Luke Shelton, PhD

We frequently do a reading of Dracula or Night in the Lonesome October during Halloween season!

Shortly after I defended my viva, I met with some graduate students to do a Q and A about the process. One of them asked, “what are you going to do next?” And my answer was “learn how to be human again.” A PhD just takes so much that I honestly needed to remember how to do things like “have fun.”

*Any new LOTR thing is announced*

Me: Ok but does it involve complex interpersonal relationships that break down masculine stereotypes

I think you and @jrrtastrochick.bsky.social would be good friends 🤣

a poster that says science does n't lie on a blue background ALT: a poster that says science does n't lie on a blue background

It's that time again.
For the next 24 hours, drop any infectious disease and/or vaccine-related questions below in response to this post, and I will do my best to answer them. Responses are for information only and are NOT medical advice.
#AskAnIDDoc September 2025 edition.

This is the most anti-science thing I have watched today.
What is most shocking about this is all of these statements are being made without any scientific evidence to back it up.
There are very few safe options to treat pain and fever in pregnancy so this is also an attack on women's health.

On 21 September 1937: J.R.R. #Tolkien's The Hobbit was published.

The book tells of a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and his journey with thirteen dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon, Smaug. It's sold over 100 million copies and is one of the best-selling books of all time. #BookSky

If you've not read this essay, or even if you have, I can't recommend it enough. In the first place, it's incredibly insightful, well-written, and proof positive that brilliant Tolkien scholarship can and does happen outside the academy. In the second place, it makes me cry.

Thanks for the kind words, I’m glad my research is interesting!

Westmoot 2025 attendee, Zak Francis, dressed as Frodo Baggins in a green waistcoat, is holding Sting and a yellow ring, appearing heroic as he presents the One Ring to the audience.

From all of us at Westmoot, we hope everyone has a great time this weekend at #Oxonmoot, whether you are attending in-person or online!

Pictured here is Frodo Baggins- oops, we meant Zak Francis, carrying the Ring to Mordor and making a quick stop at #Westmoot25.

#westmoot #intothewest

Westmoot folks who are attending Oxonmoot this weekend- we’re going to take a Westmoot group photo in front of the dining hall at 11:30! Spread the word!

#westmoot #oxonmoot #intothewest

Westmoot folks who are attending Oxonmoot this weekend- we’re going to take a Westmoot group photo in front of the dining hall at 11:30! Spread the word! See you soon!

#westmoot #oxonmoot #intothewest

A graphic with text that reads, “Lesser-trod path with Dr. Luke Shelton” and “Athrabeth episode 86” with three images of co-hosts Stef and Jude, and guest host Luke Shelton.

When you first read the LotR, which character did you most relate to?

This month, Dr. Luke Shelton @lukebshelton.bsky.social explores reader response theory and the ways that personal experience and interpretation interact with criticism.

Thanks, Luke!

athrabeth.simplecast.com/episodes/epi...

I apologize to your listeners for making it an hour and a half episode, hah!

This was such a fun and engaging experience!

Thanks so much to @podcast.athrabeth.com for having me!

Huzzah! A way to get some of your excellent scholarship AND incredible artwork, all in one convenient package!

Eglerio! My series editor’s copy of @joelmerriner.bsky.social’s Illustrating The Lord of the Rings in the Soviet Bloc: Iconographies of Difference has just arrived! The book will be available from 18 Sep - details here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/illustrat...
@uofgfantasy.bsky.social @tolkiensociety.org

Honestly, I would pay good money to see his take on Saruman. Make him ruthless. See what he does with it.

Like how Henry Fonda was cast as Frank in Once Upon a Time in the West.

"Which Way, Western Man" is a notorious 1978, neo-Nazi classic by eugenicist William Gayley Simpson. It blames Jews for the racial destruction of the modern world and calls for a violent, global "revolution" modeled on Hitler's genocidal anti-Jewish campaign. /1

That’s awful, I’m sorry

Thanks for the mention, happy to help!

The archivist in charge of 11,000 pages of original Lord of the Rings drafts at Marquette University The journey to Middle-earth and understanding J. R. R. Tolkien begins inside Marquette University's archives, which has more than 11,000 pages of drafts for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The journey to Middle-earth and understanding J. R. R. Tolkien begins inside Marquette University's archives, which has more than 11,000 pages of drafts for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Something something, don’t throw rocks…

Shorte filme concept:

Post-credits scenes for everye Shakespeare playe

Congratulations!

PSA.

Turn this off if you still have an Academia.edu account.

Instead, I love dealing in the thousand thousands of different interpretations.

I have written elsewhere that we should “embrace the messiness” because that is where all of the fun parts are!

Who can possibly explain all of the thoughts and feelings they have about someone they care for so dearly to another person? Who can write it?

Authors who can come close are the ones we remember and cherish. But it is never exactly right, is it?

It is never exactly as we feel.

Furthermore, this heartfelt action only underscores that not even the people closest to Tolkien, not even Christopher (his son and literary executor), could know all of the intricacies that Tolkien had in mind for the character.