It's remarkable to come out of the Somme, after losing your best friends to a world-shattering war, and write a theodicy like the Music of the Ainur. The creation of the world, the Fall of Gondolin, and the transmission-narrative of the Cottage of Lost Play, all in 1917. One hell of an opening trio.

ANYWAY here’s @realtomemanuel.bsky.social incredible article: dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol...

Also, they do still die - I'm not sure that we should just skip over the trauma involved in dying a gruesome death just because they have the potential to be reembodied later. In some ways, their suffering is greater because there is no escape from it until the end of the earth.

In the book, they're busy fighting off the page - there are battles fought in Lothlórien and Mirkwood as well, we just aren't there for them.

Hi again Mercury - I'm not able to DM you, but I would also be interested in an update on this if there is anything you're able/willing to share. Especially in light of the seminar being silently postponed. (No worries if this isn't an appropriate ask, we are strangers after all.)

Robin Reid was asked to remove all references to whiteness in her paper abstract, and she kept the receipts.
robinareid.substack.com/p/response-t...

Thanks for posting about this, I'd missed it. Very discouraging decision-making here and, you're right, it doesn't jive with my experiences with the Society's members.

Book Aragorn has grown on me over time (especially with more familiarity with the historical influences), but I still agree with you - his entitlement is sometimes extremely uncomfortable as a modern reader, and the "reluctant hero" angle they used in the films is much more likable.