The Prancing Pony Podcast

Christopher Tolkien tells us that the manuscripts for this story are “in great, though hardly exceptional, confusion” — so it seems this podcast is in good company. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin to sort through the various versions of the story of The Hunt for the Ring as our four-part look at the chapter continues. The Nazgûl, it seems, have an unexpected weakness; Sauron decides speed is more important than secrecy, but it’s already late in the game; and Gollum successfully hides in Moria after a failed jailbreak-slash-murder attempt. We talk about shooting nerds in a barrel, speculate about Sauron’s pro-con list, and examine the couch cushions of the Anduin. Also, you got lucky, babe, when you found us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saruon had never paid heed to the halflings, even if he had heard of them — and Matt still doesn’t pay heed to Alan, even if he works with him. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin our four-part dive into the chapter The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Sauron hesitates to unleash his most powerful servants; the Witch-king is workin’ on a mystery, goin’ wherever it leads; and Saruman felt so good, like anything was possible — he’s just wrong. We decide that we won’t walk 900 miles with a Gollum in our bag, imagine that Sauron has short little T-Rex arms, and wonder if traveling naked is really the best idea. Also, an idea for a new carnival snack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes The Nerd of the Rings for his run of episodes this season by throwing him into the deep end of a Live Q&A in the PPP Common Room for our 34th Questions After Nightfall! Matt and Alan decide to crash several legendarium weddings, but we skip Túrin’s: we know too much. We answer an interesting question about what the Tolkien fandom will look like in 500 years, decide to film a documentary in Rivendell, and argue whether being voted your school’s “safest driver” is an insult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treebeard and the unnamed King of Lórien set bounds between them; Alan and James clearly know no bounds. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we conclude our six-episode look at The History of Galadriel and Celeborn in Unfinished Tales. Fangorn will walk where he wants to; of the Gwathló, we learn that the river is wide and it’s too hard to cross (especially in the middle of the night); Celeborn is (we guess) surprised to find the meaning of his name has been changed. We imagine Treebeard on the local HOA board, ask what Tolkien meant by Númenórean power arriving “in time”, and observe a real missed opportunity by Amazon for product placement. Also: the given names of Elves, and… George Foreman? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of the Elessar two things are said, though which is true only those Wise could say who now are gone — to paraphrase Merry, “that leaves us out, James”. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we return from our short break from The History of Galadriel and Celeborn to study a green gem and learn more about the Silvan Elves. Enerdhil becomes Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Book, Gandalf plays the part of a carnival magician, and Galadriel relishes being a big fish in a small pond. We wonder if “brooch” hid under the couch during the Great Vowel Shift, agree that good fences make good neighbors, and discover that Celebrimbor has been a fool for lesser things. Also: good neighbors don’t make good fences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us all in the Common Room for the Prancing Pony Podcast’s 11th annual Tolkien Reading Day special. Tolkien Reading Day is observed every March 25 in honor of the destruction of the Ring and the downfall of Barad-dûr. This year’s theme, as chosen by the Tolkien Society, is Unlikely Heroes — which describes each of the co-hosts who’ve joined with The Man of the West to present readings that showcase this year’s theme. Matt calls ‘dibs’, Don’s hero is a bird, Sara surprisingly doesn’t choose Aldarion, Shawn finds two heroes to thwack the Fëanor-shaped piñata, while James and Alan really aren’t crying at all, at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lórien had long years of peace and obscurity under the rule of Amdír; the PPP has had 10 years of, well, obscurity under the rule of Alan. Join The Man of the West and the Sage of the South as we continue our deep dive into the story of Amroth and Nimrodel found in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn. Galadriel sees just how much those poor Silvan Elves need proper leadership; Amroth’s name, it turns out, might have come from living in a treehouse; and Imrazôr wonders what Mithrellas will do when she wakes up and makes up her mind. We encounter the Rick Steves of Middle-earth, determine that it’s always leg day in Minas Tirith, and discover that Alan cannot claim descent from the Kings. Also: Rhovanion on $10 a day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Sauron learned of Celebrimbor’s revolt, his wrath was revealed; Alan doesn’t wait for James to revolt, but his wrath is reduced to nothing more than bad jokes. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as Sauron has his way in Eregion in our third episode on The History of Galadriel and Celeborn. Celebrimbor runs with a dangerous crowd, the Númenóreans show up five years late, and Amroth tragically discovers that Elves can’t swim across an ocean. We remind you how helpful it is to read Tolkien aloud, agree that Círdan would never lie, and recognize that the taste for power marks the beginning of the Downfall. Also, Rings of Power catches a few strays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Tolkien says his father’s writing on Galadriel and Celeborn is “very roughly composed”; some way that our episodes are even more roughly composed. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we continue our futile quest for a consistent storyline in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn. Amroth is and is not their son, Galadriel rolls a natural 20 for ‘Detect Evil’, and Celeborn wonders ‘why does she stay?’ We ask how to clean up the residue of evil, discover Sauron is a NIMBY, and ask who is Celebrimbor really. Also: why did it have to be guinea pigs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celeborn has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn; it only seems like Alan has as well. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we embark on a six-part journey through The History of Galadriel and Celeborn from Unfinished Tales. Christopher Tolkien concedes ‘severe inconsistencies’, while Galadriel’s got a way about her; I don’t know what it is. Celeborn meets his wife in Doriath… or in Alqualondë. We marvel at the hubris of claiming to have learned everything the Valar can teach, wonder if Celeborn needs an upgrade, and ask ‘Whose Test is it Anyway?’ Also, any excuse to bash Fëanor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tal-Elmar hopes to turn the tables on Mogru, the town’s Master; James manages to turn the table on Alan by interviewing him about his decade in podcasting. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South for some hazy cosmic jive as we conclude our four-episode look at the story of Tal-Elmar. It turns out Mogru’s been plotting for a while now, Tal-Elmar could probably do with a few more clothes, and the Númenóreans apparently have errands to run. We note that Christoper Tolkien did an amazing job with his father’s “excruciatingly difficult” handwriting, agree to disagree as to whether James is actually Jabba the Hutt, and decide that the fourth danger of the Agar swamp is the Men Of Unusual Size. Also: we decide that 38 years is long enough to wait for a political joke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tal-Elmar refuses to help the Master because his “father is the elder”; James refuses to help Alan even though Alan is the elder. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as love dares you to care for the story of Tal-Elmar found in The Peoples of Middle-earth. Mogru gets some exercise — apparently for the first time in ages, Hazad knows martial law when he sees it, and Tal-Elmar braves the three dangers of the Agar swamp. We keep noticing unexpected lizard references, discover a great new band name, and freely admit we still don’t have a clue. Also: snakes… why did it have to be snakes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tal-Elmar spots three strange birds upon the water; Alan and James are just two strange guys with microphones. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we continue our four-part look into Tolkien’s unusual story of Tal-Elmar. Tal-Elmar reminds us of the legend of the Swans of Gorbelgod, Hazad offers a long history lesson, and together they turn and face the strange master of Agar: Mogru the Hutt. We discover that we’re good at finding things that don’t help us at all, admire Tolkien’s masterful use of inner dialog, and agree that no one wants to eat Hazad. Also: no, you go to the knappers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hazad’s beard was five feet long without stretching; Alan and James can’t get the podcast to two hours without stretching. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we explore the little-known story of Tal-Elmar from The Peoples of Middle-earth in a sort of epilogue to Aldarion and Erendis. We meet calamity’s child, Tal-Elmar, along with his prolific father, Hazad Longbeard; and we learn about the strange history of the people of Agar and the Fell Folk of the East — without learning who any of them really are. We discuss two kinds of pride, wonder what Rome and York have to do with Middle-earth, and agree that white skins and bright eyes are no warrant for such deeds. Also, Tolkien still hates the Roman Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come celebrate the New Year with us here at The Prancing Pony Podcast as The Man of the West welcomes The Sage of the South! James and Alan invite our listeners to the Common Room, answering their questions again in our 33rd Questions After Nightfall! James fishes for a bonus (already?) while we rate Galadriels; we re-write The Lord of the Rings from Legolas’ perspective and ponder career opportunities for ex-wizards. Also on the agenda: the problem children of Ilúvatar and our standing rule about Babylon 5 callbacks. Finally, why is Tom? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tar-Aldarion changes the law of succession in Númenor; thankfully primogeniture will play no role in determining Sara’s successor on the podcast. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we conclude the long and tragic tale of Aldarion and Erendis — and say farewell to Sara for this season. Soronto waits for a day that will never come, Hallacar slides into Ancalimë’s DMs, and there’s a shadow hanging over Erendis as she meets her sorrowful end in Rómenna. We note that Silmarien wants a word, wonder what the Quenya is for “man, my parents are a mess”, and discuss the great Númenórean dirigible. Also, Númenórean mix tapes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of Aldarion’s efforts in Middle-earth were swept away with time and tide; we’ll have to wait awhile to see about all of Alan’s efforts on the podcast. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin our two-episode conclusion on Aldarion and Erendis, looking at the ‘notes and jottings’ that make up The Further Course of the Narrative. Tar-Aldarion sailed in from Armenelos BOAC, didn’t get to bed last night; Erendis has much to say about the men of Númenor, and Hallatan gets an unexpected promotion. We compare Aldarion to a bowl of pears, spend too much time Beatling it, and design our ‘What Would Tar-Aldarion Do?’ bracelets. Also, Tolkien says Erendis was right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aldarion prepares to go from this misenchanted isle of daydreams filled with insolent women; Alan puts 10 pence in the Sara to get her take on said ‘insolent women’. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we near the end of Aldarion and Erendis from Unfinished Tales. Aldarion lays out his demands to the King; to soften the blow (and quiet the rumors), Meneldur sends the Sceptre along, “with love, from me to you”; and a letter from Erendis leads Aldarion to a rant that proves she’s damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t. We admire Meneldur’s mic drop moment, decide Aldarion would claim to be a “high-value male” on today’s social media, and speculate about the population density of Númenórean ships. Also, Alan regrets not pronouncing the H. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aldarion watches everyone celebrate and party from the sidelines; Alan painfully recalls his awkward teenage years, while Sara isn’t sure those are over. Join The Man of the West and the Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin the eighth of what is now eleven episodes on the story of Aldarion and Erendis in Unfinished Tales. Aldarion gives Ulbar’s wife a kingly gift meant for someone else, Gil-galad writes the best letter ever (and doesn't even use AI!), and Meneldur finds himself not so self-assured. We agree that looking for a ‘seat of power’ could be a problem, decide the question of Gil-galad’s parentage seems to vanish in the haze, and conclude that “follow your dreams and tread on anybody who gets in your way” might not be good advice. Also, Alan’s sports analogies still don’t help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan for a very special conversation with Dr. Michael D.C. Drout, author of The Tower and the Ruin: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Creation, the new must-read book about Tolkien’s legendarium. Professor Drout builds the best dark towers ever, confesses his man-crush on Tom Shippey, and starts a fight with Alan about the talking fox. We discuss Jerry Springer in Middle-earth, laugh at a joke no one else laughed at, and whole-heartedly agree with Mike that “they cannot conquer forever.” This is a long and heartfelt conversation that every Tolkien fan should listen to — immediately before buying The Tower and the Ruin. Also, the title really is relevant, I promise. The Tower and the Ruin: https://amzn.to/49KAUzy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices