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  • The Silmarillion 12: Location, Location, Location

    The Silmarillion 12: Location, Location, Location

    Apr 3, 2025

    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.

  • The Silmarillion 11: Ashes To Ashes

    The Silmarillion 11: Ashes To Ashes

    Mar 28, 2025

    This week, we face battle and bloodshed in Beleriand in Chapters XIII and XIV of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.

  • The Silmarillion Q&A: Machinery Of Government And Industry

    The Silmarillion Q&A: Machinery Of Government And Industry

    Mar 25, 2025

    In this bonus Q&A, we address the issue of inheritance among the immortal elves, the lost story of Lady of Lothlórien, the political infrastructure of The Shire, and the official power ranking of the Valar!

  • The Silmarillion 10: Here Comes The Sun

    The Silmarillion 10: Here Comes The Sun

    Mar 19, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with Chapters XI and XII, including the creation of the sun and the moon, the securing of Valinor, and the awakening of Men.

  • The Silmarillion 9: Doom

    The Silmarillion 9: Doom

    Mar 9, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the end of Chapter IX and all of Chapter X, including the Doom of the Noldor, a quick recap of three thousand years of the elves back in Beleriand, and some cosmic renovation.

  • The Silmarillion 8: Kin And King

    The Silmarillion 8: Kin And King

    Mar 3, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the end of Chapter VIII and all of Chapter IX, including the the darkening of Valinor, the theft of the Silmarils, and the violence and tragedy which follows.

  • The Silmarillion 7: The Darkening

    The Silmarillion 7: The Darkening

    Feb 21, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the the forging of the Silmarils, domestic discord in the House of Finwë, and the secret origins of Tolkien’s most terrifying creation.

  • The Silmarillion 6: Spirit Of Fire

    The Silmarillion 6: Spirit Of Fire

    Feb 14, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the logistics of crossing the Great Sea, our introduction to Fëanor and the family of Finwë, and the subtlety of Melkor.

  • The Silmarillion Q&A: The Idea Of Fighting

    The Silmarillion Q&A: The Idea Of Fighting

    Feb 11, 2025

    In this bonus episode, we discuss the location of the Far Heaven, the nature of the Ainur, the absence of dwarves and a vision of medieval utopia.

  • The Silmarillion 5: The Elves, Themselves

    The Silmarillion 5: The Elves, Themselves

    Feb 7, 2025

    This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the secret origins of dwarves and ents, the battle against Melkor and the Sundering of the Elves across Middle-Earth.

  • The Silmarillion 4: Arda Marred

    The Silmarillion 4: Arda Marred

    Jan 31, 2025

    This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Days Before Days, time and space (and calendars and maps), and the paradox of free will.

  • The Silmarillion Pop Quiz: The Valaquenta

    The Silmarillion Pop Quiz: The Valaquenta

    Jan 26, 2025

    In this special bonus episode, test your knowledge of the Valar and the Maiar, the relationships between them, and a few other things besides!

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Stars and Swords

Stars and Swords is a weekly, listener-supported, ad-free podcast dedicated to the exploration, analysis and celebration of genre fiction.

Stars and Swords is a production of the Next Word podcast network.

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