Tuesday 28 April 2009

RING-BACK

The May 2009 issue of SFX magazine carries an article by Damien McFerran in their 'Time Machine' section on the 1981 BBC radio dramatisation of J R R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings which is, basically, an extended interview with yours truly.

For those who do not know what Mr McFerren refers to as "the genesis of this radio classic", you can read all about it here.

And for those who don't know the series itself, well..............


5 comments:

Good Dog said...

That's good of you to provide him with most of the copy.

Still, reading it took me back to those Sundays on the farm when I'd race back from the fields or cattle pens - where most likely I'd be having to do something that meant getting spattered in cow shit, clean up and then rush to my room to hear the next installment (all the while praying that Sunday lunch wouldn't be ready early).

It's not just thanks for the memories but thanks for the audio drama to begin with.

Susan D-L said...

As much as I enjoyed the better part of the recent LOTR movies, the Brian SIbley-BBC version is still my favorite adaptation. I first heard it when it was rebroadcast on our local NPR station back in the mid-80s. I was enthralled, and bought the cassette set as soon as I could find a copy. Over the years I treated myself to a listen the same way I treated myself to a reread of LOTR itself. The cassettes finally wore out, and were replaced by CDs, but I still have them for the fond memories.

Thanks for a terrific look behind the scenes of this wonderful production. And for helping to make it happen!

Brian Sibley said...

Thank you, guys, for your memories: fantastic to think of folk listening to this old thing whether, like Susan, on cassette and CD from our former colony across the pond (!) or, like Good Dog, tuning into the radio and listening with the accompanying aroma of not-quite-fully-washed-off cow dung! Hearing the episode featuring Farmer Maggot must have been like having the aural equivalent of 'Smell-O-Vision'!

Damien McFerran said...

Good Dog - Would you have rather I hadn't have contacted Brian and merely 'created' an fictional interview with him where I made up what I assumed he would say?

Of course he provided me with most of the copy - that's the remit of the 'Time Machine' section; to speak to the people behind vintage sci-fi and fantasy classics.

Glad you enjoyed it, though...

Brian Sibley said...

LAURIE writes...

"I'm glad that the radio program has been available on CD. While the Rob Inglis unexpurgated version is in a class by itself, we bought and have enjoyed listening to your adaption. It's great to hear Ian Holm and Bill Nighy work together so well. We've lent it out to younger cousins to encourage them to get into Tolkien."