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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-25 07:23 pm

Book of Lost Tales Promo Post

A brick cottage on a quiet country road. There is a low wooden fence along the unpaved road, and flowers in the front garden.

(written by [personal profile] dawn_felagund )

Summary: Tolkien began writing the "Silmarillion" as a young man in the trenches of World War I. The Book of Lost Tales are the stories he penned during this period of his life and represent his earliest work on the "Silmarillion." Many of the familiar tales are already present in their early form: the cosmic conflict between the Valar and Melkor, the tale of Beren and Lúthien, and the Fall of Gondolin, to name just three. These stories are embedded in a frame narrative where the Anglo-Saxon mariner Eriol ends up visiting Eressëa and hearing a series of stories from the Elven residents there. The Lost Tales were never finished in their entirety, so while some of the early stories are complete, others are fragmentary or just outlines. Each tale is accompanied by commentary from Christopher Tolkien, who edited the collection.

Why Should I Check Out This Canon? The Lost Tales are recognizably "Silmarillion" stories, yet they differ greatly in style and tone from Tolkien's later work. They are more whimsical and more like the Victorian fairy-stories that Tolkien later denigrated. Magical elements abound, and the texts are more playful than the more sober "Silmarillion" texts Tolkien would write in the decades to come. In addition, they contain copious detail, especially about the Valar and Maiar, their homes in Valinor, and their adventures against Melkor.

For creators who work with the published Silmarillion, the Lost Tales can provide canon details that expand what is available in The Silmarillion (Nienna lives in a hall constructed of bat wings!) or deviate from it in surprising and delightful ways (Sauron is the prince of cats!)

Where Can I Get This? The Book of Lost Tales comprise the first two volumes of the History of Middle-earth series. They are available as both print and ebooks. For a reader not up for two volumes of sometimes dense reading, individual stories stand well on their own.

What Fanworks Already Exist? There is no tag on AO3 specifically for The Book of Lost Tales. Creators use several different Tolkien tags to mark these works. On AO3, you may have luck finding Lost Tales fanworks here. The #book of lost tales tag on Tumblr has more fanworks.

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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-24 07:35 am

Sellic Spell Promo Post

A man dressed in Early Middle Ages style furs and helmet holding a sword.

(Written by [personal profile] narya_flame )

Summary: Sellic Spell ('strange tale', 'wondrous tale') is a short prose tale which attempts to reconstruct the folk story behind Beowulf, and also draws inspiration from the Norse Hrólfs saga kraka.  It mostly follows the plot of Beowulf, up to the death of Grendel's mother.

Why should I check out this canon? If you're a fan of folk tales and fairy stories, and/or you're interested in Beowulf and Tolkien's responses to that text, this one is for you!  It has magic and horror, heroism and treachery, treasure and monsters, and can be read and enjoyed on its own merits, whether you're familiar with the source material or not.  For the linguistically minded, the 2016 edition of Tolkien's Beowulf also includes the Old English version of the tale - and if your comfort zone is the Middle-earth legendarium, there are plenty of little links you'll pick up on as you read.

Where can I get this? The manuscript is held at the Bodleian library, but for those of us who can't access the Oxford special collections, it was published in 2016 alongside Tolkien's translation of Beowulf.  It's also available as a free PDF courtesy of the Internet Archive.

What fanworks already exist? At the moment there are three fanworks on AO3 - a drabble from the point of view of the Queen of the Golden Hall, an encounter between the Queen and Grinder's mother, and a crossover with The Hobbit which blends the tale with the history of the Beornings.



daughterofshadows: A photograph of a nebula and stars (Default)
daughterofshadows ([personal profile] daughterofshadows) wrote in [community profile] silwritersguild2025-07-23 10:56 pm

Mereth Aderthad Zine Now Available!

Mereth Aderthad Zine Now Available

In the early years of fandom, creators shared their stories, art, and other fanworks in handmade fanzines. Often printed on the cheap and assembled by volunteers at zine-making parties, these zines brought fans around the world in contact with each other and kept fan communities alive.

Honoring the tradition of our foremothers, when we planned Mereth Aderthad 2025, we wanted a fanzine to go with it. Works in the zine respond to the twelve presentations given at Mereth Aderthad.

We are very excited to make the Mereth Aderthad fanzine available to download for anyone who would like to check it out! The zine features thirteen stories, five poems, and nine works of art and was beautifully designed by Anérea. While some of the fanworks were heard at Mereth Aderthad, others are brand-new and available to enjoy for the first time.

You can download a copy of the Mereth Aderthad 2025 fanzine here!


elwinfortuna: (all shall fade)
Elwin ([personal profile] elwinfortuna) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-23 10:03 am

Leaf By Niggle Promo Post

Summary

Have you ever really really wanted to just be working on your fanfiction or fanart but instead you have some mundane life stuff like working at a job and keeping on top of your housecleaning that you have to do, and you just absolutely resent it? Well, then you’ll know how Niggle feels. He’s always thinking about his art, but he’s got duties to attend to, a neighbour who needs help, and a Journey to go on.

Why Should I Check Out This Canon?

This short story, a rare attempt at allegory from professed allegory-hater JRR Tolkien, is a touching and heartfelt look at the way that inspiration and duty clash, finding friendship in unlikely places, the joy of creation, and the unknown impact that what a person makes can have. It’s very Catholic in some ways but is overall a heartwarming and beautiful little story with some very funny bits. There’s also shipping potential!

Where Can I Get This?

Available either on its own or as part of the compilations Tree and Leaf or Tales from the Perilous Realm wherever books are generally sold. It is also available as an audiobook narrated by Derek Jacobi. Leaf By Niggle can also be found in the Internet Archive’s copy of Tales from the Perilous Realm.

What Fanworks Already Exist?

There are 7 fanworks archived at AO3. I was only able to find a few pieces of fanart (such as this rendering of Leaf, by Niggle)when I looked around; this canon is about an artist, and has incredibly evocative imagery. As such, it definitely needs more fanart!
elwinfortuna: (one ring you know you want it)
Elwin ([personal profile] elwinfortuna) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-22 10:08 am

Farmer Giles of Ham Promo Post

Summary

Farmer Giles is a simple soul in a world of clever dragons, arrogant kings, fancy knights, and massive giants. He has his blunderbuss and he has his dog, and that’s good enough for him. This is the story of how an unlikely farmer becomes the Darling of the Land, complete with wordplay, an overabundance of names, and a legendary sword.

Why Should I Check Out This Canon?

Farmer Giles of Ham is a very funny and witty short story with a dragon to rival Smaug in Chrysophylax Dives, a very silly dog named Garm, and a pun to cap the whole thing off. If you’ve ever wondered why the river Thames is spelled like that but pronounced like Tames, this story provides one explanation for you!

There is potential for some fun stories involving worldbuilding, gapfillers, or further adventures, or art depicting the dragon, the dog, Farmer Giles himself, or the landscapes.

Where Can I Get This?

Farmer Giles of Ham is available for purchase as a book on its own, or as part of Tales from the Perilous Realm or The Tolkien Reader. It is also online as part of the Internet Archive’s copy of Tales from the Perilous Realm.

What Fanworks Already Exist?

There are currently 4 fanworks available on AO3. There is also some fanart to be found, such as this one of the Mock Dragon's Tail at the Christmas Feast.
grundyscribbling: white stars on a light blue background (stars)
grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-21 07:37 am

The New Shadow Promo Post

A castle doorway leading down into darkness, seen through an archway through a thick wall.
(written by [personal profile] zorbo_jorks ) 

Summary: The New Shadow is an unfinished manuscript for a sequel to Lord of the Rings, published in The Peoples of Middle Earth (ch. 10). Tolkien only ever wrote 12 pages for the sequel, detailing a scene between Borlas and Saelon, two men of Gondor living in Minas Tirith in 220 F.A., well into the reign of King Eldarion. Borlas meets Saelon, who is a friend of the former’s son, and they discuss an orc cult that has begun to grow in popularity in recent years. Tolkien is stated to not have finished the story because he felt that plunging Middle Earth back into a “dark era” after the war of the ring didn’t match the ethos of the work preceding it (but personally, I would have liked to see where he took the idea!).

Why should I check out this canon? Though it was abandoned by Tolkien, there are some very interesting bits of worldbuilding in The New Shadow that aren't really in other Legendarium texts, including orc cults and development of Gondorian society after the reign of Elessar! There is also some great potential for Human and Orc OCs, and exploring the longer-term aftermath of The War of the Ring.

Where can I get this? It is published as chapter 16 of The Peoples of Middle Earth (part 4), which you can source through:

What fanworks exist already?

  • There is no specific tag on AO3, but there are 7 works that contain the characters specific to TNS (you can find them by searching character tags for Borlas and/or Saelon). Of those works, most seem to be fannish takes on a continuation of TNS, or Post-War of the Ring AUs in which they simply appear. These fics appear under an assortment of General Tolkien fandom tags, including “The Lord of the Rings – All Media Types” and “TOLKIEN, J. R. R. – Works & Related Fandoms”.
  • There is 1 fic on FFN featuring Borlas and Eldarion (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12684653/1/The-Beginnings).
  • Unsure about fic posted elsewhere, but my assumption is that it is just as scant.


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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-20 07:16 pm
Entry tags:

Nominations

There are two phases of the exchange before matching happens and assignments go out. The first phase is nominations, the second is sign-ups. Nominations are how we assemble the tagset for the exchange - in other words, the options people can request or offer when they sign up.


Nominations


Whether you're firmly planning on participating, not sure if you'll sign up, or just lurking but hoping to see particular elements in fanworks in the collection, you are invited to nominate.

The only requirement to nominate is that you have an AO3 account. (If you do not have an AO3 account and would like to create one so you can participate, let the mods know if you need an invite code.)


  • You may nominate up to 20 fandoms, with a maximum of 10 character tags and 10 worldbuilding tags per fandom.
  • When nominating, please copy and paste the fandom names from the list below. We use several fandoms that are not canonical in the AO3 sense, and AO3 is very precise about tags. (Extra spaces and en-dash vs em-dash have been issues in past rounds.)
  • Do not accept suggestions from AO3 about fandom names - use the names and abbreviations given in the list at the end of this post.
  • Check the tagset before nominating to be sure your character or group has not already been nominated! AO3 will not allow exact duplicates, but it also will not warn you if you are repeating an existing nomination in a slightly different form. We do our best to approve tags quickly, so the tag list will generally be up to date.
  • There are two types of tags you can nominate, Character and Worldbuilding. Please read the explanations below before nominating to ensure your nominations are accepted!

Character Nominations )
Fandoms )
Example Character Nominations )
Worldbuilding Nominations )
Previous Tagsets )
Fandoms List )
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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-20 06:33 pm

The Fall of Arthur Promo Post

The Gallos sculpture at Tintagel, with the sea in the background.
(Written by [personal profile] hhimring )

Summary: The Fall of Arthur is a narrative poem in alliterative metre by Tolkien. It takes elements from different Arthurian works and sources and recombines them in a way that is all Tolkien's own. As the title says, the subject is the collapse of Arthur's rule through betrayal and his death. It is not complete but reached quite a fair length (a bit less than 1000 lines, in 5 cantos), and there are some of Tolkien's working notes for the unwritten end included in the edition.

Why should I check out this canon: As a kind of crossover, this work is likely to be especially interesting to those who have an interest in Arthur, Gawain, and the other Arthurian characters more generally. Tolkien is partly inspired by some less well-known medieval sources, so it may be a fresh angle on Arthurian lore to readers for that reason, too. Particularly interesting and original is the complex shading of Tolkien's portrait of Guinevere. The work will also appeal to those who like Tolkien's other narrative poems or read works in modern alliterative verse. There is some great storm imagery and description in there, for instance. The piece is also interesting as demonstrating one of the sources of inspiration for Tolkien that have received less attention than the Germanic tradition. The poem could both inspire further Arthuriana and crossovers with Tolkien’s non-Arthurian works.

Where can I get this? This is one of the lesser-known works of Tolkien, partly because it was published quite late, even though its existence was known much earlier. The text is available in a hardcover edition, with a significant amount of supplementary material for those who wish to delve deeper. An electronic copy of this is also available on the Internet Archive to those with print disabilities. It is also possible to get a taster by hunting down some substantial quotations online, as the online reviews that appeared on its publication tend to do a fair amount of quoting.

What fanworks already exist?

There are currently six works in the AO3 tag, of which four are crossovers with other Tolkien works (one is a poem) and one is a moodboard.



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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-19 08:26 am

War of the Rohirrim Promo Post

(written by [tumblr.com profile] ridingforrohan )

Summary: War of the Rohirrim is a 2024 animated movie covering the events that led to the transition from the first to the second line of Rohan's kings. The movie covers some of the events briefly summarized in Appendix A of Return of the King. This story explores the conflict between Rohan and Dunland, gives us a glimpse into Rohan's history told as an epic tale, and gives us a cast of compelling characters. It's a tale of dark times, love and loyalty, and of hope. Despite being animated it ties back to the Jackson Trilogy with visuals and musical themes that have a nostalgic feel. The design choices really feel authentically connected to the Rohan we know from the live action movies and Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn to narrate the tale as if recounting it to her own children. While not perfectly faithful to the book, the changes make narrative sense and overall the story feels at home in Middle Earth. The movie leaves lots of questions unanswered and plenty of room for fan authors to fill in details and humanize the characters by fleshing them out a bit more.

Why should I check out this canon?

For starters the character design is stunning. Héra, her brothers and cousin are incredibly easy on the eyes (and ready to be shipped with your OC). The line of Eorl certainly delivers on looks. The animation is fun, if you can forgive some rather clunky looking horses. I feel like it helps lend to the separation from the characters that helps the story feel like one being told and not being seen. Meanwhile the sound design is spectacular, with a new score that thoughtfully integrates themes from the live action movies. It's a fast paced adventure that packs a lot of action and sentiment into a 2 hour and 15 minute run time. Even if you are skeptical of the anime format, I think the story is worth your time.

Where can I get this?

War of the Rohirrim is available to stream on HBO Max, and can be bought digitally or hardcopy wherever media is sold online. The first 10 minutes can be watched for free on Youtube here.

What fanworks already exist?

At the time of this posting there are 98 works for the fandom on AO3 with some active long fics and a wide range of ratings. The story leaves a lot of room for interpretation, many opportunities for fix it fics, and so much more. There is also some fanart to be found under the War of the Rohirrim tag on Tumblr (including mine of Fréaláf, seen above)! I adore this fandom and would love to see more people engaged.

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grundyscribbling ([personal profile] grundyscribbling) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-18 08:43 am
Entry tags:

Pearl Promo Post

(written by [personal profile] narya_flame )

Summary:  Like Sir Orfeo and Sir Gawain, this is a late Middle English poem (written in a North-West Midlands dialect of Middle English).  A grieving father experiences a dream-vision of a beautiful maiden.  She tries to explain the glories of heaven to him, but he cannot comprehend them, and on trying to join her, he wakes up.  He is left consoled and reflecting on his faith.

Tolkien encountered the poem as a student, and both taught and translated it as a scholar.  Its elegiac tone will feel familiar to fans of Tolkien’s work, and while the text itself is dense, it’s well worth reading, re-reading and unpacking.

Why should I check out this canon:  If you’re interested in the texts Tolkien read and absorbed, and how they shaped the tone and content of his mythology, this is definitely one for your list. It’s is a smaller, more reflective Tolkien text: there's no cast of thousands, no epic adventures, but still plenty to explore. Who sent the Dream Vision? Who is the Pearl Poet – are they also the Gawain poet, or are they someone else? Is the poem an elegy, an allegory, both? Something completely different? Where is the Pearl-maiden, what is her name, and what are the circumstances where the boundaries between life and death might thin to allow for communication?

I think this text lends itself beautifully to unusual fanwork formats, so if that’s your thing, definitely get hold of a copy!  You could potentially go for some in-universe meta here (people much brighter than me have pointed out that part of the poem reads like a lapidary). For art, you could try out something like a medieval illumination, or an illustration in the style of a stained glass window - or calligraphy of a passage you particularly like.  If you’re into the idea of Middle-earth crossovers, there’s plenty of pearl imagery in the legendarium to provide you with links, from Alqualondë to the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl (some online scholars have even found connections between the narrator and Gollum!)

Where can I get this?Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, together with Pearl and Sir Orfeo was first published in 1975, so there are several editions available – try your preferred bookshop, online retailer, or public library.  The 1975 edition is available as a PDF on the Internet Archive.  There is also a free copy of Tolkien's translation on Allpoetry.com.

What fanworks already exist?  None that I could find!  You could be first!

elwinfortuna: (Aragorn gold glitter)
Elwin ([personal profile] elwinfortuna) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-17 10:29 am

Born of Hope Promo Post

Summary:

Born of Hope is a fan film from the UK, directed and produced by the same team that created The Hunt for Gollum, and was released in 2009. This film covers the circumstances of Gilraen and Arathorn's marriage and the early childhood of Aragorn. It is a canon-accurate story, also including some original characters and events.

Why should I check out this canon?

Are you interested in Aragorn, Gilraen, or the Dúnedain of the North before the events of The Lord of the Rings? Would you be intrigued by the idea of a female Ranger fighting alongside Arathorn? In addition to imbuing the characters of Gilraen, Arathorn, Arador, Dirhael, and Ivorwen with personality and life, this film also introduces us to several interesting original characters such as Elgarain, a friend and fellow Ranger with Arathorn, Dirhaborn, another Ranger who loves her, Halbarad's parents, several others who live in the small village of Taurdal, and a number of Orcs who are clearly having a great deal of fun with their roles. We also get to briefly see Elladan and Elrohir!

This 70-minute film, though it is clearly a fan film, is written and produced with a lot of love and heart. The story is interesting, the acting is very good, and the action feels realistic. I very much recommend it and have watched it several times. Born of Hope won the 2010 London Independent Film Festival award for 'Best Micro-Budget Film.'

Where can I get this?

Born of Hope is available for free on YouTube from Independent Online Cinema.

What fanworks already exist?

There are 10 works so far on AO3 for this fandom, many of them centred around Elgarain and her experiences, some set before the events of the film, and some which are canon-divergence.
elwinfortuna: (Aragorn gold glitter)
Elwin ([personal profile] elwinfortuna) wrote in [community profile] innumerable_stars2025-07-16 08:34 am

The Hunt for Gollum Promo Post

Summary

The Hunt for Gollum is a fan film from the UK, directed and produced by the same team that created Born of Hope, and released in 2009. This 40 minute film covers events from the LOTR appendices about Aragorn's search for and capture of Gollum. Please note this has nothing whatsoever to do with the forthcoming film(s) from Peter Jackson entitled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Why Should I Check Out This Canon?

It fleshes out an aspect of the story we only really hear about in passing, adds some fun additional original characters that would be enjoyable to hear more about, and gives a new perspective on Aragorn.

Where Can I Get This?

It's available on YouTube here: The Hunt for Gollum. Please note that this is a version uploaded in 2019 with improved audio and a slightly different edit to the original.

What Fanworks Already Exist?

None yet! You could be the first! Although there are a few fanworks depicting this event based on the LOTR books or movies, there is nothing dealing with events as portrayed in this short film.