Mythmakers

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: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

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 Forbidden Pool - A Pivotal Transition 01:12 The Two Towers as Tapestry: Light and Dark Contrasts 03:06 Alliterative Awakening: Faramir Rouses Frodo 04:40 Painting with Words: The Moon Over Gondor 09:26 The High Place Moment: Frodo's Vision Across Middle-earth 13:12 Boil and Bubble: Shakespearean Echoes and Gollum's Dive 14:19 The Battle of Wits Continues: Faramir's Staged Interrogation 16:57 A Brief Holiday from Darkness: Gollum at His Happiest 19:09 Frodo's Moral Dilemma: The Burden of Compassion 21:39 Locked Doors and Dark Rooms: Faramir's Judgment 28:11 The Path to Cirith Ungol: Warnings of Dark Terror 30:35 The Cleft Stick: No Good Choices Remain 32:21 Beyond Hope: Faramir's Farewell and Laughing at Old Grief 33:53 Closing Thoughts: Journey to the Crossroads Awaits 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We were delighted to welcome Naomi Ishiguro to the podcast to discuss the first book in her new trilogy, The Rainshadow Orphans. Her world is inspired by Japanese culture, involving three brave young people, undocumented workers in a found family, the young son of the emperor, and the outsider who has become mixed up with a terrifying gang. Although written as an adult novel, Naomi explains how the students she once taught at high school were also very much in her mind while writing. The conversation ranges from how to create characters, plot and stylistic choices, via anime and snacks. We end with a flight on dragonback. To order your own copy of The Rainshadow Orphans, visit: For UK readers: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-rainshadow-orphans/naomi-ishiguro/9781398562400 For US readers: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rainshadow-orphans-naomi-ishiguro/1148779915 (00:00) Introducing Naomi Ishiguro and The Rain Shadow Orphans (01:14) Childhood Stories, Disney Animation, and a Love of Fantasy (05:17) What Readers Can Expect from The Rain Shadow Orphans (07:47) Space, Belonging, and the Politics of the Island (11:16) Writing After the Pandemic and Finding a New Creative Direction (13:47) Building an Anime-Inspired Fantasy World (18:45) Eastern Dragons, Weather Magic, and Representation (21:40) The Main Characters and the Heart of Found Family (30:28) Discovering Plot, Structure, Drama, and Shakespearean Influence (45:00) Snacks, Comfort, Dragon Travel, and Final Reflections 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

What an extraordinary decade for fantasy! In the first instalment of a decade by decade look at fantasy publishing, in this episode Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin with a period that gave us countless instant classics. Each shares their top three picks—will you agree with their choices? Tune in to find out!(00:04) Revisiting the Fantasy Reads of the 1990s(02:31) Major Fantasy Titles of the Decade(05:28) Adding Game of Thrones and Good Omens to the List(07:51) Defining “Best” as Books Worth Returning To(09:19) Jacob’s Number Three: Star Wars and Heir to the Empire(12:03) Julia’s Number Three: J.D. Robb’s In Death Series(15:07) Jacob’s Number Two: Northern Lights / The Golden Compass(19:34) Julia’s Number Two: Garth Nix’s Sabriel(23:36) Why Harry Potter Tops Both Lists(28:54) Final Rankings and an Invitation to ListenersFor 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok    

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) The Ruins of Isengard and the Approach to Saruman(04:55) Saruman’s Voice and the Power of Persuasion(08:00) Resistance, Discernment, and the Cracks in Saruman’s Authority(10:29) Théoden’s Judgment and Saruman’s Fall from Power(14:03) Gandalf’s Mercy and the Failure of Pride(18:11) The Breaking of the Staff and the Palantír Revealed(22:04) Aftermath, Creative Discovery, and Seeds for What Comes Next 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

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. (00:05) Setting the Scene(02:19) Maritime Imagery, Storm Metaphors, and Tolkien’s Symbolism(05:01) Hobbits, Food, and the Translation of Time(07:15) Growth, Ent-Draught, and Storytelling Perspective(09:37) Casting Away Treasure(13:51) The Ents’ Assault on Isengard(19:44) Gandalf’s Return, Soundscapes, and Narrative Tempo(27:06) Wormtongue, Aftermath, and Foreshadowing the Shire 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

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 Road to Isengard as a Transitional Chapter(02:40) Gimli and Legolas: Rivalry, Relief, and Friendship(09:24) Burial, Honor, and Moral Order After Battle(13:23) The Haunted Forest, the Huorns, and Unseen Judgment(21:43) The Ents Revealed and Worlds Beyond Men(28:29) The Ruin of Isengard and the Shadow of Orthanc(38:48) Reunion at Isengard: Merry, Pippin, and Restored Fellowship 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 Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok