So how many Middle Earth fans do we have here? How big a fan are you? How many books by Tolkien have you read? Do you like the movies?

I'll start with myself.
I love anything by Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings is my favorite book, I have read it 10 times (the first time when I was 9 years old) plus I have read everything Tolkien wrote before and after he was dead. (And own them too.)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my favorite movie and I have watched it more times than I read the book.
As a kid my favorite movie was the Hobbit and Return of the King cartoons. And also the Lord of the Rings cartoon. (I own them all)
Also I collected LOTR action figures.
I can speak a little Quenya and write pretty well with Cirth runes.

And now the the Hobbit movie has started filming!!!!!

Quetin ya merin, ar al hanyuvalyen

I was going to say Super Fan! but then realized I am not near the caliber that your post says, so I had to settle for Big fan.
I've read the Silmarillion and its affiliates (Ainulandale, Valequenta, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age) I've read/heard on tape The Hobbit about four or five times, and I have read LOTR once, seen the movies (which started my adoration) many, many, many, times. I used to stalk TheOneRing.net and The Encyclopedia of Arda. I own a few of the HoME books but have not read them. I own the 50th anniversary (I think it is that anniversary) edition of LOTR, and am intimate with Middle-earth geography. I only know a little of the Elvish, and can't write any of it almost at all.
P.S. I also play and design LOTR boardgames all the time

That's neat!
I've played some LOTR tabletop RPG's, and also I have many LOTR computer games, and also I play LOTRO.

I clicked "big fan" because I don't go as far as learning the Elvish language.

I fell in love with the movies back when they first came out. *has seen The Fellowship at least 15 times* I am slowly working my way through The Fellowship book. I've already read The Hobbit. (Which was really good.) : )

~Calen

Super fan! I've never been the action figure type but I've read the books (especially the appendices) multiple times. I've also read/listened to the Hobbit a few times. I like to keep track of the hobbit calendar, I've started (but run out of materials for) mosaics of a few of the flags, I'm in the process of learning Quenya, I have not read the Silmarillian but that's only because we can't find it at the library and I have no more money for books.

I've read On Fairy Stories and listened to analytical podcasts of Tolkien's methods. I've played a few of the video games but I need a group of gamers before I can go RPG.

I have not even finished reading the LoTR trilogy yet (which I know gives Joe a lot of grief of mind), but Tolkien managed to amaze and inspire me before I even got halfway through FotR. I really admire how he portrayed stark Christian principles without creating a fantasy religion or delving into a deep creation story and the like. (At least, in FotR, there could be no spirituality in Middle Earth at all and it doesn't matter.) That's a style I aspire to emulate in my other-world fantasies.

Also, I love Sam and Frodo. But especially Sam. "That's hard, Master Frodo!"

I'm a big fan since I've read the Hobbit, all three LotR, and the Silmarillion. I've also played a couple of the video games, and two online text rpgs.

It is theoretically possible to run an actual rpg over the internet.

Hm... it's hard to accurately judge this one. I heard about it, and heard about it, and heard about it and heard about it... and how do I know how well I like it for real when I set out to read it possessed of the knowledge that it was the most epic fantasy ever written, that will ever be written? I refuse to list it as one of my favorite books because people expect it to be there.

That said... it was incredible. I read it twice, and I want to read it a third time. Very few books in my life get that privilege, which proves it is totally awesome. I'm not what I'd really call a fan though. I love the books, I haven't seen the movies, and I think Gandalf is totally cool, but I don't really get obsessed over it. The only thing that I think I'm really a fan of is Myst.

I'm a fan, although it's been a while since I read the books. But I've read the Hobbit, LotR, and the Silmarillion all more than once (not quite as sure about the Silmarillion, though). I've watched the movies and I do enjoy them but they also frustrate me at times. (I don't generally mind what they left out; what tends to bug me are the things they put in.)

I've also played the computer game Battle for Middle-Earth II.

That's the main game I play. I probably should read the books again.

I think I miss worded it as "fan" I am not completely obsessed with Tolkien but he is my favorite author.
Anyway I thought there would be more Lord of the Rings lovers on here. Where is everyone?
I loved the Battle for Middle Earth 1 and 2 I kind of played those out though. Now I've got a new LOTR game to play though.

I'm quite into LotR/Sil/Hobbit/HoME. I've checked out everything from the library that they have by Tolkien. (which isn't everything, sadly...) I plan on slowly buying the whole HoME set to go with my copies of LotR/Sil/Hobbit.

I haven't seen the films yet (violence) but eventually will. I keep having spasms of book purism, though, when I hear about the absence of Glorfindel and other such omissions and commissions.

I've dabbled in Quenya/Sindarin but decided that I'd rather spend my linguistics time creating my own conlang... <smile>

Also really like Lewis' Space Trilogy - Ransom is supposed to be very much like Tolkien. <smile>

I've read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit multiple times, have the extend versions of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy movies, and have all the animated movies. I also have some other Tolkien or Tolkien-related books that I've only read once or haven't read yet.

I've seen the LOTR movies and read the LOTR books multiple times. I've also read 'Smith of Wooten Major' and 'Farmer Giles of Ham', Smith was good but Farmer Giles was funny.

I love Farmer Giles! It and Roveradom are my favorite non middle earth Tolkien works.

I've never heard of Roveradom, but I love Farmer Giles! I end up laughing very hard every 60 seconds.

Roverandom is wonderful. Even if you're a dog hater like me.

Okay, I hit "Super Fan!!!," but I haven't gone so far as to learn Quenya or any other form of Elvish.

I have read The Hobbit and the first two of the Trilogy twice and am reading RotK a second time right now. I have done an in-depth study on all of them except RotK, but I'm doing that as I read it again now. I have read the Children of Hurin, the Silmarilion, probably half of the Encyclopedia of Middle Earth, am almost done with Unfinished Tales, and am about to start reading the two Books of Lost Tales. I am on Encyclopedia of Arda constantly, but sometimes I start to get annoyed because I want to know more than they have on some things. I also really want HoME. I havefour different LotR video games, but haven't played any of the online games. I really enjoy the video, even though they sometimes drift from the books, and have watched them countless times.

I have no problem telling anyone that I love LotR, even if it is expected!

What is your name? What server are you on?!? I have to find you! I LOVE THAT GAME! I might have a problem with it... lol jk

I read Roverandom the other day. Tolkien had me in stitches as usual.

I said 'super fan!!!' because of how much I like the LOTR and what I've been able to read so far of the Silmarillion (and because I can spell 'Silmarillion'). Do those qualify me as a super fan? I am planning on reading the rest of the Silmarillion and other books by Tolkien, just don't have the money/time yet...

*shrugs* It's up to you.

I probably would have selected Super Fan if I did something obsessive like actually learn to speak/write one of the languages (though I would enjoy that, I don't have the time).

I'd say for now I'm a big fan. Sadly, the only experience with Tolkien I've had so far are the movies, which I thought were incredible. I LOVE the movies. My older sister is a HUGE fan, though. I plan to read at least the Hobbit, but I'm not sure if Tolkien's writing style is my favorite. *can't wait for the Hobbit movie*

The Hobbit is a lot easier to read than LotR.

I just started reading the Lord of the ring's books.
I was surprise by all the songs and poems that where in the books, but not in the movies.

I agree. Although I enjoy them both so much, The Hobbit is shorter and easier to get through.

In style, it is also a little closer to The Chronicles of Narnia.

I enjoy Tolkien's humor pieces a lot, and he wrote my favorite horror poem. He has a lot of variety.

I've read the Hobbit, + the LotR trilogy, plus watched the movies more times that I care to remember.

Even though I haven't gone nearly as far as some of y'all, I clicked Super Fan.

I've also read Farmer Giles of Ham, a little known novel of Tolkien's.

I have never heard of it, Nessie! *wants to read now*

Like I few others, I said super fan before reading the first post. xD

Well, I can read and write Cirth pretty fluently--at least, the Cirth in the map in The Hobbit, which may not be the same thing as the Cirth used in LotR.

I've read the Silmarillion, but not the Unfinished Tales or the other more obscure Middle-Earth publications. But it's all good stuff, and it's heavily influenced my world.

*loves that story*

*does also*
Farmer Giles of Ham is hilarious.

I've read LOTR twice and loved it each time. I think it's the best fiction book ever written, so that speaks for itself. I've also read The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.

I loved the movies almost better than the book (they're the best movies ever made *nodnod*). My family is counting down the weeks until the release of the first installment of The Hobbit. SIX WEEKS AS OF TOMORROW!

I can't say that I've read much else by Tolkien, but I've read a copious amount of books about him and Middle-earth.

Due to my overwhelming passion and admiration for everything LOTR and Middle-earth, I voted super fan.

P.S. I can't read or speak Elvish, Dwarvish, or Orcish ( ).

My brother learned about runes in reading the HTTYD series, so he and I could read most of the map in the beginning of The Hobbit. I'm hoping he takes a shot at reading it, because I know he would love the story, particularly the part with the riddles.

Same here!

We also have a family tradition every year: we watch the Lord of the Rings somewhere between December to January. Of course, now that the Hobbit is coming out, we have something to add to that yearly tradition!

We do, too, or at least, we've started the tradition. Of course, we can't help but watch it sometime during the summer as well. In fact, we did the first and third movie with some friends outside under the stars. It was awesome.

I like that family tradition...

You should try doing that in your family. It's so much fun, and we always pretend we've never seen any of the movies so it gives us a brand new thrill every time we watch it.

Hehe, E and I are going to the theater in costume to see The Hobbit.

Everyone who goes in costume better have pictures for us. *considers doing so herself*

*laughs * I'll talk with E and Mama Raven about it.

*thinks it'd be fun to go as a ranger...* *has no costume though and wouldn't wear it if he did*

I would totally be Gandalf...wise, tall, gray, old, gruff, bearded, English accent, totally me...

Uh, or not so much.

Seriously? You wouldn't wear one if you had one?

Well, not a ranger's cloak. I'd die. Though I might look kinda epic until then... *weighs options*

You wouldn't wear a ranger's cloak?

*would definitely wear a ranger's cloak if he had one*

Why would you die?!?!?!

I would die from heatstroke, suffocate, and drown in sweat!

Ah, a warm-blooded human. *nods*