"This week has seen a flood of Hobbit merchandise hit the stores — both online and off. So much so, that the cynical might think that’s all there is to Tolkien fandom these days.

That’s why, this weekend (Saturday October 6 at 6pm New York time), Hall of Fire will be asking the question: has merchandise become the default outlet for fan enthusiasm?"

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/ ... -fandom-and-authenticity/

- wellinghall