Foreword
Prologue: Who Was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien?
Part One: Discovering Tolkien’s Books: What Should I Read Next?
Part Two: Tolkien in Adaptation
Part Three: Expressions of Fandom
Shawn E. Marchese went down the hobbit hole in his teens after
finding a reference to Tolkien in a book about Pink Floyd, and has
been in love with Middle-earth (and progressive rock) ever since.
He’s especially drawn to the linguistic aspects of Tolkien’s work,
and shares his obsession for languages with listeners every week as
The Prancing Pony Podcast’s resident word-nerd. Shawn met
Alan seven years ago in a Facebook group for Tolkien fans, and
still remembers the day he casually agreed to do a podcast with him
“like, maybe once a month”. When not working on the podcast, Shawn
can be found at his day job as a compliance officer, writing,
brewing ales, or working on his geeky dad credentials with his wife
and two children. The Prancing Pony Podcast was the winner of
the Tolkien Society 2020 Award for Best Online Content.
Alan Sisto has been reading Tolkien since the Rankin & Bass
animated Hobbit came out before he was born. Or right after. An
all-around Tolkien nerd, Alan can be found enjoying Tolkien’s
lesser-known works—“Leaf by Niggle” is his favorite—just as often
as he gets lost in First Age histories and Third Age
adventures. Alan has worked with Shawn for nearly six years
to grow The Prancing Pony Podcast each season, and spends much of
his working time producing the show. He also provides narration and
commercial voiceovers (alansisto.com) and has also been an
architectural photographer for 15 years (freshpageimages.com). His
wife and two children give him the freedom to indulge his inner
nerd.
“Written for new or casual fans, but with material to enlighten
those deeply entrenched in Tolkien’s legendarium, Marchese and
Sisto (hosts of the podcast Prancing Pony) share insights both
scholarly (with ample footnotes) and irreverent (with chapter names
like ‘Sequel, Schmequel’ and ‘Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes: Tolkien in
Adaptation’). The book makes suggestions for the best Tolkien
reading journey, enumerates high points and shortcomings of
adaptations, and discusses collecting, moots (or conferences), and
online fandoms. VERDICT A delightful addition to most libraries.
Expect an uptick in circulation of other Tolkien-related books and
DVDs after purchase.”
—Library Journal “One could not ask for a more congenial pair of
guides to Middle-earth than Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. The
combination of learning and fun that has made The Prancing Pony
Podcast such a delight shines through in this tour of the
Middle-earth experience. Why We Love Middle-earth is a great
resource for readers and film-viewers who are new to Tolkien and
curious about all things Middle-earth.”
—Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor and president of Signum
University “Alan and Shawn bring the same love for Tolkien and the
fandom to this book that they’ve brought to The Prancing Pony
Podcast for years. I would expect nothing less, but I can also
think of no higher praise.”
—Matt Graf, Nerd of the Rings “This delightful read is accessible,
humorous, and informative, with the appropriate dash of nostalgia.
Perfect for both new and veteran Tolkien fans alike, it is sure to
entertain, enlighten, and just maybe help you step out your front
door and meet other members of the Tolkien community.”
—K.M. Rice, author of the Afterworld series “An absolutely
phenomenal read. Sisto and Marchese perfectly encapsulate the
spirit of Tolkien’s legacy and bring it to the page. A heartfelt
look at the passion found in the Professor’s stories and why
Middle-earth remains such a beloved fantasy world. Tolkien fans of
all ages will certainly want to add this book to their
collections.”
—Don Marshall, Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy “You will not
find a friendlier, more informative-yet-easygoing introduction to
Tolkien’s world than this book. Alan and Shawn are like
wisecracking Hobbits, simultaneously goofing off and admiring every
song and story shared in Elrond’s Hall of Fire. Come for the
groanworthy dad jokes; stay for the deep love of the lore.”
—Jeff LaSala, author of The Silmarillion Primer “The Prancing Pony
Podcast has established itself as an institution among those of us
who like to live, breathe, and dream J.R.R. Tolkien’s magnificent
Middle-earth legendarium. Approachable yet knowledgeable,
fan-friendly yet scholarly, the PPP is one of those rare podcasts
that successfully bridges the gap between the absolute Tolkien
beginner and the serious devotee. This has clearly also been their
intention with this book, and they have definitely succeeded in
that aim. Why We Love Middle-earth is an entertaining read, but it
also offers in-depth commentary on Tolkien’s works, the various
film adaptations, and the fan responses to those works, guiding the
novice through approaching the books as well as offering new
insights for the serious reader. Maintaining the balance between
the disparate audiences is no mean feat, but the result is a
delightful and fascinating read that I would heartily recommend to
all fans of Middle-earth.”
—Dr. Sara Brown, language & literature department chair, Signum
University “From erudition to entertainment, from comedy to
camaraderie, The Prancing Pony Podcast is the Car Talk of Tolkien
podcasts. Whether you are a Tolkien beginner or were there 300
episodes ago, Alan and Shawn are always worth listening to. Why We
Love Middle-earth is a great introduction to Tolkien and the
podcast. By treating the books, adaptations, and fandom
individually, Alan and Shawn have once again proven themselves
excellent guides for those wanting to enter Middle-earth.
(Pre-order now and get a free Gollum GPS.)”
—Thomas Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring: To Rule
the Fate of Many
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