"The Silmarillion: Themes, Narratives, Comparative Studies" sponsored by the Departments of English and Religious Studies of St. Francis College and the Northeast Tolkien Society to have taken place from April 20-22 in Brooklyn, New York has been cancelled.

News release from Anthony S Burdge and Jessica Burke, Chairs, Northeast Tolkien Society (as reported in Beyond Bree):

"... We were excited at the prospect of holding the Silmarillion conference in New York City this coming April. Unfortunately, this conference has been effectively cancelled. After several months of logistical issues, un-met deadlines, and numerous delays, the university we were working with proved and unsteady companion for this particular journey. The result will be no Silmarillion Conference. We apologize for this. But, in light of the situation as it unfolded at the Gather of the Fellowship 2006, we thought it best not to proceed planning any event which we did not have total confidence in.

This leads us to a proposal for your enlightening papers. As you know The Northeast Tolkien Society publishes its own journal, which has had 75% of each issue dedicated to academia. In light of the conference cancellation, and the abstracts we have from all of you, we would like to endeavor to publish an issue of "Parma Nölé" dedicated solely to The Silmarillion for Spring 07. If this is a venture you would allow us to utilize your papers for, please let us know.... (Please submit papers by March 1 to http://www.herenistarion.org ).

We thank you for your time and apologize for this news, but felt that if we felt unsure of the progress of planning the event, and disappointed, that we best not continue and allow our society to support it. We look forward to speaking with you,

Anthony S Burdge & Jessica Burke, Chairs, Northeast Tolkien Society

http://www.herenistarion.org "