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Our temporarily titled "location bio" will focus on the landscapes and locations of Middle-earth. We need your help naming it!
SWG News
New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
A Sense of History: Crossroads
In the ongoing series on towers in Tolkien's work, a thread runs through "The Lord of the Rings," revealing the divine assistance of Varda in the travails of the Fellowship.
Cultus Dispatches: Canon Deviations, Multifandoms, and Original Content
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data gives some insight into what connections, if any, exist between fanfiction and original fiction.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Tengwar: To The Letter by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Malta'
[Writing] I Stood Aside by Flora-lass
Maedhros' horror at the burning of the ships. Inspired by a painting (see notes).
[Reference] Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[Writing] Words of Wisdom by AdmirableMonster
One or more drabbles about Pengolodh and his babysitter Salgant.
[Writing] Les Mots de Sagesse by AdmirableMonster
Plusieurs petites histoires qui parle de Pengolodh et Salgant pendant des moments differents.
[Writing] "Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
[Writing] Upon Cirith Thoronath by StarSpray
A horrid cacophony of cries erupts ahead of them, as orcs appear—up the cliff on hidden ledges, on the path, with bows and swords. And behind them rises a figure of darkness and flame. The heat rolls down the path over them, bringing the smell of burning flesh and bitter fear with it. Someone…
Current Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Turning Point
The Silmarillion has many moments when a character stands upon a crossroad: He or she will have to make a decision. At such a turning point in your story, create a fanwork about that moment that will define or alter the life of your character. Read more ...
New in References
Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
[]While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[]
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
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.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Waybread (The Waybredlik) by Himring
[]Lembas speaks out.
[Series] Apr 1st Stories by Uvatha the Horseman
[]Once a year on April 1st, a canon character from LOTR or the Silmarillion gets pranked.
[Writing] Crossing Forest River by Dawn Felagund
[]Bilbo recounts, in verse, the attempt of Gandalf, Beorn, and him to cross the Forest River after the Battle of Five Armies. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
Around the World and Web
Monstrous May 2024
Monstrous May is a Tumblr event where, for each day of the month of May, there is a prompt involving and invoking the monstrous.
Fellowship of the Fics: Modern AU May
During May, Fellowship of the Fics offers modern AU prompt lists for setting, character occupation, and dialogue on Tumblr.
May challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The May challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic challenge: name; formal challenge: acrostic. As usual, these can be filled independently and freely combined with other prompts such as the SWG challenges. New participants welcome!
May 2024 Calls for Papers
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers in May 2024.
Angbang Week 2024
All new, unpublished fanworks about the Angbang (Melron) ship are welcome during this Tumblr event, running 6-12 May 2024.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
The Fissure by Dawn Felagund
Maeglin witnesses a coming-of-age ceremony among the Dwarves of Belegost. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
| Major Characters: Dwarves, Eöl, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 710 |
| Posted on 19 April 2024 | Updated on 19 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Caranthir, Celebrían, Celegorm, Curufin, Finrod Felagund, Idril, Nerdanel, Nimloth, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 17, 569 |
| Posted on 12 March 2024 | Updated on 19 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
The leaves were long, the grass was green by Quente
The Giving Tree, but Beren and Luthien. Written for the Tengwar prompt, “Aldi.”
| Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 558 |
| Posted on 17 April 2024 | Updated on 17 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
If Time Run True and Away by Anne Wolfe
In Tol Eressëa, Celebrían and Galadriel talk about Arwen. Written for the "It Comes in Threes" challenge, inspired by Maiden, Mother and Crone.
| Major Characters: Arwen, Celebrían, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían & Galadriel, Arwen & Celebrían |
| Genres: General | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 756 |
| Posted on 16 April 2024 | Updated on 17 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Crossroads by Simon J. Cook
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
Shore Beyond the Shadowy Sea by Quente
In which Elfwine goes to sea to find himself, but finds Beleriand instead, and then finds himself.
Or
Ulmo sends another human in a swan crest to Gondolin, with expected results.
- This tale is a paean (and sequel of sorts) to Bunn’s work, the Undying Lands. This will have a few spoilers, so you might go and read this glorious work, and the one before it.
- But long story short, Beleriand is back, and Fëanor might have built a few pathways between Middle-earth and Beleriand, just for fun.
| Major Characters: Ælfwine, Caranthir, Celegorm, Elenwë, Elladan, Elrohir, Éomer, Fingon, Gondolindrim, Maedhros, Pengolodh, Théodred, Tuor, Turgon, Ulmo |
| Major Relationships: Ælfwine/Pengolodh, Ælfwine & Fëanor |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Ancestors, Back To The Future, Canon with a Twist, Hero's Journey, Sea Voyages, Songs of Arda, You Can't Go Home Again |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 38, 595 |
| Posted on 15 April 2024 | Updated on 16 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Aratar by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Eight emblems for the eight most powerful of the Valar. Drawn for "Scribbles and Drabbles" 2021.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 15 April 2024 | Updated on 15 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
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.
Waltzing with you by daughterofshadows
It's a nice evening and Laurendil is trying to teach Rog to dance.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Nonbinary Character(s), Rog, Salgant |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 106 |
| Posted on 15 April 2024 | Updated on 15 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Calma by elennalore
Celebrimbor is reading a novel, but there's a distraction.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 251 |
| Posted on 15 April 2024 | Updated on 15 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Atmospherics by Anérea, sallysavestheday
The three atmospheres of Arda celebrated in three drabbles and three photos...
| Major Characters: Círdan, Eärendil, Elrond, Elros, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 14 April 2024 | Updated on 15 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (15) |
Three Strands in a Braid by between_thepages
Ecthelion tries to braid Glorfindel's hair.
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: Ecthelion/Glorfindel |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 598 |
| Posted on 14 April 2024 | Updated on 14 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Hands of the Prince by Valxyri
Someone is planting bombs in Minas Tirith.
Early in the Forth Age, when King Elessar's life is threatened, it is up to the young prince and an unlikely ally to bring down the threat to the realms of Men.
But in the chaos of a city rocked by violence, Prince Eldarion Telcontar will discover the true meaning of his inheritance.
| Major Characters: Aragorn, Arwen, Curufin, Eldarion, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Finrod Felagund, Lórien, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: Aragorn/Arwen |
| Genres: Adventure, Alternate Universe, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Suicide, Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 687 |
| Posted on 14 April 2024 | Updated on 14 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Special Find by Himring
Minor catastrophes cluster on the site of an archaeological dig and someone even gets hurt. But it could be worse, as an unexpected arrival changes the course of events. Then something happens in the middle of the night... And it turns out that our heroine can't tell anybody, at least not in (academic) print.
Now with bonus gapfiller from Maglor's point of view.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 660 |
| Posted on 12 March 2024 | Updated on 14 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
In the House of the Fairbairns by Simon J. Cook
The first of some posts on the Elf-tower on the western margin of The Lord of the Rings attempts to frame the relationship between the narrative and the appendices of The Lord of the Rings and an analysis of Frodo's dream-visions.
Ready, Aim, Fire by Tehta
Or, Three Attempts to Get Out of Archery Practice
| Major Characters: Egalmoth, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 624 |
| Posted on 11 April 2024 | Updated on 12 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
It comes in Threes by cílil
Three triple drabbles written for the It comes in Threes challenge, featuring various Ainur.
| Major Characters: Arien, Eönwë, Lórien, Mandos, Melkor, Nienna, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron, Eönwë/Sauron, Arien/Eönwë, Arien/Sauron |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Het, Poly, Romance, Slash | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 915 |
| Posted on 8 April 2024 | Updated on 12 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Unrest of the Noldor by StarSpray
Minyelmë comes to Tirion to see Lalwen, arriving just in time to see things come to a head.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: Lalwen/Original Character |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Femslash | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 181 |
| Posted on 8 April 2024 | Updated on 8 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Wingfeet: Racing across Ard-galen by Himring
A Dwarf, a Man, and an Elf race across a grassy plain... Except that these three are original characters of the First Age racing across the plain of Ard-galen and their plight is rather different.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 400 |
| Posted on 7 April 2024 | Updated on 8 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Cliffhanger by Tehta
Climbing partners get very accustomed to saving each other's lives. The habit can prove hard to break, as Findekáno and Maitimo discover.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 534 |
| Posted on 8 April 2024 | Updated on 8 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Betting on Family by Tehta
We are told that Galadriel was “the only woman of the Noldor to stand ... tall and valiant among the contending princes” upon the summit of Túna, when Feanor made his Oath. But why? What about Aredhel: what was she up to?
In this story, I attempt to answer that question, while Írissë and Artanis discuss family matters.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 963 |
| Posted on 8 April 2024 | Updated on 8 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Gilded Knife by elennalore
Ar-Pharazôn takes part in the first ceremony of the new Temple, and Zigûr is there to help him.
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Ar-Pharazôn & Sauron |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 737 |
| Posted on 5 April 2024 | Updated on 5 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Quick and the Dead by Tehta
Months have passed since the Nirnaeth, but Glorfindel and Ecthelion are not quite over it yet.
Contains dark themes, humour, and slash, mixed together pretty evenly, I hope.
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 773 |
| Posted on 7 November 2013 | Updated on 5 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Symmetry by Tehta
The Silmarillion states that the entire Dwarven race is descended from the seven Dwarves Aule made: the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves.
...Seven Fathers? Really? And Zero Mothers?
I have attempted to explain this absurdity here. In a deeply scientific and scholarly way.
| Major Characters: Aulë, Pengolodh, Rúmil (Valinor), Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 305 |
| Posted on 5 April 2024 | Updated on 5 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Firstborn of the Firstborn by Tehta
Set in Cuiviénen. The future kings of the Eldar discuss Oromë's invitation. There is cake, and tea.
Very canon-ish, sorry.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Finwë, Ingwë, Olwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 014 |
| Posted on 5 April 2024 | Updated on 5 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
