Tag Archives: J.R.R. Tolkien

Let’s Talk About Samwise Gamgee: Tolkien’s Greatest Characters on the Plunge Podcast with Derek Holser

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Brenton Dickieson

Ah, Sam, what a character. When Derek Holser reached out to me about his Tolkien’s Greatest Characters series on the Plunge, Samwise Gamgee came first to mind. The most hobbitish of heroes, the gardening guardian, most faithful companion of the fellowship, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Reflections, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged Derek Holser, film adaptation, friendship, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, literature, Lord of the Rings, Samwise Gamgee, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Plunge Podcast, writing | 1 Comment

Star Wars, the Inklings, Violet Evergarden, and Tea: Upcoming SPACE Showcase (Sat, Nov 22, 2025)

Posted on November 10, 2025 by

We are once again in the season of Signum University’s Fall Fundraising Campaign. This annual event features a variety of entertainment, including (starting last week) a launch party, giveaways, and a LoTRO Marathon. On November 22nd, the famous Webathon takes … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Inklings, J.R.R. Tolkien, Japan, Japanese Religion and Culture, literature, Narnia, Signum University, Star Wars, Violet Evergarden | Leave a comment

C.S. Lewis and the Art of Blurbology: Part 1: The Actually Helpful Review

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

A few years ago, I did a series called “The Words C.S. Lewis Made Up,” with such beauties as Bulverism, rebunker, and lowerarchy. My second sweep at the project is meant to include Disneyfication, Terreauty, Busbyism, mythonomy, atheological, P’daytism (invented … Continue reading →

Posted in Memorable Quotes, On Writing, Reviews | Tagged Austin Farrar, Blurbs, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Journal of Inklings Studies, Justin Keena, owen barfield, The Pilgrim's Regress, The Weight of Glory | 37 Comments

Why is Anne in Space? On Reading L.M. Montgomery’s Realistic Novels as Fantasy

Posted on September 16, 2025 by

Right now, I am prepping for a conference panel tomorrow that I announced last week: “Cinderella Anne, Paranormal Emily, and Astral Heroines Everywhere: L.M. Montgomery and the Fantastic.” I’m working with with three fantastic scholars (see what I did there?): … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, L.M. Montgomery, News & Links | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Emily of New Moon, fantasy, fantasy literature, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane of Lantern Hill, L.M. Montgomery, literature, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, The Blue Castle, VICFA, worldbuilding, writing | 7 Comments

The Super Great Courses Series on A Pilgrim In Narnia

Posted on August 21, 2025 by

Long before the explosion of podcasting, I had fallen in love with audio lectures. Perhaps this habit began when I was taking Regent College classes by J.I. Packer, Rikk Watts, Iain Provan, and Eugene Peterson while housesitting in a log … Continue reading →