Today's Tolkien Times

Join The Man of the West as we look at the friendship of Gimli and Éomer: from the opening threat to the playful parting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ar-Pharazôn wins a war without a battle and foolishly carries the prize home — join The Man of the West for the Downfall of Númenor and the end of the Second Age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for the last words of series 17, including dead man walking, and what a four-year-old in Númenor might call her father. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we read a letter Tolkien began in 1964, finished in 1968, and still never sent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West to find out what happens to Númenor — and Middle-earth — if Aldarion just did what he said he’d do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mandos passes sentence on the Noldor, and Fëanor doubles down as The Man of the West nears the end of The Flight of the Noldor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as a promise made at Dunharrow is kept on the Pelennor, and Aragorn hands Éomer back his sister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Númenor gets a mountain, a Ban, and a slowly-growing shadow as The Man of the West continues a look at Appendix A from The Lord of the Rings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we look at a courtroom in the Ring of Doom, a royal walking stick, a haven, and yet another fence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he looks at a tree Tolkien can’t stop drawing, a car, the strangeness of punting, and a very boring textbook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for a what-if that Merry & Pippin genuinely don’t want to think about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olwë tells Fëanor that the swan-ships are his people’s Silmarils, and Fëanor takes them anyway — join The Man of the West for the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two swords finally drawn together (pencils down!) at the Hornburg: join The Man of the West for part two of Aragorn and Éomer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Appendix A opens with the only Silmarillion anybody had for 22 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for some people names, including one whose name just means they turned up a bit late to the party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for two letters on the death of C. S. Lewis: a list of mourners written for a daughter, and a grievance struck through for a son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two cousins, one clearing and no words between them — join The Man of the West for the non-existent family reunion, plus a… slight correction from last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Fëanor’s facepalm moment arrives: we’re going to need boats! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new pairing opens with 100 spears, one drawn sword, and a man betting his life on a stranger he’d just tried to arrest — join The Man of the West for Aragorn and Éomer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isengard falls without a siege, and Gondor hands the keys to the first person who volunteers: join The Man of the West as the tower is empty no longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for Hall Week: one Old English word that means both ‘fence’ and ‘king,’ and another that connects Théoden’s mead to your amethyst ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partially describing The Man of the West, but Tolkien couldn’t have known that. Join Alan as letter 250 closes with a confession, a rugby injury, and a grandfather who cannot fathom why anyone finds Anglo-Saxon difficult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of our patrons asks, “What if Gandalf had survived the bridge?” Join The Man of the West for the answer, plus his first — and last — attempt at fanfic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven swords, one impossible promise, and a besotted people following Fëanor: join The Man of the West for the Oath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Aragorn and Gandalf finish their long friendship without ever saying farewell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Calenardhon is emptied by 400 years of peace before it changes hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for Fortress Week, including a tower whose name means one thing in Elvish and something else entirely in Rohirric — but manages to be right both times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Man of the West hands the microphone to the Professor for the heart of letter 250 — sagging faith, bad priests, and a father’s advice to go find the worst mass in town. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone in Doriath ignores the wisest person in the room — except The Man of the West, of course! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fëanor at the gym? No, just an announcement of the obvious. Join The Man of the West as Fëanor reminds us of his status as Morgoth’s mini-me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for part two of Aragorn and Gandalf as the wizard bows to the ranger, and the ranger doesn’t blink. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for the second appendix to the Fords of Isen, as we imagine a family reunion of Bree-folk, Dunlendings, and the Dead Men of Dunharrow. Awkward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for Sword Week: the storied blades of Aragorn, Gandalf, Théoden, and Éomer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True of The Man of the West; also true of Tolkien and his son, Michael. Join The Man of the West for the first of three weeks on Letter 250. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wisest voice in Doriath speaks and Thingol answers with a shrug. Join The Man of the West as we look at what happens when nobody listens to Melian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Morgoth and Ungoliant’s terrible, no-good, very-bad first date comes to a screaming end, and Balrogs come to save the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he continues Friendship Fridays with a new pairing: Aragorn and Gandalf. Today’s episode: when not to say ‘I told you so’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for Erkenbrand’s inherited authority, Éomer’s promotion that isn’t one, and the invisible career of Grimbold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for real Anglo-Saxon governance, a forest-word that forgot its own meaning, and a Philology Faire rerun on why Tolkien chose French over ‘Horse-thain.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True for The Man of the West most of the time; only true for the Professor when his hand is giving out. A look at three letters reveals an exhausting fortnight for Tolkien. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Middle-earth Map Monday hangs up its cartography for a new series of speculations: Might-Have-Been Monday. First up: what if Barliman Butterbur had delivered Gandalf’s letter on time? Join The Man of the West down the peaceful road to Rivendell — bad news only for Éowyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Possibly the worst first date in the history of Arda. Join The Man of the West as Fëanor names the Black Foe and Morgoth discovers what Ungoliant charges for dinner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two who didn’t even speak until Moria end up sharing a ship across the Sea. Join The Man of the West for the last Friendship Friday of the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No battle today — just the paperwork behind one. Join The Man of the West for the Marshals of the Mark: who really ran Rohan while the King faded, and a bit of horse-lending that turns up again tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It only took seven hundred episodes to circle back to the Ents. Join The Man of the West for the Elvish side of their names that we never did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for the back half of Letter 247, as we learn where the Ents came from: both on the page and from Tolkien’s own pen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turns out the express lane to Mount Doom was paved by the Enemy himself. Join The Man of the West for our last Map Monday in Mordor, as the road ends at the Sammath Naur — and the Dark Tower comes crashing down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as the Valar ask Fëanor to break the Silmarils and heal the Trees — and Fëanor does precisely what you’d imagine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

…and a Dwarf dare not! Join The Man of the West on the Paths of the Dead, and Legolas has to tell Gimli’s story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Grimbold breaks out of the trap at the Fords, and we finally learn what really kept his friend away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do moose have in common with the Nazgûl? Join The Man of the West for six of Mordor’s darkest names — and the Gaelic word for ‘ring’ that Tolkien swore he never borrowed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for the first half of Letter 247, where Tolkien frets that some magic dies the moment you visit it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not a lottery ticket The Man of the West would buy. Join him as Frodo and Sam take the one road left to them, and end up conscripted into Sauron’s army. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Melkor and Ungoliant reach the Trees — and Valinor, which was sung into being, discovers silence alongside darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Gimli describes the caverns of Helm’s Deep with great detail and glorious prose, like… well, like Tolkien. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midnight, a river of fire, and no sign of Elfhelm. Join The Man of the West as Grimbold makes his stand at the Fords of Isen — and faces a choice between glory and purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for one Old English root, four Rohirric names, and a word that has been galloping through the language since the Eurasian steppe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ringwraiths would have said “my lord”, but not to The Man of the West. We close out letter 246 today — including some hard truths about Gandalf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Frodo and Sam crest the Morgai — and discover the plain of Gorgoroth is crawling with orcs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Melkor and Ungoliant come down from Hyarmentir, and Valinor holds a party. Moral of the story: hire private security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Legolas and Gimli become two-thirds of the Three Hunters — from the breaking of the Fellowship, across Rohan, and into Helm's Deep, where two friends find the same word for what the other gives them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as two loyal commanders disagree about how to fight a battle Tolkien has already told us was lost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for six words drawn from the cry that broke the Watchers — and from an older cry, in the dark of Shelob's lair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s certainly not what Alan’s team members call him. Join The Man of the West as we continue letter 246 and visit the moment that Tolkien calls perhaps the most tragic in the entire Tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

But not to goblin-town; not yet. Join The Man of the West as Sam finds the way up to Frodo, and the two escape the Tower of Cirith Ungol — into The Land of Shadow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we go back to where the whole tragedy begins — Melkor slips south to the lightless land of Avathar, and strikes a bargain with a dark hunger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Fëanor didn’t get after begging three times, a Dwarf gets at first asking. Join The Man of the West as Gimli leaves Lothlórien with three golden hairs and an unexpected wound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two wolfriders, a two-mile charge, and a horn in the dark. Join The Man of the West as Elfhelm reaches the Fords of Isen, and the Prince of the Mark speaks his last words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for a black fence, a shadow that argued with itself, a mountain that watched the wrong way — and the Latin word Tolkien used to describe Gandalf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we continue letter 246, where Tolkien turns from Frodo’s blame to Frodo’s wounds —  and the question Gandalf wouldn’t answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West (who climbs forward, if at all) as we follow Sam in, and up, the Tower of Cirith Ungol on his quest to find Frodo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as the last two sons of Fëanor wish they’d ordered oven mitts, and the Quenta Silmarillion comes to its end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two peoples, three Ages of grievance, and one wizard who refuses to give judgment. Join The Man of the West as we begin our look at An Unexpected Friendship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Saruman’s trap closes around Théodred at the Fords of Isen — and Grimbold proves his worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That would be a very different book, Mr. Carroll. Join The Man of the West for a look at a river and a lake, six names, and a 1971 BBC interview with Tolkien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we begin a four-episode read-through of letter 246 — in which Tolkien defends Frodo, demolishes simple-minded heroism, and gives us the entire argument in three words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we approach the Tower of Cirith Ungol with Sam — from leaving Frodo’s body behind, to the Two Watchers at the gate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as the two surviving sons of Fëanor argue the theology of an oath sworn to Ilúvatar, with one simply asking: can we just do a little less evil? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four episodes, two cousins, and one Man with a regrettable attitude. Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our time with Merry and Pippin, from the road home to their beds set beside the great king. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we shift gears on Third Age Thursday and being a series-long read through of The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales: and learn just how close Saruman came to winning the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West for a pair of Sindarin words from Shelob’s Lair, and three Old English words from the open horse-lands of Rohan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tolkien’s writing, not mine — though my writing is rarely legible. Join The Man of the West as Tolkien, developing his ambidexterity, answers a reader's questions about runes and the gift of death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, not the latest hotel review from The Man of the West. Join us as we open Series 16 in the dark, fragrant comfort of Shelob’s Lair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West — to whom this episode’s title does not refer… usually — as we read the climax of the War of Wrath, and Morgoth finally gets what’s coming to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, not me — I’m fine; it’s Pippin you should worry about. Join The Man of the West as we examine Merry & Pippin’s friendship during their time apart, and enjoy their warm reunion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look, I’m trying to keep things exciting, but… oh, that wasn’t about the show. Join The Man of the West as we conclude our study of the Elves of Rivendell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as this week’s linguistic deep dive includes a look at Estel, and a reminder of the Old English inspiration behind the beginning of the legendarium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he discovers Petty Fencing isn’t what you build when you just want to get even with your neighbor, and Tolkien gives a reader a fierce defense of Faramir, Éowyn, and their love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure, Gollum, sure. Join The Man of the West as we continue our journey with Frodo and Sam, climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Are you sure there isn’t an elevator somewhere, Gollum? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clearly not The Man of the West, today’s title describes the sight of Eärendil’s ship, Vingilot, as it sails into the heavens — freeing the Elves from despair, while filling Morgoth with doubt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Merry acknowledges he has some work to do to catch up to Pippin as we continue our (now) four-episode look at their friendship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we begin a two-part look at the Elves of Rivendell: this time featuring the tra-la-lally Elves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Break out your Quenya and Sindarin dictionaries as The Man of the West does his usual mid-week deep dive into the names of some familiar places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As though Tolkien ever took them too seriously to begin with. Join The Man of the West as he looks at two letters closing out 1962, including how a neighbor literally influenced the shape of Tolkien’s world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he continues his anti-bucket list of places to visit in Middle-earth with a trip through history to view the city known both as Minas Ithil and Minas Morgul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as Eärendil wanders the lonely streets of Tirion, and Eönwë has a sense of dramatic timing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at another friendship in the legendarium: everyone’s favorite troublemakers, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Galadriel takes the high road when faced with a no-win scenario, as The Man of the West completes a three-episode look at the Elves of Lórien. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he finds a reason to read a line from Galadriel’s Lament because… well, see above. Also: which of these words is not like the others? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices