Back in June, we published the first part of Melesta's biography of Húrin. In this article, they make the case that "Húrin's story is one of the backbones of Tolkien's legendarium, whose influence is felt in the narrative ages after his passing," specifically finding connections between Húrin's character and those of Tolkien's later heroes, including Aragorn, due to the influence of estel on Húrin's early life and outlook.

But this is the First Age, and things never fail to get grim fast. If you are reading this, you know that estel is a shaky concept in The Silmarillion compared to Tolkien's later and more eucatastrophic works. In the second part of Húrin's biography, Melesta traces the next half of Húrin's life, which is marked by tragedy, suffering, and betrayal*—yet as Melesta points out, Húrin's courage and loyalty to those he loves never wavers.

* In Húrin's story, we see Tolkien prefigure Kurt Vonnegut's later exhortation to writers to "be a sadist" to even the most likable of characters.

Of course, Húrin is an apt illustration of why Vonnegut's advice is so well-known among writers. Through Húrin, Tolkien unfolds what happens to an exceptional person when put under exceptional duress. And, as Melesta notes, the ending of Húrin's story is left vague, so we can never be entirely sure what our hero was really made of. Yet through Húrin's story and what he endures and how he endures it, many of Tolkien's most important themes—among the many reasons readers have loved his work for the better part of a century—are unveiled, defining heroism in such a way that will be remembered across the ages in the legendarium.

You can read the second part of Melesta's biography of Húrin here (and make your own decision about how you interpret the ending).

SWG News

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.

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.

A Project for Oshun

This week, we learned the our longtime member and lead biographer Oshun has been experiencing health issues that have left her unable to access her friends and communities online. After months of attempting to reach her without success, we finally did get a lead this week that resulted in a couple of us speaking to her on the phone.

Oshun was one of the first members of our archive back in 2007, a prolific author who brought her readers so much delight, and was our lead biographer for many years, authoring over one hundred of our collection of character biographies. Not surprisingly, upon hearing that she has been experiencing difficulties, the first response of many of our community was, "What can we do to show our love, care, and support for her?"

Elfscribe and polutropos have organized the collection of messages to Oshun, which can either be written or recorded. These will be compiled and sent to her as an audio recording that she is able to access. If you have elfscribe's or polu's contact, feel free to send contributions directly to them. If you do not, you can reply to this message or reach out to the SWG moderators, who will forward these messages to them.

We've also set up a channel on our Discord for organizing efforts for Oshun. If you're not a member of our Discord, you can click here to join. Scroll down to the Fandom Events section and look for the #for-oshun channel. Questions and contributions can always be sent to the SWG moderators (we'll make sure they get where they need to go!) simply by reply to this email or using any of our other contact methods.

New Fanworks

The Endless Years by by Elrond's Library [Writing]

Elwing reckons with the passage of time.

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dye me, nocturne by by skywardstruck [Writing]

Maglor without Maedhros, Daeron without Lúthien. Alone, they are nothing, but together, they can be something more.
Where do you turn, when you have no one else left?

Written for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2023, featuring artwork by athlai.

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a life freely given, a favor returned by by skywardstruck [Writing]

Finrod and Bëor stop for a while on the road to Nargothrond to rest. The bodies of the Secondborn often grow weary, and Finrod laments, massaging Bëor's back and renewing his beloved's vigor with the work of his hands. But Finrod has other burdens of his own, Bëor soon discovers, returning Finrod's favor in the best way he knows how.

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Til We're on the Other Side by by StarSpray [Writing]

It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice. 

In the dark woods near the Waters of Awakening, Finwë's brothers are taken.

In Valinor, when the Trees wither, Finwë is slain.

In the Fourth Age, things take place long thought impossible.

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Updated Fanworks

Hill and Water Under Sky by by StarSpray [Writing]

a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own

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The Mirror Crack'd by 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?

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A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by by StarSpray [Writing]

“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 the other side of it was a larger party than Maglor had ever seen in Lórien—five figures sitting in the grass. Huan barked again, and they all looked up. “It seems everyone has come to fetch us home,” Maedhros said, laughing, as all their brothers scrambled to their feet.

After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.

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Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks

The Mirror of Galadriel by by skywardstruck [Artwork]

Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.

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Bar-en-Eladar by by Gabriel [Writing]

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.

Read more ...

Around the World and Web

April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."

Barduil Month 2026
A month-long Tumblr events all about the relationship between Thranduil and Bard the Bowman.

Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
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Leaf & Lore: A Tolkien Writing Month
Start a story, work on a WIP, finish a fic, dabble in drabbles, pen a poem, type a tale, or otherwise wrestle with words. Set your own goal: Leaf & Lore is all up to you.

Gondor Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the history of the realm of Gondor.

Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026

Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.

Crablor Day
A day dedicated to everyone's favourite warcriminal crustacean - April 26, 2026