About this episode

Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan discuss the enduring significance of Tolkien's works amidst the decline of other franchises.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com Pope Leo XIV, in his first encyclical, dropped a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Gandalf. Inspired, Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan examine why, as other franchises become cringe, the Lord of the Rings books remain moving and important. Even despite some rough streaming adaptations, the stories pair sacred story with timeless moral lessons and unmatched world building. Ryan and Spencer rank the best—and worst—of the fantasy universe Tolkien helped inaugurate.

People in this episode

Hosts: Ryan Williams, Spencer Klavan

Topics covered

• Tolkien
• fantasy literature
• moral lessons
• world building
• cultural analysis

Keywords

• Tolkien
• Lord of the Rings
• Gandalf
• fantasy
• moral lessons
• world building
• cultural critique

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pope Leo XIV

Books & works: Lord of the Rings, Gandalf

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