Pippi Longstocking may be my favorite Astrid Lingren character, but Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter is my favorite Astrid Lindgren story. It takes place in a Scandinavian early medieval fantasy world and centers around Ronia, the daughter of a robber-chief who explores the wilderness around her home and learns to deal with the dangers out there. In one scene Ronia and Birk, a boy from a rivaling robber clan, get lost in the mist and are nearly lured away by the song of the Unearthly Ones (a people who live under the ground).
The book was made into a film in 1984, which remains incredibly popular in Sweden, and an animated series in 2014 by Goro Miyazaki (the anime has some really cool designs, but in my opinion the music sucked compared to the Swedish film, which has some lovely music inspired by Georgian folk music).
It was a silly little tradition, a way for Miles to show and share something with his little girl.
“That’s Bajor,” he’d say, holding her on his hip and pointing. Or, “Look at that bright spot over to the right, it’s Draylon II, but we can only see it when Argayan IV isn’t in front of it.”
Or, more recently- “You can’t see it, Molly, but off in that direction is Earth.”
It was only when she looked at him with her wide, trusting eyes and asked, “What’s Earth?” that he realized raising a child in deep space meant she might never have a homeworld the way he and Keiko had. What would that do to a child?
They didn’t move then. They would discuss it, on and off, after every attack or evacuation. But that moment had planted the seed. He would think of it, every so often, trying to see the stars through Molly’s eyes, and wonder if he was doing right by her as a parent.
My favorite Tolkien illustrations by Cor Blok in no particular order:
Bilbo and Gollum. Bilbo is the moon for some reason which is cool i guess
Smeagol and Deagol. I love the seaweed in the background, great attention to detail
Frodo serving Robin Hood-realness at his and Bilbo’s birthday party. Literally iconic
Isildur taking the ring from Sauron. Its great but I would like to see more of Sauron than just his hand, because I think he has the potential to look really cool
Pippin jumping into the bath at Crickhollow… no comment
Bilbo gives the Mithril coat to Frodo. Great poses, very stiff and awkward. I like it.
The fellowship. This one is a classic.
Gandalf and the balrog. Amazing
Boromir trying to take the ring from Frodo. I love the way he reaches for his sword, it looks very natural
Merry and Pippin and Treebeard. I like his legs and the fact that it looks like he’s wearing shorts.
The battle of Helms Deep. This one is just great for a lot of reasons. I like how the orcs in the background are just happy and sad smileys. Gimli is throwing a rock at them. I don’t know who the guy with a red hat is in the background, but I love him.
Gandalf, Theoden, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli finding Merry and Pippin in Isengard ft fucked up Shadowfax. Look at them smiling!
Sam, Frodo and Gollum. Frodo got rid of his Robin Hood hat which is a shame, but Gollum with a beak makes up for it.
Eowyn protecting Theoden from the Witch King. The fellbeast is a crow or perhaps a raven. Merry is hanging on the side, stabbing Witch King in the leg and he looks amazing
Mt Doom. Frodo looks very chill about getting his finger bit off, and Sam is just kind of floating there. I love everything about Gollum
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