FAQ

I just watched a video clip of something. Is there a full version?

Yes! I made a video of the “working introduction” from The Silmarillion Primer, and you can watch it either here on Signum University’s YouTube channel or my own.

So what is this Silmarillion Primer thing?

The Silmarillion Primer is a forthcoming book of “popular scholarship” soon to be published by Signum Press, the new scholarly publishing arm of Signum University.

The Primer unpacks the complexities of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion—which, if you ask me, is the most amazing work of fantasy literature. My book provides insights and perspectives that recontextualize Tolkien’s mythology. It is not deconstruction, alternative analysis, or reinterpretation of The Silmarillion. It is illumination through contemporary language. And humor. While it’s a sincere and occasionally deep dive into nooks and crannies of Tolkien’s notorious tome, there are also a lot of jokes in there. Forgive me.

Is The Silmarillion Primer on sale?

Not just yet!

When’s it coming out?

In just a few months. I’m hoping for the end of 2025.

BUT, there are still some months remaining in which you can get involved or even read it in its near-final form. If you join my Project Room on the Signum Collaboratory, you can look over chapter drafts, graphics, maps, etc.; you can even send me feedback and/or flak. I’ll also put you in my Acknowledgments!

I’m confused. What’s this Collaboratory thing? Is that even a real word?

I don’t blame you. It’s a bit confusing. The Collaboratory is a place where anyone can connect and collaborate with any of a number of Signum’s scholars and content creators—like Dr. Corey Olsen, Dr. Michael Drout, Dr. Verlyn Flieger, Knewbettadobetta of TikTok, and a bunch more. There are lectures, papers, books-in-the-works (like mine), and even audio “FanTracks” in there where you can watch a film like the Rankin/Bass animated Hobbit and listen to Corey Olsen and Knewbetta discuss it.

A basic subscription in the Collaboratory gets you access to the whole library of content, but if you actually join one of the Project Rooms, you get dig into specific works. If you join someone’s Creator’s Circle, then you’re — as Elrond might put it — deep in that creator’s counsels and you can even participate in monthly live Zoom meetings.

Can I just wait for The Silmarillion Primer to come out?

You totally can. And on this website blog, I’ll surely be talking more about it especially as it draws nearer.

Can I contact you?

I can be reached at silmarillionprimer@gmail.com.