# New Tolkien book! Er, sort of. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266 "2006-09-19T15:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/1 "2006-09-19T15:28:13Z")
[Yes, Christopher Tolkien strikes again](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060918/ap_on_en_ot/books_new_tolkien_1). He’s been working on a complete version of the Children of Hurin (short version included in the Silmarillion). It will be out next spring. I know there must be some sort of “Complete History of Arda” stashed away somewhere. Cough it up, Christopher! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/2 "2006-09-19T16:19:17Z")
Is this the same version which is (partially) found in _Unfinished Tales_? That was some of the best writing I’ve ever read. It’s a shame the good Professor never finished it. So is there actually enough extant JRR material to work from, here, or is Chrisopher going to just bridge the gaps himself? If it’s the same quality as the _Unfinished_ work, this is huge, but I somehow suspect that the middle part (where most of the action actually occurs) is going to be somewhat sketchy. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/3 "2006-09-19T16:46:26Z")
The _Narn i Hin Hurin_ isn’t one of my favorite First Age histories. My “…In 30 Seconds” version would go something like: Turin: I love Beleriand! Saeros: I kill youuuuuuuuuuuu…_thud_ Turin: I hate Beleriand! Nienor: I can’t remember! Turin: I love you! Beleg: AIGH! Turin: I hate myself! Orodreth: We must be stealthy. Turin: Man up, dawg! Orodreth, Finduilas, and all of Nargothrond: AIGH! Turin: I hate myself and everyone! Glaurung: You did your sister! BWAHHAHAHAHAH! Nienor: Nooooooooo…_thud_ Turin: Nooooooooo! _slash/bleed_ Glaurung: Nooooooo! _bleed_ Hurin: Idiot… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/4 "2006-09-19T16:50:28Z")
I burning your Dragon! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/5 "2006-09-19T18:42:20Z")
Well, they know people like me will buy it because well at this point I have to buy it. I really have no choice. I would guess QtM might fall into the same category and I would be surprised if you did not yourself. I am sure there are at least half a million people that will buy it in the first year, just because it might be worth it. I have two copies of his letters, so I guess I would buy his laundry and shopping and to do lists at this point. Jim {all of the above is Sad but True} ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/6 "2006-09-19T18:44:36Z")
What is there that wasn’t pretty well spelled-out in _The Silmarillion_ and the _Narn_? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/7 "2006-09-19T20:06:53Z")
Here’s what I wrote in my now-closed other thread on this topic (which I started because I’d overlooked this one; my apologies): I dunno [about this “new” book]. Haven’t JRRT’s notes been pretty well pillaged, er, I mean, utilized by now? How long before his family is publishing his laundry and shopping lists? I’ll certainly take a look at this, when it’s published, but I hope the publisher will show what’s original to the Professor and what’s been filled in by Christopher Tolkien (something that should have been done with _The Silmarillion_, IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/8 "2006-09-19T21:47:59Z")
The always admirable [Andrew Rilstone](http://andrewrilstone.blogspot.com/) clarifies things a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/9 "2006-09-19T22:40:53Z")
From **The Punkyova** ’s link: > [@](#): > > it looks very much as if what we are going to have is a new presentation of a text which has been available as part of the War of the Jewels for over twelve years. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/10 "2006-09-20T04:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=The Punkyova] The always admirable [Andrew Rilstone](http://andrewrilstone.blogspot.com/) clarifies things a bit. [/QUOTE] I couldn’t find anything about the Tolkien book on this webpage. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/11 "2006-09-20T04:12:04Z")
That’s odd. It was there. Fear of getting Farked, or something like it, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/12 "2006-09-20T11:54:22Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I couldn’t find anything about the Tolkien book on this webpage. [/QUOTE] That is odd. I remember reading it yesterday afternoon when **Punkyova** first posted the link. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/13 "2006-09-20T13:30:45Z")
I went back to that link; still no luck. What I see, in order, is a piece on “talk like a pirate” day, flogging a dead horse, davewatch, davewatch watch, when pants ignite, A.N. Wilson is a shit, and another davewatch. I used the search function in the top left of the screen, and it found a reference to Tolkien, but then wouldn’t let me read it. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/14 "2006-09-20T13:36:14Z")
I don’t think anyone’s saying you’re lying about it or anything. I went over and checked after you first posted about it not being there and can’t find it now, either. I just thought it was odd that it wasn’t there now when I remembered reading it just yesterday afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/15 "2006-09-20T13:46:11Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] I don’t think anyone’s saying you’re lying about it or anything… [/QUOTE] Well, that’s a relief! I didn’t either. 😃 But it _is_ frustrating not to be able to find or read the piece. Google has let me down, too - the only Tolkien-related Rilstone piece that came up was his review of the Peter Jackson movies’ DVD extended editions. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tolkien-book-er-sort-of/373266/16 "2006-09-20T16:56:19Z")
Sorry about that! In the comments on the “Talk Like a Pirate” thread, Andrew said that there was a serious error of fact in his post, and he didn’t have time to research the correct answer and rewrite the whole thing on the spot, so he removed it. I can’t tell if he plans to fix the error and re-post, or if it’s just gone.