The Tolkien Road

In this chapter, we find rumors of Sauron beginning to unveil his plot. In fact, it’s even debatable what Sauron’s “plot” was from the beginning! Even so, Gil-galad and Elrond refuse to treat with him, though the Elven-smiths of Eregion are won over. All the while, the Númenoreans begin to make permanent havens in Middle-earth (and that's a bad thing). Join us as we discuss! WATCH THE VIDEO » http...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter 1075 - TAR-ANCALIMË BECOMES THE FIRST RULING QUEEN OF NÚMENOR. Having covered the life and significance of one of Númenor’s most important rulers, Tar-Aldarion, we now turn to a rather brief description of the reign of his daughter: Tar-Ancalimë, the first Ruling Queen of Númenor. WATCH THE VIDEO » h...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter c1000 SAURON CHOOSES MORDER. After our deep dive in to the story of Númenor’s pivotal 6th king, Tar-Aldarion, we return now to Sauron, and take a look at the founding of Mordor and the building of Barad-dûr. WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Lkjvn-3A1SE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tol...

This chapter concludes the era of Aldarion, one of the most important kings in the history of Númenor. As we learned in the last episode, his father, Tar-Meneldur, chose to turn the rule of Númenor over to Aldarion earlier than was normal, due to a letter from the Elven High-King Gil-galad. asking for Númenor’s aid amidst the increasingly dire situation in Middle-earth. In this chapter, we’ll expl...

This chapter continues the story of Aldarion, destined to be Númenor’s 6th King. While it begins with the wedding, long-expected, of Aldarion and Erendis, it concludes with many events unexpected, including word from Gil-galad to the King of Númenor regarding “ a new shadow arising in the East”. This is a long chapter dense with nuance and character development, perhaps the richest glimpse we get...

Over the next 3 episodes in our Fall of Númenor series, we’ll return to the story of Aldarion, whom we met 2 episodes ago. Aldarion is the son of Tar-Meneldur and the expectant heir to Númenor's throne. But as we will learn, he is a man torn between a deep longing for the sea and his destiny as Númenor’s king. We have in fact covered this story before, in great detail, in episodes 183, 185, 186, a...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring the year SA750, when Eregion was founded by the Noldor. 750 years into the Second Age, things are relatively peaceful. Númenor’s benevolent influence is extending into the lands once ruled by Morgoth’s minions, and there is little news of war or misery. However, with the shadow of Morgoth now a fading memory, a...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring The Voyages of Aldarion, the grandson of Vëantur, and future King of Númenor. While we don’t have any narratives from the Second Age on the scale of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or even some of the greater legends of The Silmarillion, we do have the better part of one story concerning the people of Númenor: th...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by examining Númenor’s return to Middle-earth in the year 600 of the Second Age. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/VumQLI07YW4 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON » SUPERFANS! TWITTER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by considering the curious case of Silmariën, the daughter of Elendil (but not the sister of Isildur). Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/UWgGk5hz3xs EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON » SUPERFANS! TWITT...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by examining the return of Sauron around the year 500 of the Second Age. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/JwxMA3AICiQ EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON » SUPERFANS! TWITTER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKS &a...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by considering the state of Dwarf-dom at the beginning of the Second Age, the founding of Moria / Khazad-dûm, and well as the death of Númenor’s first king. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/obyO3Q40xqQ EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG FOLLOW &...

Happy Easter everyone! (we're Catholic, and so was Tolkien, so it's still Easter...) In this episode, we read Samwise's astonished awakening in The Field of Cormallen after the destruction of the One Ring, and discuss how it relates to the overwhelming joy of Easter. “The Resurrection was the greatest ‘eucatastrophe’ possible in the greatest Fairy Story – and produces that essential emotion: Chris...

What was it like to be an every day Númenorean? How did it feel to be one of that blessed number who were able to enjoy a much longer lifespan in an island paradise? While these details may not seem of particular importance in advancing the story of Númenor’s downfall, they do help us to better grasp the significance of being Númenorean, and to juxtapose life in Land of Gift with our everyday live...

In this episode, we’ll be continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor as we explore the section title “The Natural Life of Númenor.” In this section, we’ll learn about the beasts, birds, plants, and other natural phenomena of Númenor, according to Tolkien! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/r1CHGU4gKvg EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Er...

Hey there, fellow travelers! I recently joined the Tolkien podcast Window On The West , from the guys at TheOneRing.com , for a discussion of what makes Tolkien so great and the future of Middle-earth on screen! This was a fun conversation, and I'm providing a sample for you here, but you should really head on over to TheOneRing.com to listen to the whole thing, and subscribe to their podcast! To...

How big was Númenor? What was it like? Did it have any cities? In the latest episode, we're discussing the geography of Númenor. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/MXVNVJvm-Fw EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Eru27 FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON » SUPERFANS! TWITTER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKS & MATHOMS: take 10% OFF...

Hey there fellow travellers! I recently joined fellow Tolkien enthusiast Andrew Snyder on his Mythic Mind podcast for a discussion of On Fairy-stories and All Things Tolkien. For those of you who don't know, Andrew is doing great work on the Mythic Mind and is currently spending some time with The Tales from the Perilous Realm. I highly recommend you check it out. Here's a sample of our conversati...

Númenor becomes a reality in year 32 of the Second Age. In this section, we’ll learn about the people who became Númenoreans, the various figures that aided them in establishing Númenor, and how they came to Númenor in the first place. Join us! WATCH » https://youtu.be/HyOY1QEbtjU EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Eru27 FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE...

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the “Foundation of the Grey Havens and of Lindon” in Year 1 of the Second Age. Topics include the overthrow of Morgoth, Thranduil (father of Legolas), Gil-galad, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and Elros. Join us! WATCH » https://youtu.be/ihNUr7WQokY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Eru27 FOLLOW & SUPPORT TH...

New Line / Warner Brothers have announced that they are forging ahead with plans to create new films based on Lord of the Rings and the Middle-earth legendarium! What does this all mean? Let's talk about it! https://deadline.com/2023/02/lord-of-the-rings-the-hobbit-movies-new-line-warner-bros-1235268633/ WATCH » https://youtu.be/orNIHH4oYks EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John...

This is the third episode in my series exploring The Fall of Númenor, the recently published collection of Second Age writings, edited by Brian Sibley. “Before The Second Age” is, in a way, the book’s second introduction. Here, Sibley goes into the Middle-earth legendarium’s internal history, putting to heavy use what is probably Tolkien’s most famous letter, The Waldman Letter, in which Tolkien g...

Leaf By Niggle, 2023! Dr. Chris Hackett (https://HackettWrites.com) joins us for what has become an annual tradition on The Tolkien Road. While we’ve covered Leaf By Niggle several times in the past, and frequently refer to it, it’s an incredible gem, hidden behind the mountainous wonder that is the Middle-earth legendarium. For me, it’s a story that never ceases to fill me with wonder and joy, an...

This is the second episode in my series exploring The Fall of Númenor, the recently published collection of Second Age writings, edited by Brian Sibley. Sibley’s introduction is titled “The Saga of a Dark Age”. Tolkien himself termed the Second Age a “Dark Age” in an important letter. Why did he do so? Watch and learn! WATCH » https://youtu.be/FTP5KNJG9xI EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with...

I'm beginning a journey through The Fall of Númenor, the recently published compilation of Tolkien's Second Age and Númenorean writings! Join me! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS » Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien, John R, Jacob Lockham, John H, Eru27 WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Xz1MWsk7Epc FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON » SUPERFANS! TWITTER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKS & MATHOMS: take 10% O...