"this small, spinning fragment of solar driftwood"

[eldritchhobbit]

Happy belated birthday to jovalley and happy birthday to llembas! I hope each of you are enjoying a fantastic weekend, and will have a most wonderful year.

Bits and bobs:
* Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab now has, among lots of other fantastic collections, scents inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos: A Picnic in Arkham: The Lovecraft Connection.

* Have you ever wanted to live in the Shire?

* Valancourt Books has a "must read" new publication for autumn, Terrific Tales (1804) by Isabella Lewis. This curious and extremely rare book is very likely one of the first such collections of historical ghost stories published in the English language.

* I'm a little late to this party, but I just discovered that Bubblehead Publishing recently released a graphic novel that contains both the previously published issues and the never-before published concluding installments of Bill Mumy's clever Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul story. This is a serious and ambitious continuation of the Lost in Space saga in the spirit of the original television pilot (as opposed to the later campy episodes). Great stuff.

* For those in the Tennessee area: lizzieausten and I recently celebrated the coming of Fall by taking the Franklin Ghost and Gore Tour, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Next month, our Lómelindi Smial of the Tolkien Society is observing Halloween by taking the Nashville Ghost Tour. Three cheers for all things creepy!


Speaking of which, my first-year seminar classes listened to the original 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast by the Mercury Theatre on the Air last week. I always hear something new when I listen to that brilliant dramatization. That production is the source for my quote of the day:

We know now that in the early years of the twentieth century this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man's, and yet as mortal as his own. We know now that as human beings busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

With infinite complacence people went to and fro over the Earth about their little affairs, serene in the assurance of their dominion over this small, spinning fragment of solar driftwood which, by chance or design, man has inherited out of the dark mystery of Time and Space.

Yet across an immense ethereal gulf, minds that are to our minds as ours are to the beasts in the jungle, intellects vast, cool and unsympathetic, regarded this Earth with envious eyes and slowly and surely drew their plans against us....
- The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, 1938

Comments

[llembas.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome! I hope you're having a fabulous day. *hugs*

[terrylj.livejournal.com]

Ouch, sticker shock for the Shirelings much? Beautiful houses, though!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I agree! I think it's necessary to discover a troll's hoarded treasure in order to afford one, but still... :)

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Have you ever wanted to live in the Shire?

Augh! How *gorgeous* is that?!? (although I'm always a little suspicious of concept communities...) And I *seriously* want to rip off their website design - gorgeous!

{{{icon love}}}

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I tend to be wary of planned communities too, but it's nice to find one that's literary based, at least. It might draw an interesting crowd. And I do think the homes are gorgeous! :) It's too bad one needs a dragon's hoard to afford one of them!

[vonjunzt.livejournal.com]

Playing War of the Worlds is a great idea for a class!

I've been told my father used to get a kick out of playing that tape to scare my older brother when he was very little.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's so unusual for students to focus for a full hour on a text that's presented in audio form only, and it's interesting to see how they take to it. I've noticed that post-9/11, and even post-Katrina, there are resonances there that I didn't anticipate. It makes it even creepier! Great stuff.

[rosamundeb.livejournal.com]

Whoa... I'm ready to move to the Shire, that's for sure! Interesting how on eof the "cottages" has roof details that look a bit like Edoras...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Isn't it, though? I like the "Shire/Rohan" blend. If it only came with a pony and a mushroom patch, I'd be there. :)

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

The houses do look beautiful, but it is obviously a planned housing community, and they likely have very strict rules about the appearance and upkeep of one's house, so it would never really be yours, no matter how much you pay for it. Big turn off for me.

Looking forward to joining the ghost tour next week. And the Franklin tour sounds cool as well; may have to check that one out sometime.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I do agree with you about the planned community aspect of the development. Good point. Still, I'm just fascinated by how they chose to interpret the Shire architecturally.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon!

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

I'd rather build my own Hobbit hole anyway. ;~)

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

Once more, you find all the coolest stuff. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! :)

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

Most welcome, and love the icon! :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks! There can never be enough Jeffrey Combs love, I always say.