Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Is the latest Tolkien book worth your time and money? In this episode, I take a close look at The Fall of Númenor and tell you what I think!
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
- John R
- Jacob Lockham
- John H
- Scotchy Bobo
- Eru27
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
from Lord of the Rings:
“Of Númenor [Elrond] spoke, its glory and its fall, and the return of the Kings of Men to Middle-earth out of the deeps of the Sea, borne upon the wings of storm.”
HELPFUL LINKS
- buy The Fall Of Númenor » https://amzn.to/3U7Z3Vf
- listen to The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s other works for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everon
- buy The Silmarillion » https://amzn.to/3FOKAY5
- buy The Atlas of Middle-earth » https://amzn.to/3KLOxQa
- buy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/
- buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/
- Timeline of Arda » https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline_of_Arda
SHOUT-OUTS
Special thanks to the following patrons:
- John R
- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
- Jacob Lockham
- John H
- Scotchy Bobo
- Eru27
- Andrew T
- Ms. Anonymous
- Redhawk
- Shannon S
- Brian O
- Emilio P
- Zeke F
- James A
- James L
- Chris L
- Chuck F
- Asya V
- Ish of the Hammer
- Teresa C
- David of Pints with Jack
- Jonathan D
- Eric B
- Johanna T
- Mike M
- Robert H
- Paul D
- Julia
- Werty
- Matthew W
- JoeBagelMan
- Chris K
- Jacob S
- Richard K
- Matt R
- Garret P
- John W
- Eugene D
- Seb M
AS WELL AS THOSE CELEBRATING THEIR PATRON ANNIVERSARY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 »
- Michael L
- Matthew F
0346 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 21 » SA1500 » Sauron The Generous Demon
In this chapter, we find rumors of Sauron beginning to unveil his plot. In fact, it’s even debatable what Sauron’s “plot” was from the beginning!
Even so, Gil-galad and Elrond refuse to treat with him, though the Elven-smiths of Eregion are won over. All the while, the Númenoreans begin to make permanent havens in Middle-earth (and that’s a bad thing).
Join us as we discuss!
0345 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 20 » SA1200 » Sauron Seduces The Eldar (But Not Gil-galad Or Elrond)
In this chapter, we find rumors of Sauron beginning to unveil his plot. In fact, it’s even debatable what Sauron’s “plot” was from the beginning!
Even so, Gil-galad and Elrond refuse to treat with him, though the Elven-smiths of Eregion are won over. All the while, the Númenoreans begin to make permanent havens in Middle-earth (and that’s a bad thing).
Join us as we discuss!
0344 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 19 » SA1075 » The Reign of Tar-Ancalimë
In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter 1075 – TAR-ANCALIMË BECOMES THE FIRST RULING QUEEN OF NÚMENOR. Having covered the life and significance of one of Númenor’s most important rulers, Tar-Aldarion, we now turn to a rather brief description of the reign of his daughter: Tar-Ancalimë, the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.
0343 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 18 » SA1000 » Sauron Founds Mordor
In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter c1000 SAURON CHOOSES MORDER. After our deep dive in to the story of Númenor’s pivotal 6th king, Tar-Aldarion, we return now to Sauron, and take a look at the founding of Mordor and the building of Barad-dûr.
0342 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 17 » SA883 » The Accession of Tar-Aldarion
This chapter concludes the era of Aldarion, one of the most important kings in the history of Númenor. As we learned in the last episode, his father, Tar-Meneldur, chose to turn the rule of Númenor over to Aldarion earlier than was normal, due to a letter from the Elven High-King Gil-galad. asking for Númenor’s aid amidst the increasingly dire situation in Middle-earth. In this chapter, we’ll explore Aldarion’s reign, as well as what becomes of his wife Erendis and daughter Ancalimë.
0341 » The Fall of Númenor Pt 16 » SA870 » The Wedding of Aldarion & Erendis » Gil-galad, Tar-Meneldur
This chapter continues the story of Aldarion, destined to be Númenor’s 6th King. While it begins with the wedding, long-expected, of Aldarion and Erendis, it concludes with many events unexpected, including word from Gil-galad to the King of Númenor regarding “ a new shadow arising in the East”.
This is a long chapter dense with nuance and character development, perhaps the richest glimpse we get into the various psyches of Númenoreans as individuals, and while I’d love to give it a much more in depth reading, I’m only going to hit the high points as regards this history of Númenor.
However, if you’d like a more in-depth discussion of this story between me and Greta, please check out the notes, or just go back and find episodes 183, 185, 186, and 187.
2 Responses
Thanks for a very full, balanced and appreciative review which has understood my motivation and approach to the material. If I may, on behalf of my colleague Alan Lee, I would add that, in addition to his eleven new colour paintings included in the book, there are over 60 pencil sketches as head or tail pieces to the various entries from ‘The Tale of Years’ (LotR, Appendix B) that provides the chronology for this edition. These embellishments by Alan include characters and incidents from the Second Age as well as atmospheric glimpses of the landscapes of Númenor and Middle-earth.
YES – those pencil sketches are indeed a highlight, and I should have mentioned them! Thank you for pointing those out, Brian.