Today's Tolkien Times

Week 115 - Friendship Friday: Good Old Merry!

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at another friendship in the legendarium: everyone’s favorite troublemakers, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.

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Week 115 - Third Age Thursday: That What Should Be Shall Be

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Galadriel takes the high road when faced with a no-win scenario, as The Man of the West completes a three-episode look at the Elves of Lórien.

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Week 115 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Any Excuse At All, Really

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he finds a reason to read a line from Galadriel’s Lament because… well, see above. Also: which of these words is not like the others?

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Week 115 - Tolkien Tuesday: Blow Me Up

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Three short letters in the Revised and Expanded edition provide the usual combination of insight, wit, and kindness that characterize Tolkien’s letters.

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Week 115 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Corpse Candles and Carne Asada?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our itinerary of Places No One Wants to Visit: this time, looking at the lovely and refreshing Morgul Vale.

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Week 114 - Silmarillion Saturday: Move Their Hearts to Pity

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

We’ve been building up to this for a few series now, and it’s finally time to begin Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath.

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Week 114 - Friendship Friday: Not Yet Anyway

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our four-episode look at the friendship of Frodo and Sam, from certain death on the slopes of Mount Doom, to their farewell at the Grey Havens.

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Week 114 - Third Age Thursday: An Island Amid Many Perils

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

We continue our look at the Elves of Lórien as the Fellowship encounter Haldir and make their way towards Caras Galadhon itself.

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Week 114 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Steep Streets

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we look at a few words from our visit to the darkness on Middle-earth Map Monday… and visit a golden river for a palate cleanse.

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Week 114 - Tolkien Tuesday: With Tears As I Wrote

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

We reach the second half of Letter 241 as Tolkien gives his Aunt Jane (and us) the story behind his work, Leaf by Niggle.

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Week 114 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Despair… Postponed

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our travel journeys to only the worst places, this time to the Black Gate itself.

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Week 113 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Fairest of All the Children of the World

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

As if I need to tell you that today’s episode title has nothing whatsoever to do with The Man of the West. We conclude the tragic chapter Of the Ruin of Doriath with the loss of Beren and Lúthien, some unwelcome guests, and even more death.

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Week 113 - Friendship Friday: As Our Strength Lessens

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as the friendship of Frodo and Sam grows stronger even in the most challenging circumstances.

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Week 113 - Third Age Thursday: Valiant and Wise

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Clearly not referring to The Man of the West, today’s episode title actually speaks of Amroth, the King of Lórien, as we move west from Mirkwood to look at yet another of the Elven Kingdoms of the Third Age.

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Week 113 - Word-nerd Wednesday: On Top of Old Wet Head

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Today’s Word-nerd Wednesday looks at several words from our Silmarillion Saturday readings, some of which are more noble sounding than others.

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Week 113 - Tolkien Tuesday: Now I Want a Grilled Cheese

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we begin another of the Professor’s letters to his Aunt Jane Neave: today, it’s all about the Welsh!

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Week 113 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Diseased Beyond All Healing

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

No, really, it’s just a mild cold… oh, the text? That’s a different story. Join The Man of the West as we follow Frodo and Sam’s miserable itinerary through the Dagorlad and the wastes before the Black Gate.

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Week 112 - Silmarillion Saturday: With a Different Voice

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue in The Ruin of Doriath, standing beside Melian in her grief. Mablung meets his end fulfilling his duty, and Beren rescues the stolen Nauglamír.

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Week 112 - Friendship Friday: I Was Serious

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we turn our 2-part look at Frodo and Sam’s friendship into four episodes instead: today, from Parth Galen to Cirith Ungol.

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Week 112 - Third Age Thursday: Good People… Mostly

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Whether today’s title also applies to The Man of the West is up to you. Today, we take a look at the Elves of Mirkwood in (mostly) the Third Age, as we continue our look at the free peoples of Middle-earth.

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Week 112 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Frings — Not What you Thought

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West takes a deep dive into a few words from last week’s Silmarillion Saturday, including one that, it turns out, is long overdue.

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Week 112 - Tolkien Tuesday: Peacocks are Out

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Well, yes — but I thought everyone knew that. Join The Man of the West as we look at another letter from the Professor to his illustrator on The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Pauline Baynes.

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Week 112 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Always Creeping

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Today’s stop on our journey is not on The Man of the West’s bucket list, nor is it likely on yours. Come visit the charming wetlands known as the Dead Marshes.

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Week 111 - Silmarillion Saturday: Be Gone Unrequited

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West may be used to hearing those words, but today they’re meant for the Dwarves of Nogrod that are haughtily dismissed by Thingol, unaware of the danger he faces.

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Week 111 - Friendship Friday: Jump Down a Dragon’s Throat

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

We begin an all-new thing for Fridays, as we study friendships in Middle-earth, starting with perhaps the best-known example with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.

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Week 111 - Third Age Thursday: He Dwells There Still

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at more people in the Third Age; having done a deep dive into all the different Men for two series, it’s time to visit the Elves, beginning in Lindon.

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Week 111 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not Your Average Garden Gnome

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a Word-nerd Wednesday deep dive into Tolkien’s early name for the Elves we now know as the Noldor, and learn why he could use it Gnome-Or (just say it out loud… no more).

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Week 111 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Am Not Satisfied with ‘Hobbits’

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time for another out-of-context quote as episode title, as we begin another TTT series spending Tolkien Tuesdays in the Revised and Expanded edition of the Letters. Today, it’s more gripes about translations; anyone else not surprised?

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Week 111 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Twisted Knot of Hills

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 15 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil.

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Week 110 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Things Crooked

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Húrin’s anger leads him to Doriath, where he throws jewelry at the King and finds himself gently reminded of the truth by Melian.

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Week 110 - First Age Friday: She Was Not Conquered

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we begin our time in Of the Ruin of Doriath, watching as Húrin is all-too-briefly reunited with Morwen before his heart turns to “stone within him”.

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Week 110 - Third Age Thursday: Riders Tall and Fair

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

We finish our look at Men of the Third Age as The Man of the West reviews the history of the Éothéod, their steadfast alliance with Gondor, and their move to the northern vales.

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Week 110 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Surf’s Up!

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another — this time more thorough — look at the name of Gondor’s hottest surf spot, Belfalas, along with other places we’ve encountered in our journey through Gondor.

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Week 110 - Tolkien Tuesday: Insoluble Metrical Problems

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Tolkien admits to a bit of poetic masochism in a letter to his aunt Jane, as The Man of the West continues his look through the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters.

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Week 110 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The End of Gondor

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we reach the far shores and conclude our 21-week journey through the regions of Gondor.

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Week 109 - Silmarillion Saturday: The First Evil

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we accompany a now-free Húrin from Angband to his homelands and then on as he looks for mercy from Turgon.

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Week 109 - First Age Friday: You Lie

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Not you, sorry — Morgoth. At least that’s Húrin’s opinion as he continues his defiance of the Dark Lord in this week’s First Age Friday.

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Week 109 - Third Age Thursday: A Bulwark of Gondor

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

We continue our study of the Men of Middle-earth, this time looking at the ancestors of the Rohirrim, known early on as the Northmen.

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Week 109 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ló and Behold

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the etymology of a few more of the rivers and towns in Gondor, continuing our journey west through the land.

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Week 109 - Tolkien Tuesday: The ‘Fan Mail’ Keeps On Coming In

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

And now you know the title isn’t a reference to The Man of the West! Join Alan as he begins a two-part look at another letter Tolkien wrote to his aunt, Jane Neave.

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Week 109 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Angbor the Fearless

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his journey through Gondor, looking at Lamedon, the Morthond Vale, and the uniquely-named ridge that separates the two.

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Week 108 - Silmarillion Saturday: Hardly Better Than Orcs

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Famously not what The Man of the West says about people who don’t listen to the PPP or TTT. Instead, it’s Húrin’s opinion of the Men new to his part of the world.

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Week 108 - First Age Friday: Time That Yet Lay Hidden

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we finish Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and begin to pull all the strings together to lead us to Eärendil and the War of Wrath.

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Week 108 - Third Age Thursday: Middle Man, Not Middle Management

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Anyone can be a mid-level supervisor; it takes someone special to be a Middle Man — or does it? Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look at Men of the Twilight (no vampires or werewolves involved).

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Week 108 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Let x Be the Number of Rivers in a Land

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we visit yet another land named solely after the number of rivers within it on this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday!

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Week 108 - Tolkien Tuesday: At Least as Capacious as Mine

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The size of your waste paper basket doesn’t really matter; after all, you know you’re not throwing away a letter from Tolkien, even if it is long and pedantic.

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Week 108 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Independent ‘Traditions’

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West in his journeys…um, west… through the southern fiefs of Gondor, as he looks more closely at the home of Imrahil known as Dol Amroth.

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Week 107 - Silmarillion Saturday: Bereft of Their Power and Glory

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Some might say it’s a tragedy; others might say it’s about time. We look at the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and begin to tie this story together with the months-long journey we took with Tuor.

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Week 107 - First Age Friday: Aurë entuluva! Day Shall Come Again!

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The Battle of Unnumbered Tears lives up to its name in spectacular fashion as Fingon meets his gruesome end and the Men of Dor-lómin lay down their lives to protect the secrecy of Gondolin.

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Week 107 - Third Age Thursday: Fierce Folk When Roused

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West finishes his long look at the Men of Darkness with the Dunlendings, a group of Men that might be better called Middle Men gone wrong.

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Week 107 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Better Late Than… Wandering?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he finishes off the last of the Five Rivers of Lebennin before discovering what Imrahil and Pippin have in common.

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Week 107 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Feel Inclined to Tell Him So

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

We’re sure you do, Professor — and we hope you did! Join The Man of the West as the Professor calls himself — accurately — a natural niggler. Also, a bottle of the Old Winyards?

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Week 107 - Middle-earth Map Monday: About That Beachfront Property…

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a look at Pelargir throughout the ages, before we move into Belfalas and the realm of the Prince of Dol Amroth.

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Week 106 - Silmarillion Saturday: Hope Was Renewed

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Granted, only to be smashed under the feet of Uldor and his sons, but it was still renewed. Join The Man of the West for another reading from the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

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Week 106 - First Age Friday: “and Morgoth trembled…”

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he brings the Nirnaeth Arnoediad to First Age Fridays as well; the quicker to get through it, I suppose.

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Week 106 - Third Age Thursday: A People Apart

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for an honest look at the folk known as the Dunlendings, so join The Man of the West as he goes back to the arrival of the Atani in Beleriand to draw connections.

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Week 106 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Calling Count von Count

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an unexpected grammar lesson as we explore the names of the five rivers of Lebennin. Or four of them, at least.

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Week 106 - Tolkien Tuesday: Her Dragon is Absurd

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

When an artist fails to meet Tolkien’s standards, it’s time to call in Pauline Baynes! Join The Man of the West as we revisit the Letters on Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 106 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Five Swift Streams

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his journeys in southern Gondor, moving into the green fields of Lebennin where the people are hardy and numerous.

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Week 105 - Silmarillion Saturday: Utúlie’n Aurë!

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

And The Man of the West answered crying “Auta i lómë! The night is passing!” Or maybe that was the army of Fingon when they heard the trumpet of Turgon, who finally decided to do something.

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Week 105 - First Age Friday: Felt Old Age Creep Upon Him

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West is wondering who’s behind these episode titles. Tuor leads the refugees of Gondolin to safety before deciding it’s time to sail off into the sunset.

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Week 105 - Third Age Thursday: You Shall Be Summoned Once Again

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Perhaps this is a reference to jury duty for The Man of the West. Or perhaps it’s part of Isildur’s curse on the Men of the Mountains, as we continue our look at the Men of Darkness in the Third Age.

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Week 105 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Mistakes Were Likely to Be Made

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West is far, far too familiar with the truth of today’s title, which is actually Tolkien’s explanation for some of the place names in Gondor on this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 105 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Loathe It

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we have to carefully dissect and analyze Professor Tolkien’s words to really understand what he’s saying. Or not at all, really. Watch out, Disney!

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Week 105 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Weed is Better Than I Thought

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Good heavens, no — not that weed: athelas, of course. It’s also a quote from Ioreth, not The Man of the West — who is here to take you up into the vales of Lossarnach on this week’s Middle-earth Map Monday.

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Week 104 - Silmarillion Saturday: Less Aid Than Should Have Been

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Fëanor’s foolish oath bears unpleasant fruit more than 500 years later as we begin our reading about the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

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Week 104 - First Age Friday: Both Fell to Ruin

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

While it is true that The Man of the West isn’t what he used to be, I’d hardly use ‘fell to ruin’. No, that’s just a Balrog of Morgoth and our old friend Glorfindel.

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Week 104 - Third Age Thursday: Black Sails Bellying in the Breeze

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

We continue our look at the Men of Darkness in the Third Age as The Man of the West concludes his time studying the Corsairs of Umbar.

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Week 104 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Little Tomfoolery

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for some different word-nerdery, this time on some English-sounding names that aren’t especially English.

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Week 104 - Tolkien Tuesday: Heraldic Overtones

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Continuing our look at Tolkien’s 1961 letter to his Aunt Jane, we find an argument for why a word like ‘argent’ is beautiful even before it is understood. Totally unlike The Man of the West, of course.

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Week 104 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Tour of Gondor Continues

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the 14th Series of Today’s Tolkien Times with a look at the region of South Ithilien.

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Week 103 - Rude Little Errand Boy

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Yes, that’s The Man of the West. But NPB means that to refer to Ilbereth, the secretary for Father Christmas, who writes the largest portion of this second half of the 1937 letter. What does roast Polar Bear taste like?

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Week 103 - One of the Cleverest Elves

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Father Christmas wishes Tolkien a speedy recovery, and explains that he’s already giving away ‘second editions’ of The Hobbit just three months after its publication, as we look at the first part of the 1937 letter.

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Week 103 - A Letter Worth Hearing

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the 1936 letter as Father Christmas introduces us to a new member of Team North Pole, and Polar Bear takes a very long bath.

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Week 103 - Quite a Nasty Outbreak

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

It’s 1935, and Father Christmas grows concerned about the goblins, expecting trouble with them soon — but hey, elvish magic sparkler spears should do the trick, right? Right?

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Week 103 - Frightful Mischief

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

While The Man of the West is sometimes guilty of such trouble, today’s title refers to guests at the North Pole in 1934: Polar Bear’s young cousins, Paksu and Valkotukka!

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Week 103 - I Enjoyed it Immensely!

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for our holiday tradition of reading from Letters From Father Christmas, this time starting in 1933 as Polar Bear continues his goblin-smashing ways!

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Week 102 - Silmarillion Saturday: Great in Strength Both of Mind and Body

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

No, today’s title… oh, you know the joke by now. Join The Man of the West as we conclude our time in Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin from The Silmarillion.

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Week 102 - First Age Friday: A Light Was in His Face as the Light of Heaven

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Just like yesterday, today’s title still isn’t a reference to The Man of the West — though it’s a bit more obvious this time. No, today’s the day we meet baby Eärendil, the half-elf who will save the world.

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Week 102 - Third Age Thursday: Enamored of Evil Knowledge

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

No, I promise today’s title isn’t a reference to The Man of the West. Instead, it’s time to take a look at two more groups of the Men of Darkness: the Black Númenóreans and the Corsairs of Umbar.

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Week 102 - Word-nerd Wednesday: And Now for Something Completely Different

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We step away from the First Age to do a very deep dive on a single word from our Middle-earth Map Monday discussion, and learn more about trees as a bonus.

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Week 102 - Tolkien Tuesday: Other and Duller Things

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins a look at another letter from Tolkien to his Aunt Jane; turns out sorting through old poetry is better than the rest of the things Tolkien should be doing.

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Week 102 - Middle-earth Map Monday: How Long Have I Been Asleep?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

I’d say about two days, if episodes of Today’s Tolkien Times are anything to go by. Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 13 by looking at the site of what Tolkien says is the eucatastrophe of the whole story.

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Week 101 - Silmarillion Saturday: At Least They Had Window Seats

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he spends a year in Gondolin with the brothers Húrin and Huor, only to get left at the airport in the middle of the night.

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Week 101 - First Age Friday: Word of the Woes Without

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Tuor finally brings his message to Turgon; the King doesn’t take his advice, but does allow him to marry his daughter, as we shift chapters in our story of Tuor and Gondolin.

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Week 101 - Third Age Thursday: Like a Glitter of Stars

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the third episode on the Haradrim, as we look at the actions of the Southrons in The War of the Ring in another of our deep dives of the Men of Darkness in the Third Age.

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Week 101 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ugly Shaggy Hair, Son of Ugly Beard

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

No, this isn’t The Man of the West saying his son needs a haircut; today’s Word-nerd Wednesday looks at the Sindarin names of some of the new arrivals in Beleriand.

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Week 101 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Don’t Know if They Have Any Virtue at All

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West says the same about TTT episodes, but one of today’s letters sees the Professor say this about some of his poems.

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Week 101 - Middle-earth Map Monday: An Unconsuming Fire

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the start of the next 100 weeks of Today’s Tolkien Times, with a Middle-earth Map Monday spent in the “window of some elven-tower, curtained with threaded jewels”.

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Week 100 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Sons of Galdor

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he celebrates his 600th episode of Today’s Tolkien Times, just in time to see Húrin and Huor rescued and taken to Gondolin!

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Week 100 - First Age Friday: Hasty Jottings

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we finally get Tuor’s passport stamped for Gondolin — and we learn a few more things that never made it off the scrap of paper.

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Week 100 - Third Age Thursday: He Did Not Like It Much

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Part two of our look at the Haradrim in this series on Men of Darkness covers the long, conflict-filled history of the Third Age as the Men of the Harad find themselves allied with Black Númenóreans.

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Week 100 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Mist of Fear

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he discovers there’s a lot less word-nerdery on Barahir’s companions than he’d expected.

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Week 100 - Tolkien Tuesday: Unmingled

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We move on from Tolkien’s beef with the Swedish translator (finally), with a look at another of Tolkien’s letters to Rhona Beare, with this one feeling a bit like an early Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 100 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Saxifrages and Stonecrops

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a milestone week of Today’s Tolkien Times, as he starts with a visit to the region of North Ithilien on Middle-earth Map Monday.

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Week 099 - Silmarillion Saturday: A Measure of Truth

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues this series’ read-through Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin, as Sauron captures a strategic location.

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Week 099 - First Age Friday: Greater and More Lordly

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We return to yet another title that could (never) be said of The Man of the West. Join Alan as he drags Tuor through the Sixth and Seventh Gates, only to meet a guy with a diamond helmet.

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Week 099 - Third Age Thursday: For a Different Purpose

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins an extended look at yet another group of the Men of Darkness: the Haradrim.

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Week 099 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Baragund and Isildur’s Horse?

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he discovers an unlikely connection in this week’s fan favorite Philology Faire… uh, Word-nerd Wednesday. (You heard the music, didn’t you?)

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Week 099 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Farrago of Nonsense

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Once considered as a subtitle for Today’s Tolkien Times, today’s title is Tolkien’s response to a continued onslaught of silliness from a Swedish translator of The Lord of the Rings.

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Week 099 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Haughty and Ungenerous

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Most definitely not describing The Man of the West… right? Join Alan as he begins the 99th week of episodes for Today’s Tolkien Times with a look at the Gondorian capital city — not that one: Osgiliath.

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Week 098 - Silmarillion Saturday: So By Perilous Paths

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

In this week’s reading of “I hope I never have to do that”, we learn about the hero Emeldir and how her actions saved the future of Middle-earth. Also, Robin Hood and his… not-likely-merry men.

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Week 098 - First Age Friday: As Moonlight Through a Glimmering Mist

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our climb through the Orfalch Echor, this time passing through the Gates of Iron and Silver.

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Week 098 - Third Age Thursday: Strong and War-hardened

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Most assuredly not describing The Man of the West, today’s episode continues our look at the Easterlings over the last 500 years of the Third Age.

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Week 098 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Back Away from the Elvish Dictionary, Sir

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he walks through the meanings of several important names from our readings in Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin — and also proves why he’s not a language consultant for any TV or film adaptations.

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Week 098 - Tolkien Tuesday: Presumptuous Impertinence

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Often presumptuous, sometimes impertinent, but rarely both: The Man of the West continues his look at the beef between Tolkien and the Swedish translator of The Lord of the Rings.

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Week 098 - Middle-earth Map Monday: How about Making-it-up Monday?

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Week 98 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a look at the port that keeps Minas Tirith going, the Harlond — and one more place of supreme strategic importance.

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Week 097 - Silmarillion Saturday: Great Was the Lamentation

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The sound of PPP and TTT fans when The Man of the West retires? Ha! Join Alan as Fingolfin meets his fate with courage, and Morgoth gets an owie he can’t fix.

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Week 097 - First Age Friday: No Escape… and No Returning

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We continue our journey with Tuor and Voronwë as they make their way from the First Gate up the Orfalch Echor with their guard guide, Elemmakil.

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Week 097 - Third Age Thursday: Minds Filled with Hatred

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we begin a long look at another group of Men of Darkness; from Bór and Ulfang’s arrival in the First Age, the Easterlings and Edain have had a long history of conflict.

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Week 097 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Maybe Avoid the Fen of Serech?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he practically sprints through ten place names from our Silmarillion Saturday readings about the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin.

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Week 097 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Should Make Him Apologize

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West is genuinely sorry; fortunately, Tolkien is talking about a Swedish interpreter of The Lord of the Rings instead.

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Week 097 - Middle-earth Map Monday: I Like Big Butteries

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he relives a Philology Faire of the past while walking you through the rest of the City of Minas Tirith: the Hall of Feasts, Rath Dínen, stables, barracks, and yes, the buttery.

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Week 096 - Silmarillion Saturday: And Morgoth Came

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The war goes badly for the Noldor, and Fingolfin finds himself knocking on the door of the most powerful being in Middle-earth as we continue our readings in Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the (spoilers) Fall of Fingolfin.

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Week 096 - First Age Friday: I Should Slay Him

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Thankfully, nothing to do with The Man of the West in this title: just an acknowledgement that Voronwë has put his old friend in a hard spot as we continue our readings in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin.

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Week 096 - Third Age Thursday: Men of Twilight and Men of Darkness

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins a dive into a new topic on Third Age Thursdays looking at different cultures of the race of Men in the Third Age.

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Week 096 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Fëanor Felt Aggrieved

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

What else is new, right? Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into the name of the first High King of the Noldor and a few other words from our recent Silmarillion Saturday readings.

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Week 096 - Tolkien Tuesday: Simple-Minded Folk (Like Myself)

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our look into Tolkien’s letters and discover just how badly the Professor was irritated by a Swedish translator.

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Week 096 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Falling Year by Year Into Decay

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Yet another episode title that could be a quote from the text, or a reference to The Man of the West. Join Alan as he starts Series 13 of Today’s Tolkien Times by continuing his deep dive into the City of Minas Tirith!

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Week 095 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Aboard the Balrog Train

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Choo-choo. Join The Man of the West as we discuss just how many balrogs there might have been on the southbound train from Angband and point out how Barahir’s rescue of Finrod really saved all of Middle-earth. Thanks for joining the TTT for Series 12 — we’ll be back again after a short break!

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Week 095 - First Age Friday: Forgotten In My Own Land

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

There’s always a title that could be read as applying to The Man of the West — but this is just Voronwë trying to make sure he and Tuor don’t get killed… or at least not yet.

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Week 095 - Third Age Thursday: A Token of Hope

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at the original Elessar, and the two backstories of the one given to Aragorn.

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Week 095 - Word-nerd Wednesday: But Wait, There’s More

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

More names from Of Maeglin in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday, including the names of Turgon’s wife and daughter — and of a Dwarven hall that’s got a familiar name.

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Week 095 - Tolkien Tuesday: Neither ‘Foolhardy’ Nor German

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West isn’t German either, but he might not have much to say on the ‘foolhardy’ front. Join him as we take a look at Tolkien’s surname and read more on C.S. Lewis and his misspelling of Númenor.

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Week 095 - Middle-earth Map Monday: A Thousand Feet Above the Plain

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 12 with a Middle-earth Map Monday exploring the City of Minas Tirith!

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Week 094 - Silmarillion Saturday: Their Roofless Grave

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins a new chapter on Silmarillion Saturdays, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin.

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Week 094 - First Age Friday: Blame Me Not

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Week 094 - First Age Friday: Blame Me Not

Voronwë echoes the words of the Man of the West, but sounds so much better doing it. He and Tuor get oh-so-close to the entrance to the Hidden Kingdom… in fact, I’d say this is the driveway.

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Week 094 - Third Age Thursday: Treasure Without Price

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

At least you know the title isn’t referring to The Man of the West! Join him as we look at the fascinating story behind the two versions of the Elendilmir.

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Week 094 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Sounds Like…

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at more words from the chapter Of Maeglin, and decides to fill in the blanks for a name that Tolkien was was “meaningless then and now”.

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Week 094 - Tolkien Tuesday: What Have Penguins Done to You, Professor?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West looks at some more of Tolkien’s letters, discovering that the Professor is overworked, criticizes Lewis’ “ponderous silliness”, and is not fond of puffins.

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Week 094 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Huge Tracts of Land

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he goes inside the Rammas that we visited last week to see the wide tilth and many orchards of the Pelennor on another Middle-earth Map Monday.

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Week 093 - Silmarillion Saturday: Knowing That He Was Perilous

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the tragic conclusion to the chapter Of Maeglin as Eöl does the unthinkable, Aredhel protects her son, and Maeglin’s desires lead him down a dark road.

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Week 093 - First Age Friday: Short is the Sight of Mortal Men

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

At least The Man of the West doesn’t have to do any curvature-of-the-earth calculations in this week’s reading in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin!

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Week 093 - Third Age Thursday: Yet to Earn It

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into yet another Third Age Artifact in Middle-earth as we look at the nature and history of The Sceptre of Annúminas.

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Week 093 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Aberration

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West fully recognizes his status, but the title actually refers to a possible mixup on Tolkien’s part!

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Week 093 - Tolkien Tuesday: Not Going Off Exactly as Hot Cakes

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Does the title reference episodes of Today’s Tolkien Times? Well, yes… but Tolkien is referring to the Swedish translation of The Lord of the Rings on this week’s Tolkien Tuesday!

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Week 093 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Ah, but Which Denethor?

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he asks a question almost no one else would bother asking as we journey with Gandalf (and Pippin) as they pass the wall protecting the Fields of the Pelennor, the Rammas Echor.

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Week 092 - Silmarillion Saturday: To Claim My Own

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Eöl proves he’s exactly who we’ve known him to be all along when he finally gets a chance to meet his brother-in-law, the King of Gondolin.

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Week 092 - First Age Friday: Death Walks Between

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we journey with Tuor and Voronwë through the Vale of Sirion; Tuor wants to fight, Voronwë offers better advice, and Ulmo’s cloak saves the day.

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Week 092 - Third Age Thursday: Touch It and Die

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Aragorn has strong words for Háma, as The Man of the West continues his look at Third Age artifacts with a study of Andúril, née Narsil, and the Ring of Barahir.

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Week 092 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Well, I’m Back

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we discover that Sam’s statement upon returning home is a lot easier to decipher than Voronwë’s Alae! Ered en Echoriath, ered embar nín!

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Week 092 - Tolkien Tuesday: Fauna of Mordor

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time to hear Tolkien tell us what he really thinks about cats (or a breed of them, perhaps) — as well as retirement, vacation, and publishing Gawain — in this week’s set of Letters on Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 092 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Stone for Food

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our journeys in Anórien, stopping by the pine woods of the Drúadan Foreste, and walking the roads of Stonewain Valley.

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Week 091 - Silmarillion Saturday: Knowing His Peril

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Did you ever think Curufin would be a good guy? Yeah, me neither. Of course, the bar’s set pretty low today as he encounters Eöl on his way to seek Aredhel and Maeglin.

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Week 091 - First Age Friday: Only For a Moment

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Tuor and Voronwë discover the defilement of the springs of Ivrin, and spot a man with woe graven in his face. If only they’d spoken…

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Week 091 - Third Age Thursday: Homebrew

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time for more Middle-earth artifacts in the Third Age, as we spend this episode diving deep into the Arkenstone, answering the age-old question of “Is it a Silmaril?”

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Week 091 - Word-nerd Wednesday: He Said It Again!

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he walks through a half-dozen words from our journeys with Tuor and Voronwë on First Age Fridays.

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Week 091 - Tolkien Tuesday: Means ‘No’

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time for more subtlety, more reading between the lines, and more inferences… wait, who am I kidding? It’s time for the Letters and some more wonderful Tolkien bluntness!

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Week 091 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Less-important Fires

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at each of the Beacon-hills of Gondor in this Middle-earth Map Monday, as we continue exploring Anórien.

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Week 090 - Silmarillion Saturday: Wholly Unwilling

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We may have left the tragedy of Túrin behind for now, but troubling Middle-earth moments continue as Eöl stalks, manipulates, coerces, and finally takes Aredhel. A brief but honest look at an ugly moment.

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Week 090 - First Age Friday: The Waves Hunted Us

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Voronwë concludes his sorrowful tale; now we all know why this year’s family vacation will not be a cruise.

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Week 090 - Third Age Thursday: Quite Polite

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a look at one of the more well-known artifacts of the Third Age: and no, it’s not the lead singer of The Police.

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Week 090 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Redundant Redundancy

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time for another dive into (mostly) Sindarin words from our First Age Friday readings in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin.

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Week 090 - Tolkien Tuesday: Above Our Measure

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we finish our look at Letter 215, where the Professor offers deep insight on our need for literature and, once again, disclaims any allegorical intent in The Lord of the Rings.

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Week 090 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Paid Little Attention

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

While today’s title could describe The Man of the West’s years in college, it’s actually the narrative calling out a hobbit. Start this week with a Middle-earth Map Monday about the Beacons of Gondor!

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Week 089 - Silmarillion Saturday: She Was Enmeshed

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the story of Aredhel, the White Lady of the Noldor, and her ill-advised departure from Gondolin.

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Week 089 - First Age Friday: The Cure of All Sea-Longing

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his reading of the story of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin, as today we listen to much of Voronwë’s tale, including a lovely description of the Vale of the Willows.

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Week 089 - Third Age Thursday: Beater and Biter

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

With the poetry and songs from The Lord of the Rings in our rear-view mirror here on the TTT, it’s time to spend this series looking at important artifacts in the Third Age, starting with a couple of swords that show up in The Hobbit!

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Week 089 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Voronwë and the Willow-vale

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an exploration of several words we’ve encountered in our First Age Friday readings through the story of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin.

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Week 089 - Tolkien Tuesday: Among Other Darknesses

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We return to the revised edition of Tolkien’s Letters as we get back to Tolkien Tuesdays for Series 12 of the TTT. Edith’s broken arm and the Professor’s hospitalization have put Tolkien in quite a state.

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Week 089 - Middle-earth Map Monday: From Erui to Mindolluin

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 12 of the TTT with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the region of Gondor known as Anórien.

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Week 088 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Secret Fire Imperishable, Or Something

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s discussion and analysis time as The Man of the West looks back over the last six weeks in the Ainulindalë, answers a couple of questions, and recaps some of the bigger themes. Also, goodbye to Series 11 of the TTT and we’ll see you in a few weeks!

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Week 088 - First Age Friday: The Hidden Remain Hid

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Voronwë gets a few surprises from Tuor, and learns that his Spring Break has been cancelled.

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Week 088 - Third Age Thursday: Tidings Beyond Hope

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Eagles bring a message from the High King of Arda himself as the children of the West sing and rejoice after the ending of Sauron’s realm.

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Week 088 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Unendurable Fate

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for one more Word-nerd Wednesday walking through the names and words in our story of Túrin — with a bonus pair of names from our readings on Tuor!

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Week 088 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: No Lord or Loyalty

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The story of Túrin Turambar reaches its tragic end as Túrin learns of what happened and implores Gurthang to do its job quickly.

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Week 088 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Fear Flowed From It

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his way past the Hold of Dunharrow down the Dimholt Road to the Door of the Dead on another Middle-earth Map Monday.

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Week 087 - Silmarillion Saturday: Not All in Vain

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Ainulindalë reaches its dramatic conclusion as Melkor gets jealous of the Valars’ new threads and throws a cosmic temper tantrum.

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Week 087 - First Age Friday: A Long Surf Glimmering

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our readings in the story of Tuor, wrapping up our chat with the mighty Ulmo before eventually meeting a new friend.

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Week 087 - Third Age Thursday: Praise Them With Great Praise!

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We near the end of our nearly year-long run through the poems and songs in The Lord of the Rings with a discussion of a song that Tolkien says “brought tears to my eyes to write”.

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Week 087 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Almost As Many Names As Aragorn

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a whirlwind walk through nine names of the chief protagonist (I can’t say ‘hero’) of the tragic story of Túrin.

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Week 087 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: And Now Thou Shalt Know Him

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Túrin finally gets his vengeance on Glaurung, but it comes at a high cost for him — and for Níniel, who has her full memory tragically restored.

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Week 087 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Before Ever a Ship Came

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his journey deep into the valley of Harrowdale, this time climbing a steep road and visiting the ancient Dunharrow.

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Week 086 - Silmarillion Saturday: Forms of Majesty and Dread

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we wrap up week 86 with a reminder that you cannot call dibs on an entire world, even if you are Melkor.

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Week 086 - First Age Friday: Whatsoever Doom They Bear

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

And it’s quite a doom, Tuor, take my word for it. Join The Man of the West as Tuor rolls natural 20s for his loot check, resulting in some special gear. Ulmo stops by to ask why he was so late.

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Week 086 - Third Age Thursday: Nor Bid the Stars Farewell

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We take a closer look at the moving song that Sam finds himself singing unbidden in the terrible Tower of Cirith Ungol, all alone.

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Week 086 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not That Kind of Deer, Dear

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he explores the word-nerdery behind many names from our readings in the stories of Túrin and Tuor.

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Week 086 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: A Shadow Fell Upon Her Mind

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We continue our readthrough of the story of Túrin as he finally settles down and gets married — to the last person he ever should wed. Tragedy grows silently as Túrin seeks to find and kill Glaurung.

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Week 086 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Frowning Precipices

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West, who tries to keep his precipices from frowning, for this week’s Middle-earth Map Monday as we head to the valley of Harrowdale.

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Week 085 - Silmarillion Saturday: Let These Things Be!

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Ilúvatar has some words for the Ainur — or, specifically, one very important word. We also get a tangible example of SPBMI in this week’s Silmarillion Saturday!

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Week 085 - First Age Friday: Deathless But Doomed

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another reading in the story of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin, as Tuor spends months in the wilderness before swans lead him to the halls of Vinyamar.

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Week 085 - Third Age Thursday: But a Doggrel

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The herb-master in the Houses of Healing delivers a “rhyme of old days”, and Legolas sings of the beauty of Lebennin in this week’s exploration of poems and songs in The Lord of the Rings.

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Week 085 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Lookout Hill

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at a few names from our readings about Túrin, and a surprise appearance by a phrase from our readings about Tuor.

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Week 085 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Nor Her Own Name

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Todays’ meeting of Glaurung and Níenor will lead to tragedy tomorrow, as we continue the story of Túrin Turambar.

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Week 085 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Riven From the Bones of the Earth

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue our walk through Middle-earth with a visit to Nan Curunír, Isengard, and Orthanc itself.

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Week 084 - Silmarillion Saturday: Strange and Free

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

While the episode title fairly describes this podcast (and, in a way, its host), it’s actually what the Valar saw in the Children of Ilúvatar as we continue our reading of the Ainulindalë from The Silmarillion.

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Week 084 - First Age Friday: A Great Yearning

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Tuor finds his way to the shores of the Great Sea and is struck with a deep Sea-longing in today’s continued reading in Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin in Unfinished Tales.

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Week 084 - Third Age Thursday: To the Day’s Rising

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he walks through some of the most powerful alliterative verses in The Lord of the Rings, including Rohirric ‘epitaph poems’.

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Week 084 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Intelligent Man

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Today’s episode title is clearly not referring to The Man of the West, but you’ll have to listen to find out who it is talking about. Join in as we look at the names of Brandir, Handir, Ephel Brandir, Amon Obel, Haleth and yet another of Túrin’s names.

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Week 084 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: In Peace Unshadowed

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

If only Túrin were right about that. Join The Man of the West as we continue reading the story of Túrin who finally takes the overly-optimistic name of Turambar.

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Week 084 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Rush and Chatter

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

No, The Man of the West isn’t in a hurry and he’s no more talkative than usual. Today’s Middle-earth Map Monday continues our visit in Rohan as we stop by the Fords of Isen.

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Week 083 - Silmarillion Saturday: Shall Prove But Mine Instrument

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his reading of Ainulindalë, reaching the passage that spawned the classic PPP acronym, SPBMI.

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Week 083 - First Age Friday: Through Darkness

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Tuor begins his journeys and runs into two unexpected Elves who have some counsel — and unexpected prophecy — for the outlaw. Also, blue lamps!

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Week 083 - Third Age Thursday: Fealty Kept He

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he takes a deep dive into dark Dunharrow and the dim morning, studying the alliterative verse of Rohan.

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Week 083 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Get Used to Disappointment

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West swings and misses at three words today, but still manages to bat .500 as he just keeps swinging. (Not a baseball fan? Please forgive the baseball analogy.)

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Week 083 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: I Offer Thee Freedom

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

And if you really think that’s what Glaurung is offering, I’ve got a bridge to sell you — and it’s nowhere near Nargothrond.

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Week 083 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Tap by Tap

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his trip through Rohan on Middle-earth Map Monday in a visit to the caves of Helm’s Deep: the Glittering Caves of Aglarond.

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Week 082 - Silmarillion Saturday: Like Unto Countless Choirs

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time for a deep dive into the musical origins of creation in the first of six readings in the Ainulindalë, the Music of the Ainur, from The Silmarillion.

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Week 082 - First Age Friday: An Outlaw in the Land of His Fathers

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a new series of First Age Fridays as we look at the tale Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin from Unfinished Tales.

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Week 082 - Third Age Thursday: Need Shall Drive Him

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West takes a long look at the words of Malbeth the Seer — including a look at the drafts when Malbeth had nothing to do with this prophecy at all.

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Week 082 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Noble Towers, Silver Birches and Golden Worms

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he powers his word-nerd way through six words from yesterday’s reading in the Tale of Túrin Turambar.

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Week 082 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Yet I Rue the Day

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We continue our Túrin Turambar Tuesdays as Ulmo sends Orodreth some good advice, and Túrin promptly ignores it. Gwindor loses everything, and Túrin gets one more chance.

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Week 082 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Far-off Days of the Glory of Gondor

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 11 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a return to Middle-earth Map Monday as our Rohan road trip stops at Súthburg.

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Week 081 - Silmarillion Saturday: With His Servant?!

Sat, 10 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

I’d say Sam needs a new publicist. Join The Man of the West as we close out our time in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age with, uh, well, the end of the Third Age.

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Week 081 - Fandom Friday: Don Marshall

Fri, 09 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West in welcoming back Don Marshall to Today’s Tolkien Times, as he tells us about the new book he’s writing!

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Week 081 - Third Age Thursday: Huge, Old, and Tall

Thu, 08 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

I’d make one of those “I feel called out” jokes, but I know I’m not tall. Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at a hobbit nursery rhyme that turns out to be prophetic.

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Week 081 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Orodreth Went to West Virginia?

Wed, 07 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another look at a series of names connected to Nargothrond and Túrin’s time there.

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Week 081 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Not In Your Name

Tue, 06 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Gwindor speaks an unwelcome truth to Túrin, but he doesn’t want to hear it. Join The Man of the West as our tragic hero gains not one, not two, but three new names in just a few paragraphs.

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Week 081 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Wide, Wind-Swept Walls

Mon, 05 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Gandalf and his Companions reach Edoras and make their way through the town to the top of the hill and Meduseld itself.

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Week 080 - Silmarillion Saturday: Of Small Account

Sat, 03 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue reading through Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, this time as the White Council finally serves an eviction notice at Dol Guldur.

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Week 080 - Fandom Friday: Bag End at End of Bag

Fri, 02 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West in welcoming Myla, a fellow collector of all things Tolkien, to the TTT to talk about our mutual obsession pastime.

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Week 080 - Third Age Thursday: Rhymes of Lore

Thu, 01 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he leaves alliterative Old English behind, in order to explore not one, not two, but three Rhymes of Lore. Well, maybe just two and a converted riddle.

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Week 080 - Word-nerd Wednesday: There’s a Golf Joke Somewhere

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Not that The Man of the West finds the joke, but you’ll understand. Join him for a whirlwind exploration of several words from the TTT’s recent, um, TTT episodes.

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Week 080 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Fate Was That Day More Strong

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The day we all hoped would turn out differently has arrived, and Beleg meets his tragic end in this week’s installment of Túrin Turambar Tuesday.

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Week 080 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Like a Sentinel

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for more map exploration in Rohan: this time, accompanying Gandalf and the Three Hunters as they ride for Edoras, the capital of Rohan.

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Week 079 - Silmarillion Saturday: A Second Darkness

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we continue reading through Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age: Mithrandir is vigilant, Elrond is troubled, and Saruman plays with peril.

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Week 079 - Fandom Friday: Galadriel’s Gorgeous Gambeson

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes Silhouette Cosplay to the TTT to explain to us mere mortals how costuming magic is actually made!

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Week 079 - Third Age Thursday: Arise!

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at two pieces of alliterative verse cried out by a restored King Théoden… just ignore the butchering of Old English and Old Norse, please.

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Week 079 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Beleriand Geography — Lightning Round

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time to look at a few of the place names we’ve encountered in our Túrin readings this series; we move through seven locations faster than Túrin comes up with seven names.

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Week 079 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: With Little Hope

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Túrin’s reputation grows a little too big, Mîm picks a battle a bit too big, and Beleg runs across an Elf who’s had better days.

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Week 079 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Great Brooding Presence

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Once again, a title that could — at times — describe your host, but this time it’s where the Three Hunters are heading to start week 79 of the TTT!

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Week 078 - Silmarillion Saturday: How Great Was Their Peril

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We continue in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as the Dark Lord makes his return, the forest gets a new name, and the Valar send a little help. They could have screened them a bit better.

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Week 078 - Fandom Friday: A Song of Greater Power

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he sits down with Tolkien scholar (and Ph.D. student) Clare Moore to talk about things he only barely understands.

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Week 078 - Third Age Thursday: Unmarred, Unstained

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Clearly not referring to The Man of the West or any of his clothing, today’s title references a line in a poem that Gandalf may have just made up on the spot.

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Week 078 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Or, “Deadly Forest of Deadly Death”

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at Taur-nu-Fuin than you ever thought you’d like. Also, it turns out we’ve been misspelling the name of the River Teiglin all this time.

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Week 078 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Such a Churl

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Yet another line that could describe The Man of the West — but today, it’s Túrin’s own self-evaluation, as he reunites with an old friend.

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Week 078 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Between Down and Fen

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he follows the Three Hunters into Rohan for another Middle-earth Map Monday to start week 78 of the TTT.

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Week 077 - Silmarillion Saturday: There Mirth Also Dwelt

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, as we witness the power of the Three Rings — and the inevitability of their fading.

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Week 077 - Fandom Friday: Kaiakayy

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes Kaia to Today’s Tolkien Times to talk Tolkien, TikTok and trivia.

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Week 077 - Third Age Thursday: Hwær Cwom Mearg?

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an attempt at Old English as he looks at Aragorn’s Lament for the Rohirrim, the classic ubi sunt, and reads Tolkien’s own words about ‘the ineluctable ending’ of all good things.

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Week 077 - Word-nerd Wednesday: It Would Explain Much

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We spend another Word-nerd Wednesday looking at names from the Tale of Túrin Turambar; today, including four Elves and three swords!

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Week 077 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Guard Him and Guide Him

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We return to the story of Túrin Turambar as perpetually-underrated Beleg Cúthalion does everything within his power to help the troubled young man.

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Week 077 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Swelled Like a Green Sea

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 77 of Today’s Tolkien Times with another Middle-earth Map Monday, joining the Three Hunters as they pursue the Orcs into Rohan.

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Week 076 - Silmarillion Saturday: Stirred as by a Cold Wind

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the continuing story Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, as we witness the fall of Arnor and the waning of Gondor.

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Week 076 - Fandom Friday: History, Real or Feigned

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West in welcoming Be1mont_lotr to Fandom Friday; he’s another in the growing chorus of the Voices of Arda, a history buff, and diplomatically reaches the right answer on Balrog wings.

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Week 076 - Third Age Thursday: Dark is the Path

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Galadriel has messages for the Three Hunters, even if Gandalf nearly forgets to deliver one of them.

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Week 076 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Say That Again?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he brings to light more of the words from our Tuesday readings in the story of Túrin: today, a look at the family of Húrin.

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Week 076 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Marked With Sorrow

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The tragic tale of Túrin Turambar properly begins today, as we encounter the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad through the eyes of Morwen Eledhwen.

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Week 076 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Rush and Thunder

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins another week with a look at the last of the places the Company visited along the Great River.

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Week 075 - Silmarillion Saturday: Not Wholly Destroyed

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for more reading from Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as, today, he learns that sometimes, a victory is only temporary.

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Week 075 - Fandom Friday: Celebreabird

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Today’s Tolkien Times returns to Fandom Fridays, as The Man of the West welcomes Celebreabird to talk about her Tolkien substack and her welcoming work on TikTok and Instagram!

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Week 075 - Third Age Thursday: With Doom We Come

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

No, not The Man of the West and any of his PPP co-hosts; it’s time for Treebeard and the Ents to sing and march their way to Isengard to deal with someone who should know better.

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Week 075 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Vigorous Heart

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Time to explore a few of the names we encountered in yesterday’s Túrin Tuesday, including the names of the brothers Húrin and Huor, and The Man of the West’s favorite phrase in all of the legendarium.

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Week 075 - Túrin Turambar Tuesday: Seventy Times He Uttered That Cry

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Is it The Man of the West crying about another old joke? No, it’s Húrin, killing yet another member of the troll-guard of Gothmog.

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Week 075 - Middle-earth Map Monday: No Foot of Man Or Beast

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 10 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a visit to the lake of Nen Hithoel and the three peaks that helped shape it.

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Week 074 - Silmarillion Saturday: Brooded in the Dark

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for some unexpected advice about ‘brooding’ as we conclude the Second Age in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age in The Silmarillion.

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Week 074 - First-Age Friday: Sudden Swift Surprise

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

After 32 First Age Fridays, we reach the end of Tolkien’s Lay of Leithian. Beren Erchamion, folks: give him a hand.

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Week 074 - Third Age Thursday: Lighthearted, Quick-worded, and Soon Over

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Once again, while this could describe The Man of the West and the TTT episodes, it’s actually Treebeard’s thoughts about the Elvish song of the Ent and Entwife.

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Week 074 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Quenya for “Listen to Her”

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the last of his 8-week series on the names of the Valar and Maiar, as we discover the stories behind the names of Arien, Tirion, and many more.

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Week 074 - Tolkien Tuesday: Her Last and Fattest Years

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Tolkien’s in-depth explanation of hobbit birthdays continues, and transitions into a discussion of family structure and one morbidly funny story involving Pippin’s sister.

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Week 074 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Silent Wardens

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 9 with another Middle-earth Map Monday, traveling down the Anduin. Also, Aragorn admires the royal stones.

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Week 073 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Yearning of Exile

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we read a summary of the early years of the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, and their ‘many treasures and great heirlooms of virtue and wonder’.

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Week 073 - First-Age Friday: Ecstasy Enchanted

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We promised it would get better after last week’s visions of Morgoth’s dark heart; but Beren and Lúthien are still, essentially, in hell — so keep your expectations reasonable. Also, a special day for the PPP!

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Week 073 - Third Age Thursday: More Than My Desire

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at Treebeard’s wanderings through the lands of Beleriand in the First Age.

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Week 073 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Place of Starlight

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West moves on from the names of the Valar and begins an in-depth look at the names of some of the Maiar, including the handmaid of Varda and the herald of Manwë.

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Week 073 - Tolkien Tuesday: Horrified the Shire-folk

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

What in Middle-earth could do such a thing to the doughty hobbits? You’ll have to listen to The Man of the West as he continues looking at Tolkien’s Letter #214 on Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 073 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Burned and Uprooted

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another week of Today’s Tolkien Times, starting with a ride down the Anduin as we look at the Brown Lands and the Undeeps along the Great River.

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Week 072 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Voices of Death

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another reading in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age as we see the fates of the Seven and the Nine, and get a recap of what happened to Sauron when he fled Númenor.

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Week 072 - First-Age Friday: A Pretty Toy For Idle Hour

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Also quite clearly not The Man of the West, but join him as he walks through a genuinely hellish moment for Lúthien as she endures the lustful stares of Morgoth. Uh, happy Valentine’s Day, everybody?

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Week 072 - Third Age Thursday: The Lore of Living Creatures

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Aragorn longs for Gondor and a crown buried for a thousand years; Merry and Pippin long to be included in a list of people who don’t get squished by Ents.

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Week 072 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Actual Perfect 10

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we look at more names of the Valier, running down quite the list today including Nienna, Estë, Vairë, Vána, and Nessa.

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Week 072 - Tolkien Tuesday: Considerable Social Importance

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

You don’t need me to tell you that today’s title has nothing to do with The Man of the West. Rather, it’s about hobbit birthdays in a letter Tolkien wrote to someone who tried to out-pedant the Professor.

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Week 072 - Middle-earth Map Monday: And the Land Was Silent

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the third and final episode on the land of Lórien as we learn all about its time under the leadership of not-King Celeborn and not-Queen Galadriel.

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Week 071 - Silmarillion Saturday: Is It Not Then Our Task

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as the Noldor of Eregion hearken to the persuasive words of the Lord of Gifts, much to their dismay.

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Week 071 - First-Age Friday: Thy Name, Thou Shrieking Waif, Thy Name!

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

“I’ll take ‘Pickup Lines That Result in Failure’ for $500, Alex.” Join The Man of the West for suggestions on what not to say when talking to… well, anyone. Beren and Lúthien descend to the pits of hell itself in today’s First Age Friday.

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Week 071 - Third Age Thursday: His Cloven Shield, His Broken Sword

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Aragorn and Legolas sing a lament for Boromir, while Gimli watches on quietly.

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Week 071 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Lady of the West and Mother Earth

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We continue looking at names of the Valar in this series’ Word-nerd Wednesdays, today diving into the names of two of the Queens of the Valar, or the Valier.

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Week 071 - Tolkien Tuesday: Juicy Details

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we look at Tolkien’s response to a letter asking him for ‘facts’ about himself, and discover that while he doesn’t like giving them, he certainly seems quite willing to do so.

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Week 071 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Long Years of Peace and Obscurity

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

No, that doesn’t describe the tenure of The Man of the West at The Prancing Pony Podcast — although it certainly could. Join Alan as he continues his look at the land of Lórien.

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Week 070 - Silmarillion Saturday: Back Into Evil

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Repent? Sure! Oh, on second thought. Join The Man of the West as Sauron waffles in our first reading in Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age (or OtRoPatTA as we call it here).

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Week 070 - First-Age Friday: Immortal Flowers

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Sometimes, having a strong perfume isn’t such a good idea. Join The Man of the West as he accompanies Beren and Lúthien to the very gates of Angband — and a confrontation with the Red Maw himself.

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Week 070 - Third Age Thursday: More Quenya!

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West is in his happy place, reading the longest piece of Quenya text in The Lord of the Rings as we look at Galadriel’s Lament.

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Week 070 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Tulk Smash

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a look at the captain of the Valar football team, Tulkas Astaldo. And because we don’t get to ignore him, Melkor also makes an appearance.

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Week 070 - Tolkien Tuesday: Sufferers Please Note

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The Professor laments the process of getting work done at the house, and dispenses great medical advice to his cousin, and to us as well, on this week’s Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 070 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Greatly At Variance

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he tries to untangle the knots Tolkien gave us in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn as he begins his look at Lothlórien on Middle-earth Map Mondays!

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Week 069 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Roads Are Now Bent

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

It’s a busy time for cartographers after the Downfall of Númenor, as we read about the aftermath of Atalantë in the last reading of the Akallabêth.

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Week 069 - First-Age Friday: Fight With Thine Own Hand and Sword

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a First Age Flashback in The Lay of Leithian as Fingolfin squares off against the mighty Morgoth, who would prefer to not to risk his undefeated record. Also, a huge bird!

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Week 069 - Third Age Thursday: Sad and Sweet Was the Sound

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We continue our journey through the songs and poems in The Lord of the Rings as we listen to Galadriel’s Song and her bittersweet memories of Eldamar, as she wonders what ship would ever bear her across so wide a Sea.

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Week 069 - Word-nerd Wednesday: My Brother’s Office is So Much Nicer

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West in his continued effort to uncover more about the names of the Valar: in today’s episode, we chat with the Masters of Spirits: Námo and his little brother, Irmo.

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Week 069 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Laughter of Ilúvatar

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Tolkien presents two important stories from The Silmarillion 20 years before the book is published, as he explains in Letter 212 the tale of Míriel and of the Creation of the Dwarves by Aulë.

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Week 069 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Too Numerous and Valiant

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he ends his three-week look at the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm! From Galadriel’s far-sightedness and the innocence of the Dwarves of Belegost, we move deep into the Third Age and the fall of Moria.

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Week 068 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Sky Reeled, and the Hills Slid

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Númenor pays the ultimate price for its pride and rebellion as Ar-Pharazôn suddenly discovers he’d rather not have immortality after all in this week’s installment of the Akallabêth on Silmarillion Saturday!

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Week 068 - First-Age Friday: In Love Must In Thy Dying Share

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The bestest good boy ever has some hard words for Beren before providing the best cosplay advice ever in another episode on The Lay of Leithian on this week’s First Age Friday!

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Week 068 - Third Age Thursday: An Old Man in a Battered Hat

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Once again, no this isn’t a title describing The Man of the West: he doesn’t really wear hats. But Gandalf did, and Frodo missed him — so he sang a lament that we’ll take a look at in this week’s Third Age Thursday!

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Week 068 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The World-Artificer and The Forester

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another Word-nerd Wednesday: this week’s contestants on ‘Who’s Got the Coolest Name?’ are the Valar of Smithing and of Hunting: Aulë and Oromë.

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Week 068 - Tolkien Tuesday: Of Equal Lineage

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time to remind those Elves that they’re no better than us as The Man of the West looks at Letter 212 where Tolkien “adds a few lines” about the mythological framework behind all of the legendarium. A few lines, he said.

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Week 068 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Given Without Love

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 22:34:37 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts Week 68 of Today’s Tolkien Times with another Middle-earth Map Monday in Moria as we look at more of the names of the Mansions of the Dwarves and a bit of its early history.

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Week 067 - Silmarillion Saturday: Repent For a Season

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we spend just a few more weeks in the Akallabêth, watching the train wreck of Númenor. Ar-Pharazôn ignores the signs and tries to take a thing that can’t be taken on this week’s Silmarillion Saturday.

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Week 067 - First-Age Friday: Yet Were Its Making Good

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Beren bids farewell to everything and prepares to meet his fate alone — but Lúthien has other ideas. Join The Man of the West for another series in The Lay of Lúthien on First-Age Fridays!

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Week 067 - Third Age Thursday: As Light As Leaf of Linden-Tree

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Legolas sings a sad song about Nimrodel as The Man of the West continues his walk through the poems and songs in The Lord of the Rings in Series 9’s Third Age Thursdays.

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Week 067 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ainur We Have Heard on High

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West begins an 8-week look at the names of the Valar and Maiar — beginning with those exact words, actually.

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Week 067 - Tolkien Tuesday: At the End of the Sixth Age

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Tolkien tells us that the Fall of Barad-dûr was about 6000 years ago as The Man of the West continues his run through the Letters on Tolkien Tuesdays.

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Week 067 - Middle-earth Map Monday: And I Mean ALL the Languages

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 9 of the TTT with another Middle-earth Map Monday momentarily on the meritorious megalopolis of Moria. Okay, we’ll stop.

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Week 066 - I Smell Goblin Strong

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he tries not to imagine what goblin smells like, let alone *strong* goblin. We wrap up this special holiday celebration by looking at the second half of that 1932 letter.

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Week 066 - Properly Drawn Bears

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

If you’re struggling with drawing bears, Karhu might be able to help you. It’s time for the first part of the long 1932 Letter From Father Christmas, as goblins enter the fray!

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Week 066 - Paksu and Valkotukka

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

North Polar Bear’s cousins — ‘fat’ and ‘white-hair’ — show up and immediately cause the sort of turmoil you’d imagine NPB’s relatives to cause.

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Week 066 - Polar Bears Get Whooping Cough?

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another Letter From Father Christmas as we learn of North Polar Bear’s illness and recovery — and his not-thought-through decision to replace coal with ice.

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Week 066 - My Real Name is Karhu

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for more adventures with Father Christmas and North Polar Bear as Father Christmas is grateful for time zones around the world.

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Week 066 - Don’t Be a Silly Bear

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a special holiday celebration as we read through Letters From Father Christmas so that we can all realize what inadequate parents we are — or something like that.

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Week 065 - Silmarillion Saturday: That Land is Defiled

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Ar-Pharazôn is drunk on Sauron’s words, while Amandil makes audacious but hopeless plans, as we conclude Series 8 of the TTT.

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Week 065 - First-Age Friday: She’s Also a Triage Nurse

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Lúthien shows great promise for a career in the medical profession, as she heals Beren — and he thanks her by leaving her in the paws of the best dog ever.

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Week 065 - Third Age Thursday: The World Was Young

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Yes, it was actually younger than The Man of the West. Join him for a deeper dive into the Song of Durin as we look at the rich history found in these stanzas.

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Week 065 - Word-nerd Wednesday: But What About Middle-earth?

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for The Man of the West to finally do some word-nerdery on the name of everyone’s favorite place: Middle-earth itself.

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Week 065 - Tolkien Tuesday: Wizards, the Bayeux Tapestry, and Pterodactyls?

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a strange mix in the second half of Letter 211 as Tolkien answers a barrage of questions as only the Professor can.

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Week 065 - Middle-earth Map Monday: No One Hinders Oromë

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we move on from Eregion to study the longest mountain range in this part of Middle-earth: the Hithaeglir, or Misty Mountains, as we begin the last week of Series 8 of the TTT.

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Week 064 - Silmarillion Saturday: Torment and Great Wickedness

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Just a normal weekend for The Man of the West? Thankfully, no — just a summary of what’s happening as Ar-Pharazôn opens the latest infrastructure project in Armenelos: a temple to Morgoth himself.

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Week 064 - First-Age Friday: Frail of Purpose, Light of Love?

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

You underestimate Lúthien at your own peril. Join The Man of the West for more from the Lay of Leithian as Huan once again proves to be the bestest boy ever.

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Week 064 - Third Age Thursday: Full of Light and Splendour

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The Company finally leave Rivendell and so do we, as we join Gimli for a rich history lesson in this week’s Third Age Thursday poetry reading.

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Week 064 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Chief Heavenly Lights

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for this deep dive into the names of four Faithful men in the darkest time of Númenor in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 064 - Tolkien Tuesday: All the Answers

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

No, this is not a claim of knowledge on behalf of The Man of the West; in fact, it’s a quote from one of Tolkien’s letters that we’ll look at today, as he acknowledges he doesn’t have them all either.

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Week 064 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Skill and Fame of Fëanor

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West’s advice to Celebrimbor: never meet your heroes. Today’s Middle-earth Map Monday follows up on last week as we continue our time in the land of Eregion.

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Week 063 - Silmarillion Saturday: He Brooded Darkly

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he notes the company that Ar-Pharazôn keeps in brooding darkly, while the mightiest King of Númenor decides it’s time to bring home a Dark Lord for safe-keeping.

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Week 063 - First-Age Friday: Oaths are For Breaking of the Heart

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The folk of Nargothrond finally come to their senses about the Sons of Fëanor, while Beren decides it’s time to part ways with Lúthien, in this week’s reading from The Lay of Leithian.

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Week 063 - Third Age Thursday: And Voices at the Door

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

We have time for one more poem in Rivendell before leaving with the Company, this time a nostalgic and sorrowful set of verses from Bilbo as he sits beside the fire and thinks.

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Week 063 - Word-nerd Wednesday: No More Elvish, and I Mean It

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for some word-nerdery on several of the names of Númenóreans from last week’s reading in the Akallabêth for Silmarillion Saturday.

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Week 063 - Tolkien Tuesday: Ridiculous Indeed

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Once again, a title that could be speaking about The Man of the West but, thankfully, is instead referring to ‘silly alterations’ made for an adaptation as we continue our time in Tolkien’s Letter #210.

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Week 063 - Middle-earth Map Monday: In Happier Days

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we venture south of Rivendell for this week’s Middle-earth Map Monday, with the Company arriving at “the country that Men call Hollin”.

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Week 062 - Silmarillion Saturday: … And the Havens of Andúnië Were Forlorn

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as a series of Númenórean kings play a game of “who can be worse than their fathers?”. Except for Tar-Palantír, of course.

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Week 062 - First-Age Friday: Flower of Elfland Ever Fair!

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for yet more beautiful poetry on First Age Friday as we continue our read through the Lay of Leithian: this time, Draugluin dies, Sauron shapeshifts, and Lúthien looks for her love.

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Week 062 - Third Age Thursday: Boromir Belays Begging Boon

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

That’s it, no more alliteration today. The Man of the West reads a bit more poetry in The Lord of the Rings, starting with a verse that stymied Men of Gondor, followed by a brief warning from Bilbo about the weather.

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Week 062 - Word-nerd Wednesday: How Many Names Can a Valley Have?

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at far more names for Rivendell than you might have expected, and reads a bit about Tolkien’s adventures in the Swiss valley that inspired it.

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Week 062 - Tolkien Tuesday: Far More Unsatisfactory

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Now I’m just feeling called out; fortunately, those words of Tolkien’s were reserved for the storyline of Zimmerman in Letter #210 as we continue our walk through this collection of unmitigated frustration.

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Week 062 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Good Counsel and Wise Lore

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he extends his Middle-earth Map Monday visit to Rivendell by an extra week, to look at the role it played in the history of the Third Age.

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Week 061 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Zenith of Its Bliss

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000

They just don’t know how good they have it, do they? Join The Man of the West as he watches the diminishing of the bliss of Westernesse in the next installment of the Akallabêth.

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Week 061 - First-Age Friday: Hungry Like the Wolf

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0000

It’s all discord and rhyme as Sauron sends a mighty wolf to slay Beren, but Finrod does his thing instead and we all mourn the death of the First Age’s best Elf.

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Week 061 - Third Age Thursday: Beyond the Wide and Sundering Sea

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West, who’s extending his visit in Rivendell awhile, as he looks at a song that Bilbo describes only as “a song to Elbereth”. That’s like saying the Silmarils are these shiny jewels.

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Week 061 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Well, Isn’t That Special

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

What do Dana Carvey and the Flammifer of Westernesse have in common? Well, you’ll have to check out this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday to find out!

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Week 061 - Tolkien Tuesday: Wholly Unacceptable Tampering

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

While that could easily have been the Professor’s response to The Man of the West’s occasional irreverent jokes, it was just one of a dozen slams in this week’s continuing look at the infamous Letter #210 about an adaptation that was, thankfully, never made.

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Week 061 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Smells Like Elves

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another Middle-earth Map Monday as we arrive at The Last Homely House, just in time for lunch — and a long talk about the Second Age history of Rivendell!

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Week 060 - Silmarillion Saturday: As Moths In a Light Too Strong

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Yearning becomes doubt, doubt becomes secret griping, and secret griping becomes open rebellion as the Men of Númenor begin the long walk to their Downfall.

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Week 060 - First-Age Friday: Friendship That to Death Should Last

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The bestest boy ever speaks for the first time, to help Lúthien escape the clutches of Celegorm, an Elf with nearly as many red flags as his father.

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Week 060 - Third Age Thursday: Tarried There From Errantry

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West finishes his reading and discussion of Bilbo’s cheeky poem about Eärendil in this week’s Third Age Thursday.

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Week 060 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Beyond the West

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Dive deep into several words from last week’s Silmarillion Saturday reading as The Man of the West explores the names of one mountain, two cities, and four trees on this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 060 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Last Thing that Aragorn Would Have Done

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Eat Éowyn’s stew? No, but find you as The Man of the West continues to read Tolkien’s Letter 210, eviscerating the storyline for a proposed film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.

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Week 060 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Tall and Fair

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he starts out with Middle-earth Map Monday and a return to the journey of Strider and the Hobbits.

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Week 059 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Is Now Forgot

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

While an accurate representation of the state of The Man of the West’s mind most days, today’s episode title actually refers to the state of all the wisdom and wonder written in the scrolls and books of Númenor.

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Week 059 - First-Age Friday: The Goodest of Good Boys

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

It’s time to step away from the sorrowful fate of Finrod in Sauron’s dungeons as we hang out with Celegorm and Curufin (boo!) long enough to meet the faithful hound, Huan (yay!) in Canto IX of The Lay of Leithian.

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Week 059 - Third Age Thursday: A Merry Passenger, a Messenger, a Mariner

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts his study of Bilbo’s latest chart-topping single, The Song of Eärendil, and learns just how many versions of it there really were.

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Week 059 - Word-nerd Wednesday: How About Next-to-Last Instead?

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Arvedui finds out what his name really means, as The Man of the West looks at his name and other words from our Middle-earth Map Monday episode.

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Week 059 - Tolkien Tuesday: But Can’t They Be Very Different?

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

It’s finally time to begin our long look at Tolkien’s views on adaptation as we start Letter 210 and hear from Tom Shippey on the canons of narrative art and the core of the original.

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Week 059 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Four Oh Something

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 59 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a deep dive into the deep freeze of Forodwaith and Forochel on Middle-earth Map Monday!

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Week 058 - Silmarillion Saturday: Silver Flame in the Paths of the Sun

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West gets to read about… well, the Men of the West! The Edain are rewarded with wisdom, power, long life, and a new island home, in our first look at the Akallabêth.

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Week 058 - First Age Friday: A Song of Staying

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West returns to the Lay of Leithian for another eight weeks in First Age Fridays, beginning with the epic song battle between Sauron and Finrod.

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Week 058 - Third Age Thursday: Just a Bit of Nonsense

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Who’s coming up with these episode titles? Today’s Third Age Thursday reading continues with poetry in The Lord of the Rings; this time, with Sam’s recitation of his own epic lay about trolls.

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Week 058 - Word-nerd Wednesday: She That Has Fallen

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West begins this series of Word-nerd Wednesdays with a look at several words from Akallabêth, including a few names for the island itself.

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Week 058 - Tolkien Tuesday: Hasty, Insensitive, and Impertinent

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

While the Professor continues to make The Man of the West feel called out, the invectives here are meant for a guy by the name of Zimmerman. Tell us what you really think, Professor!

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Week 058 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Nesting Dolls of the North

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he kicks off a new 8-week series of Today’s Tolkien Times, starting with a return to a new fan favorite segment — get your maps out for today’s look at Arthedain.

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Week 057 - Second Age Saturday: Whom I Prefer Above All Others

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West finishes his 24-part foray into the tragic tale of Aldarion and Erendis as Ancalimë marries, but not for love, and Erendis meets her sorrowful end.

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Week 057 - Fandom Friday: Never Laugh At Live Dragons; Laugh With Green Dragon

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes TheOneRing.net’s own resident Green Dragon, as we chat about old Oscar parties and recent Amazon ones.

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Week 057 - Third Age Thursday: The Long & Short Of It

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

We complete our look at the Song of Beren and Lúthien as recited by Aragorn by first looking at what in the world ann-thennath means. Plus a reminder that The Man of the West is not a poet.

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Week 057 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Plethora of Place-names Perchance?

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at a number of places named in Aragorn’s retelling of the Song of Beren and Lúthien. Bonus: we learn what Morgoth’s fortress has in common with the Halls of Mandos.

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Week 057 - Tolkien Tuesday: Equal Obstinacy

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Once again, a title that could have something to do with The Man of the West, but does not. Today, we look at the importance of male friendships to Tolkien, and a quick nod to Edith’s well-deserved stubbornness.

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Week 057 - Middle-earth Map Monday: I Can Haz Palantir?

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the results of inequitable palantíri distribution amongst the kingdoms formerly known as Arnor.

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Week 056 - Second Age Saturday: The Root Of All Their Troubles

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Aldarion’s sure he’s identified the cause of his “disastrous marriage to Erendis” and changes the law so that it won’t happen to his daughter, Ancalimë. But did he ask her?

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Week 056 - Fandom Friday: Airplane Facts are Not Like Tolkien Facts… or are they, Max?

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Airplane Facts with Max to Fandom Friday to chat about his captivating content, and about his time at San Diego ComicCon.

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Week 056 - Third Age Thursday: In the Forest Singing Sorrowless

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West tells a tale of the old days, as we look at Strider’s recitation of the tale of Tinúviel on the slopes of Weathertop.

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Week 056 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Er is the Loneliest Number… of Hands

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:51:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into the names of one of the heroes of the First Age, Beren son of Barahir.

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Week 056 - Tolkien Tuesday: Blundering, Brusque, or Downright Rude

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

While these words have been used of The Man of the West from time to time, it’s C.S. Lewis who needs to take heed this time, as we look at his views on male friendship in Oxford.

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Week 056 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Filled With Evil Folk

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another Middle-earth Map Monday, as he takes a closer look at Arnor’s second capital, Fornost. Also, Círdan makes another appearance.

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Week 055 - Second Age Saturday: Enjoy It Before They Ruin It

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Erendis offers strong words for her daughter in this week’s Second Age Saturday, as The Man of the West continues his readings through Aldarion and Erendis.

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Week 055 - Fandom Friday: The Tea Is Always Right

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West continues his Fandom Friday chats with content creators who attended San Diego ComicCon in July, as Kaitlyn from Tea With Tolkien stops by to continue her support for Galadriel.

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Week 055 - Third Age Thursday: Mirrored in His Silver Shield

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

We can’t get enough of Gil-galad on Today’s Tolkien Times; in today’s episode, the Man of the West continues his look at the poetry of The Lord of the Rings with The Riddle of Strider and The Fall of Gil-galad taking center stage.

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Week 055 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Revered King

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the names of — well, this is awkward — The Man of the West, in a Word-nerd Wednesday on the many names of Aragorn.

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Week 055 - Tolkien Tuesday: Holy Terror of Coteries

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

This week’s Tolkien Tuesday looks more closely at the kind of friends the Inklings were, along with a deep dive into C.S. Lewis’ view on the unofficial cliques that so often seem unavoidable.

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Week 055 - Middle-earth Map Monday: His Chief City

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins another week of the TTT with Middle-earth Map Monday and a look at the original capital city of the Kingdom of Arnor.

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Week 054 - Second Age Saturday: Too Late, or Too Early

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

A wizard may never be late, Frodo Baggins, but Aldarion apparently could be. Join The Man of the West for another reading in the Second Age tale of the mariner-king of Númenor.

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Week 054 - Fandom Friday: Always Optimistic

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West is joined by The Tolkien Professor himself, Dr. Corey Olsen, for another chat about The Rings of Power and what we can be looking forward to in the upcoming season.

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Week 054 - Third Age Thursday: Totally Irrational Non-Sequiturs

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

While this week’s title could describe most of The Man of the West’s ramblings, it’s actually a quote from Tom Shippey. Listen to find out more!

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Week 054 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Unto No Maner Wight

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

If Chaucer is quoted in the title, you know the episode must be good. Join The Man of the West for some word-nerdery on not one, but two words in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 054 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Cause Rather Than the Result

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West continues in Humphrey Carpenter’s The Inklings, chasing down the fox that might still be there somewhere.

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Week 054 - Middle-earth Map Monday: While Their Realm Lasted

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he kicks off another week of Today’s Tolkien Times with a map visit to Lindon and the Grey Havens.

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Week 053 - Second Age Saturday: Madman and Churl

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:09:20 -0000

Join The Man of the West as King Meneldur finalizes his decision to hand the Sceptre to his son, and Erendis sees the choice as an attack by her estranged husband.

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Week 053 - Fandom Friday: The Middle Page

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:08:47 -0000

The Man of the West continues his SDCC focus for the rest of Series 7, welcoming Kelly @themiddlepage from Instagram to talk about her channel, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power!

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Week 053 - Third Age Thursday: A Mug of Beer Inside This Took

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:08:10 -0000

Is not a line in any of the three of Tolkien’s poems we’ll look at today. But if you think The Man of the West can avoid humming this tune, you could be wrong.

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Week 053 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Hey Now, You’re an All Star

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:07:33 -0000

The Man of the West engages in a little star-gazing as he breaks down the names of the regions of the island of Númenor in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 053 - Tolkien Tuesday: I’m Not Accurate

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:06:57 -0000

While today’s episode title could reflect The Man of the West on nearly any given day, this time it’s a self-deprecating quote from C.S. Lewis, as we continue our look for the fox that may not be there.

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Week 053 - Middle-earth Map Monday: An Old Name… in an Older Language

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:06:20 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins another week of the TTT with a close look at the town not at all named for a soft, spreadable cheese.

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Week 052 - Second Age Saturday: Myself as a Tame Hound

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:04:35 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Aldarion shares his unfiltered opinion with his father, King Meneldur — just as the king is about to make a major announcement regarding the future of Númenor.

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Week 052 - Fandom Friday: The Dwarf of the Year Returns

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:03:35 -0000

The Man of the West changes up Fandom Fridays for the rest of Series 7, with a focus on Tolkien content creators who were at San Diego ComicCon, getting their take on the upcoming Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Today, Varking Runesong joins us for chat that will inevitably include Dwarves!

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Week 052 - Third Age Thursday: Tree-Tangled Middle-Lands

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:02:51 -0000

Join The Man of the West as the hobbits encounter Noldorin Exiles in the Shire, singing a beautiful Hymn to Elbereth. We also wonder about Gildor’s parentage.

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Week 052 - Tolkien Tuesday: Scant Resemblance

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The Man of the West returns to Carpenter’s book on the Inklings, this time to seriously question the notion of Tolkien, Lewis, Williams, and Barfield as ‘The Oxford Christians’.

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Week 052 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Snow White is Very Inadequate

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Look, I’m just saying what Tolkien says, okay? Sure, he means the translation of Fanuilos, and not the Disney princess, but maybe that’s true as well.

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Week 052 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Forefathers of the Edain

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the week with a return to the new segment on Middle-earth Map Monday. Also, linguistic changes are unpredictable.

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Week 051 - Second Age Saturday: Of What Worth Is Choice?

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

It’s time to return to our readings in Númenor as King Meneldur thinks through a no-win situation and makes a momentous decision regarding the future, as Aldarion has some contemptuous words for his father.

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Week 051 - Fandom Friday: It’s Complicated

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Inklings scholar Sørina Higgins to Fandom Friday to talk about the Oddest Inkling, Charles Williams, and explain some of the shifts in the way Tolkien viewed their friendship after his death.

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Week 051 - Third Age Thursday: Round the Next Corner

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We continue our look at poetry and songs in The Lord of the Rings by taking a deep dive into one of Bilbo’s songs, set to a tune “as old as the hills” (yet somehow younger than The Man of the West).

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Week 051 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Shout, Shout, Let It All Out

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the name of Gil-galad’s father… or, maybe his father, or maybe not. Where’s Maury Povich when you need him? Also, bonus word-nerdery on the Vanyar’s favorite Valar.

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Week 051 - Tolkien Tuesday: Your Laugh In My Heart Echoes

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:00:03 -0000

We continue in our time in Humphrey Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, as we look more closely at the conflicted nature of Tolkien’s friendship with Charles Williams, and a poem the Professor wrote about his friend.

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Week 051 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Memory of Many Injuries

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 15:00:06 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he returns to a new Monday segment looking at places in Middle-earth. This time, we visit the place Fredegar Bolger feared as much as Mordor: The Old Forest.

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Week 050 - Second Age Saturday: Manwë Keep You Under the One

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 15:00:04 -0000

The Man of the West returns to the story of Aldarion and Erendis for another set of Second Age Saturdays. In today’s episode, we look over the shoulder of King Meneldur as he reads a very important letter from Gil-galad.

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Week 050 - Fandom Friday: Because It Was About Time

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:00:05 -0000

In a TTT first, The Man of the West has a co-host: Sara Brown, the Shield-maiden of Rohan. Join them as they interview the man behind the Welsh translation of The Hobbit.

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Week 050 - Third Age Thursday: My Evening-Rest

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:00:05 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins a series of readings through the poetry and songs of The Lord of the Rings… by starting with a song from The Hobbit.

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Week 050 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Scion of Kings

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

It’s time for another return to Word-nerd Wednesday, with today’s episode looking closely at the several names of the last High King of the Eldar. But not at his parentage.

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Week 050 - Tolkien Tuesday: We All Agree So

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:00:04 -0000

The Man of the West returns to Humphrey Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, for more on Tolkien and his circle of friends. Today, a closer look at the oddest Inkling, Charles Williams.

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Week 050 - Map Monday: The Land Was Rich and Kindly

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins a new series with a new Monday segment: Middle-earth Map Monday! In the first of this new segment, we learn the hobbits got a pretty good deal from Argeleb II.

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Week 049 - Second Age Saturday: Steel Hard to Break

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 15:01:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as Aldarion all too briefly speaks with the daughter he abandoned years ago and coldly ignores her mother.

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Week 049 - First Age Friday: Master of Wolves

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:01:08 -0000

Finrod and his faithful followers accompany Beren north, and come up with one possible way to get by the Master of Wolves himself.

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Week 049 - Third Age Thursday: Even as Oromë the Great

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:01:05 -0000

It’s time for the last of our Théoden Thursday specials as The Man of the West takes us through the King of Rohan’s finest moments.

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Week 049 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Golden-Haired Champion

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:00:26 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look at the names of his favorite Elf from the First Age, including one that might have just been a derisive nickname from the sons of Fëanor.

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Week 049 - Tolkien Tuesday: Our Revered Hobbit-Ancestors

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:01:04 -0000

It’s time for another few letters in the Revised and Expanded edition, this time as we accompany Professor Tolkien on a trip to Rotterdam for maggot-soup and pipe-weed!

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Week 049 - Mailbag Monday: With Vigour, Please

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:24:32 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the last week of Series 6 of Today’s Tolkien Times as he answers a question — okay, five questions — about the Dúnedain.

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Week 048 - Second Age Saturday: I Am Mistaken, It Seems

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 15:00:01 -0000

It’s time for another heartbreaking episode in the tragic tale of Aldarion and Erendis as the King’s Heir finally returns home and meets the consequences of his actions.

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Week 048 - First Age Friday: Yours Ye May Break

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as we meet the best Elf ever, Finrod Felagund, and find him in quite the conundrum. Also, thanks a lot Fëanor.

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Week 048 - Third Age Thursday: Maybe We Shall Cleave a Road

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

It’s time for another inspirational passage on Théoden, King of Rohan as The Man of the West continues reading his favorite moments in the life of a king who has left despair behind.

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Week 048 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Here We Come A-Wassailing

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a dive into Old English as we look at some of the names and words from our Third Age Thursday readings about Théoden.

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Week 048 - Tolkien Tuesday: Stupidities and Vulgarities

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:00:03 -0000

You know that Professor Tolkien never minced words; now, so does Zimmerman. The Man of the West talks about some letters Tolkien wrote revealing his thoughts on an early adaptation.

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Week 048 - Mailbag Monday: Until the Rising of the Star

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he answers a question about inevitability, and speculates what might have happened to Turgon and the people of Gondolin had they only listened.

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Week 047 - Second Age Saturday: Breakers and Eaters

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 15:01:05 -0000

The noisy thing known as The Man of the West reads another passage in the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, as — surprise! — Aldarion doesn’t make it home when he said he would.

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Week 047 - First Age Friday: Terrible and Blasphemous

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 15:00:06 -0000

Some might say that describes The Man of the West, but thankfully Tolkien was speaking about the Oath of Fëanor and his sons, featured in this week’s reading from The Lay of Leithian.

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Week 047 - Third Age Thursday: It Is Not So Dark Here

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he spends the final three Third Age Thursdays of the series reading his favorite passages on Théoden, King of Rohan.

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Week 047 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Friend, Enchantress, or Flower-daughter?

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:02 -0000

It’s time for another exciting etymological excursion as The Man of the West looks at a name you’ve heard dozens of times and hopes to bring you something new.

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Week 047 - Tolkien Tuesday: Philological Harpies

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 15:01:09 -0000

It’s time for another visit to The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien as we see Tolkien’s growing frustration with the work of translators and the lack of time to work on The Silmarillion.

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Week 047 - Mailbag Monday: Very Unprolific

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:01:08 -0000

Join The Man of The West as he answers a question about Durin, Dwarven prophecy, and reincarnation with a deep dive into Tolkien’s early drafts.

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Week 046 - Second Age Saturday: No Place For Such Joy

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Disappointment turns to bitterness in today’s reading of the story of Aldarion and Erendis. The king prefers the company of his sailors, and his wife prefers the company of women.

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Week 046 - First Age Friday: And Away, Away She Danced

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues reading the Lay of Leithian, as Lúthien gets clever and weaves her most powerful magic yet.

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Week 046 - Third Age Thursday: Which Story, I Wonder

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Wonder no more as The Man of the West finishes our time reading through A Long-Expected Party as Gandalf leaves Frodo with some vague advice.

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Week 046 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Far Older and More Reverend

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

No, that title isn’t a description of The Man of the West. Join us for Word-nerd Wednesday as we take a closer look at the Shire-word that often just means “regifting”.

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Week 046 - Tolkien Tuesday: Bless the Little People!

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

It’s time for Tolkien Tuesday as we dive deep into new content about The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s academic obligations, Middle-earth maps, book sales, and complaints about taxation.

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Week 046 - Mailbag Monday: Excuse Me, Sur

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he fails to answer a question for which there is no answer, then speculates what happens after an extended time-out.

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Week 045 - Second Age Saturday: A Man Long-sighted

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another reading in How Not to Build a Successful Marriage, as the sometimes-happy couple welcome their daughter, Ancalimë.

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Week 045 - First Age Friday: She Wanted a Treehouse…

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:00:04 -0000

When she was a kid, sure. Thingol continues his efforts to defeat Denethor as Best Father in the Legendarium in our next reading in The Lay of Leithian.

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Week 045 - Third Age Thursday: Fiddlesticks!

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Watch as Otho twirls his villainous mustache and laments how he might have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids. Or something like that.

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Week 045 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Númenórean Aramotherapy

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a look at the beautiful flowers that the Eldar brought to Númenor to celebrate Erendis’ wedding, including one that sounds very familiar.

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Week 045 - Tolkien Tuesday: At Whatever Cost of Sleep

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Tolkien offers to pull an all-nighter to mark up print proofs in this week’s Tolkien Tuesday; so long as he still gets to Heathrow in time for his flight from the North Kingdom to Gondor.

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Week 045 - Mailbag Monday: And Therefore Stupid

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he speculates on whether Saruman and Sauron worked the same shift at ‘The Forge of Aulë: Miners, not Minors’. Also, if you think Sauron was smart, wait ’til you hear what Tolkien had to say.

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Week 044 - Second Age Saturday: Heart’s Ease

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Aldarion returns to Erendis’ welcome, and the wedding of the century. The Eldar arrive with gifts and flowers, and all is as it should be. Finally. For now.

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Week 044 - First Age Friday: A Flower That Grows Beneath the Sky

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

We continue our readings in the Lay of Leithian as Beren faces off against Thingol in the halls of Menegroth. And still, no one listens to Melian.

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Week 044 - Third Age Thursday: Hearses at Daybreak

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another reading in A Long-Expected Party, this time as Frodo passes along Bilbo’s “messages” to a young social media influencer and a spoon thief.

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Week 044 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Maybe Thou Shalt Find These Words

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Time for another visit to our Second Age Saturday readings as The Man of the West explores three more words from Aldarion and Erendis.

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Week 044 - Tolkien Tuesday: Make #NotATrilogy Trend

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

We revisit the revised and updated edition of Tolkien’s Letters and learn Tolkien’s thoughts on piecemeal publication and patronizing reviews. Also, give the man a rest!

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Week 044 - Mailbag Monday: The Valar Already Know This Question

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 44 of Today’s Tolkien Times by answering a question about the Valar’s knowledge: who would win Valerin Jeopardy?

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Week 043 - Second Age Saturday: And Hid Her Tears

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:00:03 -0000

We continue our reading through the sorrowful tale of Aldarion and Erendis, as the King’s Heir continues to be of two minds — and Erendis offers to wait one more time.

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Week 043 - First Age Friday: Love It Is Hath Here Me Bound

Fri, 31 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues his readings in The Lay of Leithian, this time as Lúthien brings Beren home for a chat — and Thingol has questions.

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Week 043 - Third Age Thursday: Well, That’s That

Thu, 30 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We return to Bag End and Gandalf’s chat with the disappearing Bilbo only to see the old hobbit do something no one has ever managed to do before.

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Week 043 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Gandalf, Formula 1, and Firefly

Wed, 29 May 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West for an interesting — if rather disturbing — exploration of word-nerdery as we look at a word used to describe Gandalf’s pestering of Bilbo.

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Week 043 - Tolkien Tuesday: There Will Be Not a Few

Tue, 28 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We continue in the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters and learn that the Professor just couldn’t catch a break in the autumn of 1953.

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Week 043 - Mailbag Monday: Yes, With an If… No, With a But

Mon, 27 May 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts week 43 of the TTT by quoting Reverend Lovejoy to answer a question about Fëanor. No, you read that correctly.

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Week 042 - Second Age Saturday: At War Within Himself

Sat, 25 May 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he wraps up the first week of Series 6 of the TTT by continuing his reading through the story of Aldarion and Erendis. A time of peace and joy is short-lived as Aldarion once again is drawn to the Sea.

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Week 042 - First Age Friday: Of Living Love and Mortal Pain

Fri, 24 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

The Man of the West has heard your pleas, and will return to the forests of Doriath for another series in The Lay of Leithian. Today’s episode features anguish, jealousy, and dancing lessons.

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Week 042 - Third Age Thursday: I Had to Badger You

Thu, 23 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

There is no need to get angry: The Man of the West will continue the TTT’s readings in A Long-Expected Party. This time, Bilbo gets silly, while Gandalf speaks sternly.

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Week 042 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Greatest Delight of Númenor

Wed, 22 May 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Stop and smell the Nísimaldar as The Man of the West dives into some word-nerdery from last season’s read-through of Aldarion and Erendis. Any excuse to read Quenya, right?

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Week 042 - Tolkien Tuesday: Sympathetic Review

Tue, 21 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We open up the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters again this series, as we focus on new content about The Lord of the Rings. Today, deadlines and maps, reviews and illustrations — and Tolkien’s apparent disdain for italics.

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Week 042 - Mailbag Monday: Gandalf Was a Rollin’ Stone

Mon, 20 May 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 6 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about two very old people. And no, neither of them are The Man of the West. Also, memories of Bernard Hill as Théoden.

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Week 041 - Second Age Saturday: Now, And In All Nows

Sat, 04 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Erendis offers some words of wisdom; will Aldarion hear them? Join The Man of the West as he wraps up Series 6 of the TTT with one more passage from The Mariner’s Wife.

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Week 041 - First Age Friday: Soft a Kiss She Placed Upon His Muted Lips

Fri, 03 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

It’s time for one more reading in The Lay of Leithian before we (hopefully) return to Fandom Fridays in Series 6. Poor Beren is going to have to wait awhile, but at least he has her kiss to remember.

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Week 041 - Third Age Thursday: Interfering Old Busybody

Thu, 02 May 2024 15:00:03 -0000

No, not The Man of the West: no one would call him busy. It’s time for the last reading of this Series in A Long-expected Party, as Bilbo and Gandalf chat about the hobbit’s plans.

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Week 041 - Word-nerd Wednesday: An Andoran Anthology

Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:04 -0000

It’s time for a lingering look at a number of Númenórean names as we examine the etymology of… oh, I’m out of alliteration. Enjoy!

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Week 041 - Tolkien Tuesday: Nothing Godlike or Angelic About Him

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We continue our readings in Carpenter’s book, The Inklings, as we learn about C.S. Lewis’ good friend, Charles Williams — and what Tolkien thought of him, too.

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Week 041 - Mailbag Monday: Maybe It’s the Mediterranean Diet?

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the final week of Series 5 of the TTT with a question about the Rings of Power and longevity. Or maybe it’s the Oil of Olwë?

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Week 040 - Second Age Saturday: Rather is She My Foe

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Erendis makes her position quite clear, as she and Aldarion are reunited after his 14-year long journey. Aldarion appears to turn a new leaf, but will it stick?

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Week 040 - First Age Friday: Like a Silver Jewel Set in the Heavens

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We return for another long reading from The Lay of Leithian as Daeron the minstrel plays for the lovely Lúthien as she dances, and a rough-looking stranger comes stumbling onto the scene.

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Week 040 - Third Age Thursday: Why Worry? He Hasn’t Taken the Vittles!

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Old Rory Brandybuck has a point, after all. We return to the Long-expected Party just in time to see Bilbo disappear. Plus, what’s a party without a little regret?

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Week 040 - Word-nerd Wednesday: We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Wednesday

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

The Man of the West steps away from The Lord of the Rings for a week as we look at a place mentioned in the Second Age Saturday readings this series.

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Week 040 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Old ‘Dying God’ Story

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We continue our time in Carpenter’s The Inklings and talk about Tolkien’s belief in the inherent truths of myth, and the effect his arguments had on Lewis.

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Week 040 - Mailbag Monday: And I Was Meant to Answer This Question

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts week 40 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about what Gandalf knew, and when he knew it.

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Week 039 - Second Age Saturday: Unwilling To Be Bound

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Aldarion manages to drive Erendis away from Armenolos even while he’s away for nearly 15 years. Just imagine what will happen when he returns.

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Week 039 - First Age Friday: Starlit Years On Earth Go By

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We all know that Thingol married up, but our time in The Lay of Leithian today really gives us some insight as to why. Also, we meet Daeron — forgotten harper, singer doomed.

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Week 039 - Third Age Thursday: Immensely Fond Of You All

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

True of Bilbo and his guests, as well as The Man of the West and his listeners. More time at A Long-expected Party, a discussion about fireworks and waistcoats, not to mention a very dangerous dance.

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Week 039 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Base 12 For the Win

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

It’s time to break out your Old English and even Old Norse as we look at Bilbo’s age of eleventy-one, and learn that abandoning the long hundred meant losing out on some cool numbers.

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Week 039 - Tolkien Tuesday: Things You Can Never Say Again

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

We continue our study on the Inklings with a look at ‘The Great War’ between C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield, as well as a stroll on Addison’s Walk.

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Week 039 - Mailbag Monday: What About Their LinkedIn Profiles?

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts week 39 of the TTT with a question about the jobs of the five ‘chief’ wizards. Also: a follow-up on Fëanor confirms our suspicions: he’s still a jerk.

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Week 038 - Second Age Saturday: Amid the Coldness of Others

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

It’s time for the continuing adventures of Aldarion as he finally has eyes for Erendis. As he sails off for distant shores. Plus, the Green Bough of Return and more beautiful names of trees!

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Week 038 - First Age Friday: Or Flee the Land of Barahir

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Beren is really good at killing Orcs and other bad guys; maybe too good. Join The Man of the West for his continued readings through The Lay of Leithian, as Beren finally heads south.

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Week 038 - Third Age Thursday: The Art of Gandalf Improved With Age

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:00:04 -0000

Let us all hope that the art of The Man of the West does the same. Join him today for our continuing read through A Long-Expected Party, this time with fireworks and even more food!

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Week 038 - Word-nerd Wednesday: I Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Well, actually, it does — but it also means a half-dozen other things or so. Join The Man of the West for a look at a word that has offended the Sackville-Bagginses. Also, Gloin says Bilbo looks like a dealer.

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Week 038 - Tolkien Tuesday: Frightful 18th Century!!!

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

Don’t blame me: the punctuation is in the original. Time for another close look at the budding friendship between C.S. Lewis and Tolkien; so long as the former doesn’t keep making terrible poetry suggestions.

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Week 038 - Mailbag Monday: Not the Family Reunion You’re Looking For

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts the week off talking about one of his favorite characters in the legendarium. And his unfortunate cousin.

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Week 037 - Second Age Saturday: Cold is the Life of a Mariner’s Wife

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

So, Aldarion: maybe, I don’t know, stop being a mariner? We continue with the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, the former of whom is beginning to show some troubling traits.

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Week 037 - First Age Friday: Of Will Defeated, Broken Faith

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

We return to the tale of Beren as Gorlim visits him in a dream, and he returns to utter devastation. A vow of vengeance follows, and one bad guy definitely gets what’s coming to him.

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Week 037 - Third Age Thursday: Stop Even Pretending, Gaffer

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:00:03 -0000

We return to Hobbiton just as preparations for a massive party are underway: we’re reminded of how important the postal service is, and get a glimpse of hobbit birthday traditions.

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Week 037 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What’s With the Fat Jokes, Ronald?

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

We take a closer look at nine different Shire family names in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday and learn that the majority of them are based on hobbits ummm… enjoying their food.

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Week 037 - Tolkien Tuesday: Chiefly As a Poet

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

We return to learn more about Tolkien’s fellow Inkling, C.S. Lewis, and their mutual admiration for “Northernness”. Also, dragons can spoil commutes: just ask Eärendil.

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Week 037 - Mailbag Monday: Sure, It Kindles Hearts — But Can It Blend?

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he kicks off this week in appropriate style — then answers a question about Saruman’s hospitality towards his guest at Orthanc.

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Week 036 - Second Age Saturday: Sowed the Seeds of Restlessness

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Tar-Meneldur’s concerns were well-founded, as it turns out. Join The Man of the West for another reading in the tale of Aldarion and Erendis. Also: we finally, and briefly, meet Erendis.

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Week 036 - First Age Friday: Have Thy Pay!

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

If you ever wondered just how cruel Sauron could be, today’s reading in The Lay of Leithian will answer that question.

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Week 036 - Third Age Thursday: We Could Do With a Bit More Queerness

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

The Gaffer has words for Sandyman yet again, while outlandish folk pull into town — including one rather familiar old man with a long white beard and bushy eyebrows. No, not The Man of the West.

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Week 036 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Rebuking His Impertinence

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:01:11 -0000

Sometimes, the Man of the West imagines his own impertinence would be rebuked, should the Professor be alive to do so. Fortunately, this was just a pedantic proof-reader who didn’t like Tolkien’s spelling.

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Week 036 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Thought I Was the Only One

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:00:07 -0000

Step into a meeting of the Kolbítar and learn why Lewis found it so invigorating. Also, talking about the gods and giants of Asgard until 2:30 in the morning… best college days ever.

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Week 036 - Mailbag Monday: Short-lived and Weaker Race

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a speculative question about Fëanor and what he might have thought about the race of Men — if he bothered to think about them at all.

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Week 035 - Second Age Saturday: But They Looked Far Away

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

Aldarion sails on his first voyage, and it changes his life — and the lives of people he hasn’t met yet. Meneldur observes the beginning of a problem, while Vëantur becomes an enabler.

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Week 035 - First Age Friday: Of Land Bereaved and Lordship Shorn

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

We return to the beautiful verses of the Lay of Leithian, only to be reminded that they do not always describing things of beauty. Also: a glimpse of the First Age Dirty Dozen.

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Week 035 - Third Age Thursday: And Jools, By What I’ve Heard

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

It’s time to eavesdrop at the Ivy Bush as the Gaffer tries to fact-check Sandyman and Old Noakes; where are Community Notes when you need them?

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Week 035 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ranugad Galbasi, the Font of Hobbit Wisdom

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West digs through the Nomenclature and the Letters to learn more about the name of everyone’s favorite farmer.

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Week 035 - Tolkien Tuesday: Beer & Beowulf

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

We continue our chat about the Inklings and the “literature v. language” divide at Oxford. We ask Professor Tolkien how 1830 hurt his feelings.

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Week 035 - Mailbag Monday: I Like Big Boats and I Cannot Lie

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins Week 35 with terrible puns and an unanswerable question about Shawn’s favorite mariner.

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Week 034 - Second Age Saturday: Ready to Mirth, and Generous

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

It’s a series filled with long tales, as The Man of the West shifts gears with the first series of Second Age Saturdays. Get your sea-legs on and prepare to set sail as we explore Aldarion & Erendis!

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Week 034 - First Age Friday: Laughter Merry as the Spring

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West begins an epic series for this inaugural incarnation of First Age Fridays with a dive into The Lay of Leithian. Can you believe it’s not alliterative?

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Week 034 - Third Age Thursday: Like Coming Home

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

A long-expected run through a long-expected chapter begins today as tongues begin to wag in Hobbiton and Bywater. Which would you rather have: (apparently) perpetual youth, or (reputedly) inexhaustible wealth?

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Week 034 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Running Private Jokes

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

For today’s word-nerdery, the Man of the West brings in some of Dr. Tom Shippey’s finest, including an observation that Gandalf repeatedly ignores the social code. Also, Tolkien regrets French.

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Week 034 - Tolkien Tuesday: Liberal Studies Majors, Beware

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:00:01 -0000

We take a break from the Letters in Series 5 of the TTT to spend some time at the Bird & Baby with Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and more as we learn about the Inklings. Also, 200 episodes of the TTT!

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Week 034 - Mailbag Monday: Maybe He Left the Oven On?

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts out Series 5 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Mailbag Monday asking a question we honestly haven’t heard before. Also, a reminder of Fëanor being Fëanor.

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Week 033 - Silmarillion Saturday: Never Drinking That Wine Again

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

We return to the halls of Menegroth as Angrod throws Fëanor under the bus, Thingol counts to ten, an entire language nopes right out of there, and Galadriel gets nosy.

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Week 033 - Fandom Friday: The Executive Board of Team Faramir

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Miranda, the self-proclaimed CEO of Team Faramir to chat about her Tolkien Tuesday videos on Instagram, read-alongs on Discord, and a terrifying trivia contest to come.

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Week 033 - Third Age Thursday: Felt the Need of Wisdom

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

It’s time to finish our 8-week journey through the story Of Cirion and Eorl as we Eorl and Cirion part for a time. Also, we look at The Tradition of Isildur: no, not refusing to listen to Elrond… that’s not a tradition.

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Week 033 - Word-nerd Wednesday: It Presents Me With Difficulty

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Time to take a look at what the Rohirrim really called themselves after the Oath of Cirion and Eorl. Also, let’s look at éowords* because éoreds and éoherë are éoawesome* (* - not real words.)

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Week 033 - Tolkien Tuesday: No Pubs Lately

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Lift up your heart! And spend one last week in the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s letters as we look at five shorter letters written to Christopher Tolkien over two months in 1943.

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Week 033 - Mailbag Monday: Who’s Buried in Elendil’s Tomb?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he starts the last week of TTT’s Series 4 with a question about the beacon on Halifirien — wouldn’t it disturb Elendil’s eternal slumber?

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Week 032 - Silmarillion Saturday: Literally red-handed

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 16:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West continues his read-through and discussion of the chapter Of the Noldor in Beleriand as Thingol hears, but once again doesn’t really listen to, Melian. Also, great-uncles can be mean!

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Week 032 - Fandom Friday: What a Lovely Smial

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West invites the founders of The Grey Havens smial of The Tolkien Society to come and talk about creating and sustaining small regional groups of Tolkien fans.

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Week 032 - Third Age Thursday: Enyalië!

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:00:01 -0000

We finally learn just why the Halifirien is so hali, and why the Whispering Wood, uh, whispers. Get ready for some gorgeous Quenya as Cirion and Eorl speak their pinky promise.

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Week 032 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What About Frosty the Lossoth?

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into a beautiful Quenya oath that unexpectedly leads to a (very bad) idea for our next Christmas break.

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Week 032 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Red Admiral

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:00:03 -0000

This week, we take a look at more letters from The Professor to his sons Michael and Christopher, including one that talks about a man who has almost as many names as Aragorn and Túrin!

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Week 032 - Mailbag Monday: The Nakedest Dragonet

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

No, that’s not the title of the next Train Your Dragon film. Join The Man of the West as he tries to answer yet another question that has no answer: what is the origin of Tolkien’s dragons?

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Week 031 - Silmarillion Saturday: For That Woe is Past

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

I’m not sure Melian shares Galadriel’s optimism on that point. Join The Man of the West as we read more in Of the Noldor in Beleriand and join Melian in asking, “What are the Noldor hiding, and why is it Fëanor?”

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Week 031 - Fandom Friday: Not Jealous At All, At All — A Conversation with Bill Fliss and Sarah Schaefer

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West is reminded of just how awesome the J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript exhibit was as he visits with its curators. He also wonders if a career as a Tolkien academic is still possible at his advanced age.

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Week 031 - Third Age Thursday: As True Men

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West continues his reading and discussion of the tale of Cirion and Eorl, this week as the two climb the Hill of Awe. What do you get the man who gives you an entire country?

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Week 031 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Knows No Season and Withers Not

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Why are we going back to Tuor to discuss a word from Cirion and Eorl? Because we can. Join The Man of the West as he looks closely at some, ahem, flowery language.

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Week 031 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Sum Total of Last Week’s Amusements

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

The revised and expanded edition of Letters continues to provide wonderful insight into Tolkien and his relationship with his sons. Today, three short letters to Christopher that remind us of the reality of the Blitz, and the importance of remembering birthdays.

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Week 031 - Mailbag Monday: Aren’t You a Little Underwhelming for a Maia?

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he attempts to answer an unanswerable question about the Goblins of the Misty Mountains and their recognition of important artifacts in their cultural history. Or something like that.

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Week 030 - Silmarillion Saturday: Love Not Too Well

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

You know the rest, folks — and if you don’t, that’s why you’re listening to this show! Join The Man of the West as we open the chapter Of the Noldor in Beleriand and learn about the founding of the most beautiful city in the history of Middle-earth: the Hidden City of Gondolin.

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Week 030 - Fandom Friday: A Númenórean Sea Shanty - Phil Dean

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

We welcome another of Team PPP to today’s Fandom Friday as Phil Dean joins Alan to chat about his experience as a Númenórean guardsman on the first season of The Rings of Power.

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Week 030 - Third Age Thursday: The Whispering Wood

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West reads more in the story of Cirion and Eorl, relishing in the mystery of Gondorian forestry policy, as well as why Gondor’s zoning regulations for Halifirien changed.

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Week 030 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Beacons of Gondor Are… Etymologically Interesting

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

From Amon Dîn to Halifirien, the Man of the West takes a deep dive into the names of each of the beacons of Gondor — well, those of northern Gondor at least.

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Week 030 - Tolkien Tuesday: Be Of Good Heart

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

We return to the revised and expanded edition of Tolkien’s letters to take a closer look at a couple of letters written to his son, Michael. Tolkien offers some sage advice about young love, but strays a bit beyond his expertise when opining about women.

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Week 030 - Mailbag Monday: Given to Rhetorical Superlatives

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he answers a question about who’s older than who… thankfully, he’s not answering a question about his own age.

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Week 029 - Silmarillion Saturday: Save One Only

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

It’s time to conclude our readings through Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor as we finally arrive at that hiding the title has been suggesting might happen. Also: Morgoth’s a coward.

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Week 029 - Fandom Friday: The Tolkienist’s Take on Tolkien Talks and Tolkien Tage: A Visit with Marcel Aubron-Bülles

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West in welcoming one of the OG Tolkien bloggers to the TTT. Marcel’s the busiest guy in the Tolkien fandom, it seems, but he has a few minutes to spare for us!

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Week 029 - Third Age Thursday: Rochon Methestel

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Bonus points if you get that reference without looking. The Man of the West continues his ride through the tale of Cirion and Eorl, as the Éothéod rides to the rescue of Gondor in Unfinished Tales.

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Week 029 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Fierce and Fabled

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

It’s time for another double word-nerd Wednesday as The Man of the West introduces you to the valiant steed of Eorl and the race of horses he sired.

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Week 029 - Tolkien Tuesday: Not Too Quick in the Uptake

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

We open up the Revised and Expanded edition of Letters to take a deep dive into one entirely new letter that Tolkien wrote to his good friend, E.V. Gordon. Also: don’t let Kenneth Sisam read this one.

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Week 029 - Mailbag Monday: Tiptoe To the Mewlips

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he reluctantly answers a mailbag question about some of the creepiest creatures Professor Tolkien ever imagined: the mysterious and malevolent Mewlips.

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Week 028 - Silmarillion Saturday: As He Ever Shall Be

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 16:00:01 -0000

Arien would need a restraining order against Tilion if it weren’t for her ability to burn him like a slice of toast. Join The Man of the West as he continues his read-through of the chapter Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor — which, I promise, will get hidden eventually.

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Week 028 - Fandom Friday: Sara It Was, and Dr. Brown Also

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West is joined by one of his esteemed cohort of co-hosts, Dr. Sara Brown, to talk about Éowyn, Discworld, and anything else she darn well wants to talk about!

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Week 028 - Third Age Thursday: Riders of Great Courage

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:00:01 -0000

Learn about the migration of the Éothéod, the Stewardship of Cirion, and the discovery that a huge force of enemies was preparing an attack on Gondor as we continue the tale of Cirion and Eorl!

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Week 028 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Númenoréan Month or Prescription Medication?

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:01 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a closer look at the Kings’ Reckoning, the calendar system used for over 5,000 years by the Men of Númenor and Gondor. Side effects of Narquelië may include depression, darkness, and regret.

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Week 028 - Tolkien Tuesday: Grim Grinning… Drawer Handles?

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

It’s time to go back to more of the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters as we look at some letters dated around the time of the publication of The Hobbit. It appears the Professor understands the truth about math. Or maths.

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Week 028 - Mailbag Monday: Túrin, Túna, and, uh… Celeborn

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he answers a mailbag question about a legendary Norwegian bowman and his possible inspiration of one of Tolkien’s most tragic characters. Plus, Alan almost certainly mispronounces the same name many, many times.

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Week 027 - Silmarillion Saturday: As a Naked Flame

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Learn about Arien and Tilion, the Maiar chosen to carry the Sun and the Moon through the skies of Arda, as we continue our journey through Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor.

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Week 027 - Fandom Friday: Pity, Power, and a Chat with Tom Hillman

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes Tom Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring. Ah-ha moments abound as Alan and Tom chat.

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Week 027 - Third Age Thursday: Which None Could Then Foresee

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

It’s time to continue our readings in the story of Cirion and Eorl, even if we’re still at the part of Calimehtar and Marhwini. At least Cirion and Eorl are easier to pronounce.

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Week 027 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The (Great) Green Region

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

We have time for two words on this Word-nerd Wednesday: the first is the name of the 30th King of Gondor, and the other is the name of a land that would eventually be gifted to the people of the Éothéod.

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Week 027 - Tolkien Tuesday: Hi Dad, Send Cash

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

We take a look at three letters that Tolkien wrote to his sons: school grades, mom guilt, BBC criticism, a hand injury, and a plea for cash to a poor professor all feature in today’s Tolkien Tuesday!

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Week 027 - Mailbag Monday: Gandalf as a Dwarf?

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he answers a speculative question about the form that the wizards took when they came to Middle-earth. Now I’m picturing Radagast as a hobbit.

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Week 026 - Silmarillion Saturday: Dust Off the Piñata

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 16:00:02 -0000

A study of heavenly bodies begins with the aftermath of Fëanor storming out of the house, slamming the door, stealing the neighbor’s car, and peeling out of the driveway. Also, Manwë borrows a page from Nienna’s playbook and needs a tissue.

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Week 026 - Fandom Friday: The Full English: Chris Newton from A Book At Breakfast

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes fellow bibliophile and Tolkien fan Chris Newton, and learn about a new podcast you might want to listen to. Chris earns extra points for a ‘core of the original’ reference in an episode blurb.

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Week 026 - Third Age Thursday: And You Thought You’d Avoid Gothic

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West wanted to make a joke here about the Émo-théod and why their early names were Goth-ic, but we talked him out of it. We apologize for the fault in the blurb. Those responsible have been sacked.

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Week 026 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Because ‘Horse-People’ is Boring

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

Get ready for some Old English as we take a look at the Éothéod and one of their lords, Eorl the Young in the first Word-nerd Wednesday of 2024.

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Week 026 - Tolkien Tuesday: All That Over a Comma

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

It’s time for The Man of the West to open the new Revised and Expanded Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien as we begin a new series of Tolkien Tuesday episodes! Learn why it’s always good to save your file versions.

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Week 026 - Mailbag Monday: Something About Rope

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he rings in 2024 with a new series of Today’s Tolkien Times! We start with a mailbag question about Sam’s mysteriously disappearing brothers, and his two sisters, both called Miss-Not-Appearing-In-This-Book.

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Week 025 - Fancy a Game of Snapdragons?

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Tolkien brings in more real-world events — a really cold winter, and a bright comet — into his Letters From Father Christmas, while NPB is busy getting the Man in the Moon drunk. Also, Merry Christmas from the TTT!

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Week 025 - Rory Bory Aylis

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West introduces a new term for the Aurora Borealis, as he looks at Tolkien’s 1926 Letter From Father Christmas. North Polar Bear is up to his usual mischief, and the reindeer break loose. Also, the Man in the Moon is badly injured — but it’s nothing chocolate can’t fix.

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Week 025 - Dreadfully Busy

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:00:03 -0000

No, really, he means it. Father Christmas is busy, and so is Professor Tolkien, as Christmas of 1925 approaches. Holding down two jobs, writing the beginnings of Middle-earth mythology, moving house, and being the father to three boys ages 8, 5, and 1. Whew, I’m tired just writing that.

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Week 025 - A Letter for the LEGO Fans

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:00:02 -0000

We move to 1923 and a letter to a new address in Leeds, before looking at just how old Father Christmas really is. Also, when is a brick not a brick?

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Week 025 - Dramatis Personae

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:00:02 -0000

Let’s start at the very beginning: it’s a very good place to start, after all. It’s time to open up the Introduction to the Letters and learn about the growing crew up at the North Pole, before we start with the first letter, written in 1920.

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Week 025 - Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West for a very special holiday week of Today’s Tolkien Times as he dives into Letters From Father Christmas, beginning with words from Baillie Tolkien, Christopher’s wife and the editor of the Letters volumes.

Resource links:

https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/the-father-christmas-letters-4/

https://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=Letters%20From%20Father%20Christmas

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Week 024 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Elves Know Not

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Men are mortal, and so is Series 3 of Today’s Tolkien Times! Join The Man of the West as he wraps things up (mostly) for 2023 with a look at the difference between Elves and Men — including a glimpse at an early version from The Book of Lost Tales.

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Week 024 - Fandom Friday: Time Flies When Your Book is Awesome — John Garth

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

You’ve enjoyed eight weeks of excerpts from his book, Tolkien and the Great War, so please welcome John Garth to Today’s Tolkien Times, as we celebrate 20 years since the publication of his award-winning biography! Plus insights on his new book — Tolkien’s Mirror — and how you can help get it published sooner.

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Week 024 - Third Age Thursday: Look After Your Darling

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

To those celebrating, the TTT wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! Join The Man of the West as he finishes up The Quest of Erebor and discovers the softer side of Gandalf, and why all of Middle-earth is thankful for a chance-meeting in Bree.

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Week 024 - Word-nerd Wednesday: What Do Fëanor and Dol Guldur Have in Common?

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

We’ll let Gandalf explore the dungeons of Dol Guldur; The Man of the West will explore its etymology. Observe his shocked face as he learns the connection between the Noldor and dark sorcery.

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Week 024 - Tolkien Tuesday: Pipe-smoking and Chin-wagging

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Like so many other students before him, Tolkien wasn’t always entirely dedicated to his academic pursuits. Join The Man of the West as he revisits John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War one more time to learn about Tolkien’s ‘pure alpha’ and the major change in his, uh, major.

Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 024 - Mailbag Monday: Linked In, Middle-earth

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series 3 of the TTT with an update for the holidays before he answers an interesting question about employment opportunities in Middle-earth. Polish up those resumes, folks!

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Week 023 - Silmarillion Saturday: Where Every Leaf is Green

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 16:00:02 -0000

I’m sure it won’t stay that way, though. Join The Man of the West as he concludes this week of the TTT by reading the first half of the chapter Of Men. Distant Valar, condescending Elves, and Morgoth on the loose: the Men will be just fiiiiiine.

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Week 023 - Fandom Friday: The Tolkien Professor

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Sometimes, the big voices in the fandom have things to say too — Alan welcomes the OG Tolkien podcaster, Dr. Corey Olsen to the show to talk about all things Signum, and to put him in charge of Amazon’s marketing for Rings of Power.

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Week 023 - Third Age Thursday: He Was Getting Greedy and Fat

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

No, not The Man of the West — well at least not both of them — Bilbo! Gandalf recalls just how disappointing Bilbo was in the second part of The Quest of Erebor. Also, keep old maps and keys for 95 years, just in case.

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Week 023 - Word-nerd Wednesday: (The Rest of) The Many Names of Gandalf

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West returns to his wizardy wording ways this week as he brings you more of the names of Gandalf — and fills in a few unintended blanks on one of last week’s names!

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Week 023 - Tolkien Tuesday: Time For You To Go, George

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

We join Tolkien on his winter break as he writes and stars in his own play that just might bear some similarities to real-life. He is finally allowed to write to Edith and the results are… not what you’d expect. Give it up for poor George.

Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 023 - Mailbag Monday: Not a David Letterman Top 10

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he begins week 23 with a list of the top 10 scariest or creepiest creatures in Middle-earth, just in time for… two weeks after Halloween. You’ll never guess what #5 is!

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Week 022 - Silmarillion Saturday: I Think You Know What That Word Means

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

Melkor hides, fakes friendship, almost persuades Fëanor, goes too far, but manages to understand thralldom better than Fëanor. Also, Tulkas is thinking, “I told you this would happen.”

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Week 022 - Fandom Friday: A Love of Letters — Phil Walch from Tolkien Collector’s Guide

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West talks about the new Letters volume — and a massive Guide to even more Letters — with Phil Walch from Tolkien Collector’s Guide. The Man of the West may still be counting the number of Tolkien Tuesdays he’ll get from the new volume!

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Week 022 - Third Age Thursday: Brooding On His Wrongs

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:00:02 -0000

Join Gandalf — and the Man of the West — as he relates his own take on “the incident with the dragon” in The Quest of Erebor. From Gandalf’s grand strategy to how seriously Dwarves take their duty, we also get a teaser about our old friend, Bilbo.

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Week 022 - Word-nerd Wednesday: (Some of) The Many Names of Gandalf

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

It’s a wizardy Wednesday as The Man of the West begins his exploration of several — but not all — of the names of everyone’s favorite Middle-earth wizard. No, it’s not that blue guy.

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Week 022 - Tolkien Tuesday: An Assault on Finnish

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West combines the best of Carpenter and Garth to talk about Tolkien in 1912: from his wet and windy cavalry camp, to his discovery of a wine-cellar that intoxicated him… and led directly to the Quenya language.

Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 022 - Mailbag Monday: No, YOU Be the Mortal One

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West opens up the mailbag this week with a speculative question: what happens to the kingship of Gondor if Aragorn dies at the Black Gate? Well, I don’t know about the kingship of Gondor, but Arwen is not going to be happy about this.

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Week 021 - Silmarillion Saturday: Master of Thralls

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Okay, so it’s a great name for a metal album, but it’s also a theme in today’s Silmarillion Saturday, as Fëanor threatens his younger brother, and gets a 12-year time out for it. Then again, if you’re an Elf, what’s 12 years, really?

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Week 021 - Fandom Friday: Silmaremily: At the Crossroads of Faramir and… Taylor Swift?

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:00:02 -0000

In what is likely to be the only mention of Taylor Swift on Today’s Tolkien Times, The Man of the West welcomes Silmaremily to Fandom Friday for a wide-ranging talk that (finally) includes some thoughts on Amazon’s The Rings of Power.

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Week 021 - Third Age Thursday: No Queen in Gondor

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Gandalf explains just how important those “off screen” battles were at the end of the Third Age, as The Man of the West finally concludes his reading in the Appendices on Durin’s Folk, wrapping up with a beautiful example of friendship featuring Legolas and Gimli.

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Week 021 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Surprise - the Hobbits Named Something After a Drink

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today’s Word-nerd Wednesday takes a look at the name of the river separating the Shire from those weird folk in Buckland: the Brandywine. Is it a pun? Is it a corrupted pronunciation? Is it Dutch? Yes, the answer is yes.

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Week 021 - Tolkien Tuesday: Certain Among the Gods

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Happy Halloween to all the TTT followers — but there’s nothing spooky about today’s Tolkien Tuesday, unless Tolkien “revisiting old haunts” counts. Today, we take a short break from John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War to revisit Carpenter’s biography to learn about Tolkien’s own Mrs. Doubtfire moment.
Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 021 - Mailbag Monday: Past Their Expiration Date

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts off week 21 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a question about everyone’s favorite equestrian group: the Black Riders. Specifically, what happens to them after the One Ring is destroyed?

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Week 020 - Silmarillion Saturday: A Greedy Love

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Our adventures in “Fëanor, No!” continue as Melkor continues to sow Discord in Valinor. Also, secret weapon stashes and awkward family dinners.

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Week 020 - Fandom Friday: Real Elvish - a Chat with Fiona Jallings

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes your friendly neighborhood linguist, the creator of RealElvish.net and the author of books to help you learn Neo-Sindarin, Fiona Jallings!

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Week 020 - Third Age Thursday: A Chance Meeting

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West’s readings through the Appendix on Durin’s Folk continues as Thorin ascends the throne and just happens to run into Gandalf while on a business trip in Bree.

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Week 020 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Orcs, Uruks, and Balrogs - Oh My!

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West dives deep into the Etymologies to explain how the words for just about every nasty creature in Middle-earth are actually connected! Also, fleshy mud pods: you’re welcome.

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Week 020 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Nerd’s Nerd

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

It’s time to go back to school and study your Latin. And Greek. And Nevbosh. And Gothic. And… well, any other language you can get your teenage boy’s hands on. The Man of the West opens up Tolkien and the Great War and A Secret Vice to learn more about the Professor.

Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 020 - Mailbag Monday: To Me, All Are One

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West opens up this new week of the TTT by actually finishing an answer he began last week. A close look at Christopher Tolkien’s words reveals that bowing to necessity was a grief to the Professor.

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Week 019 - Silmarillion Saturday: Fast Bound to These Things

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

You thought the Fëanor piñata would catch a break with the end of the last chapter, wouldn’t you? Well, The Man of the West returns to read about the Silmarils themselves, and the beginning of the end of peace in Valinor.

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Week 019 - Fandom Friday: How Much Can One Man Do? A Chat with James Tauber

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes the talented — and busy — James Tauber to chat about his 12-month course on The History of Middle-earth, his continuing efforts on the Digital Tolkien Project, and a lot more.

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Week 019 - Third Age Thursday: To the Anvil!

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Dwarves may have had their victory, but the cost was high — and Dáin has bad news about the current squatter in Khazad-dûm. The Man of the West continues his reading and discussion through Appendix A on Durin’s Folk.

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Week 019 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Because It’s a Cantrip

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Why wouldn’t we weave words about wizards on Wednesday? Join The Man of the West — who is now officially out of W tiles in Scrabble — as he dives into the ‘problematic’ word “wizard” and discovers that Gandalf doesn’t actually have to rest before casting Magic Missile again.

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Week 019 - Tolkien Tuesday: Didn’t We All Read Chaucer By Age 10?

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West returns to Tolkien and the Great War to learn more about Tolkien’s incredible gift and passion for languages. Maybe if someone had given me an Etymological Dictionary when I was… no, that wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Be sure to visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship. You can also buy Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, narrated exceptionally well by John himself. I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 019 - Mailbag Monday: Let Me Explain. No, There Is Too Much.

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:00:03 -0000

Start your week off with The Man of the West as he starts to tackle a simple question with some complicated answers and quickly realizes he’s bitten off more than he can chew in one week.

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Week 018 - Silmarillion Saturday: Rather Than to Master Them

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

That piñata bears a striking resemblance to a famous Noldorin Elf, does it not? Well, not for much longer, I’d imagine. The Man of the West concludes his reading in Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor.

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Week 018 - Fandom Friday: More Tolkien With Friends with Andie

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes Andie, one of the co-hosts of the podcast Tolkien With Friends. We learn how and why she started the show, and just how passionate she is about making the Tolkien community a welcoming place for all.

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Week 018 - Third Age Thursday: Another Beggar At My Doors

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West continues his readings about Durin’s Folk from the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings; Thrór makes a bad decision, Nár begs him to reconsider, Náin challenges a bully, and Dáin finishes the job.

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Week 018 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Tolkien Enjoys a Little Homebrew

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Is it a Silmaril? Or is it only a model? Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look at eorcnanstan, better known as The Arkenstone, in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday!

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Week 018 - Tolkien Tuesday: It Is Rougher Further On

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

More time with the TCBS as we learn about the poet G.B. Smith, the artist Rob Gilson and the results of that rugby match with the school’s First XV.

Folks, please visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship - you can also get Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, read by John himself. Finally, I'm proud to support John's work and would ask you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 018 - Mailbag Monday: A Casual Reference to the Necromancer

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:00:03 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he answers a patron’s question about the Dwarven Rings, and explores the deep and mysterious story (hint: it’s neither) behind Tolkien’s decision to choose rings as his artifacts of power in Middle-earth.

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Week 017 - Silmarillion Saturday: Few Ever Changed His Courses By Counsel, None By Force

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West breaks out the Fëanor piñata as he begins reading from Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor. A long digression on second marriages, with advice from nearly all of the Valar.

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Week 017 - Fandom Friday: Shawn Marchese, The Lord of the Mark

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West hopes you’ll forgive him for having a favorite guest so far: his old friend, former co-host, and co-author of Why We Love Middle-earth joins the TTT on a very special Fandom Friday.

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Week 017 - Third Age Thursday: The Ancestor of All the Kings of the Longbeards

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Time to break out your Dwarven ale and toast Durin the Deathless as The Man of the West dives into the LotR Appendices and starts to read about Durin’s Folk.

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Week 017 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The First Elvish Word in the OED (hint: it’s not mellon)

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

It’s time for The Man of the West to polish up those philological skills as he delves greedily and deeply into Word-nerd Wednesday this week. Bonus segment on all the shiny things!

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Week 017 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Great Twin Brethren

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts a new story with this series’ Tolkien Tuesdays, as he opens up John Garth’s Tolkien and the Great War to learn about the ‘immortal four’ of the TCBS over the next several weeks.

Folks, please visit John Garth's website at https://johngarth.co.uk to learn and read more about his incredible Tolkien work and scholarship - you can also get Tolkien and the Great War on audiobook, read by John himself. Finally, I'm proud to support John's work and would as you to please consider doing the same at http://bit.ly/48Rhbf1.

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Week 017 - Mailbag Monday: Tulkas, Eönwë, and Túrin Walk Into a Bar…

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Okay, not a bar. A battle. The battle. The Battle of All Battles, actually. The Man of the West opens up Series 3 of Today’s Tolkien Times by answering a question about the Dagor Dagorath and dives deep into early versions of The Silmarillion for answers.

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Week 016 - Silmarillion Saturday: No Men Allowed - Ossiriand’s Tough HOA

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he closes out Series 2 of the TTT with a reading from Of the Coming of Men Into the West. Amlach has some words. Or is it Amlach?

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Week 016 - Fandom Friday: Dave Brons

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes composer and guitarist Dave Brons to the TTT to talk about his prog-rock masterpiece, Return to Arda. Also, questionable decisions regarding VO talent.

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Week 016 - Third Age Thursday: Falling Asleep Again

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The hobbits are Homeward Bound, as Gandalf abandons them to chat with an old friend. The Man of the West unpacks what Frodo means by “falling asleep again”.

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Week 016 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Counties and Quarters Just Don’t Cut It

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West brings back some right goodliness of speechraft in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday as he explores the Shire and its farthings — Boo, Norman Conquest!

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Week 016 - Tolkien Tuesday: This One is, Unfortunately, a Pedantic Don

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West is not a don, but may or may not be pedantic. But one pedantic don had thoughts about the formidable task of translating The Lord of the Rings. Also, a new book is published!

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Week 016 - Mailbag Monday: The Man of the West: Third Cycle of Life?

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join Alan as he revels in being younger than Círdan, at least. The week begins with a look at the oldest of the Elves still in Middle-earth, and another look at elvish facial hair.

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Week 015 - Silmarillion Saturday: Outta My Way, I’m Harpin’ Here

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up Week 15 by joining famous stalker Finrod Felagund as he watches a group of strangers until they fall asleep. Also, a hint at the darkness in Men’s past.

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Week 015 - Fandom Friday: Jess of the Shire, aka Part Time Hobbit

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join the Man of the West as he welcomes fellow Tolkien YouTuber Jess of the Shire to week 15’s Fandom Friday. You may know her better as Part Time Hobbit; and if you don’t know her, stop and fix that!

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Week 015 - Third Age Thursday: Wine Out of a Golden Cup

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West continues his visit to Bree as Gandalf and the hobbits catch up with Barliman Butterbur. Also: Barliman’s shocked face.

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Week 015 - Word-nerd Wednesday: There is a King Again, Little Masters

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the etymology of the words ‘king’ and ‘master’ for week 15’s Word-nerd Wednesday. Also, Barliman keeps on using that word: does it mean what he thinks it means?

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Week 015 - Tolkien Tuesday: What You Really Require is The Silmarillion

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

On today’s Tolkien Tuesday, the Man of the West discovers that Professor Tolkien gave the same advice — only before the book was, you know, published. Also, Sam Gamgee gets a wonderful gift!

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Week 015 - Mailbag Monday: Well and Truly Hallowed

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West begins week 15 by answering a speculative mailbag question about Beren’s greedy little hands. Also, a brief glance at Morgoth and Ungoliant’s ill-advised first date.

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Week 014 - Silmarillion Saturday: Take a Share In Its Hurts

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up this week’s TTT with a powerful reading of The Faithful Stone, a story about a Drúg who pours some of his strength into his craftsmanship. This time, no one dies.

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Week 014 - Fandom Friday: Shaun Gunner, Chair of the Tolkien Society

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Long-time friend of the podcast, and member of the Fellowship of the Co-hosts, Shaun “Don’t Call Me Shawn” Gunner joins The Man of the West to talk about his role in the Society, the 50th Oxonmoot and the state of the Tolkien fandom.

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Week 014 - Third Age Thursday: Newcomers and Gangrels

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West shifts gears dramatically: moving from three episodes on crucial marriages between Elves and Men to Barliman and the troubles in Bree. Nob is still waiting for his appointment with an HR manager.

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Week 014 - Word-nerd Wednesday: My Own Later Addiction

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:00:03 -0000

We look at a ‘word’ whose meaning is pretty clear to begin with, but has taken a few hits (ugh) thanks to pop culture: pipe-weed. The Man of the West speculates about Merry & Pippin-branded gummies.

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Week 014 - Tolkien Tuesday: Note to the BBC’s Sillification Department

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:00:03 -0000

The Man of the West finally gets to that first adaptation he’s been talking about for a few weeks now, and only has time to read some of Tolkien’s inevitable criticisms. One wonders what he’d have thought if he didn’t work on the scripts!

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Week 014 - Mailbag Monday: Math is Hard

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:00:03 -0000

Or, for our friends across the pond, ‘Maths Are Hard’. The Man of the West begins this week with a question: how many Nazgûl does it take to change a lightbulb on Amon Sûl?

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Week 13 - Silmarillion Saturday: Unlovely In Looks

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

You decide: does the title refer to the host, or to the subject of today’s discussion? The Man of the West dives into the history and nature one of the most unique peoples in Middle-earth and realizes he’d make a terrible statue.

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Week 13 - Fandom Friday: Please Judge This Book By Its Cover

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes acclaimed Tolkien artist Emily Austin to the TTT to talk inspiration and illustration. Also, we chat about her cover art for Shawn & Alan’s new book, Why We Love Middle-earth, and get a sneak peek at a work in progress.

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Week 13 - Third Age Thursday: You Walk In Her Likeness

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up a trilogy of episodes on Beren & Lúthien in the Third Age by visiting the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings. Aragorn may be abashed, but he’s also glad Elrond is no Thingol.

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Week 13 - Word-nerd Wednesday: More Words, More Puns

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 15:00:03 -0000

Word-nerd Wednesday sets a new record as The Man of the West looks at 10 words from last week’s Silmarillion reading. Plus, bonus irony for Quenya words connected to language-slayer Thingol.

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Week 13 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Have Not Yet Received a Farthing

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West looks at Tolkien’s own typically humble reflections on his achievement, and quotes Tolkien to remind you all that The Lord of the Rings is still not a trilogy. Also, Tolkien receives a very nice first paycheck.

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Week 13 - Mailbag Monday: Handsome Is As Handsome Does

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts the week off by answering the question: why does everyone smile or laugh when they reject the Ring? The answer has nothing to do with the Ring’s recent success at open mic night at the comedy club. Also, the question that will not die: more draconic insight on treasure-moving!

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Week 12 - Silmarillion Saturday: Always Marry Up

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West reads an entire chapter from The Silmarillion; it’s the shortest one about the tallest guy. Thingol marries up, as do Beren, Tuor, and Aragorn!

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Week 12 - Fandom Friday: Kali from Voices of Arda and Tolkien With Friends

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes podcaster and TikToker Kali to Today’s Tolkien Times to talk podcasting and community-building. And maybe to talk about KnewBettaDoBetta; no promises.

Fandom Friday Guest Links:

✨TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@kali__cosplay

✨Voices of Arda Discord Community:
https://discord.com/invite/PDqRa7mamJ

✨Voices of Arda Podcast:
https://tr.ee/BjRIP64bqN

✨Tolkien with Friends Podcast:
https://tr.ee/X-Z_IWWMqZ

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Week 12 - Third Age Thursday: There Is Too Much, Let Me Sum Up

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Following up on last week’s Third Age Thursday, we join Strider and the hobbits on Weathertop once more. This time for the future king’s prose explanation of last week’s poetry recitation of the story of Beren and Lúthien. Also: a hint for next week is contained herein.

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Week 12 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Pedantry of Popularizing Botanists

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join the Man of the West for this different take on a Word-nerd Wednesday as we look at the word - and the plant - hemlock. Or at least the plant Tolkien had in mind. Botany takes a bow on what nearly became another Tolkien Tuesday.

📕Book mentioned in video: Flora of Middle-earth: Plants of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium

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Week 12 - Tolkien Tuesday: We Are Not Quite the Same Men

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West joins the Tolkiens on their vacation and looks at the concerns Tolkien had with the Appendices and the printers. More perfect Tolkien impatience, and the reviews for The Lord of the Rings begin to come in. Venice moves higher up Alan’s bucket list.

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Week 12 - Mailbag Monday: Far-Sundered Places

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts off this week of the TTT with a… clarification, an addendum, a follow-up on dragons’ ability to carry treasure. He also answers a mailbag question on the Doom of the Dwarves, concluding that maybe we shouldn’t always trust the Elves.

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Week 11 - Silmarillion Saturday: She Was Not Conquered

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West for the bittersweet conclusion of Húrin’s tale as he reads from both The Silmarillion and The Children of Húrin versions of the story. Also: TTT’s new Patreon launches today, with special offers for the next five weeks!

(Just a quick note that it turns out the annual plan won't be available at launch due to Patreon policies; the special offer will be made to anyone signing up on the top two tiers.)

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Week 11 - Fandom Friday: Happy Hobbit

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West is joined by published author, filmmaker, YouTuber and all-around amazing person Kellie Rice on this week’s Fandom Friday.

Check out the following places on social media to keep up with Kellie and follow all of the cool things she has going on!

Facebook: KMRiceAuthor (https://www.facebook.com/KMRiceAuthor/)
Instagram: WildAuthoress (https://instagram.com/wildauthoress?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=)
Twitter: @KMRiceAuthor (https://twitter.com/KMRiceAuthor)
TikTok: @KMRiceAuthor (https://www.tiktok.com/@kmriceauthor)
YouTube: @WildAuthoress (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PN6Wbe4M92qia8OBtdOLQ )
Websites:
- www.kmrice.com
- www.afterworldbooks.com

And just for fun... here is the trailer for the book!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUKLXQrriVI

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Week 11 - Third Age Thursday: Tinúviel Was Dancing There

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

One advantage of hosting your own show is that you can cheat a little: join The Man of the West as he manages to get a First Age story in on a Third Age Thursday as he reads Aragorn’s telling of the Tale of Tinúviel.

(Just a quick note that it turns out the annual plan won't be available at launch due to Patreon policies; the special offer will be made to anyone signing up on the top two tiers.)

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Week 11 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Hot As a Glede

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:00:01 -0000

In a TTT first, The Man of the West reads a word on Mailbag Monday and dives into its etymology on Word-nerd Wednesday. Join him as he butchers Middle English in his red-hot look at glede.

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Week 11 - Tolkien Tuesday: Fatal Attraction

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he takes a deeper look into Tolkien’s process of writing the Appendices, as seen in the Letters and Carpenter’s biography.

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Week 11 - Mailbag Monday: There’s A Little Black Spot on the Sun Today

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts Week 11 off with Isildur, the King of Gondor Pain, and a closer look at why the One Ring hurts him, but not Frodo. Also: an exciting announcement about the future of the TTT!

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Week 10 - Silmarillion Saturday: Thrall of the Valar

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he continues Húrin’s tale after his capture by Morgoth. You think it was brave to fight an endless horde of Orcs? Try facing off against the mightiest being in Arda.

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Week 10 - Fandom Friday: Teaching With Magic

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West is joined by Elise Trudel Cedeño from Teaching With Magic, who has cleverly found a way to use Tolkien — and other fantasy literature — as a teaching tool.

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Week 10 - Third Age Thursday: No Good Roastin’ ‘Em Now

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The talking purse is off discussing his future with his agent while the trolls continue to fight — and capture dwarves. The fight continues until dawn as Bert, Tom, and William eventually get uh, stoned.

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Week 10 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Melodramatic Chestnuts

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West visits Turkey, Greece, and a 19th century Boston theater to find out the meaning of a word we all thought we already knew.

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Week 10 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Great Deal Better Than I Feared

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Tolkien loves the new dust jackets, is pleasantly surprised by the reviews, and stands by C.S. Lewis. The Man of the West reads the 1954 equivalent of ‘mean tweets’ and finds some good ones, too.

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Week 10 - Mailbag Monday: The Other Shelves of the West

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts a new week of Today’s Tolkien Times by visiting the second half of The Shelves of the West!

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Week 9 - Silmarillion Saturday: Aurë Entuluva!

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Indeed, day will come again — but it may be a long time before our featured character feels anything but darkness. Join The Man of the West as he reads Húrin’s Last Stand from The Silmarillion.

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Week 9 - Fandom Friday: The Silmarillion Primer and Jeff LaSala

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes writer, editor, and Dungeon Master extraordinare Jeff LaSala to the TTT to talk about the publication of his Silmarillion Primer.

If you want more details about the Primer, check out https://blackberry.signumuniversity.org/press/work/silmprimer/. Art credit for the cover belongs to David Delagardelle.

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Week 9 - Third Age Thursday: Not Drawing-Room Fashion At All, At All

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West for more villain dialog — this time from everyone’s three favorite trolls: Bert, Tom, and Bill. And don’t forget the talking purse!

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Week 9 - Word-nerd Wednesday: “Confusticate and bebother these dwarves!”

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West opens up the OED and The Ring of Words to help shed light on these fantastically descriptive words from The Hobbit.

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Week 9 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Wisely Started With a Map

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Tolkien explains the importance of cartography, expresses fears about hack critics, returns some. very ugly dust-jacket proofs, and promises to not become like Mr. Toad.

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Week 9 - Mailbag Monday: The Shelves of the West

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West opens this new series of Today’s Tolkien Times by answering the most-asked question so far on the TTT: can you show us your library? The answer is yes, but not quickly!

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Week 8 - Silmarillion Saturday: Trouble in Paradise

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up the first 8-week series of Today’s Tolkien Times by finishing the story of Aulë and Yavanna. Now that the Dwarves are a done deal, what does Aulë’s wife think?

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Week 8 - Fandom Friday: ArdaCraft — Recreating Middle-earth Brick by Brick

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West is joined by Fornad, the project lead for ArdaCraft, a truly massive project creating the whole of Middle-earth in Minecraft!

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Week 8 - Third Age Thursday: Antiquated Information

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

We rejoin Bilbo as he wraps up his chat with Smaug: something he should have done with four fewer words. But it’s not all bad: he’s caught Smaug monologuing!

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Week 8 - Word-nerd Wednesday: The Bane of My Existence

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

A quick study of lingustic dilution: or how Modern English has taken a word meaning “a worker of death” and turned it into a word meaning “that’s annoying”. The Man of the West likely butchers multiple languages in today’s episode, but he’s trying.

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Week 8 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Real Snorter

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Alan wraps up this first series’ Tolkien Tuesdays with a last look at the pre-publication challenges Tolkien faced with The Lord of the Rings. Titles, maps, spoilers, and hobbit hospitality.

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Week 8 - Mailbag Monday: Dragon Logistics

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West begins the week with a question about how Smaug might transport treasure. Claws like spears, sure… but what about opposable thumbs? Also, Monty Python. Because.

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Week 7 - Silmarillion Saturday: Aulë, You’re Grounded

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up this week of Today’s Tolkien Times by beginning a two-part look at one of his favorite tales in The Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna. Can’t keep a secret from Ilúvatar.

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Week 7 - Fandom Friday: Is There Really a Dwarf of the Year Award? There Should Be.

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcome Varking Runesong to Today’s Tolkien Times to chat about Rings of Power, Reddit, and building community everywhere we go, in another installment of Fandom Friday.

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Week 7 - Third Age Thursday: Bad Guys Always Have the Best Lines

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West embraces his inner villain with a fun reading of his second-favorite dragon in Middle-earth, as he begins a two-part passage in The Hobbit.

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Week 7 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Archaic and Derogatory — A Halfling at Heart

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

In today’s Word-nerd Wednesday, The Man of the West looks at the RPG industry’s favorite legal word for hobbit: “halfling”. Also, I’m still looking for tickets to Once Upon a Time in Proto-Germanic.

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Week 7 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Very Bad Time Indeed

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

A closer look at the conversation between Tolkien and Unwin regarding a problem Tolkien hadn’t had before: titles for all three volumes. Also, the Book of Mazarbul and maps.

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Week 7 - Mailbag Monday: The State of the Show Address

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts out the week by answering some questions about Today’s Tolkien Times, including whether he’ll ever take time off or run out of stuff. Alliteration answers all.

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Week 6 - Silmarillion Saturday: SPBMI Explained

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up this week’s Today’s Tolkien Times by reading from the Ainulindalë in The Silmarillion and explaining that weird acronym he keeps on using.

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Week 6 - Fandom Friday: Magic Man, Magic Cards

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy takes a few minutes away from TikTok to visit with The Man of the West on today’s Fandom Friday. And, with Magic: The Gathering’s LotR set dropping TODAY, who better to talk about it and show off some cards?

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Week 6 - Third Age Thursday: Namarië!

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West concludes his time in Lórien by waving farewell to the Lord and Lady, and trying desperately to read Quenya like a boss. Diving into Tolkien’s notes helps us understand Galadriel’s Lament more deeply.

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Week 6 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Eald Enta Geweorc (Yes, That’s English)

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Trolls, ogres, and Ents, oh my. The Man of the West dives into Old English and Old Norse to pull together a couple of ENT-eresting words in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday.

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Week 6 - Tolkien Tuesday: You Want HOW Much for That Book?

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West continues to tell the story of how The Lord of the Rings finally got published: today, the issue of cost, and a decision by Rayner that I suspect he eventually regretted.

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Week 6 - Mailbag Monday: Mission:Impossible — Gollum’s Escape From Moria

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today’s Tolkien Times begins its sixth week with a close look at all of Gollum’s options for escaping Moria and following the Company: windows, following the Orcs, public transport, rideshare?

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Week 5 - Silmarillion Saturday: Tuor Meets Ecthelion

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West returns to Unfinished Tales to complete the tale of Tour’s arrival to the Hidden Kingdom, as he meets Ecthelion, Lord of the Fountains. Tuor, that is — the Man of the West has never met Ecthelion.

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Week 5 - Fandom Friday: Silmarillieanne

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcome TikTok’s Silmarilleanne to Today’s Tolkien Times to chat about her lore videos, the Tolkien fandom, and cosplay — Star Trek might be mentioned.

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Week 5 - Third Age Thursday: The Gifts of Galadriel, part 2

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West reads about Galadriel’s gift to Gimli, bringing to light a bit about Fëanor to help explain its significance. He also looks at her gift to Frodo, including the fastest version of the Eärendil story ever.

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Week 5 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Fellowship of Philology

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join The Man of the West as he dives into Old English and Old Norse to explore this week’s word: fellowship. Quick question: how many times does the text refer to the Company as “the Fellowship of the Ring”?

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Week 5 - Tolkien Tuesday: Don’t Drop the Ball

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Tolkien is free to take The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion to another publisher: so what happened? How Collins dropped the ball for two years, as The Man of the West reads Carpenter’s biography to get more on the story.

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Week 5 - Mailbag Monday: Reading Order for All Things Tolkien

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today’s Tolkien Times starts the week off with The Man of the West answering a question about the best order in which to read Tolkien: chronological, published, or only as I advise?

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Week 4 - Silmarillion Saturday: Tuor and the Orfalch Echor

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 15:00:01 -0000

The Man of the West opens up Unfinished Tales for today’s Silmarillion Saturday, as we journey with Tuor through the first few gates of the Orfalch Echor!

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Week 4 - Fandom Friday: A Long-Expected Guest

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today’s Tolkien Times welcomes the composer, musician, and engineer behind the incredible project, A Long-Expected Soundscape: Jordan Rannells! For 25% off the entire 3-volume collection, use code PPP25 at checkout at https://jordanrannells.com/soundscapes or use PPP10 for 10% off one title.

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Week 4 - Third Age Thursday: The Gifts of Galadriel, part 1

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today’s Third Age Thursday finds the Company on the banks of the Great River, drinking the cup of farewell with the Lord and Lady!

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Week 4 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Tracking Down a Ranger

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Track down another word in the wilderness by using all your tracking and hunting skills — because this Word-nerd Wednesday is all about the ‘ranger’!

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Week 4 - Tolkien Tuesday: The Professor’s Ultimatum

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 15:00:01 -0000

It is 1950, and Tolkien is growing ever more frustrated with Rayner Unwin, thinking that he has another publisher ready to publish The Silmarillion on this week’s Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 4 - Mailbag Monday: When Was the Rammas Echor Really Built?

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West starts the week with Mailbag Monday and a question about the wall surrounding the Pelennor Fields: when was it built, and who was the steward who built it?

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Week 3 - Silmarillion Saturday: When the Lights Go Down in the City

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The city of Valmar, that is. The Man of the West reads about the Darkening of Valinor and the theft of the Silmarils in this week’s Silmarillion Saturday!

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Week 3 - Fandom Friday: Kaitlyn from Tea With Tolkien

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West welcomes Kaitlyn to the Common Room for some Tea — with Tolkien, of course — in this week’s installment of Fandom Friday!

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Week 3 - Third Age Thursday: A Proper Fourteen-Twenty

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:00:02 -0000

It’s time to visit the Shire again, as Sam uses Galadriel’s gift to restore his homeland. Join The Man of the West as he reads and chats about S.R. 1420 in another Third Age Thursday!

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Week 3 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Say ‘Friend’ and Enter

Wed, 31 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West digs deep into linguistic journals to explore all about Gandalf’s far-too-simple magic password in another installment of Word-nerd Wednesday!

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Week 3 - Tolkien Tuesday: No Just Grievance

Tue, 30 May 2023 15:00:01 -0000

Join the Man of the West as he continues reading Tolkien’s Letters, exploring more of the drama between the Professor and two publishers on Tolkien Tuesday.

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Week 3 - Mailbag Monday: Whatever Happened to Radagast?

Mon, 29 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West begins another week of Today’s Tolkien Times with an interesting, albeit officially unanswerable, question for Mailbag Monday as we search for word of Radagast the Brown.

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Week 2 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Creation of the Silmarils

Sat, 27 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West concludes another week of Today's Tolkien Times by going back to the creation of the Silmarils on Silmarillion Saturday!

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Week 2 - Fandom Friday: Jeremy Edmonds from Tolkien Collector's Guide

Fri, 26 May 2023 15:00:01 -0000

Welcome another guest to Today's Tolkien Times on Fandom Friday as The Man of the West is joined by Jeremy Edmonds from Tolkien Collector's Guide.

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Week 2 - Third Age Thursday: Isildur's Redemption

Thu, 25 May 2023 15:00:01 -0000

Join The Man of the West for another Third Age Thursday, as he goes back to the very beginning of the Third Age to explore Isildur's redemption.

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Week 2 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Sauron and Saruman

Wed, 24 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join the Man of the West for another Word-nerd Wednesday, complete with bonus! That's right, it's a double Word-nerd Wednesday as we dive into the names of two of Middle-earth's bad guys: Sauron and Saruman.

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Week 2 - Tolkien Tuesday: More Publishing Drama

Tue, 23 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The drama between Tolkien, Sir Stanley Unwin, and Milton Waldman continues as The Man of the West reads and discusses Tolkien's Letters.

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Week 2 - Mailbag Monday: Is Dior mortal or immortal?

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Welcome back to Today's Tolkien Times! The Man of the West begins the week with Mailbag Monday and a question regarding Dior, the son of Beren and Lúthien, and a bonus question about Today's Tolkien Times!

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Week 1 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Making of the Trees

Sat, 20 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The Man of the West wraps up the TTT's inaugural week by going back to the making of the Trees on our first Silmarillion Saturday!

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Week 1 - Fandom Friday: Matt from The Nerd of the Rings

Fri, 19 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Today's Tolkien Times continues its first week, with the debut of the Fandom Friday segment: today, with Matt from The Nerd of the Rings!

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Week 1 - Third Age Thursday: The Beauty of the Shire

Thu, 18 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The inaugural week of the TTT moves on into the Third Age, as the Man of the West reads and chats about some of the travels of Frodo, Sam, and Pippin across the Shire.

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Week 1 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Dwarves

Wed, 17 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Join the Man of the West for the debut of Word-nerd Wednesdays, this time going all the way back to the PPP's first Philology Faire to learn more about Tolkien's plural for dwarf: dwarves.

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Week 1 - Tolkien Tuesday: Not Letter #131

Tue, 16 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

The first week of the TTT continues as The Man of the West dives into Tolkien's Letters volume to learn more about Tolkien's efforts to get The Silmarillion published.

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Week 1 - Mailbag Monday: Who Put the Ring On a New Chain?

Mon, 15 May 2023 15:00:02 -0000

Welcome to the first week of Today's Tolkien Times! The Man of the West starts off the TTT's inaugural week with Mailbag Monday and a question about the One Ring... and the Two Chains.

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Trailer and Launch Announcement!

Mon, 08 May 2023 22:40:24 -0000

Join Alan, The Man of the West from The Prancing Pony Podcast, as he introduces his new daily project: Today's Tolkien Times.

Listeners get answers on Mailbag Mondays
Discover more about the Professor on Tolkien Tuesdays
Indulge your inner philologist on Word-nerd Wednesdays
Learn more about the familiar tales of Middle-earth on Third Age Thursdays
Be inspired to be a part of the Tolkien community on Fandom Fridays
Dive deep into Middle-earth history on Silmarillion Saturdays

Today's Tolkien Times will launch on Monday, May 15, so be sure to subscribe and follow @tolkientimes on YouTube, IG, TikTok, and Twitter, and Today's Tolkien Times on Facebook.

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