Xenite.Org News

Michael Martinez leaves Suite101, to publish new book with Vivisphere

April 10, 2003 at 16:48:14

We have heard from many fans of the popular Suite101 Tolkien and Middle-earth topic, asking why it has been archived.

Rest assured, Xenite.Org founder Michael Martinez intends to continue writing about Tolkien and Middle-earth. But Suite101 will no longer serve as the venue for the in-depth discussions of Tolkien's works he has published on the Internet since late 1999.

"Suite101, like many other Internet-entities of the 1990s, is struggling to create a workable business model," Martinez tells us. "They stopped paying their contributing editors at the end of 2001, but because the topic was so popular, I decided to stay with the Suite to see what they could work out in the long run. However, when they announced their new plan earlier this year, I realized it would not work for me."

Because of the technical problems Xenite.Org has encountered recently, as well as the loss of his own personal computer in March, Martinez is unable to add a new Tolkien and Middle-earth topic to our server at this time. "Too many people are asking what will become of the Tolkien topic," he says. "I just don't have time to set up a whole new essays archive right now. So, I've been in contact with some other sites, and I think I've found one that will be able to host the topic. I am working on the technical details with them now."

Some of Martinez' early Suite101 essays were revised and published in his book, Visualizing Middle-earth, in October 2001. The book also includes two essays written for other Web sites. "Response to Visualizing Middle-earth has been strong and positive," Martinez says. "Many people have asked when the sequel will be published. But I had to wait for a better opportunity before putting that project together."

In the meantime, Martinez repackaged the popular Parma Endorion Web site, one of the very first sites hosted on Xenite.Org, as a free eBook. Including selected artwork from fan artists Anke Eissmann (whose work is featured at Tolkien Online) and Rich Sullivan (whose work is featured at TheOneRing.Net), Parma Endorion was the most popular eBook of 2002. To date, more than 250,000 copies have been downloaded (and that figure does not reflect pirated copies distributed on binary news groups and file-swapping networks).

Martinez has also signed a contract with Vivisphere to publish his next book, Understanding Middle-earth, the much anticipated sequel to Visualizing Middle-earth. "Understanding Middle-earth is currently slated for an August release," Martinez tells us, "although that is subject to change. But we've already handed out a few uncorrected advance copies and reactions have been enthusiastic."

500 pages long, Understanding Middle-earth was edited by Matt Tinaglia, who also edited Parma Endorion. The new book features a previously unpublished essay about Tolkien's Elves, and many of the essays have been combined, revised, and extensively re-edited. "This book will impress people much more than Visualizing Middle-earth," Martinez adds.

Some traditional publishers have expressed an interest in Visualizing Middle-earth, which may be re-released as a mass market book. "That's still being negotiated," Martinez tells us. "There is really nothing conclusive right now. But one can always hope."

"There are other projects in the works," Martinez concludes. "Nothing definite, although I am planning to attend Dragoncon this year. I've already talked with Jiincey (Chambless, of TheOneRing.Net and the current fan programming track director for Tolkien and Middle-earth at Dragoncon) and we're both looking forward to my returning to the Tolkien and Middle-earth track as a guest."

Martinez was also a guest at the recent Galacticon convention in Chattanooga, TN, and he may appear at other conventions later this year, depending on schedules and interest.

Xenite.Org will post more information about the new Tolkien and Middle-earth topic site when it is ready.