Reading Tolkien
26 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago -This show examines Tolkien's work from a variety of literary perspectives. We examine Tolkien's lesser known works, his well known novels and his thematic and philosophical preoccupations and sentiments. Please join us!
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Episodes
The Silmarillion Sessions: Chapter 11 - Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
July 02, 2023 06:53 - 9 minutes - 6.99 MBIn this minisode I discuss the myth of the Sun and the Moon in The Silmarillion. I jump right into my thoughts so it is recommended that you have read the chapter recently.
The Silmarillion Sessions: Chapter 10 - Of the Sindar
May 27, 2023 05:49 - 16 minutes - 6.44 MBIn this episode I discuss the Sindar in Chapter 10 of The Silmarillion, and offer brief thoughts on my recent re-read of The Lord of the Rings.
Silmarillion Sessions: Chapter 7, 8 & 9
January 29, 2023 04:54 - 1 hour - 25.9 MBWe discuss Fëanor (somewhat drunkenly!) in this new podcast, our first for 2023! For those who think Fëanor 'did nothing wrong' this is the podcast for you! We defend the great Elf's actions and discuss the bias of The Silmarillion narrator at this part of the story. But did Tolkien intend us to read his 'Bible' in this way! For answers to these and other questions please join us! Find Reading Tolkien on twitter: @PodReading, and on Substack.
The Rings of Power discussion: Episodes 1 & 2
September 08, 2022 05:57 - 35 minutes - 33.6 MBSridhar and Ben discuss the first two episodes of the new Amazon series, The Rings of Power.
JRR Tolkien, George RR Martin, and writing morally dubious characters
May 08, 2022 06:41 - 2 hours - 49.7 MBIn this episode Sridhar and I discuss the upcoming Amazon show, Rings of Power, and the prequel to Game of Thrones - House of the Dragon. The discussion turns to the variant means by which Tolkien and Martin approach morally dubious characters like Gollum, or the Lannisters. Both of us are unrepentent in our bias to Tolkien, and I frequently argue that much of what is said to constitute Martin’ s genius is done better elsewhere, and frequently with much greater nuance. So, if you’re a Martin...
Silmarillion Sessions 2: Chapters 1-4
March 13, 2022 01:01 - 1 hour - 24.9 MBJoin Ben and Sridhar as they discuss Chapters 1-4 of the Quenta Silmarillion. They touch on the nature of the Valar, the status of The Silmarillion as a text within the world of The Lord of the Rings, the various theodicies presented in the text, and the efficacy of mythological vs. theological approaches to the text.
Interview: Brian Rosebury
March 06, 2022 04:25 - 46 minutes - 21.4 MBJoin Professor Brian Rosebury (Tolkien: A Cultural Phenomenon) and myself as we discuss Tolkien and tragedy, morality and moral judgement. Brian's details can be found here: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/academics/dr-brian-rosebury
The Nature of Middle-earth with Daniel Stride
January 10, 2022 07:26 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBJoin us for a new episode in which we review the Nature of Middle-earth with Daniel Stride. Daniel's blog may be found at https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/
Silmarillion Sessions 1
December 13, 2021 04:13 - 1 hour - 35.8 MBJoin us for the inaugural episode of the Silmarillion Sessions. We begin with the myth of Creation, the Ainulindalë. We touch on the importance of beauty and goodness, and ask whether these two concepts can be equated in the story, and we consider the role that Plato’s ideas about the Forms might play in comprehending the nature of Tolkien’s creation myth. We also discuss the Waldman letter. Please join us. The Silmarillion Sessions are suitable for veteran readers, or those who wish to ge...
Interview: Tom Emanuel
September 05, 2021 04:26 - 1 hour - 35.3 MBHere I discuss Tolkien with @RealTomEmanuel, a minister and Tolkien Scholar. We touch on recent trends in the reception of Tolkien, Tolkien studies, and beauty of The Lord of the Rings. Please join us for a great discussion!
Of the Rings of Power
August 04, 2021 11:05 - 1 hour - 33.7 MBListen in as Ben and Sridhar discuss the Rings of Power in Tolkien's world.
Interview: Dawn M. Walls-Thumma
June 18, 2021 02:21 - 1 hour - 37.3 MBToday I present an interview with scholar and writer Dawn Walls-Thumma. We discuss Dawn's essay 'Attainable Vistas: Historical Bias in Tolkien's Legendarium as a Motive for Transformative Fanworks' published in Volume 3 of the Journal of Tolkien Research. We discuss a range of topics, including historical bias in The Silmarillion and what it means for readers of the book, the state of Tolkien scholarship, fandom, fanfiction, and other matters. Join us! Links: The Silmarillion Writer's ...
On Ross Douthat, Amazon and Adaptation
June 02, 2021 11:16 - 1 hour - 35 MBJoin Benjamin and Shridhar for the 13th episode of the podcast. They discuss Ross Douthat's recent Substack article on the upcoming amazon show, where he muses about the fate of the story and the likelihood of success. A number of (potentially) controversial hot takes ensue in the discussion! Your hosts also touch on the nature of Tolkien's storytelling, The Children of Hurin, and issues of adaptation more generally. Join them!
Interview: Dr Holly Ordway
May 01, 2021 02:23 - 1 hour - 31.1 MBIn this episode, I interview the great Tolkien scholar Holly Ordway, who has recently published the book Tolkien's Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages, published by Word on Fire. We range over topics pertinent to Ordway's book, but also touch on the status of Tolkien studies, the reliability of the Carpenter biography, and the Romans in Tolkien's fiction. Please join us! Holly can be found at http://www.hollyordway.com/
Interview: Dr Vladimir Brljak
April 20, 2021 11:13 - 1 hour - 35.1 MBIn this episode, I interview literary scholar Vladimir Brljak, who published an article in 2010 entitled The Book of Lost Tales: Tolkien as Metafictionist. The article argues that Tolkien's metafiction (the Red Book, etc) is central to understanding the effect his work has on readers. We also touch on Milton, the Amazon show, and other topics. Join us!
Aldarion and Erendis: Part Deux
April 17, 2021 07:16 - 1 hour - 42 MBIn this episode, Ben and Sridhar return to 'Aldarion and Erendis' from Unfinished Tales. They discuss the characters and themes, with a particular focus on the slowly growing imperial ambitious of Aldarion and the quietly stoic, if bitter, character of Erendis. LOTRonPrime news and other matters are also broached. Join Ben and Sridhar for another informative episode.
On The Hobbit
April 03, 2021 04:40 - 1 hour - 45.6 MBBen and Sridhar discuss Tolkien's first classic, The Hobbit. They look at Bilbo's journey, the place of moral theory in Tolkien's work, the differences between modern and ancient worldviews, and the place of The Hobbit in Tolkien's wider legendarium. Join them for this in depth and (by the end) raucous podcast.
Talking about Tolkien's darkest tale
March 22, 2021 23:49 - 1 hour - 33.5 MBIn this episode, Sridhar and Benjamin discuss Tolkien's darkest work, The Children of Húrin. Join us as we delve into issues of fate, free-will, and theodicy.
Interview: Tolkien scholar Gergely Nagy
March 22, 2021 23:06 - 1 hour - 30.9 MBIn this episode, I interview Hungarian Tolkienist Gergely Nagy, who has written a plethora of (admittedly heavy!) papers on Tolkien and theory, Tolkien and metafiction, and other topics. Join us as we delve into Tolkien's theory of fiction, the strategies he used to make his texts feel 'historical', and a range of other fascinating topics!
Talking about The Children of Húrin
March 14, 2021 08:45 - 1 hour - 33.5 MBIn this, the ninth episode, Ben and Sridhar discuss Tolkien's tragic tale, The Children of Húrin. Set in the legendary First Age, the story recounts the cursed lives of a family in the bitter North, as they are beset by dragons, malevolent demons, and other forces of fate. The book explores the question of how mortals (as opposed to Elves) should face the reality of the human predicament, and whether heroic despair and pride, or patience and virtue, are better responses to the shortness o...
On The Lord of the Rings in the 21st Century
February 16, 2021 06:00 - 2 hours - 27.7 MBIn this, the inaugural episode with my brilliant new cohost Sridhar Bhagavathula, we discuss the place of The Lord of the Rings in the 21st century over a glass of wine (well, one of us, at any rate). Topics range from the reception of the Jackson films, adaptation, to Tolkien's Catholicism, a queer readings of Tolkien. Join us as we begin a new epic phase of the podcast!
Thoughts of Amazon synopsis
January 18, 2021 03:21 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBIn this episode, I offer brief thoughts with regard to the recently released synopsis for the Lord of the Rings on Prime show. I also update listeners on a few matters. During my remarks, I refer and quote from Daniel Stride's blog on the Amazon show, available here.
Interview: Dr Dennis Wise
December 20, 2020 08:36 - 1 hour - 40.8 MBIn this fascinating discussion, Dr Dennis Wise (University of Arizona) and I talk about a range of topics related to Tolkien studies, including the state of the academic field, the place of Critical Theory in the reception of Tolkien, theories about metafiction in Tolkien's fiction, the 'ontological' status of Tolkien's creation myth, and how we can approach Tolkien through the theories of Leo Strauss. Dr Wise is a lecturer in the Writing Program at UofA, and he has published extensively ...
Episode 3 - Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife
December 06, 2020 08:43 - 59 minutes - 34.1 MBIn this, our third episode at Reading Tolkien, we explore Tolkien's little known but fascinating and often moving unfinished novel, 'Aldarion and Erendis'. Join us as we discuss Tolkien's writing process, the effect that this story has (retrospectively) on the moral character of The Lord of the Rings, and other topics.
Interview with Daniel Stride
November 05, 2020 06:55 - 38 minutes - 22.4 MBHere, I interview blogger and SF writer Daniel Stride, who blogs at https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/ Daniel blogs on Tolkien's work, among other topics.
Reading Tolkien Podcast - Episode 1
November 03, 2020 07:07 - 59 minutes - 45.8 MBIn this, our premier episode, I explain the intent of the podcast and Razib and I discuss the latest news in regards to the upcoming Amazon Second Age show.