Today's Tolkien Times

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

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

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 schola...

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

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

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

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

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

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 Tolki...

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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 audiob...

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

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

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

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