225. Why Do Modern Fans Love Middle-Earth Mixing? | with Evan Cooney

A new power is arising. Saruman’s forces, often joined by some wild Men who don’t know better, are felling the good trees of Middle-earth to make weapons of war. In response, some would-be trolls come out of their hoards to stomp all over this land and forget the true meaning of Tolkien. How then do today’s fans still love The Lord of the Rings—books, films, and/or memes?

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Maiden by Morgan L. Busse
2. The Katrosi Revolution series by Jamie Foley
3. Lorehaven Guild: monthly book quests

Mission update

• Lorehaven article: ‘Furiosa’ Quenches Hope and Doubles Down on Darkness, Marian Jacobs
• Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild

Introducing guest Evan Cooney

Evan Cooney hosts The Middle-earth Mixer podcast (with occasional forays into conical themed ratios on social media). He is a Christian, husband, and father to a little girl. He’s also a fan of history, good literature, and the Philadelphia Eagles, with aspirations to be a writer.

• MiddleEarthMixer.com
• Podcast: The Middle-earth Mixer

Concession stand

• This episode was inspired by Daniel Whyte IV’s recent Lorehaven article.
• He has a fun, swashbuckling takes on some of these politicized critiques.
• We may have the same. But here we aim to celebrate LOTR in all forms.

Quotes and notes

Does it bother me that Tolkien’s name and work are getting rucked through the mire of the modern political hellscape? Yes. Does it bother me that people are suddenly considered weirdo extremists for liking Middle-earth, investing in companies named after Aragorn’s sword, and nicknaming their friends after hobbits? Also yes.

But I’m more bothered by critics leveling their aim at the entire genre of fantasy, and casting those who enjoy life-giving, inspirational truths in fantastic stories—truths that apply to politics as much as anywhere else—as somehow outlandish.

Daniel Whyte IV, “