One of the challenges posed by The Silmarillion is that, at Tolkien's death, it was still very much a work-in-progress. While we often take it as "canon," the truth is that none of us can know if the book we are reading says what Tolkien would have wanted it to say, had he lived long enough to provide input into its publication.
In this month's biography of Bór, Himring details not just a character but an entire people—the Easterlings—who emerged rather late in the construction of the legendarium yet nonetheless carry deep implications, namely for the role of free will and Tolkien's views on race.
Bór was one of the "good Easterlings": one who remained loyal to Maedhros during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. As Himring explains, on the surface, this can seem a welcome deviation from Tolkien's usual modus operandi of dark skin = evil intentions. However, as she goes on to write, "The way this is presented narratively in the published Silmarillion text, however, qualifies that impression to some extent, making the house of Bór look more like an exception that proves a rule."
So we're left with a character-in-progress to inform some of the deepest questions in Tolkien studies. You can read Himring's biography of Bór here.
SWG News
New Challenge: Bollywood
This month's challenge offers songs, films, and tropes from Bollywood, the world's largest film industry based out of India, as prompts for fanworks.
Cultus Dispatches: Fandom Chocolate … or Authors Love Comments
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data provides insight into how comments benefit authors and which authors are most impacted by a lack of comments, with a digression on authors' perspectives one-click feedback like kudos.
A Sense of History: Passing Ships
As Tolkien's characters in various texts gaze out to the sea, what do they see? What is brought by the ships coming out of the West?
New Challenge: Funky '70s
We've compiled lists of '70s-themed prompts to inspire your fanwork in the June-July challenge.
Fandom Voices: Commenting and Feedback
We are collecting fan experiences related to giving and receiving feedback on Tolkien-based fanworks.
New Fanworks
No Time Have I by by Flora-lass [Writing]
A Silmarillion acrostic.
Read more ...Lament for the Singer by by daughterofshadows [Writing]
A short thing about Maglor, death and grieving.
Read more ...All of you by by chrissystriped [Writing]
Elrond and Celebrían celebrate their anniversary with their family.
Read more ...Eä's Redemption by by AaronAzrael [Writing]
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 thought on the matter who the Ainur are, who Eru is, how he matches our own religious pantheon, and this has been conducted after serious research of many esoteric teachings of our own planet's heritage.
Read more ...Map of Valinor by by Aprilertuile [Artwork]
My newly drawn map of Aman, as complete as I could make it.
Read more ...Fair as the First Snowdrop in Spring by by StarSpray [Writing]
The first time Elrond saw Celebrían he forgot how to breathe.
Read more ...Temper, temper... by by Aprilertuile [Writing]
Read more ...Maglor hit some musical difficulties and snaps.
Updated Fanworks
I called it Fate that I should fail by by AdmirableMonster [Writing]
Nimruzimir, a natural philosopher recently out of his apprenticeship, hardly considers himself very important to anyone, least of all his colleagues. When his strange, prophetic fits bring him to the attention of the High Priest, however, he may find that his existence is less superfluous than he had originally thought.
Read more ...
Cosmological Poems of Arda by by AaronAzrael [Writing]
I would like to share my revelations of Tolkien's Universe in the form of narrative and emotional poems.
Read more ...Around the World and Web
Fellowship of the Fics: Summer Stories 2024
Fellowship of the Fics offers four weeks of summer-themed prompts during the month of July.
July challenge at tolkienshortfanworks posted
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for July has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic challenge is: original character or unnamed canon character; the formal challenge: fixed length of multiple of 50 words. New participants welcome.
July 2024 Call for Papers and Proposals
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers and proposals in July 2024.
Teitho June/July Challenge: Mentor
The June/July prompt for the Teitho challenge is "mentor" and invites fanworks about this relationship in Tolkien's works.
Scribbles & Drabbles 2024
A chill Tolkien event, where artists make art, and authors write little stories in response. Begins in June and ends in November.
Mythcon 53: Fantasies of the Middle Lands
Mythcon 53 will be held 2-5 August 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the theme "Fantasies of the Middle Lands."
Elrond Week 2024
Elrond Week is a fandom event dedicated to Elrond Peredhel that will run from July 10th to July 16th on Tumblr.
Forgotten Ground Regained: Call for Submissions
Forgotten Ground Regained is looking for alliterative poetry on the themes of love, devotion, and desire for their upcoming fall issue.
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (TRSB) 2024
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is an annual event where authors create a story of at least 5,000 words in response to an artwork created for the event.
Acorns and Oak Leaves: A Year of Bagginshield
Throughout 2024, the Bagginshield community Acorns and Oak Leaves offers monthly prompts to encourage new creations of all kinds.
