L.O.T.R. - Lord of the Rings

I first discovered the Lord of the Rings as a teenager in school. I was caught in Tolkien's snare as soon as I read the first chapter. Back then I knew nothing about Hobbits, Elves, Dragons, and other fantastic creatures but the Lord of the Rings opened up a whole new world to me. I spent my afternoons dodging chores, following Frodo on his journey, standing with Aragorn atop the hills of Gondor. I looked down upon Mordor and shuddered with Sam. I hated Gollum and rejoiced at his demise. I loved Gandalf and cried when he took ship over Sea with the Elves.

And when Sam finally told Rosie "Well, I'm back" I put the book down and just daydreamed for an hour. What a great story that was! I wished I could read it again with the very same sense of discovery. I wanted to enjoy the wonders of Middle-earth as if I were seeing the for the first time every time I read the book. And in a way I have been able to because there is so much to the story I cannot remember it all. Was it Merry who found the pipeweed at Isengard or Pippin? I don't know but I want to read it again.

And the more I read about Middle-earth the more I want to read about it. How can one man have written so much about one fantasy world? When Tolkien find time to live, to breathe? When did he find time to raise a family, to perform a job as a teacher and a scholar? When did he find time for Middle-earth while living out his life?

There are many things about Middle-earth that interest me. But I really liked the Elves, the dragons, the Hobbits, and the Balrogs. I don't care what other people think about them. I just have fun reading about the wonderful people I can never meet, about the scary things that cannot trouble my dreams.

Jeff Cable