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edmorland.bsky.social
Ed Morland
@edmorland.bsky.social
310 followers 610 following 1.2K posts
Mostly lurking but enjoy the sudden bursts of sport, SFF, board games or far more likely reposted content. (he/him)
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edmorland.bsky.social
And we get to one of the major sections of the book as we head South and through Moria.
The Ring Goes South Pippin has not quite caught up with the tone of the previous chapter Sarcastic Gandalf from the window Bilbo assuming news in chapter order, not Gandalf's timeline Still a story where the practicalities matter Rivendell as a place outside of time/care One star shone red - cannot escape Pern read as a child Elrond's sons visiting Galadriel but can't mention her this early Limits of foresight, the growing shadow Elrond clearly picking 9 from the off for the significance not just practicality Fellowship already a temporary grouping up here Pippin vs Glorfindel the great debate It would be well to trust to their friendship than to great wisdom Scouring of the Shire foreshadowed Gandalf's gut vs Elrond's head Imagine there's probably a set form for describing swords he's drawing on One final passing of the guard from Bilbo to Frodo Difference in lineage alike in swords as in men What might happen with the horn we say, character in rituals See also in Sam and his packing, pulling out a trinket with triumph "Yet no oath or bond is laid on you" remains a great bit Gimli's first real intervention in the narrative is to argue with Elrond Tineskip, journey sketched out in mood and images Gimli's homecoming is still emotionally effective - we know where we will be going soon Gandalf cannot/will not see beyond the Fellowships breaking Elder Elves strange even to Legolas who is listening to stones Haunting the region, in a positive way Aragorn good at his job, uneasiness before the storm First glimpse of Nazgul & Fell Beast? Hints of Moria/Mountain debate. Gap of Rohan always out Different cultural perspectives on snow Is the mountain cursed or just an arse Gandalf's sense of the larger picture vs Boromir's practicality The snow passage just works, nature whether natural or supernatural as the adversary and no way through Could be wasted scenes but build the group through their working together Gandalf and Legolas still enough energy for sarcasm Caradhras had defeated them. A Journey in the Dark Mentions of exile, no way back since the journey has begun Gandalf always knew which way they were going, willing to let others explore alternatives Danger vs secrecy, experience vs rumour Boromir very strong on what he knows, unable to engage with what he doesn't Gandalf not the only person with premonitions Wargs put an end to that debate Fire and light vs dark, conveniently dramatic hill Gandalf's magic, big on atmosphere, short on specifics Even the wolves are eerie Walking through a changed land, all is not as if once was Elven Touched Pony, again Gandalf's foresight Aragorn being this is just Gandalf being Gandalf while the others panic I once knew every spell in all the tongues, lost with incarnation or Gandalf himself fading Boromir rather than Pippin disturbing the waters Too simple for a learned lore-master in these suspicious days There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world. Again depth of world/history Gandalf and Gimli against the dark, but mainly Gandalf Cats of Queen Berúthiel Frodo already changed by his experiences - Hello Gollum Pippin curiously attracted to well, Gandalf comforting him after the fact Perfectly reasonable distances covered The histories of the Dwarves and their poetry The journey has so far been entirely absent the enemy, just the weight of history, darkness and all that has passed And so we end on grief The Bridge of Kazad-dûm Bringing home the fact that Balin is known to them Tolkien has read old documents before It was valiant but foolish. The time is not yet come. Amount of time on the build up vs the actual fight itself It begins and ends with psychology, this is morale not a simple D&D encounter (sorry OSR) Gandalf's magic is again obscured, even the explanation gives us more a straight clash of wills than spells Balrog build up is obvious if you know, interesting Gandalf does not admit to recognising it here Legolas' competence here, they are outmatched and know it vs action figures fighting mooks Hello wings dilemma Gandalf unveiled remains a banger moment Doom doom, the drums as refrain really work
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Knew we were at some point getting the third book in this series and glad to have a date.

I guess we're very much getting into the filling out reading lists for 2026 part of the promo cycle.
Promo image of Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead. Text above: Welcome to 1980s New York Text below: Coming 21 July 2026
November 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
And we begin book 2 and its first two chapters. One of finding our feet and enjoying another of Tolkien's places of rest and a second to reset our expectations for what is to come with quite a few facts he thinks you should know.
Many Meetings It's a fun jump cut from the previous chapter Flat ceiling being unusual Barrow as the perhaps most dangerous moment Frodo talking on his sleep so no need to catch up on events on the page Gandalf again careful with what he claims to know and what is guesses "Against some I have not yet been measured." - Foreshadowing Even Frodo gets to be occasionally provincial "Yet he can see through a brick wall in time" Frodo just as concerned with timetables as Tolkien "And that was because you resisted to the last" There is power, too, of another kind in the Shire Hello Gandalf's thoughts and Frodo's already traumas He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can. - Galadriel's phial Gandalf very proud of his part in the flood AO3 having a field day with Frodo and Sam meeting The two genders of Elves meme "Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that." Gandalf, Glorfindel and Elrond, descriptions not from the story so far Arsenal merits a full page description but no actual actions Let's check in with the cast of the Hobbit Lots of build up for Bilbo's appearance Don't adventures ever have an end? Bilbo reciting a verse about Elrond's dad, not stated explicitly but there Plenty in this section that's there in the text but not explicit Rivendell does feel a place lived in but that runs to higher things than the world we've seen so far The Council of Elrond Should we understand what's going on or go for a walk? Boromir gets the most description of any attendee Not all that was spoken... need now be told. It'll still be a 40 page chapter. A wider world where Sauron is starting to make an impact on Chance or fate as chance discussed again Elrond is too old for this shit Definite fading of the world themes Boromir sets the scene for books 2 & 3 Denethor cutting a different role from the off Bilbo pissed off for his friend but also author of prophecy Deeds unsung as well as some not unreasonable doubts Quickly moving past tales already published This is a tale that has been in motion for many a year, a long planned response not an emergency scramble Contrasting with Aragorn in Bree we are dealing with great deeds directly here. In the Last Homely House we throw off the domestic to step into the epic Gandalf speaking the Black Speech really does hit Gandalf being pedantic about the definite article amidst the madness "Radagast is, of course, a worthy Wizard" tell us what you really think Gandalf Tolkien having fun with his white light theme Saruman up all night rehearsing his big speech is a great image Feels unnecessary to constantly just refer to Butterbur as "a fat man" even if the scorn is then undermined I was sent to hear tidings not burdens Boromir speaking in defence of Rohan, at this point far more of a character than Legolas or Gimli Pedantic Gandalf strikes again Casually takes on the 9, hard put to it but fine Bombadil continues to bring the atmosphere The Elven retreat as obvious and not a solution, debt to the future Struggles and powers that go on beyond their knowledge or the pages of this book Despair, folly, wisdom Bilbo's offer - "only Gloin smiled, but his smile came from old memories" And so Frodo's exile must continue
October 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Notes from a Regicide continuing to be very good.

It's absolutely aware of its three voices and, as you'd hope any book partly about art would be, is aware of the art it is constructing with them.
Screenshot of Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman. How to imagine how he felt, experiencing all this and then writing about it, months later, from the cell of his second prison? How to imagine how he felt at all? It's hard, hard. As hard sometimes as imagining how Simon felt. I've made Simon sound like an ogre, when really he could be as sweet sometimes as any cruel man, that empathy like a double whip: spurs you towards him, licks blood from your back. I don't want to make excuses for him, so I've only written the most damning stuff I can.
October 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
There's a lot going on so far, all interesting and engaging, in Notes from a Regicide but this scale for rating art is a particular delight.
A picture of a segment of Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman. "Good": the very best. "Really good": skillful and original, but not truly top-flght. "Interesting": neither a forehanded or backhanded compliment. "Interesting" meant that Zaffre had found one thing in the work to learn from, but not more than one. "Really interesting": beneath contempt. "Weird": a catchall term encompassing many complex emotions. Zaffre always stood for at least five minutes before a painting she'd declared "weird," and never said anything more about it.
October 11, 2025 at 5:29 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Exhibition 2 of the can't go to the Orkneys so let's muck about in London and see some art instead week.

Really enjoyed Kiefer/Van Gogh though it is aimed at me, cannot resist a big moody landscape if you offer one. Very much playing with scale and texture in a way I doubt the pictures do justice.
Nevermore by Anselm Kiefer. The gold of corn on a blue background while black crows hover overhead all portrayed in thick paints in a post impressionist style. A zoomed in bit of Nevermore by Anselm Kiefer. The paint is layered in thick in a way that rather more resembles a frieze than a traditional painting. Starry Night by Anselm Kiefer A wall size canvas inspired by one of the swirls in the sky of Starry Night by Van Gogh. This is created in paint, gold foil and straw across a sky blue background. A zoom in at an angle of Starry Night by Anselm Kiefer showing the 3D nature of the art, ridges of scorched straw are visible covered in gold.
October 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
And so we reach Rivendell and the end of book 1.
Strider The Excellent is a great line Old Bombadil, as with Farmer Maggot he's an enigma who's chatted to plenty of people Was Strider rather than a Black Rider or Gollum following them I know their number. I know these Riders Much of the next chapter is being sketched out, choice of allusion vs infodump Sam suspicion again Enter Butterbur, one again Tolkien writing voice Again, the courage seen in ordinary people Letter with both useful information and comedy Aragorn pulls the Gandalf trick from the films, his heritage dropped in much earlier Despite the Black Riders being fully unnatural now they're still using mortal agents Not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us. Strider speaks in a different mode A Knife in the Dark The rousing of Buckland, we will hear this again Courage of Fatty Bolger, themes repeated Good bolsters ruined and all Pettiness of evil and the practicalities of travel Yes Tolkien, let us know all the ponies were fine even if they weren't blessed by the light of the Elves Not all the foreigners/refugees prove evil, it's not one note Though racially tinged evil then immediately appears on the page The crowd viewing the departure is really quite a funny image Contraction/expansion of time, all been quite detailed and then 3 days pass The countryside as we leave Bree is noticeably colder/less hospitable than that seem before Again a land populated by ruins and history, hidden road Sam with surpassing history knowledge, poetry Foreshadowing The clockwork of Tolkien's timetable reveals itself Explanations as builders of atmosphere rather than puzzles Fire as comfort rather than idiocy, they're competent but that isn't sufficient The power of names/stories ABACBABC Beauty, Sorrow, stories without clear purpose Fear as the great weapon, no great action scene Flight to the Ford The scene again from the outside works well A world blessed by Westernesse as well as the Elves Again zoomed out, a land less populated by people, nature or time Chance, fate, other actors in this part off the page Strider's competence vs even that of Merry earlier Just enough detail, just enough atmosphere, the tension builds. There are repeated refrains but they work Dark wings, again looking forward And again a world laced with history though this time personal Frodo while struggling is much less critical than in the films Song as antidote to the dark, comedy as antidote to gathering epic Ferry redux, again the use of audio cues for friend or foes Fun cultural footnotes return Even the presence of an Elf feels to overcome nature but only so far Again no great action scene, it is stealth and haste when that fails As with the barrow Frodo must first resist before deliverance comes
October 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
The SU&SD Newsletter excited to inform me about new boardgames.

Me in Edinburgh Station trying to get home from our aborted holiday to the Orkneys: "Maybe not this one right now..."
A screenshot of the Shut Up & Sit Down newsletter featuring a segment on the Boardgame Skara Brae.
October 4, 2025 at 10:34 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
And session 3, we leave the Shire and make our way to Bree of not by the most direct road.
The Old Forest Hour and a half from waking to leaving, all very practical Casual nature of the trees consciousness Just a quiet Hobbit Tree war in the backstory I should not shout if I were you. It does more harm than good. Merry's quiet familiarity/competence Queerness feels very much the word of the chapter The hilltop as rest but not as solution Nature both as obstacle and adversary Once again walking as an activity not just scene change False comfort of the river valley, even outside did we have not left habitation Sam's suspicion as saviour "He says so." How? It is a very silly song Is this magic, does it matter From cruel forest, to ominous dream, to cultivated home In the House of Tom Bombadil The spell that was laid on him was different River daughter again not defined or needed to be Elf friend, more than just a description He is Chance but not unforseen chance Some things are ill to hear when the world's in shadow. Dreams again, this time far more comprehensible if you know In deep content, if logs are contented Comfort and rest but eerie comfort The father's of fathers of trees, remembering times when they were lords. Much explained or at least motioned at but no lack of atmosphere Always a word or a description to break away from the epic Farmer Maggot, the power behind the mushrooms The ring, interesting choice to undermine or at least question Prefiguring the next chapter Fog on the Barrow-downs Goodbye to Goldberry feels somewhat Arthurian Strong memories of finding that depression for a mid walk lunch Sleep explicable but not necessarily natural Frodo and Merry at the ends of the line Standing stones, apparition from the mist and the past Seed of courage in the ordinary Greenish glow- aesthetic of the army of the dead movies Commiting to a Saxon burial theme Song vs Incantation Memory of the song for aid coming to him only after he had acted Till the dark lord lifts his hand vs Till the world is mended Running naked on the grass as recovery Knowing the ponies true names And here comes the blades of the foes of the king of Carn Dûm No thought of fighting Even off the downs the land is still littered with memories Again borders, both for Tom and for Hobbits To find a fire, and a door between them and night. At the Sign of the Prancing Pony Staddle, top village name Big folk, they claimed, the exposition is still in a clear voice Statements of the land being empty but also many more Outsiders than known to the Shire The world is growing darker, less connected but not no connection Dark figure, suspicion The warmth of the inn vs the buildings in the rest of the village Sam's suspicion again in less needed circumstances Equivalence of Shire and Rangers, no one place as bastion of provincialism Enter Strider, more open to talk here Frodo's song, the core jumped over the moon as cultural artifact Of course we must know of the cultural sun gendering From suggestion from outside to the ring putting itself on Travelling magician as thing to suspect Suspicion from all parties, nobody clear on where they stand
September 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
One of these games seems rather more likely to play back.
A kallax unit filled with board games, the top right cube however contains a ginger cat.
September 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
What a team! Shockingly enough, this was a lot more fun than getting up early for 2022.
A blury as fuck photo of the Red Roses lifting the World Cup. Copious amounts of gold string is raining down.
September 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
We're here, ready for a glorious afternoon of rugby.
Twickenham Stadium, France and the Black Ferns visible in huddles preparing for the Rugby World Cup Bronze Final.
September 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
It may be that my dayjob for too long has involved the typesetting of exam papers but this joke in the just released to backers draft of the Gold Teeth RPG sent me...
A screenshot of an RPG which reads: This Page Left Intentionally Cursed
September 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
And slightly delayed, we have our second LotR chat. 3 more chapters see us make our way to Crickhollow and the edge of the Shire.
Three is Company Again the sense of urgency, or lack there of. Last summer in the Shire, exile rather than adventure 'I am not warning you against leaving an address at the post office!' Still within the cloak of mundanity rather than Fantasy Rivendell only a suggestion - But you cannot see very far, neither can I. Gossip at the pub as at of conveying developments still Frodo did not offer her any tea. Not left first chapter behind Hunt for Frodo also so presented as mundane at first, not yet in high adventure Exile notes again Middle Earth's most famous fox, in the wilds but genteel Touched with gold and red the autumn trees seemed to be sailing rootless in a shadowy sea. Tolkien has walked before in England Rhyming has a natural sense of rhythm unlike imitators Black rider, again hints of unnatural but not yet supernatural Again the outside world intruding in to the Shire Still a genteel wilderness, as empty as the land is aid is there to be found Pippin surprisingly courtly, Sam silent The Gildor Inglorion-Tom Bombadil-Treebeard-Ghân-buri-Ghân continuum Elf roads/Roman roads? First confirmation that the Riders are true danger But it is not your own Shire, feel of comfort being drawn back The Wandering Companies A Short Cut to Mushrooms Very different mornings described from last chapter Exile again, Sam far more blasé about staying with They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes, so to speak OK, rather less blasé now Conversations that feel like well worn arguments - culture Immediately the mechanics of walking places are present Elven drink, like the sleep transcending rather than of nature Black Riders have done very little but have presence Sudden shift from long drawn wail to historic escapades, still very much on the Shire Sam still quite parochial, Farmer Maggot in the opposite direction. Decentres the narrative Pippin again as competent The fakeout also works, like Sam eavesdropping the use of audio cues is nice A Conspiracy Unmasked Boundaries and edges, Buckland, river and High Hay Existing as a place in its own right, not just as the edge Still in civilised places, not yet lost the domestic to the epic Merry and Pippin again as notably more competent/serious people - already with ability to rise to the occasion Sam as character in his own right Trust, friendship, responsibilities Living culture, songs modified from other songs Porousness of Borders once again Visions, not too obvious in relevance but vividly described
September 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
And back home from a long gaming weekend for a friend's birthday. Exhausted but had a great time and many good games played.
BG Stats 5 x 5. Play count: 4: So Clover!; 3: Tsuro; 2: Codenames; 2: Faraway; 2: Harvest; 2: Heat: Pedal to the Metal; 2: ito; 2: No Thanks!; 2: Rafter Five; 2: Rebel Princess; 1: Auf Teufel komm raus; 1: The Bottle Imp; 1: Calico; 1: Colour Brain; 1: The Crew: Mission Deep Sea; 1: Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy; 1: Eggs of Ostrich; 1: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game; 1: Fishing; 1: Fun Facts; 1: Harmonies; 1: Joraku; 1: LLAMA; 1: Lords of Scotland; 1: Lords of Vegas. BG Stats 4 x 4. Play count: 1: The Mind; 1: Penguin Party; 1: Pictures; 1: The Quest for El Dorado; 1: Rumble Nation; 1: Tammany Hall; 1: Team Play; 1: Vikings; 1: Wavelength; 1: Wits & Wagers.
September 16, 2025 at 11:47 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
Pellinore's willingness to be emotional support is always dependent on the fact he's in fact very comfortable at the moment. Luckily for him that's often not a problem.
A ginger cat's head resting on a pillow. He's peaking out of a duvet where he's very comfortable.
September 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
And have now done the first sit and chat our way through a close read of The Lord of the Rings with Roseanna. I made various notes during my reading in preparation.
Prologue Found fiction conceit straight from the prologue Magic, what is it? We'll tell you plenty of things it isn't We're still doing a history of peoples who move on mass at this point Bridge repair, one of the great common burdens of Mercia People overestimate how much Pippin is the Prince of the Shire The Authorities as decoders of the Riddle game is a glorious touch Retrofitting the past as a fact of materiel objects Document genealogies because of course Also who the fuck cares about spoilers A Long Expected Party Jane Austen-esque opening line Full country-squire relationship with the Gaffer, not one of equals but of respect Classic Miller character Party "I do, when I know anything." Frodo in the know here, surprise to us as readers but not to the character Leaves with companions, much more of his contacts with the outside world. Gandalf shows much less concern than in movies "She took the point at once but also the spoons" The Shadow of the Past Bilbo as stock figure is a lovely touch Merry and Pippin established as the key friends from the off 17 years pass... Frodo as a more active character, seaking news from Dwarves Permeability of Shire borders, scouring being set up even now Hello ents Sam curious about outside world, contrast with Sandyman Gandalf, cycles, history repeating Reminder of rings beyond the poem Which great ring did Gandalf think it was "And I had no right to do anyway" Saruman set up as an uneasy friend right away Tick one for people other than Sam giving up the ring of their own accord Tick two "Like a shadow on the borders of old stories" Killer line is dropped here "There was sorrow then too, and gathering dark, and great valour, and great deeds that were not wholly vain." Racial memory vibes, not great Something in Gollum to be saved dropped early More killer lines, seeing its stall out early Frodo explicitly as ordinary hero Adventure vs exile
August 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
The deep culinary importance of having eaten Gü desserts so you have the little ramekins to put your spices in before starting cooking.
Three clear glass ramekins, two white ceramic ramekins and a jar of honey sit in front of a wine rack. They're full of various spices; chopped garlic, garlic & ginger paste, cinnamon sticks & cardamon pods, chilli powder and mixed spices all visible.
August 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Franklin's Gardens achieved. Have now added Japan and Brazil shirts spotted to complete the set.
Franklin's Gardens stadium, view from the south stand. Ireland warming up in front of us.
August 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
Forgot to post yesterday but had a lovely day at the Hundred. Never been to Lords before so great excuse to go and while neither of the two matches were particularly close it was still an enters way to spend an afternoon.
Lords Cricket ground, a view across the ground to the old pavilion, blue smoke drifting across the field from the theatrics at the start of the match.
August 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
When you've recovered from the shock of the thunder outside but don't feel quite like leaving the shelter you took yet.
Half the face of an orange cat pokes out from under a stool alongside two neatly curled paws.
August 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
While he lives a generally blessed life Pellinore rarely looks quite so much like a holy object.
A ginger cat sleeps, illuminated by a light, atop a red cushion in front of a kalax full of boardgames.
August 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Obviously the first hope is that they do fund but I had been really looking forward to what they would have done, beyond the brilliant set of interviews already up strangehorizons.com/category/pod... to celebrate their 25th.
Stretch Goals for the Strange Horizons fundraiser. "We need $20,000 to keep the magazine alive at its current pay rates. Provided we reach that goal, it's time to get excited! Here are our stretches: At $22,500 we will publish a special issue on fungi in SFF! At $25,000, you will help us celebrate a very important milestone: Our 25th anniversary edition! At $27,500, we will publish a special issue on SFF and the working class! At $30,000, we will commission additional pieces of artwork in 2026!"
July 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM
edmorland.bsky.social
Ah, I see we've followed somewhat different conventions in logging that session of The Crew.
BG Stats 4 x 4. Play count: 2: The Bottle Imp; 2: Robotrick; 2: Terraforming Mars; 1: Calico; 1: Challengers!; 1: The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine; 1: Earth; 1: The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game; 1: Ganz Schön Clever; 1: Jäger und Sammler; 1: Space Base; 1: Taluva.
July 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
edmorland.bsky.social
Don't you want to put to use all of the computer skills you learnt at school?
Graphic Design is my Passion expressed in Word Art
June 23, 2025 at 12:13 PM