h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Gandalf the Grey - Fictional Wizard - A763869
Author: Gnomon - Summer Time - U151503

I think this is ready now. I'm going on holidays for a week, so I probably won't respond to any comments until I get back. (My internet connection is rather dodgy where I am going.)

More Lord of the Rings related articles are always needed, and this looks good to me. Couple of minor spelling things – 'Hobiit' is a little wrong, and I thought Palantir was really 'Palantír'?

You might also consider adding a link or two:

A877881 'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkien
A1002754 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' (2002) - Film Review
A655508 The Lord of the Rings - the Animated Adventure
A724961 The Major Villains of 'The Lord of the Rings'
A2866980 The Lord of the Rings
A2903726 Aragorn - A Character from 'The Lord of the Rings'
A672022 The Life and Works of JRR Tolkien
A27371469 Tolkien's Mystery Element: Where True Powers Dwelt
A87810825 Elrond the Half-Elven
A2757846 Tolkien's Silmarillion - An Overview
A676226 The Fellowship of The Ring (2001) - Film Review
A193961 Hobbits

I imagine you considered adding a section on who has played him on film and radio, such as Michael Horden and Ian McKellan?

<BB<

Why do I always forget the links?

Links added.

I'm undecided on adding references to the films.

Personally I don't think it needs it, but I do wonder whether other people would expect it...

<BB<

Hi Gnomon!

I'm a big fan of Gandalf, but I'm afraid there is much I once knew which I have forgotten already. There are a few things you should think about:

You say 'and was Olórin in the West long ago (presumably the land of Valinor)' but this is not only 'persumably', it is definitely his Maia name.

You should probably re-read the last paragraphs of the section about the Maiar at the start of the Silmarillion (Valaquenta). There it is even stated that he was the wisest of the Maiar. Unfortunately I only have the German version so it's better you read it yourself than me trying to translate it back to English.

There is also a section in the part about the rings of power and the 3rd age of Middleearth which talks about how the Istari came from the west. Here is stated for instance that all of the wizards could talk to animals (maybe that should be added to your list of magic Gandalf could do).
It seems Gandalf was the one who took the threat coming from Mirkwood most seriously and he even went to the tower of Dol Guldur himself and detected Sauron there.

You also do not mention Gandalf's horse or his sword (Glamdring, originally sword of the king of Gondolin and brother to Orcrist, sword of Thorin) at all.

'Although not an Elf, he was given the ring by its original guardian, Círdan the Shipwright, who never concerns himself with the affairs of Middle Earth and thinks that the ring will be better used by Gandalf'
I think what you say there is only half correct. Cirdan seemed to see Gandalf's importance and the hard times he would face and that's why he gave the ring to him and not anyone else. The unfinished Tales say that more directly. He also told Gandalf that he would wait for him to come back to the sea, which he does. The ship on which Gandalf and the other leave is in fact the VERY LAST, not just any ship.

According to the Unfinished Tales Gandalf was the last of the Istari to arrive, but he was the only one who fulfilled the assignment for which they were sent. The unfinished Tales even say that Olorin didn't really want to go to fight Suaron but had to be forced. He was even sent by Manwe himself (which in my opinion explains his connection to the eagles).

I think there is a very nice characterisation of Gandalf in 'The Istari' in the Unfinished Tales. Unfortunately I again only have the German version (I bought these books when I was a teenager). There is stated that only those who knew him could see the fire inside of him. He was friendly to everyone but told people off for foolishness. He was not proud and did not search for power.

Thanks Tav. I'll look at these points when I'm back home with my books.

Interesting that he deals mainly in fire and smoke. Saruman deals in mirrors (the palantir is presented as a kind of focusable long-distance mirror. We all have one in our living room now.)

Smoke and mirrors; or as Bertie put it, smoke and daggers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertiespeak

Thanks, Tav, for your very detailed analysis of my entry. You've been such a help that I've added you to the entry as author. If you don't want this, let me know and I'll remove you again.

I'll deal with each of your points:

>>Olórin... is definitely his Maia name.
-- done.

>>at the start of the Silmarillion... it is even stated that he was the wisest of the Maiar
-- thanks for that. I'd forgotten that reference. I've put it in at the point where I talk about the skills of the different wizards.

>>all of the wizards could talk to animals
-- although it says this in the Silmarillion, the only example we have of Gandalf doing this is to eagles, who could speak the common tongue anyway. I now point this out.

>>he even went to the tower of Dol Guldur
-- I've added this.

>>You also do not mention Gandalf's horse or his sword (Glamdring, originally sword of the king of Gondolin and brother to Orcrist, sword of Thorin) at all.
-- how could I forget Gandalf's sword and horse? Added, to the Description section.

>>'Although not an Elf, he was given the ring by its original guardian, Círdan the Shipwright, who never concerns himself with the affairs of Middle Earth and thinks that the ring will be better used by Gandalf'
I think what you say there is only half correct
-- I don't think so, but I've reworded it slightly anyway. See if you are happy with it now.

>>the VERY LAST ship
I'm not going to mention the last ship, since I can't find any definite statement that it is the last ship, and there is also the legend that there was another ship after that, the one that Legolas built.

>>According to the Unfinished Tales Gandalf was the last of the Istari to arrive, but he was the only one who fulfilled the assignment for which they were sent. The unfinished Tales even say that Olorin didn't really want to go to fight Suaron but had to be forced. He was even sent by Manwe himself (which in my opinion explains his connection to the eagles).
-- there are few different versions of this in the unfinished tales, and they don't all agree. I'm not going to mention about Manwe, since Tolkien wasn't decided on it, but I've already said that he was the only wizard to succeed in his task.

>>I think there is a very nice characterisation of Gandalf in 'The Istari' in the Unfinished Tales... There is stated that only those who knew him could see the fire inside of him. He was friendly to everyone but told people off for foolishness. He was not proud and did not search for power.
-- I've already mentioned him being friendly but telling people off for foolishness, and I've mentioned that he appeared to glow slightly.

I'm honored that you want to add me to the authors. If I find anything else which I think may be of help I'll let you know.

Are we all done here?

GB

Do I look happy?

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

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Thanks!

And thanks again to Tav for helping me get this just right.

Congratulations!
And you're welcome, I love Gandalf.