0393 » Lord of the Rings » Foreword & Prologue » Mathoms » "Hobbit" origins, Shire background, and more

Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 8 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of the Darkening of Valinor.In Chapter 8, the bliss of Valinor comes to a sudden end as Melkor unleashes his sinister plot with the aid of the horrifying monster Ungoliant.Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. While you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/1JbIgPaPkM0Watch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125953670Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64940466Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

7 Apr 53min

Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 7 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor.In Chapter 7, we learn what the Silmarils are, where they came from, and how clouds begin to gather over the blessed realm of Valinor.Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. While you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/KW2gfIX3cCAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125474858Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64594970Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

31 Mar 1h 7min

Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 6 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor.Chapter 6 is really the quiet calm before the storm. All hell is about to break loose. Yet first, we must become acquainted with the great Fëanor, one of the most significant characters in the whole Middle-earth legedarium, and also understand how Melkor escapes bondage and comes once again to freedom.Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. While you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/JlOJNE0mBE0Watch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124936793Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63972750Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

24 Mar 1h 5min

Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 5 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië.In Chapter 5, we come to find out how the three Elvish peoples (the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri) came to Aman, the Blessed Realm. We also learn a great deal more about the Noldor and the Teleri, and about the personalities of these groups of Elves. The princes of the Noldor, in particular, start to come into focus as key players near the end of the chapter.Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/E8Bl86m5Y9kWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124430840Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63713802Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

17 Mar 55min

Hey there, fellow travelers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 4 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Thingol and Melian!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.Chapter 4 of The Silmarillion is a short and succinct “boy-meets-girl” story, or so a surface reading would suggest. However, as with most things Tolkien, there is much more to it than that, as it is in fact an important development in the history of Middle-earth, and in it we see key themes begin to develop to the point of fruition.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/z1a3ELPMuqwWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123934895Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63380305Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

10 Mar 49min

Hey there, fellow travelers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 3 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of The Awakening of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.In Chapter 3, we finally embark upon something like a continuous narrative. Up to this point, much has been given by way of background, but chapter 3 is primarily concerned with the awakening of the Elves, their journey to Valinor, and another epic war against Melkor and his minions!To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/2ZEa5HCYYYAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/122949096Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62785284Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

3 Mar 1h 14min

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 2 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of Aulë and Yavanna!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.In Chapter 2, we're introduced to the contentious relationship of Aulë, the father of the Dwarves, and Yavanna, the mother of the Ents.To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQhz9qR5JAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/afv-0279-ch-02-122881548Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62439992Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

24 Feb 50min

Hey there, fellow travellers!Our 2025 Silmarillion journey continues with Chapter 1 of Quenta Silmarillion - Of the Beginning of Days, part 2!Yes, Chapter 1 had so much to discuss that we had to break it into two parts, so you're getting the second half right now!Over the next several months, we'll be continuing to revisit the entire 30-episode Silmarillion series that Greta and I recorded back in 2022. And while you're listening, check out SilmGuide.com for guides to individual chapters.Having established their home in Valinor of the Blessed Realm, the Valar begin a new work: the Two Trees of Valinor. What are the Two Trees and what is their significance for Middle-earth? Furthermore, how do they prepare the way for the coming of Elves and Men, and work against the dark designs of Melkor?To support our work here, please visit Patreon.com/TolkienRoad.Enjoy!OTHER LINKS:Video of this episode: https://youtu.be/aoFKAh__wDAWatch AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/afv-0288-ch-01-2-122358918Listen AD-FREE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62170260Buy Tolkien Road merch @ True Myths PressBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

17 Feb 1h 14min