tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post258077591279990121..comments2024-03-28T15:10:21.797-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: The Covers of The Lord of the RingsJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86764197443056794002020-09-17T15:03:06.836-04:002020-09-17T15:03:06.836-04:00My mother actually gave me the Ballantine set in t...My mother actually gave me the Ballantine set in the late 70's because some past boyfriend had given it to her. At age 8 I plowed the first book, but got lost in the endless names of the 2nd (trying to map the names and index them on graph paper didn't work) and never, ever returned to the collection. Return may have never had a page turned. <br /><br />I actually prefer the movies to the books simply because (even as an adult!) I can't sort-out all the effin' names. <br /><br />Gandalf takes Vadar, any day. Mister Rogers versus Bob Ross, tricky. HuckSawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381444935904172318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31422411415912540142020-09-16T23:50:43.416-04:002020-09-16T23:50:43.416-04:00The '73 edition with Tolkien's artwork was...The '73 edition with Tolkien's artwork was the one I recall having the earliest memories of. They were at my grandparents' house. I think they were my aunt's. What I do remember was being captivated by those covers and wanting to read the books.Staying up late a night in the living room and just reading. Curling up with a blanket on the couch, having a drink and a snack. Simpler times....blackstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11205963961656803303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-7888440659865635652020-09-15T13:11:27.985-04:002020-09-15T13:11:27.985-04:00I'm envious of these covers. My introductions ...I'm envious of these covers. My introductions to the Lord of the Rings cover art were the 1988 covers (as listed here: https://www.adazing.com/lord-of-the-rings-book-cover-designs/), which I think don't hold up nearly as well as most of the other designs. Allandaroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046079318999891967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-36820184978559242342020-09-15T00:37:19.523-04:002020-09-15T00:37:19.523-04:00The editions that I was first introduced to are th...The editions that I was first introduced to are the last ones by Darrell K. Sweet - I love the colors and the detailed paintings. The 1973 Ballentine editions also resonate strongly with me. Quinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03847507721334122401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58017193880796590072020-09-14T20:15:45.153-04:002020-09-14T20:15:45.153-04:00I started with those '73 covers as well... but...I started with those '73 covers as well... but I'm wondering how my mental image of Middle Earth would have been altered by having first read under those earlier cover images instead. They're definitely more phantasmagorical and less quaint/pastoral. <br />Timmy Crabcakeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14737954661234574830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76695265380975798842020-09-14T16:37:48.976-04:002020-09-14T16:37:48.976-04:00My first copies were the Tolkien Ballantines, and ...My first copies were the Tolkien Ballantines, and my favorites since then were the 1999 Mariner editions with the Alan Lee "places" covers.Rob Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17791752557408134270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86728268077024706492020-09-14T16:17:29.614-04:002020-09-14T16:17:29.614-04:00'73 covers were also my intro, though a few ye...'73 covers were also my intro, though a few years earlier than you, James. I kept them for a long time, into my adulthood, but they eventually got lost or thrown out in a divorce. They have left a large impression on me for the "look" and "feel" of Middle Earth.JEFFBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862106711059104379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-15595809476650884442020-09-14T15:21:12.988-04:002020-09-14T15:21:12.988-04:00I really loved Remmington's cover for Ouroboro...I really loved Remmington's cover for Ouroboros. Pretty powerful art.<br />The Ace covers make me wonder what a sword & sorcery LotR would have been like, maybe with a dash of the Weird found in either Vance's Dying Earth, or Moorcockartikidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17474295473142339717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27011785106877126972020-09-14T13:58:13.913-04:002020-09-14T13:58:13.913-04:00I just got rid of my dog eared copies of the 1973 ...I just got rid of my dog eared copies of the 1973 edition; they were literally falling apart. They stood out because my Mother read them to us on trips.GVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173636141749922530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-61593680860898228052020-09-14T13:37:05.376-04:002020-09-14T13:37:05.376-04:00My first copies, I think by way of my Uncle, were ...My first copies, I think by way of my Uncle, were the Remington covers. I still have them, though they are quite worn. At a school book fair in the early 80's, I bought a box set of the '73 Tolkien covers which included The Hobbit. The box was gold and had elvish House sigils on teh sides. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-45991143933860722882020-09-14T13:24:47.229-04:002020-09-14T13:24:47.229-04:00Sadly, no. I am getting old, it seems.Sadly, no. I am getting old, it seems.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-21707385127758121222020-09-14T13:09:57.709-04:002020-09-14T13:09:57.709-04:00That's funny and ironic: I assumed your "...That's funny and ironic: I assumed your "cannot recall the name" was a dry joke.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275812152895151542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-50410913018732008852020-09-14T12:47:44.192-04:002020-09-14T12:47:44.192-04:00As with you, James, the 1973 version was the first...As with you, James, the 1973 version was the first I laid eyes on, and continue to exercise a powerful hold on MY imagination. Found them in the closet of a friend’s home when I was a small child...so strange and beautiful, especially the latter two covers.<br /><br />I received the same 1981 box set around 1984-84 also, but as a birthday gift (my birthday is in November). Still have it to this day, and am currently rereading it...just started The Two Towers on Saturday. Man, they are coming apart (especially my copy of The Hobbit)...but I guess the ARE 35 years old, and have moved (with me) half a dozen times.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79875880977538144942020-09-14T12:01:45.258-04:002020-09-14T12:01:45.258-04:00You are correct. Thanks for pointing it out.You are correct. Thanks for pointing it out.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51640726000360886972020-09-14T11:59:54.787-04:002020-09-14T11:59:54.787-04:00You're right. I can't believe I didn't...You're right. I can't believe I didn't remember this.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-5308258026395346272020-09-14T11:53:18.856-04:002020-09-14T11:53:18.856-04:00Pretty sure the cover artist for the 1973 paperbac...Pretty sure the cover artist for the 1973 paperbacks was Tolkien himself.Alec Semicognitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06507482266305964982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62719993976837108602020-09-14T11:51:27.065-04:002020-09-14T11:51:27.065-04:00I believe the 1973 covers were done by Tolkien him...I believe the 1973 covers were done by Tolkien himself as was the cover of "The Hobbit" released in the same style.uripadeezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920876840850369240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-44287887434279668412020-09-14T11:33:19.670-04:002020-09-14T11:33:19.670-04:00Regarding those magnificent 1981 edition and the a...Regarding those magnificent 1981 edition and the appendix in RotK. I used to think myself quite clever by mining that appendix for fantastic names for places and NPCs. I tried to pass them off as my own. However, other members of the Lincoln Middle School D&D Club also owned the same set of books. After a session they would scamper home, look up the name I had swiped from the index and call me on their rotary phones attached to the wall with the ugly truth. Thwarted! Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236414293541547616noreply@blogger.com