A Gift

Relatively recently, I was surprised but pleased to receive a gift edition of The Hobbit from The Wall of Night series’ publisher, Harper Voyager.

Since 2021, Harper Voyager has also been the publisher of the Tolkien Estate, which now includes a large number of works, but the most significant are (fairly unquestionably, I feel) The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

So I very much appreciated the gift of the book.

A Legacy

The Harper Voyager representative who wrote the covering letter was also kind enough to say that I am “now a colleague of the Tolkien Estate.”

Although I know association does not mean that Tolkien’s lustre in any way reflects upon me or my work, I nonetheless feel the honour of the association, both as a longtime Fantasy reader and a Fantasy author.

Perhaps I should say, particularly as an author, because JRR Tolkien (again unquestionably, I believe) established Fantasy as a distinct category of literature, where previously it had been classed together with—and as—Science Fiction. JRR Tolkien, chiefly through The Lord Of The Rings, also cemented epic and heroic fantasy as a class of Fantasy in its own right.

Although that is more than sufficient to make association a great honour, Tolkien’s works have also delighted and inspired millions of readers. I can think of no greater legacy.

A more familiar cover

A Coda…

The only negative in all of this was that I was supposed to receive The Hobbit gift in time for Tolkien Reading Day on March 25.

Unfortunately, due to the current parlous state of international shipping the book did not arrive until considerably after that date. Suffice it to say that I remained all unknowing as Tolkien Reading Day came and very much went.

Yet for those who love and reread Tolkien on a regular basis (yup, I’m outed!), every day is pretty much Tolkien Reading Day so I’m celebrating the gift, my many years of reading enjoyment, and JRR Tolkien’s enduring legacy today, July 25. 😀

I hope you will celebrate with me!

And A Giveaway

To help the celebratory spirit along, I am giving away a copy of The Hobbit (not my gift copy, because that would be naff), but a copy, together with The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night, Book One)—which is, again unquestionably, very much in the epic and heroic quadrant of the fantasy ‘verse.

The opportunity to enter will close at midnight, Monday 15 August (NZ time) and I’ll post the lucky recipient here on Thursday 25 August.

Note: The editions gifted will be paperback not ebook editions, but the covers and size may not reflect those shown below.

To enter, just email me at contact[at]helenlowe[dot]info with “Giveaway” in the subject line and your name and contact details in the body of the email.

And although many of you may already have both books, it could still be a great opportunity to gift them to new readers—in which case, enter away. Or as my agent, the indefatigable Robin Rue would say, “Let’s have some fun with this!”