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More news from Dragoncon - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

July 04, 2000 at 11:56:28

Like everyone else, we heard bits and pieces of news and rumors floating around the hallways at Dragoncon. Here is a quick roundup of some of the things we feel comfortable repeating.

First of all, the Tolkien and Middle-earth track should be getting a larger room for the next Dragoncon (it has yet to be determined if this will be an ongoing event). Dragoncon 2001 will be held over Labor Day Weekend (the first Monday in September is Labor Day in the United States) in Atlanta.

The convention is moving its art show and dealers room to the Hyatt and/or Marriott hotels (the Marriott is located behind the Hyatt on International Boulevard).

Word has it that HarperCollins is looking to revise a long-standing Tolkien resource book (the original author is apparently not interested or not available). We'll post more information as we get it.

Several Internet gaming companies have been making quiet inquiries about the license for the online Middle-earth game. Havas, which owns Sierra Studios, still retains the literary license but now companies are vying for the film-related online game. Any interactive game which is developed on the film license should be expected to resemble the films more than anything. It's too early to determine whether John Howe and Alan Lee would be used as creative consultants for the online game.

Havas is still officially developing Middle-earth Online, the long-anticipated game which was set back last year when creative differences between the original development team and new management at Sierra resulted in the departure of the development team. Sierra has reportedly hired a new creative team, but they are not speaking openly about the project. Some industry insiders suggest that it would be in all parties' best interests (except the gaming community's) for only one game to be released. Competing Middle-earth games might fracture the market.

TheOneRing.Net is reporting that a real theatrical trailer is scheduled for release in the Fall. The odds are that if this happens it will be released over the Thanksgiving Weekend (the United States celebrates this traditional holiday on the fourth Thursday in November each year to commemorate the survival of early New England settlers and their friendship with local Native Americans). Thanksgiving Weekend traditionally kicks off the Christmas merchandising and promotional season in the United States, although the practice has been gradually extended to October over the past 20 years. Nonetheless, movie audiences still expect to see many new movies and trailers around Thanksgiving.

TheOneRing.Net also mentioned they were contemplating taking their show on the road. They may attend other conventions and do similar presentations. They were indefinite about their plans, but interested fans who could not attend Dragoncon should keep an eye out for new convention announcements. We'll post information here if we receive any.

Michael Martinez announced plans to revise the popular Parma Endorion Web site. Parma Endorion is a collection of essays originally written in 1996 and revised in 1998. They have been cited by researchers around the world through the years.

The new Parma Endorion will be an eBook published in several languages and formats, and is a preamble to another project Martinez discussed. He will be publishing in 2001 a long-anticipated history book which explores Tolkien's imaginary history from the beginning of the First Age of the Sun through the Fourth Age. Parma Endorion will be offered as free download but the other book (which has undergone several title changes) will be sold through Internet retailers and/or traditional book stores.

Tolkien Online announced that their company, Enthusiasts, Inc., has entered into an agreement with Dragoncon to provide technical assistance and resources for Dragoncon.Com (a related Web site).