Westmarch.net - Links

Here is our 'short list' of super sites on the web for Lordaholics.
If you don't see your favorite site listed, tell us about it, for possible inclusion when we update.

The Official Movie Site: Here is the official site for Peter Jackson's masterpiece films. Find updates, trailers, screensavers and desktops to download, tons of background information on Middle Earth and the films, cast and crew, the store and a link to the sponsored Netscape message boards at the heart of our community.

**Web Communities**
Prancing Pony message board The home of a bunch of very enthusiastic Lordaholics, the Prancing Pony message board at Netscape is a lively place to visit, or to live in. Discussion ranges from serious and passionate to completely frivolous. The books, the films, the stars - anything and everything is fair game for this community. The board is the birthplace of the famous Stupid Ring Parody, the Partisans group, the Burping Troll Adventurers, the Tolkien Read-Along, reams of poetry and prose, Ask the Characters and much more. Come on over and jump in!
Khazaddum A fan community consisting primarily of enthusiastic forums with topics covering all things Tolkien and beyond.
The Council of Elrond A community Lord of the Rings site with news, large and very active forums, chat, stores, fan fiction and galleries of photos, screen captures, and fan art.
Prancing Pony Partisans newsgroup A hang out for some of the most hard-core Lordaholics - where we relax and wander cheerfully on and off topic. Non-members can browse the files full of gems written or collected by the group, and the links page. It is here that the Stupid Ring site was born.
Tolkien Read-Along newsgroup This is a moderated forum for reading and discussing Tolkien's works. Currently reading Lord of the Rings - a new chapter begun each Wednesday and Sunday. Anyone may post without becoming a member. Members get the added benefits of access to the files (with compilations of discussion of past chapters), links, photos and the calendar with scheduled dates for each chapter. A lively and international group of fans with widely varying experience of Tolkien make discussions very interesting indeed! Update: We are reading the Silmarillion now! Come join us!

**Collaborative sites spun off from the Pony**
StupidRing.com The Prancing Pony community's humor site. Home of the world's largest Lord of the Rings parody, the annotated film script, the Favorite Little Things list, Howling Wolf Gollum (must be seen to be believed!), Lord of the Pants, and too much else to name. A must-see on any Lordaholics tour of the web!
The Burping Troll Find the exciting adventures of the Burping Troll here at their own website. These writers began as a role play over at the Netscape Boards and developed into actual stories with plots, characters and an editor to boot. Come take a gander at some funny and moving writing, from this fabulous collaborative writing group.

**Fanfic and more**
The Lord of the Rings: A Visual Journey Erin's collection of the best photo images from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers movie productions, plus selected Tolkien verse, site links, and character sketches derived from the books. And be sure to read The Last Grey Ship - it's a beautiful story!
Enter In *The following is an excerpt from Penne's enormously popular story...enjoy!* Chapter 1 Sauron has decided to reach deep into the future to find the answers to how his war efforts will turn out. Seeking a soul that will know the answers and perhaps provide ways to circumvent any loss foretold, he dips into the pool of time as it swirls about the edges of Middle Earth and catches Pennemiriel unaware and dreaming. A violent wrench and blinding flash of red drags Pennemiriel from her humdrum existence in the 21st century. But she struggles mightily against the pull, for she senses in the very core of her being that she is caught in the nets of unadulterated evil. Even as she feels her strength waning a powerful surge of quiet argent light, like the rising of a silver moon on the darkest night, washes the wave of torturing red away and gently pulls her away, away, away. Suddenly there is a sensation of falling fast and headlong! "Help me!" she cries out to the sylvan light. A warm comforting mist like sleep envelops her and she dreams once more. Upon awakening gently, she first breathes in the sweet fragrance of new-mown hay and feels the sweet warmth of a summer breeze. Rising on an elbow, she surveys the gentle rolling hills around her and spies an old man seated on a fallen log with his back to her. A tall pointed blue hat sits on his head but long wisps of gray hair trail from under it. Gandalf turns, smiling. "Welcome to the Shire. Are you well?" "Yes," she says in a small trembling voice, "If I am in the Shire, I could only be well. It seemed for a time that I would be somewhere... else." "Indeed, it did. But you are not for him, else I would not have been able to call you here out of his grasp," Gandalf smiles, rising and holding out a hand to help her up. "Come with me. I dare say that you would like to freshen up a bit. That was a long fall." Taking her elbow, Gandalf guides her through the meadow grass and down a sloping hillside to a narrow road that winds around the base of the hill. There, not one hundred feet away, stands a lovely garden gate behind which is a round, green door. "Bag End?!" whispers Pennemiriel hopefully. *Click here to read more!*
The Middle Earth Music Hall Lila and Minto Grubb have written some very clever song parodies and adaptations featuring Lord of The Rings characters. They are even adding karaoke music for singing along. (Attention StupidRing Parodists - you are going to love these!)

**Still more sites, for reading, reference and plain fun**
TORN - TheOneRing.net TORN is the place to go for the very latest news and pictures - find out all you ever wanted to know about the films right here.
The Encyclopedia of Arda - Here are Mark Fisher's own words about his splendid site: Welcome to The Encyclopedia of Arda The Encyclopedia of Arda is a personal project - a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The site is intended to evolve into an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples. This lies a long way in the future, though; if the regions of Eä are vast beyond the thought of Elves and Men, so too are the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. . About The Encyclopedia of Arda First, it needs to be emphasized that the site is nowhere near completion, and will probably never achieve this. The index on which it is based contains almost 5,000 headings, and writing and illustrating entries for all of these will probably take years. . Having said that, there's already quite a lot to see, but please bear in mind that many entries have only a short definition or description at the moment. This is a temporary situation: we're always working to expand the content of the Encyclopedia. . Context and Approach The content of the Encyclopedia is written in the same context as Tolkien himself used; he presented himself simply as a translator, rather than originator of the tales. Hence, we try to describe his world from a 'historical' rather than a literary perspective, though this isn't always possible. Where relevant, you'll also find a few references to Tolkien's life or opinions, or to real historical or mythological parallels to events in his universe. . Although this is intended to be an illustrated encyclopedia in the fullness of time, you'll find precious few actual illustrations here yet. Rather, we've concentrated on trying to provide as much textual content in as short a time as possible. Having said this, you will find that many entries relating to specific places have a map attached. . *Click here to read more!*
Here is a large collection of illustrations of Tolkien's work. Eight artists are showcased, including Alan Lee, John Howe and Tolkien himself. The variety of styles and viewpoints provides fascinating insight into the universal appeal of Tolkien's stories and the many ways they can be interpreted.
Barrow Downs Fascinating Tolkien site with much info, articles, fan fiction, name-generator, and more.
JRR Tolkien and Middle Earth: articles by Michael Martinez A large and growing collection of thoughtful and thoroughly enjoyable essays. Some titles: Real Orcs Don't Do Windows, Celeborn Unplugged, Something Wicked This Way Comes.