New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
SWG News
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution
Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
"The Fëanorian Zine" Available to Read and Download
We are pleased to be able to offer "The Fëanorian Zine" to read and download on the SWG for free.
Call for Artists for the 2026 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Daughters of the Great by Himring
Araglas inherits the chieftainship of the Dunedain of Arnor upon his father's death. But Araglas has been living in Rivendell all this while. Meanwhile, his second cousin Arthiel has been acting as his father's right hand in the Angle.
Araglas comes up with a plan that stuns Arthiel and…
[Writing] The Last of the Old Gods by AdmirableMonster
Two members of the crew of the starship Vérië land on the planet Andúnië, investigating a location of interest called The Sleeping Garden.
(Introducing: a Space Opera Númenor AU. Let's be real, it was only a matter of time.)
[Writing] Amid the Wrack by Isilme_among_the_stars
After Ancalagon is cast down Eärendil seeks out his sons and Elrond grapples with the feelings the meeting brings.
Written for Tolkien Sea Week 2026: Day 5 - family
[Writing] The Tale of Tar-Ciryatan's Daughter by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Ailinel, orphan of Numenor, is one of the poor girls dowered by Tar-Ciryatan and titled a "King's Daughter", encouraged to sail East to his colonies and find herself a husband.
It doesn't take her that long.
But even after she and Shipman Gaerondur find love, life in the colony isn…
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] A Gift by Elrond's Library
Findekáno sets out to retrieve Maitimo.
[Reference] 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…
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Rise Above
Create a fanwork using a quote from a woman who made contributions in science. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel by JazTheBard
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
[Writing] Faramir's Verse by losselen
“Come, Faramir. Let us not stand in ceremony. I think words are due between you and I, and not only those between a King and his Steward.”
Faramir has speech with Gandalf and his King.
[Writing] In a Hole in the Ground... by StarSpray
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
Feanorian Week 2026
A week dedicated to celebrating to the Sons of Feanor (and their parents) on Tumblr
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Emeldir the Manhearted by Robinka
Even in the absence of many words about her in the text, Emeldir's story stands on its own merits.
Elwing by oshun
In addition to her place in the important lineage of the Peredhil, Elwing plays a key role when she chooses to withhold the Silmaril from the Fëanorians.
Eluréd and Elurín by oshun
Eluréd and Elurín enter the legendarium as the little lost princes whose tragic demise is recounted in the story of the assault upon Doriath.
Elros Tar-Minyatur by oshun
The first king of Númenor, Elros's heritage manifests itself in the portrayal of various central characters of The Lord of the Rings.
Elrond by oshun
The major events in the life of Elrond tie together the main threads of Tolkien’s great history from the First Age through the Fourth Age.
Elladan and Elrohir by oshun
Although not typically thought of as Silmarillion characters, Elladan and Elrohir's family tree is a veritable thicket of who's-who in the First Age. Part One of this two-part biography explores their family ties and the events in their lives up to the Ring War, while Part Two considers their role in the Ring War and the broader thematic importance of their storyline to the legendarium.
Elenwë by oshun
Elenwë joins the contingent of "another wife, another untold story," whose death heightened tensions between the factions of the Noldor.
Elendur of Númenor by oshun
The eldest son of Isildur, Elendur plays a vital role in keeping the One Ring out of enemy hands.
Elemmírë by oshun
Elemmírë, the Vanyarin Elf who wrote the Aldudénië, is intriguing as one of the rare Tolkien characters whose gender is not identified.
Eldalótë by oshun
Eldalótë, the wife of Angrod, is mentioned only in History of Middle-earth texts and not once in the published Silmarillion. This biography reviews what is known of this elusive character, including what linguistic clues can tell us about whether she accompanied her husband to Middle-earth.
Eilinel by Robinka
Eilinel is a little-known character, the wife of Gorlim the Unhappy, who is both central and nonexistent in the tale of the betrayal of Barahir.
Edrahil of Nargothrond by oshun
The capture of Edhrahil--one of Finrod's twelve companions--is among the most chilling in The Silmarillion.
Ecthelion of the Fountain by oshun
As one of the lords of Gondolin, Ecthelion appears in some of Tolkien's earliest writings about Middle-earth.
Eärwen by oshun
Barely mentioned in the texts, Eärwen's story--and her essential role in the legendarium--leave many tantalizing gaps.
Eärendil the Mariner by oshun
In addition to his essential role in the histories of the early ages, Eärendil is steeped in symbolic and mythic significance that elevates him to one of the most important characters in the legendarium.
Durin I by oshun
One of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, Durin provides one of the few connections between The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.
Dorlas by Himring
The chief opponent of Brandir, Dorlas's role provokes the disastrous turn Túrin's tale takes in Brethil.
Dior Eluchíl by oshun
The only child of Lúthien and Beren, Dior's legacy is mostly due to his place in the history of the Peredhil who would knit together the First, Second, and Third Ages.
Denethor of the Nandor by oshun
One of the few named Avari in the texts, Denethor's death in an early battle would have long-standing consequences for his people, the Laiquendi.
Daeron by oshun
Given a prominent role in the narrative, Daeron nonetheless receives few words in The Silmarillion.
Círdan the Shipwright by oshun
Círdan the Shipwright is one of Tolkien's few important characters who plays a substantial role throughout the entire history of the Elves in Middle-earth, present from Cuiviénen to the departure of Frodo at the start of the Fourth Age.
Celegorm (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund
In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Celegorm is revealed as a character who evolves from one beloved of a Vala to a fallen, villainous character.
Celebrimbor by oshun
Celebrimbor first appeared in The Lord of the Rings, and as Tolkien rewrote his story to include him in The Silmarillion, his proclivities and tale parallels that of his grandfather Fëanor.
Celebrimbor (Seven in '07) by Dawn Felagund
In a brief biography written for the Seven in '07 event, Celebrimbor was originally a Lord of the Rings character retrofitted into The Silmarillion.
Celeborn by oshun
Following the two-part biography of Galadriel, this essay considers her husband, who was notable as a warrior and a leader in his own right. A character dogged by movie fanon that would dismiss him as inconsequential and confused by contradictory texts, Celeborn emerges in this analysis as sympathetic, powerful, and wise: a fitting companion for Galadriel.
