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

I wrote a trivia quiz resently, one of my questions was; "According to JRR Tolkein who was the first Hobbit to carry 'the one ring' (the ring of power)?"

My answer was Bilbo Baggins

Many people argued that it was Smeagol. But I said he was not a Hobbit. By my recolectiong he is described as a 'Hobbit like creature' or 'Not so different to you Frodo'. But not ever as actually being a Hobbit.

So in conclusion: Is Gollum/Smeagol a Hobbitt?

From what I recall reading the books some years ago and also from seeing the LOTR films recently, Smeagol once was a Hobbit. It was the ring that changed him to the Gollum creature.

I know the ring changed him but I though it read like defore he was 'hobbit like' but not actually a hobbit.
I've just been skowering my copy of LOTR. It seems that, as far as Gandalf can guess, his people share an ancestry with the Hobbits of the shire. But it is not clear weather thay are equivelent to to races of the same species, comprable to cocasian and black, or if it two seperate species comprable to Homo-sapiens and neanderthal.

Perhaps you'll find some Tolkien experts at <./>Askh2g2</.>...

well in the film, it is said he was part of the river-folk. like a hobbit but still not technically one. x

Gandalf's apprehension at revealing the original nature of Gollum is revealing in itself. He did not want to terrify Frodo more than necessary about what he could become. The River Folk are Hobbits of a slightly different ethnicity. And Shire Folk rarely mingled with them, as with the Hobbits of Bree. I recall that somewhere in his notes either Christopher or J.R.R. Tolkien discusses this, but I currently do not have access to verify this. One will need to contact someone with a database to confirm.