Before the Fellowship: Fans Read and React to the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien Every Week

Thingol gives Beleg leave to go and protect Túrin in the wilderness. Beleg asks for a sword, and Thingol gives him Anglachel, a powerful sword made from iron that fell from heaven by Eöl, father of Maeglin. Melian gives Beleg lembas to aid him. Meanwhile, Túrin and his band of outlaws capture a Dwarf named Mîm and demand that he take them to Amon Rûdh. 01:19 Greg reads pages 201-205 from the Silma...

After the Easterlings come to Hithlum, Morwen sends her son Túrin to Doriath to seek refuge. After three years in the wilderness, he returns, and Mablung witnesses his involvement in the death of a Nandor. Túrin flees and turns to a life of lawlessness, but Beleg searches for him. 01:40 Dan reads pages 198-201 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 14:38 Recap 16:07 Discussion 20:00 Our nonsense ends...

The sons of Fëanor are broken, and now dwell in the foothills of Ered Lindon. The Easterling men are sent to Hithlum where they pillage the remaining people of Hador, who are eventually forced into labor in the north. Morgoth sends forces to Brithombar and Eglarest near the sea and slays the greater part of Círdan’s people. Círdan and Gil-Galad flee to the mouths of Sirion, and Turgon asks Círdan...

The enraged Eldar furiously pursue Morgoth’s forces to the very gates of Angband. Morgoth unleashes his full strength on them. Then Ulfang carries out his treacherous plan and attacks Maedhhros from the rear. His forces are scattered and the sons of Fëanor retreat. Azaghâl, Lord of Belegost, and the Dwarves hold back Glaurung heroically. Azaghâl is defeated but he badly wounds the dragon, and the...

Beren and Lúthien return. Lúthien heals the winter of Thingol. Melian cannot bear to look upon Lúthien, knowing that it is now their fate to be separated by death. Beren and Lúthien travel into Ossiriand and bear a son, Dior Aranel, the heir to Thingol. Maedhros attempts to rally the Eldar against Morgoth, but mistrust keeps them divided. The sons of Fëanor demand Thingol return the Silmaril that...

Beren and Luthien return. Carcharoth is still wreaking havoc, and Beren and Thingol set off to hunt him. 02:14 Cameron reads pages 184-187 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 14:35 Recap 15:55 Discussion "Even in that dark hour Beren and Luthien returned, hastening from the west, and the news of their coming went before them like a sound of music borne by the wind into dark houses where men si...

Beren and Lúthien try to enter the throne room of Morgoth. But it is guarded by Carcharoth, a terrible werewolf raised by Morgoth himself. Luthien puts him to sleep and they step into the darkness. 02:06 Greg reads pages 179-184 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 19:12 Recap 20:50 Discussion "Then terror fell upon Beren and Luthien, and they fled, heedless and without disguise, desiring only...

One by one, Sauron executes the captives. When he sends a wolf to kill Beren, Felagund kills it with his bare hands but is mortally wounded. Luthien and Huan come to Beren’s aid. Sauron takes the form of a werewolf and battles Huan. Huan and Luthien gain the upperhand, and spare Sauron on the condition that he leave Tol Sirion. He flees to Taur-nu-Fuin. Beren decides to again take up his quest to...

Beren journeys into Nargothrond and tells Felagund his story. Felagund sees that the Oath of Fëanor is again at work. And the Doom of Mandos survives. Felagund decides to depart with Beren to attempt to steal back the Silmarils. The two of them and several trusted companions disguise themselves as orcs and come to Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Sauron’s outpost. He battles Felagund in song, and overcomes him, t...

The twelve outlaws in Dorthonion fight for survival. Sauron deceives Gorlim, and convinces him to betray his companions. Beren wanders in the wilderness for four years, eventually making his way through the Girdle of Melian into Doriath. He encounters Melian’s daughter, Lúthien. 01:19 Greg reads pages 162-167 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 21:55 Recap 22:51 Discussion with special guest Andy N...

Twelve men make a final stand against the armies of Morgoth in Dorthonion: Barahir, his son Beren, and ten others. Sauron takes Tol Sirion and transforms it into an outpost for Morgoth. Morgoth captures many men and elves and makes them his thralls; but he also releases many back into Beleriand to sew treachery. 01:04 Dan reads pages 154-161 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 24:57 Recap 26:11 Dis...

Fingolfin, king of the Noldor, urges the people of Beleriand to unite in battle against Morgoth, but few heed his call. Morgoth launches an all-out assault, sending rivers of fire through the northern lands and massive armies of dragons, Balrogs, and orcs, thus beginning the fourth great battle, Dagor Bragollach, “the Battle of Sudden Flame”. Fingolfin, seeing that Dorthonion is lost, flies to the...

Morgoth attacks the Haladin people. Haldad is slain, but his daughter Haleth leads the Haladin against the orcs. Three Houses of men emerge: the people of Hador Lórindol who develop the common tongue of Númenor; the Haladin; and the people of Bëor. The men grow strong and add their strength to that of the Elves. But they become intertwined with the Doom of the Noldor. Three friends read and react...

Finrod Felagund meets the first men. He wins them with his beautiful music and his wisdom, and the men take him for their lord. Even to Bëor, chieftain of the men, man’s history is opaque. Men too have been sundered, and there exist various groups with distinct languages. The Green Elves do not welcome men, and Thingol forbids them from entering Doriath. Men spread throughout Beleriand, dwelling a...

Greg, Dan, and Cameron discuss the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (pages 125-139). 00:12 Chapter 15 and 16 Recap 03:20 Discussion 43:40 NEW Format "Ulmo came to him once again, and spoke with him. And he said: 'Now thou shalt go at last to Gondolin, Turgon; and I will maintain my power in the Vale of Sirion, and in all the waters therein, so tha...

Aredhel becomes weary of Gondolin and leaves. She is ensnared by Eöl, a Teleri who dwells in darkness and despises the Noldor. Eöl takes her as his wife, and they have a son, Maeglin. Mother and Son flee to Gondolin but are pursued by Eöl who is taken by guards before Turgon. Turgon gives him a fateful choice: Stay forever, or die. Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've neve...

Ulmo helps Turgon build the hidden city of Gondolin. Ulmo promises to protect Gondolin but urges Turgon to remember that the curse of the Noldor stands, and that one would come to warn them of near peril. In Doriath, Galadriel recounts to Melian some of the hidden past of the Noldor, but withholds information about the Oath of Fëanor, the kinslaying, and the burning of the ships at Losgar. But the...

Greg, Dan, and Cameron discuss the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (pages 111-124). "Beneath Ered Engrin he made a great tunnel, which issued south of the mountains; and there he made a mighty gate. But above this gate, and behind it even to the mountains, he piled the thunderous towers of Thangorodrim, that were made of the ash and slag of his subte...

Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. Cameron reads the recap of the first 124 pages of the Silmarillion, from supersummary.com Send feedback to beforethefellowship@gmail.com Follow us as we follow Tolkien: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Rings of Power comes to Amazon, but nothing compares to the real s...

Morgoth controls the north of Middle-Earth from his fortress Angband, the Hells of Iron. But the Noldor settle in lands and begin gathering strength. Get ready for geography! THE MAP: http://arda-maps.org/ages/first/ Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. 02:07 Greg reads pages 111-117 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 21:45...

Thingol claims kingship over all of Beleriand but the sons of Fëanor dismiss it. Ulmo appears to Turgon and Finrod in dreams and urges them to prepare against assault from Morgoth. Soon a monster emerges. Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. 00:34 Cameron reads pages 111-117 from the Silmarillion, 2nd Edition 21:06 Recap &q...

Want longer readings? Want longer discussions? Now you can choose! We are trying a new format with three longer reading episodes culminating in a longer discussion episode. Let us know what you think! Send feedback to beforethefellowship@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WATCH this Episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us as we follow Tolkien: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Rings of Power comes to Amazon, but...

Fingon hears that his old friend Maedhros is captured, he goes alone to rescue him. He reaches the base of the precipice from which Maedhros hangs, and Maedhros begs him to kill him with an arrow. Fingon prays to Manwë to guide his arrow to put Maedhros out of his misery... Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. 00:58 Greg re...

Morgoth sends his armies to attack the Noldor who succeed in driving back the attacking orcs. Fëanor pursues the retreating forces, hoping to find Morgoth himself. As he presses forward, he is surrounded by Morgoth’s forces, and is attacked by Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs. Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never heard — the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. 00:42 Dan read...

At the first rising of the Sun, the Mankind, the Second Children of Ilúvatar awake in the far east. Their main distinction from the Elves is that they suffer illness and die in old age, they are aloof from the Valar, and they prefer the light of the Sun to starlight. Men quickly spread across Middle-Earth and befriend the Elves. Three friends read and react to the greatest story you've never h...