Today's Tolkien Times

Week 111 - Silmarillion Saturday: Be Gone Unrequited

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West may be used to hearing those words, but today they’re meant for the Dwarves of Nogrod that are haughtily dismissed by Thingol, u...

Week 111 - Friendship Friday: Jump Down a Dragon’s Throat

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We begin an all-new thing for Fridays, as we study friendships in Middle-earth, starting with perhaps the best-known example with Frodo Baggins and Sa...

Week 111 - Third Age Thursday: He Dwells There Still

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at more people in the Third Age; having done a deep dive into all the different Men for two series, it’s...

Week 111 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not Your Average Garden Gnome

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for a Word-nerd Wednesday deep dive into Tolkien’s early name for the Elves we now know as the Noldor, and learn why he cou...

Week 111 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Am Not Satisfied with ‘Hobbits’

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for another out-of-context quote as episode title, as we begin another TTT series spending Tolkien Tuesdays in the Revised and Expanded ed...

Week 111 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Twisted Knot of Hills

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 15 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil. Learn m...

Week 110 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Things Crooked

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Húrin’s anger leads him to Doriath, where he throws jewelry at the King and finds himself gently reminded of the truth by Melian. Learn more about ...

Week 110 - First Age Friday: She Was Not Conquered

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we begin our time in Of the Ruin of Doriath, watching as Húrin is all-too-briefly reunited with Morwen before his heart t...

Week 110 - Third Age Thursday: Riders Tall and Fair

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We finish our look at Men of the Third Age as The Man of the West reviews the history of the Éothéod, their steadfast alliance with Gondor, and thei...

Week 110 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Surf’s Up!

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for another — this time more thorough — look at the name of Gondor’s hottest surf spot, Belfalas, along with other plac...

Week 110 - Tolkien Tuesday: Insoluble Metrical Problems

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tolkien admits to a bit of poetic masochism in a letter to his aunt Jane, as The Man of the West continues his look through the Revised and Expanded e...

Week 110 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The End of Gondor

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we reach the far shores and conclude our 21-week journey through the regions of Gondor. Learn more about your ad choices. ...

Week 109 - Silmarillion Saturday: The First Evil

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we accompany a now-free Húrin from Angband to his homelands and then on as he looks for mercy from Turgon. Learn more abo...

Week 109 - First Age Friday: You Lie

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Not you, sorry — Morgoth. At least that’s Húrin’s opinion as he continues his defiance of the Dark Lord in this week’s First Age Friday. Lear...

Week 109 - Third Age Thursday: A Bulwark of Gondor

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We continue our study of the Men of Middle-earth, this time looking at the ancestors of the Rohirrim, known early on as the Northmen. Learn more about...

Week 109 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ló and Behold

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he looks at the etymology of a few more of the rivers and towns in Gondor, continuing our journey west through the land. L...

Week 109 - Tolkien Tuesday: The ‘Fan Mail’ Keeps On Coming In

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

And now you know the title isn’t a reference to The Man of the West! Join Alan as he begins a two-part look at another letter Tolkien wrote to his a...

Week 109 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Angbor the Fearless

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he continues his journey through Gondor, looking at Lamedon, the Morthond Vale, and the uniquely-named ridge that separate...

Week 108 - Silmarillion Saturday: Hardly Better Than Orcs

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Famously not what The Man of the West says about people who don’t listen to the PPP or TTT. Instead, it’s Húrin’s opinion of the Men new to his...

Week 108 - First Age Friday: Time That Yet Lay Hidden

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we finish Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and begin to pull all the strings together to lead us to Eärendil and the War of Wrath. Lea...

Week 108 - Third Age Thursday: Middle Man, Not Middle Management

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone can be a mid-level supervisor; it takes someone special to be a Middle Man — or does it? Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look a...

Week 108 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Let x Be the Number of Rivers in a Land

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we visit yet another land named solely after the number of rivers within it on this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday! Learn mo...

Week 108 - Tolkien Tuesday: At Least as Capacious as Mine

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The size of your waste paper basket doesn’t really matter; after all, you know you’re not throwing away a letter from Tolkien, even if it is long ...

Week 108 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Independent ‘Traditions’

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West in his journeys…um, west… through the southern fiefs of Gondor, as he looks more closely at the home of Imrahil known as ...

Week 107 - Silmarillion Saturday: Bereft of Their Power and Glory

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some might say it’s a tragedy; others might say it’s about time. We look at the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and begin to tie this story to...

Week 107 - First Age Friday: Aurë entuluva! Day Shall Come Again!

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Battle of Unnumbered Tears lives up to its name in spectacular fashion as Fingon meets his gruesome end and the Men of Dor-lómin lay down their l...

Week 107 - Third Age Thursday: Fierce Folk When Roused

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West finishes his long look at the Men of Darkness with the Dunlendings, a group of Men that might be better called Middle Men gone wro...

Week 107 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Better Late Than… Wandering?

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he finishes off the last of the Five Rivers of Lebennin before discovering what Imrahil and Pippin have in common.  Lea...

Week 107 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Feel Inclined to Tell Him So

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re sure you do, Professor — and we hope you did! Join The Man of the West as the Professor calls himself — accurately — a natural niggler. ...

Week 107 - Middle-earth Map Monday: About That Beachfront Property…

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for a look at Pelargir throughout the ages, before we move into Belfalas and the realm of the Prince of Dol Amroth. Learn mor...

Week 106 - Silmarillion Saturday: Hope Was Renewed

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Granted, only to be smashed under the feet of Uldor and his sons, but it was still renewed. Join The Man of the West for another reading from the Batt...

Week 106 - First Age Friday: “and Morgoth trembled…”

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he brings the Nirnaeth Arnoediad to First Age Fridays as well; the quicker to get through it, I suppose. Learn more about...

Week 106 - Third Age Thursday: A People Apart

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for an honest look at the folk known as the Dunlendings, so join The Man of the West as he goes back to the arrival of the Atani in Beleri...

Week 106 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Calling Count von Count

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for an unexpected grammar lesson as we explore the names of the five rivers of Lebennin. Or four of them, at least. Learn mor...

Week 106 - Tolkien Tuesday: Her Dragon is Absurd

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When an artist fails to meet Tolkien’s standards, it’s time to call in Pauline Baynes! Join The Man of the West as we revisit the Letters on Tolki...

Week 106 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Five Swift Streams

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he continues his journeys in southern Gondor, moving into the green fields of Lebennin where the people are hardy and nume...

Week 105 - Silmarillion Saturday: Utúlie’n Aurë!

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

And The Man of the West answered crying “Auta i lómë! The night is passing!” Or maybe that was the army of Fingon when they heard the trumpet of...

Week 105 - First Age Friday: Felt Old Age Creep Upon Him

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West is wondering who’s behind these episode titles. Tuor leads the refugees of Gondolin to safety before deciding it’s time to sai...

Week 105 - Third Age Thursday: You Shall Be Summoned Once Again

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps this is a reference to jury duty for The Man of the West. Or perhaps it’s part of Isildur’s curse on the Men of the Mountains, as we conti...

Week 105 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Mistakes Were Likely to Be Made

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West is far, far too familiar with the truth of today’s title, which is actually Tolkien’s explanation for some of the place names ...

Week 105 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Loathe It

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we have to carefully dissect and analyze Professor Tolkien’s words to really understand what he’s saying. Or not at al...

Week 105 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Weed is Better Than I Thought

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Good heavens, no — not that weed: athelas, of course. It’s also a quote from Ioreth, not The Man of the West — who is here to take you up into t...

Week 104 - Silmarillion Saturday: Less Aid Than Should Have Been

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as Fëanor’s foolish oath bears unpleasant fruit more than 500 years later as we begin our reading about the Nirnaeth Arnoe...

Week 104 - First Age Friday: Both Fell to Ruin

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While it is true that The Man of the West isn’t what he used to be, I’d hardly use ‘fell to ruin’. No, that’s just a Balrog of Morgoth and o...

Week 104 - Third Age Thursday: Black Sails Bellying in the Breeze

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We continue our look at the Men of Darkness in the Third Age as The Man of the West concludes his time studying the Corsairs of Umbar. Learn more abou...

Week 104 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Little Tomfoolery

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for some different word-nerdery, this time on some English-sounding names that aren’t especially English. Learn more about ...

Week 104 - Tolkien Tuesday: Heraldic Overtones

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our look at Tolkien’s 1961 letter to his Aunt Jane, we find an argument for why a word like ‘argent’ is beautiful even before it is u...

Week 104 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The Tour of Gondor Continues

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins the 14th Series of Today’s Tolkien Times with a look at the region of South Ithilien. Learn more about your ad...

Week 103 - Rude Little Errand Boy

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, that’s The Man of the West. But NPB means that to refer to Ilbereth, the secretary for Father Christmas, who writes the largest portion of this...

Week 103 - One of the Cleverest Elves

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Father Christmas wishes Tolkien a speedy recovery, and explains that he’s already giving away ‘second editions’ of The Hobbit just three months ...

Week 103 - A Letter Worth Hearing

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for the 1936 letter as Father Christmas introduces us to a new member of Team North Pole, and Polar Bear takes a very long ba...

Week 103 - Quite a Nasty Outbreak

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1935, and Father Christmas grows concerned about the goblins, expecting trouble with them soon — but hey, elvish magic sparkler spears should...

Week 103 - Frightful Mischief

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While The Man of the West is sometimes guilty of such trouble, today’s title refers to guests at the North Pole in 1934: Polar Bear’s young cousin...

Week 103 - I Enjoyed it Immensely!

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for our holiday tradition of reading from Letters From Father Christmas, this time starting in 1933 as Polar Bear continues his goblin-sma...

Week 102 - Silmarillion Saturday: Great in Strength Both of Mind and Body

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No, today’s title… oh, you know the joke by now. Join The Man of the West as we conclude our time in Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fing...

Week 102 - First Age Friday: A Light Was in His Face as the Light of Heaven

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just like yesterday, today’s title still isn’t a reference to The Man of the West — though it’s a bit more obvious this time. No, today’s th...

Week 102 - Third Age Thursday: Enamored of Evil Knowledge

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No, I promise today’s title isn’t a reference to The Man of the West. Instead, it’s time to take a look at two more groups of the Men of Darknes...

Week 102 - Word-nerd Wednesday: And Now for Something Completely Different

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We step away from the First Age to do a very deep dive on a single word from our Middle-earth Map Monday discussion, and learn more about trees as a b...

Week 102 - Tolkien Tuesday: Other and Duller Things

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins a look at another letter from Tolkien to his Aunt Jane; turns out sorting through old poetry is better than the ...

Week 102 - Middle-earth Map Monday: How Long Have I Been Asleep?

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’d say about two days, if episodes of Today’s Tolkien Times are anything to go by. Join The Man of the West as he begins the last week of Series ...

Week 101 - Silmarillion Saturday: At Least They Had Window Seats

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he spends a year in Gondolin with the brothers Húrin and Huor, only to get left at the airport in the middle of the night...

Week 101 - First Age Friday: Word of the Woes Without

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tuor finally brings his message to Turgon; the King doesn’t take his advice, but does allow him to marry his daughter, as we shift chapters in our s...

Week 101 - Third Age Thursday: Like a Glitter of Stars

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for the third episode on the Haradrim, as we look at the actions of the Southrons in The War of the Ring in another of our de...

Week 101 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ugly Shaggy Hair, Son of Ugly Beard

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No, this isn’t The Man of the West saying his son needs a haircut; today’s Word-nerd Wednesday looks at the Sindarin names of some of the new arri...

Week 101 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Don’t Know if They Have Any Virtue at All

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West says the same about TTT episodes, but one of today’s letters sees the Professor say this about some of his poems. Learn more ab...

Week 101 - Middle-earth Map Monday: An Unconsuming Fire

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the start of the next 100 weeks of Today’s Tolkien Times, with a Middle-earth Map Monday spent in the “window of some elven-tower, curt...

Week 100 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Sons of Galdor

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he celebrates his 600th episode of Today’s Tolkien Times, just in time to see Húrin and Huor rescued and taken to Gondo...

Week 100 - First Age Friday: Hasty Jottings

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we finally get Tuor’s passport stamped for Gondolin — and we learn a few more things that never made it off the scrap ...

Week 100 - Third Age Thursday: He Did Not Like It Much

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Part two of our look at the Haradrim in this series on Men of Darkness covers the long, conflict-filled history of the Third Age as the Men of the Har...

Week 100 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Mist of Fear

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he discovers there’s a lot less word-nerdery on Barahir’s companions than he’d expected. Learn more about your ad ch...

Week 100 - Tolkien Tuesday: Unmingled

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We move on from Tolkien’s beef with the Swedish translator (finally), with a look at another of Tolkien’s letters to Rhona Beare, with this one fe...

Week 100 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Saxifrages and Stonecrops

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for a milestone week of Today’s Tolkien Times, as he starts with a visit to the region of North Ithilien on Middle-earth Ma...

Week 099 - Silmarillion Saturday: A Measure of Truth

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he continues this series’ read-through Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin, as Sauron captures a strategi...

Week 099 - First Age Friday: Greater and More Lordly

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We return to yet another title that could (never) be said of The Man of the West. Join Alan as he drags Tuor through the Sixth and Seventh Gates, only...

Week 099 - Third Age Thursday: For a Different Purpose

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins an extended look at yet another group of the Men of Darkness: the Haradrim. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Week 099 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Baragund and Isildur’s Horse?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he discovers an unlikely connection in this week’s fan favorite Philology Faire… uh, Word-nerd Wednesday. (You heard t...

Week 099 - Tolkien Tuesday: A Farrago of Nonsense

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Once considered as a subtitle for Today’s Tolkien Times, today’s title is Tolkien’s response to a continued onslaught of silliness from a Swedis...

Week 099 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Haughty and Ungenerous

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most definitely not describing The Man of the West… right? Join Alan as he begins the 99th week of episodes for Today’s Tolkien Times with a look ...

Week 098 - Silmarillion Saturday: So By Perilous Paths

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s reading of “I hope I never have to do that”, we learn about the hero Emeldir and how her actions saved the future of Middle-earth...

Week 098 - First Age Friday: As Moonlight Through a Glimmering Mist

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we continue our climb through the Orfalch Echor, this time passing through the Gates of Iron and Silver. Learn more about ...

Week 098 - Third Age Thursday: Strong and War-hardened

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most assuredly not describing The Man of the West, today’s episode continues our look at the Easterlings over the last 500 years of the Third Age. L...

Week 098 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Back Away from the Elvish Dictionary, Sir

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he walks through the meanings of several important names from our readings in Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fin...

Week 098 - Tolkien Tuesday: Presumptuous Impertinence

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Often presumptuous, sometimes impertinent, but rarely both: The Man of the West continues his look at the beef between Tolkien and the Swedish transla...

Week 098 - Middle-earth Map Monday: How about Making-it-up Monday?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins Week 98 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a look at the port that keeps Minas Tirith going, the Harlond — and on...

Week 097 - Silmarillion Saturday: Great Was the Lamentation

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The sound of PPP and TTT fans when The Man of the West retires? Ha! Join Alan as Fingolfin meets his fate with courage, and Morgoth gets an owie he ca...

Week 097 - First Age Friday: No Escape… and No Returning

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We continue our journey with Tuor and Voronwë as they make their way from the First Gate up the Orfalch Echor with their guard guide, Elemmakil. Lear...

Week 097 - Third Age Thursday: Minds Filled with Hatred

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we begin a long look at another group of Men of Darkness; from Bór and Ulfang’s arrival in the First Age, the Easterlin...

Week 097 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Maybe Avoid the Fen of Serech?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he practically sprints through ten place names from our Silmarillion Saturday readings about the Ruin of Beleriand and the...

Week 097 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Should Make Him Apologize

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Man of the West is genuinely sorry; fortunately, Tolkien is talking about a Swedish interpreter of The Lord of the Rings instead. Learn more abou...

Week 097 - Middle-earth Map Monday: I Like Big Butteries

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he relives a Philology Faire of the past while walking you through the rest of the City of Minas Tirith: the Hall of Feast...

Week 096 - Silmarillion Saturday: And Morgoth Came

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The war goes badly for the Noldor, and Fingolfin finds himself knocking on the door of the most powerful being in Middle-earth as we continue our read...

Week 096 - First Age Friday: I Should Slay Him

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thankfully, nothing to do with The Man of the West in this title: just an acknowledgement that Voronwë has put his old friend in a hard spot as we co...

Week 096 - Third Age Thursday: Men of Twilight and Men of Darkness

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as he begins a dive into a new topic on Third Age Thursdays looking at different cultures of the race of Men in the Third Age...

Week 096 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Fëanor Felt Aggrieved

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What else is new, right? Join The Man of the West for a deep dive into the name of the first High King of the Noldor and a few other words from our re...

Week 096 - Tolkien Tuesday: Simple-Minded Folk (Like Myself)

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West as we continue our look into Tolkien’s letters and discover just how badly the Professor was irritated by a Swedish transla...

Week 096 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Falling Year by Year Into Decay

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yet another episode title that could be a quote from the text, or a reference to The Man of the West. Join Alan as he starts Series 13 of Today’s To...

Week 095 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Aboard the Balrog Train

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Choo-choo. Join The Man of the West as we discuss just how many balrogs there might have been on the southbound train from Angband and point out how B...

Week 095 - First Age Friday: Forgotten In My Own Land

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s always a title that could be read as applying to The Man of the West — but this is just Voronwë trying to make sure he and Tuor don’t g...

Week 095 - Third Age Thursday: A Token of Hope

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join The Man of the West for an in-depth look at the original Elessar, and the two backstories of the one given to Aragorn.  Learn more about your a...

Week 095 - Word-nerd Wednesday: But Wait, There’s More

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More names from Of Maeglin in this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday, including the names of Turgon’s wife and daughter — and of a Dwarven hall that’...