Children of Hurin Discussion Thread

[Fritz]

...I have said earlier that I hope they also do this with at least two other tales - the story of Beren and Luthien, and the story of Gondolin. I would love to see that happen.

Agreed 100%. But use John Howe to illustrate the story of Beren and Luthien and Ted Nasmith to illustrate the story of Gondolin. Just so the three heavy hitters in Tolkien illustration are represented.

Just please do not bill this or future such compilations as a "new" book. Because that is just not true...

Technically it is a new book just not a new story. I know it's semantics but from a marketing point of view it can be considered a correct statement. But I understand and don't dispute what you're saying.

...I suspect - and this is speculation on my part without any substantitive foundation - that the Estate grew miffed at all the attention the films garnered and felt that it was at the expense of the books. Of course, this ignores the massive increase in LOTR sales which garnered them several millions of dollars in increased royalties over and above the pre- film era...

I agree with this. It seems they were not in favor of the movies corrupting the original story but they didn't seem to mind reaping the benefits of added/new sales because of them.

 

[gideon]

Fritz -- your selection of illustrators would be more than fine with me. The few pieces that Nasmith has produced from the tale of Gondolin have been superb. A whole book of them would be tremendous.

Is the book merely a physical object regardless of its other qualities or is it also its contents? Obviously there never was a book before solely devoted to the tale of the children of Hurin and titled as such. But the contents of that same book (COH) certainly was in other books sold under the name of JRRT. For me, thats pretty much the same thing.

And where is Bill Clinton when we need him to define what a word really means? "That depends on the meaning of what is is".

 

[gtb]

Wow, the 3 major tales each compiled and published as their own! It will be awesome. From what I last heard, from the many sales tactics of the people selling the signed copy of CoH on ebay, they claimed that CT is already 82. Now that his son has (unofficially) assisted in the publication. I am just wondering if a book is ever published under "edited by Adam Tolkien", then how much appeal will it had again.

Can this "job" of executing Prof Tolkien be passed on like this? Anyway, depending on the much debated marketing techniques. Lets say the tale of Beren and Luthien will be published as a stand alone tale 15 - 20 years from now - should it be a good tale, I think nobody will care much whether is is edited by CT or not.

Just my opinion.