Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. We will be exploring fantasy old and new, look at what went into writing your favourite series, learn tips from the experts, and discuss new books, TV shows and films. Mythmakers is brought to you from the city of Oxford - home to many of the world's greatest fantasy writers, from J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth, to C.S. Lewis, creator of Narnia, and the grandfather of them all, Lewis Carroll with his Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Oxford story continues with outstanding contemporary writers finding inspiration among the ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to jump down the rabbit hole with us to find your next mythmaker? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/
Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8
July 2, 2026
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: Climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol
01:28 The Road as Character: An Unusual Opening
03:39 Beyond Caring: The Exhaustion of War
05:26 Minas Morgul: Imprisoned Moonlight and Corpse Light
09:53 Shadowy Meads: White Flowers and Perverted Beauty
15:40 The Army Departs: Beacons of Darkness
20:06 The Phial of Galadriel: Starlight Against Shadow
22:52 Frodo's Lament and the Shire's Echo
24:29 The Straight Stair and the Winding Stair
29:35 Don't the Great Tales Never End: Sam's Famous Speech
35:11 The Pieta Moment: Gollum's Fleeting Chance
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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They Cannot Conquer for Ever! - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 7
June 25, 2026
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
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The rumour mill is turning! Early screenings of the upcoming Narnia film suggest that the soundtrack may be dipping into 70s and 80s rock. Nothing is certain yet—it could all be a red herring—but could it work, and if so, how?
Join Jacob Rennaker and Julia Golding in today’s Mythmakers episode as they discuss the possibilities before turning their attention to the fantasy books of the 1980s, each sharing some of their favourite reads from one of the genre’s most influential decades.
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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Then I Will Declare My Doom - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 6
June 11, 2026
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
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Were you a friend of Boromir? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 5
June 4, 2026
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: Window on the West - An Unusual Chapter
03:37 The Battle of Wits: Faramir's Interrogation Begins
07:09 Characterizing Through Point of View: Frodo Under Pressure
08:18 Were You a Friend of Boromir? The Pivotal Question
12:50 Boromir Was My Brother: A Game-Changing Revelation
14:11 The Poetic Vision: Boromir's Death as Anglo-Saxon Lament
18:04 Faramir's Wisdom: Works of Art and Their Imprint
22:27 The Detective at Work: Piecing Together Isildur's Bane
25:07 Gandalf the Grey: Names and the Archives of Minas Tirith
30:43 The Window on the West: A Vision of Beauty and Creativity
35:39 Grace Before Meals: A Rare Religious Moment
38:20 Springless Autumn: Gondor's Decline and Lost Hope
41:23 The Moment of Choice: Faramir Resists the Ring
42:31 Conclusion: The Highest Quality and Return to the Journey
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
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