"The news today about ‘Atomic bombs’ is so horrifying one is stunned. The utter folly of these lunatic physicists to consent to do such work for war-purposes: calmly plotting the destruction of the world!"
Tolkien wrote these lines to his son Christopher in 1945 (Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 102, page 168 in the expanded edition), and they form the basis for Cindy Gates' upcoming Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation." Cindy, who has long been familiar to SWG members under her pen name pandemonium_213, has been exploring—and challenging—Tolkien's depiction of science and scientists on the SWG since 2007. This week, as we continue our series of interviews of presenters and creators whose work will be featured at Mereth Aderthad, we turn over the stage to the scientists. Cindy is retired scientist in the "bad industry" (in her words!) of pharmaceutical research and development, and the creators for her presentation—Azh, Admirable Monster and Grundy—are both scientists as well, as is their interviewer, Shadow.
In 2006, Cindy read American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin and reread Tolkien not long after. "[T]he theme of well-intentioned science that is turned into something that damages, sometimes profoundly, hit me like a ton of bricks," she told Grundy, her interviewer, pointing out that Tolkien's approach to this issue—highly relevant to modern life—is often to make an object lesson out of the legendarium's scientists.
You can read Grundy's interview with Cindy here.
Azh, Admirable Monster is a physicist whose found fiction "Lightborn" will accompany Cindy's presentation. "Now I'm in the middle of doing research into the use of artificial intelligence techniques," Azh told Shadow, their interviewer, "and quite frankly the question of at what point do you need to abnegate, step away from a piece of research, is haunting me in a professional capacity." Azh's professional background also touches upon the development of the atomic bomb, and their story draws on the same questions as Cindy's work, around the moral obligations of scientists doing work that can be turned to destructive ends.
You can read Shadow's interview with Azh, Admirable Monster here.
Shadow also interviewed Grundy, who is the featured artist for Cindy's presentation. Grundy is best known to us as one of the SWG's moderators (the bestower of hundreds of tiny, colorful challenge stamps each year among many other unsung behind-the-scenes roles!) and author of over one hundred stories posted to our archive. However, she is also a skilled glass artist, and her work for Mereth Aderthad will be done in glass. Grundy is also interested in the development of the atomic bomb and the questions it raises. "I've been reading about the Manhattan Project almost as long as I've been reading Tolkien," she told Shadow.
You can read Shadow's interview with Grundy here.
Remember that these incredible presentations, stories, poems, performances, and artworks will be shared on July 19 at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Both in-person and online attendance options are available, and registration is free. If you'd like to join us, you can register for Mereth Aderthad here.
(Note that the title for this edition of the newsletter comes from Tolkien's letter to Milton Waldman [Letter 131, page 204 in the expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien].)
SWG News
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.
Instadrabbling Sessions for January, February, and March
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
Character of the Month: Marhwini
A minor character who doesn't appear in any of Tolkien's major works, Marhwini nonetheless plays a key role in the histories of Rohan and Gondor, and his character exemplifies the essential theme of the importance of acting in service of an alliance.


Featured Articles
Interview with Cynthia Gates, a.k.a. pandemonium_213 by 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 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.
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.
Art Credit: Fëanorean Nightlight by Grundy (SWG |Tumblr | AO3)
New Fanworks
Umnenyalië by by Serinquanion [Writing]
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master burnt his skin even more often just to mock his ancestry. At least here he would pass on to Mandos and not linger in pain only to be sewed back together to be tortured again and again.
But it wasn't true for his next clear memory was of the same pain from which he escaped soon and half-mad entered the Girdle to never never leave till now.
Read more ...Winter Warmth by by Serinquanion [Writing]
A winter night in Himring. But inside the quarters where fire blazed in hearth was warmer, and not only from the fire or quilt.
Read more ...In Early Spring by by Serinquanion [Writing]
In what Maedhros was re-embodied early and was sent back to Middle Earth on his volition with Glorfindel.
This isn't about what happened right then but years after Fall of Sauron when he still refused to return to Valinor.
He found a strange sapling at the shore of what remains of Cuiviénen.
Read more ...Who Will Hear Me? by by XirinOfArvada [Writing]
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
Read more ...Loyal, Faithful by by Himring [Writing]
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
Read more ...East Away! by by Flora-lass [Writing]
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Read more ...Don't You Ever Look Away by by Elrond's Library [Writing]
“They can’t just assume we’ll let them leave us behind.”
“But they are, and they will. Our fathers are the Heads of their Houses. Fëanáro is king. Defiance would be treason, beloved.”
“I am his firstborn.”
“You are his only daughter.”
“I have done everything to be the son he wished me to be.”
“And yet, you are not.”
Findekánë and Maitindë do not go to Beleriand with their fathers. This changes very little, and yet so much.
For Scribbles and Drabbles 2025 SFW Slide 213 Two Queens
Break Me by by Elrond's Library [Writing]
“You’re not going to break me,” Russo huffed, finally cracking open his eyes, which were bright with amusement. “They could not, what makes you think you could?”
For Scribbles and Drabbles 2025 SFW Slide 33
Three Black Islands by by Idrils Scribe [Writing]
When Celebrimbor's attempts at forging the Rings of Power fail yet again, Annatar knows where to find the missing know-how.
For all the wrong reasons, Celebrimbor agrees to an expedition to the ruins of Angband to search Morgoth's own laboratory, deep in the icy Northern Wastes.
What awaits those two in the Hells of Iron?
A spooky season special, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's 'At the Mountains of Madness'.
The Fall by by Elrond's Library [Writing]
Ossë raged.
Read more ...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?
Read more ...Beating Fate by by Paul Williams [Writing]
Lúthien, a woman who has spent her entire existence being acted upon — desired, directed, possessed, mourned, celebrated, but never truly seen — reaches the end of her borrowed life and discovers that death is not an ending but the first free choice she has ever been permitted to make.
Updated Fanworks
One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by by FellFireFan [Writing]
As beautiful as he is dangerous, Aegnor, an elven prince, stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother to Galadriel, he commands the siege with a fierce intensity, a duty that exacts a heavy toll on him. Beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by a devastating trauma and a well of deeply guarded secrets. His demons, kept at bay by his unyielding intensity that is both his greatest gift and his biggest curse.
Little does our Noldorin prince know that a chance encounter with a terrified young girl of men will set him on a collision course, igniting an extraordinary bond wrought with challenges, sacrifices, and intense love that threatens to unravel his guarded heart, and all he keeps within it.
Brace yourself for Part I of this captivating tale, where the primal power of love and devestating loss will tear lives apart forever.
Read more ...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.
Read more ...Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
here you will dwell, bound to your grief by by Elrond's Library [Writing]
Arwen grieves, and loves.
Read more ...Around the World and Web
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.
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
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