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 The Hobbit was my all time favourite book in the world at age eight. And, although I wanted more about Middle-earth, and read everything else voraciously, I deferred reading those next big volumes; after all, I could tell in skimming through the pages that they weren’t really about Bilbo, and who wanted a usurping ‘nephew’ from who knew where? Yet, when Bag End was turned over to the younger Mr. Baggins at the best Birthday Party ever, so too was my heart, for his wry humor, his insight, his loyalty, his love of simple ‘hobbity’ pleasures… and for his sacrifice and endurance beyond hope. Tolkien’s great mythology has continued to unfold and reveal new meaning to me ever since; its themes have resonated through my life, and have shaped my writing, my spirit, and my friendships. Each of these Fireside Tales springs from an attempt to ‘work through’ some piece of the myth. I have tried in several of my stories to write ‘within the gap’ in canon, yet to be as consistent as possible with text as stated. In other stories, the untold times before the Quest inspired a ‘what if’ tale. And, while there is not canon to contravene or direct, I have still tried to make the characters and events consistent with what is stated elsewhere. Because, in the end, it is Tolkien’s Frodo and Sam who inspire me, and about whom I wish to write, ever trying to know them better and to better understand their world – which is also our own.
Posted: February 23, 2004
June – November 2003
(Click on the chapter title, and the story will appear in a new window.)
Chapter 1: Rivendell
Posted: November 24, 2003
Posted: November 24, 2003
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