𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔄𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔮𝔲𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔱

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An ANTHOLOGY of
FANTASTIC PROSE and VERSE
with COMMENTARY
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Compiled by Mr. Jack M. O'Donnell

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1/5/25 --- Bilbo in the Lone-Lands

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INTRODUCTION

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Taking a break from the discussion of shape-shifting and other sorceries, today's entry is the first of of an intermittent series called "Windows into the Marcherlands" wherein I note literary examples I think capture the character and atmosphere of the sort of untamed frontier which I consider to be the implicit, if also terribly vague, titular setting of said unfinished table-top game.

THE TEXT

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At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wild respectable country inhabited by decent folk, with good roads, an inn or two, and now and then a dwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands where people spoke strangely, and sang songs Bilbo had never heard before. Now they had gone on far into the Lone-lands, where there were no people left, no inns, and the roads grew steadily worse. Not far ahead were dreary hills, rising higher and higher, dark with trees. On some of them were old castles with an evil look, as if they had been built by wicked people. Everything seemed gloomy, for the weather that day had taken a nasty turn. Mostly it had been as good as May can be, even in merry tales, but now it was cold and wet. In the Lone-lands they had to camp when they could, but at least it had been dry.