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Fantasy news round-up, August 24, 2010

James Cameron warned del Toro not to direct the Hobbit
James Cameron has revealed that he advised Guillermo del Toro not to direct The Hobbit because of Peter Jackson’s strong links to the franchise. Del Toro spent several years in New Zealand working on the fantasy prequels, only to drop out earlier this year. Lord Of The Rings director Jackson is now the frontrunner to helm the JRR Tolkien adaptations.

"I was telling Guillermo for a long time to get out of that thing because there is only room for one captain on the ship. Instinctively I knew that Peter was going to take over and do the movie. Guillermo, to his credit, didn’t listen to me and wanted to do continue and had some great designs – and I have seen all the designs."

Shawn Speakman on George RR Martin and the delays surrounding A Dance With Dragons
In a fascinating article on Random House’s Suvudu blog, Shawn Speakman recently wrote:

“I believe the lateness of A Dance With Dragons has very little to do with George’s time away from the keyboard and his extra-curricular activities-time he was taking before Feast when the books were coming out more timely-and more to do with writing himself into a possible corner. For years George has wrestled with the Knot and it has defeated him at almost every turn. In short, if he hasn’t found a solution to the Knot by now, he may never… We know Dance has been difficult to complete because it is the middle part of the series where characters and events have to be lined up just right for the march toward the eventual climax of the series. … What’s changed for George since 2000 is the complexity of the series and entering the all-too-important middle part of the story where delicate care must be given. That’s why, in my opinion, these last two books have been difficult to write. When freewriters enter those parts of their stories, it causes chaos because they have given no forethought to what comes next.”

Syfy reiterate that they will not be picking up Legend of the Seeker 
After persistent pressure from Legend of the Seeker fans, Syfy has once again confirmed that it will not be picking up the cancelled series. The message came in a Twitter post from Craig Engler, Syfy’s head of digital media:

"Dear #LegendoftheSeeker fans. I appreciate your passion, but the Twitter not so much I’m sorry but we’re unable to pick LOTS up."

Syfy had already said more than once that it wasn’t interested in the series, but apparently has had to reiterate its position to stop the steady, in-box-clogging flow of irate/pleading fan emails and tweets.

Durham University to offer Harry Potter course
Students are being given the chance to sign up to the UK’s first course focusing on the world of Harry Potter. The Durham University module uses the works of JK Rowling to examine prejudice, citizenship and bullying in modern society. So far about 80 undergraduates have signed up for the optional module, part of a BA degree in Education Studies. Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion will be available for study next year.

Book sales reach 15 month peak
Book sales have been higher than last year for the fourth consecutive week, the first time the market has experienced continuous growth over a four-week period for almost 15 months. According to Nielsen BookScan’s "Total Consumer Market" panel of some 6,500 UK book retail outlets, just over £2.5m more has been spent on books over the four-weeks to 14th August period in 2010 than last year—up 2.1%, and up 3.3% on the same period in 2008.

Posted: August 24th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: George RR Martin, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien

Fantasy news round-up, June 30 2010

A round-up of the main fantasy-related news stories that have been published over the pat seven days.

Peter Jackson To Direct The Hobbit?
It’s the news all fans of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the seminal JRR Tolkien novel, had wanted to hear: he’s in talks to direct the two planned Hobbit movies, following the departure of Guillermo del Toro. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jackson is in negotiations with studio Warner Bros and its subsidiary New Line to fast-track the two movies into production. The aim is to bring them into cinemas in 2012 and 2013. He has not yet agreed to take the job, however. Other film-makers who have been mentioned in connection with the Hobbit job include David Yates, Neill Blomkamp, Brett Ratner and David Dobkin.

Tolkien festival to recreate Middle Earth in mid Wales
A three-day celebration of the life and works of JRR Tolkien aims to turn a part of mid Wales into Middle Earth. The Festival in the Shire will include re-enactments, games, and storytelling on a Tolkien theme. It will analyse The Lord of the Rings author, looking at Welsh influences on his work, and welcome fans. The event, at the Pavilion in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, in August, also includes an exhibition of Tolkien-inspired art.

Zelazny, Matheson, Trumbull and Butler inducted into Science Fiction Hall of Fame
Octavia E. Butler, Richard Matheson, Douglas Trumbull and Roger Zelazny are to be inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Zelazny’s short stories have helped secure his place; Butler is the author of the acclaimed Patternist series; Trumbull created special effects for movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner; Matheson penned classics like I Am Legend.

Mpower and Beloved to adapt CS Lewis’s The Great Divorce
Mpower Pictures and Beloved Pictures are teaming to co-produce CS Lewis‘s fantasy novel The Great Divorce. Steve McEveety will lead the production team and children’s book author ND Wilson is attached to write. Lewis, who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia books, published The Great Divorce in 1945. The story centres on a man who learns that the sprawling, dim metropolis where he’s been living is actually Hell; he hops on a bus headed for the outskirts of Elsewhere, only to discover that the one place worse than Hell, for a self-absorbed ad executive, just might be Heaven.

Posted: June 30th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings MMO goes free to play in the Autumn

It has been announced that The Lord of the Rings Online, the MMO based around the fantasy world created by JRR Tolkien, will be going free to play this Autumn, allowing all interested fans to get into the game and play their part in the fight against the hordes of Sauron.

Players will only need to log into the official website and download a client to begin playing The Lord of the Rings Online and any content up to level 50 is completely free.

The companies working on the game are also set to offer a VIP program enabling all the content to be experienced for a monthly fee. VIP players will have 5 character slots to develop and will get priority access to the game servers.

“Turbine’s Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited was the world’s first truly premium free-to-play online game that ushered in a new era of choice for online gamers seeking quality entertainment. The popularity of DDO validated the extraordinary demand by gamers for quality entertainment they can experience at their own pace and within their budget. Extending free-to-play to LOTRO will offer another premium game to a broad spectrum of fans,” said Jim Crowley, president and Chief Executive Officer of Turbine.

• The Lord of the Rings book review

Posted: June 8th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien

Guillermo Del Toro quits The Hobbit due to production delays

The director of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit has quit over production delays. However, no bridges appear to have been burnt as he will still co-write the two-part.

"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures," said del Toro, who was handpicked by Peter Jackson to make the two part prequel.

The film adaptation of the JRR Tolkien novel has still not been given the green light by struggling film studio MGM.

Posted: June 1st, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien

Birmingham’s Middle Earth Festival sees Tolkien fans turn out in their thousands

Last weekend’s Middle Earth Weekend in Birmingham, organised to celebrate the work of JRR Tolkien, was a large success. Thousands of visitors from across the West Midlands and as far afield as Canada enjoyed live dramas, poetry readings, archery displays, costume and dragon parades, and demonstrations by medieval craftsman. Other popular events included the Elvish writing workshops and heritage bus tours to important Tolkien landmarks, such as the Oratory Church in Edgbaston, which Tolkien attended, and King Edward’s School where he studied.

The inaugural Tolkien weekend took place in 2000 and was called Fun at the Mill, involving only a handful of tents and face painters. 2010 saw more than 100 volunteers help set up the extravaganza which was centred around Sarehole Mill, one of only two working water mills in Birmingham.

JRR Tolkien was not, as many people think, Birmingham born and bred. He was born in Bloemfontein, in South Africa, on 3rd January 1892. He died on 2 September 1973, in Oxford. His parents both came from Birmingham but his father, Arthur Tolkien, moved to South Africa in the 1890s in the hope of bettering himself. In 1896 Arthur died and the family once again settled back in Birmingham.

The city and its surroundings were to have a big influence on the writings of JRR Tolkien, whose epic fantasy novels describe a peaceful world being consumed by evil.

• Lord of the Rings book review
• The Hobbit book review

Posted: May 19th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien

Fantasy news round-up 26/04/2010

Hubble Telescope: NASA release dramatic space image to mark 20th birthday
The new image, captured earlier this year by Hubble’s brand-new Wide Field Camera 3, shows a cosmic pillar of gas and dust piled high in the Carina Nebula. Located about 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina, it shows a craggy mountaintop that is enshrouded by wispy clouds which would not look out of place in JRR Tolkien’s epic fantasy or even a Dr Seuss book. It captures in amazing detail the chaotic activity atop a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars.

Eoin Colfer on writing fantasy novels for children
This film is the first in a series that features a wide range of arts figures including writers, musicians, directors, performers and artists giving advice about a specific aspect of their work. Author of the Artemis Fowl series, Eoin Colfer talks about how to write fantasy novels for children.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8635562.stm

Gaiman double on the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shortlists
Children’s titles covering topics such as racism, war and global warming have been nominated in the CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist. While, Bloomsbury and Walker both have a duo of titles on the shortlist for this year’s CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. It is also the first time for 30 years that a title has appeared on both the CILIP Carnegie and CILIP Kate Greenaway shortlists, with Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Bloomsbury) appearing on both.

Carnegie Medal shortlist is as follows:

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Bloomsbury)
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)
• The Vanishing of Katerina Linden by Helen Grant (Penguin)
• Rowan the Strange by Julie Hearn (OUP)
• The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Walker)
• Nation by Terry Pratchett (Doubleday)
• Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)
• Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion)

The Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist is as follows:

• Leon and the Place Between by Grahame Baker-Smith (Templar)
• Harry & Hopper Freya Blackwood (text by Margaret Wild) (Scholastic)
• The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
• Millie’s Marvellous Hat by Satoshi Kitamura (Andersen Press)
• Crazy Hair by Dave McKean (text by Neil Gaiman) (Bloomsbury)
• The Graveyard Book by Chris Riddell (text by Neil Gaiman) (Bloomsbury)
• The Dunderheads by David Roberts (text by Paul Fleischman) (Walker)
• There are cats in this book by Viviane Schwarz (Walker)

Ronan Keating’s Hobbit Ambition
The Boyzone singer auditioned for a role in upcoming fantasy movie ‘The Hobbit’ – based on the JRR Tolkien novel of the same name, a prequel to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy – and is still waiting to hear back. He said: "I don’t think I’ll get the role of the hobbit. But I would like to take on roles which nobody would expect. I don’t want to be reduced to love stories. I’d like to try dark, edgy roles. I need a challenge." Ronan – who has three children, Jack, 11, Marie, nine, and four-year-old Ali, with his model wife Yvonne – is even considering leaving his native Ireland to live in Los Angeles to pursue his big screen dream.

Posted: April 27th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Eoin Colfer, JRR Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

Simon Tolkien on finally leaving his grandfather’s shadow

Until he reached the age of 40, Simon Tolkien was sure of one thing; he could not write. After all, his late grandfather JRR Tolkien was the author in the family, and he was a London criminal barrister.

"The one thing I knew from a very early age was I can’t write. We all knew my grandfather was this amazing man who could speak all these languages and do these amazing things; the professor,” Tolkien told Reuters in an interview recently.

Living in the shadow of such a literary titan kept the younger Tolkien from even considering trading in his wig and gown for writing. But as he turned 40 he had something of a mid-life crisis and decided to write.

Tolkien wrote a novel, which was rejected. He found a publisher for his second effort "Final Witness," published in the United States in 2002.

Now at 51, with the publication of "The Inheritance," he feels he has established himself as an author and is comfortable with his name.

"I feel much more at ease with my grandfather and being the grandson of JRR Tolkien," he said.

Posted: April 20th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien

The 20 greatest children’s books ever, according to The Telegraph

Some are time-worn classics, some more recently embraced. Lucinda Everett selects the stories that resonate with the young decade after decade. We think that it is a great list and have added some of our favourites immediately afterwards.

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
   Far from fading with time, Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of fantasy has attracted a growing audience in each generation. Rat, Mole, Badger and the preposterous Mr Toad, have brought delight to many through the years with their odd adventures on and by the river, and at the imposing residence of Toad Hall.
2. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
   The Lord of the Rings is a magnificent achievement, an epic tale of friendship, love and heroism. This book set down the benchmark for all fantasy novels to come, without it the world would be a poorer place. Perfection is a very difficult goal to achieve, the Lord of the Rings comes as close to it as is maybe possible. Readers will be left with dreams of living in their very own hobbit hole and the journey that the Fellowship undertakes will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Tolkien’s narrative is breath-taking and his beautiful descriptions of Middle-earth are a joy to behold.
3. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s house, which he thinks is normal for someone like him who’s parents have been killed in a ‘car crash’. He is bullied by them and his fat, spoilt cousin Dudley, and lives a very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup (like his hair growing back overnight!) to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose! He is literally rescued by a world where nothing is as it seems and magic lessons are the order of the day. Read and find out how Harry discovers his true heritage at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, the reason behind his parents mysterious death, who is out to kill him, and how he uncovers the most amazing secret of all time, the fabled Philosopher’s Stone! All this and muggles too. Now, what are they?
4. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
   Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy astounded the literary world, reaping high praise from adults as well as children. The final book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, was published to great literary acclaim, earning Pullman a place on the longlist for the prestigious Booker Prize and pushing the trilogy toward cult fiction status for both children and adults.
5. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
   Lucy steps into the Professor’s wardrobe – but steps out again into a snowy forest. She’s stumbled upon the magical world of Narnia, a land of unicorns, centaurs, fauns … and the wicked White Witch, who terrorises all. Lucy soon realises that Narnia, and in particular Aslan, the great Lion, need her help if the country’s creatures are ever going to be free again.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
   A much-loved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has won over millions of readers with its vivid and colourful collage illustrations and its deceptively simply, hopeful story. With its die-cut pages and finger-sized holes to explore, this is a richly satisfying book for children.
7. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
   When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? There’ll be adventures waiting for them, whatever happens; funny, magical adventures that will delight children again and again.
8. Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
   "If you love elephants, you will love Babar and Celeste," writes A. A. Milne in his preface to "The Story of Babar". "And if you have never loved elephants, you will love them now."
9. Treasure Island by RL Stevenson
   ‘Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest-Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!’ Treasure Island is a tale of pirates and villains, maps, treasure and shipwreck. When young Jim Hawkins finds a packet in Captain Flint’s sea chest, he could not know that the map inside it would lead him to unimaginable treasure. Shipping as cabin boy on the Hispaniola, he sails with Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, Dr Livesey, the sinister Long John Silver and a frightening crew to Treasure Island. There, mutiny, murder and mayhem lead to a thrilling climax.
10. The Railway Children by E Nesbit
    When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. They and their mother have to move from their comfortable London home to go and live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They befriend the porter, Perks, and through him learn railway lore and much else. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father’s disappearance.
11. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
    Arthur Ransome was a prolific writer of children’s books. Born in Leeds in 1884, it was his father, a nature-loving history professor, who inspired his love of the outdoors and nurtured a passion for fishing. As a child he enjoyed active, outdoor holidays: sailing, camping and exploring the countryside. He used many of these holiday settings for his children’s stories, notably the much loved Swallows and Amazons, a book that sits comfortably in the category of "timeless classic" and remains one of his most popular titles for young people.
12. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
    AA Milne’s first stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, the most famous bear in the world, were published eighty years ago. Discover what happens when Pooh goes visiting and Piglet meets a Heffalump, not forgetting when Eeyore loses his tail and Pooh finds one!
13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
    Charlie Bucket finds a Golden Ticket which wins him a whole day at Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory in this captivating favourite by Roald Dahl.
14. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
    The Gruffalo certainly lives up to its reputation as a classic read for both children and parents. The fantasy story captures the imagination of pre-schoolers as it takes them on a journey with mouse as he strolls through the wood and meets the beast himself, the Gruffalo. As the mouse revisits inhabitants of the wood with the Gruffalo, the mouse successfully convinces the beast that he, the mouse, is the scariest creature in the wood.
15. Peter and Wendy (Peter Pan) by JM Barrie
    Peter Pan, the “boy who would not grow up,” originally appeared as a baby living a magical life among birds and fairies in J.M. Barrie’s sequence of stories, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. His later role as flying boy hero was brought to the stage by Barrie in the beloved play Peter Pan, which opened in 1904 and became the novel Peter and Wendy in 1911. In a narrative filled with vivid characters, epic battles, pirates, fairies, and fantastic imagination, Peter Pan’s adventures capture the spirit of childhood—and of rebellion against the role of adulthood in conventional society.
16. Watership Down by Richard Adams
    Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren – he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver’s sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver’s vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all…Published in 1972, "Watership Down" is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival against the odds.
17. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
    ‘I’m Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I’d read it if I were you. It’s the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.’ Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children’s Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy’s own words.
18. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
    This book has enduring charm and young children will delight in the preposterous notion of a tiger creating mayhem in the house.
19. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
    The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter’s most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor’s vegetable garden!
20. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    Maurice Sendak’s children’s picture book has become an acknowledged classic. A winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964, Where the Wild Things Are is a timeless masterpiece that can be enjoyed equally by children and grown-ups.

So there ends The Telegraph’s collection of the 20 greatest children’s books ever. Fantasy Book Review would like to suggest 5 more titles that we believe worthy of appearing in such a list:

1. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
   Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction caused by the Iron Man. A trap is set for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.
2. The Spook’s series by Joseph Delaney
   A wonderful and terrifying series by a new writer about a young boy training to be an exorcist. Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook. The job is hard, the Spook is distant and many apprentices have failed before Thomas. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts. But when he is tricked into freeing Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the County, the horror begins…
3. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver
   Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it – 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, Torak’s father tells his son of the burden that is his. He must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit’s help to overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero. He is scared and trusts no one. His only companion is a wolf cub only three moons old, whom he seems to understand better than any human. Theirs is a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.
4. The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
   When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven’t bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he’ll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.
5. The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
   The Edge Chronicles is a young-adult fantasy novel series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It consists three trilogies and three additional books. Originally published in the United Kingdom, this bestseller series has since been published in the United States, Canada and Australia as well. To date, more than two million copies of the novels have been sold.

Posted: April 14th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, CS Lewis, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Kenneth Grahame, Michelle Paver, Philip Pullman, The Edge Chronicles

Fantasy news round-up – April 11, 2010

Game of Thrones re-cast sees Ehle replaced by Fairley
Michelle Fairley is set to replace Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark in the HBO production of Game of Thrones. Ehle played Catelyn in the pilot episode but the Irish-born Fairley will step into her shoes for the remaining nine episodes. The fantasy series, based on the George RR Martin books, also stars Sean  Bean, Lena Headey, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage. Fairley is also set to play Mrs. Granger, a muggle dentist and mother of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Production will begin this June in Belfast.

A Game of Thrones book review

More delays expected on Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit
Information has come to light on yet another delay for Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit. The accusatory finger is pointing unwaveringly at MGM’s financial situation. Pre-production for the double feature began mid-2008 with del Toro, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens writing the scripts but the project was riddled with lawsuits with New Line and the Tolkien Estate, reaching a settlement in September 2009 when New Line had to pay an undisclosed sum to the estate. Jackson then revealed in November 2009 that the anticipated finish date for the scripts would be the beginning of 2010, delaying the start of production by several months to the middle of summer. Filming was due to take place throughout 2010 in New Zealand (a break is planned half way through shooting to allow del Toro to edit The Hobbit while sets are readied for the second part) with del Toro renovating the Hobbiton sets in Matamata. Jackson has kept the Rivendell scale model from filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Bag End set, which he has used as a guesthouse. With the court case sorted, things seemed to be going a bit too smoothly. Now MGM, which holds the distribution rights – and $3.7 billion debt – is causing problems for the little man with hairy feet’s quest. Warner Bros and MGM have an agreement to produce and distribute the films but MGM’s financial difficulties have delayed them. TORn’s source said, “At this stage we are all working and hoping for the best case scenario. Without a doubt, the MGM situation carries great importance.”

The Hobbit book review

Health and safety fears scupper Pooh sticks race
Winnie-the-Pooh fans were left high and dry when the World Pooh Sticks Championships were cancelled because the Thames was flowing too fast. The event, which is in its 27th year and is held on the river in Little Wittenham, was scrapped today because of Environment Agency fears over health and safety. On Saturday the agency put up red flags warning off boats on a stretch of the Thames from Radcot Lock to Hurley Lock and organisers said they were unable to get their safety boats to Days Lock. In its 27-year history no one has ever fallen into the water and it has only been cancelled once before – in 2001. Pooh sticks was invented by the writer AA Milne as a game for his son, and first featured in his book, The House at Pooh Corner. Each year up to 3,000 people from across the world attend the championships and it raises about £1,500 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and local charities. About 150 people who still turned up to the event, unaware of its cancellation, were given cups of tea.

The Gruffalo will soon be available in Arabic
Arab parents will soon be able to read one of the world’s most popular bedtime stories to their children in their own language, with The Gruffalo to be published in Arabic for the first time. Eleven years after The Gruffalo’s release, Arab children will finally have access to the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler thanks to a deal between Bloomsbury Publishing and the Qatar Foundation. Bloomsbury, the UK company behind the Harry Potter series, will become the first western publisher to launch a full catalogue out of the Middle East next week when it unveils six new books in Qatar. The catalogue, led by an Arabic edition of The Gruffalo, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, is a result of the partnership Bloomsbury forged with the Qatar Foundation in 2008 aimed at promoting the reading culture in the Middle East.

Stephenie Meyer’s new vampire book will benefit the Red Cross
When Stephenie Meyer published "Breaking Dawn," it brought to an end her wildly popular "Twilight" vampire saga. So any new book in the pantheon is both unexpected and welcome. On Tuesday, fans were thrilled to learn that "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," a new novella, will be available in June. Now that it’s out there, Meyer is making two charitable moves with the novella. From June 7 to July 5 it will be available for free download at breetanner.com. Secondly, for each actual sale of the book — which costs around $10 online — $1 will be donated to the American Red Cross. On her website, Meyer specifies that the donation will be designated to provide relief to victims of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, and others in need. In addition to supplying emergency relief, one of the primary missions of the American Red Cross is "the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products.

Posted: April 11th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, George RR Martin, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Stephenie Meyer

The bog that inspired Tolkien receives £376,500 grant

The bog that was the inspiration behind JRR Tolkien’s Old Forest setting within his Lord of the Rings trilogy has been awarded a £376,500 grant. Moseley bog, which is now a nature reserve, played a large part in Tolkien’s youth, it is where he and his brother Hilary played as children.

Moseley Bog is also a site of great archaeological interest, having two burnt mounds, as well as an old mill dam and the foundations of Victorian greenhouses.

The money was officially announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the fund will be used to restore hedgerows, manage meadows, tackle tree safety and improve the boardwalks, steps, pathways, and signage around the site to ensure families can visit. Interpretation at the site will also be improved, and a range of learning materials, an outreach programme for schools and community groups, a website, and self-guided MP3 tours, will be produced.

Posted: March 31st, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JRR Tolkien