May
20
Faerie and Fantasy 26 is available! This time Dr. Olsen tackles J.R.R Tolkien’s “Smith of Wootton Major” and takes a look at the realm of Faerie. Find it and all the episodes of the Faerie and Fantasy class here, or listen on iTunes.
May
08
The long awaited next installment of Faerie and Fantasy 25 is available! Download it here, or listen on iTunes.
May
03
Dr. Olsen and Dave Kale sat down for an emergency recording of Riddles in the Dark following “The CinemaCon Controversy”, as it’s come to be known. Take a listen to Episode Eight for their takes on what was seen in the most recent footage!
Apr
28
After a slightly longer than usual delay, listeners will be delighted to know that Dr. Olsen and Dave Kale are back with another two installments of Riddles in the Dark. Episodes Six and Seven will cover the much rumored about “split” between the two upcoming Peter Jackson Hobbit films. Episode Seven even contains a special guest appearance by Fr. Roderick of SQPN! Listen to both today!
Apr
08
Faerie and Fantasy 24 continues with George McDonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin”, Chapters 11-20. Download it here.
Mar
28
At long last, Silmarillion Seminar Episode 21, “Random Things Mandos Said at a Party” (the second session on Chapter 19, “Of Beren and Luthien”) is now available for download.
Mar
23
The latest installment of Dr. Olsen’s Riddles in the Dark podcast series has just been posted over at Mythgard’s site. Take a listen as he and Dave Kale discuss “Bombur and Buffoonery” – the beginnings of the talks on how humor might be incorporated into Peter Jackson’s celluloid adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Mar
13
At last, Silmarillion Seminar Episode 20, “Thingol, Father of the Year” (on Chapter 19, “Of Beren and Luthien”) is now available for download.
Mar
09
Episode Four is now available!
Prof. Corey Olsen and Dave Kale finally get to the heart of the matter and discuss Thorin Oakenshield. They compare his different portrayals across The Hobbit, Appendix A of The Return of the King, and different versions of The Quest of Erebor and analyze how they may be combined and adapted by Peter Jackson’s team in the upcoming The Hobbit films. They focus in on his testy relationship with Gandalf, as well as his rivalry with Bilbo over the leadership of the group, and they speculate how the filmmakers may craft his story arc and character development. Finally, they zero in on one specific moment: will the filmmakers preserve Thorin’s early capture by the elves of Mirkwood, or will they add him to the battle with the spiders?
Prediction of the Week: How will Thorin end up in the Elvenking’s dungeon?
(A) Just as in the book: he will be taken by the elves prior to the spider conflict. (B) He will be captured with the rest of them, after the spider fight; they won’t be separated. (C) Neither of the above.Feb
22
Prof. Corey Olsen and Dave Kale tackle one of their favorite events in all of Middle-earth history: The Battle of Azanulbizar. Heroic deeds, cinematic taunts, slaughter and death, and, of course, the burned dwarves: they cover it all. They share some of their favorite passages from Appendix A of The Return of the King, delve into the geography of the valley of Azanulbizar and its appearance in The Lord of the Rings, and speculate about how the War of the Dwarves and the Orcs may factor into the The Hobbit film and its backstory. They also address listener feedback about Thrain and Thror and share the “shadow and a threat” that have been growing in their minds: will the filmmakers conflate the Battle of Azanulbizar and the Battle of Five Armies?
Listen to Episode 3 now!
