Tolkien Jr completes Lord of Rings

[babylonsister]

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/article2390834.ece

Tolkien Jr completes Lord of Rings
The last, unfinished book by the 'Lord of the Rings' author has been completed by his son. Can a film version be far behind?
By Jonathan Thompson
Published: 25 March 2007

The first new Tolkien novel for 30 years is to be published next month. In a move eagerly anticipated by millions of fans across the world, The Children of Húrin will be released worldwide on 17 April, 89 years after the author started the work and four years after the final cinematic instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, one of biggest box office successes in history.

The book, whose contents are being jealously guarded by publisher HarperCollins - is described as "an epic story of adventure, tragedy, fellowship and heroism."

It is likely to be a publishing sensation, particularly as it is illustrated by veteran Middle Earth artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for art direction on Peter Jackson's third film The Return of The King. Lee provided 25 pencil sketches and eight paintings for the first edition of the book, one of which is reproduced here for the first time in a national newspaper.

Tolkien experts are already tipping The Children of Húrin - which features significant battle scenes and at least one major twist - for big budget Hollywood treatment. Takings from the Lord of the Rings trilogy box office takings to date total some £1.5bn.

Chris Crawshaw, chairman of the Tolkien Society, said: "It would probably make a very good movie, if anyone can secure the film rights.

"Tolkien saw his work as one long history of Middle Earth: from the beginning of creation to the end of the Third Age. The Children of Húrin is an early chapter in that bigger story."

more...

[HappyWeasel]

1. Hell, to see this, it may be worth extorting someone with photoshop to get the film rights.

[Donnachaidh]

2. I hope Peter Jackson does it

I'd rather not have my eyes bleeding after seeing a James Cameron version. :sarcasm:

[Pharaoh]

3. Jesus Christ Babylonsister

I'm beginning to think you may be a posting Whore! :toast: :party:

[HappyWeasel]

4. my cat's a whore.

Does that count?

[babylonsister]

6. You, too?

:crazy: :hi:

[rodeodance]

5. looking forward to reading it.

[kestrel91316]

7. So this is a prequel?

[Mz Pip]

8. I've never cared for prequels

We already know the outcome so they all seem pretty anti-climactic. :shrug:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[LWolf]

10. If events and characters

so far in the distant past as to have lived before Elrond, when there was a thriving land west of the blue mountains; events and characters vaguely mentioned here and there, but remembered by few by the time of lotr can be said to be a "prequel."

While it could be a stand-alone tale, it isn't presented that way. The preface, introduction, annotations, and appendixes make it more a study of a tale than a straight reading. While it's called "the children of Hurin," it's really his son, Turin. The daughter plays almost no part in the story until the end, and readers don't really get to know her well.

I wouldn't really call it a prequel, although some of the characters and events are part of the backstory. It doesn't predict or look forward to Sauron, Gondor, Hobbits, or Rings.

It reads more like a Shakespearian Tragedy.

[KatyMan]

9. But not Hollywood fare

if it's the tale of Turin...extremely tragic, with no feel-good ending..!