The Lanny Budd Novels! Find them and read them!

It is often the case that one can learn more about history from a good, well written novel[s] or personal account than from a textbook.  –  Early last year I began an odyssey which is still going on.  I began reading the “Lanny Budd” novels by Upton Sinclair.  They follow Lanny from 1913, when he is 13, until 1948.  Unlike some historical novels Lanny doesn’t just observe history, he participates and makes, or appears to make, history.  –  The first book was published in 1940 and the last one in 1953.  –  I can only say, if you haven’t tracked then down, you are missing out on a fabulous read.  –  Sinclair was an out and out genius.  –  Currently I’m reading the books he mentioned as references.  Unfortunately, these books only cover the period from about the beginning of WWII.  I would love to learn what books he used for the earlier books in the series.  –  Go find these books and read them!

A book review

This review first appeared in the December 2007 issue of SFRevu: http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6251 . 

The monograph “The Evolution of Tolkien’s Mythology ” by Elizabeth A. Whittingham and subtitled A Study of the History Of Middle-earth looks at Tolkien’s life, his works and their development over the many years during which Tolkien wrote and rewrote his mythological construct, including “The Lord of the Rings,” and the many influences and sources for his universe.  Dr. Whittingham is a lecturer at SUNY Brockport.  She earned her B.A. at Robert Wesleyan College, her M.A. at SUNY Brockport and her Ph.D. at SUNY Buffalo.  She has written and presented many papers associated with the works of JRR Tolkien. In Chapter 1, “Influences in Tolkien’s Life,” Whittingham explores such influences as his early losses and blessings, friendship and war, his life in a basically male only society, CS Lewis, the Inklings, being a husband and father and storyteller, and how he desired to create a myth for England. In Chapter 2, “Tolkien’s Mythology of Creation,” she compares and contrasts mythological and biological cosmogonies with Tolkien’s cosmogony and how it changes over the course of Tolkien’s life.  In particular, she notes how Tolkien removes a storytelling framework and develops a tripartite creation model more similar to what is found in the Bible. In Chapter 3, “Tolkien’s Mythology of Divine Beings,” Whittingham compares and contrasts mythological gods, goddesses and biblical angels with Tolkien’s hierarchy of divine beings.  She notes the many changes Tolkien makes over the 40 years he wrote and rewrote how he viewed them as well as the changes of Tolkien’s concept of the feminine in his mythology. In Chapter 4, “The Physical World Of Middle-earth and of Eä,” she looks at mythological and biblical cosmologies and how Tolkien took these cosmologies and created his own unique vision, which tended to change, and was never resolved, as with much of what he wrote over the years.  This included Tolkien’s struggles with the concept of a flat world, versus one that is round. In Chapter 5, “Death and Mortality Among Elves and Men,” the longest chapter in the book, Whittingham takes us through various struggles that Tolkien has with this concept.  While Elves are immortal and Men not, their destinations at  the end of the “World” appear to be different.  At various stages in his life and writing Tolkien varies his approach to this concept.  Tolkien has to deal not only with life-and-death, but reincarnation and afterlife.  In addition, she points out Tolkien’s struggle to match up his story with his Catholic beliefs. In Chapter 6, “The Last Days of Middle-earth,” she explores Tolkien’s concept eucatastrophe along with mythological and biblical eschatologies.  How Tolkien’s universe struggles against reoccurring defeat with a great hope of a healed world in the end. In Chapter 7, “The Final Victory,” Whittingham discusses the divers forces that help shape the changes as well as the end result of Tolkien’s mythology.  In particular, the effect of the publication of “The Lord of the Rings” had on his writing.  Tolkien was forced to confront the contradictions in his “history” and explore further his philosophical attitudes toward religion.  He also needed to add and explore material brought up by “The Lord of the Rings.”  How over the years, Tolkien moved away from a Norse concept of the universe, and much closer to that of this deeply held Christian beliefs.  How, despite reoccurring defeats, he held out the great hope of an end, which was much better and glorious. This book is quite accessible and as with other academic books on Tolkien, and this is an academic book, one feels that maybe an additional 20 college courses in languages, mythology, theology, etc. would be quite useful.  Ms. Whittingham has brought together in a concise manner to many factors that influenced Tolkien’s writings.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, though it highlighted the many deficiencies in my educational past.  If you enjoyed the historical aspects of “The Lord of the Rings,” as I did and do, I believe, you’ll enjoy this book. I experience great joy and a little sadness when I visit in Middle-earth.  I think you will enjoy this book and find pleasure in maybe a little joy in exploring how the world of Middle-earth and universe in which it exists came about.  

My cast for The Hobbit, Part 1

Casting The Hobbit will  be an interesting challenge.  For one thing there is no way Ian Holm could play Bilbo.  I felt he was way too old looking even in TLOTR.  This is not to say, he isn’t a marvelous actor.  He did a grand job in TLOTR.  However, Bilbo is 50 when he finds the ring.  He should have looked the same age at the beginning of TLOTR.  Now this is NOT a “human” 50.  IMHO he would be a 35 or so looking human.  Remember Hobbits live longer than humans.  –  Heck, age Elijah Wood a little bit and have him do Bilbo.  In any case Bilbo should look to be about 35 to 40 years old, not 65 or 70.  Maybe Daniel Radcliffe J  –  Ian McKellen should reprise Gandalf.  –  As to the Dwarves I would love to see John Rhys-Davies portray Thorin.  It would be nice to see him not be the comic relief.  –  I think, Shawn Bean might do a fine “Bard.”  Let him be the “good guy” here.  Dark hair & beard will fit him.  –  Andy Serkis, of course, for Gollum.  –  While a friend didn’t care for Hugo Weaving as Elrond, he is too identified with the character.  He will do.  –  Of course, there will need to be someone to play Estel/Aragorn.  Estel is 10 years old when Bilbo & company arrive in Rivendell.  He really does need to be there and have Elrond use his name, Estel.  –  I have joked with friends about having Thranduil played by Orlando Bloom with a touch of aging.  Legolas does not appear in The Hobbit.  He was probably off chasing Elf maidens.  In any case Thranduil does NOT need to look very old.  Elves don’t age the same way humans do.  –  I would like to make a pitch for Smaug to be drawn by Bob Eggleton.  Bob does outstanding dragons.  –  Hmm, I think, I would make an excellent Dwarf.  Please Let PJ know.

To kill or not to kill.

I was saddened by the complete lack of understanding or any sense of humor exhibited by both the incomparable Mr. Sharpton.  –  There is no doubt in my mind, if Woods had been white, that “Al the Magnificent” would not have even noticed the comment.  After all, only white folk can be bigots.  –  I attend a lot of SF cons and am involved with the masquerade at most of them.  Whenever, a brand new costumer bursts on the scene, there is a good natured “Someone should put out a contract on them.”  –  the fact is that while Tiger does lose the occasional match, the only way to beat him consistently is to do away with him.  –  I guess, golf is going to have to suffer along with watching Tiger “kill” off the competition for some time.  –  Tiger showed just how much of a “mench” he is.  Al baby on the other hand showed just how big a dweeb he is.  Al, get a life!  –  Oh yes, Al, the expression “Black Friday” has nothing to do with African Americans.  No doubt, you would become highly incensed when someone talks about a chink in one’s armor or having a gay old time.  PC on occasions makes me ill.  See my comment on it elsewhere in my blog.

Good advice!

It is not how old you are, but how you are old. -Jules Renard, writer
(1864-1910)

Greed made me do it!

If one looks at the mortgage fiasco, it only highlights the stupidity, short-sightedness & greed of banks.  –  The banks raise their rates, then foreclose and then abandon the property so that it becomes a drag on neighboring property’s values and home to druggies and other wonderful folk.  –  Everyone loses.  –  Of course, if the banks had said, we’ll keep your payments the same as long as you keep up the payments, you can stay in your house and we’ll extend the length of your mortgage/let the debt increase due to your not being able to pay the increase.  Maybe later the rates will come down or your income will go up and you will then begin to pay down the mortgage.  –  This is much to complicated for banks.  They know only one expression:  Gimme your money!  –  As the pundits say, Common Sense is not very common! 

My plot for The Hobbit, Part 1

It will be interesting to see just what the script for The Hobbit 1 will be.  –  There is much that can be compressed and left out without hurting the story as a film.  –  Bilbo needs to meet Gandalf so Gandalf can mark his door.  The meeting with the Dwarves can be compressed without any singing.  However, it would  be nice for the Dwarves to be heard singing faintly as Bilbo falls asleep.  –  Cut to them meeting up at the Green Dragon and then heading off.  Then the wet night, with maybe a comment about how nice it had been, and the meeting with the trolls.  This is needed as the trolls are seen in TLOTR & Bilbo needs to get Sting.  –  Rivendell is where they find out more details of the map.  Also, I would love to see a young 10-year old peek around Elrond at Bilbo & company & Elrond telling “Estel” to be polite to their distinguished guests. J  –  While the company needs to be captured by the goblins, the action can be compressed.  –  Riddles in the dark is a tough one.  When I’ve read the chapter out loud, it runs to nearly an hour.  This won’t do for a film.  Some of the action can be compressed, but there does need to be [most of] the riddling game & Gollum must yell after Bilbo “Thief, thief, thief!  Bagginses, we hates it forever!”  This provides a rational for Gollum leaving the lake and pursuing Bilbo.  –  The company is chased by goblins into the trees and saved by the Eagles.  –  Once safe Gandalf could tell the company that he knows a place & person, maybe a few things about Beorn, where they can get transportation.  Then cut to them about to enter Mirkwood.  Beorn needs to be mentioned, he does show up at the Battle of Five Armies, but is not needed before then other than as a name.  –  Much of the trip thru Mirkwood isn’t necessary.  The spiders are as this is, for me, the place where Bilbo turns a corner and becomes the needed leader.  He also has to name Sting.  Then the capture of Dwarves by the Elves & a brief account of their captivity.  Bilbo saving them and their arrival in Laketown.  Quickly outfitted and then off to the Lonely Mountain.  –  Again much can be shown and compressed.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Bilbo only makes one trip down to Smaug with events combined and compressing the reordering of the Dwarvish halls & the finding of the Arkenstone.  –  Bard needs to kill Smaug. The gathering of forces opposing the Dwarves and the confrontation.  –  Again, the action can be compressed with Dain’s arrival and the Battle.  Jackson likes battles.  This will be a biggie.  Thorin’s farewell and a brief journey home to reclaim Bag End from the Sackville-Bagginses.  –  This is my idea of what could well be included in the film.  I somehow doubt, everyone will agree with me.  –  Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.  –  Anyone know how to reach Mr. Jackson?  I would dearly love to work on the film.

A little bit of help from my friends!

I need someone to protect me from all the measures they take in order to
protect me. -Banksy, street artist (b. 1974)

Sounds like a lot of politicians

Society is like a stew. If you don’t keep it stirred up you get a lot of scum on the top. -Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (1927-1989)

This might be a good argument for term limits.   

A thought from Einstein

I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own — a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)