Substacks recommended by Nick Polk

Recommended by Nick Polk

Arda Rediscovered explores Tolkien's Middle-earth through archaeology, comparative mythology, and deep time. Unpublished essays connecting the Legendarium to Neolithic cultures, Indo-European traditions, and the material record of our ancient past.

Parson Brown

By Brandon Brown

Faith and Sundries

Our Collective Becoming

By Roberto Che Espinoza

Cultural Analysis with a Spirit of Hope: Translating theory to action for another possible world.

The Blue Spirit

By Kevin Schaefer

A disabled geek’s musings on pop culture, writing, and the universe.

The Blue Spirit by Kevin Schaefer is a great place to read Kevin's thought on various IPs. It connects fun, pop culture, inclusivity, and deep discussions in each post!

- Nick Polk

Thomas Jay Oord

I'm a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. I've written or edited more than thirty books and more than a dozen books that address love. I direct doctoral programs in open and relational theology. Website: thomasjayoord.com

A kind of elvish craft

By Dimitra Fimi

Musings about J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy, children's literature, myth and folklore, elves and fairies, and all things miniature

Partners in Making and Delight

By Mercury Natis

Tolkien Studies, Queer Theory, Pop culture, Art History, Literature, Original Fiction, Poetry, Academic Work. An attempt at Horizontality. Dismantling the hierarchical value system one post at a time. (welcome art: Sara Kipin ★ logo art: dejja_blue)

Queer and Back Again

By Tom Emanuel

Queering faith and fantasy in the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien (mostly) with the Rev. Tom Emanuel.

Writing from Ithilien

By Robin

Tolkien scholarship (conferences, publishing, research, & esp. bibliographies!). ETA: after my June 7 post, I need to warn about an addiction to discursive footnotes and blending academic analysis with reader response (my own!).

Kelly @themiddlepage Tolkien academia, thoughts on fantasy and medieval stories

Process This

By Tripp Fuller

Follow along to experience loads of zesty theology and philosophy!

Teaching With Magic

Reading is Magic! Teaching, teachers, and reading fantasy and science fiction

Jokien with Tolkien

By JRR Jokien

"Lore, Laugh, Lord of the Rings" is the unofficial motto of this weekly, often humorous, sometimes earnest, always genuine "2023 Substack Featured Publication" concerning hobbits, faith, and culture by a lifelong Tolkien fan. Subscribe & get a FREE eBook!

The Cottage

By Diana Butler Bass

Part retreat, part think tank. A place for inspiration and ideas about culture, faith, and spirit.

Loving Life

By Grace Ji-Sun Kim

Madang podcast, books, blogs and events

The Kingdom Key

By Joshua Noel

I have played through every Kingdom Hearts game (excluding the mobile games) every year for 19 years now. I also have degrees in Bible and Philosophy. I hope to use this space to explore my many thoughts on all these topics and more!

My friend Josh is a lifelong Kingdom Hearts fan with a wealth of knowledge, experience in multiple fandoms, and a great writer. If you love theology, philosophy, and Kingdom Hearts then you'll love The Kingdom Key Substack!

- Nick Polk

The Wandering Gael

By Andrew J. Nicewander

Thoughts on Church Trauma and my Patron Ragamuffins (Chesterton, Lewis, Tolkien, et al) Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Roäc the GHR(Katie)

By Roäc the Grey Haven Raven of Bree Crossroads

Bree Crossroads is your signpost to Middle-earth and the Tolkien community. I uplift and celebrate Tolkien fans, helping them find their niche. I’m also the Community and Event Coordinator for The PPP and active in various Tolkien spaces

Dr. Andrew Higgins Elvish Musings

My Explorations into Tolkien, Tolkien's Languages and related items.

(Re)thinking Faith

Short meditations on Theology, Philosophy, and what it means to be human.

The Road to Arda Healed

By Cameron Bourquein

The Road to Arda Healed is the Tolkien scholarship blog of independent scholar Cameron Bourquein who focuses on Sauron, his Primary World development, his fandom reception, and his intersections with the metaphysics of Middle-earth.