Werewolves, Vampires, and... Talking Dogs?

Read some more of the Beren and Luthien story, a.k.a. As Doriath Turns, last night. Very weird stuff. Tolkein throws a talking dog into the mix, who turns out to be the big hero of the story. Plus there are werewolves, then Sauron turns into an uber-werewolf to attack Luthien, but is defeated by the talking dog, so he then changes into a vampire and runs away. A vampire? The frell?

Tolkein also introduces the concept of trailer park trash elves, in the forms of Cletus Celegorm and Curufin. The talking dog starts out as Celegorm's hunting dog, but the dog come to realize that he's smarter than Celegorm, and so abandons him for the fair, and much more intelligent, maiden. Good choice, talking dog.