The Westron Page Athelas 12

The Westron Page

Athelas 12

Despite high snowdrifts and frost once again the staff of Athelas has managed to harvest a new leaf of the healing kingsfoil. And for a change my computer had decided to co-operate instead of collapsing!

Since last issue other changes have been made. For instance our new "printing elf" Rasmus Bolding who has joined us to send out all the leaves. I've also got a new co-editor, Søren Aabyen, without whom this issue would not have seen the day of light in time for Christmas and New Year (though of course the year may have changed when you read this due to postal rush time). My occupation as student of journalism has proved this to be very helpful as I'm burdened with more than enough editing in my daily work.

As the cover shows, this issue is a real Christmas issue. The Father Christmas Letters have just been published in Danish and that naturally had some affect on the editors! This issue also features on Michael Ende, author of Momo and The Never-ending Story. Michael Ende died on 28 August, aged 65, and my article tries to compare his work with Tolkien's. Another article is "the saga of Åke Ohlmarks", continued from Athelas 9. This is the definitively last article on the subject revealing some new information. There is also our news column, reviews of fanzines and the Swedish radio dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings. Finally you'll find the continuation of Nancy Martsch' Basic Quenya translated into Danish by Peter N. Edelberg, photographs from the medieval week on the island of Gotland and something called "Crazy growths" made by our humoristic printing elf.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year,

I remain yours truly

-Lars-Terje Lysemose