Nobody can argue he led a full life at 90 years of age and so many books under his belt—but I’m sorry to see him go none the less. I especially enjoyed one of his recent collaborations with Stephen Baxter, Firestorm—I’d give it a re-read if I hadn’t just read it less than a year ago now.
Cheers, Arthur, and thanks for all the stories and ideas.
I am a great fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels; anyone who is familiar with the series probably knows that Herbert’s story is a thinly veiled analogue for the plight of the citizens of the Middle-East (Fremen) and their oil supply (spice).
I wonder if Herbert was aware that the most valuable commodity on Arrakis—water, of course—is rapidly on its way to becoming a valuable commodity here on Earth, too?
I enjoy the novels but that doesn’t mean I want to live through them. Let’s all be mindful of how we use our natural resources.
Nothing definite, but now The One Ring is reporting that the rights to the film fall back to Saul Zaentz, the owner of Tolkien Enterprises, some time next year—and according to Saul, “[The Hobbit] will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson.”
This is the last article I’m writing on the matter until shooting starts, if ever—it is clear to me that the politics involved mean the story is going to change a couple times a week until production begins, which—according to Saul—could still be years away from now if Jackson wants to shoot another movie, first. My heart can’t take it.
In a crushing reversal over the previous exciting news of The Hobbit being shot to two films by The Lord of the Rings’ pundit Peter Jackson, according to news site The One Ring (down at the time of writing), Peter Jackson (and Fran Walsh) will not be involved in the making of the film version of The Hobbit at all.
I am crestfallen. As are, I am certain, many other fans of Peter Jackson’s films (and of course Mr. Tolkien’s books). Bummer.
Although the title is probably inaccurate (I doubt a single strip of film will be exposed for the whole thing), and there is time yet for a change of plan (or heart), I stumbled upon the news today that The Hobbit will become not one, but two films, and that both will be directed by none other than Peter Jackson. Yes, I know the news is now a week and a half stale, but somehow it managed to slip past me last week. I confess I haven’t exactly been scouring the internets for news on the subject since any more real news on the subject is probably still years away.