There are many experts on the Inklings but there are still lots you might not know about how they lived in their home of Oxford. Julia Golding challenges some myths and makes some new ones about Tolkien and Lewis, and their experiences here. Was the Eagle and Child Pub where Narnia and The Lord of the Rings was first read aloud - or was that somewhere else? What's the mental geography of Oxford for someone who lives here long-term? Find out about Oxford as a place for military training for both writers and the surprising role of Wytham Woods. We jump from local ferries to sport to favorite trees - there's bound to be something in this that you didn't know and might find enriches your reading of their work. We go on to pick our favourite fantasy forest. Can you guess where it is?

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers from Oxford
01:23 The Inklings' Meetings: Eagle and Child Myths Debunked
04:41 Oxford as Backdrop: The Real Geography of Middle-earth and Narnia
05:30 The Kilns and Shotover: C.S. Lewis's Countryside Retreat
06:58 Tolkien's North Oxford: Rivers, Willows, and the Charwell
08:51 Port Meadow and River Walks: Shire-like Landscapes
09:59 The Road Goes Ever On: Personal Reflections on Epping Forest
11:14 Military Training Grounds: Wytham Woods and the Trenches
13:42 Bivouacking Under the Stars: Lewis's Letters from Training
15:38 University Parks and Drill Practice: Tolkien's Training Ground
17:09 The Bucklebury Ferry: Oxford's Lost River Crossings
19:23 Tolkien the Sportsman: Rugby, Squash, and Tennis
21:56 The Active Outdoor Life: Walking, Rowing, and Family Adventures
23:59 Tolkien and Trees: Specimen Parks and Ancient Forests
27:43 Best Fantasy Forest: From Lothlorien to the Woods Between Worlds
31:23 Conclusion: Next Time on Mythmakers and How to Connect

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Since April of 2022 Andy Serkis has been working his way through Tolkien's books, producing audio versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit- he has now turned his attention to The Silmarillion. Our expert on audiobooks, Andrew Head, who as a blind consumer often turns to audio versions to access stories, talks with Julia Golding about this latest version of The Silmarillion and the Martin Shaw reading that came before it. Which would you buy now? How does Andy cope with a book that has far less opportunities for a dramatic reading than the other Tolkien books? What more do you get from this version? Tune in to hear our verdict!

00:00 Introduction: Welcome and Andy Serkis' Silmarillion
01:51 What is The Silmarillion? A Listener's Guide
03:50 The Style and Structure: History Book vs Novel
06:26 Top Three Takeaways: Voices, Tone, and Accessibility
09:22 Pronunciation and Dramatic Moments: Serkis Shines
11:18 Comparing Narrators: Andy Serkis vs Martin Shaw
15:17 Favorite Parts: Beren and Luthien, and the Music of Creation
18:13 The Standalone Novels: Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and Fall of Gondolin
21:51 Dream Projects: Stories That Deserve Full Novels
26:47 Best Places for Storytelling: From Rivendell to Cair Paravel

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

00:00 Introduction: Two Towers Book Four Summer Wrap-Up
00:56 Gollum States the Stakes: The Dark Lord Will Eat Us All
02:13 Writing Into the Dark: Tolkien's Creative Process
06:05 The Rule of Three: Frodo's Third Act of Trust
07:33 Faramir's Poetic Vision: A Lament for Boromir
12:10 The Imprint of Art: Grief, Pity, and the Power of Stories
13:50 Frodo's Moral Dilemma: The Forbidden Pool
19:01 Locked Doors and Dark Rooms: Faramir Sees Through Gollum
20:48 The Thorny Hall: A Hollow Haven on the Edge of Mordor
22:26 The Journey's Persistence: Each Weary Step with Frodo and Sam
25:46 Gollum as Narrative Whip: Childlike Malignity Keeps Urgency
26:55 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech
30:36 Laughter in Dark Places: Meta-Narrative and Story Within Story
33:10 Conclusion: Looking Ahead to Return of the King

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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As Mythmakers takes a short summer break, Julia Golding looks back at some of the standout conversations from Season 8, gathering five memorable pieces of writing wisdom from the season’s top-performing author interviews.

Join us as we revisit Darren Simpson’s reflections on the long road to publication, and hear from Peadar Ó Guilín on how history and myth shape fantasy worlds. Marisa Linton shares her journey and advice for finding your publishing path, while Naomi Ishiguro dives into worldbuilding and creative collaboration, before Malcolm Guite gets candid about reviving the Arthurian tradition in poetry.

This episode offers a rich collection of insights and tips for aspiring authors, while giving fellow fantasy enthusiasts a peek into the process that brings so much creativity to life.

00:00 Introduction: Season 8 Summer Wrap-Up and Top Author Tips
00:56 Tip One: The Gift of Time - Darren Simpson on the Long Road to Publication
02:00 The Value of Practice: Every Rejection Feeds Your Success
03:13 Working with Editors: The Dragon Skin Metaphor
05:00 The Economics of Writing: Dispelling the Wealth Myth
06:25 Tip Two: Writing What You Know - Padda O'Gillene on Irish History and Mythology
08:19 Themes Emerge Naturally: The Falling Apple Principle
11:00 Myths and Legends as Foundation: Growing Up with Irish Stories
12:00 Tip Three: Finding Your Publisher - Marisa Linton on Navigating the Market
16:05 Trusting the Editorial Process: Finding the Best Path Up the Mountain
18:07 Learning to Be Edited: A Critical Professional Skill
19:13 Tip Four: Nothing is Plain Sailing - Naomi Ishiguro on Writing Through Challenges
22:00 World Building in Service to Story: Balancing Fun with Purpose
23:59 The Team Effort: Drawing on Expert Friends and Beta Readers
26:54 Tip Five: Answering the Call - Malcolm Geit on Epic Ambition
28:02 Finding the Right Form: The Ballad as Modern Epic
29:57 The Unique Selling Point: Now or Never
32:44 Closing: Join the Mythmakers Community

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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Having completed our journey through The Two Towers, in today's Sidecast episode Julia Golding pauses to reflect on the top five lessons she has taken from Tolkien’s craft as an author.

From the interlacing of multiple storylines and the careful maintenance of suspense, to the creation of epic, living landscapes, Julia explores how Tolkien handles the challenges of a middle volume with remarkable skill. She also reflects on the poetry of his prose and the depth of his themes, amongst the wealth of qualities that keep readers returning to Middle-earth again and again.

Tune in for this special, reflective episode before we prepare for the final leg of our journey as we take on The Return of the King.

00:00 Introduction: Completing the Journey Through The Two Towers
01:08 Lesson One: The Art of Interlacing Multiple Storylines
06:31 Lesson Two: Maintaining Tension Through Strategic Cuts
09:45 Lesson Three: Landscapes as Character
12:57 The Range of Color Palettes: From Fangorn to Mordor
15:13 Lesson Four: The Poetry Beneath the Prose
18:41 Lesson Five: Profundity and the Pull to Continue
22:04 Sam's Revelation: The Enemy as Person
24:55 What Makes a Hero: The Great Tales Never End
26:19 The Hero Who Follows His Heart: Sam's Ultimate Choice

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

00:00 Introduction: The Choices of Master Samwise
03:22 Sam's Instinctive Defense: A Small Beast Against a Monster
04:58 The Spider Fight: Evil Undoing Itself
10:33 The Phial Burns Bright: Light as Infection to Evil
14:23 Unbearable Grief: Sam's Despair Over Frodo's Body
17:21 The Debate: Plain Hobbit Logic and Impossible Choices
19:57 Taking the Ring: The Last Hobbit in the Chain
23:36 Inside the Ring: The World Changed
28:02 Eavesdropping on Orcs: Shagrat and Gorbag Reveal the Truth
31:54 The Sucker Punch: Frodo is Alive But Taken

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website
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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Shelob's Lair
02:15 Torech Ungol: The Tunnel of the Spider
04:45 Drawing a Deep Breath: Entering the Darkness
07:25 The Cumulative Horror: Building Tension Through Sensory Deprivation
10:08 Hand in Hand: Frodo and Sam's Tender Bond
12:11 Abandoned in Darkness: Gollum Disappears
12:52 The Memory of Light: From Tom Bombadil to Galadriel
15:37 Aiya Earendil: The Phial Burns Bright
21:03 Frodo, Hobbit of the Shire: Walking Steadily to Meet the Eyes
22:38 Sting and the Webs of Gondolin: False Escape and Ancient Lineage
24:00 A Fey Mood and Many Exits: Frodo's Fatal Mistake
24:48 The History of Shelob: Daughter of Ungoliant
29:22 The Final Battle: Sam's Wrestling Trick and Gollum's Defeat
30:20 He Was Too Late: A Terrible Ending

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website
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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

00:00 Introduction: Climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol
01:28 The Road as Character: An Unusual Opening
03:39 Beyond Caring: The Exhaustion of War
05:26 Minas Morgul: Imprisoned Moonlight and Corpse Light
09:53 Shadowy Meads: White Flowers and Perverted Beauty
15:40 The Army Departs: Beacons of Darkness
20:06 The Phial of Galadriel: Starlight Against Shadow
22:52 Frodo's Lament and the Shire's Echo
24:29 The Straight Stair and the Winding Stair
29:35 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech
35:11 The Pieta Moment: Gollum's Fleeting Chance

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram
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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

00:00 Introduction: The Journey to the Crossroads
01:53 Faramir's Farewell: Provisions and Prophetic Warnings
05:10 Blindfolds and Echoes: Parallels to Lorien
05:58 The Edge of Dreams: A Landscape on the Brink
08:07 Gollum's Grievance: The Storm About to Break
09:37 Flora and Darkness: Tolkien's Botanical Precision
11:55 Woodland Creatures: Hobbits Flitting Through Shadows
13:21 Frodo's Vision: Geopositioning and the Forlorn Towers
17:16 The Voice of Waters: Cold, Cruel, and Contrasting
19:42 The Thorny Hall: A Hollow Haven of Dead Branches and Spring Shoots
21:52 Sam's Dream and Shire Wisdom: Light Relief in Darkness
23:05 The Burden of Gollum: A Conversation Between Friends
26:09 The Crossroads: Ozymandias and the Fallen King
28:30 They Cannot Conquer Forever: A Crown of Flowers and Fading Light

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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The rumour mill is turning! Early screenings of the upcoming Narnia film suggest that the soundtrack may be dipping into 70s and 80s rock. Nothing is certain yet—it could all be a red herring—but could it work, and if so, how?

Join Jacob Rennaker and Julia Golding in today’s Mythmakers episode as they discuss the possibilities before turning their attention to the fantasy books of the 1980s, each sharing some of their favourite reads from one of the genre’s most influential decades.



For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:
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