Podcast: Play in new window | Download
With this episode, we begin a new journey, as we return to The Lord of the Rings for something epic (in scope) and Entish (in pace). Join us!
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
- John R
- Melkor27
- KG
HELPFUL LINKS
- take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)
- listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everon
- buy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/
- buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/
SHOUT-OUTS
Special thanks to the following patrons:
- John R
- Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
- Melkor27
- KG
- Emilio P
- Jonathan D
- Richard K
- Paul D
- Julia
- Werty
- Chris B
- Tuor91
- Carolyn S
- Emiel K
- Brian O (the 2nd)
- Jonathan R
- Seb M
- Ms. Anonymous
- Andrew T
- Redhawk
- Shannon S
- Brian O (the 1st)
- Zeke F
- James L
- Chris L
- Asya V
- Ish of the Hammer
- Teresa C
- David of Pints with Jack
- Eric B
AS WELL AS THOSE CELEBRATING THEIR PATRON ANNIVERSARY IN MARCH OF 2024
- Peter B
- Paul D
- Steven S
- Jay Z
- Bethany E
- Daniel D
- Kaitlyn of Tea With Tolkien
Thank you so much for sticking with us over the years!!! 🙌

0394 » Lord of the Rings » Foreword & Prologue » Mailbag » Allegory, Stoors / Harfoots / Fallohides, etc
Welcome to The Tolkien Road Episode 394!
In this bonus MAILBAG episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll be considering your thoughts on the Foreword and Prologue to The Lord of the Rings!

0393 » Lord of the Rings » Foreword & Prologue » Mathoms » “Hobbit” origins, Shire background, and more
Welcome to The Tolkien Road Episode 393!
In this bonus MATHOMS episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll take a look at some fascinating footnotes to the Foreword and Prologue of The Lord of Rings!
TOPICS COVERED:
– Lord of the Rings’ attraction
– The Silmarillion adapted
– Negative reviews of Lord of the Rings
– Tolkien vs allegory
– Sarehole Mill as Hobbiton
– The word “Hobbit”
– “Dwarrow”, Dwarfs, Dwarves
– Tolkien’s description of hobbits
– The location of Middle-earth
– Arnor / Gondor meanings
– Marcho and Blanco found the Shire
– Angmar meaning
– The Shire is rural England
– Origin of “Shirriff”

0392 » Lord of the Rings Bk1.Ch02.Pt11 » The Shadow of the Past part 11 » Sam’s Grand Entrance
Welcome to Episode 22 of DO NOT BE HASTY – I’m calling this one “Sam’s Grand Entrance”. (This is episode 392 of The Tolkien Road podcast).
‘Well, sir,’ said Sam dithering a little. ‘I heard a deal that I didn’t rightly understand, about an enemy, and rings, and Mr. Bilbo, sir, and dragons, and a fiery mountain, and – and Elves, sir. I listened because I couldn’t help myself, if you know what I mean. Lor bless me, sir, but I do love tales of that sort. And I believe them too, whatever Ted may say. Elves, sir! I would dearly love to see them. Couldn’t you take me to see Elves, sir, when you go?’
In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we conclude our journey through The Shadow of the Past, as Frodo decides on his course of action, and finds himself with a surprise traveling companion.
SECTION START: “There was a long silence.”
SECTION END: the end of the chapter

0391 » Lord of the Rings Bk1.Ch02.Pt10 » The Shadow of the Past part 10 » Frodo, the Chosen One
Welcome to Episode 21 of DO NOT BE HASTY – I’m calling this one “Frodo, The Chosen One”. (This is episode 391 of The Tolkien Road podcast).
“It has been said that dragon-fire could melt and consume the Rings of Power, but there is not now any dragon left on earth in which the old fire is hot enough; nor was there ever any dragon, not even Ancalagon the Black, who could have harmed the One Ring, the Ruling Ring, for that was made by Sauron himself.” – Gandalf, to Frodo
In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we continue through The Shadow of the Past, as Frodo wrestles with the inevitable mission for which he has been chosen.
SECTION START: Frodo drew the Ring out of his pocket again and looked at it.
SECTION END: “The Enemy is moving.”

0390 » Lord of the Rings Bk1.Ch02.Pt09 » The Shadow of the Past part 9 » The Power of Pity
Welcome to Episode 20 of DO NOT BE HASTY – I’m calling this one “The Power of Pity”.
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” – Gandalf, concerning Gollum, to Frodo
In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we continue through The Shadow of the Past, as Gandalf explains how Bilbo’s pity for Gollum may in fact “Rule the fate of many.”

0389 » Lord of the Rings Bk1.Ch02.Pt08 » The Shadow of the Past part 8 » Gandalf’s Worst Mistake
Welcome to Episode 19 of DO NOT BE HASTY – I’m calling this one “Gandalf’s Worst Mistake”.
‘The murder of Déagol haunted Gollum, and he had made up a defence, repeating it to his “Precious” over and over again, as he gnawed bones in the dark, until he almost believed it.’
In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we continue through The Shadow of the Past, as Gandalf explains how he began to track Gollum but made a critical mistake.
2 Responses
Hi Greta!! Long Time No See! I missed you, and i am so glad that you are back. This is going to be so much fun. Are you folks also going to be looking at Holly Ordways new book Tolkien’s Faith A Spiritual Biography and the new edition of The Letters? Happy Reading!
Hi Jennifer! I did a video on the new edition of Letters a few months back: https://youtu.be/QGBSygzWEFk
We will of course continue to hit individual letters as the spirit moves, and also as part of our patron-exclusive offerings.
And the same goes for the book Tolkien’s Faith – I hope to cover it at some point, perhaps when we need a break from the current “10 year LOTR series”…