Tolkien is forced to shrink the Tale of Years to satisfy his publisher; James is forced to co-host a few episodes of the PPP to satisfy Alan. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we get to the sooner or later, flying through the history of the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth in our look at Appendix B to The Lord of the Rings, known as The Tale of Years. Bias creeps in as historians change the Second Age record; Tolkien finds the limitations ‘profoundly uncongenial’; and Celebrimbor’s publicist would like a word. We speculate about hobbit libraries, give another shout out to The Lord of the Rings Online, and get a little choked up. Also, we don’t talk about Pharazôn-o.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
1:59:59
373 – Let’s Go Crazy (and Take a Hobbit)
Christopher Tolkien explains that “the textual situation… is complex and hard to unravel.” Fortunately, the podcast situation is quite simple. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we conclude our time with the Dwarves - and our time with Sara for this season - in an in-depth look at The Quest of Erebor, including bits of the story you’ve not likely read before. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness Gimli getting a clue, Thorin’s haughtiness forcing him to take a hobbit, and Balin revealing himself to be the King of Misunderstanding. Alan and Sara reminisce about pre-cloud data storage, wonder if it’s foresight or are we merely crazed, and try to avoid speaking confidently without knowledge. Also, “old grey man” is a reference to Gandalf, not Alan.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
1:57:46
372 – Little Red Dragon
Gandalf worries that the dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect; Sara worries that the bad jokes Alan might use with terrible effect. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we begin our longer-than-expected look into The Quest of Erebor from Unfinished Tales, as a sidebar to our walk through Appendix A III on Durin’s Folk. Gandalf is overtaken by Thorin on the road to Bree (“Thorin, you’re much too fast!”), underestimates how much damage 20 years can do to an adventurous hobbit, and reluctantly agrees to look after his darling. Alan and Sara discuss Gandalf’s fitness fashion, wish Dwarves would stop bequeathing vengeance, and speculate about Sauron’s new hobbies. Also, I got that reference!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
2:09:47
371 – When Dwarves Cry
A deep dive into Tolkien’s oldest stories about the Dwarves uncovers all sorts of interesting details, as Alan hands the reins of the PPP to Sara for her expertise on the Dwarves. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we explore the origin, awakening, culture, and language of Tolkien’s Dwarves as we take a sidebar into several volumes of The History of Middle-earth. From their early nature as evil creatures, to the fact that they all — women and babies, too — have beards, learn more about the Dwarves than you ever thought you could. Alan and Sara discuss recession-proof industries, dutifully avoid Disney jokes and figure Durin must have asked Aulë: “How could you just leave me standing alone in a world so cold?” Also, Sneezy and Bashful were the hardest.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
2:09:22
370 – Take Me With U, Legolas
They say that Gandalf is wise and knows more than any other of what goes on in the world; they say Alan can sometimes do math. Join The Man of the West and The Shieldmaiden of Rohan as we continue our team in Appendix A III to The Lord of the Rings, on Durin’s Folk. Thorin is too proud to beg, Gandalf begins to worry about Smaug and Sauron becoming BFFs, and Gimli says he don’t care where we go, he don’t care what we do, just take me with U to the Undying Lands. Alan and Sara ask what Sauron would have actually done with the Seven, agree that bequeathing vengeance is not very kind to your descendants, and wonder what might happen if the Dwarves were just nicer to their women. Also, we knew Finrod — you’re no Finrod.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Prancing Pony Podcast is a weekly show about the Middle-earth legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, hosted - for six seasons - by Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. Now in its ninth season, Alan is joined by an all-star cast of co-hosts as he explores more of Middle-earth!
Alan and all his co-hosts are passionate Tolkien enthusiasts, inviting listeners to enjoy their detailed exploration of Tolkien’s work, with smart but straightforward discussion and a healthy dose of self-effacing humor, pop-culture references, and bad puns. These are the folks you'd want to hang out with at a pub and talk Tolkien with!
UK