This week, the stories of Eärendil and the War of Wrath in Chapter XXIV of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. How does Tolkien stick the landing in the story of Beleriand and First Age? How do we understand the consequences of the Oath of Fëanor and the Doom of the Noldor? Are there hints of a happy ending?

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

Next week, the story of the Second Age and the Fall of Númenor in Akallabêth, live on YouTube on Thursday, July 3rd 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

To join me for the live YouTube broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support!

This week, the last city falls but a new hope is born in Chapter XXIII of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. How is Tuor different from the other heroes of the age? Why is the story, as presented in this book, so brief? Does Maeglin get the fate he deserves?

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

Next week, the end of the Quenta Silmarillion and the story of Eärendil in Chapter XXIV, live on YouTube on Thursday, June 26th at 9PM Central.

Footnotes:

• The Silmarillion
• Stars And Swords on YouTube
• The Silmarillion Unit Production Schedule
• Stars And Swords on Bookshop.org
• Atlas Of Middle-Earth, Karen Wynn Fonstad

To join me for the live YouTube broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support!

This week, things come undone in Chapters XXII of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. What do we make of the final fate of Húrin? How does the influence of Morgoth differ from that of the Silmarils? Could anything have saved Beleriand?

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

Next week, we discuss Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin in Chapter XXIII of the Quenta Silmarillion, live on YouTube on Thursday, June 19th 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

To join me for the live YouTube broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support!