Jeff LaSala
@jlasala.bsky.social
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/
Keep a close eye out.
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Keep a close eye out.
Happy #Halloween from #Ravenloft. And with apologies to artist Stephen Fabian, may he rest in peace.
October 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Happy #Halloween from #Ravenloft. And with apologies to artist Stephen Fabian, may he rest in peace.
Be cautious out there this #Halloween, folks. And be whimsical and imaginative, too. #theneverendingstory
October 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Be cautious out there this #Halloween, folks. And be whimsical and imaginative, too. #theneverendingstory
They're taking the hobbits to . . . Transylvania? (And the castle of Dracula of Many-Colours!)
October 28, 2025 at 1:32 PM
They're taking the hobbits to . . . Transylvania? (And the castle of Dracula of Many-Colours!)
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you?"
October 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you?"
♪ "This is a thing called a Precious!
The whole thing starts with a box . . ." ♫
The whole thing starts with a box . . ." ♫
October 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
♪ "This is a thing called a Precious!
The whole thing starts with a box . . ." ♫
The whole thing starts with a box . . ." ♫
"Authority is not given to us to deny the return of the Pumpkin King."
October 28, 2025 at 1:30 PM
"Authority is not given to us to deny the return of the Pumpkin King."
Jack wants in on the gift-giving thing.
♪ "And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but him!" ♫
♪ "And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but him!" ♫
October 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Jack wants in on the gift-giving thing.
♪ "And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but him!" ♫
♪ "And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but him!" ♫
That's about right.
October 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
That's about right.
A few of the best monster-themed cartoon panels. Happy Hallowe'en, folks. #halloween
October 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
A few of the best monster-themed cartoon panels. Happy Hallowe'en, folks. #halloween
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
October 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."
October 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
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.
October 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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.
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?
October 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
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?
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.)
September 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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.)
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.
September 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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.
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.
September 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
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.
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
September 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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
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!
The more you know!
September 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
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!
The more you know!
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.
August 13, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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.
For anyone able to reach NYC and didn't make this year's New York Tolkien Conference, I highly recommend next year! It was quite fun, and always informative!
August 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
For anyone able to reach NYC and didn't make this year's New York Tolkien Conference, I highly recommend next year! It was quite fun, and always informative!
Guess which man of the cloth from the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves represents an actual (and realistically flawed) Christian and which one is the perfect symbol for a MAGA Christian?
And isn't it curious how we just all instinctively know the answer, on a visceral level?
And isn't it curious how we just all instinctively know the answer, on a visceral level?
July 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Guess which man of the cloth from the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves represents an actual (and realistically flawed) Christian and which one is the perfect symbol for a MAGA Christian?
And isn't it curious how we just all instinctively know the answer, on a visceral level?
And isn't it curious how we just all instinctively know the answer, on a visceral level?
This is how MAGA readers perceive The Lord of the Rings. Their brains render whatever redaction or confirmation bias adjustments are needed so they can get to the "good" stuff such as the killing foreigners. The themes of pity, sorrow, and fellowship go WAY over their heads. Fingers in ears.
June 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This is how MAGA readers perceive The Lord of the Rings. Their brains render whatever redaction or confirmation bias adjustments are needed so they can get to the "good" stuff such as the killing foreigners. The themes of pity, sorrow, and fellowship go WAY over their heads. Fingers in ears.
Sure did. Loved that exhibit, and the talk by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond that came with. It also overlapped with the Frankenstein exhibit, too. Made for such a great period of time!
June 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Sure did. Loved that exhibit, and the talk by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond that came with. It also overlapped with the Frankenstein exhibit, too. Made for such a great period of time!