Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts
Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
SWG News
New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy
The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] A Very Fire by Deborah Judge
Feanor and Fingolfin, from their youth to their fall.
"I will do this gladly," Fingolfin said, whispering into Feanor's mouth, grasping for reasons and sense. "Gladly, if it will bring peace between us. If it will end the madness."
"The madness will not end," Feanor…
[Writing] After the Kinslaying by Deborah Judge
A Teleri fishing boat captain turns to farming on abandoned Noldor lands after her ship is stolen. A Noldor farmer returns with Finarfin to find that his land belongs to the Teleri now.
[Writing] Add Another Stone by StarSpray
The thing about forgiveness, he thought, was that it was so much easier when the object of it was far away—or dead. It was so much easier to let it all go when those responsible were far away and unable to do any more harm.
[Writing] How Tolkien Presents Ordinary People in "The Silmarillion" by Dawn Felagund
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
[Writing] Blessed are the Leave-takers by Isilme_among_the_stars
As prince Curufinwë Fëanáro makes an historical speech from the high court of the King upon Túna, those at the back of the crowd strain to hear.
A silly little scene inspired by Monty Python's "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" scene from The Life of Brian, written for …
[Writing] I Sit and Think of Times There Were Before by Erdariel
In his old age, Isildur's former esquire Ruinamacil, known to later histories only as Ohtar, writes his own account of his escape from the ambush at Gladden Fields and journey to Imladris, and the history of his friend whom Isildur ordered to flee with him.
[Writing] Until the Stars are All Alight by Dagstjarna
Reembodied in Aman, Celebrimbor decides to return to Middle earth to help heal the darkness and hurt wrought by the ring.
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Restoration and Rebuilding
Create a fanwork around a prompt focused on the theme of rebuilding and restoration. Read more ...
New in References
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
Out of the shadow, light is born anew.
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Week of Kiliel
A Tumblr event dedicated to the relationship between Kili and Tauriel.
Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
Arvedui by oshun
A character who bridges the stories of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, Arvedui was the Dúnedain king who first attempted to unite Arnor and Gondor under a single crown.
Arthad by oshun
One of Barahir's twelve companions, Arthad embodies the stoic bravery that characterizes the House of Bëor.
Ar-Gimilzôr by oshun
In Ar-Gimilzôr, we see the first signs of the divisiveness and decline of Númenor into two factions. This month's biography details this prequel to Númenor's cataclysmic fall.
Aredhel by oshun
One of the few named women to follow the Noldor into exile, the willful Aredhel plays an essential role in the history of the First Age.
Aranwë by oshun
Father of Voronwë of Gondolin, we know almost nothing about Aranwë aside from tantalizing textual and linguistic clues that might reveal his identity.
Arakáno by oshun
J.R.R. Tolkien never fully communicated how he intended Arakáno to fit into the Silmarillion, but his notes provide us with some clues about this fourth child of Fingolfin.
Angrod by oshun
Angrod, the golden son of Finarfin and frequent companion of Aegnor, helped unravel peace among the Noldor.
Angrim by oshun
As the father of the tragic Gorlim, Angrim embodies both the nobility and the tragedy of the early houses of the Edain.
Ancalagon the Black by oshun
Ancalagon is the "darkest and most powerful weapon of Morgoth" and this biography explores what we know of this greatest of dragons, Tolkien's fascination with dragons, and the story's role in providing rare eucatastrophe in The Silmarillion.
Anárion Son of Elendil by oshun
Anárion is one of the characters that acts as a direct link between the histories of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings. This biography considers his role in Tolkien's larger themes, his place in the legendarium, and thorny fannish questions about his status related to Isildur.
Anairë by oshun
Anairë, the wife of Fingolfin, is named only in the auxillary texts to The Silmarillion, yet this character offers fruitful possibilities for exploration.
Amrod and Amras by Dawn Felagund
Although Amrod and Amras appeared early in Tolkien's work on the legendarium, their characters unwent significant shifts as he worked on the Silmarillion materials of which they were part.
Amrod and Amras (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund
In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Amrod and Amras are assigned roles that changed and evolved over the course of Tolkien's work on the legendarium.
Amdir by oshun
King of Lórien in the Second Age, Amdír invites questions of how the Light, Dark, and Grey Elves interacted in the early history of Middle-earth.
Amárië of the Vanyar by oshun
Who was this briefly mentioned woman, the beloved of Finrod Felagund? Much of what we know about Amárië must be inferred from the texts.
Ailinel by oshun
In honor of Legendarium Ladies April, this biography looks at the life of a woman who existed at the heart of the politics during Aldarion's reign in Númenor and yet remains voiceless. What do we know of Ailinel's character and what of the vast questions that remain?
Aerin by Himring
Like many women of The Silmarillion, Aerin receives little attention in The Silmarillion but plays a much-expanded role in other posthumously published texts. Aerin simultaneously fulfills the role of a victim and as an example of female agency.
Aegnor by oshun
Like so many Silmarillion characters, Aegnor has a complex and sometimes contradictory textual history. A fiery warrior and romantic with a heart of gold that could belong only to a son of Finarfin, Aegnor is one of The Silmarillion's many fascinating minor characters.
Rise Again From Ashes by Independence1776
After spending millennia wandering Middle-earth, Maglor returns to Valinor, where he attempts to adjust to both his Valar-imposed restrictions and living once more with the Eldar.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Celebrían, Eärendil, Elrond, Glorfindel, Maglor, Valar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 27 | Word Count: 61, 027 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (102) |
Silmarillion Time Travel by Leithriel
Time travel stories set in Silmarillion.
13th birthday insta-drabbles! by RaisingCaiin
insta-drabbles written in response to prompts on SWG Discord!
Alternative Perspective Character Studies by elvntari
Self-explanatory. And exploration of characters through telling the story through their eyes.
The Silmarillion : The Flight of the Noldor by R A Sharkey
The Simarillion: Flight of the Noldor is a dramatic retalling in script form of the events detailed in the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales. (Part One of Six) These scripts were written ten years ago after i read the earliest works of JRR Tolkien and became enamoured with them. Like most of you out there, I believe them to be the most powerful stories with the most memorable characters in all of Tolkien\'s world.
At the same time, I had seen the flawed but compelling films by Peter Jackson. Having been a fan of his since the Bad Taste days, I was excited but also concerned when he was announced as the director for the films, knowing of his penchant for slapstick comedy in his horror films. As I feared, there was as much to hate as there was to love about the movies. What I did love is the way they were put together, the music, the attention to detail, the action and the cinematogrophy. Lovingly crafted.
These scripts were meant to reflect the atmosphere and presentation of those fims but with greater respect for the source material, which is much more dark and tragic. I really wrote these to help learn my craft. They have sat in cyberspace for a decade. I welcome comments but I am not working on these other than to polish them for this site. I am working on my own original material so I do not have the time for anything other than correcting major mistakes in continuity if any are discovered.
Thanks to all, and I hope you enjoy!
Regards,
R A Sharkey
not love, but worship. by esquitor
he inspires in others what he feels within himself.
admiration. respect. love. worship. (for melkor.)
fear. regret. despair. (for the valar.)
betrayal. (his own.)
a collection of writings on mairon, and how he becomes what he will become.
(a fancy way of saying how i explore headcanon for the gazillion years of mairon\'s life until the end of the world)
Songs of Stone and Mountain by pandemonium_213
I have alluded to the deep friendship between Dísa, a noble Dwarf-woman of the House of Narvi, and Mélamírë, the Second Age elven-smith of Ost-in-Edhil, in previous stories of the Pandë!verse, e.g., Chapter 28 of The Elendilmir and Chapter 4 of The Writhen Pool. I figured I\'d gather their stories in one place as a series.
So. OFCs. Pandë!verse. Those should be ample warnings.
