Cultus Dispatches - Fandom before the Time of the Trees: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset

Cultus Dispatches: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset. In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."

Unquote - Silmarillion Writers' Guild Challenge - 15 October through 15 November 2026 - quote in the background reads, The unicycles should be swinked by a majestic troll, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding haints and fishsticks and llamas. Absurd.

New Challenge: Unquote. Choose a prompt from our selection of misheard, miswritten, and misrepresented unquotes that are in no way part of the actual "Silmarillon."

Silmarillion Writers' Guild - Character of the Month - Eonwe by NelyafinweFeanorion

Character of the Month: Eönwë. This month's biography focuses on Eönwë, who started with a variety of identities but settled into the role of Manwë's herald, exemplifying the values of strong leadership and justice.

Instadrabbling, October 3, November 7, and December 5, 18:00/6PM UTC, SWG Discord, #instadrabbling

Instadrabbling Sessions for October, November, and December. Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.

Latest News

Cultus Dispatches: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset
In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."

New Challenge: Unquote
Choose a prompt from our selection of misheard, miswritten, and misrepresented unquotes that are in no way part of the actual "Silmarillon."

Site Etiquette Update: Fandom and Money
We have updated our policy in our Site Etiquette around linking to sites that collect money.

Newest Fanworks

Silmarillion Non-Con November 2026 by AngbandThrallNo.1035

This is my collection of ficlets for the various prompts of Non-Con November 2026, I'll update the tags as I upload my fics, each prompt will be a new chapter. This writing event specifically focuses on the absence of consent, so keep that in mind!

Day 1: Groping (Maeglin/Dark!Glorfindel)

Day 2: Marital Rape (Aredhel/Eol)

The Fall of Arnor; Book One "Out of the Bree-land" by Diane Finnis-Robb

The first of six books covering the fall of the kingdom of Arnor

A Language Deeper than Words by gaydhros

Colour now has returned to him. His cheeks and nose are pink with the early morning chill, his grey eyes are bright, and he is well enough to manage daily walks along the lakeshore with Fingon, a few dawn-quiet moments stolen together before the rest of camp wakes.

Fingolfin‘s Last Stand Monument by Fuin

Fingolfin‘s Last Stand Monument on the Square of the High Kings in Tirion, digital art.

Monuments by Fuin

After re-embodiment, Fingon visits the monuments of the High Kings in Tirion and muses about his relationship to them, to himself, and to whoever is missing.

With an illustration of Fingolfin's monument.

New in References

Fandom before the Time of the Trees: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset by Dawn Walls-Thumma

In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."

Eönwë by NelyafinweFeanorion

Across the history of the "Silmarillion," Eönwë's role settles on a character who leads without taking upon himself the power to mete out justice and who acts with equanimity across some of the most harrowing conflicts in the early legendarium.

Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.