This week, battle and bloodshed as we conclude the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and begin the story of Túrin Turambar in Chapters XX and XXI of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Why does foresight get so sharp at the moment of death? Is Morwen very good at naming children, or very bad? What are the literary and mythic inspirations behind Tolkien's most depressing story?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we conclude our discussion of Túrin with Chapter XXI of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, May 29th at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• The Children of Húrin
• The Story of Kullervo
• Color-Coded Item Quality in World of Warcraft

This week, we give up the promise of immortality as we reach the end of Chapter XIX and begin Chapter XX of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Why does the Lay of Leithian end where it does? Why are the sons of Fëanor so unkillable? Have we finally solved the mystery of the deadly hallowing?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we conclude our discussion of the battle of Unnumbered Tears and continue to the story of Turin in Chapters XX and XXI of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, May 22nd at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• Populations of Middle Earth in the First Age - Part 1: The Elves

This week, Beren and Lúthien reach the end of their story in Chapter XIX of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Why do our heroes keep trying to disguise themselves? Where does Lúthien's sleep-magic come from? Is Huan the Hound an under-celebrated character?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we conclude our discussion of Beren and Lúthien and chapter XIX of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, May 15th at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• Castle Panic
• Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor Launch Trailer

This week, love and tragedy in Chapter XIX of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Why is the tale of Beren and Lúthien such an important story? Are oaths always a bad thing? Why has no-one written a network TV sitcom about Thingol and Melian?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we conclude our discussion of Beren and Lúthien and chapter XIX of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, May 8th at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org

This week, we see the fall of Fingolfin and a new war in Beleriand in Chapter XVIII of the Quenta Silmarillion in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. How do we understand Tolkien's perspective on race? How much direct intervention can we credit to Manwë? What is Maeglin's problem with Men?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we discuss the most important story in Tolkien's legendarium, Beren and Lúthien in chapter XIX of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, May 1st at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• Dr. Dimitra Fimi
• Joseph Fink (@planetoffinks.bsky.social‬)
• J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment (Michael D.C. Drout)
• Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast

This week, we establish Maeglin in Gondolin and the Men in the West as we move through the end of Chapter XVII of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Does the Maeglin apple fall far from the Eöl tree? Why are the connections and distinctions between languages so important? What did the elves learn from the Valar when it comes to welcoming new arrivals?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we reach the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin in chapter XVIII of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Wednesday, April 24th at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org

This week, we get into the weeds as we attempt something ambitious, only to spend the whole episode in and around Nan Elmoth with the story of Maeglin in Chapter XVI of the Quenta Silmarillion. Why is the suppression of language so important? How does Tolkien's essentialism change the way we understand this book? How much dramatic irony are we supposed to detect in the wisdom of our heroes?

This week, we fast forward four hundred years, then rewind to see what really happened as we try to make it to the end of Chapter XV of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. What does Glaurung have in common with the Balrogs? Why does Ulmo whisper instructions to Turgon and Finrod? Does this book really pass the Bechdel-Wallace test?

To see the video broadcast of this episode, click here; to see the slides, click here!

Next week, we continue our journey with everything to the end of Chapters XVI and XVII of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Wednesday, April 10th at 8PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• LOTRProject.com
• The Bechdel-Wallace Test