In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (out on Blu-ray this week), intrepid Shire-dweller Bilbo Baggins and his band of Dwarf compatriots learn that getting from Point A to Point B in Middle Earth involves a treacherous gauntlet of things that exist solely to kill you. Here’s a rundown of every drooling creature, vengeance-obsessed thug, and greed-sickened dragon that threatens to cut this hiking excursion painfully short.
A Guide To What Can Kill You In Middle Earth
By Eric Alt
As a writer, editor, and producer, Eric’s work has appeared in publications such as Men’s Journal, NBC, Mental Floss, Nylon, and Cosmopolitan. He helped launch the original Maxim.com and served as entertainment editor for the print magazine, and most recently was a lead editor of the Co.Create digital vertical at Fast Company. He helped launch Attack of the Show on the G4 Network as the show’s first head writer (and occasional stunt panda), and developed the brand voice across multiple platforms as senior copywriter/editor for Tommy Hilfiger. He has also served as a script consultant for Spike TV, and a copywriting consultant for VaynerMedia as well as fashion brands such as Kahn Lucas and Flaneur. He studied English and Film at Boston University, once babysat with Angelina Jolie while doing thankless PA work on indie films in the 90s, and his first grown-up office job was with Muppets.