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Jeff LaSala

@jlasala.bsky.social

250 followers 45 following 93 posts

Writer / Sr. Prod. Editor (Macmillan/Tor) | Husband | Dad | *Mere* Christian | RUSH fan | Gamer | Tolkien nerd | D&D dork | Eberron geek | Raveloft dweeb | WotC novelist/gamer | https://jefflasala.online/

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Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 4d

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 5d

Really sorry to hear this, Marcel. For your loss and clearly so many others.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 5d

"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 5d

Adorable. He reminds me of a dog who looked very much the same, who I knew as a kid (not our dog) named Ranger.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 5d

Little tiny Glamhoth "din-horde" noises, absolutely. And maybe some dwarf-boots-tramping-down-their-Dwarf-road sounds, too, when drawing that dotted line.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 6d

Are we dusting off our costumes or what? #Silmarillion #OfBeleriandandItsRealms #Tolkien

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 6d

I've loved everything about this map since I first saw it: From the scofflaw defiance of Tolkien writing right there in that margin to the helpful placement of Angband to HUAN getting his own territory (or hunting zone?) to the Dwarf-road drawn all the way to Menegroth.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 7d

I'm glad he keeps "angel" and "angelic" only in letters. The comparison is helpful, but it doesn't quite fit in actual narratives.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 7d

To all this I can only quote the late Professor himself:

♪ "Emotion transmitted
Emotion received
Music in the abstract
Positively
Elemental empathy
A change of synergy
Music making contact
Naturally" ♫

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVze...

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 7d

If Queen Berúthiel's cats are sealed in a box with a device that might slay them—according to quantum rules—they are considered both alive and dead simultaneously until the box is opened and observed. I think that's how this goes? Or should this be Tevildo, in sealed halls, with hallowed mithril?

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 12d

This looks like maybe the best version so far, but at the same time, I wish we had an early 20s Victor (per the book), or at least one closer matching Elizabeth's age (per the book), and a less tower- and lightning-based creation process (which is a movie thing). But . . . still excited for this.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · 22d

If you think about Middle-earth at least once a day—or numerous times, all throughout, like me—you should allow the Roving Ranger to keep you informed!

Marcel R. Bülles 📚💍🌋🎉 @thetolkienist.com · 23d

A lot of Tolkien fans have never heard of this all things Tolkienian newsletter - the internet is huge and finding relevant, interesting, and entertaining information is getting more difficult by the day.

Help others find the "Roving Ranger" 🤩

Here are some reasons why!

Seven reasons to subscribe and support the Roving Ranger

Let's get this newsletter to 1,000 subscribers by Frodo's & Bilbo's Birthday - September 22, 2025.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

Never mind how it ends. But this particular moment, where the bad guy experiences what it's like to be treated the way he's treated other people—it always stayed with me. It rarely occurs to fictional (or real) villains that THEY can be on the receiving end of the evil they inject into the world.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

"Would you?" the clone asks, unconcerned, then proceeds to strip away the other man's clothing so he has something to wear. The dying Drucker just sort of mentally grapples with the sudden reversal, at being treated so callously by his other self; now he's just in the way.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

Clone Drucker sees dying Drucker, realizes who he is, and casually starts to grab dying Drucker's clothing. "Aren't you even going to wait until I die?" original Drucker says to clone Drucker. He's genuinely horrified at the cold disregard the clone has for him, a replica of himself.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

This way he can still "live" on, defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger, and continue his evil work despite his body's imminent demise. But the equipment is damaged and Drucker's evil clone wakes up a few minutes too soon—naked and physically incomplete.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

So it's the near future. The primary antagonist is Michael Drucker, CEO of an unethical cloning corp. Near the end of the film, Drucker is mortally wounded. He has his right-hand man "warm up a blank" (a clone of himself that Drucker can transfer his mind into when its ready).

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

There's a scene from 2000's The 6th Day that I think of sometimes when contemplating some of our real-life villains. (It's a not half-bad Schwarzenegger film with a few interesting things to say, but also riffs/steals a bit from other films in the genre, like Blade Runner and even Total Recall.)

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 12

We longstanding D&D gamers have been amused and entertained with this phenomenon ever since the year 2000 when the rogue class was introduced (formerly just called thieves). Now it has a second life in the Star Wars fandom.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 10

This cute little hobbit-sized orc is from a desk calendar I bought in the year prior to the release of Fellowship of the Ring. To the best of my knowledge, he never appeared anywhere in the movies. And I was looking. Poor little guy. Moria-orc left on the cutting room floor, I'm pretty sure.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 10

It's so great, despite its legion of adaptation quirks. I had the read-along record as a kid. This not-appear-in-the-film still image, though, freaks me out. First, Bilbo's foot looks way too hand-like. And second, check out the stone on that Ring! Whaaaaa? :) I'm very fond of it all, though.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 9

Who wore it best? (And by "it" I mean the helm and chainmail coif and amor.) Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish by Thor Products . . . or the spriggan from 1983's Monster Manual II? One has the ability to temporarily grow to giant size. The other smells of fresh lemons. #dungeonsanddragons #spriggan

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 5

I mean . . .

The Continuing Story Of Bombadil Tom
The Fool of the Took
I Want To Hold (and Keep) Your Ring
Durin's Silver Hammer
Lothlórien Wood (This Eagle Has Flown To)
Oh! Gollum
Strawberries and Cream Forever
The Long and Winding Road Goes Ever On
When I'm Eleventy-One

Just to name a few.

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Sep 5

Fun fact: Even though they both eat rotted flesh and can paralyze you by touch, ghouls and carrion crawlers clearly don’t always get along! At least, not *these* ghouls from 1987.

The more you know!

Jeff LaSala @jlasala.bsky.social · Aug 13

Right? And let's not forget Gwindor, who also had no choice! I think Gwindor could be considered an honorary right-handed Elf, and Maedhros an honorary left-handed Elf. Honorary because Elves are ambidextrous. :) And Beren . . . well, probably just a lefty, but likewise not by choice.