The Lord of the Rings discussion project

[brownjenkins]

Thanks! :) And it was easy to be patient with you - especially since you had already covered for someone else.

You know - I had been thinking to keep it in the same thread as your other, but I'm thinking now it's best as a separate thread like you made it - so I'll leave it that way. I just figure since the discussion has gone as far as it did on the one chapter - people may not so much notice the additional material covered if we just add it into the same one. That OK with you, azalea?

good call... you know how i get when people start to rearrange my threads ;) :p

[Valandil]

good call... you know how i get when people start to rearrange my threads ;) :p

:confused:

Actually... I don't exactly remember. :o

Guess I'll have to try it again sometime and find out! :p

[brownjenkins]

:confused:

Actually... I don't exactly remember. :o

Guess I'll have to try it again sometime and find out! :p

go ahead... make my day :p

[azalea]

No problem with me! I'll go back into the assignments thread and rework it a little, just to be thorough (at some point).

Oh, this IS the assignments thread...I meant the assignments post. :p

EDIT: Valandil already did it! Thanks again! :)

[Valandil]

Thank you Artanis! Now I just have to catch up in my reading... :o

azalea - "luinilwen" is up next. I see that she hasn't been logged on since May, so I emailed her, asking if she was willing to still take the assignment - and that she had two weeks to do it. Shall we give her a week to respond, then offer it to someone else who is willing to take it, if necessary?

EDIT: the email bounced back - so I guess Chapters 9 & 10 are up for grabs. Any takers? :)

[Earniel]

*bump* Isn't there anybody who wants to do chapter 9 and 10?

[Forkbeard]

*bump* Isn't there anybody who wants to do chapter 9 and 10?


I'm willing, but: a) I'm doing the next assignment after this one b) I've already taken an extra assignment someone dropped, give someone else a chance and c) even if a and b weren't considerations enough, I'm a bit swamped right now and couldn't guarantee a timely summary for the next week or so.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

i would take it, but it's nearly time for mine, and i need to finish writing that one up now.

[BeardofPants]

I'll do it.... I'll try and get at least one of 'em up soonish.

<edit> when's it due?

[Valandil]

I'll do it.... I'll try and get at least one of 'em up soonish.

<edit> when's it due?

YAY BoPper!!! :)

We had it slated for Jan 18, but if it takes a few more days, that'd still be great. Could you have it that soon? Can you do the two chapters together at that time?

[BeardofPants]

It may be a few days later, if that's okay. I work all the way through to monday, and I have tues, wed and thurs off. I'll tackle some today, but I probably won't be able to have one completed for Monday. I'll try though. *manic look* ;)

[Valandil]

Just picking it up now, Thursday the 20th would be WONDERFUL!

Thank you very much!!! :)

[BeardofPants]

Good, good. I've made some preliminary notes for The Great River, so that one may get posted on Monday, but if not, I'll just try and post both on Thursday. We'll see how it goes.

[azalea]

Hi, guys! Just to let you know I noted all this on the first page, but I did put the 18th just to be consistent. No prob of course about it being later than that. Thanks!

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

yoo-hoo! forkbeard!! :confused:

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

sorry, :D, don't mean to be rude!!

[Valandil]

Oh - for his sake I should mention this. I sent a biggie PM to several who have the next few assignments due. Problem was, I didn't get it out until 4 days before Forkbeard's was officially 'due' - so he honestly didn't get much of a reminder. My fault.

He did write back and tell me that he would try for Feb 1st, but might be just a few days late. He has already filled in for us (in a pinch! ;) ) once before, so I get particularly patient in these cases. It's likely he'll have it for us before very much longer... and then we'll just slide the next due date to two weeks after he posts. :)

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

which is me, next , which was why i was calling,
although i probably sounded impatient, :p

sorry forkbeard n val :D

[Forkbeard]

which is me, next , which was why i was calling,
although i probably sounded impatient, :p

sorry forkbeard n val :D

Not a problem LCU. Sorry for being late folks, just really busy of late. It is under way and I should have it up Friday afternoon barring unforeseen circumstances.

[Valandil]

Friday is good, Forkbeard.

And no... you weren't being overly impatient LCoU. I just thought I should let EVERYONE know that FB had contacted me and what his status was. That's always a better sign than just not having heard anything. :)

[Forkbeard]

Friday is good, Forkbeard.

And no... you weren't being overly impatient LCoU. I just thought I should let EVERYONE know that FB had contacted me and what his status was. That's always a better sign than just not having heard anything. :)

Well, that's good, so how about Saturday? The honeydo list was longer than I was lead to believe.

[Valandil]

Still good, Forkbeard. Great to have it up! :)

I'll go ahead and put up the next few due dates.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

Book III Ch III - The Uruk Hai is up, sorry if too early, don't know when i'll get a chance otherwise as we are decorating here!!

[Elemmírë]

Is it too late to sign up, do you think?

Meaning, basically, is there anything that hasn't already been claimed? :p

[Earniel]

I think you're a wee bit late. :p

Judging from the first post all chapters seem to be taken at the moment. But it can always happen (as it already happened several times) that we have to re-assign chapters. Best to keep an eye on this thread, if any chapters come up for grabs, it will be said here.

[Twista]

Meaning, basically, is there anything that hasn't already been claimed? :p

My thoughts exactly.. i wanted a shot too :(.

Maybe someone will back out for us Em.

[Nurvingiel]

Maybe someone will share?

*shuffles uncomfortably*

I mean... someone else. :o


Nice post by the way Chrys. :D

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

you dont think it was a little short?

i can share mine, i have the house of eorl and durin's folk to cover in me next one, but it's not for a verrry long time!!

[Valandil]

Trust me - I think that down the road, some opportunities will open up. We've already had at least three people cover for someone else who wasn't around. We have a good stretch for a bit now - but later we'll come to assignments given to mooters who are not currently active. If they're still not coming around when we get close - we'll certainly give you two the first opportunities (if you're still here yourselves! ;) ).

[Twista]

Val, as you know, I've had my little vacation from the 'moot. But I'm here to stay now... ;)

[Nurvingiel]

I'm really excited about my chapter, but it's ages away... *impatient foot-tapping...* :D

[Valandil]

Hey mithrand1r - you were a bit early, but thank you anyway for posting! :) Since it was a little early (I guess about 4 days) I'll leave Bombadillo's last chapter in this forum for now - in case anyone wishes to add to that discussion before we move it up to the discussion sub-forum.

[Butterbeer]

...er... (apologies if this stupid question) are the chapters of LOTR still going? Where we up to? Im new to this site and got excited by the project until i realised it started (exactly - when i first noticed it a year ago??). Ho hum - can anyone tell me what the state of play is? - ps with regard to editions of LOTR, mine is a british unwin which is just plain red (hard back) as if it were the Redbook.Has the fold out map which is charming.

[Valandil]

Butterbeer - welcome! 'The White Rider' discussion has just started. Feel free to just jump right in with the discussion in that chapter or any previous ones (all except the one prior are in the LOTR Discussion sub-forum). And you can see assignments in one of the first posts on this thread (some openings may still come up later - if you'd be interested).

Happy posting. I also invite you to introduce yourself in the 'Welcome Thread' in GM. :)

[mithrand1r]

Hey mithrand1r - you were a bit early, but thank you anyway for posting! :) Since it was a little early (I guess about 4 days) I'll leave Bombadillo's last chapter in this forum for now - in case anyone wishes to add to that discussion before we move it up to the discussion sub-forum.

Sorry about that. I thought I was supposed to be up on the 15th.


Butterbeer,

If I understand the question correctly, We are currently in Book III, Chapter V The White Rider. (Although it seems that I jumped the gun. Maybe I am from Oklahoma ;))

post=500

[Butterbeer]

thanks for that Mithrand1r and Valandil - by the way i notice you've just gone past 500 posts Mithrand1r - i just learnt from me9996 ("The Wizard" / working title?) that you have the option of chosing a title - so, at risk of being boring - i.e asking same question twice in 2 days -, whats it going to be?
..er.. also whats the reference to Olkhoma mean?
Will try and find white rider discussion,
thanks again :)
Butterbeer

[mithrand1r]

thanks for that Mithrand1r and Valandil - by the way i notice you've just gone past 500 posts Mithrand1r - i just learnt from me9996 ("The Wizard" / working title?) that you have the option of chosing a title - so, at risk of being boring - i.e asking same question twice in 2 days -, whats it going to be?
..er.. also whats the reference to Olkhoma mean?
Will try and find white rider discussion,
thanks again :)
Butterbeer

I have not thought about a title yet.

It is a reference to the nickname of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma (http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname4.htm)
In 1889, the Indian Territory was opened to settlers. Thousands of people lined up on the border and, when the signal was given, they raced into the territory to claim their land. Some people went in early to claim their land. They became known as Sooners.
Hence, Oklahoma's nickname today is “The Sooner State”.

[Earniel]

Apologies for lateness. Unexpected (and unwelcome) allergies came into way of posting in weekend. Will post as soon as possible (hopefully in a day or two at the latest). Again, sorry.

[Butterbeer]

Apologies for lateness. Unexpected (and unwelcome) allergies came into way of posting in weekend. Will post as soon as possible (hopefully in a day or two at the latest). Again, sorry.

blimey! your'e worse than me at meaning to post but not getting round to, but posting to say you mean to!! ;)

[Earniel]

Aye, worse in the sense that it was my turn to post the start of the next two chapters discussion and I was late! :p

Chapters 'The King of the Golden Hall' and 'Helm's Deep' now posted.

Sorry again for the delay.

[BeardofPants]

Just posting to state that although I don't post here regularly anymore, I'd still like to do my chapters.

[Nurvingiel]

Why not rejoin the Tolkien section, or at least the discussion project then? :)

Welcome back... sort of... ;)

[Butterbeer]

Just posting to state that although I don't post here regularly anymore, I'd still like to do my chapters.


what chapters ye' doin' BOP?
look forward to 'em
(heh -got the internet radio on at the mo - man some good DUB on at mo) kinda 21c updated altdub if y'know what i mean?

[Valandil]

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Because of some understandably difficult issues, Bombadillo has been unable to complete his current assignment: "The Road to Isengard" and "Flotsam and Jetsam".

We're now soliciting for a volunteer to take those chapters. The job would entail writing up an introductory post summarizing each chapter, including whatever analysis you would like to make and creating some discussion questions.

It would be ideal to be able to have this completed within 7-10 days, but if it takes a little longer, that's alright.

Any takers...?? :)

[Forkbeard]

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Because of some understandably difficult issues, Bombadillo has been unable to complete his current assignment: "The Road to Isengard" and "Flotsam and Jetsam".

We're now soliciting for a volunteer to take those chapters. The job would entail writing up an introductory post summarizing each chapter, including whatever analysis you would like to make and creating some discussion questions.

It would be ideal to be able to have this completed within 7-10 days, but if it takes a little longer, that's alright.

Any takers...?? :)

Sure. I know I've not been around of late and have MANY posts to catch up on, but if NO ONE else takes these, I will. I love both chapters. The semester is winding down, and it will probably be closer to 10-12 days before I could put them up.

[BeardofPants]

what chapters ye' doin' BOP?
look forward to 'em
(heh -got the internet radio on at the mo - man some good DUB on at mo) kinda 21c updated altdub if y'know what i mean?
Book IV, ch. 3&4: The Black Gate is Closed and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit.

I guess they'll be due shortly?

[Valandil]

Sure. I know I've not been around of late and have MANY posts to catch up on, but if NO ONE else takes these, I will. I love both chapters. The semester is winding down, and it will probably be closer to 10-12 days before I could put them up.

Offer gratefully accepted! Thank you Forkbeard. 10-12 days would be wonderful - and if you need a few more, that's alright too. :)

[azalea]

Book IV, ch. 3&4: The Black Gate is Closed and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit.

I guess they'll be due shortly?


Hopefully by the end of June, but not quite sure yet.

[Forkbeard]

Offer gratefully accepted! Thank you Forkbeard. 10-12 days would be wonderful - and if you need a few more, that's alright too. :)

Workingon it today, so may be coming tonight, tomorrow certainly barring unforeseen circumstances.

[Earniel]

I've just split your chapter and given it its own proper thread here (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=10425). You can post the second bit there too.

[Earniel]

I wonder, is interest in the discussion project waning? The last chapter summary I posted barely got 18 replies. And I don't think it was that bad...

[Valandil]

I think it's just the beginning of a summer slump... or maybe 'spring fever'! :p

I've gotten quite behind in my reading, but still hope to catch up and post some thoughts in the threads which have been moved into the sub-forum. So don't get discouraged - the discussion for every chapter may really only be beginning. :)

[BeardofPants]

To be expected, I would think. The same happened with the silmarillion discussions. Not to worry though, like Val says, those discussions will be there for as long as Entmoot exists - people will always be able to contribute to 'em, and they'll be there as a point of reference for others. And I'm really looking forwards to contributing to mine, which are coming up shortly!

[Valandil]

Well folks, we've reached the half-way mark! Congratulations and thank-yous all around! Recent contributors have done a great job of keeping us on schedule as well - and for those who couldn't post, they've been helpful by giving us good notice.

I haven't directly contacted the next several assignees lately, but we appear to be in good shape. The next four or so are still largely active and/or have clearly stated their intentions to keep their commitments.

For those who are newer here, or otherwise interested in taking on an assignment, we do have some others a little later which were claimed by members who are no longer active - so if they cannot be contacted, or are unable to write their intros, there may be some chapters available for those interested in getting things rolling.

Special thanks to those who have taken a reassignment (or two) to keep us moving. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I'm away for the date mine's assigned to so I can either post it a few days early or late.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

doin good aint we?

[Radagast The Brown]

I do know I was assigned for yesterday btw, as you can see we're going to be a bit late... hopefully, a bit, that is. :p

[Artanis]

I'm facing an awful lot of work the next month, and then I'll be away on vacation. So, if anyone would be so kind as to take the chapters assigned to me I'd be more than grateful.

[azalea]

Sorry I went missing -- I forgot to inform everyone that I was going out of town. Anyway, I'm back again, so Rad, whenever you and Lin get that section done, just pm me and/ or Valandil and we'll stick it.

Thanks to everyone for keeping the project going, and I'm just unhappy that circumstances led me to be less involved than I was able to be at the beginning. I look forward to contributing after the fact at some point in the future.

[The Gaffer]

I can probably bang something out at short notice at the mo. Valandil, give me a shout if you need me.

T'would have to be in Two Tower tho cos I've lost my copy of ROTK!

[Valandil]

Gaffer - Artanis has a couple chapters that should be coming due in about mid-July or so (EDIT: "The Window on the West" and "The Forbidden Pool" - good stuff!). She appears willing to give them up, so why don't you go ahead and plan on doing them. They're still in TT.

Artanis - I hope we can get you back (for chapter intros) in early fall - I anticipate there will be a few assignments to be filled then.

Rad... Lin... how's that 'team assignment experiment' going? :) It doesn't have to be a 'world-beater' - just cover the basics if you like. You can easily expand on it after you do the intro.

[Artanis]

Gaffer, you are welcome to grab my chapters. I'd be grateful to get that task off my todo-list.Artanis - I hope we can get you back (for chapter intros) in early fall - I anticipate there will be a few assignments to be filled then.Yep, I think autumn is a better time for me, I can do intros then if it should be necessary. As always in June I'll be working plenty overtime. But Fat Middle thinks I travel too much and work too little, so I guess I shouldn't complain... :D

[The Gaffer]

Okey dokey.

Am on holiday 11th-18th June but should mid July shouldn't be a problem. :)

Don't overdo it, Arty. It must be something to do with those long summer days in Norway!

[Fat middle]

But Fat Middle thinks I travel too much and work too little, so I guess I shouldn't complain... :DHey, don't make me guilty now of your bad conscience :p :D

[BeardofPants]

Just shouting out that I'm still doing my chapters!

[Valandil]

I'm away for the date mine's assigned to so I can either post it a few days early or late.

TD - with postpones that have come along, are you good with the date we have you for now? If not, a few days late is fine - it seems we're all a bit slow this summer, so it might be better to savor it than rush it.

[Valandil]

Just shouting out that I'm still doing my chapters!

Yes - you have consistently said that, so I've been counting on it. It seems you're looking forward to it, as am I. :)

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

jus to let you know, i am disappearing, and do not know when i shall return hither, but i am still likely to do my assignment, i know it is a long way off, but oft it's said 'the best laid plans of mice and men...'

[Butterbeer]

any chapters need doing ... i'm game : i could spin one or two off in a couple of days in this current format: (don't ask how much editing i've been doing this last 2 weeks - it breaks most EU directives by a integer (?) of aT LEAST 5! ) though i would like to elaborate into some more depth and ask some more evocative (from a personal perspective) questions: i have found the whole thing very good and much respect to everyone who has contributed - from a personal perspective i'd like to add my own individual ideas on a chapter: what i liked and why, what suprised me, long-held questions or doubts, little minutiae (can't spell that just now) and how this part fits into the wider world or beleif systems of the moot community etc ...


to be honest, although i enjoy some light relief and banter here on the moot in the main, it'd be nice to to have some serious discussion again ...

again, my respect to all who have taken their time to contribute thus far :)

[Nurvingiel]

Yes - you have consistently said that, so I've been counting on it. It seems you're looking forward to it, as am I. :)
Yeah I'm looking forward to your chapter too Boppy.

I'm on vacation right now, and then I'm going to be very busy with Calculus, finding an appartment for next year, and whatnot, so I seriously need to tone down my postings. (As you may or may not have noticed.)

However, I too am shouting out that I'd still like to do my chapters. ;) Is there an ETA on when "The Scouring of the Shire" and "The Grey Havens" are going to come up?

Whose doing the Appendicies? I'm looking forward to those too. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I'll be a little late posting mine, as I was away all week end when I was planning to write it, but should have it done for Friday at the latest. :)

[Valandil]

That would be great TD - I don't sweat the days. Friday would be wonderful.

I'll be away through the weekend, but if someone else doesn't 'sticky' it, I'll do it when I get back. Then we'll just slide the other assignments back to suit. :)

[Valandil]

I just updated some due dates, so please check the Assignment Post on page 1 if you're due up soon. I believe the next four are: BeardofPants, The Gaffer, Elanor the Fair and Azalea - all of whom I'm pretty confident about. :)

For you out there looking to pick up an assignment, there might be some available slots coming up soon... unless some AWOL members turn back up. ;)

[BeardofPants]

Can I safely assume that my stuff is due on the 9th? It's ready to go at any rate.

[Valandil]

Can I safely assume that my stuff is due on the 9th? It's ready to go at any rate.

Yes - the 9th is the date I have you for. Great to hear it's ready. Go ahead and wait until the 9th before posting it, in case anyone wants to get a few more comments in on the current chapters.

Thanks. :)

[brownjenkins]

For you out there looking to pick up an assignment, there might be some available slots coming up soon... unless some AWOL members turn back up. ;)

don't bump me, or they'll be hell to pay :D

[BeardofPants]

Yep, yep, and what are you planning to do Tom - tickle them until they beg for mercy? :p

My chapters are up - and yes, it is the 9th July in NZ... and New York. :p

[brownjenkins]

Yep, yep, and what are you planning to do Tom - tickle them until they beg for mercy? :p

not a bad idea, though i could always bump a few choice threads too http://home.comcast.net/~rijak/bandit.gif

[Nurvingiel]

Yay it's Brownie!

I actually photocopied my chapters ages ago, and made some notes, but I haven't done a thing since! What's the ETA on those? :) (Scouring and Grey Havens)

[Valandil]

Yay it's Brownie!

I actually photocopied my chapters ages ago, and made some notes, but I haven't done a thing since! What's the ETA on those? :) (Scouring and Grey Havens)

As a rough estimate - the earliest that could come up, if everyone keeps getting their assignments done more or less on time, and if we get good coverage for inactives who volunteered - I'd say about late January or early February. Realistically, it might slip a bit from there. Still - you'd be safe wrapping it up over Christmas Break (what a Christmas present to yourself! :D )

[Nurvingiel]

Eeeeeexcellent. *steeples fingers*

Great, I have plenty of time later then! :D

[brownjenkins]

heya nurv

that puts me at about halloween http://home.comcast.net/~rijak/goodjob.gif

[Valandil]

Because The Gaffer stretched out his intro I left his chapters in the regular book forum after Elanor's chapters went up. Well... now Elanor's chapters have drawn little attention - I think partly because people were splitting their posting efforts and partly because of the time of year.

I've decided to leave Elanor's chapters as the 'active' thread for a couple more weeks - so I pushed back the next assignment to September 1. Then as a one-time thing, we'll allow three weeks so that the chapters up after that will go up on September 22 (a big day around Bag End, you know! ;) ).

I'm hoping this will help combat the late-summer slowdown.

[azalea]

Hey, all! I have my intro halfway done, so it may not be tonight, but tomorrow when I actually get it posted. Since it'll be up for 3 weeks anyway, I don't think that's a problem. This was fun! I enjoyed reading and exploring my favorite chapter in depth. I just wish I had kept up with the reading and discussion all this time. :(
Hopefully I can rejoin the project now that I'm re-inspired! :)

[Valandil]

The next two assignements after Azalea's are to 'mooters who have been pretty inactive lately. I will attempt to contact them, but those assignments may soon go "on the block" for reassignment. Let me know if you might be interested. They are:

Book V, Chapter 1 - Minas Tirith
Book V, Chapters 2 & 3 - The Passing of the Grey Company and The Muster of Rohan

The first will tentatively be due in mid/late September - the second a week or so into October.

Meanwhile, Elanor the Fair has a wonderful introduction currently up, that has gotten far too little attention (even from me - I have to admit). I suspect it's the late-summer (northern hemisphere) timing... but I recommend everyone look it over and try to chip in with some commments, while we wait for Azalea to wrap up, "The Two Towers". :)

[Valandil]

Follow-up: OK, I just emailed both Haradrim (who had ch 1) and Dunedain (who had ch 2 & 3). Haradrim's bounced back, so I take it we definitely need to reassign that first, and I'll let you know as soon as I can about the second.

Any takers for "Minas Tirith"? :)

[Earniel]

You can sign me up as back-up, i.o.w. if no one else wants it, I'll take it. it might motivate me in catching up with the discussion again. But since I already have seen to two previous chapters, I'd like somebody else to have this opportunity.

[azalea]

My section intro is now up

First of all, let me say that I regret abandoning the project due to unforeseen circumstances in the past year. Thank you to Valandil, who really was the one who has kept the project moving. Also, thank you to everyone who has done an introduction, because otherwise there would have been no discussion!

I also want to mention that although I may not have been posting, I have read all of the intros, and you guys have done a great job. I think that although many threads aren’t very long, the subforum will help to draw people in, thus periodically renewing the discussions as well as providing a forum for reflection and enrichment for those reading the book either for the first time or for the zillionth. Thanks to all!

[Valandil]

You can sign me up as back-up, i.o.w. if no one else wants it, I'll take it. it might motivate me in catching up with the discussion again. But since I already have seen to two previous chapters, I'd like somebody else to have this opportunity.

Earniel - I haven't heard from anyone else yet. I was hoping when people went back to college we might be able to pick this up a bit more, but maybe that will happen as we go along anyway.

If you're still willing, I'll take your offer to introduce Chapter 1 of Book V - then I'll plan to do Chapters 2 & 3 myself. Is it possible for you to make the 'big day' of September 22? (Autumnal Equinox as well as Bilbo & Frodo's b-day! :D ). If not, that's fine.

[Earniel]

I've posted it in the message-thread in General Messages. Maybe someone who doesn't come in here often, still wants to give it a try. If no one has come foreward in a few days, I will do Minas Tirith myself. I'll try and have it up by the 22th then. So far that shouldn't be a problem. :)

[Artanis]

I'm volunteering for Minas Tirith if Eärniel doesn't want it - but I doubt I'll be able to post on the 22th. Sorry for the late response.

[Earniel]

You're welcome to it. (Long time no see too! Hello again :)) When do you think you can get it up?

[Artanis]

If we say no later than Sunday 25th, would that be ok?

I'd like to be here more often and talk to you all - but there is this thing called real life ... :)

[Valandil]

25th would be great Artanis! Thanks!

Actually - I had forgotten, but I was hoping we could reassign you something once you gave up the one assignment to Gaffer due to your summer vacation.

We look forward to it. :)

[Butterbeer]

well, i volunterred back in june for what it was worth. But never mind.

[Valandil]

well, i volunterred back in june for what it was worth. But never mind.

Oh - sorry, I either missed it or had forgotten - more likely the second.

Would you like to take chapters 2 & 3 then? Please? :)

[Butterbeer]

:) cheers! that's cheered me up!

the passing of the grey company and the muster of rohan, eh?

course, have misplaced the return of the king ... but have dillons tokens i need to use anyway ..so will get an new one asap!

looking at what ... 12th october???

best BB :)

[Butterbeer]

well i have found it again and have started reading through those 2 chapters: heh! i get the palantir and eye of sauron stuff! Excellent! Can't wait.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

i know i vowed not to do this, but i am definitely unsure whether i will be able to do my next assignment - though it is a long way off - anyone that would be able to take on the house of eorl/durin's folk, please feel free, after checking with azalea of course.

[Valandil]

Finally updated the master list. Thank you for covering for us, Artanis. And thank you for agreeing to take the next one, Butterbeer.

Beren... you'll be up after BB - are you good for later in October? I have you tentatively down for October 23... workable?

[Forkbeard]

i know i vowed not to do this, but i am definitely unsure whether i will be able to do my next assignment - though it is a long way off - anyone that would be able to take on the house of eorl/durin's folk, please feel free, after checking with azalea of course.

I recently did it for another forum, so can do it here too if you need me too, just let me know.

FB

[Beren3000]

Beren... you'll be up after BB - are you good for later in October? I have you tentatively down for October 23... workable?
No problem, my summary is already done, I'll post it in due time. Thanks for the note :)

[brownjenkins]

hmmm... if i figure val's logic correctly, that put's me at Nov. 20th

[Butterbeer]

mmm ... don't time fly!
*sees calendar pages turning over in a blur*

well expect me post on monday (late at night probably) the 10th October .... had better do some of it sunday methinks.

do i do one chapter first then the second after?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

However you like. Usually we have the first chapter in one post, the second in another and discussion points in another, but it's up to you.

[Valandil]

hmmm... if i figure val's logic correctly, that put's me at Nov. 20th

Careful... I'm not certain there's really any logic applied. :p

[Butterbeer]

update on the upcoming passing of the grey company and the muster of rohan;

i'm not quite done and i do not have me book with me now .... so will look to tommorow (11th october) the 12th absolutely the latest!

sorry!
BB

[Valandil]

No problem BB - that's just fine. :)

[Beren3000]

Am I still due on the 23rd?

[Valandil]

No - we'll need to get the second half of BB's posted and up for a bit.

Are you ready to go when needed?

[Beren3000]

Are you ready to go when needed?
Just post a date and I'm there :)

[Butterbeer]

sorry, guys, the extension of passing of grey company and the muster of rohan coming monday night!

apologies for delay.
BB

[Nurvingiel]

No worries BB, I'm sure whenever you can finish is fine. We're not school. :p (Though maybe Azalea feels otherwise. :D)

I haven't participated in this project in a while. I still think it's really cool, just for the record. :)

[Finrod Felagund]

Is whoever was doing the dwarven appendix still around? If not, I'll take it..I love the story of the battle at Moria!

[Valandil]

BB - Saw the "Mustard of Rohan" ;) :p post. I merged it with the "Grey Company" one - since it was the same assignment.

Beren - assuming BB gets his wrapped up soon, two weeks from today is November 8. Can you post then? A day or two before or after is fine, if it turns out to be a bad day or anything.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

I recently did it for another forum, so can do it here too if you need me too, just let me know.

FB
i am good with that if val and azalea are fine too

[Beren3000]

Beren - assuming BB gets his wrapped up soon, two weeks from today is November 8. Can you post then? A day or two before or after is fine, if it turns out to be a bad day or anything.
No problem, but I might not be able to participate much in the discussion seeing as how my mid-terms are coming up. :o

[BeardofPants]

Feh, I have an exam today... studying is for sissies! Clearly, you are not prioritising LOTR enough! :mad: Go for the eyes boo, go for the eyes!!

[Beren3000]

Clearly, you are not prioritising LOTR enough!
So what are you gonna do about it? Steal my pants, I guess? :p

[Forkbeard]

i am good with that if val and azalea are fine too

cool!!

[Valandil]

Yikes! :eek: I've been a bit behind with keeping this moving. I just revised some due dates and added a couple tentative dates. We have a few more coming up with lesser-active mooters, so I'll appreciate any more volunteers to take a particular assignment.

I went back to a 3-week spacing to take us through the Yule Holidays :p - and then back to 2-weeks after that hopefully. We could potentially get the project chapters all started by about the beginning of summer, if we can manage to more or less stay on schedule from here on out. Oh - and I made that change to have Forkbeard do the other section of the Appendices - so he and I will be tag-teaming on that part of it.

Meanwhile - let's get some posts in on Beren's Book V / Chapter 4. It has another week or so to be the 'active' chapter - at least.

[Butterbeer]

mmmm..... :confused: :confused: :confused:


Azalea
The Lord of the Rings discussion project :

Certainly you may mention ties to the Silmarillion in discussing the chapters. Also, interesting factoids about the life of Tolkien are welcome


it will allow for wider participation for that reason, and part of the goal of this project is to revitalize this forum and to draw in new people,

1.Tell what is/ are the important main events of the chapter(s),

what you mean like the cursing of the dead of dunharrow?

2.Tell what you liked about this/ these chapter(s) – favorite part, scenes that were particularly funny, scary, descriptive, what stands out to you in the chapter.

what, like the fact a whole people or "folk' were cursed and why and how?

Let’s try just for these threads to say that the material contained in the text is canonical, whether or not HoME or other texts published later appear to refute it. I think this will serve to do a few things: it will “level the playing field” (not everyone has read the HoME, and some haven’t even read The Silm), it will allow for wider participation for that reason, and part of the goal of this project is to revitalize this forum and to draw in new people

i agree. :)

Let’s let everyone feel confident about sharing their views, Tolkien “scholar” and first time reader alike, without feeling like they’re going to be corrected for a “wrong” statement

Obviously a lot of what we discuss will have been discussed in other threads. That's okay. This is a separate project, and the other threads are for going into greater depth for a particular aspect of the books. Repitition is okay here. :)

[Butterbeer]

with the very best willed and friendliest of motives Val, i fail to see the point of a discussion thread about events in the LOTR, as outlined by the very project outlines themselves, that does not let, or allow or encourage mooters to discuss the relevant parts of the chapter???

firstly this is all friendly and encouraging .. it all (ok i'll give you the marrows ;) ) stems from and relates to the issues of the passing of the grey company ... it fits all the outlines quoted above (ok, selectively, i admit)

but How on earth can we discuss the events, meanings and our thoughts and questions about the events of this chapter without, as Azalea said we could when defining the whole project, refering outside of the book when needed??? (PLUS some of this IS in the appendixes) ... also i understood it from the quote above and the original premise of the project to be CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD AND DEFINED ... that:


"Obviously a lot of what we discuss will have been discussed in other threads. That's okay. This is a separate project, and the other threads are for going into greater depth for a particular aspect of the books. Repitition is okay here. "

so, really, is it not a) unessecary to... and B) against the spirit of the thing...

... to curtail discussion here?

we are not intending to go into any great depth on any other subject , just musing about the story, meanings and how's, why's and what's of what is brought up in this very chapter!

Now, i am very glad YOU are the mod here Valandil because you are intelligent, likeable, reasonable and what's more a good writer yourself ...

so ,really, surely we have by Azalea's guidelines and aims for this project not only the right (which cannot be doubted) but also the strength (which, may be barely enough , and prove to be somewhat tougher than the batlle of Valandil's deep thought :p ) .... to discuss this and other things ...

very best, BB :) :)

oh and yes ..val ... i'd like to see YOU reply more in here too! (though on different lines from above :D - obviously! ;) )

[Valandil]

BB - I certainly don't want to squelch discussion, but I can assure you that one of azalea's objectives was that the discussion for each chapter(s) remain on what happened in that chapter - or before, but not after - and not drawing from various other sources. The idea was to not intimidate the Tolkien novice, but to allow them to feel free to venture an opinion, without having all kinds of things thrown back in response from texts they had never heard of - rather than from the chapter under discussion.

There are a lot of you folks who know a lot around here, after all.

So - my comment was only in reference to Serenoli's mention of the Ban of Men and what befell Numenor - and your response to it and mention of Angmar.

And of course, you're certainly free to discuss those things. One great hope had been that the discussion starting in these chapters would launch new threads that would take the discussion deeper and COULD include those other sources (whether in LOTR forum, Silmarillion forum or Middle Earth forum). So go start a thread on it!

We want to keep these threads more focused though - on the material presented in that chapter, or to date in the chapters previously covered.

Unfortunately, azalea doesn't make it around as much, but if you're still uncertain, you're free to go ahead and PM her - and steer her this way to see if I have accurately captured her intent. :)

[Gordis]

You are both right and wrong, Val, I think.

Certainly, every thread should better stay on topic, who argues that.:) And the Ban of the Valar and the fate of Ar-Pharazon have very remote connection with the chapter in question. ;)

The problem is that few people now venture into the Books forum. There has not been a real animated discussion for quite some time. It has become dull here, hasn't it? So, every lively discussion, like in this thread, should be encouraged. Like a wise Ent, careful not to stunt the delicate green growth, you better wait and observe and then - OOPS - you take the scissors and split the thread. :cool:

I know, I know, Val, splitting threads is such a hard work! :D

[Butterbeer]

I agree gor .. just feels like it's pointless coming here now ..we can't discuss the lord of the rings (in the main) in the lord of the rings discussion project thread for god's sake! :rolleyes:

plus i am prepared to argue, that if you look at the quotes from azalea there is plenty of project guidelines that support both our aims of ACTUALLY having some discussion and that we break no rules ...

Azalea: Discussion project official guidelines:

Certainly you may mention ties to the Silmarillion in discussing the chapters. Also, interesting factoids about the life of Tolkien are welcome

it will allow for wider participation for that reason, and part of the goal of this project is to revitalize this forum and to draw in new people,

and part of the goal of this project is to revitalize this forum and to draw in new people

Obviously a lot of what we discuss will have been discussed in other threads. That's okay. This is a separate project, and the other threads are for going into greater depth for a particular aspect of the books. Repitition is okay here.


one project to bring them all ... and in the Lightness bind them... ....


isn't that partly the point?

you want hundreds of watered down tiny threads that no one can keep up with about every little thing that springs directly from a chapter discussion????

may i politely ask you to reconsider this Val? :)

[Valandil]

Here is that chunk of Azalea's guidelines in full. If you want to see more, you can read through her opening post on the Discussion Project Thread itself.

My own emphases added:

Finally, I’d like to say a word about “canon,” for the purposes of our discussion. This may be controversial, but I think it is in the best interest of the project to establish this guideline. Certainly you may mention ties to the Silmarillion in discussing the chapters. Also, interesting factoids about the life of Tolkien are welcome (pertinent quotes from Letters, etc.), to add to the discussion of this or that part or aspect of the story. But I’d like to make this a discussion of The Lord of the Rings as a discreet, stand-alone work (although it arguably is not), as if we are reading it when it first came out. I think pulling in info from the greater mythology FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROJECT will muddy the waters too much (obviously I’m not talking about any other threads in this forum). Let’s try just for these threads to say that the material contained in the text is canonical, whether or not HoME or other texts published later appear to refute it. I think this will serve to do a few things: it will “level the playing field” (not everyone has read the HoME, and some haven’t even read The Silm), it will allow for wider participation for that reason, and part of the goal of this project is to revitalize this forum and to draw in new people, or people who heretofore have been shy about participating in the discussions. Let’s let everyone feel confident about sharing their views, Tolkien “scholar” and first time reader alike, without feeling like they’re going to be corrected for a “wrong” statement. Of course, feel free to argue and bicker about stuff like we always do (J), but don’t make it an argument based on ME info that can’t be gotten from the LotR text itself. I hope this decision doesn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for participating in the project, but please know that I’m doing this so that as many people as possible will be able to fully be a part of this, and feel confident in doing so. Plus, I want this to be more a discussion of the work itself, and not of the mythology. Sometimes bringing to much extraneous stuff in detracts from the story.

So... please let's get back to discussing what's in this chapter, here in this thread. You're certainly welcome to start or revive threads on these other topics that come to mind - and I think that would have an even MORE positive impact on the Tolkien forums than trying to cover all sorts of ground in this thread. But in this thread, and these other threads like it, please stay on topic.

[Butterbeer]

well as i see it val, it's 50-50 really thats what my accurate and genuine perception is .... and i have read ALL the opening post

i did say before that my stuff was admittedly selective ...

but look at azalea's outlines and my points and yours are pretty 50-50 ... but look at the whole piece and i do rather get the strong impression she is saying look you can add stuff and do feel free to wander off to subjects that come up a bit in the course of discussion of that chapter , even if it briefly goes over ground of another thread ... because i want this project to be friendly, encouraging and to to enable more discussion of the book and in the book forum in general ... sure she asks us to not go too far off the path nor too often .... but we haven't .. and do not intend to ...

that to me is the spirit it is intended in ...

but for me, currently it just seems we cannot discuss anything about the LOTR books in the LOTR book discussion project????


what is and what isn't off topic? :confused:

anything in a particular chapter that relates to one before or after ? That frankly is impossible ..it is a book ... it tells a story ..how can we isolate a chapter from the previous one or not look at the effects this chapter has on in the story?? How would we even know who the characters are?? or what they are doing??

if you take it that far ... how can we discuss anything??? it all relates to and affects previous and later chapters!


i just think it goes against the spirit of what azalea wrote ... in terms of the law of it (as it were) i still think it 50-50 at best ...

but i do not wish to argue with you ... if you do not wish us to discuss LOTR and the impact of events from the chapter and our thoughts on it or if things written clearly in the LOTR appendixes are now out of bounds, then what can we do?

I think we just all enjoyed having a discussion ... this obviously is in error.

i must say, though it really does suprise me this stance ... but what can we all do ?

perhaps you could itemise specifically what is allowable and the rigid limits within that given approved list?

[Earniel]

Actually, I'm with Valandil on this one. While I certainly think we should be able to take elements outside the LoTR books into account in this discussion, they should not be the center of the thread (they rightfully so deserve their own threads). I think, and I see it in the guidelines that azalea laid down also, that the current LoTR-chapter should still remain the main focus of each chapter-thread.

It is not because the book forum has little traffic now that we should concentrate all topics we want to discuss into the few currently active threads.

On a more personal note I've found it very enjoyable that the seperate chapter-discussions allow to focus on details from the chapters that would otherwise have gone unnoticed between the bigger themes and events of Tolkien's whole scope, such as the drowning of Numenor and the power of vows. :)

Now, on with the discussion, I'd say. :cool: (And I better go read it to be able to catch up and actually participate. :o)

Like a wise Ent, careful not to stunt the delicate green growth, you better wait and observe and then - OOPS - you take the scissors and split the thread. :cool:
Actually, no. :evil: As a wise Ent-wife I want to cultivate a race of mooters in my gardens that take the initiative to take the discussion to the proper thread instead of waiting for the mod-team to sort out the entangled greens. (At which I'll probably get the reply: No wonder you Ent-wives were exterminated... )

[Butterbeer]

ok ...fine but what percentage of this whole thread is not specifically on the main 2 chapters here?

2% ...3%?? possibly a max of 4%??

so ..in this very chapter we learn of the whole oath breaking scenes ...yet we cannot discuss it????

the power of vows is a central Part of the whole chapter!!!!! else there would be no dead or passing of the grey company!

yours very confused,

BB

[Serenoli]

Poor BB! Every thread I go to, you're fighting another battle!

I think a huge fuss is being made over nothing very important... and it seems the main reason azalea wanted us not to introduce too many outside stuff was so that newbies wouldn't get scared... but there are so few ppl here that this seems kinda pointless! It seems silly to open up a whole new thread just for this... what would we call it? The Power of Vows? :p I don't see why we can't just do it here, and then go on to discussing the rest of the chapter... its not hurting anyone as far as I can see.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I think Serenoli posted, but the new page bug makes it unviewable, but you should see it now. ^^

[Gordis]

As a wise Ent-wife I want to cultivate a race of mooters in my gardens that take the initiative to take the discussion to the proper thread instead of waiting for the mod-team to sort out the entangled greens.
(At which I'll probably get the reply: No wonder you Ent-wives were exterminated... )
Not exactly, Earniel.

I would say : "No wonder your gardens are now called the Brown Lands" :p :) I still favour the scissors. :)

[Valandil]

ok ...fine but what percentage of this whole thread is not specifically on the main 2 chapters here?

2% ...3%?? possibly a max of 4%??

so ..in this very chapter we learn of the whole oath breaking scenes ...yet we cannot discuss it????

the power of vows is a central Part of the whole chapter!!!!! else there would be no dead or passing of the grey company!

yours very confused,

BB

BB - as I said before, it was mentions of the Ban on the Men of Numenor and of Angmar (neither of which seems to pertain to what's in this chapter} that I was cautioning about - not the oath breaking. You've made WAY too big a deal of this, so stop all this now and keep the discussions to the chapters.

It seems silly to open up a whole new thread just for this... what would we call it? The Power of Vows? I don't see why we can't just do it here, and then go on to discussing the rest of the chapter... its not hurting anyone as far as I can see.

Not silly - and I think it's been done. Would you like to try searching key terms, or should one of us mods find it and bump it for you? :)

[Butterbeer]

BB - as I said before, it was mentions of the Ban on the Men of Numenor and of Angmar (neither of which seems to pertain to what's in this chapter} that I was cautioning about - not the oath breaking. You've made WAY too big a deal of this, so stop all this now and keep the discussions to the chapters.


Well, Val, firstly that qoute there was in response to earniel's post (below: edited for emphasis)

While I certainly think we should be able to take elements outside the LoTR books into account in this discussion, they should not be the center of the thread


On a more personal note I've found it very enjoyable that the seperate chapter-discussions allow to focus on details from the chapters that would otherwise have gone unnoticed between the bigger themes and events of Tolkien's whole scope, such as the drowning of Numenor and the power of vows.


thus my reply was ( as i am not sure from what Earniel said in her post, if she had read the whole thread ..i think not from what she implied...? ) thus my reply was that actually, yes the VAST majority of the thread is completely on topic.

Am i not allowed now to even respond to a post? :eek:

But the thing that confused me Val, to be fair, is that Earniel appears to be banning us from now discussing ..."the power of vows"

Now, please understand i am trying to be a good mooter here :) :) and do things as they should..

but i really am genuinely confused :confused: what we can and cannot talk about - it is frankly impossible to only discuss things that are actually in the chapter, in the course of discussing things that are actually in the chapter ...

eg: the oath breaking and the curse of isildur ... massive KEY point in this whole chapter ... else we have not this chapter at all .... where else can we discuss what happens here in this chapter, look for relevance and clues to what we think about this stuff in this chapter, without comparing it to other things????????

Now as i said before i'll give you the marrow (Angmar) :) ... i understand that .... you know me i do waffle a bit and go off at the odd tangent ... :o and like the odd joke about marrows :D .... but as i said that's fine i understand ..no more marrows or angmar without a naturally occuring reason etc ... (if i were you .. i'd tighten me up on that promise ;) ... ahem i digress - it could be argued marrows are naturally occuring anyway!)

but the oath breaking is to my mind ,at least, discussing THIS CHAPTER ... it is a tiny foray away and we'll be coming back to the next question (if allowed - or at this point even, given any encouragment- to continue - i just find this whole thing very off putting and i just know without clarification there is NO way i for one can ever discuss in the project again because my mind works like that ... sticking religiously to the printed words of a chapter would be impossible for me)


perhaps you can define for me an example we CAN take to look at isildur's curse and the exact things we may discuss it with that are OK?

you see, this is about the whole book if i am correct, and partly to a lessar degree (but you cannot seperate them totally in this context surely??) the whole world that JRRT has created and unless i am wrong the appendixes too, which i used in my discussion here (not the Silm) .... now i totally understand we want the main discussion to be relevant to each chapter but on 2 major counts i argue we are: firstly the vast majority had been speciifcally chapter related, and second it is only in discussing something from this chapter (therefore to me in essence and the spirit of the thing, is thus relevant anyway) that we have taken brief forays over other ground)


now if i had to start a new thread for every minor point you would have five or six a day that would all be closed down because we would move on in those threads to other points quite naturally as you do in discussion and anyway then we would keep having to refer the people here over there and back to keep up with the discussion ...

e.g. go to sub thread 78 page 2 for my reference to that ... sorry you'll have to take that only 89% relevant point of this chapter into this thread or that thread that specifically deals with it ... oh it's been shut down? ... because evryone was arguing that thread 77 was more relevant or that we were duplicating???

:eek:

but i agree with serenoli cautioning this thread and stating all discussion MUST BE contained within the strict limits of this chapter is not nessescary nor helpful or encouraging ..it is JUST IMPOSSIBLE

If i now go to all the other LOTR discussion threads ... i have no doubt i will find this rule breached so many times it would be a farce!

why then are we here victimised?

If it is only the marrow and the oath, then why keep saying all discussion must be related to this chapter only and then cautioning us???

The marrow i said from day one .ok i agree! The oath is relevant to the curse and the whole existence of this chapter .. but you cannot allow us to discuss this chapter without only mentioning thingsthat are actually IN this chapter?

Seriously, Val .. i am genuinely confused: how is that possible?? :confused:

Very best to you BB

P.S oh yes, i took your advice Val (thanks) and pm'd azalea - she said yesterday she'd have a look at it when she had a mo - in terms of what is and is not in the spirit of the project.

[Butterbeer]

by the way ... to put this in perspective go look at the tom bombadil chapter (lotr discussion thread) ... by Rian .. one of the largest and most interesting and well viewed ... etc

all completely against the restricitve and incomprehensible rules being enforced here

where is the consistency in this?

we even have Valandil in there talking of Angmar !! :) (although sadly, no mentions of marrows! :D )

how many threads would have been spawned in THAT chapter discussion ... and who would have bothered with it if that was the case?

best BB :)

ps i wish you guys and girls would sort this out :) :) .. i am eager to get on with the discussion ..but i just know all my points and questions i wish to bring up regarding this chapter will now hit trouble, because it will be impossible to discuss them

*sigh*

[Serenoli]

Maybe we should shift this whole discussion on 'What to discuss and what not to' into a new thread cos its not relevant to the chapter!

seriously mods, give us a break... its been ages since there has been any kind of participation in the discussion thread, and now that we finally stirred ourselves up and came here, you start getting all dutiful and waving the rule-book around! BB is right, if the new law passes through then we will have little to say... everytime we make a comment, we will worry about the censor board...

[Valandil]

I will soon be splitting all this disputing off and likely closing it.

I would do so now except that apparently azalea will be coming to check on things herself soon enough.

As a moderator, it is my job to keep things on track. For me to post a comment like I did is entirely appropriate. And regardless of who said what that was being responded to, once a moderator has tried to redirect - to protract things in this manner is totally unacceptable. Look what a mess has been made of this thread!

So for now, I want this sidetrack discussion to END!

[azalea]

I have been contacted regarding this issue and replied via pm, but I wanted to bring some closure here since it was discussed in open forum. I support Valandil's comments, in that although mention of tidbits from the greater mythology is not forbidden, conversation in the thread should pertain only to the text in that chapter, not to stories and info contained in other works.

Here is part of my reply to the pm I received:

"The reasons for this do include the fact that I wanted the discussions to be accessable to everyone who has read or is reading Lotr, regardless of their knowledge of the greater mythology. My vision was that people who are reading Lotr for the first time could come and participate in each of these project threads, as well as people who had read them multiple times, and that the threads would not only be active for the duration of the project, but for the future as well, hence the subforum. That is why I wished also that we not discuss stuff from the appendices YET, that we instead wait for discussion of that info when the thread for those is posted.

Another reason for the narrow focus of these particular threads is that I wanted us to look at Lotr as a stand-alone work, as the readers did when it was first published. Furthermore, at the time this was started (and perhaps even now), the books forum was somewhat inactive, with mainly the trivia/ game threads being active. We were trying to find ways to start new and fresh discussions, and I felt that keeping the focus narrow in the project threads would accomplish this naturally. By discussing the chapters in depth, people would naturally come up with questions and ideas for discussion [beyond the scope of the chapter, and thus create new threads or revive existing ones to the end that there would be renewed widespread meaningful discussion in the forum]..."

That is the gist of my reasoning behind that decision. By all means, make a new thread! Hope this has helped to clear up the matter, and again, I apologise for not being around lately.

By the way, is there a reason that one thread is stuck at the top of the subforum? Just curious.

[Valandil]

By the way, is there a reason that one thread is stuck at the top of the subforum? Just curious.

Probably a mistake. I just unstuck it.

BTW - for those wanting to talk about the Oath-breakers - I bumped a thread in the ME forum - named "The Power of a Curse" - check it out! :)

[brownjenkins]

try to figure where we are at... mine is tentatively due on the 22nd, but i can't seem to find the chapters right before mine (The Ride of the Rohirrim and The Battle of Pelennor Fields)... have they been posted yet?

[Earniel]

Not exactly, Earniel.

I would say : "No wonder your gardens are now called the Brown Lands" :p :) I still favour the scissors. :)
I'll have you know that my gardens were famous once, and that the destruction came from the outside, not from within. :p

try to figure where we are at... mine is tentatively due on the 22nd, but i can't seem to find the chapters right before mine (The Ride of the Rohirrim and The Battle of Pelennor Fields)... have they been posted yet?

Hm, I really should keep a better eye on the discussion project. Lazy me... :o

Last two chapters got posted a bit late so all the coming chapters will probably get delayed a little too, to give each chapter enough time to be discussed. I think you can expect to move your chapter to maybe January? I'll leave the decision on that to Valandil or Azalea.

I haven't seen the Ride of the Rohirrim and The Battle of Pelennor Fields yet, and neither have I seen Falagar for a while. The Siege of Gondor is still stuck to the top. I'll PM Falagar but if he doesn't show, I'll reckon we'll have to re-assign it.

[brownjenkins]

thanks!

i'm certainly not going to complain about being given more time :D

[azalea]

Val, did you pm Falagar, and if so, did he reply?

[Earniel]

I did and no, he hasn't replied yet.

[Earniel]

I've got news from Falagar. He still likes to do it, but it could take a few days. This friday at the earliest.

[Valandil]

Sorry - I missed azalea's question when she first asked it.

I have been in touch with Falagar. He does want to do the chapters, but has had a hard time getting it done yet (as Earniel indicated).

[Earniel]

So Falagaaaaar, any luck so far? ;)

[Valandil]

A few days ago I connected with Falagar again - and he didn't think he would be able to do it at all.

So - rather than have further delay, I've gone ahead and posted the chapter intros.

Great Big FYI - after this one is brownjenkins, and I know that he has been ready. However - there may be a good opportunity available for someone else who would like to contribute, because the next couple after him are Crickhollow and Cassiopeia - I know Crick hasn't been around in a long while. Cass may be planning on doing hers, but I haven't been in touch to verify, and I'm not certain how often she has been on.

So... stay tuned. You can let me know by PM if you're interested in those (or other) upcoming assignments - until I go ahead and make further public statements about their availability, at which time you can just express interest right here.

:)

[Valandil]

Oh - and in my new update to the schedule, I went with a 3-week spacing of assignments. This is going slow anyway, so maybe that will help everyone have time to participate.

[Valandil]

Alright - I've heard back from Cass, and can't seem to establish contact with Crick - therefore, I believe we should consider those two assignments as "open". They are the last two chapters of Book V and the first two chapters of Book VI.

Any takers? :)

[Valandil]

UPDATE: I have now heard back from Crickhollow. She plans to drop in and look things over before deciding whether she can still keep her assignment.

[Serenoli]

I would like Book 6 Ch 1, The Tower of Cirith Ungol, please. :)

[Landroval]

Errr... I wonder if newbie has a shot at any available chapter :).

[Serenoli]

Errr... I wonder if newbie has a shot at any available chapter :).


If I get Book 6, Ch1, then Ch2 of the same book would still be free. And Val says that the last 2 of Book 5 are still uncomfirmed, so if Crickhollow decides not to, you can have tham. There's nothing against a newbie getting a chapter... its a democratic system! :)

Guess we both just have to wait for Val to confirm...

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Nope, sorry, I've got Chapter's 2 and 3.

[Valandil]

Yes - my mistake on the chapter assignments. The one which Crick may still keep is the last 2 (#'s 9 & 10) of Book V, but the one Cass is giving up is only Chapter 1 of Book VI. Most of our assignments are 2 chapters, so I made that assumption without checking.

You can see the actual assignments in about the second post of this thread.

Serenoli, I'll put you down for that 1st chapter of VI since you asked first. Landroval, sit tight - there are some other assignments coming up which are made to members who are no longer active. And yes - we're happy to have a new member participate.

[crickhollow]

yes! Yes, I'm back, and I'm in, and I've started my chapter assignment. thanks for giving me a chance to respond before giving up my chapters.

[Valandil]

Crick - I am SO glad you came back! :)

Brownjenkins... how's it coming? Need a few more days?

Landroval - stay tuned - as I said, there are a few others with assignments who haven't been around lately.

Crick - I've emailed Dunedain before but not gotten much response... think YOU could get him to come back and fulfill his obligation? ;) After all - didn't you trade away an assignment of yours to him at his request?

[crickhollow]

Val, you have a far-reaching memory. Dunedain definitely owes it to me to do the assignment I let him have. But I've never kept in touch with him off of the boards...so if the email address he left behind doesn't work, then there's not much I can do.

[Valandil]

I THINK I have a good email for him. At least we wrote a little - though he hasn't answered me through it for some time (either it isn't getting through or it's something I did...)

PS: and it's easy for me to remember that - I brokered the deal for him! :p Come to think of it, he wasn't coming around, so I emailed him - he requested those chapters so I helped work out the trade with you! :D

[crickhollow]

yeah, i just read back at the beginning of this thread, but haven't those chapters already been covered? according to this thread, they were The Passing of the Grey Company and The Muster of Rohan.

[Valandil]

Yeah - but someone else had to do those anyway - so he owes us double! :p

[crickhollow]

so what's the assignment I'm supposed to bug him about, then?

[Valandil]

"The Field of Cormallon" and "The Steward and the King"

[Valandil]

Mr. Jenkins... are you still with us? Any progress?


We're looking forward to it! :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Val, do you know an approximate date that my assignment is going to be due in for?

[Valandil]

Everyone - I've heard from brownjenkins. He forgot. He says he will try to post his assignment this Sunday.

Telcontar Dunedain - assuming that the next one goes up Sunday, and that Crickhollow and Serenoli come through at three week intervals - your assignment would be due about 9 weeks from this Sunday - right about the end of April or start of May. Sound good?

Landroval - if you're still interested, we'd be happy to have you take Assignment #36 - "The Fields of Cormallen" and "The Steward and the King" - probably due late in May. There was no response from Dunedain, as far as I know - so we'll consider it open and I'll give you first chance, since you've already asked.

Meanwhile - how about everyone add a bit more to the current thread! :D C'mon everyone... The Pelennor Fields!!! :)

[Landroval]

Thanks Valandil!

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Yeah thats fine Val.

[crickhollow]

so that puts me...*counts on fingers*...at March 18?

[Valandil]

I think the 19th... didja run out of fingers? and toes? ;)

But that's strictly a tentative date until we get the one before it. :)

[Valandil]

EMERGENCY! :eek: (sort of)

Mr. Brown Jenkins has determined that he's not able to get his assignment in for us. He's heavily loaded at work and he and his wife have blessing #4 on the way. Is anyone interested and able to take it for us? It is for the chapters, "The Pyer of Denethor" and "The Houses of Healing".

Completion within a week would be wonderful, but at this point, we'll probably take whatever we can get (as a note - if you haven't done one yet - I think I got my intro for the previous thread done in about 3-4 consecutive evenings. A couple days to read the chapters and take notes as I went, then brainstorm some further thoughts - and wrote the intro in one sitting of a few hours).

Anybody? Landroval... care to jump in sooner? Elemmire - birthday girl? SGH? Rian? Anyone else?

[Earniel]

If need be, I'll take them. But you know, the old tune (:p): only if no one else wants them, I already had a fair share of the chapters.

Blessing #4? Congrats, BJ! :)

[Valandil]

Earniel - since you have done so much, let's give exactly 24 hours for anyone else who hasn't taken part so much who would like to take it instead. If nobody posts accordingly, by that time (from this post), you can consider it yours - and consider me grateful! :)

[Landroval]

Landroval... care to jump in sooner?
I hear thy call! :D

[Earniel]

Landroval, you're welcome to it! :)

Valandil, perhaps it is wise if we updated the dates in Azalea's second post?

[Valandil]

Landroval, you're welcome to it! :)

Valandil, perhaps it is wise if we updated the dates in Azalea's second post?

Yes - as soon as I hear back from Landroval one more time on this one:

Landroval: How soon do you think you can get the discussion-starter posted on those chapters? We'll set the next couple assignment due dates at three-week intervals from then. Can you do Sunday, March 5? A little sooner? Do you need a little longer? Just let me know.

And... thank you very much! :)

[Landroval]

This sunday is fine with me.

[Valandil]

This sunday is fine with me.

Thanks Landroval! :)

OK everyone - I have updated the second post showing assignments and due-dates.

[Serenoli]

Great, new chapter coming up... :)

[Valandil]

Crickhollow - are you about ready to post? :)

[crickhollow]

yes, almost! I was going at it like gangbusters a month ago, and then when my deadline got postponed, so did my motivation. I'll have it up later tonight.

[Valandil]

Serenoli - I've seen that you're taking some time away.

Will you be able to post your chapter summaries?

Since Crick posted on April 1 - can you do April 22? If you see this, please let me know. :)

[Serenoli]

I only saw your message today! Oh, well, I will try my best... and if not on the 22nd, at least by the 24th.

[Serenoli]

I have posted my summary... I had to do it very fast, so I hope its not too bad. Check it out! :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I'll try and have mine done for May 7th but it may be a bit late as I have exams the week before.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Sorry for the delay. Will try and have it done by tomorrow.

[Valandil]

TD - we're doing 3 week intervals now - and I just haven't updated the due dates (no time now either - maybe tomorrow I can).

Your assignment would actually be "due" about the 12th or 13th - if you can handle that. :)

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Yeah, that's fine.

[Valandil]

TD - I see you've posted... thank you! :) I finally made an over-due update to the assignment log.

OK everyone, we're getting close to the end of initial chapter posts. In fact - we have only three "story assignments" left - before we wrap things up with four "appendix assignments"

The very next story assignment is to a member who just hasn't been around for a good while. Almost two years, I think. I would like to ask who's willing to take it. I would prefer to give it to someone who hasn't taken one yet - and there are several newer members who have been active in discussion, to whom this would apply. Anyone interested? We would like to have it posted on or about June 5th.

Chapters in the assignment are: "The Field of Cormallen" and "The Steward and the King" - good stuff... :)

[Landroval]

I would like to get involved, if there aren't enough volunteers.

[Valandil]

OK Landroval, since you've successfully fought off everyone else interested in taking those chapters ( ;) ), please go ahead and consider the assignment yours! And thank you! :)

Can you make June 5?

[Landroval]

Yes I can. Thank you too :).

[Valandil]

Thank you for posting your assignment, Finrod.

Wow! We're almost all the way through this. Of course - we should certainly see this Discussion Project as an ongoing thing. Feel free to post in any of the threads in the DP sub-forum, everyone.

Nurvingiel - are you set to go with your assignment? It will be the final "story" assignment, before we get into the (4) appendix assignments. :)

[Butterbeer]

almost all the way done ..wow! (seriously) what an outstanding achievment!

big ups for Azalea and Val for giving their time to such a genuinely worthwhile project.

speaking seriously indeed , i think JRR Tolkien would be tickled pink to see his work inspire so many people from all around the world, and inspire so much thought and love.

sincerely, BB

[jammi567]

val, next chapter ain't up yet.

[Valandil]

Hear Ye, Hear ye!

Nurvingiel has contacted me. She has moved and doesn't have much internet access now. She expects to get it on August 17 at her new place - and it seems like she still wants to take that assignment. She says she can post it that day. It looks like that's the way we'll go.

I will update the schedule on the second post of this thread.

[Valandil]

Sorry all, but I'll be a few days late with Appendix B.

Meanwhile, post something about the Rohirrim or Dwarves in the Appendix A - Parts 2 & 3 thread! :)

[Valandil]

I posted Appendix B last night. Going at three week intervals, that would make November 23 the due date for our final assignment - Appendix D. However - that happens to be Thanksgiving Day - a national holiday here in the US. So I set the "due date" for the assignment on the following Monday (Nov 27th) - but I'm also giving Forkbeard the option to post as much as a week sooner (Monday, Nov 20th) - if he'd rather get it out of the way before the holiday weekend.

I don't necessarily expect a whole lot of discussion on Appendix B anyway. :p

[Forkbeard]

I posted Appendix B last night. Going at three week intervals, that would make November 23 the due date for our final assignment - Appendix D. However - that happens to be Thanksgiving Day - a national holiday here in the US. So I set the "due date" for the assignment on the following Monday (Nov 27th) - but I'm also giving Forkbeard the option to post as much as a week sooner (Monday, Nov 20th) - if he'd rather get it out of the way before the holiday weekend.

I don't necessarily expect a whole lot of discussion on Appendix B anyway. :p

And FB decided to be a week late! But I'm posting it now!

[Valandil]

Thank you though - Forkbeard! :)

Well... that puts a wrap on our long-running "LOTR Discussion Project".

I'll keep the "Appendix D" thread up until sometime around Christmas and New Years - then tuck that and this into the sub-forum with the rest, where all will be available for further review and commentary.

Thanks so much to all who participated. Special thanks to all those who posted chapter introductions along the way (and there are too many to name right now - but we'll get to that). BIG thanks to Azalea - for getting this off the ground to begin with. :)

[Forkbeard]

Thank you though - Forkbeard! :)

Well... that puts a wrap on our long-running "LOTR Discussion Project".

I'll keep the "Appendix D" thread up until sometime around Christmas and New Years - then tuck that and this into the sub-forum with the rest, where all will be available for further review and commentary.

Thanks so much to all who participated. Special thanks to all those who posted chapter introductions along the way (and there are too many to name right now - but we'll get to that). BIG thanks to Azalea - for getting this off the ground to begin with. :)

Well, this might be a bit premature, if you don't mind a little pedantry. I was just looking at the last few threads in the discussion and I noted that Appendix B-D were to be discussed together, but it was only Appendix B that was posted back in Nov. I THOUGHT that I was doing Appendix D, E, and F in 2 separate units (haven't gotten around to E&F yet but will this coming week), but I posted D on the 4th. So we have E&F yet to go! If anyone is interested that is....

Oh, and C....

[Valandil]

Well, this might be a bit premature, if you don't mind a little pedantry. I was just looking at the last few threads in the discussion and I noted that Appendix B-D were to be discussed together, but it was only Appendix B that was posted back in Nov. I THOUGHT that I was doing Appendix D, E, and F in 2 separate units (haven't gotten around to E&F yet but will this coming week), but I posted D on the 4th. So we have E&F yet to go! If anyone is interested that is....

Oh, and C....

OOOPS! I totally misremembered how the last few assignments were laid out!

I went on memory alone (increasingly foggy - I keep finding more and more) - thinking I had B, you had D - and that we just weren't doing the others.

But I see that you're right.

So I was supposed to do D and made YOU do it! :o I think I'll go crawl away somewhere...

Actually - while you work up Appendix E & F, I'll try to add significant commentary to D - and I'll make something about C for good measure... just so this DP of ours is totally comprehensive.

Sorry again folks.

And I guess we'll be slightly postponing our "Wrap Party" on the project...

* removes Elendilmir ringlet from head, replaces it with Duncendilmir Cap *

[Earniel]

If there's something left to write a intro for, I don't mind helping out. (God knows I need to read up and catch up on a lot of chapters yet.)

[azalea]

Hah, hah, and I'd just come on to say a few words! I'll have enough to keep me busy catching up with reading all of the threads I've missed. And if you need help finishing up anything, I can do that, as I'm on semi-vacation for the next week.

This'll also give me time to formulate a fitting "speech," to which I know you will all be looking forward. :D

[Forkbeard]

Posting the last summary of the last appendices!

[Valandil]

Thank you Forkbeard. Sorry for the delay in getting it "stickied"... I've been away for a week.

I will also attempt to add something significant to the Appendix D section in weeks to come, since I accidentally got you to do it for me (which I still appreciate very much, even while being embarrassed about it).

[Gordis]

So, it seems, all the LOTR has been discussed - complete with the Appendices. What next?

I propose to continue with the Unfinished Tales, starting with those most related to LOTR - the Hunt for the Ring, The Fords of Isen, Cirion and Eorl, the Gladden fields

What do you think?

[Earniel]

There's still the Hobbit to do as well. Or would it be more appropriate to wait with that until the slated movies come closer?

[Gordis]

My advice is to wait with the Hobbit. This story is bound to become very popular in a few years;) - and there will be much to discuss.

For now I propose to start on LOTR-related stories in UT.