Tolkien Fanartics: Mapping Arda - The Second Age
In the third part of the Mapping Arda series, Anérea and Varda delle Stelle present a selection of fan-created maps of the lands of the Second Age.
SWG News
New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
Bingo Cards Wanted for Potluck Bingo
Our November-December challenge will be Potluck Bingo, featuring cards created by you! If you'd like to create cards or prompts for cards, we are taking submissions.
Tolkien Meta Week, December 8-14
We will be hosting a Tolkien Meta Week in December, here on the archive and on our Tumblr, for nonfiction fanworks about Tolkien.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Writing] An End to All Things by Thorveig
Mairon stood in utter stillness for it seemed to him that the voice of his master mocked him from afar...
At the end of the First Age, Sauron makes a choice.
[Reference] Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Anérea, Varda delle Stelle
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
[Writing] The Reckless Hearts of Mortal Men by mouse
Two years before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Húrin and Huor journey from Dor-lómin to Eithel Sirion for a war council with their new allies from the East. A story about the stirring of hope and foreshadowing of woe. Well-peppered with humour.
[Artwork] Valier & colours by daughterofshadows
Semi-abstract arts representing the queens of the Valar.
[Artwork] 2024 Potluck Doodles by silmalope
Assorted prompt fills for the 2024 Potluck bingo boards, to varying degrees of completion! :)
Current Challenge
Festival of Lights Fest
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge. Read more ...
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Canon with a Twist
Choose a single moment in Tolkien's canon, have a character make a different choice, and create a fanwork about how the history changes. Read more ...
New in References
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Anérea, Varda delle Stelle
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
Doom and Ascent: The Argument of ‘Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics’ by Simon J. Cook
Simon reads 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' to conclude his account of the Anglo-Saxon tower of its allegory.
Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
[Writing] Staging a Battle by StarSpray
He and Diamond were visiting, though Pippin had been disappearing every afternoon, and taking Frodo and Elanor and most other lads and lasses in the neighborhood with him—though why they couldn’t use Pippin’s own pony, Sam couldn’t imagine.
Around the World and Web
Festival of Lights Fest 2024
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge.
Fluffcember 2024
Fluffcember is a Tumblr event with daily fluffy prompts during the month of December.
Hidden Paths 2025
Hidden Paths, an event dedicated to the celebration of smaller Tolkien canons, has released their early prompts for the 2025 event.
Teitho November/December Contest: Healing
The theme for Teitho's November/December contest is healing.
Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2024
LotR SESA has been ongoing for twenty-one years and is running again this year as a prompt meme hosted on AO3 for all genres of Tolkien-based fanfiction.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Quite Batty by Himring
In The Book of Lost Tales, Fui Nienna's hall is roofed with bats' wings.
In later canon, it is a certain other female character who is associated with bat wings.
There can be no connection, though, surely?
| Major Characters: Nienna, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Endless Night by Lferion
It isn't Sims, it's Silms, and it all goes round and round, a loop of effort and agony
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Astronomer's Daughter — Luinasolmë Elentiriel by Lferion
Only a watcher: a watcher of stars
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hound, Running by Lferion
Celegorm and Huan have a special relationship. Two 100 word drabbles.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Celegorm, Huan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Marriage Rings by Lferion
Amras and Elurin's wedding night may not be traditional, but it is Noldorin.
| Major Characters: Amras, Elurín |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Erotica, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Cyclical History by Lferion
People have been people, and will continue to be people, for a very long time. Elves are definitely people.
| Major Characters: Amrod, Littleheart |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Extra-Calary by Lferion
Fëanor, outside of calenders entirely. Now what?
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on 8 March 2020 | Updated on 8 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
At Tharbad. by hennethgalad
Boromir loses his horse and meets some Rangers.
4: "He thought that his adventure had come to an end, and a bad one, but the thought hardened him."
| Major Characters: Boromir (Fellowship) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 187 |
| Posted on 6 March 2020 | Updated on 6 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Work in Progress. by hennethgalad
Elrond tries to help Bilbo with his writing.
6: "Finish a work in progress."
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 851 |
| Posted on 6 March 2020 | Updated on 6 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Terrible End by StarSpray
"There Celegorm fell by Dior's hand...but Dior was slain also."
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Dior |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 952 |
| Posted on 5 March 2020 | Updated on 5 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Blue Wooden Door. by hennethgalad
A guard of Caranthir reminisces.
5: "The blue wooden door."
| Major Characters: Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 107 |
| Posted on 5 March 2020 | Updated on 5 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Breakfast with Mablung. by hennethgalad
Finrod and Gildor have breakfast with Mablung.
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Gildor, Mablung |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 105 |
| Posted on 3 March 2020 | Updated on 3 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Hopeless Dawn by hennethgalad
Melian becomes aware of the fall of the Trees. Thingol struggles to comprehend.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 799 |
| Posted on 2 March 2020 | Updated on 2 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Flower. by hennethgalad
Eärnur meets the new gardener.
for Back to Middle Earth Month 2020 1: "He was interested in roots and beginnings"
| Major Characters: Eärnur |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 763 |
| Posted on 1 March 2020 | Updated on 1 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Winehammer. by hennethgalad
Erestor and Gildor witness a pivotal moment in the lives of the sons of Eärendil. In a nightclub.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Galdor of the Havens, Gil-galad, Gildor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 224 |
| Posted on 27 February 2020 | Updated on 27 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Batman. by hennethgalad
Sauron, called Zigûr in Númenor, makes a winged creature to spy for Ar-Pharazôn.
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 089 |
| Posted on 24 February 2020 | Updated on 24 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Conduct Unbecoming... by hennethgalad
sex pollen in Valinor: Olórin summons a council.
| Major Characters: Erestor, Gandalf, Ingwë, Radagast |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 545 |
| Posted on 20 February 2020 | Updated on 20 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I Know Better Gods by AnnEllspethRaven, Spamberguesa
The M Universe fever-dreams in backstory to the fanfic At the Edge of Lasg’len twisted by The Lost Tales. Mostly. Gods help everything. Which Gods? You decide.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 10, 589 |
| Posted on 18 February 2020 | Updated on 18 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
every dirge fades to silence by Fernstrike
How the Songs of a Maia and a Vala harmonised - and then, as all corrupted things are wont to do, fell to discord and chaos.
| Major Characters: Eönwë, Gothmog, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 8, 567 |
| Posted on 17 February 2020 | Updated on 17 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Their Hour Was Not Yet Come by Kaylee Arafinwiel
From Numenor to Imladris, the stories of the past are handed down, culminating in a momentous occasion.
| Major Characters: Ar-Sakalthôr, Aragorn, Elves, Erestor, Inzilbêth, Lindir, Lindórië, Men, Númenóreans, Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Tar-Palantir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 761 |
| Posted on 16 February 2020 | Updated on 16 February 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Kana MacLaure: Elves in Space. by hennethgalad
an investigative journalist travels to a private space station to interview a famous musician.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 982 |
| Posted on 16 February 2020 | Updated on 16 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Waiting for the Thaw by Narya
Annatar takes a brooding Celebrimbor for a walk in the snow.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 225 |
| Posted on 15 February 2020 | Updated on 15 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The fair pallor of the hands upon her harp by Himring
Finduilas has a rare opportunity, a harp lesson with both her aunt and her uncle, Galadriel and Finrod.
But during the session, there is a point she feels she needs to raise...
| Major Characters: Finduilas, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 622 |
| Posted on 15 February 2020 | Updated on 15 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Elvish Singing by StarSpray
An elf walks into a bar, meets an old friend, and almost gets arrested. Par for the course in 1920s NYC, really.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 464 |
| Posted on 14 February 2020 | Updated on 14 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Kaylee's Crackuary Collection by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A number of drabbles written for the "Crackuary" challenge as well as Femslash February.
1. Sex Pollen - Nerdanel comes to bemoan Feanaro's lack of knowledge to Indis.
2. Unexpected Road Trip - Indis and Nerdanel go one way while all their loves go the other.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Indis, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 207 |
| Posted on 14 February 2020 | Updated on 14 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
