Darrell Curtis

November 10: The Fall of Númenor And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth

Some stories linger quietly on the edge of legend, waiting for readers to trace the rise and fall of kingdoms, the forging of powerful artifacts, and the choices that shape history. The Fall of Númenor (2022) A curated collection of Tolkien’s Second Age writings, where ambition, courage, and consequence shape a world. The Fall ofContinueContinue reading “November 10: The Fall of Númenor And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth”

Egg Sandwiches, Elementary School, and Timeless Memories

There was a time when joy came in the form of an egg sandwich. My friend Alan used to bring them to school, still warm from his mother’s kitchen, wrapped with care inside a reused plastic bread bag. When he peeled it open, the smell hit first: that mix of fried egg, hot oil, andContinueContinue reading “Egg Sandwiches, Elementary School, and Timeless Memories”

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

On a cold November night fifty years ago, a massive freighter vanished beneath the waves of Lake Superior. Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad captures the storm, the ship, and the 29 men lost on this day in 1975: an enduring story of courage, nature’s power, and memory that refuses to fade. August of 1976 I wasContinueContinue reading “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”

November 9: Reflections on Orphans, Widows, and Tolkien

My editorial calendar is getting busy. November 9 reminds me that care and legacy come in many forms. They show up in quiet acts of compassion. They show up in stories passed down and letters and tales that shape hearts across generations. There is a quiet weight to loss that does not always get noticed.ContinueContinue reading “November 9: Reflections on Orphans, Widows, and Tolkien”

Fingolfin challenges Morgoth at the Gates of Angband, by Pete Amachree

Re-sharing this stunning depiction by artist Pete Amachree, paired with the passage it brings to life — a glimpse of the high, mythic tone that runs through Tolkien’s writings beyond The Lord of the Rings. Digital artwork inspired by Fingolfin’s final ride and his courage meeting shadow at the very gates of darkness. This sceneContinueContinue reading “Fingolfin challenges Morgoth at the Gates of Angband, by Pete Amachree”