May 15, 2002

Re: Staffs
Brett C.

Gandalf did indeed lose his staff in Moria, Richard, since it breaks and falls from his hand as he shatters the bridge [in the book anyway, and let me just give kudos for PJ for the tricky way he did it in the movie; I actually did a double take when the staff remained intact and the bridge whole, until the balrog stepped forward - well done sir].

Anyway the staffs certainly seem linked to the wizards powers, as per you reference to Gandalf being asked to leave his outside the hall of Theoden at Edoras. This was at Wormtongue's insistence, presumable councilled by Saruman, who would know something of such matters. Saruman's power certainly is greatly reduced following his staff breaking, which argues for their power being linked to the staff, but then Gandalf manages to beat the Balrog staffless in the book in the battle atop Celebdil. Maybe that's why its called magic, not science.

Incidentally, where did this idea of the wizard's power over gravity come from. In the movie I assumed it was some form of magic telekinesis, not unlike the jedi power in the Star Wars movies, that was tossing around Gandalf at Orthanc, which is not the same and would not allow you to fly, or survive a really bid drop. That was my impression of the incidents with Gimli's axe and Denethor's sword in the books as well. Tolkien took pains to make Middle Earth real to the reader, an illusion that would have popped like a soap bubble if I had read about people flying about unaided.