One of the challenges posed by The Silmarillion is that, at Tolkien's death, it was still very much a work-in-progress. While we often take it as "canon," the truth is that none of us can know if the book we are reading says what Tolkien would have wanted it to say, had he lived long enough to provide input into its publication.
In this month's biography of Bór, Himring details not just a character but an entire people—the Easterlings—who emerged rather late in the construction of the legendarium yet nonetheless carry deep implications, namely for the role of free will and Tolkien's views on race.
Bór was one of the "good Easterlings": one who remained loyal to Maedhros during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. As Himring explains, on the surface, this can seem a welcome deviation from Tolkien's usual modus operandi of dark skin = evil intentions. However, as she goes on to write, "The way this is presented narratively in the published Silmarillion text, however, qualifies that impression to some extent, making the house of Bór look more like an exception that proves a rule."
So we're left with a character-in-progress to inform some of the deepest questions in Tolkien studies. You can read Himring's biography of Bór here.
SWG News
New Challenge: Stars
Create a fanwork using star-themed prompts presented in a bingo board format.
Character of the Month: Marach
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
New Challenge: Allusive
Literature and art constantly refer back to each other using allusions, and this month's prompts are inspired by allusions to literature, myth, art, and history.
Instadrabbling Sessions for July, August, and September
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Fanworks
As Fire and Tempest by Zdenka [Writing]
Gwindor and Celebrimbor share their fears, after a council meeting in which Túrin got his way.
Read more ...incessantly softly wash again, and ever again by Zdenka [Writing]
A lament for Nargothrond, in the aftermath of the Battle of Tumhalad. (Prose poem, also an exact drabble according to MS Word.)
Read more ...Lindórië looks to the future by Anérea [Artwork]
silhouette portrait of Lindórië, grandmother of Tar-Palantir
Read more ...An Alluring Offer by octopus_fool [Writing]
Tata is offered a solution to a grave problem, at a very low price...
Read more ...most days I don't recognize me by annarobots [Writing]
Of course, she knew that in the Blessed Land, true harm was unlikely to come to him. The Valar watched over them all, and the lesser spirits were everywhere. It was a great hound of Oromë who had found him happily splashing in the creek, in fact. But anyone could drown in mere moments, even in Valinor. Her heart needed a break.
A story about Nerdanel, the total self-obliteration of motherhood, and what comes after.
Read more ...Rise from the Ashes by AdmirableMonster [Writing]
In the wake of Sauron's death, his Mouth remembers Númenor.
Read more ...Crossing the Great Sea by elennalore [Writing]
He has perhaps made a great mistake, but it's too late now.
Read more ...Updated Fanworks
A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray [Writing]
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
Read more ...From That Rubble by StarSpray [Writing]
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.”
“It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?”
“It’s not as though I have much else to do. I need to build something new there,” he said after a few moments. “To do that, I must first clear away the old and broken things.”
Decades out of Mandos, too many things in Fëanor's life remain broken. He can't do anything except wait for his sons to come to him, but he can do something about the old and crumbling house where they once lived.
Read more ...The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster [Writing]
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new life and finds he has a queer connection with Maedhros, Himring's lord. As their intimacy grows, however, so do the dangers surrounding them, both without and within. What secrets are hidden inside the depths of Anniavas's lost memories--and how will those with whom he is forging and deepening bonds react, when those secrets are at last revealed?
Read more ...Eat, Pray, Love by AdmirableMonster [Series]
The Darkest Timeline AU for my Steampunk Númenor series.
In which the Mouth of Sauron is originally a Númenorean chemister rescued from Ar-Pharazôn's intimate attentions by Sauron himself.
Read more ...Around the World and Web
LotR Week 2026
A week-long event for The Lord of the Rings
Fingon x Finrod x Maedhros Day 2026
A day to celebrate the relationship of the three eldest princes.
Finwean Sibblings Prompt Fest 2026
A prompt-based fandom event aiming to focus on celebrating Finwë's children: Fëanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Lalwen, & Finarfin - ships, gen relationships, or character-centric
Silm Smut Week 2026
Silm Smut Week is a Tumblr event celebrating sexually explicit fanworks.
Erestober 2026
An event running throughout October, to show appreciation for Erestor!
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
Finwëan Ladies Week 2026
Finwëan Ladies Week will run from September 21-27, 2026!
