Why are Tolkien's works important? Why are they (or have they been) important to you as an individual?

Arwen-Undomiel.com has posted a gallery of photos of Tolkien (including some pictures of him with his family). There are different Tolkiens--young, slightly cocksure Tolkien, with his hair perfectly slicked back, and the more somber middle-aged Tolkien, and old Tolkien with his furrowed smile. Like the rest of us, he did not write the same story at forty or sixty that he would have written at twenty.

The Tolkien Music List catalogues some of the huge amount of music inspired by Tolkien's works. No discussion of Tolkien and music would be complete without an analysis of his influence on Led Zeppelin, found at The Led Zeppelin and JRR Tolkien Relations Page. (Though I can't imagine Tolkien wanting to have any sort of relations with Led Zeppelin.)

David Brin, over at salon.com, discusses Tolkien's reactionary worldview in J.R.R. Tolkien--Enemy of Progress. A thought-provoking and amusing essay.

I think it is interesting that both Tolkien and his alter-ego Faramir were put out of action by fever.

Title: Black Breath
Characters: Tolkien
Source: historical - World War I
Rating: No warning except for creepiness

( Black Breath )

March 18: The Host of the West leaves Minas Tirith.

"Legolas and Gimli were to ride again together in the company of Aragorn and Gandalf, who went in the van with the Dunedain and the sons of Elrond." I never thought this was funny until a certain person (who shall remain nameless) remarked that she always read that line and imagined them riding in a mini-van. :D

[Edit: and this entry comes with bonus comment!fic--

In the Van

"Boromir, are you sure this is the way to the Black Gate?"

"Look, there's one of those little symbols for enemy fortress right there, past the crossroads."

"I think that's the symbol for a campground."


"'Tis an enemy fortress. I can read a map; I am highly trained in orienteering."

"Then why did it take you 120 days to get to Rivendell?"

"It is wrong to speak ill of the dead, Gandalf."

"Well, technically, I am dead too, so I am allowed. Here, Aragorn, you're the ranger, you read the map. And you two in back, stop bickering or I will turn you both into garden gnomes!"

"But Emeril is on, and all Gimli wants to watch is World Wrestling Federation Smackdown."

"One more word and I turn off the TV."

"WWF is on?"

"When we stop for gas, Boromir can sit in back with the dwarf. Legolas gets the front seat. Everyone happy? Good. I won't have to do anything drastic."

/Edit]

Brentai's Shameless Ripoff of Thumbnail Theatre Presents:
Ralph Bakshi's Animated "Lord of the Rings"

This sums it up pretty well, saving you the trouble of actually watching Bakshi's film. I saw the original theatrical release, and I still remember the moment when I realized that they were only at Helm's Deep and had exactly five minutes to wind up the film.

A pair of drabbles where Tolkien is the character. I wrote these a while back.

Terra Incognita

No Man's Land

Lament for Eorl the Young

Where now is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the deadwood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

--JRR Tolkien

In the bowels of Fanfiction.net lurks the LOTR crossover, a monster bred by the foul craft of merciless fangirls. Only the strong of stomach should read ( Branwyn's LOTR Crossover List )