Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Grundy by Shadow
Long fascinated with the Manhattan Project, Grundy was naturally drawn to Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" and is making a work of glass art to accompany it. Shadow spoke to Grundy about her inspiration on the project and long love of Tolkien.
SWG News
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Azh, Admirable Monster by Shadow
As a physicist themself, Azh confronts the issues around the ethical use of science in both the professional and creative realms. Shadow spoke with Azh about their story "Lightborn," written to accompany Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation,” its real-life inspirations, and the importance of fallibility in Tolkien's world.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with bunn by Shadow
Bunn's work is beloved in the Tolkien fandom, where they are both an author and an artist. Along those lines, they will be creating both a story for Mereth Aderthad 2025 and a work of art for a different presentation. Shadow spoke with bunn about their Mereth Aderthad works, the appeal of Dwarves, and the many fruitful connections between Beowulf and Tolkien's own work.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, written for Shadow's "The Aromantic in Tolkien" presentation, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] i swallowed your name // it tasted like light by atlantablack
"You should tell me to stop," Fëanáro says softly, taking the last step and pressing himself flush against Ñolofinwë.
Ñolofinwë swallows with some difficulty, tilts his head back against the door to meet Fëanáro's eyes. "You are my brother," he says, voice wavering. "We should not."
…[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Reference] Interview with Cynthia Gates, a.k.a. pandemonium_213 by Grundy by pandemonium_213, Grundy
Cindy Gates' presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation," explores the ethics of refusal in the (mis)use of science and technology. A retired scientist herself, Cindy spoke to Grundy about her upcoming presentation and its inspiration in Cindy's…
[Writing] A Huntress Among Fools by Isilme_among_the_stars
If Aredhel had to listen to one more person heap praise on her brother while she stood right beside him, completely disregarded, she might scream. The praises were well deserved, she must admit. But was it only Fingon who scouted ahead over the treacherous shifting ice of the Helcaraxë? Didn…
[Writing] Like Stars We Fall by Isilme_among_the_stars
As the Sons of Fëanor set their feet on the path to the sack of Doriath, Caranthir reflects on the characters of himself and his brothers and contemplates where the responsibility lies for their predicament.
[Writing] All That Was Not Lost to the Fire by Isilme_among_the_stars
Little moments of connection that Maedhros finds with his family. A collection of drabbles and other short writings to accompany One in the Fires of the Heart of the World.
[Writing] One In the Fires of the Heart of the World by Isilme_among_the_stars
Maedhros finds that regret and pain do not end with death. But it does at last bring release from the oath and he can at last embark upon the long, hard road toward redemption.
Current Challenge
Period Drama
A Matryoshka challenge where prompts are inspired by common tropes found in period dramas and historical fiction. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Solve a Problem
Create a fanwork that solves a canon problem using your own favorite (or most frustrating!) canon problem to solve or by choosing one of the member-submitted canon problems. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with Cynthia Gates, a.k.a. pandemonium_213 by Grundy by pandemonium_213, Grundy
Cindy Gates' presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation," explores the ethics of refusal in the (mis)use of science and technology. A retired scientist herself, Cindy spoke to Grundy about her upcoming presentation and its inspiration in Cindy's fascination with the Manhattan Project.
Interview with Grundy by Shadow by Grundy, daughterofshadows
Long fascinated with the Manhattan Project, Grundy was naturally drawn to Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" and is making a work of glass art to accompany it. Shadow spoke to Grundy about her inspiration on the project and long love of Tolkien.
Interview with Azh, Admirable Monster by Shadow by AdmirableMonster, daughterofshadows
As a physicist themself, Azh confronts the issues around the ethical use of science in both the professional and creative realms. Shadow spoke with Azh about their story "Lightborn," written to accompany Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation,” its real-life inspirations, and the importance of fallibility in Tolkien's world.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Artwork] Floating through the Forest River by Varda delle Stelle
Bilbo and Thorin's Company are arriving to Lake Town floating through the Forest River with the barrels
[Writing] The Wondrous Tale of the Bee-wolf by bunn
Once upon a time, JRR Tolkien wrote a fairy-tale retelling, an attempt to reconstruct an alternative version of the ancient poem called Beowulf, and he called it Sellic Spell: 'strange tale' or 'wondrous tale'.
Once upon a time, on the long road home from the Lonely…
[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn
The tale of Dáin Ironfoot, told loosely in the style of a saga of Iceland (in English translation).
Around the World and Web
Joyful June 2025
Joyful June is a fanworks event on Tumblr and AO3 where the goal is to let our favourite characters be happy.
Numenor Week 2025
Numenor Week is a Tumblr event created for fans of the tragic and beautiful story of the Land of the Gift, from its birth to its downfall.
Monster Fucker May 2025
This is an 18+ Tumblr and AO3 event for smutty fanworks involving monsters from the legendarium, put on by the Tolkien Pinup Calendar.
May Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The May challenge has been posted at the tolkienshortfanwork community on Dreamwidth. This month it is a number of prompts containing "may", including "May It Be", by Enya.
Teitho May/June Challenge: Weddings
The theme for Teitho's May/June contest is "weddings."
Many Journeys by Elleth
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When We Are Free
After being abducted by a thrall of Morgoth's while planning for the Union of Maedhros, Alphangil enjoys a quiet moment with Fingon. Features a little non-graphic sex.
It's not so long after her captivity that Alphangil's nightmares don't make her weep, that she doesn't relive torture and pain in her dreams. Fingon's presence helps - he's with her in Eglarest, but selfishly, Alphangil wishes it were only for her, not a final push for more troops.
One night when he is moving in her, carefully and gently, he asks in a whisper whether they should have a daughter he proposes to name Erien, to fit with Ereinion. She shakes her head, regretful.
"After you have won your war and we are free. You may even name her that."
