Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

If you’re looking for the A to Z post, click on the button to the left or scroll down.

Here are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling over the period from April 18 through April 24, 2013. All but the last are from The Fellowship of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Note that the quotes are from the book, not the movie, and in fact come from a section left out of the movie.

Map showing the early part of the Fellowship’s journey. This was a foldout in the original edition.

“It does not seem that I can trust anyone.”  Frodo, when he finds out about the hobbit conspiracy.

“You cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word.” Merry, when the hobbits let Frodo know of the conspiracy to watch him and leave the Shire with him.

“Cruel things and kind things, and secrets hidden under brambles.” What Tom Bombadil is talking about to the hobbits.

“Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning: destroyers and usurpers.” Tom Bombadil, explaining how trees feel about people.

“I am no weather-master, nor is aught that goes on two legs.” Tom advising the hobbits that he cannot guarantee the weather.

“Make haste while the sun shines.” Goldberry to the hobbits as they are leaving Tom Bombadil’s cottage, and meant quite literally as it is a bright morning but may not stay as pleasant.

“I never thought of helping a ship through a storm as sexy.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Lai to Marna, as they share minds in preparation for helping a space shuttle get through a storm.

Uncontacted Planets (A to Z Challenge)

Planets not occupied by Humans or R’il’nians are often found by the Jarnian Confederation. Most are outside the parameters Humans need for life, but when a habitable planet is found, it may be treated in any of several ways. If it is barren, it may be terraformed and colonized. (Example: Horizon.) If it has life but not sentient life it may have some Terran or R’il’nian species imported and then settled by Humans. (Example: Eversummer.) Some planets are of special scientific interest, and they will be kept as pristine as possible. (Example: Mirror.) But if a planet has a native, sentient species, or a species that appears to be evolving toward sentience, that planet will be left alone, and warning beacons will be placed around it.

No contact is permitted with the inhabitants of such a planet: a species must earn its own way to the stars. If the planet is deemed attractive to lawbreakers, it will be assigned a Guardian, a R’il’noid who is responsible for keeping the planet safe and insulated from contact with star-faring species. Such planets are known as uncontacted planets.

Earth is an uncontacted planet. There is a Guardian, and in fact Roi was at one time the Guardian for Earth. It is considered a special planet, as the Humans of the Confederation are well aware that it is their ancestral home. But they keep their presence well-hidden from the Humans of Earth.

I’m doing my A to Z blogs from my books, both characters and background information. For characters I’ll introduce them quickly, say what point of time they’re talking from since their situations change drastically through the books, and let them talk. The format of background information will vary according to what I’m talking about. Bold type indicates that more information has been or will be available in another A to Z post. All of these blogs will be scheduled to go live just after midnight Alaska time.