Sure.
Sam is one of my 3. My other two choices are less conventional though. I don’t expect a lot of calls for Tom & Quickbeam.
Lightray: that reminds me, their is an Arien on the board that occasionally chimes in to the Tolkein threads.
Not that we want to open up that an of worms in this thread, but I also am a huge Tom fan. His chapter is one of the more important ones for me in establishing what this whole Middle Earth thing is that hangs in the balance.
I think Tolkien’s use of language has completely permeated my brain. Every time I hear the word “moot” (mostly in the phrase “moot point”) I think of entmoot, and the relationship between the two (moot = “debate”). Or, I was watching ROTK on TCM Sunday, and whenever a character used the word “doom”, I would think to myself how “doom” does not necessarily have bad connotations…it just originally meant “fate”.
Stuff like that. 
I think I really wish I’d gone into philology, instead of data processing.
If I’ve gotta go with LotR characters, I’d have to say Gandalf who was Olórin in the West.
But my favorites are mostly in the Silmarillion – Figolfin, Beleg, Beren and Lúthien. I’m a sucker for do-the-right-thing, even-if-it’ll-turn-out-poorly-for-you.
Oi! How could you forget me, eh? I led 300 men to the defence of Gondor, dammit! 
As Treebeard would say, hoooom, hrrrrrmmmmm, add me to your list, halfling.
I’m an amateur philologist, believe me there’s no money in it. 
THIS IS MADNESS! THIS IS GONDOR!
Thanks for including me on that list, although most of the threads I’ve contributed to are parody threads.
I used to think I knew alot about LOTR, that is until I met Qadgop. 
Like many others, I first read Tolkien around 11-12 and loved every minute of the Hobbit and LOTR. I tried the Silmarillion then, but it was too dense for me - felt like homework
But what really cemented my love for Tolkien was none of his Middle-Earth stuff. When I was in 7th (?) grade, I did a report on J.R.R. and as part of my research, my teacher loaned me a copy of The Father Christmas Letters (later republished as Letters from Father Christmas in the edition I now own). For those how don’t know, they are reproduced letters (and envelopes and drawings) that he wrote to his kids from Father Christmas. They are amazing! Like everything else he did, he created a deep and complex world and cast of characters around Santa Claus on the North Pole, including polar bears, elves, and marauding goblins! :eek: The time and care he took to entertain his kids and make them feel special is evident. I am the least sappy person you’ll ever meet, but I was (and am) just blown away by these letters.
I don’t have kids, but when my best friends had their first a few years ago, I took up the mantle and began writing her letters from FC in the Tolkien tradition. It’s very fun and she loves them. Thanks, Professor!
Um, did any of you or do any of you post at any LOTR sites?
Just curious. I did, and still do, although the discussions of LOTR are rather thin on the ground.
Still, a friend of mine has recently had a book accepted for publication at a university press in the US. It’s a scholarly work about, basically, which are JRRT’s words and which aren’t. Almost line by line. Tremendous work.
I used to post in the discussions at the One Ring.net
I liked the ones where the books were discussed chapter by chapter.
I visited TORN a few times long ago, but settled on a couple of others. On one site, they are still working on an annotated LOTR, it’s great stuff, but I guess what with the Tolkien Estate’s attitude, it isn’t likely to ever see the light of day anywhere else. A shame, too, there are some brilliant posters on that forum.
I called myself a Tolkien geek, but I’m not. I confess I am not terribly interested in a lot of the really detailed discussion - it seems at times like deconstructing a rose, if you follow me. The exceptions being my friend’s book (which I will read for sure) and the annotated LOTR thread on TORC.
I never really entered into a lot of impassioned discussion about the movies, either. Once I expressed my pretty sincere dislike of them, I didn’t have much else to say. You can’t go on forever whining about Eowyn’s “Helen Reddy” moment, after all.
Years ago in days of old when the World Wide Web was young, I posted as Frodo(some numbers) on the Middle Earth IRC and I was the resident most trivial person. This would be in the 1995 to 1997 time frame starting at a blazing 14,400 speed.
As much as I love Tolkien, I prefer the Dope where I can talk Tolkien with the rest of you and also politics, ecology, science and anything else.
Dervorin: I am disappointed in myself that I missed the reference. I once knew the name of every Chief and Captain that Pippin saw march into Minas
Tirith.
Hey, vison! good to see another Heyer fan here, too.
My favorite characters… that will be tricky. I’ll break them down to book and film.
Fav Book Characters: Tom Bombadil and Gandalf. I also like the guy in charge of the town near Smaug’s lair–starts with a B. And I like Bilbo (Hobbit). I also loved the guy who turns into a bear–see? this is why I’m not a LOTR geek-I don’t remember anyone’s names! :o
Fav Film Characters: Aragorn and Gandalf.
There was a time when Sam was favored, but that last reading–he got on my last nerve. (I could probably read it all again now and he wouldn’t–depends on my mood). I really appreciate that Tolkien gave us such a strong female character in Eowyn. (Galadriel always seemed wet to me, and Arwen a non-starter). She is a treasure, especially given Tolkiens’ background and the era he wrote in.
You didn’t ask, but I’m telling you anway:
Least Favorite Character (Books): the fat dwarf(Hobbit). He bugged me.
Least Favorite Character (Films): Arwen. She could have been so cool. Loved the costumes, but Liv lacks the depth to portray ancient wisdom combined with sensuality.
I was on a Tolkien site (can’t remember name of it–you surprised?) years ago, when the films first came out. I was whatever Aragorn’s mother name was #7. I got into a heated argument about some aspect of Gandalf or Tolkien with a guy who must have had waaaay too much time on his hands. It was creepy and I never went back.
Yeah, most of the posts at the sites I visit are to do with USA politics! A long way from Rivendell, and no mistake.
But, the friendships are what make me stick with a couple of them. We’re having a m00t in Chicago this October, the 5th or 6th year for some of us. A good excuse for a holiday.
eleanorigby post:
Fav Book Characters: Tom Bombadil and Gandalf. I also like the guy in charge of the town near Smaug’s lair–starts with a B. And I like Bilbo (Hobbit). I also loved the guy who turns into a bear–see? this is why I’m not a LOTR geek-I don’t remember anyone’s names! :o
Bard was the descendant of the King of Dale that shot Smaug with the Black Arrow.
Beorn was the shapeshifter to Bear form.
Least Favorite Character (Books): the fat dwarf(Hobbit). He bugged me.
Bombur of course who eventually required four young dwarves to move him around.
Least Favorite Character (Films): Arwen. She could have been so cool. Loved the costumes, but Liv lacks the depth to portray ancient wisdom combined with sensuality.
Agreed
I was on a Tolkien site (can’t remember name of it–you surprised?) years ago, when the films first came out. I was whatever Aragorn’s mother name was #7. I got into a heated argument about some aspect of Gandalf or Tolkien with a guy who must have had waaaay too much time on his hands. It was creepy and I never went back.
Gilraen She married very young for a Dunedain.
What would I do without you, Jim? Thanks.
yeah-Bombur. I remember my 13 year old self getting very upset with him that as tired and worn as the rest of the dwarves were, they had to carry this useless, HEAVY dwarf around. He would be the one to go in that river in the forest and go to sleep forever! It made my blood boil. Thorin pissed me off, too-but he was just looking out for his people. I saw no use for someone who couldn’t pull his own weight like Bombur. (odd, I AM a Democrat…) Me, I would have left him with the elves. I would not have wanted any of the dwarves to be “deadweight” but to have Bombur, the most useless of them all become so just irked me. I guess it still does!
I really like when Tolkien just goes off and writes pure weird stuff–like Bombadil and the river faery–something Berry, and Beorn. Beorn is incredible–he’s scary, but reassuring at the same time.
As always, happy to help.
Bombur was annoying and Beorn was wonderful. An odd figure half out of old Norse tales and half out of Tolkien’s head.
Goldberry is a wonderful delight and all the creatures we meet in the Old Forest are good reminders of what a small glimpse of Middle Earth we actually got to see. You have to suspect that hiding somewhere, perhaps deep in Lothlorien the Unicorns were prancing. Goldberry is another enigma, is she a naiad, a water spirit, an elf, a stray Maia or perhaps even human?
Jim
I’m not in the big league Tolkien fan camp here, but I am a fan. A general Inklings fan.
I first read LoTR when I was (gasp!) twenty, because my ex-boyfriend loaned the series to me. A lifetime of fantasy reading, and no LoTR? It was shameful. I read them in two and a half days and came out pretty sure I was an Ent. It was a marvellous experience.
My husband and I were just discussing how many times our kids would have to have read the books before they’re allowed to see the movies. So they have a clear Internal Middle-Earth before they see Jackson’s version. I like the movies, but they’re not the same as the pictures I see behind my eyes.
Favourite characters? I really like the annoying herb-woman from RoTK, who’s gossiping about Aragorn. I forget her name, but jayjay or QtM will immediately provide it. I keep thinking Idelba, but that’s from another book.
I wish we knew more about Finduilas, Denethor’s wife, who is described as being, “Only a memory of loveliness” or something, and whose mantle Eowyn wears as they (she and Faramir) wait for the end of all things.
Hmm. This is boring, but probably my real favourites are Sam and Frodo. And I’m in love with the book Aragorn, but not the movie Aragorn.
Ioreth
Complete opposite for me–Viggo improved on the book, IMO. I got tired of book Aragorn putting his arms akimbo, straddling his legs and declaiming who he was…
I am right with you on the gossipy woman–a fine stretch of comedy gold from Tolkien!
I trust that I am in time for the moot? I was standing in the rain, thinking, and did not want to cut it short.
I would say that it’s Tolkien’s attention to detail, his world-building, that draws me the most. We may not actually see in the text what lies over the hill, or in the house down the road a bit, but there is a pervasive sense that Tolkien could have told you, if you had only asked. As something of an obsessive world-builder myself, I find that inspiring. The concept of sub-creation resonates with me for much the same reason.
I seldom actually post to the Tolkien threads, bowing instead to those more learned than I.