The Tolkien Professor

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.05 on Bilbo's role in the escape of the Dwarves from the Mirkwood Elves.

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.04 dealing with the meeting of Thorin and the dwarves with the elves of Mirkwood.

The thirty-fourth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, Part 1

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert wander around Dol Guldur and consider how Azog and his little boy will take part in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert talk Dale politics and consider how the enigmatic Bard will be portrayed in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaugh

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.03 dealing with the elves of Mirkwood and their defences against the evil encroaching on their land.

Prof Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert enter the Hall of the Elven King to consider how events will unfold there in "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug."

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.02 dealing with the fate of Thrain, Thorin's father.

The thirty-third session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 3

The thirty-second session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 2

At long last, the much anticipated, recording-breaking 3-hour RITD Christmas Special! The trio fully debriefs The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the results of our RITD game. Featuring bizarre background noises, sometimes terrible audio quality, and a special guest (in spirit, at least). Merry Christmas...three months late!

Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz review reader's comments and analyst opinions on Riddle 2.01 dealing with Beorn's relationship to the goblins.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert tap into their spidey senses to consider Mirkwood's arachnids in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaugh.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert stroke imaginary beards over how Mirkwood will be portrayed in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and how the Elves will relate to the forest.

The thirty-first session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering the Allkalabeth, Part 1

The thirtieth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, covering Chapter 24 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath, Part 2"

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert wonder what happened to Thrain and what we will learn about him in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert consider Beorn, his place in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and his possilbe role in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: Desoloation of Smaug.

Prof Cory Olsen offers his thoughts on Peter Jackson's first Hobbit film and its adaptation from J.R.R. Tolkien's book. Major themes and minor questions are all considered, and offer the listener an opportunity to understand Jackson's work at a deeper level.

Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert review a year's worth of riddles for Movie 1.

Prof Cory Olsen and Dave Kale respond to the listeners by discussing the winning topic: The White Council. Which inevitably leads to talk of Saruman.

Conclusion - Recorded 05/04/11.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 24 - Epilogue Recorded 05/02/11.

In this musical version of Riddles in the Dark, Prof Cory Olsen, Dave Kale, and Trish Lambert get down and get funky talking about the songs and poems in The Hobbit: book, animated feature, and upcoming film.

Garth Nix, "Sabriel", Chapter 18 - 23 Recorded 04/29/11.