XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: jerry_friedman@yahoo.com   
      
   On 10/7/14 11:23 PM, taxalot wrote:   
   >> We are clearly meant to understand that Minas Morgul and Barad-dûr   
   >> communicate by palantír.   
   >   
   >      Are you talking about communication between the Nazguls and Sauron   
   > ? I always had the feeling a palantir was not required. Sauron has   
   > direct control over them, through his connection with the one ring and   
   > the Nine.   
   >   
   >      The biggest evidence is in the Battle of Pelennor ; Sauron recalls   
   > the Nazguls in a desperate move as soon as Frodo puts on the ring. I do   
   > not see the Nazguls on their fell beasts checking a palantir once in a   
   > while as a teenager checks his smartphone.   
      
   But in "The Land of Shadow":   
      
   "...and then they saw a shape, moving at a great speed out of the West,   
   at first only a black speck against the glimmering strip above the   
   mountain-tops, but growing, until it plunged like a bolt into the dark   
   canopy and passed high above them.  As it went it sent out a long shrill   
   cry, the voice of a Nazgûl; but this cry no longer held any terror for   
   them: it was a cry of woe and dismay, ill tidings for the Dark Tower.   
   The Lord of the Ringwraiths had met his doom."   
      
   So here it seems that not only was Sauron unaware that the King of the   
   Nazgûl had died, but another one has to fly all the way from Minas   
   Tirith to the Dark Tower to give him the news.   
      
   Maybe Sauron could telepathy with them only in emergencies (like a phone   
   that's deactivated except for 911?).  Or he could give some orders but   
   couldn't get information.  Or Tolkien forgot what he'd written.   
      
   --   
   Jerry Friedman   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)