Mordor, Metal, and Middle‑Earth: When Books Become Music

Host Samuel sends Thanksgiving greetings and remembers his mother before diving into how literature has inspired music across genres. He traces examples from Tolkien and Poe to Metallica, Rush, Kate Bush, and more, describing moments when songs distilled stories and how music can reveal new interpretations of books. The episode blends personal memoir, musical analysis, and an invitation for listeners to share other literary-to-musical connections.