New Essay Collection Examines Religious Experience in Tolkien’s Work

Light Beyond All Shadow: Religious Experience in Tolkien’s Work Fairleigh
Dickinson University Press, 2011)is a new collection, edited by Paul E. Kerry and Sandra Miesel, friend of this blog, and looks at the ways in which Tolkien depicts religious experience throughout his work. This exciting new book has work from contributors hailing from Romania, Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom as well as the United States and promises to be quite interesting. For more details and the table of contents, follow me after the jump! [Read more…]

2012 Tour at Wizarding World in Orlando

If you missed Leaky-con, or have otherwise not gotten your chance to enjoy The Wizarding World at Universal yet (or even if you have, but you just can’t get enough!), here’s your chance to enjoy the park and some other, very special experiences next year. Our friends at HP Fantrips have all the details on what looks to be a fantastic adventure. Check out the link, or follow the jump for some more details. And, as you are planning your Harry Potter-type travel for the next year, don’t forget the University of St. Andrews conference [Read more…]

Calling Professor McGonagall…2012 Academic Conference in Scotland to Feature Hogwarts Professors

Those of you who hail from the Old World, or who have some frequent flyer points just begging to be used, don’t miss this fantastic opportunity coming up next year! The University of St. Andrews in Scotland is hosting a two-day academic conference to consider the literary depths of the Hogwarts adventures. A Brand of Fictional Magic: Imaginative Empathy in Harry Potter will bring together a wide variety of scholars, including our own Headmaster, John Granger, as a keynote speaker, along with Jessica Tiffin. One of our other HogPros, the esteemed John Patrick Pazdziora, is in charge of the paper proposals, so when you send yours in, I hear he likes Licorice Wands, so perhaps you should sneak in a couple! For the complete announcement and Call for Papers, follow the jump, and we hope many of you will be there next May! [Read more…]

Hunger Games Movie Updates: A Flaming Poster, Study Guides from Scholastic, and an “On The Ground” Report from an Extra

We’ve had several great pieces of Hunger Games movie news lately, so here’s a full post with a little something for everyone who is intrigued about the filming of Suzanne Collins’s remarkable story. Join me after the jump for thoughts on the fabulously fiery poster, the study guide from Scholastic, and a very detailed report from Jay, friend of this blog, and recent survivor of the District 12 Reaping (Way to go, Jay! Just one more year, and you’re home free, since I don’t think your mom let you take out tesserae). He tells us all about how being an extra for the film was a whole lot like actually being a Tribute. [Read more…]

Leaky-Con After-Action report

Yes, I know it’s been well more than a week since the Leaky-Con crew departed Universal Studios Resort (though I suspect some of them may have tried to sneak back in and live there), but with all the excitement, I’m just now getting to a more thorough response to the event, along with a few pictures! Those of you who were able to attend, I hope you’ll add your thoughts about sessions or events that I didn’t get to experience.
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