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 Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Inglis' Narration is the perfect complement to the perfect trilogy
Not Free SF Reader
SUPERB!!!!!!
Gold
The Greatest Climax and Longest Falling Action of All Time

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, Book 3)
J.R.R. Tolkien , and Rob Inglis
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0788789848

Book Description

In the third volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy the good and evil forces join battle, and we see that the triumph of good is not absolute. The Third Age of Middle-earth ends, and the age of the dominion of Men begins.

Customer Reviews:

Inglis' Narration is the perfect complement to the perfect trilogy.......2007-10-01

I listen to a lot of books on tape. Every once in a while I come across a narrator who is perfectly suited to the work. I don't mean a narrarator who has a good voice, I mean a narrator whose voice brings the story alive. Rob Inglis is such a narrator in all three books in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Each character is clearly identifiable by his uncanny ability produce dozens of distinct voices. I've listened to other audio versions of Tolkien's works. Those narrarated by Rob Inglis are the only ones that I've found worth the purchase.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

While Tolkien's epic has its obvious flaws : the blatant racism,
simplistic politics and superiority of Westerners he beats you over the
head with, the wonderful setting is not to be denied.

Pitched battle as decoy is not too bad a stunt either, as they try and given Sam and Frodo more time to destroy the One Ring.

After this, the repercussions of this war for Middle-Earth are felt closer to home for the four fuzzy short guys.

SUPERB!!!!!!.......2007-08-31

I have bought the lord of the rings in all it's form since becoming interested in all things tolkien 25 years ago and the trilogy in this form is absolutely superb. Rob inglis's voice and narration really complement the book brilliantly. Excellent stuff.

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.

The Greatest Climax and Longest Falling Action of All Time.......2007-07-17

At the school where I teach, I've got a very nice little model of Tolkien's city of Minas Tirith on my desk. I'll always love the first several chapters of The Return of the King for its focus on that city-on-the-brink, and for the apocalyptic battle against the witch king of Angmar and his minions. And the great news is, that's just the beginning of the book!

Book V, the first part of Return of the King, picks up with the fate of all Middle Earth teetering on the very doorstep of destruction at the hands of Lord Sauron's most powerful ringwraith servant. Aragorn and company forge a last alliance between the human kingdoms of Rohan and Gondor that serve to stem the Dark Lord's tide while Frodo and Sam inch ever closer to their final destiny ... and the ring's (chronicled in the first three chapters of Book VI).

Just as The Fellowship of the Ring lovingly spent several chapters establishing a world that needs to be saved, this final installment of Tolkien's master trilogy spends several chapters wrapping it up when the major danger has passed. It seems old J.R.R. was reluctant to leave, but don't be fooled (or over-spoiled by Peter Jackson's abridged movie ending). The uprising in the Shire, which serves as falling action and conclusion, does what so few stories of this scope ever do: wraps up every loose end and shuts the door on the story in a way that made it virtually impossible to sequelize. And Tolkien is to be credited for that.

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire fantasy, "Teeth.")

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

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

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 Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings

Average customer rating:

Now all roads were leading to the coming of war, and the onset of the shadow
100000 million stars
The Dark Lord is Watching!
It's better to READ the books first before watching the movies...
The grand, bittersweet finale

The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0618574972

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:

Now all roads were leading to the coming of war, and the onset of the shadow.......2007-09-03

'The Return of The King', by JRR Tolkien is the continuing adventures of the remaining members of the Fellowship as they draw together to meet the coming of the War of the Ring. The power of Sauron, the Dark Lord is stretching out over the land, and the great city of Minas Tirith has fallen under siege. Yet even as those in Minas Tirith struggle to surviv, and Rohan musters for war, Frodo and Sam draw closer and closer to the end of the journey. Yet in the darkness of Mordor the ring grows stronger, and in the gathering darkness Frodo has begun to fall to its influence.

RD Williams, author of 'The Lost Gate'

100000 million stars.......2007-08-07

im sorry but there is nothing i can say about this that hasent been said in the 100000 reviews for this book on amazon! BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE YOU TOLKIEN !!!

The Dark Lord is Watching!.......2006-05-17

If you were trusted with a dangerous object, would you use it? A young hobbit did, and it nearly cost him his life. Frodo Baggins was given the One Ring and was told to travel to mount doom to destroy it. The theme is friendship and strength. An example of strength is when the armies of orcs attacked the last fortress of Rohan, Helm's Deep. you will have to read

It's better to READ the books first before watching the movies..........2006-04-04

Peter Jackson has created an OUTSTANDING masterpiece in it's own right with his interpretation of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy... but Tolkiens books are some of the best literature of the 20th century.

Jackson takes several liberties with some key points of the story line, not the least of which is making Frodo a "Naive Young Hobbit" when in fact, Frodo and his companions didn't set out on their quest to Rivendell until AFTER his 50th birthday. Little inconsistencies like that between the movies and the books aboud, reason enough to pick up copies of the books to see Tolkiens original narrative.

The grand, bittersweet finale.......2004-11-11

"Return of the King" is the worthy climax to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, the fantasy that created the genre as we know it today. Now, as the blockbuster movie adaptation is over, many readers are checking out the dramatic story that ends Tolkien's masterpiece and life's work.

The story opens where "Two Towers" left off. Gandalf has ridden to the city of Gondor with Pippin (partly to keep him out of trouble), where the forces of Mordor are attacking. There is upheaval in the city itself, as the steward of Gondor is going nuts. Merry pledges his service to King Theoden of Rohan, not knowing what is ahead for the king and his relatives. And Aragorn is seeking out allies to fight Sauron on a military scale, even if they can't defeat him unless the Ring is destroyed. His search will take him to tribes of forest-dwellers, to Gondor -- and even to summon an army of the dead.

In Mordor, the unconscious Frodo has been captured by Sauron's orcs, and taken to the fortress of Cirith Ungol. Sam is desperate to free his friend, but knows that he can't take on an army, and that Frodo would want him to finish the quest. Sam manages to free Frodo from captivity, but they must still brave more dangers before they can come to Mount Doom, the only place where the Ring can be destroyed. As they travel Sam sees Frodo slipping further and further into the Ring's grasp. Will Frodo be able to destroy the Ring?

Usually, the climax of an epic adventure is a disappointment. "Return of the King" succeeds in almost every way, wrapping up each individual storyline, one by one. The ending has a feeling of finality; this is one story that could never have a sequel; Tolkien shows that in a struggle against evil, there is no true "happy ending." Even if the good guys win, there will still be scarring, and death, and haunting memories of what once happened. And even if a person survives, he will never be the same.

This is the grimmest of the three books in this trilogy. Aside from Frodo's emotional deterioration, we also have Merry becoming almost catatonic after the battle with the Witch King, and Denethor's descent into suicidal madness. There is a lot less humor, though it is still there: Pippin and Merry both thinking about food, Gandalf's reaction when Pippin pledges his sword to Denethor, some choice witty comments of Frodo's in the last chapters, and Gimli's half-joking threats to axe Eomer if Eomer doesn't consider Galadriel the most beautiful woman in the world.

Though a section of the book near the end descends into near-biblical prose, which changes post-Gondor, Tolkien does not waver in his ability to evoke emotion. One of the most touching scenes in the book is when Sam finds Frodo naked, unconscious and being beaten by an orc. Others include Merry's farewell to Theoden, Eowyn's slaying of the Witch-King, and of course the bittersweet final scene.

Frodo is almost unrecognizable in parts of this book. The bright, naive young hobbit of the first book has been worn down by the pressure of the Ring, to the point where he seems to be only a pale shadow of himself. As he grows increasingly attached to the Ring, we even see him doing what seems unimaginable: threatening Sam with a dagger. Yet these actions make chilling sense, even when Frodo recovers his self-control only a moment later. It's a devastating demonstration of the hold the Ring has on him; he tries to resist it while knowing that he's falling too far into its grasp. When he lapses into depression and nihilism, readers will wonder if he can actually give it up.

Sam has come a long way from the shy young hobbit who couldn't say a word around the High Elves. This book has him chasing orcs with Sting, carrying Frodo physically through Mordor, fending off Gollum, and acting as the ultimate pillar of strength for his crumbling friend right to Mount Doom. Merry is exposed firsthand to the horrifying consequences of war, and Pippin moves past his initial flakiness in an effort to be a serious warrior. Aragorn breaks completely from the mold of rugged ranger and into the new status as a king, leading armies (both living and dead) without flinching.

As far as the supporting cast goes, Legolas and Gimli assist as well; their friendship grows deeper, even as Legolas falls completely in love with the sea. Gollum's degenerate journey remains intertwined with Frodo's, even though he betrayed the hobbits in the previous book; and the icily passionate war-maiden Eowyn affects the War of the Ring in a stunning way that nobody could have predicted.

The story doesn't really end on the last page; for more background, especially on Aragorn and Arwen, readers should also read the appendices at the end of the book. Another good addition is "The End of the Third Age," in which the unpublished epilogue of LOTR can be found. Though this is probably not canonical, it nicely concludes the story and is a heartwarming look at what happens in the years following LOTR.

It's difficult, once the story has finished, to accept that one has to say goodbye to Middle-Earth and its enchanting inhabitants. But as Gandalf says, "I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."

The Return of the King Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings)

Average customer rating:

All of the best
Exactly like the original score!
GREAT!!!!
The Return of the King
Better than the average movie sheet music

The Return of the King Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings)
Howard Shore
Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0757920241

Product Description

Titles include: The Return of the King; The End of All Things; Use Well the Days; Twilight and Shadow; The Steward of Gondor; Minas Tirith Into the West.  

Customer Reviews:

All of the best.......2007-02-25

This sheet music has everything except the Rohan theme.I love the diversity.It's so much fun to play-from the regal Gondor theme to the homey Shire theme.I love the 10 straight minutes of The Return of the King track.And the beautiful music for Arwen is captured in Twilight and Shadow.Overall,a very satisfiying book.A perfect gift for any lotr fan who knows piano.

Exactly like the original score!.......2005-10-25

This book has been very hard to put down ever since I first got it a few weeks ago. I just can't stop playing "Into The West" and "The Return of the King". This book really, really shows the genius masterpiece in its right form, that Howard Shore composed for the Lord of the Rings. Most of the songs are fairly easy to play and great just for your own enjoyment/entertainment but also perfect for solo recitals, or group performances. Buy this together with 'The Fellowship of the Ring' and 'The Two Towers' for your ultimate enjoyment!

GREAT!!!!.......2004-12-20

I love this! It is much better than the Two Towers or Felloship books. Why? Because I'm a pianist, and these solos are actually fun to play. The other two books are covered in my handwritten changes to the extent of looking like a Beethoven autograph. While I still make changes in ROTK, these are much better arranged for the pianist who enjoys playing.

The Return of the King.......2004-10-15

The battle for Middle-Earth rages on, and the forces of good have one final stand against the face of evil. Also, Frodo and Sam go through their hard times together, yet with love being their success. And there is a very shocking surprise for the people of Dunedain. I would call it the most emotionally satisfying book I have ever read.

Better than the average movie sheet music.......2004-07-15

Unlike some adaptations I've seen, this book takes care to transcribe entire tracks from the score, including the ENTIRE 10+ minutes of the "Return of the King" track. This is a huge plus, even if it does lead to some awkward times (like the "melody only" portions mentioned by an earlier reviewer).

I don't have as much trouble with the "Into the West" track not including the melody (I use a keyboard, so can record the accompaniment separately and play along) but it seems to be a symptom of a larger problem, which is that the music is at takes taken down a bit too literally and not adapted properly for the piano/keyboard. There are a few instances of notes which are held for much longer than a piano can normally sustain notes, and one amusing instance where the pianist is asked to crescendo and descrecendo on a held note (hey, if the vocalist can do it...). Overall the arrangements are excellent, but I docked a star for these lapses and the regrettable decision to waste pages on photographs from the movie instead of filling them with more music.

Average customer rating:

The Return of the King (Lord of the Rings, 3)

all tears are not an evil

The grand, bittersweet finale

The Return of the King (Lord of the Rings, 3)
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Large Print Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Tolkien, Christopher | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Tolkien, J.R.R. | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Tolkien, J.R.R. | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Large Print | Tolkien, J.R.R. | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, Book 2)

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

The Hobbit

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

The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings

ASIN: 1594130043

Customer Reviews:

The Return of the King (Lord of the Rings, 3).......2007-01-18

On my grandson's Xmas list. He was pleased with the larger print and I was pleased with the price!

all tears are not an evil.......2005-01-26

This book is the conclusion to Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings. We pick up the story from 'The Two Towers'. Frodo and Sam are making their way to Mordor with the help of Gollum/Smeagol. The rest of the fellowship have survived Helm's Deep and Isengard. They again split up as Gandalf and Pippin race to Minas Tirith. Aragorn is charging with gathering an army meet Sauron in battle.

This book is divided into two parts. One focuses on Frodo and Sam's journey, the other on the rest of the fellowship. This makes keeping track of the chronology of the story a little difficult, but it avoids jumping back and forth between the various story lines.

We follow the story, as the forces for good gather to face the evil Sauron. Aragorn steps out of his role as the ranger from the North and into the true king of Gondor. We watch the Steward of Gondor, Lord Denethor, slip into madness. We see Eowyn rise in battle. This part of the book rises to a fevered pitch culminating in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

The other half of the book follows the journey of Frodo and Sam. This section is harder to read. Frodo changes from the happy hobbit to a darker creature becoming more and more obsessed with the ring. However, as we see Frodo slipping away, Sam steps out of his humble past to carry Frodo towards Mount Doom.

After the culmination of the War of the Ring, the book continues the story of the aftermath. We see that the scars of the journey have not gone away.

Enjoy this final installment of the LOTR. It will leave you wanting more. Luckily their are several appendices that follow story lines Tolkien couldn't include in the books.

The grand, bittersweet finale.......2004-10-27

The Making of the Movie Trilogy (The Lord of the Rings)

Average customer rating:

Few nice pictures and that's all
lots of behind the scenes info and photos
trepel 0 7 spy kid 3spys
Great Book!
Ten Thousand More?

The Making of the Movie Trilogy (The Lord of the Rings)
Brian Sibley
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Entertainment | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0618260226

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:

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 Return of the King Visual Companion: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (The Lord of the Rings)

Average customer rating:

A Great Addition to any Lord of the Rings Collection
think twice
The Return of the King Visual Companion
A great book to go along side that of Colin Duriez
Almost as good as the books by Colin Duriez on Tolkien

The Return of the King Visual Companion: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (The Lord of the Rings)
Jude Fisher
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Adaptations | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Cinematography | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0618390979
Release Date: 2003-11-05

Book Description

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Two Towers Visual Companion comes a lavishly illustrated keepsake guide to The Return of the King. As Frodo, Sam, and Gollum slowly make their way into the depths of the Dark Lord's realm of Mordor in their desperate quest to destroy the One Ring, the scattered members of the fellowship, now scarred and battered from the Battle of Helm's Deep, must journey to the Gondorian stronghold of Minas Tirith for a last stand against the might of Sauron and his evil minions.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Addition to any Lord of the Rings Collection.......2006-12-16

We have all the Lord of the Rings books and movies. This, along with the other visual companions is a great piece. Very nicely laid out and full of information.

think twice.......2004-06-24

if you already bought the visual companion to fellowship and two towers then this book is a disappointment. too many photos from the previous two films. Not enough images from return of the king. especially missing when they shouldn't be are photos of grond, shelob the spider, the king of the oathbreakers and orc general gothmog. the photo guide is better value.

The Return of the King Visual Companion.......2004-06-23

More interesting and informative than the younger reader movie novelisations, THE RETURN OF THE KING is a great book for LOTR fans and helpful companion to the film. With both in-depth character exposition and battle updates incorporated throughout the relating story points, the writing itself is imaginative and enthralling. The main focus is on Rohan and Gondor, with other areas left to previous exposition (Fellowship Of The Ring). The movie photos are numerous and impressive, unlike the standard pre-production movie book shipped out before the movie is released with subsequent limitations (No completed CGI shots and the storyline is compromised for 'easy reading'). Another great LOTR book from HarperCollins and a must-have for the film enthusiasts.

A great book to go along side that of Colin Duriez.......2004-04-21

I agree with the previous reviewer. This is by far the best of the illustrated books on Tolkien - Jude Fisher is the pen name of one of the top experts on Tolkien, Lewis and other such great authors - and if you want pictures, this is it. But if you want intellectual depth and insight, you should also buy the brilliant books by Colin Duriez, who has by now written several on the Inklings, including his new great book on the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien. Go for a Fisher/Duriez combination! Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan 2003) and CHURCHILL'S FOLLY (Carroll & Graf 2004)

Almost as good as the books by Colin Duriez on Tolkien.......2004-03-16

If you want depth, get Colin Duriez's exciting new book on the friendship with CS Lewis. If you want a delightful picture book, this one is by far the best.

The Art of the "Return of the King" ("Lord of the Rings")

Average customer rating:

Artistic Depth and Richness
lotr freak!!!
Fantastic LOTR book!
Okay But Could've Been Better
New insights into "Return of the King"

The Art of the "Return of the King" ("Lord of the Rings")
Gary Russell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0007135653

Book Description

With Peter Jackson's Acadamy Award-winning epic motion picture trilogy drawing to a spectacular and triumphant close, Gary Russell's detailed research takes us back into the world of Middle-earth, to relive all the visual drama and excitement of The Return of the King.

The Art of The Return of the King illustrates the creative development of the film from sketch to special effect and features 600 images, most appearing nowhere else. This fully authorized book includes pencil sketches by Alan Lee and John Howe, costume designes by Ngila Dickson, magnificent full-color paintings by Jeremy Bennett, and prop designs, concepts, sculptures and digital artwork from Weta Workshop and Weta Digital. From Minas Tirith to Mount Doom, from the Army of the Dead to Shelob the monstrous spider, all the spectacular landscapes, characters and creatures are covered in stunning detail, including concepts that did not make it into the final film.

To accompany this wealth of imagery, detailed and informative commentaries appear by all the featured artists and designers, together with a special afterword by Peter Jackson. Their personal thoughts and explanations offer unique and fascinating insight into how The Return of the King was brought to life. An artistic journey begun in 1997 reaches its glorious conclusion within these pages, giving the reader a unique chance to witness the creative process that led to one of the most spectacular movies of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Artistic Depth and Richness.......2007-01-09

Most excellent in scope and creative backdrop for the Myth that Sanctifies. As in the other two books marking out the Trilogy from the birthing chamber of the mind and heart of the Artisans, this third edition follows nicely in the footsteps of excellence, adding richness and depth and further insight and stimulation of the imagination. I recomned this work, as well as the prior two, as a glimpse or pulling back of the curtain if you will, of the work, creativity and passionate concepts of the dedicated and visionary Artists that midwifed the Divinely inspired work of J. R. R. Tolkien and typological world of Middle Earth.

lotr freak!!!.......2006-04-28

Title: Lord of The Rings The Return of The King by J R.R. Tolkien, ISBN 0-345-33973-8, Houghton Mifflin, 1955, 506pp.

Genre: Fantasy

Major Characters:
* Frodo Baggins, hobbit, son of Bilbo Baggins, ring bearer
* Sam Gamgee, hobbit, Frodo's gardener and companion
* Gandalf the White, the wizard who started the quest of the ring
* Aragorn, human, heir to the throne of Gondor
* Legolas, elf, aids Aragorn in his struggle against Sauron
* Merriadoc Brandybuck, hobbit, journeys with Frodo on his quest
* Peregrine Took, hobbit, journeys with Frodo on his quest
* Gimli, dwarf, aids Aragorn in his struggle against Sauron
* Gollum, hobbit (?), leads Sam and Frodo to mount doom
* Faramir, human, son of Denathor
* Denathor, human, steward of Gondor
* Theoden, human, king of Rohan
* Eomer, human, nephew of Theoden, heir to the throne of Rohan
* Eowen, human, daughter of Theoden
* Sauron, supernatural, maker of the one Ring

Plot: In this book, Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum, slowly make their way closer to Mount Doom. They are faced with every type of bad fortune, lack of water, food, and will to survive. The constant threat of orc attack looms dark over their whole quest. And to add to these atrocities, they are ever plagued by the lurking presence of Gollum.
Many times over the course of the book, Gollum seems to have disappeared. However, he always defies the odds and return to stalk the companions. His need for the "precious" makes him more dangerous. In the end, however, it is his greed that saves Middle Earth.
Despite these setbacks, Fordo and Sam slowly make their way towards their destination. When they finally reach Mount Doom, Frodo cannot give up the ring. His will slowly deteriorated, until he was more like Gollum than Sam. He claims the Ring as his own and puts it on.
Gollum then pounces on him and bites off his finger. Removing the ring from Frodo's finger, Gollum celebrates. While dancing with his "precious", Gollum teeters on the edge of the lava and falls. In this way, the quest is finished by the one who was trying to stop it.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas must travel through the land of the dead to gather an army. They travel to the realm of the ghosts and try to convince them to join them. At first his efforts are futile. The King of the Dead will only serve the King of Gondor.
Aragorn then reveals the blade of Isildur, the blade of his fore fathers. Only then do the dead begin to sway. Finally, the army of the dead joins them, and aids them in their plight. But time is running short for Gondor.
Sauron's army is advancing on Gondor. Gandalf, the White, rides toward Gondor. With him he brings Merry, one of the original companions. On reaching Gondor, they find a broken old man tyrannically holding the throne. Denathor, the steward of Gondor, refuses to relinquish his throne to the rightful king.
Merry, on seeing the sorrow that the old king feels, pledges his allegiance to him. He is made into a guard. His small stature, which in no way applies to his courage, does not stop him from fighting. And when the orcs attack, he fights with the bravest of the soldiers.
King Theoden rides with his party of men to aid Gondor. Thousands of his bravest soldiers ride with him, including Merry the hobbit, Eomer, his nephew and heir, and Eowen, his daughter. Merry and Eowen, who are riding together, face the Witch King, Sauron's general. Together, they kill him, sending his troops into mayhem.
Aragorn returns to his home and claims his throne. He makes Faramir, Denathor's son, the steward of Gondor, after his father's suicide. He marries Arwen, an elf whom he loves and lives his life in peace. The true king of Gondor returned to his throne.
The hobbits return to their home, and find it ruled by Saruman. They must then begin a new quest, a quest to save their home. They force the wizard to leave. As he leaves, he is murdered by Wormtongue, his slave.
Then, when all is well, Sam gets married and Merry and Pippin return to their old life style. Frodo, however, cannot readapt to his life. He goes with Gandalf to live with the elves. He gives his home, and his most prized possession, his and Bilbo's book, to Sam.

Evaluation: I enjoyed this book greatly. I found that the masterful writing was rivaled only by the intricate plot. His use of figurative language is exquisite. His character development made me feel that they were real people. His description of the setting made me feel like I was there.
This book inspired me as a young reader to read more books, and jumpstarted my reading career. After reading this book, I began to read many books including non-fiction. Since first reading this book, I have reread it ten or more times. While reading, I could not put it down, and would read any chance I was given hardly stopping even to take notice of my family and even teachers.

Related Titles:
Books:
Lord of The Rings The Two Towers J.R.R. Tolkien
Lord of The Rings The Fellowship Of The Ring J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien

Movies:
Lord of The Rings Return of The King (2004)
Lord of The Rings Two Towers (2002)
Lord of The Rings Fellowship of The (2001)

Fantastic LOTR book!.......2005-06-17

The final in the "Art Of" series, Gary Russel does a good job of tying up the loose ends, mainly concerning the conceptual design and final presentation. Daniel Falconer's concept art is of particular interest here, and Randy Cook as well, showcasing their excellent and experimental work well here. I really enjoy taking a few hours off, sitting down and reading a really good movie book cover to cover on a warm summer day and this one fits the bill admirably. With character and costume sections covered well, this book has become one of the best. A good price tag means you're not looking too hard for any flaws (And there are none) aswell. Informative and always fascinating, this is perfect coffee table reading. A Must-have for LOTR fans who want every single piece of movie making history.

Okay But Could've Been Better.......2004-07-07

I always thought that an ideal Art of book should include powerful imageries that capture the movie's best scenes in initial stages. Yet this book leaves out many of those elements in favor of blurred panoramic art pieces that I found rather wasteful to the content of the book.Don't get me wrong, I like this book. Most of the artworks are astounding, it's just that I found many of the splash pages should've been devoted to more breathtaking images such as the Fell Beasts attacking Minas Tirith or Sam fighting off Shelob.

New insights into "Return of the King".......2004-05-10

Any sweeping epic is going to have tons of concept art, and "The Lord of the Rings" is no exceptional. In the third collection of movie art, Gary Russell introduces us to the images and models that helped Middle-Earth come alive, and the excellent people behind them.

"Return of the King" introduces us to new civilizations, new monsters, and lots of new enemies and allies -- even more than "Two Towers" did. So the concept art ranges from armor and clothing (Faramir's regal armor, the Haradrim, Eowyn's masculine disguise, the archaic "Dead" armor), the perfect pirate ships, different kinds of Mumakil (prehistoric elephants), weaponry (different sketches of the Grond battering ram), and monsters like the hideous spider Shelob, whose sketches take up a full six pages.

On a more sweeping scale, there are full-fledged paintings, mattes, models and special effects shots. Among the artists are the excellent Alan Lee and John Howe, who both paint and sketch their usual beautiful material. Jeremy Bennett also does a good job, although his stuff is substantially rougher. As for models? Try the ghoulish head of the dead king, different Fell Beast models, the Mumakil, and much more.

It's nice to see the concept art in all its stages. For example, one Witch-King sketch from 1996 shows (Ben Wootten apologetically says) D&D-influenced armor. At the same time, an early sketch of Gandalf confronting one of the Black Riders is shown in nearly identical form in the finished movie. Okay, Pippin isn't there -- but the pose and setting are similar.

The comments from the many artists also give a greater insight into how the various things in the film evolved. Some things (like battering ram Grond) were pretty thoroughly described in the original novel. With other things, like the Fell Beast, the concept artists had to be a little more creative. So it's intriguing to see how their designs shifted and changed, ranging from the grotesque to the silly to the final designs used in the movie.

"The Art of Return of the King" is a good insight into the making of the epic film, and the concept art behind everything from spiders to siege towers. Well worth having.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books