About
![]()
The Middle-earth Talk show is currently recorded each Sunday night (usually) around 10:00 pm Pacific Time, with the edited show downloads or podcasts available within the week (usually). Plans are in the works for making this show a live broadcast eventually, with live guests and live audience participation through the chat rooms.
Guest speakers are also being arranged to participate in the show.
Listeners can download all the previous shows here: http://www.middle-earthtalk.com/archives/
Or listen to the show streamed (randomly or by request) here: http://playlist.middleearthradio.com/playlist/playlist.php?search=Talk
You can post questions in the Forums here: http://www.middle-earthtalk.com/forum/shows

![]()
Michael Martinez is the author of:
- Visualizing Middle-earth
- Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth, 3rd Edition.
- Understanding Middle-earth, published by Vivisphere in 2003.
From Mr. Martinez's website at www.michael-martinez.com:
"Recognized around the world as one of the leading authorities on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Martinez has shared his knowledge and insights on Middle-earth with other fans in the online world for many years. His books and essays have been translated into Polish, Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Finnish. But though he is best known for his research into Tolkien's chief literary creation, this versatile author has garnered respect and acknowledgement in more than one field.
Most of Michael's early professional career was devoted to the family of Business Basic programming languages which were developed for mini-computers in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and then ported to UNIX and PC operating systems in the 1980s. A former employee of Basis International, one of the leading vendors of Business Basic, Michael has written numerous technical papers and articles on programming techniques and methodologies. He has worked as a consultant, IT manager, programmer, and teacher for many companies.
You can view a list of his works and contributing works at http://www.michael-martinez.com/articles-and-essays.html "
Hawke is the original creator, and co-host of the Middle-earth Talk Radio Show. He has been a DJ and talk show host for NEKKID Internet Radio from 2004-2006, and KYRS FM 92.3 in Spokane, Washington from 2005-2007 with The Synthetic Zen Show, and Tech Talk With Hawke.
Among many other endeavors, Hawke has been interested in Tolkien since the late 1970's. He is the founder of MerpCon & Tolkien Moot, the Inland Empire Tolkien Society, Other Minds Magazine, the Eä Role Playing Gaming System and d20 adaptation, the Númenor Project, Middle-earth Radio, Middle-earth Talk Radio Show, SuiteGM software, and the RPG Research Project. Tolkien Moot & MerpCon are annual conventions dedicated to fans, scholars, and others interested in J.R.R. Tolkien and Tolkien's Middle-earth. Hawke has published a small number of essays on J.R.R. Tolkien specifically, and on Role Playing Gaming in general. Including having an essay read recently by the U.K. Tolkien Society in York, England.
In the "real world" Hawke is a semi-retired computer scientist, working on a degree in recreation and music therapy, with a wide range of interests and activities. While raising his three sons.
http://www.hawkenterprising.com
Hawke began role playing gaming in 1979.
Hawke considers himself a "nobody" in Tolkienology, especially compared to all the other incredible guest speakers at Tolkien Moot. He puts most of his energy in trying to "facilitate" getting everyone together to share their great ideas and have a great time. He has however contributed a little bit to the Tolkien and RPG communities with a few essays and modules here and there.
Tolkien Essays:
- J.R.R. Tolkien's Love of Trees and the Environment (Other Minds Magazine Issue 2)
- Tolkien's Impact on Beowulf (Other Minds Magazine Issue 5)
- The Tolkien Legacy, The Estate, Enterprises, and the Dismemberment of Other Hands
RPG Essays:
- An Overview History and Therapeutic Value of Role Playing Gaming
- The Battle Over Role Playing Gaming (Other Minds Magazine Issue 1)
- The Potential Benefits and Deficits of Role Playing Gaming
- Role Playing Games Used as Educational and Therapeutic Tools for Children, Youth, and Adults
- The Defamation of Role Playing Gaming and Gamers
- Analysis of Personalities and Alienation of Dungeons and Dragons Game Players
Tolkien Adventure Modules (any game system):
- Uswë Númenorello (Escape from Númenor) (Tolkien Moot 2005 Adventure)
- Umbar-dalad (Under Umbar) (Tolkien Moot 2006 Adventure)
- Gift Bearers of Numenor - First Contact (Tolkien Moot 2007 Adventure)
- Let Sleeping Dragons Lie (Tolkien Moot 2009 Adventure)
Longer Bio:
Hawke has been role playing since 1979 and a regular Game Master since 1984. He has role played with dozens of game systems in countless campaign worlds, but his favorite setting is in Middle-earth converting other systems or using various Tolkien-based game systems since 1984. He has been an RPGA (Role Playing Gamers Association) member on and off since 1984 and he created and ran two annual RPGA conventions in 1985 and 1986 in Utah when only 15 & 16 years old. He created a BBS (Bulletin Board Service) supporting role playing gaming, and Tolkien fans in 1994, and related websites since 1998.
Hawke took over what is now the merp@merp.com email list from Mario M. Butter (silent-tower.org) in the late 1990's. He founded Merp.com ( http://www.merp.com ) in the 1990's before handing it over to be run by the international volunteer community. He has created, and continues to work on a series of Tolkien-specific role-playing rulebooks known as Eä RPG, and also adapting different generic RPGs such as D&D 3.5 (Dungeons & Dragons) rules for play in Middle-earth with Eä d20 RPG.. He founded the Numenor Project, a series of RPG adventures and sourcebooks set in, around, and about Numenor and it's reign. He is the founder, funder, and organizer of MerpCon/TolkienMoot. He is founder and co-editor of the quarterly publication Other Minds Magazine, dedicated to role playing gaming in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. He has (self)published a few essays on J.R.R. Tolkien specifically, and on Role Playing Gaming in general.
In the "real world" Hawke is a retired computer scientist, entrepreneur ( http://www.hawkenterprising.com), and information security specialist & analyst ( http://www.dev2devportal.com ). He also is active as a Radio DJ and, technology talk show host, and co-host on Middle-earth Radio, who is raising three boys, all of which role play regularly. He is also an open source software advocate and activist. Meanwhile he is volunteering & studying as a Recreation and Music Therapist working with special needs populations, especially children. He has been learning ASL (American Sign Language) since 2006, and has founded the Spokane ASL study group. He is attempting to organize the first Deaf Role Playing Gaming Group in the Inland Northwest (Washington/Idaho) Spokane area, and he is working on a 20+ year research project on "The Therapeutic Aspects of Role Playing Gaming" ( http://www.rpgresearch.com ).
Below is a list of some projects slowly working towards publication including:
- "Ea d20 Races and Cultures" Open D20 rulebook for Dungeons & Dragons role playing gaming.
- "Escape From Numenor" adventure module (MerpCon I).
- "Under Umbar" adventure module (MerpCon II).
- "First Contacts" adventure campaign series (MerpCon III).
Hawke also created and develops with a team of other open source developers a computer application suite of software programs as an off and ongoing project to help GM's and players with their favorite game system, called the Suite GM.

