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Araval
Registered User
Feb 24 2007, 3:56pm
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The Children of Húrin!
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My first post on TORN, but I have frequented this site for six years and it remains the best Tolkien related news site on the web. 
I just want to begin by saying how full of anticipation I am for Tolkien's The Children of Húrin. We are only two months away from release! I love The Silmarillion, but I also am aware of the criticism Christopher has received for taking some controversial freedoms with his father's manuscripts. Though the bulk of the The Silmarillion is, of course, J.R.R.'s own words, Christopher is on the record admitting he regrets taking liberty during the editing process in adding some of his own interpretations. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. J.R.R. wished his son to be his literary executor, and if not for Christopher, we would not have the the insane detail of Arda that we do. But I digress, The Children of Húrin is almost here, and according to Tolkien's estate, Christopher Tolkien has succeeded in assembling the multiple variants, unfinished pieces, and outlines of the tale to produce a standalone and complete version, entirely in the author's original words. This has got to excite folks. He spent thirty years trying to take the best course of action to piece these manuscripts and multiple variants together. I really have to believe that, this time around, Christopher has taken very little liberty, if any, in incorporating his own interpretation. Regardless, folks have to be excited to have a full complete work that J.R.R intended, yet never fully realized because of death. This is the oldest piece of work we have, folks, he started this tale in 1918, sitting in a trench during the Great War.
Turin's tale is, of course, an adventurous one, full of exploration amidst the shadow of the most evil villain in all of literature. The tragedy that befalls Turin, his family and friends, is perhaps the most tragic in all of Tolkien's writings. This is something that absolutely had to see the light of day. Thank you Christopher for publishing this work! April 18th can not get here soon enough. Check it out here or order here.
Clinch tighter, Úlairi's evil fist, Arthedain's children will move to mist!
(This post was edited by Araval on Feb 24 2007, 4:05pm)
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Ataahua
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Feb 24 2007, 4:07pm
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Welcome, and thanks for delurking!
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It's always good to see another fan on the boards. :)
I'm looking forward to this book too. Turin does give me a bit of a pain (along the lines of "grow a freakin' backbone already!") but his is one of the most interesting stories from The Sil. And I don't suppose there's much you can do when you're cursed by the most powerful Maia...
Anyway, I'll be interested to see what pieces of information Christopher has pulled together for this tale.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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FingonOfPittsburgh
Menegroth
Feb 24 2007, 4:50pm
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It's always good to see another fan on the boards. :)
I'm looking forward to this book too. Turin does give me a bit of a pain (along the lines of "grow a freakin' backbone already!") but his is one of the most interesting stories from The Sil. And I don't suppose there's much you can do when you're cursed by the most powerful Maia...
Anyway, I'll be interested to see what pieces of information Christopher has pulled together for this tale.
Vala, actually. Or more broadly: Ainu.
But I know you know that. 
And welcome, Araval. I too am looking forward to this book!
Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament... There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man's heart desires.
--J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter #43, to his son Michael
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Ataahua
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Feb 24 2007, 4:51pm
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I knew that. Really.
I'll blame lack of sleep.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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SandWitch King
Nargothrond
Feb 24 2007, 5:06pm
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First, Araval, welcome!
In some ways we are in a golden age of Tolkien scholarship. I always wondered what it might have been like to be aware of the Sil when it was first released. Now I know.
And, Ataahua and FoP, you have beautifully illustrated what geeks (meant with the UPMOST sincere affection) we are. The thread may go into the Smithsonian as capturing our geekdom perfectly.
Once upon a time I was MrCere. I still am but this name is for posting and being part of the community while that one is for official business. 8-)
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Araval
Registered User
Feb 24 2007, 5:19pm
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Does anyone know if Houghton Mifflin has released images of their deluxe edition? They have a release date set for May 16th. Harper Collins has already released an image of their The Children of Húrin Deluxe Edition and it is designed in color and style to match closely with their deluxe editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Personally, I find the Harper Collins deluxe editions to be of much
better quality and aesthetics than the same editions by Houghton
Mifflin.
Clinch tighter, Úlairi's fist, Arthedain's children will move to mist!
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Elven
Doriath
Feb 24 2007, 5:48pm
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with the local Bookshop owner as soon as I heard - she had to do some detective work from the distributors ... the release date and details ... here in Oz.
Whats nice to know is the Bookshop owner gives me a 'countdown' for when the books should be in ... "Not long now" she says when she see's me ... it nice to know someone cares and feels my antisipation and looks after my anxiety levels ...
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dernwyn
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Feb 24 2007, 5:50pm
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Being one of those who remembers
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the excitement awaiting the arrival of The Sil, and then snatching up a first edition, and having a hard time getting through it because it was definitely not in the style of LotR... 
But the work was Tolkien; and the insights it provided were beyond all expectations.
Yes, it's wonderful to once again experience such excitement!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...
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dernwyn
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Feb 24 2007, 6:00pm
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Great first post - "insane detail of Arda", indeed! *raises mug* To Christopher T.! We may gripe and moan about details and restrictions, but we are forever grateful for all you have done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road, or a secret gate...
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Araval
Registered User
Feb 24 2007, 6:38pm
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The Children of Húrin FAQ and interview...
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If anyone is looking for more information, there is an insightful FAQ about the book that can be found here.
Notable excerpt:
The book will include the first standalone tale of Middle-earth since 1977 – the complete version of Tolkien’s most dramatic tale:
- A specially written introduction by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son Christopher
- Appendices on the history of the tale also written by Christopher Tolkien
- Exclusive new two-colour fold-out map of Beleriand and the lands to the north
- More than 30 new paintings and drawings by award-winning illustrator Alan Lee
- Three genealogical tables specially drawn by Christopher Tolkien for this new work
There is also an interview with Adam Tolkien about the book you can read here (English version is halfway down the page).
Notable excerpt:
As you know, versions and pieces of the story of Hurin and his descendants have been published in various works (Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, Lost Tales, Lays of Beleriand, etc). The text of "The Children of Hurin" is in part compiled from these extant texts, and particularly that which appears in Unfinished Tales.
But it is a new reworking of the complete story. Many parts of the text will be - if not identical - recognizable to the knowledgeable reader, but there are also pieces that have never appeared before.
Also the format of the text, as a standalone and complete text with no editorial commentary to interrupt the tale should in itself and in my opinion considerably transform the reading experience.
...
But the fact is that the text of "The Children of Hurin" is entirely in the author's (So J.R.R. Tolkien) words - apart from very minor reworkings of a grammatical and stylistic nature.
Clinch tighter, Úlairi's fist, Arthedain's children will move to mist!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Feb 24 2007, 6:56pm
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So exciting. I still have that first edition Silmarillon, plus a later one with illustrations.
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Altaira
Superuser
Feb 24 2007, 7:28pm
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"pieces that have never appeared before"
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Woot! That's what I'm looking forward to the most.
Welcome to the boards, Araval! 
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the boards that are given to us"
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
TORn Calendar
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Aerin
Hithlum
Feb 24 2007, 7:37pm
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still have the first edition Sil. But I missed the anticipation back then, as I was unaware of it until it was published. (How the Internet has changed our lives!)
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Aerin
Hithlum
Feb 24 2007, 7:44pm
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the deluxe edition last week. I'm so glad to see such enthusiasm for this book. It's by far my favorite of Tolkien's non-LOTR stories, both because it is such a powerful tragedy and because its various versions contain so much detail. For me, the characters in this story come more fully alive than those in any of the other stories in the Sil or UT. I'm really looking forward to reading it in the most complete form possible.
I'm glad you de-lurked! I hope you plan to participate in Reading Room discussions of the book, once we've all had a chance to read it.
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a.s.
Doriath
Feb 24 2007, 8:04pm
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We had no internet, unfortunately, but we had newsletters and stuff. Columnists and newspaper reviewers started reviewing it prior to publication and so I pre-ordered the Sil through ???Book of the Month club? Not sure, now, which club. Should have written that kind of thing down. Probably not BOTM as it is the regular H-M first edition and BOTM usually (or used to) has specific BOTM club editions. I, too, waited with bated breath, but knew it was going to be NOTHING like what I expected after the first page.
a.s.
"an seileachan"
The Lost Mod Power: An Elegy (with apologies to Wordsworth)
What though the mod power which was once so bright
Be now FOREVER taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the stats, of glory in the power,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.
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GaladrielTX
Dor-Lomin
Feb 24 2007, 8:08pm
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I do remember that, but my feelings are mixed this time.
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Back then we really had no idea what we were in for. Now that I've read The Silmarillion and other things Christopher Tolkien brought to the light of day, I have a pretty good idea what's going to happen in The Children of Hurin and how it will end. So I don't know if I want to buy it. On the other hand, I'm sure there will be some surprises and some new information about Middle-earth so I probably will end up requesting it from the library. And I do still have that Borders gift certificate I got for Christmas....
~~~~~~~~
I used to be GaladrielTX, but then TX seceded.
(This post was edited by Galadriel on Feb 24 2007, 8:08pm)
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Feb 24 2007, 8:24pm
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if interest in The Children of Hurin will prompt the publishers to reprint Unfinished Tales? I'd like to have that in my collection.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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entmaiden
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Feb 25 2007, 1:32am
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e-bay certainly has copies, and I found my copy at Barnes and Noble, a bookstore chain here in the US.
Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
`Are these magic cloaks?' asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder.
`I do not know what you mean by that,' answered the leader of the Elves.
NARF since 1974.
Balin Bows
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Kimi
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Feb 25 2007, 2:25am
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(Auckland).
And I bought a nice hardback version in Dymocks (Melbourne) in January, to replace our fire-damaged one. So it is around in our part of the world.
  
Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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diedye
Hithlum
Feb 25 2007, 2:40am
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Nah... just have the right search engine...
Voilà!
Very nice! Too bad I can't afford it! 
Oh, and here is the artwork that will appear as a gold-foil stamp on the front of the slipcase:
It's the Helm of Hador, also called the Dragon Helm of Dor-lómin.
(Info & pics thanks to the Tolkien Library.)
(This post was edited by diedye on Feb 25 2007, 2:44am)
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Ataahua
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Feb 25 2007, 6:29am
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I'm doing an overnighter in Auckland in about a fortnight (at the end of our South Island trip) so I'll stop in at Borders and look for it.
Love Borders. Spend too much money there, but love it.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Aerin
Hithlum
Feb 25 2007, 7:41am
Post #23 of 25
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sold the regular HM editions of the Tolkien books. That's where I got mine. Maybe they couldn't get permission to do special BOTM editions.
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Serai
Lindon
Feb 27 2007, 3:51am
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I never had that problem. The Sil hooked me from the very first page. Having been raised a Catholic and discovered the Greek myths in childhood, I responded deeply and from my heart to Tolkien's mythology. He managed to create a pantheon that united monotheism and polytheism into a viable whole, and the greatest lesson I've gleaned from his mythos is the compatibility of all religions. There's no reason why different worldviews cannot co-exist peacefully, if only we were content to do so ourselves. And I'm very thankful to the Professor for that lesson. It inspired and shaped my view of religion and all matters pertaining to the Divine. I honestly don't know who I would be if I had not read the Silmarillion at that internal crossroads in my life. :)
May I speak candidly, fleshling, one conscious entity to another, myself a book and you a reader?
-- James Morrow, The Last Witchfinder
Email me at serai1 at livejournal dot com
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Araval
Registered User
Feb 28 2007, 9:35pm
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Yeah, I had seen the Harper-Collins Deluxe Edition
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I was referring to the Houghlin Mifflon Deluxe or Collector's Edition. Anyone seen an image of it yet?
Nah... just have the right search engine...
Voilà!
It's the Helm of Hador, also called the Dragon Helm of Dor-lómin.
(Info & pics thanks to the Tolkien Library.)
Clinch tighter, Úlairi's fist, Arthedain's children will move to mist!
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