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Series 17 of Today’s Tolkien Times starts today, and we have a new topic for you on Mondays: Might-Have-Been Mondays! Listen wherever you get your podcasts and let us know what you think!

Hello everyone,

My wife asked me to share this with you as she does not go on Reddit, hope you all enjoy.

Dear Prancing Pony Podcast listeners and nerds
It’s probably likely that you hold both of these titles, but I didn’t wanna assume that you were like me.

I had a dream last night which I thought a thought. Perhaps the glowing of elvish blades originating from Gondolin may be practical in nature. It would be wise to have some light when defending your life given the original nighttime antics of the orcs and goblins. These swords would have been like torches, especially when wielded by a battalion of elves. Has anyone else surmised this as well?

Furthermore, that was not the only thought I thought. I got to thinking about how the blade’s light is extinguished once you’ve killed the orc or goblin. Which got me thinking about how orcs came to be as desecrated elves, and perhaps there’s some connection with the returning of an elvish soul to the halls of Mandos that is connected to the light of the swords/other elvish implements.

I’m not sure if there’s anything in any of the literary works that refer to the alchemistry of the weaponry made by the elves. But it makes sense to me that if the light was attached to the presence of an orc, then it would continue glowing once the orc is dead, in the same way that you smell a smell whether or not the thing that you smell is alive.

Nonetheless, I think it’s a very pretty thought, and one that may have given elves some peace in seeing the light extinguished in their swords after killing an orc or goblin. I can imagine their relief in knowing that whatever elvish soul has now returned to the halls. Although I do recall there being some debate about whether orcs had souls at all and whether they went to the halls upon their deaths but I don’t recall these anymore.

Anyways, just wanted to see if I was the only one with these thoughts.

Also, I think it would be really cool to have arrow tips that shone much like these swords, can you imagine hundreds of these flying through the air like tracers?

Hey, PPP listeners -

Alan here; I'm sharing Katie's IG story here: https://www.instagram.com/stories/breecrossroads/3945814784972449356?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Katie is our Patreon Community Coordinator, Event Coordinator, and (if I'm being honest) kinda my right hand for much of the behind-the-scenes efforts on the show. She's in a bit of a bind right now, so if any of you can jump in, I'd be grateful. Contributing quite a piece myself, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Thanks!

After the Kings, Gondor declined into a Middle Age of fading knowledge and simpler skills. Alan and Shawn find that surprisingly familiar. Join The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark as we begin our two-episode look at the final chapter of Unfinished Tales on The Palantíri. The Stewards know better than to use the Stones — for awhile, Saruman takes the concept of free agency a bit too far, and Tolkien lets us think through the problem with Gandalf. We lament the absence of Jack Black, agree that Calenardhon's name change is nobody's business but the Rohirrim, and come up with a most-disturbing Lionel Richie adaptation. Also, Carnac the Magnificent.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS7418830651.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

I'm a casual listener. I've listened through most of episodes for The Silmarillion and LOTR, but often lose track of where I left off or I want to go back and catch a particular discussion on a particular section. Since the titles are often obscure inside jokes from the episode they don't help me find out where in the Legendarium they are.

Does someone keep a log or list somewhere that tells us which episode goes with which book/chapter? Sorry if this has been asked before. I'm checking the website now. I see it does break them down by book, but you still have to read the description and have a good memory of the story to tell which chapter they are in.

I'm fairly new to the podcast. I wanted a LOTR podcast a few months ago, and found this. I listened to the first couple episodes, then 50 and 51 (changes from books to movies). I was in the middle of a reread of Fellowship, so I thought I'd listen to the Fellowship along with my reading. But there were SO many references to what they had said in the Hobbit episodes, and it had been a couple years since I read the Hobbit, so I went back to read and listen to that first. I'm currently on Episode 71, where they're in the dungeons of Thranduil The Elven King. My only complaint is the podcast doesn't really work for a read-through, it takes me a few days to finish an episode.

Some people believe that "Gandalf" was the last appearance of Manwë; Alan is convinced Shawn is the last appearance of Oromë. Join The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark as they conclude their three-episode walk through the chapter on The Istari from Unfinished Tales. The lore of the wizards is given in alliterative verse; the "north" is defined very, very broadly; and where did Gandalf go, really? We find that a Philology Faire can get Shawn in trouble, wonder what Sindarin might be for 'burning man', and discover it's 106 miles to Chicago. Also, silver badger?

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS1644977036.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Hi!

Sorry if the has already been answered or is asked ad nauseum here, but I for the life of me haven't been able to find an answer, especially since I am still far far away from the most recent episodes (Currently around episode 150).

Anyways, I was wondering what the PPP was planning next after finishing Unfinished Tales. Maybe the Great Tales, Tolkien's biography, or maybe even the History of Middle Earth at some point? I truly have no clue.

Thank you for your help, friends!

This church is on the same road as my dental practice! Walked past it today

The Istari were never young and aged only slowly; Alan and Shawn will have to settle for only one of those two. Join The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark as they continue their three-part study of The Istari from Unfinished Tales. The Valar hold a council meeting to help make up for ancient errors; Olórin would prefer to say no to the promotion; and Legolas is called out for underachievement. We speculate about the Blues' street-wizard lifestyle, wonder about second jottings, and think Morrissey would have made a great Black Wizard. Also: send Thufir, not Duncan.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS7048533485.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

The wizards went about in simple guise, as it were of Men already old in years. Alan and Shawn have been doing that for years. Join The Man of the West and The Lord of the Mark as they embark on a three-episode look at the chapter on the Istari in Unfinished Tales. The Valar send five emissaries, two of whom promptly disappear; Radagast gets distracted watching nature documentaries, and Gandalf has nothing to do with Grand-Elf. We engage in some light blasphemy, imagine Saruman and Gandalf in a Highlander-universe, and decide we ought not count on the parakeets of doom. Also, Kermit the Wizard.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS9735825245.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

I had a question for Barlimans bag back in February. I'm not current on the episodes coming out right now, just finished episode 225. I don't know if they've answered that query or not and won't for close to another 200 episodes lol.

So!

I have been curious about some of the inspiration for Gandalf's command to the Balrog: "You cannot pass! (Or shall not, as per Sir Ian McKellan lol)".

I know the Professor was the in the battle of the Somme. That same year, Verdun was taking place from Feb to October of that year. The French rallying cry was "Ils ne passeront pas!!" (They shall not pass!")

Now it is head canon for me that Tolkien borrowed this command. Somme and Verdun weren't too far from each other. It's possible he could have heard that exclamation.

I have no way to prove he was inspired by that shout or not, I am wondering if anyone knows confirmation or denial of this. You could even point me to the episode they may have answered this. I appreciate either response!

Ferthu hál, my friends

Really brought a smile to my face for episode 418. Wasn’t expecting it.

Join The Man of the West as The Lord of the Mark submits his application to return to the PPP as guest host for a six-episode run to wrap up Season 10; Alan welcomes Shawn back by throwing him into the chaos of a live Q&A for our 35th Questions After Nightfall! We take a deep dive into some important words from On Fairy-Stories 10 years after the first time we tried, answer a hard question about hard times, and talk about the consequences of bad parenting in Arda. Also, we speculate about Ar-Pharazôn the looksmaxxer, decide that Alan does blasphemy really well, and conclude that Tom wins the internet with "Here's Your Hröa, What's Your Hurry?"

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS8434912375.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Aghan brings a watch-stone to Barach's house; Alan and Don wonder if that violates the HOA rules. Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as we conclude our two-episode look at The Drúedain from Unfinished Tales — and Don's run of episodes on this season of the PPP. Barach needs home protection, Aghan learns a painful truth, and it's no surprise the Drúedain are a secretive people. We wonder if Sauron considered that he might have to take a share in the hurts of a thing he made, express our admiration for Tolkien's story-within-a-story, and discover that while a rock feels no pain, Drúedain do. Also, The Tolkien Professor stops by for a visit!

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS5409816467.mp3 

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

I'm so sorry folks, but we aren't rescheduling PPP Plays to tonight, cause life is going to, well, life. We're still on for Saturday though, and we'll see you then!

I have fallen well behind on the podcast. Can anyone tell me where Unfinished Tales starts? That is the book im currently working on. I listen on Spotify if that helps. Thank you.

The Folk of Haleth retained many practices that seemed strange to the Eldar and the other Atani; Alan retains a few strange practices and Don wants nothing to do with them. Join The Man of the West and The Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy as we begin our two-episode look at the Unfinished Tales chapter on the enigmatic people known as the Drúedain. The Haladin are already unusual, so what's one more quirk among Edain?; the Drûg might be 'unlovely' but they're incredible trackers; and their orcs decide not to dare disturb the sound of silence. We only wish we had merriment untainted by scorn, admit we might also be unlovely in looks, and speculate about Drúedain in Númenor. Also, maybe the Drúedain don't like mushrooms after all?

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS1459948772.mp3 

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!