Jeff LaSala

Guys, the alternative halftime show was fine. It was more than fine, it was . . . fire. Lit? Adorable, anyway. I'm talking about the Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown, of course! Adoptable senior dogs!

But also, Bad Bunny was pretty good, too.

Bien dit, monsieur.

While the Orc-crowd Hooted In the real world, what we in the Tolkien fandom call the primary world, Orcs are not a race. They’re a mindset, an ideology, the basest outlook of humanity. Tolkien certainly thought so. (Il…

My quick response to the recent flare-up of Tolkien fan cosplayers pretending that The Lord of the Rings is somehow anti-immigrant or anti–border security or some nonsense.
Just a reminder of who Tolkien considered Orcs in the real world. #Tolkien #thelordoftherings

Alderaan and Senator Organa should have just complied. It's their own fault.

Just another day in American newsfeeds.

I love the bizareness of Jon Anderson lyrics, but I also regard them more as an instrument than a message. Every now & then a Yes / Anderson / Vangelis collab song has a story with it, but even then it's presented in a more poetic form. "As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain"!

While this article focuses on Neil's SFF explorations, it lingers on his optomism and worldly views. Today, his social and political messages, while never heavy-handed, are the most applicable. The lyrics of "Territories" really hits home considering the news of the day.

In Memory of Neil Peart: Fantasy, Science Fiction, and the Mystic Rhythms of Rush - Reactor News broke last Friday about the passing of Neil Peart, the drummer, lyricist, and philosophical heart of the Canadian band Rush. His departure from the circles of our world far, far too early (he was...

When I first wrote this simple tribute, it had only been a few days after Neil Peart passed away. I realize more every day the impact he's had on my life—philosophically, morally, optimistically—and the clarity his words have brought me. And clearly many others. #NeilPeart #RushTheBand

Happy Christmas'ween to all who celebrate.

🎶 "Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! Hop along! Fal lal the willow!
Tom Bom, jolly Tom! Can you hear him singing?" 🎶

Sorry, folks. This stuff just creeps into my head. I have to get it out. #tolkienchristmas

I think about this often, too. But it also makes some sense. Think of how many people we'd have to find time to celebrate, who are living and who we do appreciate. It's overwhelming (in a good way). When they pass, they are part of a fortunately smaller list to manage. It's a harder reminder.

ALSO: The Discord app/logo looks like Mickey Mouse’s pants. I’m tired of no one talking about it and I can’t stop seeing it.

Adventure Gamebooks Turn to page 17.

Got any gamebooks? Endless Quest™? Choose Your Own Adventure®?

Jeff LaSala | Substack Writer / Sr. Prod. Editor (Macmillan/Tor) | Husband | Dad | *Mere* Christian | RUSH fan | Gamer | Tolkien nerd | D&D dork | Eberron geek | Raveloft dweeb | WotC novelist/gamer

I don't exactly know what I'm doing, but I'm at least trying it out. Substack, I mean. (The free stuff. I don't see doing the paywall stuff.)

substack.com/@jlasala

Frankenstein’s Monster Has Not a Stitch On! With Frankenstein fresh on the brain and in a lot of online media discourse, this seems like as good a time as any to float my pet theory that I’ve never heard anyone else discuss. Maybe it&#…

I wasn't done getting my #Frankenstein thoughts out. But this is a different take, and one not related to a particular adaptation. Or, if anything, it's about ALL of them. Just my little pet theory concerning Frank's appearance and the manner of his creation.

jefflasala.online/2025/11/17/f...

“I expected this reception,” said the daemon. | A short review of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein I admit, I’m a bit surprised at how polarizing Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein seems to be. It’s revealed how many book fans are out there, I guess, which is great. If there was…

I finally got around to writing about this adaptation of one of my favorite books! #Frankenstein

jefflasala.online/2025/11/15/i...

The Uinendili and Political Branding in Tolkien Although J.R.R. Tolkien famously disliked allegory, he admitted there is always applicability to be found. Anyone who reads his work with any bit of care or critical thinking can find a thousand ap…

A short digression based on a single line of text from "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" from Unfinished Tales.

And also because hungry/angry people are more likely to push back (eventually) and do rash things, which provides an excuse to invoke greater undeserved powers. The idiots in power doing things irresponsibly are wrangled by people smarter (and just as evil) as they are.

Keep a close eye out.

Happy #Halloween from #Ravenloft. And with apologies to artist Stephen Fabian, may he rest in peace.

Be cautious out there this #Halloween, folks. And be whimsical and imaginative, too. #theneverendingstory

They're taking the hobbits to . . . Transylvania? (And the castle of Dracula of Many-Colours!)

"I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you?"

♪ "This is a thing called a Precious!
The whole thing starts with a box . . ." ♫

"Authority is not given to us to deny the return of the Pumpkin King."

Jack wants in on the gift-giving thing.

♪ "And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but him!" ♫

That's about right.

I can make a fun list of artists I'd love to get compose some Middle-earth music. McKennitt definitely is on that list. So is Jon Anderson (who technically did do one track already), and Lisa Gerrard, and Annie Haslam, and Annelie Drecker, and . . .

A few of the best monster-themed cartoon panels. Happy Hallowe'en, folks. #halloween