Tolkien debates; Come one, come all!

We here at Three Wise Guys and Total Tolkien are excited to announce the first iteration of our Tolkien debate shows.

 

 

We are opening the floor to everyone, anyone interested in Tolkien and the topics with in are free to apply, we will select 8 people randomly so long as they meet the requirements (Have internet and a headset to talk into).

 

We will then announce a topic from the options submited, we have already had contract with several listeners who have put forward ideas such as the classic, Do Balrogs have wings, Where the Valar involved in the War of Wrath, was Numenor a good idea? Are Orcs immortal.

 

The first debate will probably be in about 2 weeks once everyone is prepared and times are sorted.

 

We will handle all the production and moderations, from recording of the debate, to editing the down time between talks and then posting it to our show feed and any other Tolkien sites interested in hosting this brand new event.

 

If you’d like to join contact us here or directly to the show at: Link

Total Tolkien #007 7 Wonders of Middle Earth

Total Tolkien #007 7 Wonders of Middle Earth

 

 

In this episode following on from the ring of Isenguard and the Tower of Orthanc we are taking a look at the Statues of the Argonath. The twin statues guarding the ancient norther boundary of the kingdom of Gondor.

 

Who built them, when, why, how and how do they compare to modern marvels in our world?

 

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Total Tolkien #006 7 Wonders of Middle Earth

This is the first in a seven episode series exploring the 7 Wonders of Middle Earth left standing at the end of the Third Age.

 

 

Obviously inspired by the famous list of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient world, ours differs only in that we are only counting those monuments that are still surviving as of the events in The Lord of the Rings.

 

At number 7 on our list is the ring of isengard and the tower of Orthanc.  Listen to the episode to find out why this monument to the craft of the Numenorians comes in at numbers seven.

 

What do you think will come in at the remaining 6 places.

 

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Total Tolkien #005 Two and a Half Swords

Total Tolkien #005 Two and a Half Swords

 

 

This episode of Total Tolkien looks at the Elvish Blades of Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting, owned by Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and Bilbo respectively. 

 

We look at the place and the people who forged them, their powers and properties, why they glowed blue and cut spiders like butter.

 

Three of the greatest swords not only of the Lord of the Rings Stories, but in all the History of Middle Earth.

 

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Total Tolkien #004 Magic In Middle Earth III

Total Tolkien #004

 

Magic In Middle Earth III

 

 

This episode we round off our three part look at Magic in Middle Earth with a look at how Magic is used in Middle Earth. The different types of magic, how it differs from Valar to Elf to Man to Dwarves and how knowledge and natural power play their own important roles.

 

We look perhaps one of the most important issues of magic in Tolkien, expendable power, using your own natural power dominate and corrupt the nature of something else. Usually an evil act, but not always…

 

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Total Tolkien #003 Magic in Middle Earth

Total Tolkien #003 Magic in Middle Earth

 

In this episode we look at the races of Middle Earth and Valinor and what power each have available to them and where they come from.  

 

 

 

We finish with an interesting look at the men of Aragorns people and their strange position between that of lesser men and that of the Half Elven. 

 

Where does magic derive from in Tolkiens world, What is Magic in the Lord of the Rings? How does it differ to magics seen in other fantasy.

 

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Total Tolkien, Magic in MIddle Earth I

Welcome Back to Total Tolkien

 

In this three part episode we are looking at Magic in Middle Earth. Look for our full episode listings on iTunes or at out server.

 

 

Its one of the questions brought up my new readers of Tolien or those turned off from Fantasy because they think it childish or naive to read about magic and fantasy worlds.

 

In this first of the three part episode we list several of the examples of magic shown in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. From the surprisingly few examples in the Hobbit, To the more obvious, but also more abstract magic shown in The Lord of the Rings.

 

IN the next two episodes we will be taking a deeper look into exactly what magic is in Tolkiens world and how it differs to most modern concepts of magic.

Total Tolkien, What is Canon?

The first ever episode of our brand new Podcast.

 

Total Tolkien.

 

This week our pilot episode is on, what exactly is Canon? What books published by the Tolkien and his estate are part of the official Middle Earth Mythos and which are supplementary works?

 

Listen direct at our site or find us on iTunes.

 

 

From the original version of the Hobbit to its latter revised edition, the publishing of the Lord of the Rings on to The Silmarilion, published by his son Christopher soon after his death. 

 

Along with Unfinished Tales, Lost Tails, the Letters of Tolkien and the 12 volume set of The History of Middle Earth.

 

What books fit in where, when were they published and when did Tolkien write them? His works cover a life time but were refined down to several rather small works.

 

And a sneak peak at our up coming episode on Magic in Middle Earth.

Revenge or Rehabilitation?

This weeks post/episode takes a look at the always controversial topic of the justice system. With a massive prison population an a never ending war on drugs adding to the issue every day, soon 1 out of every 100 men in america will be in prison at some point in their life.

 

 

Is prison to answer to all the crimes we use it for, does a white collar money launderer deserve to be in the same place as rapists and murderers? 

 

Does sating the need for revenge trump our social responsibility to people who quite often are a victim of circumstance?

 

Also on a related note Preston takes a shot at bad drivers who many think deserve prison as well. And Canadas new government sponsored nark app. 

Three Wise Guys #023 Guilty till proved innocent no more!

Three Wise Guys

 

Episode 023 – Guilty till proved innocent no more!

 

Soap Box: Constructive Feedback

 

Legend or Loser: Rolling Stones Magazine and the Boston Bomber cover

 

 

This weeks show takes a look at the concept of innocent till proven guilty and the changing opinion to “well your probably guilty of something”

 

DNA databases, licence plate readers and random searches, what benefit do they bring, how much should we tolerate for safety, and whats next? Will we allow it so long as we keep the veneer of freedom?

 

Also a look at the controversial Rolling Stones cover and our first ever split vote on Legend or Loser!

 

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