Newest References

10 Important Moments in Tolkien Fanfiction History by Dawn Walls-Thumma

From the appearance of the first Tolkien fanfics in 1960 to the latest appreciation months, Tolkien fanfiction has weathered changes great and small—and has persisted, changed, and grown.

Published on 22 February 2024 .

Things Tolkien Fanfiction Readers and Writers Like to Do (Other Than Fanfiction) by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Tolkien fanfiction writers and readers are involved in fandom in ways other than fanfiction. What else do they do and what patterns can we find in their preferences, using Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data?

Published on 27 January 2024 .

Olwë by LadySternchen

About Olwë, the king of the Teleri in Aman, little is known, but a series of difficult events marked his life until he fades from the pages of The Silmarillion in the First Age.

Published on 24 January 2024 .

Interview with Artist Mirra Kan by Anérea

Blue Wizards, Faithful Haradrim, Black Númenóreans; I chatted with Mirra about her evocative—and somtimes provocative—art drawing attention to some of Middle-earth's Oriental cultures and the Western perception of them.

Published on 4 January 2024 .

Duel of Surveys: Comparing Tolkien Fanfiction and OTW Survey Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma

A (rough!) comparison of the Tolkien Fanfiction and OTW 16th Anniversary Surveys, looking at time active in fandom, attendance at fan conventions, and platform use.

Published on 23 December 2023 .

Fawlty Towers by Simon J. Cook

The tower analogy in "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" wasn't simply a poignant extended metaphor about the poem but addressed specific scholars about academic debates around Beowulf. The lack of addressing this historical context has led to misreadings of Tolkien's meaning.

Published on 14 October 2023 .

Celegorm by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Celegorm emerged early in Tolkien's work on the "Silmarillion," but his evolution into the villain he would become in the published text is complicated, and he filled two surprising roles before coming fully into his own. The first of two parts considers how early work on the "Silmarillion" shaped his final characterization.

Published on 4 November 2023 .

First Brick in the Wall by Simon J. Cook

Jane Chance's interpretation of the tower analogy in Tolkien's lecture-turned-essay "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" dismisses historical inquiry as a valid reading of the poem.

Published on 9 November 2023 .

Interview with artist Ruslan Shapolov by Anérea

A behind the scenes look at the creating of a book of Silmarillion illustrations by Ukranian artist Ruslan Shapolov.

Published on 18 October 2023 .

1936 by Simon J. Cook

In 1936, a shadow had fallen over Europe. Tolkien's lecture on Beowulf looked to the past to draw for the present moment a theory of courage in the face of an uncertain future. 

Published on 6 August 2023 .

The Rock Garden by Simon J. Cook

An early draft of Tolkien's essay on "Beowulf" used a rock garden analogy to show how the critics—who were actual people whom Tolkien knew—were responding incorrectly to the poem.

Published on 7 September 2023 .

Theorycrafting: Interview with Scedasticity of the "Silmarillion Headcanon Survey" by Scedasticity and Dawn Felagund

The Silmarillion Headcanon Survey is a sprawling project that seeks to document where fans fall on various fan theories. Lead researcher Scedasticity discusses its inspiration, what it shows of the fandom, and what lies ahead for the project.

Published on 17 October 2023 .

Talking amongst Ourselves: Tolkien Fanfiction and Fanon by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Fan-generated details and theories, also called fanon, are a conversation among fans about Tolkien's world. Although fanon has a fraught history in many corners of the fandom, it is growing in acceptance.

Published on 16 September 2023 .

Ómar-Amillo by Dawn Walls-Thumma

One of the gods of music in the early legendarium, Ómar is called by Christopher Tolkien "a divinity without much substance" and swiftly faded from the story. His brief existence may shed light on Tolkien's evolving sense of how his fictional universe aligns with the historical peoples that inspired him.

Published on 2 September 2023 .

Interview with Artist Ylieke by firstamazon

Firstamazon caught up with the Tolkien fan artist Ylieke to discover more about her emotionally rich character portraits.

Published on 6 August 2023 .

Húrin Thalion, Part 2 by Melesta

After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Húrin's heroic life takes a turn for the tragic and illustrates themes of courage, betrayal, and the promises and perils of vision. Although given one of the most inconclusive endings in the legendarium, Húrin retains a heroic reputation that resonates through the ages to follow.

Published on 4 August 2023 .

Interview with Artist Ismene by Anérea, Ismene

Ismene is a self-taught artist known for her striking illustrations, most recently the artwork depicting Varda that is featured on the cover of Tolkien and Diversity.

Published on 21 July 2023 .

Tar-Míriel by Grundy

A tragic figure of the Second Age, Tar-Míriel should have been the ruling queen but was usurped and forced into marriage by her cousin, leaving her to witness Númenor's fall.

Published on 5 May 2023 .

Húrin Thalion, Part 1 by Melesta

A character who remained in the legendarium, largely unchanged, since its earliest writings, Húrin lives an early life defined by valor and heroism. This first part of his biography explores his heroic youth, including connections to ancient and medieval history.

Published on 2 June 2023 .

Review of "Tolkien and Diversity" by daughterofshadows

The recent Tolkien Society Seminar proceedings "Tolkien and Diversity" explore both cultural identity and the international fan community and how Tolkien's fanworks and fandom represent marginalized identities.

Published on 8 July 2023 .

Draugluin by Narya

Though appearing just briefly, the fierce wolf Draugluin is characterized using elements from myth and folklore, leaving him a character memorable for his dread.

Published on 30 June 2023 .

Review of "The Battle of Maldon" by Narya

The most recent posthumous volume of Tolkien's work contains some of his translations, lectures, and fanfiction of Old English texts.

Published on 23 June 2023 .

Affirmational Fandom, Transformational Fandom, and Two Old Tolkien Fanfics by Dawn Walls-Thumma

The two oldest known Tolkien-based fanfiction works illustrate the concepts of transformational and affirmational fandom and how both approaches are vital to Tolkien fanworks fandom.

Published on 17 June 2023 .

Fandom Voices: Defining Canon and Using Canon in Fanworks by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Fan responses show how complex is the understanding of the concept of "canon" within the Tolkien fandom. The first part analyzes responses around how fans navigate the complicated issue of Tolkien's canon. Update: Added responses from three additional fans.

Published on 22 April 2023 .

Fandom Voices: Filmverse Fans by Dawn Walls-Thumma

Fans who joined the Tolkien fandom because of the films report that the films inspired them to read the books, encouraged them to join fandom communities, and often resulted in forming lifelong friendships.

Table of Contents

Published on 26 August 2022 .