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…
Mirror …. rorriM
As I’m turning around, I catch a glimpse of someone in the mirror so I stop long enough to take a look. Oh, that’s… me? No, can’t be. Who is that – that person – in the mirror staring back at me? That can’t possibly be me! I look over my shoulder, but there is…
Cinefex magazine unveils LoTR’s secrets – and we have some scans!
Cinefex magazine recently sent us a cover scan of their April edition. Well, now we have the magazine itself, and the story behind the movie’s production is a breath-taking look at New Zealand’s Oscar-winning ingenuity. Orlando Bloom’s fans might be interested to know that Cinefex is also revealing the secrets behind the special effects of…
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…
Do Character Assassins Want You to Know the Truth about Their Victims or Their Own Bad Behavior?
TO HACKER NEWS PEOPLE (2020-03-02): Pretty much everything Steuard Jensen tells you is a lie. He loves to rewrite the history of the arguments he dragged out endlessly by pretending no one had ever explained a point to him over and over and over again. It’s your choice whether to believe the bullshit. But a…
Snow Angel, Snow Demon, S’no Way!
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a large creature in the Alps, dubbing it ‘Snow Angel’. (Zurich, Switzerland) — March 30, 2001. Scientists working high in Switzerland’s Alps have uncovered the remains a large prehistoric creature buried in what they describe as an “impact crater” on a mountainside. The discovery was made in early January…