Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data for 2025 shows that "The Rings of Power" TV series has not had the same impact on the fandom as the film trilogies did ... so far.
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Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data for 2025 shows that "The Rings of Power" TV series has not had the same impact on the fandom as the film trilogies did ... so far.
New Challenge: Building Middle-earth
Let global architecture be your inspiration in this challenge, where you will work with a prompts that are architectural styles, locations in Arda, or both.
Cultus Dispatches: Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey
Ten years of demographic data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey show consistencies in who reads and writes fanfiction, as well as a few key demographic shifts.
New Challenge: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
[Writing] Swelling from the Sea by annarobots
Tuor and Elwing’s recreational sailing excursion goes terribly awry when a carnivorous siren casts her gaze upon their vessel. With her song, she enchants the mariners and boards with evil intent. She kills and eats their crewman, she demands Tuor’s hand in marriage, and for dessert…
[Writing] A Song Amidst His Torment by Elrond's Library
Of course it was a trap.
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[Writing] The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster
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…
[Writing] From That Rubble by StarSpray
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…
[Writing] One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by FellFireFan
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. But beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by a…
[Reference] "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far) by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to…
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
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.
Building Middle-earth
Receive a prompt of an architectural style or a location on Arda—or both!—to inspire your fanworks. Read more ...
Of All That Remains
Create a fanwork that features a memory from a character's childhood. Read more ...
"The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far) by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to matching the impact of the films ... yet.
Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
Communities Do Comment: Expanding the 3C's of Commenting with SWG Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Expanding on my 2018 article "Why People Don't Comment," comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
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.
Silvergifting Week 2026
A week dedicated to Celebrimbor/Mairon | Annatar | Sauron pairing, aka Silvergifting. August 10-16, 2026
Your version makes that betrayal particularly bitter!
For Caranthir and Uldor to share such a conversation and Caranthir having opened up so far towards him!
I think you are hinting that memories of Haleth are partly at play in his trusting Uldor too far.
I suppose the theme of bones are ominous and a foreshadowing, although I believe the custom of bone fires is quite a genuine one.
And stabbing in the back can be a metaphor for betrayal, but here it is also very literal!
That's exactly what I had in mind with Haleth!
I read somewhere that etymologically, the word bonfire consists of bone + fire, because actual bones were burned and that inspired this story... I made up the part that bones of dangerous animals give extra luck.
It's curious to me that Maglor slays Uldor and Bor's sons kill Uldor's brothers which probably means that they were close by when they realized the betrayal. So, where's Caranthir, whose ally Uldor is supposed to be?! – I thought literal backstabbing along with the metaphorical one would be quick and detrimental enough for his health to keep him from fighting Uldor himself.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Ouch! The way this starts off with such warm feelings and deep personal trust shared between them, but then with the revelation that it's Uldor, his words seem to have been a veiled threat. His final action of literally stabbing him in the back reveal that his words were actually promise. This was powerfulky written!
(FYI, the SWG has a beta directory as well a beta-finder channel on the Discord server. There's also a fair few German speakers in the group.)
Ouch!
Just what I intended and I'm not sorry! 😋
I don't know if all of his words were a veiled threat, maybe Uldor really remembers a nice tradition. – But they're definitely thinking of different foes to burn and drinking to different sides winning.
Thanks a lot for the comment and for pointing me to the resources!
Love this idea and the punch to the gut in the end of the first 'scene' when we find it's Uldur! Bastard. This is really atmospheric. Great idea as well for a two scene piece that is so textured and visceral. Really enjoyed reading this. Much kudos for writing in your second (or maybe even third! ) language- I am in awe!!
Thank you so much for reading and for the lovely comment! 🫶
I think "Bastard" sums him up quite well!!
Oh and btw, today's midsummer day, just saying!🔥
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