Truth is stranger than fiction

51 years ago today, on September 2, 1973, J.R.R. Tolkien died at age 81.

1973

3 for the Elven-kings under the sky,
7 for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
9 for Mortal Men doomed to die,
1 or the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

"In those days the smiths of Ost-in-Edhil surpassed all that they had contrived before; and they took thought, and they made Rings of Power. [...] Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last." – The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"

My father and I just finished rereading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

My father and I just finished rereading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Sometimes one needs to go back to their roots, walk familiar roads even they be filled with doubt and danger with a Dragon at the end laying upon stolen, hoarded gold. Such was our need, to travel again with Mr. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, who went on a most extraordinary adventure with thirteen dwarves and the wizard Gandalf. 

"If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) – if you do not already know all about these things – much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves..." - J.R.R. Tolkien.

I have started Dragonquest, volume two of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern

I have started Dragonquest, volume two of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern.

The Threads fall and dragonriders fly against their ancient foe, yet all is not well as what could be called a generational gap - or chasm, better yet - stirs tension where there should be unity. It will take a different kind of jump to solve this; perhaps one to the Red Star itself.

Weyrman, watch; Weyrman, learn,
Something new in every Turn.
Oldest may be coldest, too.
Sense the right; find the true!

The Finger points,
At an Eye blood-red.
Alert the Weyrs,
To sear the Thread.

I have finished Dragonflight, volume one of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern

I have finished Dragonflight, volume one of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern.

A book that lives up to its dragon-sized reputation as Lessa of Ruatha flies golden Ramoth and becomes Weyrwoman of Benden Weyr... and not a moment to soon as the Red Star that heralds death bloodies the skies of Pern. Of course, time and space are connected - which made the job of finding a way to save Pern from the Threads far more manageable. But the world is not won yet, nor will it ever be so long as the spores fall from their alien world.

Drummer, beat, Piper, blow,
Harper, strike, Soldier, go,
Free the flame and sear the grasses
Till the dawning Red Star passes.

From the Weyr and from the Bowl,
Bronze and brown and blue and green,
Rise the dragonmen of Pern,
Aloft, on wing; seen, then unseen.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim | Official Trailer

I will reserve judgement for now, but history has proven that anime adaptions of Tolkien tend not to end well. Still, that being said, I will admit that the story of Helm Hammerhand, ninth King of Rohan and the namesake of Helm's Deep, is likely among the safest tales to animate.

I just finished playing Octopath Traveler

I just finished playing Octopath Traveler, a game unlike any other I have every played for, rather than a single plotline, the tale is the eight journeys of eight very remarkable, very different people – all traveling for their own reasons. Olberic, a traveling swordsman seeking to regain the reason for swinging his blade; Primrose, a bewitching dancer out to avenge her father's murder; Alfyn, an apothecary chasing a man from his youth, traveling for the aid of others; Therion, a lone thief seeking to recover the Dragonstones and his pride; H'aanit, a brave and beautiful huntress searching for her lost master; Ophelia, a kind cleric inheriting her friend's journey, and duty of the Kindling; Cyrus, a sagacious scholar pursuing the mystery of a lost forbidden tome; and Tressa, an innocent merchant traveling a world replete with treasure.

Each of course getting caught up in affairs somewhat larger than anticipated, becoming friends and learning much about the world and themselves even as a dark threat, a Black Flame, a Fallen God, ties it all together. It was a joy getting to know and traveling with them across the vastness of Orsterra, bearing witness to their triumphsand tragedies alike, unto the journey's end.

"If believing in future makes one a fool, then call me a proud fool. Let this be a lesson to you.... the future of mankind is bright!" - Ophilia Clement

"There is no shame in not knowing an answer, so long as you're willing to learn." - Cyrus Albright

"Lives entwined, a tapestry woven anew each dawn, every thread a part of the whole." - H'aanit

"I need your stage no longer. I dance for myself." - Primrose Azelhart

"Easing people's suffering is what I do." - Alfyn Greengrass

"When you look to the future, who gazes with you over the bleak landscape that your might has seized?" - Olberic Eisenberg

"I'd prefer to work on my own, but if you really need me... I'll think about it." - Therion

"From the next chapter on, this will be my story." - Tressa Colzione

I have started Dragonflight, volume one of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern

I have started Dragonflight, volume one of Anne McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern.

I know what you are thinking: "Ian, how can you call yourself a veteran Fantasy reader, how have you been reading Fantasy for so long, without having read a titan like McCaffrey's Pern books?" The answer is that the series, for no particular reason, never fell strongly enough on my radar at first but, regardless, I intend to rectify it now.

Thus do I find myself on the planet of Pern, in a tale that both Fantasy and Sci-Fi combined, facing a foe more biological than baleful yet no less ancient or harmful, alongside Lessa and dragonman F'lar. I am quite experienced with Dragon Riders courtesy of Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, so I cannot wait to at long last see how the originals, the Dragonriders of Pern, fare.

Honor those the dragons heed,
In thought and favor, word and deed.
Worlds are lost or worlds are saved
From those dangers dragon-braved.

Dragonman, avoid excess;
Greed will bring the Weyr distress;
To the ancient Laws adhere,
Prospers thus the Dragonweyr.