I’m delighted to announce the immediate availability of Mark Hooker’s new col-lection, The Hobbitonian Anthology of Articles about J.R.R. Tolkien and his Legendarium (Llyfrawr, 2009). This is the follow-up to Mark’s previous volume, A Tolkienian Mathomium (Llyfrawr, 2006), with articles of much the same style and approach. The product description from Amazon (link above) summarizes the book as follows:This is a second volume of articles by Mark T. Hooker that picks up where A Tolkienian Mathomium left off. Hooker’s analysis is from a linguistic perspective similar to Tolkien’s. “If you liked the last one, you’re going to like this one,” says the Foreword. Beyond Bree and Hither Shore said that there is “something [in A Tolkienian Mathomium] for everyone with even a passing interest in Tolkien. All of the articles are well researched, insightful, and highly infor-mative.” Tolkien Studies said that it is a “pleasantly eccentric volume ... Hooker has a wide variety of things to say that have not been heard before.” Tolkien Collector’s Guide said A Tolkienian Mathomium “is one of the most unique sets of essays on Tolkien I have read in the past 10 years.” An early review by The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza of the analysis of the origin of the name Tom Bombadil appearing in The Hobbitonian Anthology ranks it as “the best explanation yet of how the name Tom Bombadil came into being.”
That short quotation from the Foreword, as it happens, is mine. Since I had the honor of writing the Foreword to Mark’s new book, that means I have also read it already and can recommend it without reservation. Mark’s translation studies are fascinating (and often quite amusing), while his linguistic explorations are sharp and resourceful. I can honestly say, without hyperbole, that there are interesting ideas on virtually every page of his books. And the price definitely can’t be beat!
Tolkien once wrote that he liked “to wring the juice out of a single sentence, or explore the implications of one word”, and this is exactly what Mark does in his essays. If you’re familiar with him already, from his previous books or articles in Beyond Bree, you’ll no doubt greet The Hobbitonian Anthology like an old friend in a new suit. If you aren’t familiar with him, take my advice and pick up a copy of the book. I think you’ll be glad you did.
It's out already? :) I can't wait to read it.. Mark's work is so insightful and a pleasure to read. And by the way, thank you for introducing him to me.
ReplyDeleteAdanedhel, yes, it’s available for purchase now. :) That’s probably the biggest advantage of Print On Demand over traditional publishing: the time-to-market (and into readers’ hands) is orders of magnitude faster. Walking Tree and Vinyar Tengwar are also using POD, and I have the feeling more and more books will be printed this way in the future. It’s kind of a tough time to be a conventional brick-and-mortar publisher.
ReplyDeleteI just wish that the typical POD book didn't feel so creepy and slimy to hold, and didn't have such dull, crappy typesetting. None of this necessary to POD, I realize, but it seems to go with the territory. I miss the crisp, comfortable early Walking Tree volumes.
ReplyDeleteBut I will certainly get Hooker's vol. 2. I enjoyed vol. 1, and if my description of it in the Year's Work, "The common thread is a cheerful attention to detail," is of any encouragement to prospective purchasers, he can have it.
Jasom
ReplyDeleteThanks! Just can't keep up - just finished Tolkien Through Russian Eyes, The Sources of Inspiration for Tolkien and Sigurd und Gudrun (twice)aand the Book of Jonah is coming - unfortunately the Solopova book is not yet avail in the UK!) - Ok I'll add this to the list - check out my blog for an excellent new book aboout artifical languages! Take care A
David, thanks for the comment. You make a good point about POD. Many are definitely “dull [or] crappy”, but as you say, they don’t have to be. I think most often it’s a side-effect of authors becoming their own book designers, when most of them have no inkling whatsoever of how to go about that. Fortunately, the rise of POD should attract capable and affordable free-lance book designers as well.
ReplyDeleteAndym (sorry; couldn’t resist :). What’s this ‘Sources of Inspiration for Tolkien and Sigurd und Gudrun’ book to which you are referring? And Elizabeth Solopova’s book isn’t available in the United States yet either; I have an advance copy. But it’s supposed to come out tomorrow, for those of you who might be interested.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that "Sources of Inspiration for Tolkien" is probably referring to the Walking Tree Press book "Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings – Sources of Inspiration" edited by Stratford Caldecott and Thomas Honegger, and that "Sigurd und Gudrun" refers to, well, you know.
ReplyDeleteDoug, I think you’re right. I read them as both part of a single long title. A cautionary tale for the importance of the serial comma! I always use it, and obviously may have too great an expectation that others do likewise. Thanks for the dose of common sense. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi, Jason. I saw you at Annie's and have been sneaking around your blog. Awesome work. I'll ask my librarian if she'll order this book (and the previous one if she doesn't have it). That's my little recession trick. I con nice library ladies into ordering books for me. Hee hee. Next, I take over the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you. You have a wealth of information here. It is much appreciated.
So long as libraries are still buying books (the recession is hitting them hard too), this is an excellent strategy. I’ve been known to do this myself.
ReplyDeleteVery glad to meet you, too, Julie, and thanks for your nice comments about my blog. I aim to please, even if it’s primarily to please myself. As Tolkien once said, “I am afraid that what I would rather do is what I have usually done.” Luckily, by so doing, I also get to please a small, lively, and intelligent readership, into which I am pleased to welcome you. :)
Great news - I will add it to my ever-growing Amazon wish list!
ReplyDeleteNamarie, God bless, Anne Marie :)
Thanks for letting us know about this, Jason. Unfortunately it seems difficult to buy this book in Europe (couldn't find it on the UK or German Amazon site) but I will try to get it somewhere :-)
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie and André, glad to be of service. There is now a nice piece about this book up on Tolkien Library as well, here. André, shouldn’t you be able to get it from Amazon US, simply paying for international shipping? If not, let me know, and we can arrange for you to buy from directly from the author. He ships to Germany all the time.
ReplyDeleteI've found a way to get the book :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that, André. :)
ReplyDelete