Today's Tolkien Times

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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%20Fr...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices