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Though the Hobbit quiz was recently created to mark the opening of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” its genesis goes back to 1964 when Jan Howard Finder first encountered J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings.

“I just got finished with my master’s in physical chemistry,” said Finder, 73, in a recent interview. “It was just a masterful story. I just got lost in it. I drove around and wondered, ‘Where in Middle-earth am I?’”

Finder wasn’t alone in his fascination. Tolkien’s books have sold in the hundreds of millions.

The now-retired Finder, an Albany resident, is more than just a fan of Tolkien; he’s also the main organizer of the Conference on Middle-earth, in which people present papers or speak on panels about the author, his works and his influence. Continue reading →