I Palantir

I Palantir was a fanzine devoted to the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien. It was edited by Ted Johnstone and Bruce Pelz, published Bruce Pelz for The Fellowship of the Ring.

Credited as the first U.S. fanzine solely devoted to Tolkien, I Palantir was the official organ of the Tolkien club, 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. In the UK, Ken Cheslin published Nazgul's Bane for British members.

The first issue, published in Los Angeles, California, appeared in August 1960. It featured cover art by John Harness, and contains the articles "Departure in Peace" by George Heap; "A Study of hithlain of the Wood-Elves of Lorien" by Arthur R. Weir; and "A Faithful Servant Named Sam" by Richard H. Eney (actually by Hal Lynch, miscredited in the original issue).

Issue two was released in August 1961. It featured cover art by George Barr. It included "The Fellowship, First Annual Meeting" by Jack Harness; "The Jewel of Arwen" by Marion Zimmer Bradley; "High Fly the Nazgul, Oh!" cycle song by Ted Johnstone and others; and "Haiku Portraits" by Don Studebaker, Ted Johnstone and others (in Tengwar and English).

The third issue arrived in April 1964. It contained "The Parting of Arwen" by Elfride Rivers; "Haiku Portraits" by Don Studebaker, Ted Johnstone, and others (only one Haiku, in Tengwar and English); "Ethical Patterns in The Lord of the Rings" by Patricia Meyer Spacks; "No Monroe in Lothlorien" by Arthur Weir, reprinted from Triode #17, including some of the comments it recieved, by J. R. R. Tolkien and others; "Hobbits and Heroes" by Anthony Curtis, an article he wrote about his interview with J. R. R. Tolkien, reprinted from the Sunday Telegraph, November 10, 1963.

The fourth, and last issue was published August 1966. It features "Whither/wither Tolkien Fandom" by Bruce Pelz; "The Bridge of Khazad-Dum" graphic art strip by Richard Glass; "The Bridge of Khazad-Dum: An Explanation" by Richard Glass (the article also appeared in Eldritch Dream Quest #1); Addenda to 'No Monroe in Lothlorien" by Doc Weir, from I Palantir #3, 1964; "J.R.R. Tolkien: A Brief Survey and a Comparison" by Doc Weir, a survey contrasting Tolkien with Lewis, Williams, Merritt, and H. P. Lovecraft; ”"Hello Frodo, or What Ever Happened to Sauron's Ring" by Kathleen Huber, a one act musical with fourteen songs, all tunes borrowed.

During this period, Bruce Pelz was also published Glamdring, and Ted Johnstone was publishing Mest, and was one of the editors of Shangri L'Affaires for the year 1965.