J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

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Hobbits and wizards and Sauron--oh, my! Mild-mannered Oxford scholar John Ronald Reuel Tolkien had little inkling when he published The Hobbit; Or, There and Back Again in 1937 that, once hobbits were unleashed upon the world, there would be no turning back. Hobbits are, of course, small, furry creatures who love nothing better than a leisurely life quite free from adventure. But in that first novel and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo and their elfish friends get swept up into a mighty conflict with the dragon Smaug, the dark lord Sauron (who owes much to proud Satan in Paradise Lost), the monstrous Gollum, the Cracks of Doom, and the awful power of the magical Ring. The four books' characters--good and evil--are recognizably human, and the realism is deepened by the magnificent detail of the vast parallel world Tolkien devised, inspired partly by his influential Anglo-Saxon scholarship and his Christian beliefs. (He disapproved of the relative sparseness of detail in the comparable allegorical fantasy his friend C.S. Lewis dreamed up in The Chronicles of Narnia, though he knew Lewis had spun a page-turning yarn.) It has been estimated that one-tenth of all paperbacks sold can trace their ancestry to J.R.R. Tolkien. But even if we had never gotten Robert Jordan's The Path of Daggers and the whole fantasy genre Tolkien inadvertently created by bringing the hobbits so richly to life, Tolkien's epic about the Ring would have left our world enhanced by enchantment. --Tim Appelo

Book Description

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Four deluxe paperback volumes
by J.R.R. Tolkien

"J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings created a unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning."
-- New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

Lord of the Rings.......2007-10-09

The Fellowship of the Ring is an amazing piece of literature written by J.R.R. Tolkien. J.R.R. Tolkien was born in 1892 and died at age 81 in 1973. He was an author, a teacher, a philologist, and an icon for people who love to read fantasy books. His first book was The Hobbit, which was very popular when it came out in 1937. Then he started on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which became legendary all over the world.
The book The Fellowship of the Ring is about a young hobbit named Frodo who inherits a ring that has unusual powers. It first fell into the hands of Gollum, a creature who dwelled in the dark worshipping the ring, calling it "his precious". Then it fell into the hands of plump little Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's cousin. After many years, it was handed down to Frodo. When Frodo learned of its powers, he set off on a journey to seek fortune and adventure, as well as to destroy the ring. Through hardships and pain, Frodo and his friends travel across middle earth, encountering many un-natural things. To find out more, read the book!
I thought the book was fantastic; I give it a 9.5 out of 10. I was impressed by the quality of the writing, how descriptive it was, and how different all of the concepts were from how we live. It sure got me hooked! It was a challenging read, but it was worth it. I recommend it for experienced readers, because the book is 398 pages long. This book relates to the Hobbit, which my dad read to me when I was little. If you love fantasy, the Fellowship of the Ring is the right book for you. I am now moving on to the second book in the trilogy, The Two Towers.

Top Quality.......2007-10-07

The Hobbit/ Lond of the Rings Boxset is of very good quality and a certain must have for Lord of the Rings fans! No damage in the box set itself and the books are well printed!

Gets better with each reading.......2007-09-27

Read the Hobbit first then jump right in! I find new and wonderous things every time I read it again!

J.R.R. Tolkein Boxed Set.......2007-09-23

fast shipping, reasonable price for books that we have had for years and wanted to obtain new copies. Good job!

CLASSIC NOVELS!.......2007-09-13

I love this stuff. Tolkien is a great writer. LOTR rocks! Like the films, they get better with each one. The story is wonderful, and the writing style is first rate. You,ll love it.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (Cliffs Notes)

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Not a substitute, but has its uses
What a waste of time
The whole concept is disgusting!
bleh!
Not enough detail, compared to the books.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (Cliffs Notes)
Gene B. Hardy
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822012863

Book Description

Join the journey through Middle-earth in the study guide of these two epic fantasies suggestive of life in medieval days, a classical battle between good and evil and the quest for a magical ring. This guide covers all four volumes of this unforgettable fantasy.

Customer Reviews:

Not a substitute, but has its uses.......2005-07-18

I certainly wouldn't suggest reading the Notes instead of reading what is arguably the greatest book(s)ever written. But the Notes do have their uses. I chose to use Tolkien's books as an example in my final project for a high school writing course. I had read the entire series twice, but that had been three years earlier. I found the Notes useful for jogging my memory on some of the scenes, and for picking out examples to use in my project. I would never recommend reading Notes instead of the actual book in ANY case - that is such a waste - but especially not for Tolkien. If you are reading Tolkien for a class, consider yourself lucky, and take the opportunity to read this amazing set of books in its entirety. Use the Notes just to jog your memory and better understand these classic books.

What a waste of time.......2005-01-07

These oversimplified notes are truly abhorrent and inaccurate. Why not relax with a paperback edition of the true Lord of the Rings?

The whole concept is disgusting!.......2003-11-20

The whole concept is disgusting! The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings are books meant to be read with love, joy and wonderment, NOT turned into texts to be read as exercises in drudgery and compulsion. It makes me furious that idiots and barbarians should so turn these books into texts and so kill children's love for them. It does not matter if they are accurate or not, they are WRONG!

bleh!.......2003-03-07

Yuck yuck yuck! I only read the sample they have here but it's horrible! They have next to no detail, they even leave out characters, (any one remember Fatty Boldger?) it's wayyy to simplified.. and so on.. how someone could make a clifts notes of 4 books, (all of which are ~ 300 pages long) is not right in the head.

Not enough detail, compared to the books........2002-10-14

"Cliffsnotes the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit" condensed the first book in the series tremendously! I am only rating the CliffsNotes for Book 1, as that is the only book I have read in the series. The notes are very general and skip over some events, so it's wise to read this after you have read "The Fellowship of The Ring." As always, read the CliffsNotes AFTER you have read "The Fellowship of The Ring." I do not recommend.

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Tolkien at his best!
The Hobbit
--
Tolkien Set the Stage
Better than LOTR

The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345339681
Release Date: 1986-07-12

Amazon.com

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

THE GREATEST FANTASY EPIC OF OUR TIME

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo–alone and unaided–who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside . . .

This stirring adventure fantasy begins the tale of the hobbits that was continued by J.R.R. Tolkien in his bestselling epic The Lord of the Rings.

Customer Reviews:

Tolkien at his best!.......2007-10-09

As the prelude to the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit or There and Back Again, is a magnificent tale of magic, fantasy, and adventure. I found that I could not set this book down. With each page, I was that much more drawn into the realm of Middle Earth, and I made myself put the book down for a little bit in order to enjoy it.

The characterization in this book is phenomenal. Both the protagonists and antagonists throughout the novel help creat the landscape of the book, as well as set the foundation for Middle Earth. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, displays the ideal character in that he is forced into a world of adventure of magic. As an innocent creature unaware of the outside world, Bilbo matures throughout the book, and is a classic example of a character who, by the end of the book, has developed into a great intellectual character. Bilbo continues to display this intellect throughout the Lord of the Rings.

I have experienced many a conflict with other readers who did not enjoy the Hobbit, and I'm not saying that this book is in everyone's favor, but any reader of fantasy, magic, and adventure will love this book. I recommend the Hobbit to every person no matter what age. As a timeless tale of Tolkien, I give this book five stars (although, it probably deserves more).

The Hobbit.......2007-10-06

This book was boasting with the great imagination of J.R.R Tolkein. About 60 years before the lord of the seires Bilbo Gandlaf and a gang of Dwarfs travel through the misty moantians to get to a treasure stolen from the Dwarfs. As the gang travels through the land they meet tons of epic characters (elfs dwarfs goblins trolls). Tolkein could have written more voilence like its sequel Lord of the Rings. Overall it was a epic classic.

--.......2007-10-03

I generally do not read books if there is a possibility of a movie being made on the same. However, this is a really very interesting book. You can not keep it down once you start reading.

Tolkien Set the Stage.......2007-10-02

Though I grew up reading fantasy, playing Lone Wolf books and sometimes joining an AD&D game, I had never read any of Tolkien's works until recently. The Hobbit sat on my bookshelf for seven years because I couldn't get past the first chapter. Now I breezed through it, soaking in the rich world of Tolkien's imagination and discovering where most modern fantasy has its roots. Though I've seen the first two Lord of the Rings movies, I'm now going to get and read those books and anything else JRR Tolkien wrote in the way of fantasy.

Better than LOTR.......2007-09-08

I think this book is a much better read than Lord of the Rings. I also think Peter Jackson should have made a movie out of this book. There are a million reviews out there for this book, so I just want to add that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful imagery, interesting storyline... This is one book that everyone should read.

Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings

Average customer rating:

Best insight on Tolkien's characters, places
A misleading, illogical book.
A good solid work
An interesting insight to Tolkien's Middle Earth
There has to be a better treatment of Middle Earth

Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Michael N. Stanton
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312238266

Book Description

This will be the year of J.R.R. Tolkien when New Line 2001 Cinema releases the first part of a three part epic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings in December and the buzz has already begun among the hoards of Tolkien fans. Michael Stanton, a noted expert on science fiction and fantasy literature, has written an indispensible new guide to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings for readers and viewers alike. Stanton, who has been teaching Tolkien's epic for over 25 years at the University of Vermont, guides the reader through the thickets of characters and places Tolkien creates eschewing academic jargon and an overload of literary criticism to provide an understandable look at Tolkien's fantasyscape. He looks at characters, places, the various books of the epic, dreams, the notions of time and history, providing a rich and wonderful guide to Tolkien's world that no one will want to be without this year.

Customer Reviews:

Best insight on Tolkien's characters, places.......2005-07-08

Wonderful chapter by charter review of book giving insight on characters, then an understanding of different races and interactions. Michael Stanton loves the story as much as I do and presents the information as I would have loved to have been able to do. His enthusiasm shows through.

A misleading, illogical book........2004-12-05

The author claims "I wrote it to entertain and instruct myself" (i). It does not cover anything new, but is written in order to clarify. The author is an early fan from the pirated American edition, and unfortunately does not seem to have been able to get past the flaws of that edition.

He begins with a brief biographical sketch of Tolkien's life and admits the books came out of Tolkien's love of language. He calls Tolkien "flagrantly ordinary...dowdy" (6) and does not get much more complimentary as he goes on.

He points out that Hobbits came late in Middle-earth's development and that Elves were Firstborn quite literally. Ironically, the author does not support a literary criticism of the books, calling that technique "obnoxious" (10) then proceeds upon it himself. Tolkien, he claims, is "identifying Middle-earth with our Earth long ago" (10). He then does highly critical analysis of patterns he thinks he sees which have no fundimental bearing on the books at all. He claims each of the 'ages' gets better, i.e. the Third Age is better than the Second and the Second better than the First which is the direct opposite to what every reader of Tolkien knows to be true.

He then ridicules the 'conservative' aspects of teh book and quickly passes over the obvious Christian references with a brief outline of them before abruptly ending the chapter in embarassment.

Stanton then simply rewrites the books in his own words for several chapters. If we wanted that, we would have read the books or fan fiction. He continually hunts for a "basic pattern" (27) and every detail is analyzed as having deep symbolic meaning -- something Tolkien himself despised. He even calls the Black Riders "vampires" (28) which is ridiculous, considering the only thing they have in common is a tendancy to come out at night. So do burglers, owls and college students but we don't call them vampires. Stanton then ignores all prevalant theories of Tom Bombadil and sidesteps the question with a typical New Age 'nature spirit' idea.

He sees much of the book as mere "literary devices" (33). He then mistakingly traces Aragorn's lineage. He ignores Boromir's large part in the Council of Elrond and in assisting the Fellowship. He degrades the books to what the Inklings clearly despised and even claims "Tolkien again makes you feel danger in the highest degree" (41). That, in itself, is a contradiction because Lewis and Tolkien believed that writing and reading for the mere thrill of danger was not only the lowest form of literature but one to avoid like the plague.

Stanton completely misinterprets all actions as mere nature magic mother earth wicca stuff which is, frankly, nausiatingly opposed to Tolkien's view and is one of the reasons why the movies are so dasdardly. At that point, Stanton goes downhill from there. He idealizes Gandalf, and without any explantion, dismisses the profound character of Denethor as simply "madness brings him to dispair" (77). In other words -- he was a crazy old man that got depressed the more crazy he got. The more logical explanation is that he was depressed first and thus became crazy and of course the true Denethor was depressed and lost all hope which is an entirely different thing.

In Stanton's attempt to explain Aragorn's usurpation of the throne, the author uses a series of logical falacies: Appeal to Authority with a claim that it was fine because the leaders wanted it, and then the fact that the White Tree had grown when it could have grown for Faramir's kingship or Denethor's and it was merely a final ironical twist. Last time I checked, it didn't have a sign on it saying "I grew because of Aragorn".

He then examines the poems and tears them apart until they lose all meaning and beauty. Stanton then tries to spiritualize everything in the worst sense. He puts it in the same category as the wildly occult Earthsea tales which I am sure because of which, Tolkien is turning in his grave.

In conclusion, I would not only not take the time to read this book, but I would encourage others not to do so. It is especially bad to those trying to show the truth of Denethor.Just because someone put it in a book does not mean it is true. And in the case of Stanton's writings, I am not even sure how something so blatantly erroneous could have been published at all.

A good solid work.......2003-09-14

A concise well-written, well-organized critique. Stanton includes many tantalizing nuggets dug out of the rich ore of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) increasing the reader's wealth of understanding and appreciation for J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece. Stanton is a seasoned guide who knows the terrain well, pointing out sights along the way, and helping us through the fogs and mists but savvy enough to get out of the way to allow the reader to see the grand vista for himself, even prompting us to do more exploring on our own paths of discovery. He writes in a manner that will enlighten the first-time reader of LOTR and add dimension to the seasoned LOTR affecianado.

Stanton never grandstands or gets in the way of the subject. I've read several criticisms on LOTR, and this is one of the best. Stanton looks at LOTR without the dated cultural bias and skewed pop criticism that mars so many other critiques and reviews of Tolkien's epic fantasy. The author is not presumptuous, or pompous, or arrogant, a tone that prevails in many other similar works. Stanton's book provides an excellent index, something that is lacking in many other criticisms of Tolkien's works, and a reasonable bibliography to broaden the perspectives of the more interested reader.

Hobbits, Elves and Wizards is a welcome addition to my library, and the one book that I recommend to all my friends who want a crisp, smooth overview and sympathetic interpretative criticism of The Lord of the Rings.

An interesting insight to Tolkien's Middle Earth.......2002-10-31

Hobbits, Elves and Wizards is a broad over-view of the Lord of the Rings. In it, Stanton goes over the trilogy, and analyses the patterns in Tolkien's writing, historical relevence, Tolkien's life, and his writing.
The book is divided into two parts, and each cover different things. The first half covers the trilogy itself. There are six chapters, one for each of the books in the Lord of the Rings. In each chapter, he points out similarities between scenes, how the characters are progressing, and the geography.
The second half covers the races of Middle Earth, Languges, and Good and Evil, and how they play a role in the story.

Overall, this is a fairly good read, if you are not a die-hard Tolkien fan. Stanton was a UVM (University of Vermont) professor, and taught LOTR for a long time. This is his reactions and conclusions from the books, presented in a book form. It reads like he's there talking in front of you.
But if you are familiar with the Lord of the Rings, this book will just be a reiteration of what you can get out of the books yourself.
The only gripes I had about the book are the signifagance of the Gray Havens, for I would have liked to know more, The Hobbit. This book does not cover it, but it would be good to see in included. Some of Stanton's conclusions are a little off. At one point in the trilogy, Gollum is fantasizing at taking over the world, while Stanton says that he is not ambitious. He could have explained that more.
Also, the hardcover edition was released before the Fellowship of the Ring movie was released. The paperback version has his own comments on the movie, but not in the hardcover.

Even for Tolkien or Lord of the Rings fans, this in a good read about the style and writings of Tolkien.

There has to be a better treatment of Middle Earth.......2002-04-23

Informative for the novice only. If you've read LOTR more than twice, pass on this, as you likely will learn little.

Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Box Set

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Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Box Set
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"

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Hobbits and Elves and Wizards...Oh My!
Dry as Death Valley Sand
Superb Insight Into the Themes behind the Stories!

Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"
Michael N. Stanton
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1403960259

Book Description

Middle-Earth, Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo: The places and characters that sprang from the mind of J. R. R. Tolkien will live forever in the imaginations of millions of readers. In Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards, @ichael Stanton, a scholar of science fiction and fantasy literature, offers an extraordinary encounter with Tolkiens masterpiece. elieving that there is no epic of contemporary literature to match The Lord of the Rings, Stanton delves critically into the richness of the story. He explores the intricacies of its dialogue and illuminates the idiosyncratic nature of its characters. He looks at @laces, dreams, notions of time, and history. Eschewing academic jargon, Stanton provides an intriguing look at Tolkiens fantasyscape that ultimately shows how all of these parts meld into a singularly compelling work of art that lives and breathes. For those who have read and loved The Lord of the Rings, Stanton embarks on an exploration of Tolkiens genius, painting a rich and wonderful critical portrait of the world he created, a portrait that no one who truly hopes to understand Tolkiens vision will want to be without.

Customer Reviews:

Hobbits and Elves and Wizards...Oh My!.......2005-04-05

As a scholar who has studied and taught J. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy for twenty-five years, there are very probably very few better qualified to write an introductory book on the subject than Michael Stanton. He's obviously a great fan on the book (that is, he does not seem to be simply trying to cash in on the recent popularity that the movies have caused) and writes in a simple, chatty style that is easy for most non-academics to understand. For those who are more experienced in reading essays and critiques, "Hobbits, Wizards and Elves" may come across as either too simplistic or repetitive - and I admit that there was very little here that I hadn't already come across in more comprehensive essays on this subject.

But Stanton is well aware of this, and has no delusions about what it is that he's writing - in fact on many occasions he encourages other authors that go deeper into the text, and often apologises for his `bare-bones' treatment of the subject. To like the author's own voice makes up a great part of one's enjoyment of these exploratory books, and there's nothing pretentious or overtly opinionated in Stanton's techniques.

In saying that however, this is a book for beginners to the world of Tolkien - long time studiers or fanatical fans will know all this stuff already - and probably through their own readings of the book. Yet for those starting out, or those that need a helping hand in grasping the finer details of Tolkien's great work, this is a readable and clear-cut `helpmeet' to "the Lord of the Rings".

In Part One of the book Stanton gives us a (very) brief biographical account of Tolkien's life and his inspiration for the book, and the publishing history, followed by a chapter devoted to the geography, history and themes that make up Middle-Earth. The bulk of the book is taken up with accounts of the six books that make up the complete "Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King." This is perhaps the most interesting part (at least for me), as he explores the meanings and finer details of the chapters and the events and characters within them.

Part Two divides up the `species' of Middle Earth and explores their cultures closer: Elves, Dwarves, Ents, Humankind (including Hobbits) and the forces of evil are all discussed separately, and then finally Tolkien's use of language (undoubtedly the basis of the entire saga) and the use of dreams and spirituality throughout the story.

Lastly comes a chapter on the Peter Jackson version of "the Fellowship of the Ring" that is enthusiastically advertised by the publishers on the front cover: "includes a new essay on the first part of "the Lord of the Rings" film trilogy!" As it turns out, this is the most unnecessary parts of the book, and I couldn't help but feel that Stanton was either coerced into doing this for the benefit of sales, or was simply a little `pet-project' of his that he wanted to sneak in. As it is, it is not an `essay' at all, but simply a list of opinions concerning the movie that nearly verges into being a movie review. As you may have guessed, the absence of Tom Bombadil and the role of Arwen are mentioned, as are a few other little nitpicks, but at least Stanton appreciates Sean Bean's role as Boromir - a performance that I believe is often overlooked by viewers.

He's not afraid to criticise certain portions of the book (he points out that only three of five wizards sent to Middle Earth are identified, and that Tolkien puts the title of `oldest living thing in Middle Earth' on two separate characters: Tom Bombadil and Treebeard), and to go against popular fan speculation (in his opinion the `unsung hero' of the story is not Samwise Gamgee, but Prince Imrahil) but on the whole you can tell that he simply adores Tolkien's work and has read it multiple times.

He also points out some interesting titbits that are obvious in hindsight, but which were overlooked by me in my own reading of "Lord of the Rings" - such as the fact that Pippin is the only character in the book to directly converse with Sauron.

It is not a thick book, nor a very deep one, but it is interesting nonetheless and would be valuable to those just beginning to explore Tolkien's world. I've been exploring for a few years now, and I still found some interesting theories and explanations - but then I brought this book at the University's book store for only two dollars, so I'm hardly going to take a harsh view of something brought so cheaply. Any one well-versed in Tolkien's universe has more comprehensive works to explore, but beginners are most welcome here.

Dry as Death Valley Sand.......2002-10-20

This book is remarkably dry. Considering the subject matter I would've thought that was impossible but Michael Stanton has proved me wrong.The writing is dull and workmanlike.It's very much like a literary text book.

The best thing I can say for Elves, Hobbits and Wizards is that it gives the casual Tolkien fan an almost encyclopedic view of the characters and ideas of the books.

If you are planning on writing a term paper on Lord of the Rings this is a useful reference text but if fun is what you're after, pass this one by.

Superb Insight Into the Themes behind the Stories!.......2002-09-25

You'd think someone who had taught Tolkien at the university level for decades might have a keen insight into this wonderful fantasy world. And if you want some of the most insightful commentary on Tolkienâs world, you wonât find a much better book than this--it's great!

Stanton's strength is not merely insight, but the organization of that insight. The book is neatly divided into separate discussions of elves ("...elves are men made perfect"), dwarves, men, orks, hobbits, etc. In each discussion, the author provides thoughtful information as only someone who knows Tolkien this well is able. There is also a very helpful background to Middle Earth, which was of great assistance to me in understanding the story.

Other chapters are devoted to summary of the "Lord of the Rings" series--a very helpful inclusion for those of us that became most familiar with the story through the film. The film itself is also discussed, with excellent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both cast and script. Stanton includes answers to some of the most often asked questions about the movie.

Finally, Stanton includes an interpretation of Tolkienâs literary techniques in discussions on parallelism, religious theme (excellent), and use of language. He also mentions interesting inconsistencies in the stories, as well as unresolved issues, which have become sources of great trivia, e.g., what happened to the Ent Wives, Gimli's occupation, etc.

If you just love the story, know it by heart, and care little for themes and characterizationsâ"you might want to pass on this book. However, if you're fairly familiar with the âLord of the Ringsâ, and would like to delve beneath the surface of the story, this book is wonderful! It's an easy read, is organized nicely, and is written by someone who understands the master--probably even better than Tolkienâs own son. Highly recommended!

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J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: B000MT0GIA

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Unique Tolkien set, boxed in gold foil holder. The classics!

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

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Excellent Resource
Knits up the ravels
A Radiograph of LotR.
Splendid Tolkien Reference Work
a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings
Michael W. Perry
Manufacturer: Inkling Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1587420198

Book Description

Here is the book that Tolkien fans have needed for half a century--a detailed, book-length chronology of J. R. R. Tolkien's complex tale. Whether you are a serious Tolkien fan or simply someone who enjoys reading the story over and over again, this is the book for you. It's the first totally new reference for The Lord of the Rings since the 1970s.

Beginning over 1400 years before the major events in Tolkien's epic, it describes, year-by-year, the amazing and imaginative background history that Tolkien created for his masterpiece. Then for the main narrative, it becomes a day-by-day reference, describing what each character does on that day and all the places where those events are described in Tolkien's writings. You can find out, for instance, what Merry and Pippin are doing as Sam perpares rabbit stew on the morning of March 7.

Probe deeper into Tolkien. See why someone as serious as Gandalf was interested in fun-loving Hobbits. Discover an exciting new plot, based on Tolkien's notes, that begins when Aragorn captures Gollum. Follow along as the Black Riders and Gandalf race for the Shire. Decide for yourself whether Sauron and the Ring have any ties to Hitler and Stalin. Explore what Tolkien believed about nature and technology.

A few facts illustrate how helpful this chronology is. Most of narrative is a deliberately confusing sea of next days and third days that leave readers as confused as the tale's main characters.The middle 60 percent of The Lord of the Rings gives the current date only once. In the narrative as a whole, the date is given only 23 times, or once for every 43 pages, and most of those come when the plot is moving slowly. That's why those who want to dig deeper and understand better what Tolkien was saying will find this book a must-have.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2006-12-10

Perry has done a wonderful job in untangling the very intricate tale woven by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of particular help are the copious margin notes which reference exactly where Perry is drawing the information contained within that section of his book. The commentary made by the author is a welcomed pause for reflection on the events that are taking place and keep the book from being a mere listing of dates and events. I teach a course on J.R.R. Tolkien and have found Untangling Tolkien a valuable resource, since it covers the entire history of Middle-earth: what comes before The Hobbit and what takes place after The Lord of The Rings. Bravo Mr. Perry, I look forward to reading your other books.

Knits up the ravels.......2004-10-31

An amazing accomplishment by a dedicated Tolkien fan.

That is how I'd sum up the book Untanging Tolkien. Michael Perry has first unraveled all Tolkien's "dates" -- which can be extrapolated from phases of the moon -- and then knit them together again in a cohesive outline, presented in much greater detail than Tolkien's own timeline (found buried in Appendix A of LOTR). By incorporating information from other Tolkien writings, the author of Untangling Tolkien collates additional facts about all the characters and the circumstances surrounding the War of the Ring, folding them all into this detailed chronology. He includes material that sheds light on possible parallels between Tolkien's work and events that were contemporary, and he provides original commentary that suggests some additional motivations for Tolkien's characters. Sidebars offer references to every source for the information presented and for each conclusion the author has drawn.

I found the format, with quick-reference bulleted lists and clearly delineated sections and subheadings, well-organized and easy to use.

NOTE: I read the third printing that was published in May 2004. Apparently the author has corrected many of the errors that David Bratman objected to (below). You won't find a better overview or a more throrough treatment of time and dates in LOTR than Perry provides in this book.

A Radiograph of LotR........2003-12-27

This book is layed out as a chronological record of the events covered by Tolkein's masterpiece with prefaces that explain the calender system created by Tolkein and its conversion to our more mundane (and possibly inferior) system. The type is clear, and margin citations clear and present for every entry. It's primary utility, at which it succeeds admirably, is as a kind of radiograph of Tolkein's work that reveals its astonishing complexity more clearly and allows one to admire, and more importantly, explore the book itself more quickly, easily, and deeply.

The book also contains copious notes inline with the chronology. These vary from informative to tangential, but at worst do not detract from the book's primary function. Mr. Perry is perhaps foremost as Lewis scholar, and so C.S. Lewis, a close acquaintance and friend of Tolkein, makes a number of appearances. Also making appearances in the notes are William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.

All in all, a unique book which will save anyone who wants to do an in depth study of LotR a lot of time.

Splendid Tolkien Reference Work.......2003-12-21

Superb, exhaustive chronology of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. Perry does a superior job in untangling a number of thorny chronological issues in Tolkien's narrative, and he employs some fine literary detective work in reconstructing what events are happening across Middle Earth on any given date. Especially admirable is his reconstruction of how much moonlight there was during each day of Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor.

In addition to chronology, Perry supplies a lot of background information about Tolkien's themes and sources, as well as biographical tidbits about Tolkien. For example, there are fascinating discussions of Tolkien's views of technology, freedom, and totalitarianism. Perry also discusses Tolkien's stance toward the misuse of Germanic myths by the Nazis.

This is a great resource for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia.......2003-12-21

A year-by-year, later day-by-day, chronicle of the war against Sauron from the founding of the Shire to the glorious conclusion seems at the outset like a good idea. Perry calls LOTR's Appendix B, the Tale of Years, "far from complete" but it covers the whole period: what he means is that it's not detailed enough for him. Appendix B won't tell you which day Sam cooked coney for Frodo; Perry will.

But alas, the book does not stop there. The entries are written as bullet lists like a PowerPoint presentation, and many add pointless little flowcharts such as two-generation family trees. They reduce Tolkien's magnificently complex subcreation into a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia. And each yearly or daily entry comes with its commentary, whether directly relevant, side points, broader considerations, or dogmatic essays in applicability. The unrelieved banality and inappropriateness of these must be read to be believed; as also the author's clumsy, grammatically inept style, and his smug superiority to the characters. (He frequently criticizes the good guys' "blunders," all of them more complex than he implies.)

There's actually some good chronological analysis and speculation hiding in here. But how can someone who knows his Tolkien that well say that the wizards were Valar, or that Rohan gave Isengard to Saruman (it wasn't theirs to give, and Saruman was made its warden, not a freeholder), that Boromir and Faramir had a sibling rivalry (Tolkien specifically says not), or suggest that Galadriel should have sent daily eagles to check up on the Fellowship?

Product Description

In the final book of J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, The Lord of the Rings, the courageous hobbit Frodo Baggins completes his heroic quest.

Average customer rating:

Peter Jackson should have started here!

The Hobbit

Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FK9M18

Product Description

The enchanting prelude to "The Lord of the Rings"

Customer Reviews:

Peter Jackson should have started here!.......2007-08-29

I was a sophomore in high school when I first read this book. Since, I have read it probably 4 times, written 3 papers on it in college, and taken a Studies in Text class on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. This book is a must have for anyone who enjoys literature, whether it be fantasy, history, fiction or non.

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