May 5, 2004

Maternal Relations and Others
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ok, firstly to Bob Praz: Oh Wow I absolutely cannot wait for Troy! I studied Ancient History at school in years 8 through 12, and did Troy as a major piece, so I eagerly await the movie. I also think that you may be right about Tolkien fans being well read on other histories - I think it may be in our nature. LOL. I only wonder if they will add all the characters into the movie Troy as there is named in the Illiad, as there are a great many, and what roles will change etc. I am quite sure it will be a movie that will reach my high expectations though. Can't wait!

To Lilly: ok, I don't know if anyone will already beat me to this and there post just isn't up yet (hence I will be repeating what others have said), but maybe I can help you out a little off the top of my head:

- Gilraen obviously is Aragorn's mother, who is featured much more in the Appendix of LOTR, and who you mentioned in your own post but did not name. On the subject of her, I thought it was a really nice touch to add in the linnod that she said to Aragorn before she died into ROTK, although as an exchange between Elrond and Aragorn instead. Details like that really make it for me.

- Celebrian, the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, is Elronds' wife. Is, not was, because she did not die - while on a journey (to of from Rivendell? I can't recall at this moment), she and her company were attacked by a band of orcs, and she was wounded with a poisen arrow, and did not heal. In turn, she sailed to the undying lands where the Valar could cure her. She undoubtedly waited for the arrival of Elrond.

- Finduilas was the wife of Denethor. She was the beautiful mother of Boromir and Faramir, and was a princess of Dol Amroth. She became increasingly estranged from her husband, and eventually wasted away and died. And no, I don't have an answer about whether or not she was a stewardess. Hehe.

And laslty, in response to the post about books, a couple of my most treasured fantasy novels besides LOTR and all associated with Tolkien, would have to be anything by Mercedes Lackey, and the Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin. I acutally think it's quite funny to see how we plug things on this forum - can you imagine the authors etc rubbing their hands in glee about yet another customer plugging their work for them?

Thanks.

Ilmarë