I must say, I was shocked (in a pleasant way) when I got the latest issue of The Tolkien Society's Mallorn in the mail the other day. The tree drawn by Pauline Baynes that has graced the cover of Mallorn for ever has been replaced with a lovely Jef Murray illustration. Quite a striking change! Jef reports that the covers should feature other artists on future issues, so this isn't a change to a "new permanent" cover, but really a change of policy to (in my mind) liven up what has been a rather stodgy looking journal on the outside.

Mallorn44.jpg
Mallorn45.jpg

I haven't had a chance to read this issue yet, so no comments on the contents, but I am sure they are not stodgy. It is always a pleasure to read a new issue of Mallorn (or an old one, it is a passion of mine to track down old Tolkien fanzines and journals if you haven't figured that out yet.)

Your opinions on the change?