Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Paul D. Deane by Himring
Before the Norman Invasion brought rhymed poetry with it, English poetry was alliterative, and this early poetic form held deep appeal for Tolkien. Himring spoke to Paul D. Deane about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper "Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien’s Legendarium" and his work with alliterative verse, Tolkien, and alliterative verse about Tolkien.
SWG News
New Challenge: Musicals
Prompts this month come from musicals.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Putting Together the Presentation
The video and materials from our latest session of "So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference?" are now available. This session covers crafting a paper intended for presentation and designing helpful, accessible visuals to accompany your talk.
Archive Software Upgrade and Downtime Postponed
The major software update on the archive has been postponed; we will announce when a new date has been set.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Let Him Find Honey by StarSpray
Grief awaits you outside these halls, Fëanáro, Nienna told him, her voice like the gentlest fall of rain upon spring leaves.
Grief haunts me inside them, Fëanor replied.
[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…
[Series] I made loving you a blood sport by atlantablack
In which Fëanor & Fingolfin are re-embodied in 4th age Aman, are nowhere near as healed as everyone believes them to be, and decide to pretend that sleeping together will fix their relationship instead of causing more problems.
[Writing] a hunger still unraveling like silk by atlantablack
Fingolfin does not look up from his book when he hears footsteps approaching and pays no attention to Fëanor walking into the room. What he emphatically does pay attention to is Fëanor going to his knees in front of the chair he is sprawled sideways…
[Writing] A Songbird in a Cage of His Own Making by Elrond's Library
Uinen and Ossë have lost track of the Noldor's Songbird, his laments gone silent. When they do, Uinen nurses him back to health, and then some.
[Writing] The Writhen Pool by pandemonium_213
When the Istyari of Second Age Ost-in-Edhil deny her a place in an important new initiative to be taken up by the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, a young master smith struggles to make her mark in the man's realm of the forges. An opportunity arrives when the smith is offered a commission that will present…
[Reference] Interview with Paul D. Deane by Himring by Rhunedhel
Himring spoke to Paul about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien’s Legendarium," his deep study of alliterative verse, and how that entwines with his understanding of Tolkien and creation of his own Tolkien-based alliterative poems.
Current Challenge
Musicals
Craft a fanwork inspired by songs from musicals. Read more ...
Random Challenge
New in References
Interview with Paul D. Deane by Himring by Rhunedhel
Himring spoke to Paul about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien’s Legendarium," his deep study of alliterative verse, and how that entwines with his understanding of Tolkien and creation of his own Tolkien-based alliterative poems.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Putting Together the Presentation by SWG Newsletter Staff
Video and materials from our session on how to put together a paper and presentation for a Tolkien conference. The session covers how to structure a paper for a presentation, assembling a presentation to support your paper, and accessibility and other tools for ensuring everyone can access your work.
Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow by cloudyhymns, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
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
[Multimedia] Rosemary for Remembrance by Himring
Three years after Arathorn's death, Gilraen receives a letter.
It contains a short poem and a sprig of rosemary.
[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.
Around the World and Web
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (TRSB) Sign-Ups Open!
The Tolkien Reserve Summer Bang is a collaborative fan event celebrating the works and adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien. Writers and artists will team up to bring new stories to life—from the Shire to the far reaches of Valinor (and everything in between).
April Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for April has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic prompt is: wood. The formal challenge is: linnod (Gilraen's canonical verse form). These can be filled separately and freely combined with other challenges and prompts that allow this.
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.
Teitho March/April Challenge: Mothers
The Teitho Contest theme for the months of March and April is mothers.
sullhach's Favorites
Favorite Fanworks
A Part in Great Deeds by Hallbera
Fanwork Information
As Maedhros son of Fëanor assembles an army to challenge the forces of Morgoth Beleg asks Thingol's permisson to leave for war.
| Major Characters: Beleg |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 4 February 2010 | Updated on 4 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Memories Of Findekáno by ford_of_bruinen
Fanwork Information
Nirnaeth Arnoediad is over and Maedhros is looking back and remembering his beloved cousin Fingon.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Character Death, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Posted on 22 May 2007 | Updated on 22 May 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
The Cold Hill of Himring by Ithilwen
Fanwork Information
Maedhros is disturbed by a visit with his cousin Fingon. Warning: Adult themes.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Posted on 18 May 2009 | Updated on 18 May 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
The Coming Flood by Luxa
Fanwork Information
Two women stand as the funeral procession of everyone they've ever known rolls by and they hold hands. The Valar have much to pay for. Amarië/Elenwë, modern AU dystopia.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Elenwë |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: 10th Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 10 August 2015 | Updated on 10 August 2015 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
The Last Temptation by Gadira
Fanwork Information
Why didn´t Melian use her power? Why did she leave her kin to die? As Doriath falls to ruin, a Maia must come to a painful and controversial decision. Nominated for the MEFAs.
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín, Melian, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Posted on 6 June 2007 | Updated on 6 June 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
The Tempered Steel by Lyra
Just finished this, I may call it *book*, because it is in fact one, reading my share during the night hours, until my eyes grew so tired, that the letters began to vanish....
Too overwhelmed to pay a fitting responce and review, I just want to thank you for pleasant hours, and make me forget my personal sorrows by reading it!
Lia/Sullhach
Fanwork Information
The story of Maedhros' captivity in Angband, his rescue and his recovery is in the Silmarillion treated in a few paragraphs. This is a fleshed-out account of the events that may have befallen between Maedhros' imprisonment and his return to his old life... as far as that is possible.
Occasionally drifting into AU territory, depending on how closely you follow the source (WHICH source? :P).
The usual warnings apply - particularly to chapters marked with an asterisk.
Part One completed.
Part Two completed.
Part Three, Chapter 10 added: In which the reconciled Noldor make plans for the future. End of the trilogy.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Amras, Angrod, Aredhel, Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Curufin, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Írimë, Lalwen, Maedhros, Maglor, Melkor, Original Character(s), Thorondor |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Turning Point |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Torture, Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Posted on 13 April 2010 | Updated on 16 November 2013 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
The West Wind Quartet by Himring
Brought tears to my eyes...
Fanwork Information
Emlinn, a Sinda, becomes Maglor's student and experiences the end of the Siege of Angband and the Battle of Sudden Flame.
Now added: Bonus chapter: Like a Friendly Touch Among the Crowd (ft. Elrond).
Illustrated by Alasse for B2MeM 2012: see link at end of Chapter Two!
Kindly nominated for MEFAs 2011 by Angelica. It won a Honorable Mention in the category "Elves: House of Finwë" and a Smaug's Treasure award.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Erestor, Glaurung, Maedhros, Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major characters listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Posted on 22 August 2010 | Updated on 24 April 2016 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
