The newly-minted Gandalf the White advises the Three Hunters to leave the Hobbits in the strong, twiggy hands of Treebeard and go to Edoras. They agree, but Legolas still wants to know how Gandalf is — y’know, not dead — launching the wizard into a brief account of his fight with Durin’s Bane, and your hosts into an epic series of sidebars about Gandalf’s resurrection, mythology, and religion. All this, plus a Tolkien Quote of the Day about sacrifice, and a couple of mailbag stumpers that make Alan question the wisdom of letting Shawn pick the questions.
For more on Tolkien’s review of the Swords and Sorcery anthology edited by L. Sprague de Camp, visit our friends at Tolkien Collector’s Guide here.
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Recommended Reading:
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings (Mariner Books, paperback) “The White Rider”, pp. 489-94
Tolkien, J. R. R. (Christopher Tolkien, ed.) The Silmarillion (Mariner Books, paperback)
Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Mariner Books, paperback)
Just a mention for accuracy sake. Around Min. 53 there is mention of “the escape of Peter” or St. Peter.
The event described by Alan is actually the “release” from prison of Paul and Silas in Acts chapter 16 Where there was an earthquake and all the chains fell off and the doors were opened.
The escape of Peter happens in chapter 12 of Acts and is even less violent than that.
Peter is chained up and asleep between two guards in prison, on the night before he is to be executed.
When an angel shows up, wakes him, removes his chains and says get up get dressed let’s go.
The angel leads him out of the prison and down a few streets then disappears. Peter comes to himself (he had been thinking this was all just a dream) and realizes he is outside and heads to a friend’s house.
So, no violence at all really, just appearing then releasing and showing him the way out.
Getting Peter and Paul mixed up is fairly common, but I do think the difference between their respective escapes is significant and would’ve been to the professor.
Have enjoyed listening along since the end of last season (June/July 2020) I hope to find the time to read /listen to the Silmarillion and begin to “catch up” sometime. But for now just getting to hear the in-depth discussions and such on book 3 is great. Also I love the content I find in the FB group.
Thank you for your time,
Robert Smith
Thanks for the correction, Robert – I had a sneaking feeling that I was conflating two different incidents, but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and I didn’t have the references in my notes. I was, of course, thinking of the release of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 with the earthquake, but I mentioned Peter’s name, because I knew he’d gotten out of jail as well. That’s a big oops, but thanks for catching it!
We record pretty far in advance these days (as we build up towards the moot), so the soonest I can get a correction into an episode is Helm’s Deep, part 1… but I’ve put some notes in my outline and will try to remember to make that correction. 🙂
I’m so glad to know you’re enjoying the show — and the community that has grown up around it on FB as well!
Best,
Alan
It is curious that Gandalf’s great enhancement in power and wide ranging mental acuity includes, at least temporarily, extremely enhanced presbyopia. Is it possible that mature-onset far-sightedness has some benefit other than its contribution to the durability of multi-decades-long lasting romantic relationships?