’s parentage. But I also…
Smith of Wootton Major
This article is part of a larger feature called The Fairy Tales of J.R.R. Tolkien. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Smith of Wootton Major takes us to Faërie and introduces us to the King and Queen of Fairyland, something he never does in any other story, Fantasy or Fairy tale. Even in The Silmarillion we never hear Ingwë,…
Roverandom
This article is part of a larger feature called The Fairy Tales of J.R.R. Tolkien. An enchanting romp through imaginary realms under the sea and on the Moon, Roverandom will be a classic among J.R.R. Tolkien fans and scholars. Roverandom first came to my attention when I read J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator by Wayne…
Farmer Giles of Ham
This article is part of a larger feature called The Fairy Tales of J.R.R. Tolkien. Farmer Giles of Ham bears the distinction of being the only one of Tolkien’s fairy tales to have been placed in a known region and an approximate time frame. “Of the history of the Little Kingdom few fragments have survived:…
Interview with Bruce Hopkins, Gamling in The Lord of the Rings
A few months ago, we asked a few questions of the actor Bruce Hopkins, who graciously answered them. Now, three dead hard drives later, we get to finally share what he told us… So many things have been written about Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” movies that even we here at Xenite.Org (as…
Where to Find the Best White Cheese Dip in Texas
“Is your cheese dip white?” That’s a pretty simple question, but you should have seen the expression on the face of the beautiful young lady I was talking to yesterday when I asked her that. I have to admit that, if I didn’t know what was so special about white cheese dip, I’d probably have…
Do Balrogs Have Wings? Do Balrogs Fly? Part 3
Continued from Part 2 of Do Balrogs Have Wings? Do Balrogs Fly?. NOTE: Once again the forces of inflammatory prose have risen up to make false claims about this essay (Other Minds issue 10). At no point does it argue for corporeal or physical wings on any Balrog. Please treat any claims made by others…
Do Balrogs Have Wings? Do Balrogs Fly? Part 2
Continued from Part 1 of Do Balrogs Have Wings? Do Balrogs Fly?. NOTE: Once again the forces of inflammatory prose have risen up to make false claims about this essay (Other Minds issue 10). At no point does it argue for corporeal or physical wings on any Balrog. Please treat any claims made by others…