The Desolation of SUCK.

FREMDFIRMA

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 9:21 AM

Maybe just a little, Smaug is described in Tolkiens work as having some feline characteristics, and I guess the artist just kinda ran with that ball in their interpretation.

The dialogue of that whole scene between Smaug and Bilbo was so well done in that version though, cause it really brings out not only how vain and arrogant dragons are, but also that they are not whatever human in thought and conduct, which is something most folk trying to write one seem to forget - they have totally different and often alien motivations and behaviors.

-F

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SECOND

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 7:55 PM

Quote:

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Originally posted by FREMDFIRMA:

The dialogue of that whole scene between Smaug and Bilbo was so well done in that version though, cause it really brings out not only how vain and arrogant dragons are, but also that they are not whatever human in thought and conduct, which is something most folk trying to write one seem to forget - they have totally different and often alien motivations and behaviors.

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Quote:

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"I have always understood," said Bilbo in a frightened squeak, "that dragons were softer underneath, especially in the region of the–er–chest; but doubtless one so fortified has thought of that."

The dragon stopped short in his boasting. "Your information is antiquated," he snapped. "I am armoured above and below with iron scales and hard gems. No blade can pierce me."

"I might have guessed it," said Bilbo. "Truly there can nowhere be found the equal of Lord Smaug the Impenetrable. What magnificence to possess a waistcoat of fine diamonds!"

"Yes, it is rare and wonderful, indeed," said Smaug absurdly pleased. He did not know that the hobbit had already caught a glimpse of his peculiar undercovering on his previous visit, and was itching for a closer view for reasons of his own. The dragon rolled over. "Look!" he said. "What do you say to that?"

"Dazzlingly marvellous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!" exclaimed Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: "Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!"

After he had seen that Mr. Baggins' one idea was to get away. "Well, I really must not detain Your Magnificence any longer," he said, "or keep you from much needed rest. Ponies take some catching, I believe, after a long start. And so do burglars," he added as a parting shot, as he darted back and fled up the tunnel.

It was an unfortunate remark, for the dragon spouted terrific flames after him, and fast though he sped up the slope, he had not gone nearly far enough to be comfortable before the ghastly head of Smaug was thrust against the opening behind. Luckily the whole head and jaws could not squeeze in, but the nostrils sent forth fire and vapour to pursue him, and he was nearly overcome, and stumbled blindly on in great pain and fear. He had been feeling rather pleased with the cleverness of his conversation with Smaug, but his mistake at the end shook him into better sense.

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MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 8:10 PM

OK, I’ve gone all out geek and typed up the timeline. I used to love all this detail and read it over and over, reveling in the way things fit together and the feeling that this could be a real world of real complexity and if I could dig up the records in Gondor and Rivendell I’d find stories enough to fill every year and every region of Middle Earth.

Anyhow, here’s a small portion of the timeline from Appendix B of LoTR, I’ve only included only the events that directly relate to The Hobbit and LoTR.

year 0: Sauron overthrown by Elendil and Gil-galad, who perish. Isildur takes the One Ring.
1100 The Wise (the Istari and the chief Eldar) discover that an evil power has made a stronghold at Dol Guldur. It is thought to be one of the Nazgul.
1999 Thrain I comes to Erebor and founds a dwarf-kingdom “under the Mountain”
2060 The power of Dol Guldur grows. The wise fear that it may be Sauron taking shape again
2063 Gandalf goes to Dol Guldur. Sauron retreats and hides in the East. The Watchful Peace begins
2460 The Watchful Peace ends. Sauron returns with increased strength to Dol Guldur
2463 The White Council is formed. About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol
2470 About this time Smeagol-Gollum hides in the Misty Mountains
2770 Smaug the Dragon descends on Erebor. Dale destroyed. Thror escapes with Thrain II and Thorin III.
2841 Thrain II sets out to revisit Erebor, but is pursued by the servants of Sauron
2845 Thrain the Dwarf is imprisoned in Dol Guldur; the last of the Seven Rings is taken from him
2850 Gandalf again enters Dol Guldur, and discovers that its master is indeed Sauron, who is gathering all the Rings and seeking for news of the One Ring, and of Isildur’s heir. He finds Thrain and receives the key of Erebor. Thrain dies in Dol Guldur
2851 The White Council meets. Gandalf urges an attack on Dol Guldur. Saruman overrules him. (It afterwards became clear that Saruman had then begun to desire to possess the One Ring himself, and he hoped that it might reveal itself, seeking its master, if Sauron were let be for a time.) Saruman begins to search near the Gladden Fields.
2890 Bilbo born in the shire
2931 Aragon son of Arathorn II born on March 1
2939 Saruman discovers that Sauron’s servants are searching the Anduin near Gladden Fields, and that Sauron therefore has learned of Isildur’s end. He is alarmed, but says nothing to the Council.
2941 Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf visit Bilbo in the Shire. Bilbo meets Smeagol-Gollum and finds the Ring. The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River. Sauron having made his plans abandons Dol Guldur. The Battle of the Five Armies in Dale.
2942 Bilbo returns to the Shire with the Ring. Sauron returns to Mordor.
2944 Gollum leaves the Mountains and begins his search for the “thief” of the Ring
2951 Sauron declares himself openly. Gollum turns toward Mordor
2953 Last meeting of the White Council
2954 Mount Doom bursts into flame again
2955 Gandalf meets Aragorn
2968 Birth of Frodo
2980 Gollum reaches the confines of Mordor and becomes acquainted with Shelob
3000 Saruman dares to use the palantir and is ensnared by Sauron
3001 Bibo’s feast. Gandalf suspects his ring to be the One Ring
3004-3008 Gandalf visits Frodo
3009 Gandalf and Aragorn begin to search for Gollum
3017 Gollum is found by Aragorn and questioned by Gandalf. Gandalf visits Minas Tirith and reads the scrolls of Isuldur

3018, 3019 The “Great Years” – The events of the Lord of the Rings
March 25, 3019 the downfall of Mordor

-mal4prez, thoroughly reveling in her geekdom. :)



The "Rap" is here only to troll. See http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?bid=18&tid=57146
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MAL4PREZ: Clearly [The Rap]'s doing nothing but trolling now.
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