Interview with Maglor by Shadow
Who is Gil-galad? That might seem a silly question, but we know very little of his character beyond his kingship. In this interview, Shadow talks with Maglor about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor" that explores who Gil-galad might have been, beyond the last king of the Noldor.
SWG News
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Register for Mereth Aderthad!
Mereth Aderthad Registration Is Open!
Registration for attending Mereth Aderthad is open for both in-person and virtual attendees and will remain open through the day of the event.
New Challenge: Birthday Bash
In honor of our twentieth birthday, we look back at twenty years of SWG history with a new poetry, image, and word prompt each day.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Putting Together the Presentation
Part of our ongoing series to support fans who want to present at Mereth Aderthad and other Tolkien conferences, this session will share strategies for putting together a paper and presentation.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Artwork] 2025 Birthday Bash Prompt Fills by silmalope
Sketches inspired by the 2025 Birthday Bash challenge prompts!
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Reference] Maglor by polutropos
As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile…
[Writing] White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
[Writing] The Suffering of Maedhros by Annatar_Targaryen
Maedhros, eldest son of Feanor, is captured by Morgoth and chained to the cliffs of Thargorodrim by his order. There is no hope of rescue until his dearest friend appears. (one-shot)
[Reference] Interview with Maglor by Shadow by maglor-my-beloved, daughterofshadows
Maglor spoke with Shadow about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor," and what makes Gil-galad such an intriguing—and mysterious—character.
[Writing] Clear Pebbles of the Rain by StarSpray
But at the very end of the letter she spoke of one more prisoner that Elladan and Elrohir had discovered in one of the deepest dungeons of Dol Guldur, locked away behind a door unopened in so long that the hinges had rusted.
Maglor has been rescued from Dol Guldur, and now faces…
Current Challenge
Birthday Bash
Daily word, image, and poetry prompts are loosely structured around events and milestones leading up to our 20th birthday. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Orctober
A mysterious map points to locations used by escaped Orcs who seek to live in freedom. For this month's challenge, use elements from that map and those quests to create your fanwork, with a bonus puzzle to solve for those who dare attempt the ultimate escape. Read more ...
New in References
Maglor by polutropos
As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.
Interview with Maglor by Shadow by maglor-my-beloved, daughterofshadows
Maglor spoke with Shadow about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor," and what makes Gil-galad such an intriguing—and mysterious—character.
Interview with Shadow by Himring by daughterofshadows, Himring
Aromanticism is a topic not often covered in Tolkien scholarship, but many Tolkien characters can be read as aromantic. In this interview, Himring talks with Shadow about their upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "The Aromantic in Tolkien."
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] Paradox of the Fourth Age by Alassante
One wrong decision can make a world of difference. When one of the Fellowship makes the mistake, the consequences are so severe that only the Valar can repair it. But will they?
Glorfindel daughter's life is in Elrohir's hands and only she remembers th eir love for each other. The fate of…
[Writing] By Mirrormere by bunn
A new Age dawns, and Moria is retaken at last.
[Writing] Beneath the Bitter Rain by bunn
The Gardens of the Entwives are fallen, but two Entwives remain.
Around the World and Web
Neurodivergent Arda Week 2025
Neurodivergent Arda Week is a Tumblr event to celebrate neurodiversity in Tolkien's works.
Tolkien at UVM Registration Open
The theme for this hybrid conference is Tolkien and War with John Garth as the keynote speaker.
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.
Feanorian Week 2025
Feanorian Week is a Tumblr event offering optional prompts for fanworks about the sons of Feanor and their parents.
Teitho March/April Challenge: Mothers
The Teitho Contest theme for the months of March and April is mothers.
Hidden Figures
For our March challenge, we will focus on rare characters and textual ghosts. Rare characters, for the purpose of our challenge, are defined as any character with fewer than five fanworks on the SWG archive as of the start of the challenge. (See the list below. Please note that major characters from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are not included, even if they have fewer than five fanworks.) In addition, any character who is unnamed counts as rare, as does any textual ghost (a character who must have existed but is not mentioned in the texts. Elleth's Textual Ghosts Project provides more than six hundred known textual ghosts.) Fanworks for this month's challenge must feature a rare character or textual ghost in a leading role.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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Rare characters have fewer than five fanworks on the SWG archive. In addition, any unnamed or textual ghost character automatically counts as rare for this challenge.
Adanel
Ailinel
Algund
Almarian
Almiel
Amlach
Amroth
Ancalagon
Angrim*
Ar-Adunakhôr
Ar-Gimilzôr
Ar-Sakalthôr
Aranwë
Arminas
Arthad*
Arvedui
Asfaloth
Balan
Baragund
Barahir (Fourth Age)
Baran*
Belegund
Belen
Bereg*
Beregar
Berúthiel
Borlach
Borlad
Boromir (House of Bëor)
Boromir (Steward of Gondor)
Boron
Borthand
Bregolas
Bregor
Cirion
Ciryon
Dagnir*
Dairuin*
Dís
Dorlas
Draugluin
Duilin
Eilinel
Elendur
Elentir
Elmar
Enel
Enelyë
Enerdhil
Eriol
Evranin
Eärendur
Eärnil*
Eärnur*
Fíriel
Fuinur*
Galador
Galdor (Edain)
Galdor of the Havens
Galdor of the Tree
Gelmir
Gereth
Gethron
Gilfanon
Gimilkhâd
Glirhuin
Glóredhel
Grithnir
Guilin
Gundor
Haldad
Haldan
Haldar
Halmir
Handir*
Hareth*
Hathaldir
Hathol
Herucalmo
Herumor*
Hiril
Hunthor*
Ibun*
Imlach*
Imrahil
Isilmë
Isilmo
Khîm*
Larnach*
Larnach's Daughter
Legolas of Gondolin
Lenwë
Lindo*
Lindórië
Littleheart*
Lorgan
Magor Son of Malach
Makar
Malach*
Malbeth the Seer
Marach
Mardil*
Marhwini
Meássë
Meleth daughter of Hiril*
Meneldil
Meril
Meril-i-Turinqi
Mîm
Morwë
Nahar
Nielíqui
Númendil
Núneth
Nurwë
Ohtar
Pallando
Penlod
Quennar i Onótimo
Radhruin*
Ragnor*
Rochallor
Rúmil (Lothlórien)
Silmarien*
Tar-Alcarin
Tar-Ancalimon
Tar-Atanamir*
Tar-Ciryatan
Tar-Elendil
Tar-Meneldur
Tar-Minastir
Tar-Telemmaitë
Telemnar*
Tevildo
Théodwyn
Tinfang
Ulfast
Ulwarth
Urthel*
Valandil
Vardamir
Vëantur
Yávien*These characters currently have no fanworks on the SWG archive. Why not be the first??
Fanworks Tagged with Hidden Figures
Most Bright by Lyra
A collection of short ficlets about Princess Ancalimë, who will become the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.
Newly added: "Exit, Pursued", for B2MeM and the Hidden Figures challenge.
Atanatari: Of the Three Houses of the Edain by Himring
A collection for stories about the Edain.
Recently added: The chair (Sador Labadal)
