One of the most daunting things about reading The Silmarillion is keeping all of the names straight. I love this, so I want to make it more accessible for the general reader with brief character profiles. Name: Melkor (more commonly known as Morgoth) Immediate Family: Brother (“in the thought of Eru Ilúvatar”): Manwë Home: Angband Claim to fame: He was the first…
Month: January 2015

My Thoughts on The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (and a Prediction)
The movie on virtually every Tolkien fan’s mind these days is The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. I’ve avoided reviews from anyone else in an attempt to keep my own opinions clear, so I actually don’t know what the fandom as a whole thinks of the film. I know the general public generally doesn’t like it, but what else is…

Books Tolkien Read: “The Golden Key” By George MacDonald
In honor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 123rd birthday, I’m going to start a new series. Tolkien, of course, was a voracious reader. I want to experience the same books Tolkien read–whether he loved them or not. This first one isn’t a novel, but rather a short story. The Story “The Golden Key” is a fairy tale about a boy who wants…

Back on the Horse
After a 3-month, unplanned hiatus, I’m back! I can only beg work as my excuse. For a while I was working 50-60 hours a week. Then there was all of the physical, mental, and relational fallout to deal with once my hours went back to something more manageable. But I’m back now and I hope to keep up with things.…