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Cate Blanchett Showed Stephen Colbert Her Prop Weapons from The Hobbit and Thor
Stephen Colbert is, quite famously, a huge Lord of the Rings fanboy, with the Late Show host frequently challenging guests (including Lee Pace, Elvenking) to Tolkien trivia battles and even casting...
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Asexuality and the Baggins Bachelors: Finding My Counterparts in Middle-earth
I vaguely remember my first introduction to The Hobbit, through the BBC radio dramatisation—a spectacular 8-episode series that my friends had on tape. We listened to it on long car trips, enthralled...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Fëanor, Chief Artificer and Doomsman of...
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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The Farthest Shore: The Return of the King
A biweekly series, The Ursula K. Le Guin Reread explores anew the transformative writing, exciting worlds, and radical stories that changed countless lives. This week we’ll be covering The Farthest...
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Gawyn and Éowyn: Two Great Epic Fantasy Characters with Very Different Fates
I’m here to discuss everyone’s least favorite character in The Wheel of Time—Gawyn Trakand. While Gawyn is almost universally hated by fans, in many ways he is one of the most interesting, flawed...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Faramir, Captain of Gondor
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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Where the Steward Is King: Faramir Is Never Second Best
For the last week, I’ve been thinking about this piece from The Cut, which poses the question, “Are You an Aragorn Girl or a Legolas Girl?” Which led me to some questions of my own: What kind of girl...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Sam Gamgee, Hero and Servant
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Ulmo, Lord of Waters (Part 1)
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Meriadoc Brandybuck, the Quiet One
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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“Infinite and Transcendent”— Artist Kip Rasmussen on Depicting Tolkien’s...
When I first came across Kip Rasmussen’s work, I knew it was exceptional, and that I’d probably like everything he made. His paintings present all the best components of high fantasy: long hair flowing...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Théoden the Renewed
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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Mortal Men Doomed to Die: The Giver of Gifts and the Wise-women of Middle-earth
In this scattershot series, we’ll be delving “too greedily and too deep,” prying gems out of the glorious rough that is the extended legendarium of Tolkien’s world. This includes drawing on The Lord of...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Pippin, the Fool of a Took!
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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How Much Alcohol Does it Take to Get a Hobbit Drunk?
Hobbits live the good life: they eat all day, they generally work with their hands and enjoy nature (unless they are wealthy and don’t work at all), and they live in an idyllic farmscape full of lush...
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Let’s Celebrate Tolkien Week (By Force of Hobbit)!
Hobbits, amirite? When they’re not avoiding anything that makes them late for dinner, they’re pilfering ancient artifacts, accepting age-ending quests, sticking with their friends through thick and...
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Rankin & Bass’ The Hobbit Predicted the Future of Pop Culture
J.R.R. Tolkien’s landmark novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been adapted numerous times for TV and the big screen—with varying quality and results—over the last forty years. The first of...
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Production Resumes on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Series
We’re one step closer to finding out what Amazon’s Middle-earth spectacular is about: As Deadline reports, filming of the epic series has resumed in New Zealand. Alas, there are no new hints to the...
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The Complex Evolution of Sauron — Craftsman, Ring-giver, and Dark Lord
Sauron is one of Tolkien’s best-known and most terrifying villains. Fire and demons, darkness inescapable, and the pull of the Ring of Power surround him; he is often visualized (if incorrectly) as a...
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Exploring the People of Middle-earth: Boromir the Brave
In this biweekly series, we’re exploring the evolution of both major and minor figures in Tolkien’s legendarium, tracing the transformations of these characters through drafts and early manuscripts...
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