Newest References

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 .

Amlach by Himring

A dissenting voice in Marach's alliance with the Elves of Beleriand, Amlach experiences a change of mind after a mysterious twist in the story reorients his priorities toward enmity with Morgoth.

Published on 29 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 .

Annael by Silver Trails

Annael was the foster-father of Tuor and a Sindarin Elf who played a minor but important role in his life.

Published on 27 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 .

Makar and Meássë by Silver Trails

Heavily inspired by Norse mythology, Makar and Meássë were briefly Valar early in the legendarium.

Published on 1 December 2013 .

Caranthir by Silver Trails

The fourth son of Fëanor, Caranthir's character leaves many questions unanswered that invite fan speculation.

Published on 1 November 2009 .

Arien by Silver Trails

The story of Arien, the Maia who guides the Sun, changed as the legendarium evolved.

Published on 1 December 2015 .

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 .

Interview with Artist Busymagpie by Anérea

Interview with fanartist Busymagpie where she shares a bit of her background in art, her motivations and methods, and how she came to create her alter-ego Nastymagpie's spicier images.

Published on 22 April 2023 .

Celebrían by Grundy

Celebrían is one of the legion of women in the legendarium whose status suggests she should play a more prominent role in the narrative than she does. This month's biography sifts through the many mentions of Celebrían in various sources to provide a picture of this important—if canonically neglected—woman.

Published on 6 March 2021 .