Saruman did not come to Middle-earth as a villain. That is easy to forget. By the time most readers meet him fully, he is already deep in treachery. He has imprisoned Gandalf. He has taken Isengard for himself. He has bred armies, cut trees, searched for the Ring, and wrapped himself in a vision of … Read more
Sauron was not easily deceived. He was ancient, watchful, and deeply learned in the hidden structures of the world. He had survived the ruin of Beleriand, the downfall of Númenor, the loss of the One Ring, and long centuries of rebuilding in shadow. By the end of the Third Age, very little in Middle-earth escaped … Read more
Most people think Sméagol became Gollum because of the Ring. And in one sense, that is true. The Ring stretched his life, poisoned his mind, drove him into secrecy, and consumed almost everything that had once been natural in him. By the time Bilbo meets him under the Misty Mountains, there is barely a recognizable … Read more
It is mentioned clearly enough that readers are meant to notice it. And then it disappears. There is no scene in which it is taken from him. No explanation of its powers. No warning about its danger. No note in the early Fourth Age telling us where it ended up, who found it, or whether … Read more
The end of The Two Towers is one of the cruelest cliffhangers in The Lord of the Rings. Frodo has been stung by Shelob. Sam has fought the spider off in a desperate struggle. Believing his master dead, he has made the almost unbearable decision to take the Ring and continue the Quest alone. For a few terrible … Read more
At first glance, Shadow of Mordor seems like it should belong. It is set in the dark years before the War of the Ring. Sauron is rising again. Mordor is filling with Orcs and captains. Gollum is still wandering in search of the Ring. And the story reaches backward into one of the most important names in … Read more
Most readers notice it sooner or later. Sauron.Saruman. The names look and sound close enough that they almost seem designed to echo one another. Both begin with the same sharp sound. Both belong to powerful enemies in The Lord of the Rings. Both are associated with command, fear, craft, and corruption. So it is natural to … Read more
When Bilbo Baggins first returned to the Shire with a magic ring, Gandalf did not immediately cry doom. That can feel strange. After all, Gandalf was one of the Wise. He knew the history of Sauron. He knew of the Rings of Power. He understood, better than almost anyone in the Shire could have imagined, … Read more
When Faramir wakes in the Houses of Healing, he says something that can feel almost impossible on a first reading. He opens his eyes, sees Aragorn bending over him, and calls him king. Not captain.Not healer.Not lord of some distant people. King. “My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?” It … Read more
At first, the question seems simple. Why doesn’t Galadriel go to Arwen’s wedding? Arwen is her granddaughter. Aragorn is the heir of the ancient kings. Their marriage is one of the great turning points at the end of the Third Age. It unites the line of Elrond with the restored kingship of Gondor and Arnor. … Read more