The Tolkien Professor

Dave and Trish wrap up their marathon Saturday podcasting session with one more digest. This week we revisit The Split and The Battle of Dol-Guldur!

This episode we discuss our namesake Hobbit chapter: Riddles in the Dark. We can't wait so see The Riddle Game on-screen, but how many of the original riddles will make it into the film?

Dave and Trish are on a roll! In this episode we review predictions, analysis, and feedback on Riddles 4 and 5 and address copious listener comments about the talking purse!

Peter S. Beagle, "The Last Unicorn", Chapters 1-4, Recorded 04/13/11.

The Digest is back! Trish Lambert joins the Riddles team and helps Dave review predictions, analyses, and listener feedback on the third topic, The Battle of Azanulbizar. Make sure you listen to the end...

C.S. Lewis, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", Chapters 12-17, Recorded 04/11/11.

C.S. Lewis, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", Chapters 7-11, Recorded 04/08/11.

This week we discuss two topics that go hand-in-hand: Gollum and romance. Duh.

C.S. Lewis, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", Chapters 1-6, Recorded 04/04/11.

The twenty-second session of the Silmarillion Seminar, in which we spend an unprecedented third week on Chapter 19 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Luthien." And oaths.

Only four months into the podcast, we finally get around to talking about The Hobbit's titular character, Bilbo Baggins...for two hours!

J.R.R. Tolkien, Smith of Wootton Major, Pages 35-39 Recorded 04/01/11.

We go back to the very beginning...of first Hobbit film, that is. How will The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey open on-screen?

J.R.R. Tolkien, Smith of Wootton Major, Pages 9-34 Recorded 3/30/11.

George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 21-32 Recorded 3/28/11.

The hosts hop on the Cinemacon debate bandwagon and weigh in on the "Tomb of the Ringwraiths." How will Sauron's most terrible servants factor into the The Hobbit?

The second in a two-part series on the most hotly debated Hobbit question: where will the two films be split? In this episode, we are joined by special guest Fr. Roderick Vonhogen of SQPN to talk about The White Council.

The first in a two-part series on the most hotly debated Hobbit question: where will the two films be split? In this episode, we address the main Hobbit storyline and predict the "tone" of the ending of An Unexpected Journey.

George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 11-20 Recorded 3/25/11.

The twenty-first session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing the second part of Chapter 19 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Luthien"

The first RITD episode to address humor in the Hobbit; this week we focus on Bilbo's first "successful adventure" with the trolls.

Co-host Dave reviews the first two topics, Thrain and Thror, and presents predictions, arguments, and feedback from RITD analysts and listeners. We also give a few RITD-related updates and news items.

The twentieth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 19 of the Quenta Silmarillion, " Of Beren and Luthien"

A discussion of the great dwarf leader, Thorin Oakenshield, one of the main characters of The Hobbit and how he will be portrayed in the upcoming films.

A discussion of the great Battle of Azanulbizar, and an analysis of the possiblity of its conflation with the Battle of Five Armies in the films.

A discussion of the misfortunes of the House of Durin, Thror and predictions based on casting for the character.

George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin, Chapters 1-10 Recorded 3/23/11.

The nineteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 18 of the Quenta Silmarillion, " Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin "

A discussion of Thror and Thrain, and predictions about Thrain's depiction in the film.

What's new at The Tolkien Professor, including two new podcasts and an updated website.

The Hobbit Series Lecture 8 in which we discuss the death of Thorin and Bilbo's return to Bag End. Text: Chapters 18 and 19: " The Return Journey" and " The Last Stage "

The eighteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 17 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Coming of Men into the West"

The Hobbit Series Lecture 7 in which we discuss the death of Smaug and the Battle of Five Armies. Text: Chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17: "Fire and Water," "The Gathering of the Clouds," "A Thief in the Night," and "The Clouds Burst."

Professor Corey Olsen answers questions from people interested in taking courses at the Mythgard Institute (www.mythgard.org).

The Hobbit Series Lecture 6 in which we consider the foolishness of the dwarves and the final turning point of Bilbo's career. Text: Chapters 11, 12, and 13: "On the Doorstep," "Inside Information," and "Not At Home."

Finally! The return of the hobbit series! The Hobbit Series Lecture 5, Part 2, in which we consider one of the major turning points in Bilbo's life. Text: Chapters 8, 9, and 10: "Flies and Spiders," "Barrels Out of Bond," and "A Warm Welcome."

Lord Dunsany, The Book of Wonder, Part 2. Recorded 3/21/11.

The seventeenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 16 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Maeglin"

Corey Olsen, Dave Kale, Laura Berkholtz, and George Naylor discuss themes of horror in Tolkien's writings.

The sixteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 15 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Noldor in Beleriand."

Corey Olsen and Dave Kale, program director for Middle-earth Network Radio, discuss the making of the documentary for the video game "The Lord of the Rings: War in the North". The documentary is viewable in four parts at http://www.youtube.com/user/machinima

The tenth Tolkien Chat, recorded in the bar at the Albuquerque MCM Elegante during the annual Mythopoeic Society Conference

Lord Dunsany, The Book of Wonder, Part 1. Recorded 3/11/11.

The fifteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 14 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beleriand and Its Realms."

Andrew Lang Session 5, in which we discuss "Rapunzel," "Snowdrop," and "The Enchanted Ring." Recorded 3/9/11.

A conversation with Professor David Perlmutter about two of his favorite intellectual hobbies, military history and Tolkien.

The fourteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 13 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Return of the Noldor."

Andrew Lang Session 4, in which we discuss "Jack and the Beanstalk," "The Three Dwarfs," and "The Twelve Brothers." Recorded 3/7/11.

The thirteenth session of the Silmarillion Seminar, discussing Chapter 12 of the Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Men."

Andrew Lang Session 3, in which we discuss "Snow White and Rose Red," "Jack the Giant Killer," and my favorite "The Black Bull of Norroway." Recorded 3/4/11.