The Lord of the Rings

Book Description

Three-volume boxed set edition lavishly illustrated in full color by Alan Lee

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth still it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell, by chance, into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.

From his fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, Sauron's power spread far and wide. He gathered all the Great Rings to him, but ever he searched far and wide for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.

On his eleventy-first birthday, Bilbo dissapeared bequeathing to his young cousin, Frodo, the Ruling Ring, and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.

The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the wizard, the hobbits Merry, Pippin and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Boromir of Gondor, and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best editions ever!.......2007-08-01

What else should I say? Alan Lee is t h e perfect illustrator for this epic work of literature!

Wonderful Book... Worth Every Penny.......2007-07-23

I recieved this book and the artwork on the novels in fantastic. It really gives the books a great look and I have had fellow friends and family comment on how wonderful the artwork is too.

The whole Lord of the Rings novel is split into the three parts making it a trilogy, like the movies. This makes for easy handling of the book while reading instead of readind and trying to hold a 1000 or more page novel in your bed or in a chair.

This novel has a great story to it. Anybody looking for a great long novel would definetly enjoy this one. It gives a lot of background into the characters and really helps their image develop in your mind.

This product is an A+ for me and they couldn't have done it any better.

Good, if You Like this Genre.......2007-06-14

You can't say you didn't get what you paid for. These colossal books, filled with adventures, can certainly keep a person occupied, but as a general warning, these aren't those "glove-fits-all" books. You have to be in the mindset for an epic fantasy battle, and though I wasn't, my classmates who read the entire trilogy absolutely adored the stories. I would highly recommend reading The Hobbit before attempting to digest the trilogy, just so the concepts of hobbits, wizards, and Middle Earth, will be old hat.

Lord of the Rings boxed set review........2007-05-14

An mesmerising tale beautifully presented in this illustrated boxed set. The Lord of the Rings is the ultimate tale of good versus evil set in the enchanting landscape created by Tolkien that is Middle Earth.
I would recommend this edition to anyone who wants to embark on this wonderfully exciting quest with Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin.
An excellent edition!

One "Ring" to rule them all.......2007-05-06

Though J.R.R. Tolkien was not the first or most critically-acclaimed fantasy writer, he remains the most beloved and influential, even though "Lord of the Rings" is decades old.

Now with the epic movie trilogy based on this book, new waves of readers are discovering the unique power of the "Lord of the Rings." Tolkien's classic is a timeless tale of good and evil, written in a detailed, powerful style, set in a fictional world of staggering detail and haunting beauty.

Following up on events in "The Hobbit," "The Fellowship of the Ring" opens with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins departing from the Shire, after many years of living as the town eccentric. He reluctantly leaves his treasured ring of invisibility to his adventurous nephew Frodo, and vanishes into the wild with some dwarves.

But Gandalf the wizard, informs Frodo that the Ring is really the Ring of Power, a powerful item that the demonic Dark Lord Sauron has poured his essence and power into. And if Sauron can regain the Ring, he will be able to conquer Middle-Earth. Aghast, Frodo joins a fellowship of Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Men and a wizard, to go to the one place where the Ring can be destroyed: Mount Doom.

"The Two Towers" begins directly after "Fellowship," after Frodo Baggins flees with his friend Sam into Mordor, with no one to protect them. His cousins Merry and Pippin are kidnapped by orcs from the renegade wizard Saruman. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli begin a frenetic search for the hobbits, and receive unexpected help from unlikely allies. Meanwhile, the Ring weighs more heavily on Frodo, as he is forced to get help from one of the people he most despised: the Ring's slave Gollum.

"Return of the King" brings the trilogy to an action-packed, slam-bang and ultimately poignant finale. Sam barely rescues Frodo from Sauron's orcs, and the two resume their journey to Mount Doom, barely escaping Sauron's forces. As Aragorn leads the desperate battle against Sauron's armies at the city of Minas Tirith, Frodo falls increasingly under the seductive spell of the Ring.

"Lord of the Rings" is indeed a powerful book, and its timeless messages and quests have shaped the fantasy genre, and crossed the boundaries of literary fiction. At its core it's about the fight of good versus evil, and how "little people" can have a strength and willpower that the great and mighty can't even begin to understand.

And Middle-Earth is a pretty astounding universe -- not just because Tolkien created a rich back-history for it, but because of the feeling of mystery that hangs around its corners, whether it's dead soldiers or slumbering tree-men. And of course rich cultures of Men, ancient wizards, the stately melancholy elves, and the tough dwarves -- as well as the idyllic Shire, a sort of ancient British countryside which is threatened by corruption.

Tolkien's writing is evocative and descriptive, though not to extremes; an elf rider is simple described as shining like a light behind a veil. The story is wrapped in a wide range of dialogue -- from Sam's folksy chat to the Elves' ethereal, formal songs -- and the pacing is slow and gradual, but kept alive by sudden twists of the plot. The first several chapters are kind of slow-moving, but by the time our heroes get to Bree, the pace picks up.

Frodo Baggins is an everyman hero, who dreams of adventure but begins to treasure the simple, boring life that he had once he is deprived of it. His deteriotation is saddening, all the more so because he is aware of it. The equally vibrant cast also includes Gandalf the crabby grandfatherly wizard, Sam Gamgee the loyal gardener, and a variety of kings, elves, dwarves, and more lovable little hobbits.

Even after all the years, J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" still rules the fantasy genre and has become an integral part of modern literature. It's an epic for all ages, and few books have even come close to equalling it.

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Lord of the Rings
Is it not about a ring and not environments?
The Ring of Power is found!
I wanted to love it...
Gold

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1)
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0788789813

Book Description

The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, is set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth -- home to many strange beings, and most notably hobbits, a peace-loving "little people," cheerful and shy. Since its original British publication in 1954-55, the saga has entranced readers of all ages. It is at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale. Critic Michael Straight has hailed it as one of the "very few works of genius in recent literature." Middle-earth is a world receptive to poets, scholars, children, and all other people of good will. Donald Barr has described it as "a scrubbed morning world, and a ringing nightmare world...especially sunlit, and shadowed by perils very fundamental, of a peculiarly uncompounded darkness." The story of this world is one of high and heroic adventure. Barr compared it to Beowulf, C.S. Lewis to Orlando Furioso, W.H. Auden to The Thirty-nine Steps. In fact the saga is sui generis -- a triumph of imagination which springs to life within its own framework and on its own terms.

Customer Reviews:

Lord of the Rings.......2007-10-05

The fellowship of the ring is a fantastic thrill of events. The ring of power has to be destroyed in the firey pits of mordor. Frodo and his 9 freinds and allies travel throughout the land of middle earth do dispose of the ring of power. The horrible servents of Sauron are after Frodo and his allies if Sauron reclaims possestion of the ring middle earth will be doomed forever. This book shows the true imagination of J.R.R Tolkein as it takes you through the epic battles and adventures the group goes through a real thrill. The author does a fantastic job of describing the characters and events a true masterpeice.

Is it not about a ring and not environments?.......2007-09-18

I barely made it through this book. It is horrible. I feel that a lot of people have intially be influenced by the movie in their review. The book however does not offer the same excitement.

It does not have a whole lot of action in it for those of you expecting that. Tolkien put more emphasis describing environments and the hobits than he put in interesting elements. In its defense I have been told numerous times that this monotony continues on into about half of the Two Towers. From that point it picks up and takes you where you really felt you should have been all along. However, for me it will be awhile before I get back to the series because of the Fellowship itself and I dread going back. I could not wait for the end of the book so I could put it down.

For anyone who has seen the movie and loved it, read the book because it is ALOT different. The movie added and omitted alot of elements which I think Tolkien should have done to make it a better book.

The Ring of Power is found!.......2007-09-03

'The Fellowship of The Ring', by JRR Tolkien, is the exciting first installment in 'The Lord of The Rings' trillogy. Building upon the story that was told in 'The Hobbit', this story tells the tale of the discovery by Gandalf the Gray, that the magic ring found by Bilbo Baggins on his journeys, is none other than the ring of power, the One Ring, the master ring that was created by the Dark Lord, Sauron, himself.

Together with several companions, three other Hobbits, an Elf, a Dwarf, Gandalf, and two men, Aragorn and Boromir, Frodo sets off on the quest of Mount Doom, the quest to destroy the One Ring forever. This story is wonderfully done, a true masterpiece in fantasy fiction. Tolkien expands upon the world that he has only touched upon in 'The Hobbit', and we find it a place inhabbited by creatures of various kinds, some are evil, others strive for good, and others do only what they think they must. Yet now, with Sauron, the Dark Lord, rising to power once again, and gathering his strength, they find that they must choose a dreadful course, a course into peril.

RD Williams, author of 'The Lost Gate'

I wanted to love it..........2007-08-21

As is often the case for me, when I read a book (or watch a film or whatever) that has a huge following and reputation for being a masterpiece, I usually come away disappointed. I probably go in expecting too much, but nonetheless...

I thought the book moved a little too slowly. I thought it was moving quickly at the beginning, but once they started walking, it got very slow. The majority of book consists of the hobbits walking around (first alone and then with the fellowship), and encountering various dangers. We learn some stuff during these experiences, but probably much less than you would expect considering the number of pages devoted to it. The majority of the story development takes place (or rather, is quickly discussed) in the Council of Elrond chapter. So much of Gandalf's story (particularly his encounter with Saruman) could have been fleshed out and described in more detail. I felt like the book devoted WAY too much time to the tedium of their journey and just skimmed over this important back story and development. I can appreciate a book taking its time to develop, but when you get frustrated by the pace, waiting for something to happen, that's not a good thing.

Also, this may just be my personal tastes, but I found all the discussion of Middle Earth history/geography/languages to be somewhat difficult to get through. It's not that I can't see the value of what Tolkien has done, but I think from a story telling point of view, all the historical references are a hindrance to the flow of the story (I constantly found myself wandering "who is he talking about" or "who was that again"... then debating whether or not it was important enough to go back and try to find it or just ignore it and go on.

I don't want to say that his is a bad book, but I think it is something that is perhaps too complex to be enjoyed without a great deal of effort (this isn't bad... but it's certainly not a casual read). I'm all about books that require effort and interpretation, but in this case I'm not sure the effort required to really delve into Tolkien's constructed world is worth the insight gained from such efforts. However, I found the overall story very intruiging and will eventually read the remaining books because I genuinely what to know what happens (even if the journey is somewhat tedious).

Having finished the first book, I think it was worth the effort and I'm glad that I got through it. Other who have read the trilogy tell me the first book is the slowest, so I'm looking forward to moving on and hopefully picking up the pace a bit.

Gold.......2007-07-23

I just finished reading the book, and now I am listening to it starting with the hobbit straight through the return of the king because I read them that way and I think the hobbit is in a way a part of the lord of the rings. its 60+ hours total but its worth it the narrator is great, I would of course recommend actually reading it before listening to it because as the story is a big journey, so is reading the book, its a very long story and part of appreciating it is working your way through it and for those that say "Oh I saw the movies", There is ALOT that the movies left out and gives the story a new feel. Since I read it long after seeing the movies I was not prepared for what I read, there are so many small parts that either were left out or changed slightly that its like reading a story you don't know entirely. I have to say that I love the movies and if not for them I would never have wanted to read the books. If the only way you are willing to experience the book is audiobook only then I still recommend it because they are wonderful books, my favorite actually. If you do read them first, finishing them does feel great, like a journey complete.

Average customer rating:

LOVELY
My review
The bedrock of fantasy
Boring.......
A Timeless Literary Classic

The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. Tolkien , and Alan Lee
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Lord of the Rings. 3 Vol. Set

ASIN: 0395489326

Book Description

The three volumes that make up Tolkien's epic classic The Lord of the Rings are here presented in their standard cloth editions including large format fold-out maps and an extensive appendices. Set contains The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, with jackets and a box designed by celebrated illustrator Alan Lee.

Customer Reviews:

LOVELY.......2007-07-24

Wonderful set! Reading a hardcover by the original publisher is a must. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

My review.......2006-11-08

Its divine the books are beautifully bound and reasonably priced, definately a must for Tolkien fanatics.

The bedrock of fantasy.......2005-12-28

Yes folks, this was the book (THE book--it wasn't supposed to be a trilogy originally) that started it all. The roots of modern fantasy begin here. Yes, it's also terribly formulaic writing--but it was written to be mythology. Myths and legends are generally pretty big on formula. Beneath that stiff prose, though, is the rich and complex world of Tolkien's Middle-earth...and what an amazing place it is.

Boring..............2005-12-26

Tired of all the hullaballoo surrounding Tolkien I finally purchased LOtR. I enjoy fantasy and tried to give it a fair shake but put the book down from boredom a quarter of the way through. I found myself rereading pages because my mind wasn't getting into his prose. There are better works out there, IMHO.
Everyone sings the praises of him so YOU might enjoy it, but I much prefer George Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire.

A Timeless Literary Classic.......2005-08-15

I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was in high school. I thought it was a good story, although a bit lofty when compared to The Hobbit.

A few years later, I picked it up and read it once more. I doscovered things in its pages that I had missed the first time around. Now, I read it every year or two out of simple appreciation for Tolkien's vision and the poetic way he described it.

I highly recommend these books to anyone and everyone.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the RIngs)

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Not Free SF Reader
Nerd Out
perfect
A Masterful Work
The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the RIngs)
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618574948

Book Description

For over fifty years, J.R.R. Tolkien's peerless fantasy has accumulated
worldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written.
No other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, complete
with its own geography, history, languages, and legends. And
no one has created characters as endearing as Tolkien's large-hearted,
hairy-footed hobbits. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings continues to
seize the imaginations of readers of all ages, and this new three-volume
paperback edition is designed to appeal to the youngest of them.

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elvensmiths,
and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with
his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was
taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, still
it remained lost to him . . .

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-04

I originally read this in a beaten up one volume version of my
father's. My three volume collection is now beaten up, covered in
contact, and has the odd twistie stain from reading it as a kid.

The story starts slowly, as a bunch of the short hairy guys
procrastinate about when to leave the comfortable and bucolic existence
they live in the shire.

They almost leave it too late, and hence get into a lot of trouble on their journey as a result.

Nerd Out.......2007-08-25

The guy who created D&D says he didn't draw much inspiration from the Lord of the Rings trilogy of books, but that's a load of crap, man. He totally nerd-jacked these books. Which is okay I guess because the books are pretty cool to read, in or out of your parents' basement. And if you read all three, you'll finally be able to decipher some Led Zeppelin lyrics that may have left you puzzled. "In the darkest depths of Mordor/I met a girl so fair/But Gollum and the evil one/Crept up and slipped away with her." Zeppelin rules!

perfect.......2007-07-30

these LOTRs books are perfect... the type is a good larger size and the books still arent HUGE. this set is great for reading books unlike the hardcover wones that can be a pain to lug around. and the fact that you can get them for 1 cent is pretty cool.

A Masterful Work.......2007-06-18

Twenty years after he publishedThe Hobbit JRR Tolkien published The Fellowship of the Ring. It is a story of great adventure, but it is also part of a new mythology that the author developed. In the midst of writing the trilogy that people have enjoyed for fifty years, Tolkien developed two different elven languages. People talk these days about back story in writing. Writers of this time can take lessons Tolkien who was the master of it. He wrote about the past present and future of his Middle Earth, and left it for many generations to enjoy. This is a book you could read ten times and still not get everything out of it.

The Fellowship of the Ring.......2006-12-22

Frodo Baggins, heir of Bilbo Baggins is just an ordinary hobbit from the Shire, going about his daily life not even caring for the troubles in the world around him. That all changes when he discovers that possesses the ring of power that was forged in the cracks of doom. Now he, his companion, Samwise, and the wizard, Gandalf must take the ring and toss it back into Mount Doom to destroy it once and for all. Doing so will end the war between Sauron and the free people of Middle Earth. Along the way, they will gain the companionship of an elf, a dwarf, two men, and two more hobbits.
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book in a three book series. It is a follow-up to The Hobbit, the story about how Bilbo steals the ring from the creature, Gollum, who plays a small part in The Fellowship of the Ring also. The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite in the series so far. I like how Tolkien made such a massive world for the books to take place in.
It is an epic story of adventure, war, friendship, and greed. It gets extremely detailed and if you don't read carefully, you could get as lost as the characters in it. Sometimes the detail of the book almost makes you feel like you are taking part in the story. Anybody who's looking for an emotional and adventurous story should try this book.

The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings) (Pvg)

Average customer rating:

Not very much selection
The best in soundtrack-to-piano music.
lord of the rings...
Amazing Music
Great Music

The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings) (Pvg)
Enya
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Two Towers Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings)
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Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Lord of the Rings for Easy Piano
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Selected Themes from the Motion Picture

ASIN: 0757992730

Product Description

Featuring the Academy Award winning music of Howard Shore, this folio includes several interior pages of full-color, full-size photo panels from the sensational motion picture and a removable centerfold that is suitable for framing. Printed on antique paper stock, the songbook is a special collector's edition and a must-have for any fan. Features "May It Be", composed and recorded by Enya. Titles are: An ron (Theme from Aragorn and Arwen) * The Prophecy * Many Meetings * Lament for Gandalf (featured in "Lothlorien") * In Dreams (featured in "The Breaking of the Fellowship") * May It Be.

Customer Reviews:

Not very much selection.......2007-02-25

The book is rather thin,but if you're a real lotr music fan,then you won't mind.
All of The Prophecy is included which makes for an interesting experience.
Many Meetings gives you Elrond's theme and a little bit of the Shire.
The beautiful songs Aniron and May It Be are little more than chords which is still better than nothing.
In Dreams is satisfying due to its accuracy and is hard enough to make it pretty.
Lament For Gandalf is really useless.It's just the same two unapealing music phrases for about 5 minutes.
I was rather disappointed with the lack of music from the movie such as Concerning Hobbits,The Bridge of Kazad Dum,and The Breaking of the Fellowship which they should have included.But I have to give it 4 stars just because I love the soundtrack and anything from it is worth getting.

The best in soundtrack-to-piano music........2004-07-04

It's books like this that made me wish I had the natural talent for music, or had at least studied and practiced hard enough to develop talent. The motion picture score that Howard Shore composed for The Lord of the Rings trilogy is absolutely brilliant, and while nothing can match his magnificent orchestra, there is something unique and incredible about hearing the same music played on a simple piano -- coming from your very own fingers.

The music on the pages can be described as intermediate level. Beginners will have trouble, but intermediates can slowly pick their way through, depending on their experience, and get better with practice.

The front cover is the same design as the DVD poster, and the original movie promotional art. Inside, 26 pages, including four front-and-back pages containing pictures from the movie.

The tracks you can play are:

- In Dreams, the end-credits song featured in the CD track "The Breaking of the Fellowship".

- The Prophecy, the never-used track that was, I believe, intended for the movie's prologue. The sheet music includes the Elvish lyrics, with the translation following at the end of the song.

- Aníron, the theme for Aragorn and Arwen, as sung by Enya. Again, the Elvish is provided in the music, and the translation at the end.

- Lament for Gandalf, featured in the Lothlorien track. It has the haunting sound that is used for the Elves at that part in the movie, but, as the title suggests, is almost a funeral dirge for Gandalf after the Elves learn of his death. Again, Elvish in the music, translation at the end.

- Many Meetings, the cerebral and heavenly theme for the Elven haven of Rivendell. Probably one of my favorite in the book, and one that, once you learn to play it through, will be something you'll want to play over and over.

- May It Be, the other end-credits song (actually, May It Be is the end credits song, and In Dreams is the *other* one) performed once again by Enya. The lyrics don't make a whole lot of sense, but it's still another quiet one to play. Since Enya only uses a smattering of Elvish in her song, the translation is provided within the music.

I think most fans will agree there were better selections that could have been made for the Fellowship of the Ring sheet music...the Hobbit theme, Moria, and the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm to name a few. But for the Lord of the Rings fans, lovers of gorgeous music, and people who are both, this book makes an excellent gift, or a just-for-you purchase!

lord of the rings..........2004-03-06

This is an absolutely wonderful book of music. I am very into the piano, having taken lessons since I was five, and love it. In short, if you play the piano, love LOTR, and the music from the movie - buy this book! I am also a huge fan of both the books and movie trilogy, and Peter Jackson has my highest respect for staying more true to the books than any Hollywood movie does. Or any movie, for that matter.

Amazing Music.......2004-02-03

This has to be one of the most amazing books of sheet music I've ever seen. It's thrilling to play the beautiful songs featured in the Fellowship of the Ring. With favorite songs like "May It Be" and "In Dreams", it can be used for piano, guitar, or vocals. I was really pleased that the melody is worked into the piano music, so it sounds great with or without accompaniment. I would recommed it to everyone, even those who don't like Lord of the Rings!

Great Music.......2003-06-11

This collection of songs from the soundtrack of the movie 'The Fellowship of the Ring' is a definite gem. The songs, in order, are 'In Dreams' [words and music by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore], 'The Prophecy' [text by J.R.R. Tolkien], 'Aniron' [words by Roma Ryan, music by Enya and Nicky Ryan] 'A lament for Gandalf' [text by Philippa Boyens], 'Many Meetings' [music by Howard Shore], and 'May it Be' [words by Roma Ryan, Music by Enya and Nicky Ryan]. Inside, there are also lots of beautiful pictures from the movie. This is a beautiful accompaniment for the soundtrack. The music is for 'piano, vocal, or chords', but other instruments could play along. I would DEFINETELY rate this 10 stars, only the limit is 5. I recommend this music for anyone who loves music, Enya, or The Lord of the Rings.

Gollum: A Behind the Scenes Guide of the Making of Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)

Average customer rating:

Other reviewers have said it all...
I LOVE ANDY
Brief, informative and loaded with incredible images. . .
Gollum and Smeagol and Andy......
A precioussss behind the scenes look at the making of Gollum

Gollum: A Behind the Scenes Guide of the Making of Gollum (The Lord of the Rings)
Andy Serkis
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618391045

Book Description

Film-making history was made when, in The Two Towers, an actor's performance and digital animation were seamlessly integrated to create the world's first totally lifelike computer-generated character. Now Andy Serkis tells his own story about how a three-week commission to provide a voiceover for Gollum grew into a five-year commitment to breathe life and soul into The Lord of the Rings' most challenging creation.

- Did the voice of Gollum really start with a cat being sick?
- What was it like acting in a bodysuit covered in dots?
- How much was Gollum modeled to look like Andy?
- What surprises does The Return of the King hold in store?

Fully illustrated with more than one hundred exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and drawings, and with contributions from the many designers and animators who brought Gollum to life, this book examines the transition to the big screen of one of literature's most unforgettable creatures. As the filming takes him from London to Wellington, and from the MIsty Mountains to Mount Doom, Andy Serkis explains the methods - and the madness - behind the most amazing five years in this actor's life.

Customer Reviews:

Other reviewers have said it all..........2006-11-25

Just wanted to give five stars.
Oh, yes, and I thought I was the only person to camp with no supplies save a copy of LOTR! You know what they say: great minds think alike.

I LOVE ANDY.......2004-12-29

I love Andy Serkis. I love his book. Go buy it. Love him too. Enough said.

Brief, informative and loaded with incredible images. . . .......2004-11-05

Andy Serkis, the actor behind the character of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, takes us deep into the terrain behind this great epic of our time. Through his experience in creating a close reflection to Tolkien's Gollum, he comes forward in what seems to be a blunt honest story of his time on the set and creates a brief, enjoyable actor's account.
Beginning with a phone call and winding his way through the streets of New Zealand, the highways of character development and the psychological paths of his acting and character experience, we get a great bit of knowledge of what it really feels like to transform yourself into another person for the sake of showing the world a tale - or even a message. You could call it a diary, completely packed with bits and pieces that are extremely informative, but brief. Learn what it takes to be an actor or a psychiatrist, to completely envelope yourself into character and to be immersed in a wonderfully diverse land. With contributions from Gary Russell and others on set, this book has incredible illustrations, sculptures, design plans, photographs and passages from the crew. Hilarious Gollum faces are located on the top outer corner of each page as you read along, making a fun time in itself.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the movie trilogy, those who want a better glimpse behind the making of a soon-to-be classic, movie enthusiasts/aspirers, or anyone else if they just want a fun read. This is definitely a kid-friendly book (though some kids may get disgusted or confused at some of the sculptures of Gollum without his little rag around his waist. Ahem. . . :D), though I think it may tend to be slightly boring for younger kids. Definitely PG.
So I will leave you to your browsing and shopping with a song from Gollum,

"Rock and pool
is sweet and cool
so nice for feet,
we only wish
to catch a fish
so juicy sweeeeet!"

Happy Reading!

Gollum and Smeagol and Andy.............2004-09-27

This is a fascinating account of Andy Serkis's experience in creating the CG character, Gollum, as well as his actual "on screen" time as the ring-beguiled Smeagol in the opening scene of The Return of The King.

Andy's tale is engaging and honest, relating the hardships he endured in bringing the character to life and only increases my respect for him as a performer and a human being. It must have been a long, sometimes difficult job for every actor in the films, but Andy put in more hours than any other actor involved, many of them in isolation from the "moral support" of comrades.

Perhaps the most touching part of this book is Andy's dedication, which is to his own children, the Jackson children, the Astin children, and all the other "children of the ring" who were forced to sacrifice so much time with their parents during the making of these epic pictures.

A GREAT bet for some wonderful inside info and some pretty neato pictures!

A precioussss behind the scenes look at the making of Gollum.......2004-05-10

Even casual film fans are now familiar with the character of Gollum and the groundbreaking special effects that turned him into one of the screen's most memorable characters. Now, we get to see Gollum from a different perspective: through the eyes of the man who brought him to life, Andy Serkis. This memoir, written by Serkis (w/help from Gary Russell) is an entertaining and eye-opening look at the production of both the character in general and the films as a whole. Andy had done mostly small roles in films and plays when he received an intriguing casting tip from his agent: Apparently, New Line was making a trilogy of films based on the "Lord of the Rings" series, and needed someone to voice the character of Gollum. Serkis, unfamiliar with the trilogy (though he had read "The Hobbit" in school) initially balked, until his partner (later, wife) Lorraine--who HAD read the books--urged him to try out. Andy agreed, and began to try different voices that might fit the character. He was stuck, having tried many different voices, until inspiration hit in the form of his cat. (His gagging, hairball-infested cat.) Serkis, who had decided to approach Gollum as a character so full of guilt and obsession (he also compares Gollum to a hardcore junkie) that he was literally choking on it, imitated his poor gagging cat in front of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh...and the rest, as they say, is history.

Andy journeyed to New Zealand for what he though might be a bit of voice work. Instead, the role of Gollum turned into one of the most challenging undertaken to date: Serkis not only supplied the voice of Gollum, but also his movements as well (thanks to innovative motion-capture technology). Serkis would end up filming scenes multiple times: once in a blue suit, accompanied by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, then again without them, and often again in a suit studded with dots (reference points for computer animators). Though tedious, this process allowed the animators to bring Gollum to living, breathing life, a genuine example of movie magic. (How detailed is the character of Gollum? A deaf man who saw "The Two Towers" was able to read his lips.) Andy studied the character, often referencing the books for little insights into the character and his psychological makeup in order to bring greater depth to Gollum. And perhaps a little bit of Gollum worked its way into Andy...because vegetarian Serkis suddenly found himself enjoying fish again.

Despite the frequent hardships of filming, Andy was able to keep a sense of humor and professionalism about him, and is able to look back at many of the more difficult moments and laugh. Indeed, his sense of humor sustains the book when it bogs down or becomes repetitive; Serkis felt the need to relate the details of motion-capture technology a few too many times, as if he were telling a multi-part story and needed to bring new readers up to date. He grouses a bit about his initial lack of recognition and appreciation, especially when he had to repeat long scenes in the blue suit while the other actors could relax. (The worst one: Repeating a scene that involved splashing in frigid water...and that blue suit was NOT insulated). But he chides himself for those feelings, and finds a great deal of humor in those difficulties now.

Serkis, who claims little knowledge of classical literature, belies it with frequent references to and quotes from Nordic literature, the Bible (Smeagol's murder of Deagol draws comparisons to Cain and Abel), Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (comparing Gollum to Caliban), Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein's monster, and more. His writing style is smooth, full of humor and frequent good-natured self-deprecation, especially when relating how he foolishly ventured onto a rapids-filled river with minimal supplies, only to be rescued by four Wellington city councilors. His feelings of unappreciation were greatly assuaged when he learned that he would actually be on-screen, playing the role of young Smeagol in a flashback, as we see how Gollum came into possession of the Ring. Though he would still find himself largely unrecognized: A flight attendant saw him reading the books and innocently asked him if he knew about the films, sighing all the while because Orlando Bloom had been on the plane just a few days before. Serkis resisted a strong urge to crawl on all fours and hiss in his Gollum voice. (I don't know if I could have).

Book Description

The official inside story on the making of the award-winning movie trilogy

The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy is a lavishly illustrated, behind-the-scenes, definitive account of the creation of an epic film experience. Hailed by critics worldwide, part one of the movie trilogy was a box-office smash, one of the most successful films of the decade. Peter Jackson's "fierce, imaginative movie takes high-flying risks and inspires with its power and scale," wrote Newsweek. "In every way this is moviemaking on a grand scale," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle, while Time proclaimed the "grandeur, moral heft and emotional depth" of the film, which received thirteen Academy Award(R) nominations.
Including more than 300 photographs from all three films, most unique to this book, and exclusive interviews with all the cast and crew, Brian Sibley's fascinating book takes every fan inside the process of adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork for the screen. For the first time in history, three major movies were made at the same time, a triumphant and monumental undertaking that took the world by storm. Here can be found details about the hundreds of dedicated artists, craftspeople and cast and crew members who labored for years -- adding authenticity at every stage -- to bring one of the greatest stories ever told to an eager film audience. Sibley takes us inside the process of filmmaking to show us how the magic is made -- from the director, writers and actors to wardrobe, makeup, miniatures, music and digital special effects, it's all here.

"It was tiring, physically and mentally, but never dull. Three movies, one big story, and so much variety: one day shooting scenes of intimate heart-wrenching drama, the next, vast battle scenes involving hundreds of extras. Every day brought an opportunity to create something new on this enormous canvas that is The Lord of the Rings." -- Peter Jackson

Customer Reviews:

Few nice pictures and that's all.......2007-01-10

I bought this book and I was interested but it really disappointed me! It doesn't give you any information neither details about the making of the movie rather than the author's babbling (honestly)! The only good thing is some nice pictures and they are not many.

lots of behind the scenes info and photos.......2006-12-10

This contains much of the behind-the-scenes information that the "special feature" of the DVD versions contain. There is significant new material, however. I enjoyed the book very much as it describes the amazing job of the team that produced the movies that we love.

trepel 0 7 spy kid 3spys.......2006-07-05

there was 3 yung spys andthey spy,ed on Alie andthe way they spy,ed on her was they sneak acros the house & in side and they went in the vent and put the camra on and spy,ed ontel tomor,o &then they left be for she got up THE END

Great Book!.......2006-03-10

If your a fan of behind the scenes stuff and movie making, this is the book for you. These movies are unlike any other, so seeing what when on during their 18 month filming, premires, etc. is great! Highly recommended!

Ten Thousand More?.......2006-03-06

I loved the movie, but what I am curious about the most is why Lord Aragon allowed the "Ghost Army" to leave when they were facing another Ten Thousand plus army as they did the first? That didn't make any sense!!!!!

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Omnibus): The Fellowship of the Ring, the Two Towers, The Return of the King

Average customer rating:

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Omnibus)

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Omnibus): The Fellowship of the Ring, the Two Towers, The Return of the King

Manufacturer: SFBC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

THE HOBBIT - or There and Back Again
The Silmarillion
The Hobbit
The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)
J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

ASIN: 0739408259

Customer Reviews:

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Omnibus).......2007-06-03

The book arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I am completely satisfied.

The Fellowship of the Ring Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings)

Average customer rating:

sheep
A wonderful Fellowship photo guide for all!
Not really worth it
Not quite what I was looking for
Pictures to take you back

The Fellowship of the Ring Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings)
Alison Sage , and J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Two Towers Movie Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings)
The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings)
The Two Towers Visual Companion: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (The Lord of the Rings)
The Return of the King Visual Companion: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (The Lord of the Rings)
The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion (The Lord of the Rings)

ASIN: 0618195580

Book Description

The official children's photo guide to The Fellowship of the Ring. Meet Frodo Baggins and enter a world of hobbits, wizards, dwarves and elves. Discover the secrets of the One Ring and the terrifying creatures of the Dark Lord, Sauron. Follow the Companions as they embark on their perilous quest.

Customer Reviews:

sheep.......2005-10-13

Ever wonder how the top-ranked reviewers force their way to the top?

They click on their own reviews over and over.

So brilliant. So clever. But not "well-done"! Certainly not the mark of a professional.

The new rule of thumb: lower rankings equal better reviews!

A wonderful Fellowship photo guide for all!.......2004-08-15

If you want a great Fellowship of the Ring photo guide to add to your collection ~ this would be perfect! It's 48-pages are filled with fantastic photos including 58 direct quotes from the movie script. The 72-photos feature Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Bilbo, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Elrond, Galadriel, bad guys (such as Saruman, orcs, and ringwraiths). There are also pictures of the various locations in the Fellowship of the rings such as the Shire, Weathertop, the Counsil of Elrond, Mines of Moria, Lothlorien, and Amon-Hen. The entire story is simply told throughout the book, but the excellent pictures tell more of the story than the words do as they follow Frodo from his cozy life in the shire all the way to the sad breaking of the Fellowship. Alison Sage created a wonderful guide actually containing the Fellowship of the Ring film told in beautiful photos allowing you to experience the movie over and over again - add this to your collection!

Not really worth it.......2003-12-18

This book may have been worth it three years ago, before the first movie released, to get previews of who looked like what. But it is not very helpful now, and plot-wise, it wasn't helpful back then. It is just a collection of pictures from The Fellowship of the Ring, with a smattering of text about the plot. The pictures, actually, are out of order. The front cover is also not very enticing, which was fixed for the photo guides of the next two movies.

Face it, you can find these pictures and tons more all over the internet. If you are the ultimate, die-hard fan who has to have every bit of LotR-related stuff, then go ahead and buy it, but otherwise, I would not recommend it.

Not quite what I was looking for.......2003-02-09

I reccomend buying the book, "The Art of The Lord of The Rings, Fellowship of the Ring" instead. Why? It is amazing, and has way more information inside it. This book here, is slim, small and has some good pictures, it is a solid collectors item. If you are into costume re-recreation, you would be happier buying the LOTR "art of" book because it has great drawings inside of it, that plus get yourself the LOTR FOTR extended edition DVD 4 disc set for more costume research needs. Overall, This book here has mostly fluff, good pictures, not the information I needed for my costume research needs.

Pictures to take you back.......2002-12-30

This Photo Guide to The Fellowship of the Ring is a lovely collection of pictures from the first Lord of the Rings movie. The captions and text are minimal, but appropriate. Although designed for children, anyone who would like an inexpensive book that can tease your memories of the movie, this is an excellent one.

Beginning with Suaron's tower in Mordor and Frodo sitting in a tree, to the battle in Moria, ending with The Fellowship leaving Lothlorien, the photos are good representations of the story line. Colors are clear and crisp. Only two pictures were omitted which should have appeared here: Arwen with Frodo on horseback at the river, with the horse rearing, and the guardians carved into the cliffs on either side of the river.

Anyone who enjoys this book would also be interested in the Photo Guide for The Two Towers, also published by Houghton-Mifflin.

The Art of The Lord of the Rings
Average customer rating:

Nice, not great

hidden treasure

^ ^

BREATHTAKING ART

Artful

The Art of The Lord of the Rings
Gary Russell
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook

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ASIN: 0618510982

Book Description

A dual-edition full-color book for the millions of fans who have taken The Lord of the Rings to heart through the celebrated ﬁlm trilogy. Many of the images included in this volume, depicting pivotal scenes and characters, were previously embargoed and have never appeared in book form. The work of Alan Lee and John Howe â the two artists most closely associated with Tolkien's world â is featured, along with that of many other talented artists and designers. The artists' own descriptions of the design process used in creating the look of the ﬁlms both enlighten and enliven this essential book.

Customer Reviews:

Nice, not great.......2006-11-04

Nice computer rendered images in full color. Wasn't quite what I was expecting. Enjoyed Lord of the Rings Sketchbook much more.

hidden treasure.......2006-03-22

Its a comprehensive book of the best concept art for LOTR, some of which wasnt included in the previous volumes. The background paintings are a must have. I suggest people purchase this book rather than the other volumes, as it covers all 3 films.

^ ^.......2005-08-08

what an amazing world in the books "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R.Tolken, and I would thank Mr.Jackson very much to create them become true with his trilogy moves "The Lord of the Rings". I love those moves,love them so much.they take me into such an superb world.I will remember them in my all life, do you? if you are a fun of them, you will be love them too.

BREATHTAKING ART.......2005-07-01

Owning all of the Boxed sets of the LOTR's trilogy I found myself utterly fascinated with the various documentaries on the discs about the making of the film. Especially with the art designs..the paintings, storyboards, miniatures...Here are men who are supremely talented artists whose paintings and drawings would never been seen by most people were it not for the DVDs and books like this. This is high art...Gorgeous and breathtaking and on a par if not surpassing the works of people like the Hildebrandt Brothers who have been long known for their paintings of Middle Earth. Next to people like Alan Lee, the Hildebrandts work seems child-like in its intent.

The painting of the Nazgul looking down like a vulture over the town of Bree, just waiting is marvelous. The Nazgul, their wriath images revealed to a startled Frodo when he puts the ring on atop Weathertop, Treebeard, Shelob...the fantastic pencil drawings. These films created literally thousands of masterpieces of fantasy art. Just a fantastic book and at over 200 pages it's not some fluff marketing item, but a book for serious fans and collectors.

Artful.......2005-04-07

In the foreword of "The Art of The Lord of the Rings," Gary Russell reveals that he always intended to create a "best of" book, after doing the previous books for the hit movie trilogy. Now that all the extended versions are out, and everybody knows the ending, this Best Of collection proves itself to be just as useful as Russell's previous books.

As the previous books have had, Russell takes a look at all sorts of concept art for the films: There are storyboards, intricate pencil drawings, paintings, and action shots. Some of it was previously unreleased, like a picture of Gandalf the Grey looking over an army. Quite a few of the pictures are almost identical to the film, especially the digital shots, which are 100% realistic. And there is even a gallery of maquette models, including trolls, Shelob, mumakil, Treebeard, the king of the dead and the intricate Easterling armor.

The difference between this and Russell's prior books? Here, Russell divides the artwork by artist, rather than by subject. As a result, readers can get a better idea on what the assorted artists specialized at, and their different concepts about what "Lord of the Rings" should look like.

First and foremost are the legendary Alan Lee and John Howe. Lee's artwork is very vivid and action-based, and his color pictures are almost like photos. Howe's are mostly black and white, extremely detailed, and are more delicate than Lee's more muscular style. Without a doubt, these guys were the bedrock for all the concept art.

But there are quite a few other artists included, and each has their own style and focus. Christian Rivers and Ben Wootten seemed to specialize in armor, beasties and menaces, while Warren Mahy tended to focus on the grotesque and gruesome, such as the orcs, the dead men, and uruk-hai. And Daniel Falconer did a little of everything, including ship designs, radically different designs for the ent Treebeard, and lots and lots of armor (both past and present).

Russell ends it with small shots of the ending credits of ROTK, which was made of delicate pictures of each actor in costume, as "we would wish to remember them." It's a bit saddening, but as he reminds us in the foreword, there's always "The Hobbit" someday.

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