E. Kaiser Writes's Blog, page 18
December 15, 2011
Oh, Smaug!
I just noticed that Anne Elizabeth Stengl over at Tales of Goldstone Wood posted a profile on Smaug. (She's working through literary dragons, one each Tuesday.)
Rather timely, I thought, since I'd just been talking about the Hobbit.
I think Smaug was probably the first dragon I became acquianted with. He certainly has been the standard by which all wyrms are measured in my book.Isn't he the Best?
Rather timely, I thought, since I'd just been talking about the Hobbit.
I think Smaug was probably the first dragon I became acquianted with. He certainly has been the standard by which all wyrms are measured in my book.Isn't he the Best?
Hobbition is REAL! ;-) Therefore, I am happier than I was a few minutes ago.
Here is a post from Hobbiton! Can you believe it!
I would sooo love to be there! After the camera crew leaves, that is.
To walk through Hobbiton on a silent evening, with nothing but the breeze blowing in the grass.... Ah! That would be sooo beautiful.
One thing I've gotta give Jackson, he does Hobbiton to perfection.
(I was definitely a little unhappy with his version of Lothlorien... Grrr! Green and Gold, Mr. Jackson. Green and GOLD.)
Anyway. Looks like there are some really fun photos of the outdoor scenes at the link above.
What do you think?
I would sooo love to be there! After the camera crew leaves, that is.
To walk through Hobbiton on a silent evening, with nothing but the breeze blowing in the grass.... Ah! That would be sooo beautiful.
One thing I've gotta give Jackson, he does Hobbiton to perfection.
(I was definitely a little unhappy with his version of Lothlorien... Grrr! Green and Gold, Mr. Jackson. Green and GOLD.)
Anyway. Looks like there are some really fun photos of the outdoor scenes at the link above.
What do you think?
December 10, 2011
Remembering the Hobbit
I remember very clearly the first time I was introduced to Tolkien.
I was eight; Dad was gone 'till late so Mom allowed us to stay up a little late too. Big brother and I were going to do something, I don'tknow what, but I remember being very excited about it. Mom looked up from her book and warned "Brush your teeth before you start!"
I was already ahead of him there, so he went to brush his teeth.
I waited. I sat up beside Mom.
"What's that book about?" I asked.
"A hobbit." She replied.
"A hobbit?" I was a pretty well informed little kid, and I'd never heard of those before.
Instead of explaining it to me she just started to read out loud right where she was. It was faster, and just as effective in hushing me up.
Bilbo and Gollum were playing the riddle game. Talk about a hook!
I was, completely, absorbed.
After a bit Brother came back and wanted to go play.
"No, wait." I told him. "Listen to this."
She had stopped reading aloud.
"Mom, go on!" I begged.
She started up again where we'd left off. In a minute he was hooked, too, but had a LOT more questions. "Who's Bilbo? What's a Gollum?" He's always been that kind of person... had to know the nitty-gritty details on everything.
Mom sighed, looked at both of us. "You like this book?"
"Yes." we nodded. I know my eyes were wide, if his weren't.
She flipped to the front of the book and began. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit...."
When Dad got back none of us were asleep.
We read that book for nights afterward, Mom and Dad taking turns. When we were done a neighbor heard what we'd been doing and lent us the Fellowship of the Ring. It was like the ocean after growing up on a river.
It's been nearly twenty years.
The other night my youngest sister picked up The Hobbit and started reading it aloud, while Brother lay on the couch. It was like that night again, when the dark was magical and I felt like Mom sat beside me, and I was a well informed little kid again.
I think that must be why I love fantasy.
I was eight; Dad was gone 'till late so Mom allowed us to stay up a little late too. Big brother and I were going to do something, I don'tknow what, but I remember being very excited about it. Mom looked up from her book and warned "Brush your teeth before you start!"
I was already ahead of him there, so he went to brush his teeth.
I waited. I sat up beside Mom.
"What's that book about?" I asked.
"A hobbit." She replied.
"A hobbit?" I was a pretty well informed little kid, and I'd never heard of those before.
Instead of explaining it to me she just started to read out loud right where she was. It was faster, and just as effective in hushing me up.
Bilbo and Gollum were playing the riddle game. Talk about a hook!
I was, completely, absorbed.
After a bit Brother came back and wanted to go play.
"No, wait." I told him. "Listen to this."
She had stopped reading aloud.
"Mom, go on!" I begged.
She started up again where we'd left off. In a minute he was hooked, too, but had a LOT more questions. "Who's Bilbo? What's a Gollum?" He's always been that kind of person... had to know the nitty-gritty details on everything.
Mom sighed, looked at both of us. "You like this book?"
"Yes." we nodded. I know my eyes were wide, if his weren't.
She flipped to the front of the book and began. "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit...."
When Dad got back none of us were asleep.
We read that book for nights afterward, Mom and Dad taking turns. When we were done a neighbor heard what we'd been doing and lent us the Fellowship of the Ring. It was like the ocean after growing up on a river.
It's been nearly twenty years.
The other night my youngest sister picked up The Hobbit and started reading it aloud, while Brother lay on the couch. It was like that night again, when the dark was magical and I felt like Mom sat beside me, and I was a well informed little kid again.
I think that must be why I love fantasy.
December 9, 2011
Why do we love fantasy worlds?
I was thinking lately, since there's such a plethora of genres, sub-genres, and cross-over genres, out there...
Why do I still like plain fantasy?
Do you?
Well, why do you?
I think I love to dream, and fantasy is just dreams poured out on paper.
What do you think?
Why do I still like plain fantasy?
Do you?
Well, why do you?
I think I love to dream, and fantasy is just dreams poured out on paper.
What do you think?
