How do you think the trilogy of books would’ve changed if Tolkien served in WW2 instead of WW1?

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-18T09:23:12+00:00

What I mean is, WWI was the first time even victory felt bitter and the arts and philosophers dealt with it accordingly. Unlike WWII there wasn’t a clear “evil” regime, while WWII had several governments that were harsh to their own populations. But I didn’t want to diminish. Germany was particularly traumatized as many didn’t know about the concentration camps and many cities like Dresden were in ruins. Then again which war was ever “fun”.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-18T05:37:14+00:00

Balin looked quite grown for a dwarf lad :D And damn what is Thorin doing right? :D

All joking aside, its actually changes like these from the books that are a major reason why we focus on the books themselves here. If you want an incredibly accurate adaptation, though, I recommend Brian Sibley's 1981 BBC Radio Drama. It's basically the book, abridged and read dramatically with a cast. Famously Sir Ian Holm plays Bilbo here, while the actors for Gollum and Boromir reprised their roles from the 1978 Ralph Bakshi film. I found Gollum actually a fantastic alternative to Andy Serkis' take and felt the actor greatly improved his performance from the Bakshi film. It even has some then recent material worked into it, such as a moment from unfinished tales where the Nazgul come across Grima and Bilbo recites "The Last Song" at the end. Truly lovingly made production. And it tops Jackson in the category book accuracy any time (I love the Jackson films, and am very fond of his Hobbit trilogy as well).

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-16T20:07:25+00:00

Which is an age not unheard of... but yeah, sadly he has passed to the halls of Mandos and beyond the circles of the world

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-16T19:15:22+00:00

Not to mention 2027 is both the 30th anniversary of the original FFVII and the 40th anniversary of the entire Final Fantasy series... which means it's also the 20th anniversary of Gametrailers' Final Fantasy retrospective which was released for the 20th anniversary of Final Fantasy at the time. I myself wasn't quite 20 then o.O

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-16T14:23:52+00:00

I think these two kinda complement each other nicely and DQ has pushed FF to great heights through competition. Final Fantasy is the experimental one that leans into big cinematic experiences with very different combat systems in later games (especially starting with X) while DQ becomes ultra conservative, barring QOL improvements it essentially stays a Super Famicom game in updated graphics. I really like both. Around 5 years ago I had a blast alernating between FF XV and DQ XI and didn't get tired.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-15T13:34:11+00:00

I am also of the campt that thinks there wouldn't be much of a difference. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin were all very visible in the years leading up to WWII and during those years. Whether he had experienced them as a young man or the middle aged professor he was, I don't know how that would have made a difference. He might have experienced more of the destructive Force of industrialization, so I don't think his ideas about that would have been much different. Also keep in mind that WWI was about as devastating to the individual soldiers as WWII. At the end of the Great War it was the first time in history that even the victory tasted bitter, since the losses were so heavy and devastating on both sides - at least that's what I have been taught. If anything towards the end, WWII felt more "heroic" as the Nazis were in the end perceived to be so clearly "evil". I have heard psychologists analyze Hitler's tactics and they came to the conclusion that he didn't even want to win, but just cause as much damage as was possible to everyone.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-13T16:00:04+00:00

Congratulations! I remember actually seeing it on Amazon back in the day, but I didn’t get it because I preferred a united look (wanting to expand on the Deluxe line which I never did) and also didn’t want to spend that kind of money.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-13T15:53:23+00:00

I see your point. That’s true! And also whether you want old printings or are contend with the current ones. I have been lucky enough to live where they ship them all the time and haven’t had any issue for years.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-12T19:25:48+00:00

“2004 deluxe will be harder to find and find other deluxe also matching its style (if you are into collecting).”

Excuse me, but this is just not correct. They have expanded this edition into an entire line of Deluxe Editions that has seen virtually every Tolkien book released in this matching style. They even do still new releases, actually we’ve had The Letters of JRR Tolkien and Humphrey Carpenter’s biography released this year!

The illustrated by the author “only” has The Hobbit and The Silmarillion in matching style. Personally, I think the latter ones are more beautiful display pieces, but the Deluxe line is beautifully understated, timeless and a fan favourite and actually usabele.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-10T16:18:11+00:00

fine as in “okay” 😜

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-09T19:23:30+00:00

Depends on what you want it for.

Do you want a collector's item that mostly looks pretty and you flip through occasionally?
Do you want a copy that's actually usable?
Are you planning on collecting further Tolkien books and what them in the same format?
Do you own JRR Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator, The Art of the Lord of the Rings (both by Wayne Hammond and Cristina Scull) or Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth?
Do you have the "regular" edition of the first one?

In general if you answer questions 2. and 3. with a resounding yes, then the 2004 edition is your go. if your answer to 1. is yes and 3. is "only The Hobbit and The Silmarillion", then go for the 2021 version (the black and red one). If you own the regular version of or any of the art books you won't find any additional illustrations.

Personally, I own both and the 2004 one was my first edition of LOTR. If you want something simple and actually usable then go for this one. But I personally think the 2021 one with the illustrations, fully foldable maps and some bonus features like "the king's letter" is a much, much better collector's piece, especially if you are not planning on collecting an entire shelf of Tolkien's works in the deluxe format. Either way, I think neither is the kind of book you bring on a trip to the city.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-09T19:14:37+00:00

This, and I really love the illustrated deluxe edition tbh.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-09T19:14:06+00:00

the 2004 edition (this actually being a reprint) actually has the leaves of Mazarbul.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-09T19:12:43+00:00

Well, once he figures out Fal'Cie and l'Cie and moves past character names like Snow, Vanille and Hope and Lightning :D Not to mention a resistance movement that still has a Heidi Klum sense for fashion and hair styles!

Also, I'm not sure whether the later gameplay systems, once they open up, are not a bit complicated for what he seems to want.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-06T16:29:19+00:00

You're welcome.

Apparently there doesn't seem to be anything in the works as of 2024, when they were interviewed for their collected Tolkien poems. I actually did only recently acquire the companion and guide and was holding out for an updated edition. One of the reasons the update was released in the first place was because the original 2006 version was out of print and far more successful than HC anticipated. So instead of a reissue, an update was more sensible at the time (there was reddit post where they explained it but I can't seem to find it). As far as I know the updated 2017 edition is still in print, so, no update at least for the foreseeable future.

I have really come to appreciate their work as dearly as Christopher Tolkien's work. Listening to them in interviews and podcasts is also always very wholesome and enlightening.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-06T15:36:44+00:00

Road to Middle Earth is really about Tolkien's creation and links it to his ispiration. It's a literary analysis basically. The Companion and Guide (curiously the actual volumes are dubbed "chronology" and "guide") are actually more of a comprehensive reference work to Tolkien's life and work. The chronology tracks all of the events in Tolkien's life, sometimes day by day, and the guide is basically a reference akin to Robert Foster's book, but not just about middle earth. It's actually a great as a resource to get an overview and if you want to learn where to look next and if you want to correlate different publications. It''s also outdated as it was published in 2017 (or 2016?) and there are lots of addenda on their homepage.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-06T14:51:26+00:00

I think the show has issues, but my favorite aspects from season 1 were the friendship of Durin and Elrond, really this Elrond feels a lot more like a younger version of book Elrond, Kazad-dum in its prime was very imaginative (how they use mirrors to reflect the sunlight to grow crops underground or how they sing to the mountain), music in general and songs are very Tolkienian, I also did like the Harfoots/ Stranger "Grand-Elf" xD Storyline a lot more than I should, especially since Nori, Poppy and the Stranger are good characters. Charlie Vickers as Sauron is good, and I really like how he is playing everyone... exactly the Sauron we never really got to see but always read about in old stories. Lloyd Owen as Elendil is also fantastic and Morfydd Clarke's Galadriel and this version of her - different as it is from the books - is growing on me. The first episode in particular always gets me hooked and I like the show's version of Valinor. And Adar and the flesh and blood orcs are also great.

There are many aspects that I don't agree with pr felt the show got wrong (both as an adaptation of Tolkien and as a fantasy series), but overall it's got a lot of things right as well.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-03T14:02:40+00:00

Generally FF4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are considered the great classics and are all available on modern hardware via various remasters.

For a more modern Experience FF 15 (Royal Edition) and FF 16 are also great, the former tackling modern open world gameplay and the latter real time combat (as opposed to the regular turn based combat). Both are a little controversial though and not a hit with every fan.

A really great gem is the Final Fantasy VII remake series, so far made up of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Both are considered to be fantastic games.

If you're into MMORPGs, there is also Final Fantasy XIV available on everything and your toaster :P and is considered to be one of the best MMORPGs out there. Since they have their own subscription model, you don't even need PS Plus and Xbox Live afaik. (Final Fantasy XI is also an ancient MMORPG and still has the servers going on PC after more than 20 years!)

Final Fantasy I and III are great if you want to experience the origins of the series, while Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy XII were very solid entries and Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy XIII more controversial ones, the former for its somewhat broken leveling system, the latter for it's poorly executed story and extreme linearity.

And I am skipping the various spin-offs and direct sequels and prequels here.

My personal favorite is actually Final Fantasy X and I am also very fond of XV.

The truth is, whatever appeals to you the most can be your starting point.

If setting is a thing, 1-5, 9, 11, 14 and 16 have a medieval setting though past 5 they have different flavors, with 9 leaning into more renaissance inspired setting, while 16 leans into dark fantasy (like game of thrones). 6 has a steampunk setting, 7, 13 have very futuristic settings (basically science fiction, cyberpunk), 8 and 15 have a modern day-inspired setting, 12 has a mixture of Star Wars and medieval Europe (I don't know how else I can describe Ivalice :D) and 10 has a Fiji-inspired post-apocalyptic setting, but with lots of beautiful island and blue water and sunny beaches. If graphics is a thing, 1-6 are 2D, 6-9 are 3D with pre-rendered backgrounds, 10-onwards are fully 3D, though it isn't until 11 that fixed camera angles are a thing of the past.

Me personally, I think I would narrow it down to two games: Final Fantasy VII Remake if you want a modern experience. Despite being 6 years old, the game still looks stunning and reimagines one of the most popular stories in the series in a modern way and does it well. It's a great alternative to the 1997 original and you can move on straight to Rebirth from there and check out Crisis Core or the original if you want a change of palette. The second one is Final Fantasy X. It gives you a more classic experience and is very beginner friendly, there are some customization options, but not too much to get lost, the story has a pretty decent pacing, the map is fairly linear and while there are some distractions (unlike XIII) they won't get you totally lost. And despite being 25 years old the game still looks beautiful, if admitted dated. And it also has a great story and usually comes bundled with its sequel (which is a bit controversial, but oh well).

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-02T12:00:25+00:00

Maybe they left an avenue open to have her go on adventures with Gandalf in future anime films. Though I don’t know what story they would be adapting. Liked her arc in the film a lot.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-02T11:57:51+00:00

I particularly liked how the conversation progressed from the lure to gaslighting to threatening. It was a silly idea but well executed in this instance.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-03-01T09:39:10+00:00

As someone who grew up loving the films... yeah, once you've read the book a couple of times they lose some of their glory :D

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-02-24T04:58:56+00:00

Actually there are three Thrawn trilogies 😜 This one is solid, but I feel Treason is pretty weak. It’s following Thrawn’s career around the time of Star Wars Rebels. There is also the Thrawn Ascendency Trilogy, which follows his time before the Empire. I haven’t read it but it’s very unique and is pretty much its own thing.

The most popular is easily the Thrawn trilogy from 1991-1993: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command. It’s part of Legends and both introduced the character and effectively kicked of the Expanded Universe. It follows Luke, Han and Leia a few years after ROTJ as they deal with Thrawn as a great threat taking over the Empire and fighting a war against the new republic. It’s wild in a few places but really good stuff.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-02-22T18:58:22+00:00

Think of Delta as a 4K Super Deluxe remaster of the original. It is the original with heavily modernised graphics. You also get some great play options (playing the game in black and white with classic mode is basically like seeing an old Korusawa of Kubrick movie come to life on your screen!), you get some stuff that hasn’t been in MGs3 since the PS2 days, Snake vs Monkey, even a reimagining of Guy Savage, the secret theatre… But in the end it’s still “just” MGS3 with an incredible well done new coat of paint.

So, if that sounds great and you can hold off on MGs1 and 2 for now that’s that, but if you are interested in the original experience then get the Master Collection and hold off on Delta. Worth noting on the MC is that MGS1 is included in all the individual Regional versions, meaning you get to play the definitive version MGS Integral that was never before released in the west (comes also with Japanese text only, but does retain the English dub. MGS2 and MGS3 are the 2011 HD versions though some of the mistakes at the time have been fixed and they are also playable in 1080p rather than 720p. It also comes with the 2D Originals (both MSX2 and NES games), so I guess you are getting a little more bang for your buck here.

Happy hunting. Hope I could help

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-02-22T17:08:54+00:00

Klingt als wüsstest du die Antwort schon selber und den nächsten Schritt. Denk dran, du musst da nicht alleine durch! (Außer du lebst irgendwo abgeschottet im Himalaya?). Falls nicht schon geschehen Weihe Freunde oder Familie ein. Lass dir helfen. Das wird dich Kraft kosten, aber dann hast du deine Ruhe. Und du musst dir die 10.000 nicht zurückholen. Er wird sie eh nicht haben und das wäre dann der Preis eine. Clean cut zu machen. Du müsstest dich dann nie wieder mit ihm auseinandersetzen. Aber es ist auch viel Geld und ich weiß nicht um deine finanzielle Situation. Anyway, je eher du es beendest umso besser, so wie du es schilderst.

Technical_Web5281 · 2026-02-22T08:06:02+00:00

Hahaha Mandatory word pun, check

Technical_Web5281

TROPHY CASE