Abstract
For more than twenty years, fans have gathered annually in Castle Stahleck, Bacharach, Germany, to play Middle-earth: The Collectible Card Game, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary mythology. I describe my experience attending this gathering and examine the game’s significance in my life, particularly in relation to my identity as a Third Culture Kid, a U.S. citizen having grown up in Senegal. The concept of home can be difficult and complex for TCKs, who often struggle to answer the question “where are you from?” In this essay, I analyze how fandom, fanship, and nostalgia have intersected with my TCK identity to provide a non-place-based home in Middle-earth. The game has accompanied me throughout life, helping me carry a sense of home with me, regardless of geographical location.
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