2007 Rundtomrask (Trond Brænne)

Roverandom

Release Date: 2007
Reader: Trond Brænne
Language: Norwegian (Bokmål)
Translator: Torstein Bugge Høverstad
Organisation: Cappelen Damm Lydbok
ISBN: 9788242119322
Duration: 2 hour 35 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Norway
Licenced: Yes
Formats: CD, Digital

Trond Brænne (1953–2013) was a household name in Norway, particularly beloved for his work in children’s literature and his warm, versatile voice. Much like Derek Jacobi in the UK, Brænne was chosen for his ability to convey a “storytime” atmosphere. Since Rundtomrask was originally a consolation story for Tolkien’s son, Brænne’s gentle and empathetic delivery is often cited by Norwegian reviewers as its greatest strength. He was a skilled at creating character voices (having dubbed many Disney films). In Rundtomrask, he gives distinct, quirky personalities to the Månemannen (The Man in the Moon) and the various sorcerers the little dog encounters.

The primary translation was done by Torstein Bugge Høverstad (who also translated The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter into Norwegian). Nils Ivar Agøy served as the Special Consultant and Editor. Because Roverandom contains subtle “Proto-Silmarillion” references (like the Whale Uin and the Elves of the West), the publisher brought Agøy in to ensure that these names and concepts aligned perfectly with the established Middle-earth lore he had already translated.

The name itself is a clever bit of wordplay that Agøy helped finalize. Rundtomrask combines “Rundtom” (around/about) with a sense of “rask” (quick/scurrying), perfectly capturing the essence of a wandering, energetic dog. Agøy ensured that the many linguistic puns and “dog-logic” jokes in Tolkien’s text translated smoothly into Norwegian, maintaining the 1920s charm of the original.