Silmarillion Writers' Guild

For the month of July, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild has decided to honor the House of Fëanor, especially the inspiration these characters provide to the Tolkien fan community. For each day during the first week of July, we will unveil a new character. Alongside a brief biography and discussion of that character, we present the words and images fans have created to illustrate the character's history and impact on the world of Middle-earth.

Today's character is Fëanor. Called "the greatest of the Noldor," Fëanor is subject to a strong love-hate dichotomy among the fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Yet no matter what one's opinion about him as an individual and grievous as were his deeds, without Fëanor, the events of the Third Age that freed the people of Middle-earth from thralldom would not have been possible. Fëanor stands as a shining example of a fall from light to darkness but also--as said in Ainulindalë--how even the darkest deeds eventually bring good returns.

It is in recognition of this, in recognition of the wisdom, creativity, and joy that studying the House of Fëanor has brought to hundreds of authors and artists, that we honor him this month.

That concludes our first week's events for Seven in '07! Many thanks to those who have followed along and, of course, to the many talented contributors who helped put the project together. With more than three weeks still left in July, we look forward to more Fëanorian-inspired fun and creativity, so stay tuned!

May the muses smile upon you,
SWG Moderators

Seven in '07 Homepage

For the month of July, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild has decided to honor the House of Fëanor, especially the inspiration these characters provide to the Tolkien fan community. For each day during the first week of July, we will unveil a new character. Alongside a brief biography and discussion of that character, we present the words and images fans have created to illustrate the character's history and impact on the world of Middle-earth.

Today's character is Curufin. Said to be like his father in mood, appearance, and skills, it is no surprise that Curufin is portrayed as the most villainous of the brothers. But he wasn't always that way, and his history reveals a character for whom the epithet "the crafty" did not necessarily deserve the negative connotation that it would come to receive. From friend to traitor, father to kinslayer, Curufin exemplifies the tragic hold of the Silmarils on the lives of their pursuers.

We hope that you enjoy the works presented as part of Seven in '07. Other events centered on the House of Fëanor will follow throughout the month of July, so stay tuned! And of course, if you feel so inspired, please feel free to share your creativity on SWG!

May the muses smile upon you,
SWG Moderators

Seven in '07 Homepage

For the month of July, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild has decided to honor the House of Fëanor, especially the inspiration these characters provide to the Tolkien fan community. For each day during the first week of July, we will unveil a new character. Alongside a brief biography and discussion of that character, we present the words and images fans have created to illustrate the character's history and impact on the world of Middle-earth.

Today's character is Celegorm. Celegorm is often a convenient villain in The Silmarillion but a closer look at his character shows him to be more complex than such black-and-white portrayals suggest. Once a loyal follower of Oromë, a lover of the natural world, and a passionate speaker after his father, Celegorm exemplifies that tragic fall of a character destined for great things and brought low by the pursuit of vengeance.

We hope that you enjoy the works presented as part of Seven in '07. Other events centered on the House of Fëanor will follow throughout the month of July, so stay tuned! And of course, if you feel so inspired, please feel free to share your creativity on SWG!

May the muses smile upon you,
SWG Moderators

Seven in '07 Homepage

For the month of July, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild has decided to honor the House of Fëanor, especially the inspiration these characters provide to the Tolkien fan community. A few weeks ago, we asked authors and artists to share with us their favorite creative works about the Fëanorians, and they answered our challenge. We received over one hundred submissions from more than two dozen writers and artists, everything from poetry to tapestries, drabbles to digital paintings. We have since been compiling these to provide a fan-illustrated history of each character from the House of Fëanor.

For each day during the first week of July, we will unveil a new character. Alongside a brief biography and discussion of that character, we present the words and images fans have created to illustrate the character's history and impact on the world of Middle-earth.

Today's character is Maedhros. The eldest son of Fëanor, few Silmarillion characters command the hearts of fans the way that Maedhros does. One of the chief architects of unity and peace among the Noldor, he was nonetheless haunted by an oath that constantly turned his greatest deeds to grievous ends: great beauty marred by evil, allegiance thwarted by treachery, and a hero turned kinslayer in the pursuit of the impossible.

We hope that you enjoy the works presented as part of Seven in '07. Other events centered on the House of Fëanor will follow throughout the month of July, so stay tuned! And of course, if you feel so inspired, please feel free to share your creativity on SWG!

May the muses smile upon you,
SWG Moderators

Seven in '07 Homepage