The Battle Of The Five Armies

Another amazing picture from Justin Gerard

New Zealand Earthquake how you can help

Red Cross New Zealand - now back up

http://www.redcross.org.nz/cms_display.php


Red Cross Australia NZ Quake appeal

http://www.redcross.org.au/NZEQ2011.htm

Red Cross UK NZ Quake appeal

http://www.redcross.org.uk/nzearthquake/?approachcode=68764_heroNZearthquake

Salvation Army NZ Quake appeal

https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/?projectId=IHQ-NZQuake


Save The Children NZ Quake appeal

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/14967.htm


UK Emergency Shelter Charity in Christchurch

http://shelterbox.org/news.php?id=604


Christchurch Quake people finder

http://christchurch-2011.person-finder.appspot.com/?small=yes


American Red Cross New Zealand Earthquake Family Linking Hotline (International Rates Apply) 011-647-850-2199

The Professor's Fire Drake

First Edition of The Hobbit with J.R.R.Tolkien's illustration of Smaug of the cover.


In order to truly understand the Great Dragon of The Hobbit, we need to go back to the source -the text and Illustrations by J.R.R.Tolkien himself.

"There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a
thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps
of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath
him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and
about him on all sides stretching away across the
unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things,
gold wrought and un-wrought, gems and jewels, and
silver red-stained in the ruddy light.

Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat,
turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see
his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with
gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his
costly bed. Behind him where the walls were nearest
could dimly be seen coats of mail, helms and axes,
swords and spears hanging; and there in rows stood
great jars and vessels filled with a wealth that could
not be guessed.”

JRR Tolkien: The Hobbit pg 205-206



Conversation with Smaug (c) J.R.R.Tolkien





The Death of Smaug (c)J.R.R.Tolkien

The Look of the Dragon

I wanted to make this first post a reflection on the the image of the Dragon and Smaug in particular. This has caused quite an interesting reaction form many Tolkien fans regarding an interview with Guillermo Del Toro . In the interview posted up on the excellent theonering.net GDT goes on describe his unique vision for the Great Worm.

Many others have also had there own take on Smaug, including J.R.R.Tolkien himself and will come to the professor's own vision of the beast in time.

First up an evocative image from Justin Gerard.

Welcome to all things Hobbit

Wanted to put up a few things folks forget about and may be unaware of regarding The Hobbit and it's characters.