Don’t you just love Serendipity? I know I do. For example: What if you were to discover one of the most unique and wonderfully illustrated books about The Lord of the Rings . . . not in the Fantasy section of the bookstore . . . but in the Humor section instead? And to top it off . . . it’s about death?
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A Delightfully Dark (and unexpectedly heartfelt) Journey through Middle-earth’s Dearly Departed
After an hour or so of exploring many of the wonders a modern pre-holiday Barnes & Noble holds - immediately next to the Art section (where I was hunting cool Fantasy art books), I found myself among the unattended humor books.
Kneeling down, scanning, yanking, and reinserting titles that caught my eye but weren’t fit for my current mood, I half-rose to depart . . . when . . .
Nestled within those jocular shelves between Dad Jokes and “Where to Cheat on Your Cat” books, a symbol on the spine of a diminutive volume halted my retreat.
Perhaps you’ve seen this monogram as well?
My soul registered its significance, even if my mind did not.
“Doomed to Die” was the only other indicative verbiage on that suspicious spine.
“Curious”, I said (my mind finally catching up).
“Takes it!”, inner Gollum prompted.
Yank.
And behold
Whoa!
The excited heat that bloomed in my hands must have warmed the tome to significant levels to reveal the golden text along its top.
Though no scholar, I instantly recognized it as Tengwar (most likely Black Speech - Pahh!).
An intriguing inscription rendered in Tolkien's Tengwar-style lettering. Despite its familiar appearance, I haven't been able to identify a meaningful translation. It may be decorative lettering rather than an actual passage in Black Speech or Elvish.
Translations from true Tengwar scholars are welcome!
What in the world is THIS?! (And why was it not with the 30 other Tolkien-related items in the Fantasy Section?)
The beautiful pen and ink illustration of leaves falling around a Gondorian King’s tomb with an attendant willowy wind-whipped widow could be none other than Arwen mourning over Aragorn.
Still not convinced this was a legit product, I flipped it over to reveal:
“Stories - frankly, human stories are always about one thing - death. The inevitability of death.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
That quote hits hard. Especially for those among my generation. It feels like every single day there is someone famous passing away, adding to the host that were our heroes, crushes, or companions in the not-too-distant past.
2026 has been especially brutal, but I digress.
This book apparently isn’t meant to be morbid or morose. (I would hope not, being in the Humor section after all!)
“Doomed to Die is a uniquely irreverent glance at the world of Tolkien. It started life as an innocent Inktober project, but somehow grew in the telling to become a book.”
A quick flip through revealed letters of the (English) alphabet - one to a page - each with a statement of what Tolkensian concept or character that letter is for, along with a customized pen & ink illustration - every two pages in rhyming couplets.
Yet, that was only the first half of the book.
The other half falls under the heading: “The Appendices of Doom” and house beautifully heartfelt “Inspiration” and “Aspiration” sections along with descriptive entries that correspond to the cast of characters mentioned in the A-Z section.
Needless to say, this book made its way home with me.
The End.
What?
You would like to see a bit more of which I speak?
Alright then. Let’s look at just few.
But first, I’d like to take a moment to appreciate the labor of love this must have been for Tom Racine, the author/artist.
He mentions in the “Inspiration” section that he has always loved and been inspired by artist, Edward Gorey. And that makes sense as to why his illustrations felt so much more familiar to me.
Check out a portion I clipped of his Aspiration & Acknowledgment pages. Definitely feels like a kindred spirit to all of us here.
“I have only two hopes for Doomed to Die. First, that you enjoy it. That in the grim spirit of Tolkien and Gorey, two of the greatest creators of the twentieth century, you smile, chuckle, or are moved by some of the many deaths that occur in the pages of the Professor’s work.” - Tom Racine
I find it profoundly meaningful that his brothers, who instilled a love of Fantasy and Sci-Fi in him, had already sailed to the Undying Lands, yet still helped fortify & inspire Tom to create this work.
A LITTLE MORE MAGIC FROM MIDDLE-EARTH... AND BEYOND!
Speaking of the inspiration Tolkien and fantasy have given so many of us...
My own latest creative adventure, Tales of Adventure: Monsters in the Mist, is a 13-track dark fantasy folk album inspired by the creatures, legends, and mysterious places of old.
From haunted barrows and restless spirits to creatures lurking in the mist, it’s a musical journey for anyone who enjoys the darker, more mysterious side of fantasy.
🎵 Listen for free on SoundCloud or own the complete digital album for just $4.99.
To show how much more coolness this little book contains, let’s look at two of the corresponding entries from Tom’s “Appendices of Doom”!
The other pages are just as fascinating with the eloquent Tolkien lore contained within.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END...
Well, Adventurers, I suppose that’s enough death and doom for one day (no matter how cool or charming!)
Who would have thought that a chance encounter in the Humor section of a bookstore would lead to such an entertaining little journey through Middle-earth’s dearly departed?
But what makes Doomed to Die particularly special to me isn’t simply its clever rhymes or wonderfully intricate pen-and-ink illustrations.
It’s the love behind them.
A love for Tolkien’s world. A love for Edward Gorey’s wonderfully macabre imagination. And perhaps most touchingly, a love for the people who helped inspire that imagination in the first place.
There’s something rather beautiful about a book devoted to death being, at its heart, a celebration of the things that live on long after we’re gone.
And to think, I almost walked right past it.
So here’s to Serendipity, Unexpected discoveries, and Remembering to explore those forgotten corners of your local bookstore. You never know what treasures might be waiting.
Until next time, my Doom-Dodging Adventurers...
Keep the Adventure Going Strong!
(... and perhaps avoid any suspiciously large spiders you may encounter along the way.)
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💬Tavern Talk
❓Have you ever stumbled upon an unexpected fantasy treasure in the wrong section of a bookstore? What did you find?
❓Which death in Tolkien’s stories hit you the hardest?
“Oi! Adventurers! Seems everybody’s always goin’ on about battles, treasure, and slayin’ dragons.
But what happens when the adventurin’ is OVER?!
Well, I’ve got TWO books for ye!
💀 Doomed to Die: An A-Z of Death in Tolkien by Tom Racine - a delightfully grim little alphabet of Middle-earth misfortunes, packed with marvelous drawings and dark humor.
(As an AmazonAssociate I earn from qualifying purchases)
One might make ye laugh. The other might make ye cry.
Either way, bring a handkerchief!
Now quit yer dawdlin’ and have a look!”
Both books are available through the Rediscovered Realms Shoppe. Purchases through our affiliate links help support future fantasy rediscoveries at no additional cost to you.
“Remember to check out the Rediscovered Realms Amazon Storefront for the most epic gift-giving ideas for those important adventurers in your life (including yourself 🗡)” - Brodryk (Shopkeep)
(As an AmazonAssociate1 I earn from qualifying purchases)
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS REDISCOVERY...
For a gentler, more bittersweet journey through Middle-earth, revisit my earlier edition featuring J.R.R. Tolkien’s Bilbo’s Last Song, beautifully illustrated by Pauline Baynes.
What begins as a simple little picture book becomes a surprisingly moving reflection on friendship, farewell, and the journeys we all must eventually take.
And there’s a little musical magic waiting for you there, too!
Spread Adventure Awesomeness! Don’t just Stare - SHARE! If you know other Adventurers who would enjoy this newsletter, please share it with them directly or on social media.
