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The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature

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The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature is a free public lecture delivered annually at Pembroke College, Oxford University.

J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature
StatusActive
GenreFantasy literature, Science fiction, Horror
FrequencyAnnually
VenuePembroke College, Oxford
Location(s)Oxford, United Kingdom
Years active2013–present
Organised byPembroke College Middle Common Room
Websitetolkienlecture.org

The series was founded by Pembroke postgraduate students Will Badger and Gabriel Schenk in memory of J.R.R. Tolkien, who was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke from 1925 until 1945. During this time he wrote The Hobbit and the majority of The Lord of the Rings. The aim of the lecture series is to stimulate more serious study of fantasy literature at Oxford University and beyond. The lecture can be on any subject dealing with fantasy, science fiction, horror, or related speculative genres.[1]

The Pembroke College Middle Common Room announced the series in 2012,[2] and the first lecture was delivered on 18 January 2013 by fantasy writer Kij Johnson.[3][4]

R.F. Kuang was scheduled to deliver the eighth-annual lecture in April 2020,[5] but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her lecture was postponed. On 16 May 2020, in lieu of a lecture, past speakers Kij Johnson, Adam Roberts, Lev Grossman, Terri Windling, and Victoria 'V.E.' Schwab joined forthcoming lecturer Kuang for an online symposium on 'Fantasy in Times of Crisis'. The organizers invited donations to the Society of Authors' emergency fund to support British writers whose livelihoods had been affected by the pandemic.

Guy Gavriel Kay delivered the 2021 lecture on 11 May. It was held digitally via Zoom and streamed live to YouTube. In 2022, the Tolkien Lecture was held in person again, with R. F. Kuang delivering the lecture at Pembroke on 23 May.

On 21 March 2023, it was announced that Maria Dahvana Headley would deliver the lecture on 16 May.[6]

Science Fiction critic, writer, and publisher Cheryl Morgan regularly blogs about the lecture series on her website.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Fantasy author Juliet E. McKenna has also written about the series.[13]

History

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Date Lecturer Title
18 January 2013 Kij Johnson Inaugural Pembroke Lecture on Fantasy Literature in Honour of J.R.R. Tolkien[14]
2 May 2014 Adam Roberts Tolkien and Women[15]
13 May 2015 Lev Grossman Fear and Loathing in Aslan’s Land[16]
26 May 2016 Terri Windling Tolkien’s Long Shadow: Reflections on Fantasy Literature in the Post-Tolkien Era[17]
27 April 2017 Susan Cooper A Catch of the Breath[18]
1 May 2018 Victoria 'V.E.' Schwab In Search of Doors[19]
26 February 2019 Marlon James Our Myths, Our Selves[20]
16 May 2020 Panel Discussion:
 Fantasy in Times of Crisis[21]
11 May 2021 Guy Gavriel Kay Just Enough Light: Some Thoughts on Fantasy and Literature[22]
23 May 2022 R.F. Kuang Goodness, Beauty, and Truth: The Value of Art in Times of Crisis[23]
16 May 2023 Maria Dahvana Headley Tell Me A Story: How Fantastical Literature Has Been Shaped by Storytellers and Audiences[24]
12 June 2024 Neil Gaiman[25]

References

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  1. ^ About Us, The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature
  2. ^ Announcing the First Annual Pembroke Lecture on Fantasy Literature in Honour of JRR Tolkien, The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature, 6 December 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  3. ^ Matt Handley, Pembroke To Introduce Fantasy Lecture, The Oxford Student, 10 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. ^ Matthew Reza, Writing the Fantastic[usurped], The Oxonian Review, 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  5. ^ Gabriel Schenk [1], Pembroke College, Oxford, 26 February 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Maria Dahvana Headley to Deliver the 2023 Tolkien Lecture". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature (website). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  7. ^ Cheryl Morgan, Marlon James' Tolkien Lecture, Cheryl's Mewsings, 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  8. ^ Cheryl Morgan, V.E. Schwab’s Tolkien Lecture, Cheryl's Mewsings, 2 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  9. ^ Cheryl Morgan, Susan Cooper’s Tolkien Lecture, Cheryl's Mewsings, 28 April 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  10. ^ Cheryl Morgan, Terri Windling’s Tolkien Lecture, Cheryl's Mewsings, 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  11. ^ Cheryl Morgan, 2015 Tolkien Memorial Lecture from @leverus, Cheryl's Mewsings, 31 May 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  12. ^ Cheryl Morgan, The Tolkien Lecture, Cheryl's Mewsings, 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  13. ^ Juliet E. McKenna, Interesting things of the week; thoughts on Tolkien, writing careers and gender stereotypes, 27 May 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  14. ^ "PDF version of the first PLFL". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Adam Roberts Lecture Podcast Now Available". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Video: Lev Grossman, 'Fear and Loathing in Aslan's Land'". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Photographs, podcast, and video for the Fourth Tolkien Lecture". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Photographs, podcast, and video for Susan Cooper's Tolkien Lecture". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Video and Photos for Victoria (V.E.) Schwab's Tolkien Lecture". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Video and Photos of Marlon James's Tolkien Lecture". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  21. ^ Literature, Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy (24 May 2020). "Tolkien Symposium 2020: Video Recording and Resource List". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  22. ^ Literature, Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy (14 May 2021). "Guy Gavriel Kay Lecture Recording". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  23. ^ "R.F. Kuang Lecture Recording". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Maria Dahvana Headley Lecture Recording and Photos". The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  25. ^ Neil Gaiman to Deliver the 2024 Tolkien Lecture The J.R.R. Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024
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