Mythmakers – Details, episodes & analysis

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. 

(00:05) Author's Analysis of "Flight to the Ford"
(14:06) Paths of Hope and History

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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Do you want to know the key to the Narnian universe?

Today, on Mythmakers, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker take a quick tour around the seven heavens as they discuss C.S. Lewis's book The Discarded Image, as well as the Medieval model, Michael Ward's groundbreaking study, Planet Narnia, and so much more. What other scientific model inspirations have writers found, and where would it be best to live within a Medieval universe? Join the conversation as we find out!

Among the books mentioned is Ted Chiang’s Stories of Your Life and Others, available at: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ted-chiang/stories-of-your-life-and-others/9781035038596 as well as Cixin Liu’s Three Body Problem: https://torpublishinggroup.com/the-three-body-problem/

 (00:05) CS Lewis and the Discarded Image
(16:51) CS Lewis and Science
(25:22) Planetary Imagery in Narnia
(37:07) Lewis
(53:30) Fantasy Reimaginings of Medieval Worlds
(58:41) Rethinking the Discarded Image

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

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

In a perfect fit for the Mythmakers podcast, join us for today’s episode where Julia Golding meets illustrator and author John Hendrix to talk about his entertaining graphic novel: The Mythmakers. This is the story of the friendship between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and not only is it a biography of their fellowship, but it also explores in the company of our guides, a lion and a wizard, what the story is and where it comes from. Julia and John conclude by pondering where in all the fantasy worlds is the best place for a cartoonist (and also discuss some of the worst!).

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

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:10 Introduction to Mythmakers

1:21 Childhood Influences and Fantasy Beginnings

4:21 The World of Comics and Graphic Novels

5:28 Journey to Writing Mythmakers

8:33 Exploring Mythmakers Structure

10:31 Visual Inspiration from Oxford

13:23 Mythologizing the Friendship of Lewis and Tolkien

14:46 The Inklings: A Literary Life

18:33 Tension and Dynamics of Creative Friendships

21:39 Perceptions of the Inklings in Academia

23:24 Religious Differences and Their Impact

28:28 The Mythos-Logos Division in Storytelling

31:04 Cartoons in Fantasy Worlds

34:42 Future Projects and Farewell

Come to our book launch celebration for James Nicol The Spell Tailors https://jamesnicolbooks.com A fun part of our online courses is that you get to be friends with fantasy writers who are publishing in today's market. We celebrate the arrival of the next book from one of our tutors - James Nicol. Listen to how he was inspired by the secret content of biscuit boxes and developed an original line of magic as a result. You can also hear his journey to being a writer and his process. Where in all the fantasy worlds do you think is the best place to be a tailor?

Visit http://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org for great gift items, event information, and sign up for our newsletter for super surprises!

Join us for our first reactions to the Amazon Prime The Rings of Power series. It's useful to orientate ourselves at the start of a series so Julia Golding takes us through what the four ages of Tolkien and where the Second Age fits. She then outlines the headline differences between the Tolkien material and how they've adapted it - suited to a general listener. Next, we go on to our discussion under three main headings of story, performance and creative realisation. Stay tuned for our rating. And to neatly sum up, we conclude that the dwarves are Scottish, the hobbits Irish, the elves Welsh, the Men English, and the money...American. If you want to join one of our Inklings groups, please check out our courses at https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org - Next online course starts in October.

We will know very soon what choices the showrunners for the upcoming Amazon series Rings of Power have taken but let's look at what we can glean about the story choices already. How do you cope with such a big gap in the timeline? Do you know your Celebrimbors from your Ar Pharazons - and what has Sauron got to do with it all? What about the featured characters - how do they relate to the original material? Julia Golding looks at the story patterns and the character arcs and makes some predictions. Find out if you agree - and if she gets it right!

What are the myths and legends of the place where you live? Julia Golding meets Claire Fayers, author and reteller of Welsh myths and legends, also a tutor on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy Novel-in-a-Year course. Claire tells us about dragons and tappers in mines, as well as the stories that grow up about local landmarks. It is a process that can be seen even within a generation. Where does the dragon on the Welsh flag come from? Are Welsh dragons nasty or nice? Claire talks about using local stories to inspire new writing, making sequels. We also hear about Claire's journey to being a writer and tips on entering competitions for that first contract. To conclude, Claire and Julia discuss the best place in fantasy to be a miner. Where would you pick? You can find out more about Claire's books here http://clairefayers.com

What are the myths and legends of the place where you live? Julia Golding meets Claire Fayers, author and reteller of Welsh myths and legends, also a tutor on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy Novel-in-a-Year course. Claire tells us about dragons and tappers in mines, as well as the stories that grow up about local landmarks. It is a process that can be seen even within a generation. Where does the dragon on the Welsh flag come from? Are Welsh dragons nasty or nice? Claire talks about using local stories to inspire new writing, making sequels. We also hear about Claire's journey to being a writer and tips on entering competitions for that first contract. To conclude, Claire and Julia discuss the best place in fantasy to be a miner. Where would you pick? You can find out more about Claire's books here http://clairefayers.com

Responding to a listener's question about stone-giants in The Hobbit and more generally, Julia Golding, and friend of the OCF, Jacob Rennaker take a deep dive into all things gigantic. Did you know that ent originally meant 'giant'? Is there something about elemental giants going on in Middle Earth? Taking in Greek, Norse and Celtic traditions, as well as folklore, fairytale and fiction, we wander far and wide in the land of the giants. CS Lewis and Charles Williams take a different approach and we get to discuss these in-depth, waking Father Time to end the world. Last we have a look at our favourite contemporary versions of giants, ranging from transformers, Harry Potter, Marvel and DC, with a nod to Roal Dahl. It is a gigantic subject so will come in two parts!

Responding to a listener's question about stone-giants in The Hobbit and more generally, Julia Golding, and friend of the OCF, Jacob Rennaker take a deep dive into all things gigantic. Did you know that ent originally meant 'giant'? Is there something about elemental giants going on in Middle Earth? Taking in Greek, Norse and Celtic traditions, as well as folklore, fairytale and fiction, we wander far and wide in the land of the giants. CS Lewis and Charles Williams take a different approach and we get to discuss these in-depth, waking Father Time to end the world. Last we have a look at our favourite contemporary versions of giants, ranging from transformers, Harry Potter, Marvel and DC, with a nod to Roal Dahl. It is a gigantic subject so will come in two parts!