Mythmakers Oxford Centre for Fantasy

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.

(00:35) Introducing “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”
(02:40) Turning Away from the Black Gate
(06:50) Entering Ithilien and the Return of Hope
(10:40) Ruins, Lost Landscapes, and Tolkien’s Sense of History
(12:20) Ithilien as Tolkien’s Poetic Garden
(17:20) Sam’s Hunger and the Comic Relief of Cooking
(19:00) Sam’s Love for Frodo
(20:10) Rabbits, Hobbit Culture, and Sam’s Travelling Kitchen
(22:00) Gollum, Potatoes, and the Clash of Tastes
(26:00) The Cooking Fire and the Arrival of Faramir’s Men
(31:00) Faramir, Boromir, and the Hidden Rangers of Gondor
(36:30) The Skirmish in Ithilien and Sam’s First Sight of an Oliphaunt
(42:30) Wonder, Danger, and the Chapter’s Lasting Charm

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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 Listeners

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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Today’s guest on Mythmakers is the wonderful Malcolm Guite—poet, priest, literary critic, and so much more. He had been lured on a quest to tell his Arthurian epic in ballad form and has published the first volume, Galahad and the Grail, which takes us straight to the heart of the matter of Arthur.

Listen as he joins Julia Golding to discuss how and why he set out on this journey, his plans moving forward, and the authors who have accompanied and inspired him along the way as he seeks to revive this timeless cycle of stories for our current age. Stay tuned to hear where you might best embark on your own Grail quest in other fantasy worlds—and where it might not go quite to plan.

Follow along with more of Malcolm’s riveting adventures over at his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@malcolmguitespell?si=o-Tw3IOrr2CKWIWp and learn more about his works at https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/ 

(00:00) Introduction to Malcolm Guite and Galahad and the Grail
(01:23) How Arthur Called Malcolm to “Take Up the Tale”
(04:36) The Ballad Tradition and the Influence of Chesterton
(05:34) Why Malcolm Chose Poetry for an Arthurian Epic
(10:48) Literary Echoes, Influence, and Creative Collaboration
(15:57) Dandrene, Lucy, and the Spiritual Imagination of C.S. Lewis
(20:56) Galahad, Jeopardy, and the Challenge of the Perfect Knight
(26:27) The Grail, Communion, and Charles Williams’ Influence
(31:28) Why the Ballad Form Works for Enchantment
(35:23) Dandrene, Women’s Wisdom, and Creation as God’s Word
(38:40) Why the Epic Begins with the Grail Quest
(41:20) What Comes Next in Malcolm’s Arthurian Cycle
(43:33) Where Else Could a Grail Quest Belong?
(48:16) Where to Find Galahad and the Grail
(49:23) Looking Ahead to The Coming of Arthur and Future Volumes

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 
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With the King and Queen of the United Kingdom heading to the US this week, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin today’s episode of Mythmakers with a playful look at soft toy diplomacy and the source of many fantasy stories in nursery toys—including a bonus Tolkien connection.

From there, the conversation turns to the thorny question of which cinematic universe is the best? Expect strong opinions as Julia and Jacob weigh the merits of Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Star Wars, and amongst others…

(00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview
(01:12) Soft Toy Diplomacy & Winnie-the-Pooh Legacy
(03:00) Toys in Fantasy: Childhood Stories & Lasting Themes
(05:20) Imagination, Play, and Growing Up in Toy Narratives
(07:40) Worldbuilding in Winnie-the-Pooh vs Other Stories
(10:00) Toy Stories as Cultural Reflection & Social Commentary
(14:40) Play as the Foundation of Fantasy Storytelling
(18:40) Defining the Cinematic Universe
(23:30) Marvel & DC: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Evolution
(30:00) Star Wars: Expansion, Innovation, and Challenges
(36:30) Star Trek vs Star Wars: Themes and Cultural Impact
(44:30) Personal Preferences, Nostalgia, and Final Verdicts
(57:00) Closing & Transition to 1990s Fantasy Discussion

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 
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In today’s episode of Mythmakers, we cover three lively topics of discussion. Join Julia Golding and friend of the podcast, Jacob Rennaker, as they begin with the latest casting news for the upcoming prequel film The Hunt for Gollum—hits or misses?

Next, they turn to the content challenges surrounding Stephen Colbert’s script for the second Lord of the Rings film currently in development—which we’re calling “the interval.” Rather than focusing on canon, Julia and Jacob explore the storytelling possibilities from a creative perspective.

Finally, with Julia having just secured a new contract for a middle-grade fantasy novel, they discuss the best approaches for breaking through in today’s publishing market. What does it really take to get noticed by publishers these days?

(00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview
(02:00) Casting News for The Hunt for Gollum
(08:00) New Characters & Story Speculation (Halvard & Companions)
(10:00) Kate Winslet’s Role & Expanding Middle-earth’s Female Presence
(16:00) Andy Serkis Directing & Acting Challenges
(19:00) Stephen Colbert’s LOTR Film & “The Interval” Concept
(26:00) Character Depth: Frodo, Merry & Adaptation Challenges
(30:00) Tom Bombadil & Goldberry – Adapting the Unadaptable
(38:00) Balancing Tone, Audience & Modern Expectations
(41:00) Writing Fantasy Today: Breaking Into Publishing
(52:00) Editing Process, Trends & Modern Children’s Publishing
(56:00) Final Thoughts & What’s 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 
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Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok