Julia Golding is joined today by Jacob Rennaker to look back at the summer for fantasy in the movie theatres and look forward to the major fantasy TV series coming up over the next few months.

What tone will the first season of Harry Potter strike—more child-friendly like the first film, or darker to appeal to adult audiences? What’s happening with Season 3 of The Rings of Power? Which characters will we be rooting for? And what about a talking Balrog played by Simon Pegg?

Julia and Jacob then turn to news about their own fantasy books and discuss what it’s like to be part of a publicity drive, before wrapping up with Brandon Sanderson’s latest updates on the Mistborn screenplay.

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Fantasy News Catch-Up
00:59 Christopher Nolan's Odyssey: The Big Summer Fantasy Film
06:30 The Gods Question: Divine or Psychological?
10:48 Sirens and Disappointments: What Didn't Work
11:29 The Greek Myth Renaissance: What's Next for Fantasy?
13:53 Hadestown: Greek Tragedy Meets American Folk
20:02 Backrooms and Horror: Liminal Spaces on Screen
22:23 HBO's Harry Potter Series: First Impressions and Expectations
28:13 Rings of Power Season 3: Fixing the Story Problem
29:32 Tolkien's Letter 131: The Second Age Masterclass
37:10 A Talking Balrog: Simon Pegg and the Cockney Question
42:21 The Storytelling Challenge: Where Are the Hobbits?
44:53 Book News: Jacob's Quest of Wonders
51:01 Julia's New Book: History of Trees and Castle
54:34 The Art of Book Promotion: Readings, Videos, and Finding Your Hook
58:10 Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Screenplay: Author Transparency
1:01:14 Looking Ahead: Narnia, Andy Serkis, and More Fantasy Films

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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 Mythmakers and Return of the King
01:26 Synopsis and Setting the Stakes: The Final Darkness
03:07 Pippin Takes Center Stage: A New Point of View
05:31 The Journey to Minas Tirith: Gandalf's Ride and the Beacons
09:14 The Beacons of Gondor: History and Film Comparison
11:59 Comedy and Stakes: Pippin Falls Asleep During the Lecture
14:16 The Pelennor Wall and Meeting Ingold: Pippin's Honesty
16:41 First Sight of Minas Tirith: Piercing Beauty and Seven Walls
22:29 The Court of the Fountain: The Dead White Tree
23:24 Confrontation with Denethor: A Clash of Leaders
28:43 Pippin's Pledge of Service: Pride and Purpose
31:03 The Joust Between Gandalf and Denethor: Smoldering Fire
34:03 Two Stewards: Gandalf's Greater Purpose Revealed
35:55 Gandalf's Laughter: The Fountain of Mirth
37:39 The Chessboard is Set: Strategy and Pieces Moving
38:05 Meeting Beregond: Breakfast and the Old Campaigner
40:18 The Deep Breath Before the Plunge: Waiting for Battle
41:34 Pippin the Hero: My Heart Will Not Yet Despair
42:38 The Prince of Halflings: Walking Through the City
43:21 Meeting Bergil: Boy Challenges and Teasing Friendship
44:35 The Arrival of Leaders: A Roll Call and Sombre Sunset
45:26 Blackout and No Dawn: Gandalf's Dark Prophecy

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In this bonus episode of Mythmakers, Julia Golding looks at the latest trailers and interviews for the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, reading the tea leaves to consider what approach the creators may be taking. She then expands the discussion to other major fantasy and sci-fi reboots, from Star Trek to Star Wars.

When is it too soon to return to a beloved story? And could a Lord of the Rings series be made within the next decade?

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and HBO's Harry Potter Series
02:11 First Impressions: Tonal Shifts and Natural Landscapes
03:12 The New Young Cast: A More Natural Performance
05:39 Knowing the Ending: A Different Creative Challenge
09:08 Expanding the Wizarding World: IP, Theme Parks, and Video Games
10:14 Why Remake Harry Potter? The Question of Necessity
11:59 The Creative Team: Television Writers Take the Helm
15:23 Lessons from Other Reboots: Star Trek's Success
18:59 When Reboots Fail: Star Wars and Retreading Old Ground
20:55 Looking Ahead: Could Lord of the Rings Be Next?

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Julia Golding returns home for the ninth season of Mythmakers by looking at literature’s first famous homecoming king: Odysseus. Beginning with a brief survey of Homer’s original Odyssey, Julia explores what makes this ancient epic feel like one of the original fantasy stories, as well as the many books and retellings it has inspired through the ages.

She then turns to the new Nolan film, noting some key differences from the original poem and considering how the story has been reshaped for the screen. There is much to praise, but Julia also has one major difference with the filmmaker—one that, for her, makes this a good film rather than a great one.

Listen in to hear Julia’s verdict, and let us know whether you agree.

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and The Odyssey
00:39 Who Was Homer? The Mystery Behind the Epic
01:17 Reading The Odyssey: Structure and Dactylic Hexameter
02:23 The Plot and Themes: Homecoming, Hospitality, and War's Aftermath
04:01 The Gods and Nolan's Internalization: A Key Difference
05:00 The Odyssey's Legacy: From Virgil to the Renaissance
06:01 Modern Retellings: Tennyson, Joyce, and Contemporary Authors
09:50 Women Reclaim the Narrative: Atwood, Miller, and Barker
12:28 Circe's Island: Magic, Transformation, and Unexplained Elements
15:22 Calypso and Lost Levity: The Missing Joy of the Original
19:43 The Violence Problem: What the Film Avoids
22:57 Sexual Violence Reversed: Clytemnestra and Agamemnon
24:48 What Worked: Imagery, Performances, and Fantasy Elements
26:44 Final Verdict: A Good Film, Not a Great One
27:09 Closing Thoughts: Join the Conversation

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Let's celebrate the contribution to fantasy of our favourite illustrators. Today we start with the grandaddy of Oxford Fantasy Illustration, Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator behind the Alice in Wonderland images. Find out about the unfortunate accident in his youth that he hid from his father, his extraordinary memory and his artistic influences. Guess who was at his retirement dinner? It is quite a fantasy dinner party moment!

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Celebrating Illustrators
01:07 John Tenniel: The Man Behind Alice's Wonderland
02:22 A Victorian Life: Family, Tragedy, and the Fencing Accident
05:49 Artistic Influences: From Theatre to the Nazarene Movement
08:37 Breaking Through: The Houses of Parliament Competition
09:24 The Craft of Victorian Illustration: From Drawing to Woodblock
10:26 Meeting Lewis Carroll: The Perfect Collaboration
11:23 Words and Images United: The Alice Books as Visual Experience
12:22 A Knighted Legacy: Sir John Tenniel's Retirement and Recognition
13:28 Enduring Impact: Tenniel's Legacy in Fantasy Illustration

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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

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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

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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

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