We Acquired a Tolkien Brick — Intentionally Blank Ep. 271
Summary
Brandon Sanderson discusses signing copies of *Fires of December* and shares a story about a soldier who stole over a million dollars worth of MREs. He recounts his recent trip to Oxford, where he lectured on Tolkien’s influence on epic fantasy and viewed rare artifacts from the Bodleian Library, including original drawings and Mary Shelley’s diary. The episode also features fan mail, gifts like Japanese Kit Kats, and a humorous anecdote about a George Washington bust facing the wall.
Topics discussed
Signing copies of Fires of December
The MRE heist and military rations
Tasting Belgian chocolate and fan gifts
Speaking at Oxford and its college system
Viewing Tolkien's original drawings and sketches
Mary Shelley artifacts and Frankenstein manuscript
The ancient history of Oxford University
The Bodleian Library's chained books
Harry Potter filming locations and fan gifts
The George Washington bust at Pembroke College
Tolkien statue and the concept of 'statue level'
Visiting Tolkien and C.S. Lewis's graves
Sharing fan letters and international gifts
Details on the Oxford Tolkien lecture series
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