FW Presents: The Mirror Factory #2 — The Fellowship of the Ring

It’s a brand-new episode of The Mirror Factory, and this time there's someone new on the floor! Our special guest Dr. Anj joins host Max Romero to talk about a favorite passage from the granddaddy of fantasy fiction — J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring." Together Anj and Max will talk about a small — but pivotal — moment from the book, the difference between pity and mercy, and whether or not Anj would still whack Gollum. Then, Anj will read his passage for our listeners.

 

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Music credits:

  • Intro theme: “My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors,” by Moxy Fruvous
  • Selection from "The History of the Ring," from The Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack (1978); composed by Leonard Rosenman
  • Closing music: “Ramble On,” by Led Zeppelin

Be sure to find Dr. Anj at Supergirl Comic Box Commentary!

Want to be a guest on a future episode? E-MAIL – mirrorfactorypodcast.gmail.com

Leave us a comment, and remember — read a book!

14 responses to “FW Presents: The Mirror Factory #2 — The Fellowship of the Ring

  1. I’ve never read any of the LotR books, hell, I’ve only ever bothered with watching the first film but I thought this was a great proper first episode with a guest. Your discussion about the apparent foreshadowing was fantastic and I think sets the bar high for what we can expect from the series.

  2. Well done on a good book for a great episode. I enjoyed the discussion on how the book is enjoyable to you, personally. Most literary discussions I’ve seen seem to be more about the book being a classic and the the author’s process but not too many people talk about why these books affect them personally. Excellently done!

    It’s funny how Anj mentioned the Hobbit is more a kid’s book. The Hobbit is one I did read as a kid (I think around 12 or 13 years old) and liked immensely. When I then moved on to the Lord of the Rings, I remember them being too hard to read, and because of that, not liking them very much. I mean, why take a great book like the Hobbit and then elongate it over three books and add more political machinations? My little kid brain just couldn’t handle it. I’ve come to appreciate the Lord of the Rings books over time, but, to me (and my kid brain), they will never be as good as the Hobbit.

    The passage reading was well done and worked well with the backing music. I can’t wait to hear more of these! Keep up the great work!

    1. Thanks, Mike! I’m glad you liked the more personal discussion, because that’s exactly what we’re aiming for — personal stories about the stories that mean something to our guests.

      I had the same problem with Lord of the Rings! I devoured The Hobbit, and then stalled on Fellowship. It wasn’t until I came back to them later that I could really appreciate the entire trilogy.

  3. This was great (if too short). I never would have imagined a connection between LOTR and medicine, but Max and Anj made for compelling listening.

    If not reading THE SILMARILLION makes Anj question his geek credentials, I wonder what he would make of me, who has never read ANY of the books and have only seen 2 of the 5 movies.

    Really looking forward to more episodes of this show!

  4. Tolkien is one of the three major pillars of my geekdom, with Aquaman and Star Wars being the other two. I first read The Hobbit back in fourth grade, The Lord of the Rings in fifth and sixth grade, and The Silmarillion in middle school. Similarly to Anj, I reread the trilogy once a year every year throughout high school and college. I don’t have the time to do that any more, but I do read something by Tolkien every year. Point in fact, yesterday, while we were driving through the Midwest on our family vacation, we were listening to the unabridged audio book of The Fellowship of the Ring. I’d have to say that I’ve always been drawn to Tolkien’s skill at world building, and the sense of the rich history that lies beneath his stories.

    All of that is to say that I really enjoyed this episode. I have many favorite passages from The Lord of the Rings, but agree that this one encapsulates one of the primary themes of the entire trilogy. That being the theme of mercy. To this day, my favorite stories are those in which the hero’s strength and skill fails him or her, and victory comes through an act of compassion. Spider-Man: Homecoming is an excellent recent example of this sort of ending.

    Thanks, and keep up the great work.

  5. Another wonderful episode! Always a pleasure to hear Dr Anj on a show, especially on a topic he’s so passionate about. Personally, I’m not the world’s biggest fan of the FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, and was a little fearful that Anj’s passage might be from Tom Bombadil. *Phew*

    Enjoyed the insights and discussion about the moral issues surrounding murdering Golem!

    Looking forward to the next episode!

  6. Thanks for all the comments here!

    I loved being on the show and I’m already formulating the next passage for me to pitch!

  7. Thanks for listening, everyone, and extra-special thanks for leaving your comments! Anj was a wonderful guest, and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the podcast soon. The conversation with him really reignited my passion for Lord of the Rings, to the point that I’m really having to resist re-reading the whole thing again!

    Don’t forget to let me know if you’d like to be a guest, too!

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