Reviews (50)

Great performance by Inglis, but some quibbles
This reading of the entire Lord of the Rings is hard not to rate highly because of the quality of the performance. Mr. Inglis seems to have a whole world of different voices. I can't imagine how he managed to come up with so many or how he managed to remember what voice he picked for each character. He performs so well that this is really more a dramatization of the whole book rather than just someone reading it; even his voicing of the narration is perfect.

I've not listened to the whole yet, being about half-way through the Fellowship of the Ring. I assume that the quality of the performance will be just as good for the parts I've not listened to yet. However, I do have several quibbles (which are not enough to lessen my rating, but which I found surprising against the overall quality).

The first quibble has nothing to do with Mr. Inglis himself: Sometimes I can hear, faintly, another voice in the background. It sounds like this voice is also reading something. To the creators of this recording: get better sound-proofing. Mr. Inglis's voice and performance are so wonderful that it is a pity to have this distraction.

The second quibble has to do with Mr. Inglis: I happen to be listening to this recording while following along in my printed books of the trilogy, therefore it becomes obvious when Mr. Inglis departs from the text. I really don't mind the sometimes excessive use of contractions that are not in Tolkien's original (even though "don't use the ring" really does not have the same emphasis as "do *not* use the ring") and it's not so bad when he substitutes one word for another of the same meaning (possibly he may be reading from a different edition).

However, occasionally, Mr. Inglis makes boo-boos that change the meaning of the sentence being read. At least two come to mind (and these from the first half of the Fellowship): Near the end of the Tom Bombadil episode (when Frodo and Co. are taking leave of Goldberry) a "morning" is changed to a "misty morning". The word "misty" is not in the text and confuses the meaning of the passage as the sentences that follow imply that the morning is a clear one. The other most noticible change is that Sam's statement "How do *we* know that you are the real Strider..." gets read as "How do *you* know that you are the real Strider...", which makes no sense. These are the two errors of reading that first come to mind, but there were more. Enough, let's say, to surprise me in a performance that is almost pitch-perfect.

However, like I said previously, these quibbles don't reduce my rating and the set is well worth any amount of money.

Super Fantastic!
Super fantastic! I have read the "Lord of the Rings" (LotR) trilogy eight times. I think that Peter Jackson's movies are the best to day. I think that the 13-hour BBC production is the best radio play to date. Although this 55-hour 46-CD set is the only unabridged audio book for LotR, I doubt that it could be surpassed.

Inglis does an excellent job at articulation and dramatization, giving different intonation and mannerisms to different characters. It really is as if you were reading the book.

The recording is very good. The CDs performed well. The packaging is excellent, in a cardboard case, with three cardboard boxes, each with three liners that can hold up to four CDs each.

One thing that I liked about this is that each track is around three minutes long. This is great for when you have to stop and pick up later -- especially if your portable CD player does not remember the track!

Another thing that I liked was the lack of dynamic range. Yes, the lack of it. The loudness is very even across a wine range of topics. This is especially important when listening in the car or with headphones, typically in noisy environment. With some other products, I was constantly turning the volume up and down. Not with this set. However, the performance of the reading did not suffer at all because of this. That is great!

This should be in every library of LotR fans, especially those that travel a lot and want to listen while on the go. Highly recommended!

Perfection.
Inglis' delivery was very nearly flawless. He also has an excellent singing voice; I was astonished to find there were so many songs written down in the books. The only major problem I had with this set is that it was finite.

I had never heard of Mr. Inglis before listening to this set. He actually made me look forward to an hour-long commute. If someone were to publish his reading of the Zip code directory, I would purchase it immediately. He's that good.

Fantstic!
I checked this CD book (and The Hobbit CD Book) out of the local library. I recommend this to any and all, especially those with copies that are missing discs. This recording is everything one could wish for in a LoTR listening experience... outstanding feeling, correct pronunciation (after all, J.R.R. was a linguist... the whole purpose for the books, really), ease of use... just fantastic! Inglis does a great job.
The movies are great movies, but they are NOT The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien... they are The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson. These discs are The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and one can give no greater praise than that!

This is the one!!!
This unabridged version is the way to go. I have heard the dramitization versions and they are OK if that is your thing. I prefer this simpler version. The entire story is there and Rob Inglis does a great job changing his voice and reading generally very dramatically. I really love this audio book! ... Read more

Book Description

A one-volume collector's edition boxed and bound in handsome red leatherette with gold, green, and blue foil stamping, two-color text setting, and large format fold-out maps containing the complete texts of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, and six appendices. 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, 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 disappeared, 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, Merry, Pippin, and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Boromir of Gondor, and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. ... Read more

Reviews (940)

The Lord of the Ring's (Collector's Edition)
What can be better than reading the three greatest books--"The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King"--ever written? Having a leather-bound volume with all three together is better. If you are a fan of the books or you have a loved one that is, this is the best edition to own. It has a big fold-out map in the back for reference, all the references you can think of, and a really neat red leather cover. I have had this edition for 20 years and it's still in excellent condition. Well worth the cost.

The Epitome of Excellent on White Paper
Outside of The Bible, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is simply the best book written in all of time. On a scale of 1 - 10 it is a 100. Nothing in any genre has ever been written better. Originally designed as a six-book, three-volume work, the wonderful people at Houghton Mifflin Company have published the books in an awesome one-volume, leather-bound collector's edition for easy reading (and many re-readings). I am only sixteen, but I am constantly reading, and let me tell you now that nobody beats Tolkien; and nothing beats The Lord of the Rings! Read this book and join the largest group of fans to ever walk the earth.

filled with love...
This was the book I grew up with...the book I had read to me twice before the age of six. I was a little surprised at how unhappy some people were with this edition and would like to say that although, like most books, there will be some defects, most copies are just lovely. If i wasn't a broke student I would buy this without hesitation.

Very Pleased!
I ordered this book with "The Hobbit" also a leatherette. I was very suprised when I opened the box and there was this beautiful red book with a matching box. The spine and the covers have these beautiful designs on them. This is a large book (all 3 volumes). In the back is a fold out map of Middle Earth. The story is in black print and the Book, chapter and page numbers are in red. Has 4 indexes, 6 appendices with a wealth of information. It is truly a beautiful book and lives up to the legacy of "The Lord of the Rings".

The Lord of the Rings (Leatherette Collector's Edition)
Tolkien is the master! Tolkien is a god!!! Tolkien created a world that not even the greatest of storytellers of our genre can ever equal. Without a doubt The Lord of the Rings is the greatest story ever told... ... Read more

Book Description

The first volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, revised and with a new foreword and an index by Professor Tolkien. The trilogy recounts the War of the Ring, in which the Third Age of Middle-earth came. This volume opens with the discovery of the Nature of the Ring. "Destined to outlast our time." -- New York Herald Tribune ... Read more

Reviews (714)

Finally a "real" unabridged recording of LOTR
I am not one who usually buys books-on-tape (or CD as in this case) but I have long wanted to obtain the Lord of the Rings so as to hear this incredible story over and over. After having read it several times, my book is in tatters and so I searched for an unabridged audio recording. Many of those that I have seen claim to be "unabridged" but the fact is that they are not complete! They give parts of the books in full but leave out many sections or chapters. This set by Rob Inglis is COMPLETE!!! It is very well read with no drastic voicing of characters. Characters are easily distinguished and thoroughly enjoyable. This set is not full of sound effects and music, so if you are looking for that this is not for you. However, I personally prefer the fact that this is not an over-production and is rather quite focussed on what I wanted in the first place, the characters and the story. Inglis does a marvelous job and I am very happy with this set. Again, not to harp on it but, this is a "complete" package well worth the money!!!

A grand beginning to the supreme fantasy of our time
There is, as Simon Cowell says, "no question or doubt" (or "no question a doubt", danged if I know from his accent) that this is one of the greatest works of Western literature the world has yet seen. That was beautifully proven with the movies. Now, after reading the tedious "The Hobbit" and witnessing Peter Jackson's timeless adaptation, I was finally ready to pick up Part One of LOTR. I'm glad I didn't wait another second. Tolkien's first brainchild is timeless, a flawless blend of rousing adventure, memorable (and often quirky) characters, hypnotic fantasy, good vs. evil, and social commentary. If you are willing enough to read the lenghtly introduction, don't be fooled by Tolkien's explanation that this is just a book for your basic reading pleasure. It can be read on so many thematic levels it's unbelievable. There is a chapter in the book that was cut from the movie. The chapter "In The House of Tom Bombadil" provides a pause in the increasing tension of the novel (the hobbits have had a close encounter with death from a terrible enemy) and introduces us to Tom Bombadil and his lovely wife. In the book, the pause works, but it was best left out of the movie, where the pace was much quicker. That brings me to another point of the book: the pace. Tolkien did not write this to satisfy children. This is fantasy for those with very long attention spans. He goes into long, at times tedious, detail of what the Fellowship had for breakfast, if one of them ate more than the other, etc. And the romance between Aragorn and Arwen is not present in the book as it is in the movie. No matter. Both the movie and book are excellent and stand as perfection in their genre. Buy both immediately.

Brillance from the Grandmaster of Fantasy
The Fellowship of the Ring is beautiful and rich in texture, character development, and writing style, and in my opinion transcends the realm of "book" and "fantasy", becoming true literature and a classic. The book should not be confused with the movie, as the two are aimed at different audiences with different expectations. Fellowship is without a doubt dated. As some reviewers have pointed out, Tolkien may spend 80 pages walking down a road, or 2 pages in a song. He may spend pages developing a character's style, then mere paragraphs describing an action scene. Tolkien wrote to a British audience back in the 30s and 40s who didn't mind this and actually expected it. An audience who were not as rushed as we are today, who did not expect the instant gratification TV and computers bring and were used to pure imagination to visualize action scenes. An audience who had 2 or 3 hours a night to become absorbed in a book and who were willing to put forth the sustained effort to delve into complex character development. The movie in turn is geared towards maximum action and gratification in a short time period. There's nothing wrong with that; in fact I think the movie is brilliant, a visual feast. But that is not, nor can it be, the aim of the book. The point of this book is to close yourself off to the real world and lose yourself entirely in Tolkien's fantasy. If a sentence has to be reread a couple of times, or only 20 pages are read in an hour or two, than so be it. This is not a novel to be rushed.

Not a fantasy fan
I am not a fantasy fan but wanted to read this anyways- I didn enjoy it but it was just a bit slow at points. It took sometime getting through it but made me appreciate the movies that much more. Probably wouldn't have gotten through the book if I hadn't watched the movie first.

best book ever
"The Lord of the Rings" is the greatest piece of literature the world has ever seen and will ever see. Nothing can replace it.

Now I have a little something to say to someone named "alcar" who gave this wonderful book one star. You are an idiodic freak!!!!! No one can insult J.R.R. Tolkien. And yes, he wrote this. You must be pretty stupid not to know that the book came before the movie. The way you wrote your review, you made it seem like you thought the movie came before the book. WELL YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG!!!!! The end credits of the movie clearly state "Based On The Book by J.R.R. Tolkien". You are an idiot. (please write another review so you can reply to me.) ... Read more

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. "An impressive achievement, unique among the imaginative works of our times." -- New York Herald Tribune ... Read more

Reviews (207)

You're missing out if you have not read this book!!
Lord of the Rings reads like one very long book that the reader finds themselves unable to put down. It goes without saying that you must read "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" before you read this one. This, the third segment, is the climax to what the other two stories built up. This was astonishingly real for a book about wizards, hobbits and elves and I loved it. It is the only book that I have ever found myself crying when it was over. It was a sad sort of ending, (I won't spoil it), but it wasn't because of that. These vivid characters whom I had come to know and love for the months that it took me to go through "The Hobbit" and the other Lord of the Rings books were abandoning me. They would go on with their lives and have glorious new adventures of which I could not be a part of...I miss Sam most of all. The afterward of this book is a gem as well, since you can learn to read and write in Elvish and in runes, and find out histories and afterwards behind the epic. This is a must read for anybody. You are missing out if you do not read this. (And I might add that if you haven't, you are among a shrinking number of people, since the series continues only to grow in popularity.)

Suspenseful Ending to a Brilliant Trilogy
This is the third time I have visited the magical world of J.R.R Tolkien's unique Middle-Earth, and I'm sure it won't be the last time! The Return of the King is the final, and in my opinion the best, book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. With just as much action, adventure, suspense and romance as the first two, the final episode breaks all bounds with not a dull moment in its entirety.
The book resumes the story of the remnants of what was the Fellowship of the Ring, now the Grey Company. Each have gone their separate ways, and Frodo and Samwise have journeyed to Mordor to fulfill their dreadful task of destroying the Ring. Peregrin and Gandalf set out for the slowly dying city of Minas Tirith to inform its Steward, Denethor, of the death of his son Boromir, who died protecting Peregrin and Meriadoc. While Gandalf and Pippin ride East, Merry, with the rest of the Fellowship and the host of Rohan, rides to Edoras to consult the lady Eowyn, daughter of the king of Rohan. However, a new path is revealed to Aragorn and the Grey Company: The Paths of the Dead. All paths hold danger for each company, though Frodo's is the gravest. With Sauron's Eye upon him constantly, the Ring weighs heavier on his conscience than ever, slowly working its evil on his heart. Having lost all hope, Frodo succumbs to despair and even Sam's optimism cannot lift the heavy burden from his mind.
Following the end of the novel, there are the Appendices, which describe the history of each ancient race and its background. Including some excerpts from Bilbo's Red Book, they are a great help in understanding Middle-Earth as a whole.
I could not stop reading this book once I started, and I believe the reader will find it just as addictive. Tolkien combines all of the human weaknesses and strengths into this magnificent story of betrayal, temptation, courage, love, hate and valor. Journey with Frodo and Sam as all of the Races join in the fight that will seal the fate of Middle-Earth and end the Third Age. I guarantee it will be an adventure you will never forget.

Toliken's Masterpiece
The Lord of the Ring The Return of the King The Random House, 1955, 494, $7.99
J.R.R. Tolkin ISBN 0-345-33973-8

It is being hailed as the greatest fantasy epic of are time. The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King is the last book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The main characters are Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf. Pippin, Sam , Merry , and Frodo are hobbits. Legolas is an Elf, Gimli is a Dwarf, Aragorn is a Man, and Gandalf is a Wizard. My favorite part of the book is Pelennor Fields. Frodo is taken to the tower of Cirth Ungol and is saved by Sam. Then they move closer the fires of Mount Doom. While Frodo and Sam are moving towards Mt. Doom the rest of the fellowship is creating a war a a diversion. Will they trick Sauron or will he get the Ring? To find out read this book.
I liked this book because my favorite genre has always been fantasies. I feel that the book is well written and has unforgettable characters. The book is special because of it settings. I'm recommending it because it is one of my favorite books of all time. I would rate the book five out of five stars. Any type of person would like this book.

Drew O., Grade 6
Bales Intermediate, Friendswood , Texas

An amazing end to an amazing epic
The conclusion of JRR Tolkien's fantasy epic is nothing short of astounding, and is recommended to all. In the third part of the trilogy, Frodo and Sam get closer to Mount Doom every day, guided by Smeagol. In the mean time what is left of the Fellowship of the Ring head to Minas Tirith, the capital city of Gondor, to fight the forces of the evil Lord Sauron.

Tolkien is absolutely one of the greatest writers of all time. And I hope that many more readers will embrace this amazing story.

Lord of the Rings: Part 3...The end to a fantastic journey!
I think The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a very good book. This book proves that even the smallest of good can overcome evil. Frodo and Sam continue their journey into the depths of Mordor to Mount Doom.While Frodo's burden gets heavier and he gets weaker, he still trudges on. You can find that friends can appear in the most unlikely places, even if you don't expect them to turn up. Sam Gamgee is a good hobbit at heart. He stays true even if Frodo brushes his ideas aside. You can also be powerful without being better then everyone else. Captain Faramir may be powerful, yet he does not take his power to overrule people. You can journey with everyone from Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn to Smeagol, Frodo, and Sam. If you liked Shelob in the Two Towers, you can take off from the tower where the last book was left off at!!!
The Lord of the Rings: The return of the King is an excellent book for all occassions! With action- packed and excellent adventures, this book can take you for a ride (I'd suggest a horse, the Oliophaunts are too big)! Check out the excellent movie too (the movie missed a couple of parts, but it was still excellent)!! ... Read more

Book Description

The second volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy relates a tale of the eternal battle between good and evil. "The author has intimate access to an epic tradition of Germanic history, civilized by the gentler genius of modern England." -- New York Times ... Read more

Reviews (311)

At Last.
The magnificence of Rob Inglis' dramatization, both with respect to its place in the Tolkien Legend and in comparision to the present state of the spoken theatre, is quite simply ineffible. Here presented is THE ONLY completely unabriged reading of the Lord of the Rings to be found, and to commuters like me, it represents a long awaited opportunity to become aquianted with the work of a genius without fear of losing precious shards of his masterpiece to the whim of an editor. Worth every moment of the 20 hour listening time, from the endearing character voices to the hearty singing of songs and chanting of poetry that is sure to linger in your mind throughout the day. A purely wonderful experience for both Tolkien Veterans and the uninitiated alike.

This masterpiece is well worth the time!
The Two Towers
Book Review
J. R. R. Tolkien's The Two Towers is a fantastic book. It is the kind of fantasy that every person would enjoy. There is every kind of event, so even the pickiest person would be able to find something they like. The second book in a three part series, The Two Towers continues the story of the Ring. The reader meets many new characters, including the Ents and the Riders of Rohan. The Two Towers is about the quest to destroy the Ring of Power. If the dark lord Sauron gets the Ring, all of Middle-earth will be destroyed. The broken fellowship now insists of three groups: Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli, Merry and Pippen, and Frodo and Sam. The novel starts with the death of Boromir, who was taken over by the Ring. Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli immediately set out to find Merry and Pippen. Merry and Pippen have been captured by the enemy and must be rescued. This
begins The Two Towers, with many more adventures to come. The Two Towers is a must-read for anyone who likes fantasy and adventure. There are no weaknesses. I enjoyed reading the novel very much. The beginning starts out slow, but things speed up quickly. Anyone who likes fantasy will enjoy it because every page in this masterpiece is very well written. The Two Towers is definitely a great book.

A GREAT read for all types of readers!
The Two Towers is a stellar sequel to the Lord of the Rings series. Set in a land of spectacular, grandiose adventure, the Fellowship of the Ring has been split up, with Boromir's death, the capture of Merry and Pippin, and the departure of Frodo and Sam, on their way to decimate the One Ring created by Sauron, the Dark Lord. Tolkien's story of Middle-Earth is bamboozling in how a writer can accomplish so much in such a small package, with so much adventure, emotion, and tragedy! While Gandalf is lost since Moria, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are looking for the captured Merry and Pippin.

Saruman is still after the Ring, Sauron is also searching for his own creation of evil. Will they find it, read and find out!

Alright, so what is Middle-Earth? Middle-Earth is a magical place with wizards, Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits. Wait, hold on, What are hobbits?

Hobbits, more formally named as halflings, are gentle folk, about as tall as your waist, and have a taste for comfort. It just so happens that Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are hobbits, hobbits with a mission. Okay, back to the subject.

Middle-Earth is a land in peril, unbeknownst to most hobbits, but known to some. Sauron has found the Ring, and plans to catch it. If he does, the entire world of Middle-Earth will be under his evil rule. This is why the Fellowship is their only hope of winning against Sauron. And the fate of the Fellowship lies in the hands of their leader, Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer.

That is the story of Middle-Earth. But now to my review. This book is an absolute ten out of ten. I mean it is a book for readers of all kinds! Out of the myriad of books I have read, Tolkiens are the best!

Liked the first one better
I am not a fantasy fan but wanted to read this anyways- It took sometime getting through it. For some reason I liked the first one better

Lord of the Rings the Two Towers
The second book of J.R.R. Tolkien's three piece story. It has a lot of action and suspense. The book has basically two different stories intwined togather. One of the stories is the becoming of a king. The other story is about the small hobbit who has to save the world by destroying the magical ring of power. Aragorn and his fellow friends are trying to tarck down their other friends who were captured by some orcs. The two hobbits that were captured gathered up some tree-like creatures and destroyed one of the two towers it was called Isengard. While the small hobbit named Frodo is led on by an evil being named Gollum who leads Frodo it to a trap near the end. This book is a real page turner. You may never want to put this one down. There is so much developement within each of the characters that you feel like you have known them for a long time. I would reccomend this book to somebody of any age who likes action-packed fanstasy stories. ... Read more

Book Description

Unabridged BBC Dramatization of the abridged The Lord of the Rings
Thirteen CDs, 13 hours

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, 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 disappeared, 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.

This outstanding BBC radio version of "The Lord of the Rings" includes Ian Holm as Frodo, Michael Hordern as Gandalf, Robert Stephens as Aragorn, and John Le Mesurier as Bilbo. ... Read more

Reviews (108)

A superb dramatisation on CD at last !
I bought the audio-cassette edition of this years ago, before the days of CD and online shopping, and I've long been hoping that it would one day be released on CD. It really is a magnificent achievement - the thought, planning, respect and sheer professionalism that have gone into creating this is simply remarkable. What a contrast to the execrable Mind's Eye edition ! The BBC version is not a complete reading of the book, but rather a (judiciously) abridged and compact dramatisation. Having said that, it's still very long. It's like listening to a really good, long (13 hours!) film of LOTR with your eyes closed. The atmosphere and feeling of the book has been captured wonderfully, with great, stirring performances from internationally-known and respected actors like Ian Holm, Michael Horden and Robert Stephens. The music and songs are haunting and dramatic, and the sound effects are so authentic that you really feel like you're there with the Company on its quest to destroy the ring. Even the packaging is of the highest quality, another thing the people that made the Mind's Eye version should take note of. The CDs come in a very nicely designed box with artwork, maps, and other information. Quite a few people have been asking which CD edition to buy - if you want an amateurish, cartoon-style version this isn't for you. If, however, you are looking for excitement, intelligence, humour, a sense of wonder, and faithfulness to the spirit of Tolkien's masterpiece, then the BBC edition shouldn't disappoint.

Yes! You should hear this, even if you've seen the movie!
I have owned a copy of this remarkable BBC radio dramatization of the Lord of the Rings for probably 15 years, and still remember its appearance on National Public Radio over twenty years ago. I read the books thirty years ago. I have loved the movies.

I feel I'm qualified to answer the question: "Is hearing this worth it?" "Do I really need to own this?"

You need this. The books are wonderful (and unlike all other versions are of course "unabridged"). However, how often can you read them? The movies are wonderful, however again how often can you find the time to commit to watch them. Plus, everything is "invisioned" for you. This is a work of imagination! Shouldn't you use your own imagination?
This radio drama sits in the pleasant middle ground. You can use your mind to see what your ears hear. This is a portable experience, you can take it with you, and multi-task while you're experiencing it.

Artistically, this production is as wonderful as the movie production, and has a more quiet charm. You have high quality actors in top form (Michael Hordern, Robert Stephans, Ian Holm to name a few). You have quieter music (chamber strings and harp mostly) You have more of Tolkien's own lyrics and poetry. You also have more of Tolkien's original plot, the Scouring of the Shire is not in the movie.

I will restate what other reviews have said: "Stay away from the Mind's Eye version!" Unfortunately, only the BBC really knows how to turn out high quality, aurally detailed radio drama. (Well, so does ZBS media, but that's another story.)

Great,But " Unabridged'?
I have been a fan Of The Lord Of The Rings for 25 years( I read the Hobbit and Trilogy 3 times in College and re-read it all again last year when I heard about the movies, I also have the box set that sells here (price)) and this is my first audio book of any type. This is a BBC dramitization( this is what is "UNABRIDGED") not a word for word reading of the novels. After getting use to listening to the dramatic acting style involved in this I found it very enjoyable. It does not contain everthing in the trilogy. It does, I here the movies coming out do also, leave out Tom Bombadil and the Barrowdowns section and other smaller parts of the books.I did have a good time listening to it. I took almost two weeks, primarily in the car driving to work and around town and it looks good on the bookcase. Ian Holm doesn't read it, he plays Frodo. It will be interesting to see how he plays Bilbo differently in the movies. There are another dozen or so main actors in it and a narrator.

Superb Audio Adaptation of Tolkien's Classic
I admit it. I'm a Tolkien addict. I've read the LOTR books at least 4 times, seen all the Peter Jackson films, and I have listened to this radio adaptation more times than I can count. In fact, as good as the films are (and they are, for the most part, very good) this radio version is in many ways superior. True enough, it lacks the stunning visuals of Jackson's films, but this leaves listeners free to imagine the fantastic creatures and landscapes of Middle Earth for themselves--to create theater for the mind.

One of the many strengths of this production is its extended running time--13 1-hour episodes for the radio series versus three 3-hour movies. This allows for greater character development and, more importantly, greater fidelity to what Tolkien actually wrote. The producers rearrange, compress, and eliminate certain events to make for a smoother narrative flow on radio, but they do not omit anything essential to the plot and, unlike Jackson, they DO NOT add anything to the book. Jackson adds an extended bloody battle with Wargs and a dream sequence to "The Two Towers" that are not in the original. As a result, he has to change the ending of the film, and, in my opinion, lessens its emotional impact. The producers of the radio version wisely avoid this kind of tinkering.

The producers of the radio version use more of Tolkien's original dialogue, which has a much higher and more exalted sound to it than most of Jackson's phrases. Ian Holm's radio Frodo is much more robust than Elijah Wood's film version, seeming to discover a nobility and courage that not even he knew he had. Wood's responses to crises for Frodo seem to be limited to screaming, passing out, and falling on his backside. The radio version treats Merry (Richard O'Callaghan) and Pippin (John McAndrew) with the respect and affection they deserve, rather than simply using them for comic relief, as Jackson seems to do. Other standout cast members in the radio production include William Nighy as Sam and Peter Woodthorpe as Gollum, both superior to Sean Astin and Andy Serkis, their film counterparts. Michael Hordern gives Ian McKellen a run for his money as the radio voice of Gandalf. Only Robert Stephens, the radio voice of Aragorn, comes up short compared to the movie's Viggo Mortensen. Unlike the movie's conflicted and self-doubting Aragorn, Tolkien and the radio version portray Strider as absolutely sure of his identity and destiny, and give him an air of supreme self-confidence. Unfortunately in Stephens's performance, what is meant to sound like regal self-assurance and a kingly air of command come out dangerously close to pomposity and arrogance. Mortensen's more restrained, quiet Aragorn who rises to greatness as a result of his trials, is a welcome improvement.

In short, if you want a real Tolkien experience, read the books, listen to this audio version, and see the movies, in that order. You can listen to the audio version while doing the dishes or driving to work. Doing those things while reading the book or watching the movie could be dangerous :-).

a Herculean task, somewhat disappointing
I would first like to say that it was a wonderful idea for the BBC to make a radio production out of LOTR, and to hire a cast of well-respected actors to get the job done. This collection earns a star for even coming into being. Unfortunately, the task of bringing out one of the greatest stories of our age carries high expectations with it, and judged by those expectations, the BBC Radio LOTR falls short.
It's a joy to hear the whole story told with much less concern for time and compression than usual-- as 13 hours of total CD length suggest. The previous best LOTR effort in any medium, Ralph Bakshi's movie, stopped halfway through the story at 2 and a half hours, which any fan of LOTR knows is woefully inadequate. A great casting move was snatching Peter Woodthorpe, the voice of Gollum in Bakshi's film, to play the same role here. Woodthorpe is superior to Andy Serkis (Gollum in Peter Jackson's LOTR films)in his tortured characterization of the Ring's greatest slave. Elements of backstory are nicely woven into the tale, like Gollum's capture by Sauron's agents in Mordor. The sound production is also well done-- the listener gets a definite sense of what is going on in the foreground as opposed to the background, for example, and the strings in the score add a welcome mournful element to the progression of the story. The tale itself is of course excellent-- it's difficult to truly fail to be at all entertaining when your task is to retell the Lord of the Rings.
But I have many criticisms to consider-- ones that make the BBC LOTR a 2 star effort beyond its foundations. For one, it may be 13 hours, but this is still spare compared with how long it takes to read the story aloud from the book. (over 100 hours as far as I can tell through experience) This is forgivable in a medium like film, which demands that people sit and pay attention for hours on end at one sitting, but is tough to excuse in a radio show that consists of one hour installments. Why not tell the whole thing, simply broken into more 'episodes'? I don't understand this aversion to doing it right-- Lord of the Rings has a large and rabid enough following that any effort to tell the story in more detail is one of the few sure successes in show business. This edition omits the Barrow Wights, Tom Bombadil, and a few other notable, important events for absolutely no good reason.
The flow of the story also has problems. One of the greatest elements of the Lord of the Rings series is Tolkien's beautiful descriptive language. Every region of Middle Earth is brought to life in amazing fashion as you read. The makers of this edition inexplicably saw fit to keep text narrative to a minimum, and leave the description to stilted and awkward lines spouted by the characters. Example: "As I lie here, I realize that these orc arrows have paid me for my treachery." This is doubly bad, because one of the few weak points in the books is the dialogue, which can get heavy-handed and too grandiose. Therefore, the BBC has removed a great asset and saddled a weaker aspect of the story with even greater clumsiness.
The dialogue is a problem in general. I expected more from these actors, who all seem to be overdoing their lines. Perhaps they feel out of place without cameras able to capture their mannerisms, but in any case they try to make up for the lack of visual element by overacting. Many of the lines, even simple back-and-forth between the characters, are read like grand and important pronouncements from a scroll. Although the times are dangerous and the task of destroying the Ring is the greatest of their age, I don't think Tolkien thought of these characters as heroic automatons cognizant of the fact that their every word is important for future generations. It would have been much more convincing and enjoyable if these actors had read the characters as real people doing the best they can under very tough circumstances. There is no sense of the pressure on them, of their longing for simple contentment, of real pain or joy that a listener could identify with. It's all sterile, booming proclamations-- like something out of the Iliad. Try to imagine any of these characters waking up with a hangover and wondering what's for breakfast: you won't be able to. Even the excellent Woodthorpe, who gave a measured performance in Bakshi's LOTR, hams up the snivelling and gibbering of Gollum a bit. No matter what fame LOTR has risen to, it is first and foremost a story--not every line has to be played like another piece of a grand and timeless composition.
Gandalf is particularly disappointing. One of the most entertaining aspects of his character in the books is his world-weary and cranky edge. He is down to earth in a way that makes him the wisest of his Order and his other important colleagues, yet here he especially is prone to making every line a grave intonation, and to read as if he is a prophet of pity and doom. The listener is left to wonder: how did such a solemn and unapproachable sage befriend these ale-swilling and relaxed hobbits? Aside from these flaws, several of the minor voice characterizations are simply awful-- the orcs, for example, sound like groups of drunken English barflies, rather than the twisted and vicious psychopaths that they are.
Diehard Tolkien fans will undoubtedly want this as a piece of their collection, but personally I hope someday we receive a better effort at a radio reading. ... Read more

Book Description

The Fellowship of the Ring, part one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, fist reached these shores on October 21, 1954, arriving, as C. S. Lewis proclaimed, "like lightning from a clear sky." Fifty years and nearly one hundred million American readers later comes a beautiful new one-volume collector’s edition befitting the stature of this crown jewel of our list.With a text fully corrected under the supervision of Christopher Tolkien to meet the author’s exacting wishes, two large-format fold-out maps, a ribbon placemarker, gilded page edges, a color insert depicting Tolkien's own paintings of the Book of Mazarbul and exceptionally elegant and sturdy overall packaging housed within an attractive slipcase, this edition is the finest we’ve ever produced. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Despite being panned; this is a great rendition
I think it is worth buying. Your personal preference will affect how you like this version as opposed to the newer one done by the BBC. This is the first rendition I ever heard of the Lord of the Rings. I own both copies and I don't regret owning either one because each Version is good for different reasons.
The voices are different in this version. BBC sounded more like grown men. The voices sounded more elfish in this version. I think that it reminded me of the Ralph Bashki version of the Hobbit. I did feel that this was more concise and less was edited out. Gollum seemed less psycho and scary in this version. There was less music in this version and less of a romantic sideline. I liked that it didn't edit out the part of Tom Bombadil; as BBC's version did. I felt like more was cut out on the BBC version even though it was four cds longer. It was disappointing.
I know that one person found this edition hard to follow. I find all the audio I listen to has to be listened to repeatedly to understand the plot. I will admit that this is the kind of story that one has to listen to to understand all that was going on. With repeated listenings; one hears new things or notices new things. I actually found the narration and actors voices sounded clearer in this version than the later one.

Not wort your time.
As I fan of Lord of the Rings (the books and the movies) I was quite excited to recieve this for CHristmas. My excitement died within minutes of placing it in my CD player. The voices, aside from the narrator, do not seem to fit the characters. Espoecially disturbing were when the high elfs had voices that sounded like Alvin, Theodore and Simon, rather than the noble creatures they should sound like, and Tom Bombadil sounding like a tripped out leprechaun. It also bothers me that almost every actor seems to be reading, so much so that you can hear the pause as they come to the end of a line or page, even if it is mid-sentance. And perhaps the worst thing is the way they mispronounce names and places. Tolkien gives a pronunciation guide in the books, they should have used it.

Get the right one
While this is a very sincere effort at reducing LOTR into digestible audio episodes, it simply cannot compete with the BBC's version. It might be slightly more appropriate for younger listeners, and features more direct quoting from the novel's descriptive passages, but essentially every voice actor is inferior to the BBC counterpart, and the breaks every half hour (at least on the cassette version) leave the story feeling choppy. Look into this if you're a completist, but if you only want one, go with the BBC.

Fine adaptation...but
...I've had this version since before 1987, when it was on cassette tape. I loved the story, music and actors portrayals of the characters. My only quam was when it was transferred to CD. The sounds were 100% better, I heard things I never heard on the tapes, however, quite a bit of dialog was cut out when it was transfered to CD, and some parts of the narration sounded rushed, due to cutting and pasting excerpts together to make it fit. I stil enjoy the story and listen over and over, but I still miss the parts that were removed, and I have to add them back in my mind. I'd give it all five stars if it wasn't cut down. Still worth the money.

Mediocre, historically important Mind's Eye radio drama.
This full-cast abridgement of THE LORD OF THE RINGS is The Mind's Eye version produced for American radio in 1979, several years before the infinitely superior BBC version with Ian Holm. The eleven-hour-plus dramatization deserves recognition as a sincere, pioneering attempt to bring J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy to imaginative life for an American audience in a way that the animated films of the period could not. The production was very well-received at the time and appreciated as a folk-culture event. Radio drama has been a rarity in the United States since the early 1950's whereas it has always thrived in the United Kingdom. (There had been an early British radio broadcast of LotR of which Tolkien, who disliked dramatic forms in general, disapproved.) While the subsequent 1981 BBC masterwork is a lavish, technically dazzling production sporting internationally acclaimed actors, the humble Mind's Eye version, utilizing a small cast of local-theatre players, is a low-budget, no-frills affair reputed to have been recorded in a bathroom in Pittsburgh with the microphone taped to a rubber duck. Most of the voices are wrong and pronunciation awkward, but everyone makes an enthusiastic effort, which is the main reason that the marathon show remains so endearing despite its uneven quality. Scriptwriter Bernard Mayes had his task cut out for him, considering that it no doubt was a labor of love which had to be done quickly for little or no money. According to the conventions of the radio drama format, the adaptation emphasizes dialogue over description, and while the merest sketch of the novel, Mayes' script is generally an effective condensation, highlighted by the inclusion of the beloved Tom Bombadil episode. Scripter Mayes also plays Gandalf quite splendidly and his fine, robust performance make this version worth a listen for all but the most cringing of purists. Gale Chugg (a notable cartoon voice) gives a spirited and straightforward account of the narration and doubles as a delightfully creepy Gollum. Other voices do not fare so well, but weaknesses among the supporting cast would mean little if the protagonists were not so drastically miscast. Samwise (Lou Bliss) is energetic and cheeky but sounds like a contemporary Noo Yawk street kid; while Frodo (James Arrington) starts out with an appropriate clear-speaking earnestness, only to become a monotonous, whining drone when crushed by the terrible burden of the evil One Ring. This means that THE RETURN OF THE KING, which places an inordinate burden of its own on these young actors, is rendered a painfully draggy conclusion to the epic narrative. The overall result would not seem such a travesty if so much better had not since come from Ian Holm, Martin Shaw, Rob Inglis and of course the Peter Jackson films. For all its gross imperfection, The Mind's Eye LORD OF THE RINGS maintains a nostalgic charm for listeners who can be forgiving of the primitive circumstances of the little production and focus on its historocity and ambitious, well-meaning intent. ... Read more

Book Description

Presented here in hardcover with a beautiful jacket chosen through a global fan poll, J.R.R. Tolkien"s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, has been hailed throughout the world as one of the greatest adventure stories ever written. Millions of readers have celebrated this exciting tale of hobbits, wizards, men, dwarves, and elves in a land called Middle-earth. Now millions of filmgoers have embraced the blockbuster motion picture trilogy that has fired the imaginations of a new generation.
Returning to Hobbiton after an absence of many years, the wizard Gandalf quickly sought out Bag End, the home of his old and dear friend the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. It was the morning of Bilbo"s one hundred and eleventh birthday, and a party of special magnificence was planned for that night. The old hobbit had been plagued by the incessant attentions of unwanted visitors, well-wishers, and distant relations, prompting him to hang out a sign on his front gate warning "No admittance except on party business." It was in this grumpy state of mind that Bilbo, completely unprepared for the joyous reunion that awaited him, stomped to the door to answer Gandalf"s knock.
These unique, limited-edition bookend sculptures have been hand-cast in heavyweight polystone and hand-painted to the highest standards by the artists of Sideshow/Weta, a unique partnership between museum-quality collectibles manufacturer Sideshow, Inc. and Weta Workshop of New Zealand, the artisans responsible for the conceptualization, prosthetics, makeup effects, weapons, armor, and miniatures for Peter Jackson"s Lord of the Rings film trilogy. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This is a great deal!
I just got this today and I'm thrilled with it! The book ends are very cute, and the figures do indeed look like Ian McKellan and Ian Holm. The book looks great between the 2 bookends...it's a great set at a great price (and MUCH more reasonably priced than much of the other LOTR memorabilia from the movies!). I'm not crazy about the cover of the book (it's a distant shot of Rivendell or perhaps even the White City...it's hard to tell)---it's not awful or anything but I would have liked some abstract image (such as the One ring, the White tree of Gondor, Elvish script, etc.) better. But in all, a great deal. I recommend it highly.

The right bookends for the right book
Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Ring" trilogy wholeheartedly embraced the film adaptation when it premiered almost three years ago. Now Weta Workshops (who did all the special effects, prosthetics, armor and makeup for the films) have produced a gorgeous bookend set along with the hardcover book.

Chosen by a special poll, the special hardcover edition is pretty nice to look at, but let's face it, the bookends are the best part. They're handpainted and very detailed, capturing the moment when Gandalf waits to be let in, only to be rebuffed by "We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!"

One bookend has Bilbo moving to the door, and the other has Gandalf knocking with his staff on Bilbo's round green door. Fans of the movie will be pleased to know that they really do look like Ian Holm and Ian McKellen. Collectors of Tolkien merchandise will be delighted to put "The Hobbit," "Silmarillion," and other Middle-Earth books beside the trilogy, between these bookends.

Wonderful Quality!
I bought it, and fell in love with the quality so much that I ended up buying two more for my sons as gifts when they get older. Hopefully they will love the book as much as I do!

Great Purchase & Lifetime Treasure for Me (and family)!
I ordered this set for my own birthday present to myself and finally got it in the mail during Christmas (way before my birthday). I am in love with it and loved it seeing it still in the box. It was totally worth getting and fragile due to its properties of composition. Meaning, I am taking good care of it and it is sitting on my bedroom dresser right now holding up stuff. Worth getting for any "rings fan." They'd love it! Get it before they stop making it or something. I own this and many LOTR merchandise. Hope this helped you in some way.

Superlative
I bought this item as a Xmas present for myself. It was in Pre-order since the very same day it was published on Amazon.
I received it a couple of days after Christmas and it was amazing.

So amazing that my mother-in-law wanted one for herself! Too bad there are no more packages at the store. I've tried to buy it from other retailers and the cost is twice the one in Amazon.

If you were able to buy one at Amazon, you were smart. If you wanna buy one of this with other retailer, you're a harcore fan! ... Read more

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 ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A concise and yet comprehensive look at the Movie Trilogy
The chapter where you become truly amazed at how Brian Sibley can make every single aspect of the production of "The Lord of the Rings" fascinating is Chapter 8: Hobbit Hair and Wizards Whiskers. That is because he talks not only about how Peter Owen and Peter King created the hair and makeup for Gandalf's beard and Galadriel's golden tresses, but also because he explains the need to making bucket loads of mud (short version: you need "sterilized" dirt). Then there is the sidebar that explains director Peter Jackson got the sound of several thousand Uruh-hai chanting Black Speech as they march to Helm's Deep in "The Two Towers" by going to a New Zealand versus England cricket match (admit it, you were expecting it to be soccer or at least Australian rules football). Once you have that reached that level of insight you know that you are getting a truly comprehensive look at "The Making of the Movie Trilogy."

Sibley covers everything from model making to creating the one ring to rule them all, so ultimately it is just a question of what parts you like best. Obviously, anything have to do with Éowyn, the White Lady of Rohan is going to appeal to me, so I liked the look at her costumes. But I also really enjoyed the Epilogue: An End and a Beginning, that has to do with the world premier party for "The Fellowship on the Ring" in New Zealand. I liked the poster of New Zealand customs desks reworked with signs indicating lines for Orcs, Trolls, Journalists, and hobbits and the set of commemorative stamps and special first-day cover. Sibley wrote "The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide," so he obviously knows the territory, but what impressed me most is that while explaining how the magic is made he manages to be both comprehensive and concise. After all, he could have put together something as long as the Trilogy itself in detailing the process of adapting it for the screen. Fans of the movie trilogy will find this a worthy companion volume.

A must have for any true LOTR fan
This book is absolutely fascinating, explaining the detail and thought that went into making an epic of this proportion. I would have never considered all the minute details they so painstakingly devoted their lives to over the years of the pre-production and principle production period of the LOTR. Every detail from designing the perfect Gandalf hat to finding ingenious ways to protect ancient moss in a particular location to makeup for horses (yes, even horses need makeup!) is explored. Plus much, much more.

The book is as easy as it is enjoyable to read. It is like reading a magazine article on each topic they covered. Concise and too the point, but with plenty of information.

If you can only buy one LOTR book, make this the one. While the others are good, most of the information in them has also been presented in various documentaries or other media. You'll find surprises in this one!

Totally pleasing and worth buying!!!!
Ever since these films came out, ive been totally hooked. So ive gone on an escapade to buy as many of the books related to the films as possible. Naturally this book was one that a sought after highly.
It is filled with so much detail that one almost understands exactly what the entire cast and crew went through in those years.
I would totally recommend it for any LofR fan.
If a HAD to make one complaint, it would be that some of the photos are maybe a bit small but this is trivial.
Go out, buy and it & ENJOY!!!!!

Fascinating!
This book shows you the work that went on behind the scenes to make the movies, and allows you to meet the brave people that went through hell to do it! Never could I have imagined that the minute details of clothing, hair, weapons, scenery, props and so on could be so interesting, let alone so dangerous. I feel the pain of those who had to go through the production mishaps described in this book, and it makes me appreciate their worka nd the movies even more!

Exxxxxxccccccellllllllent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that this book is very interesting and it shows how they made alot of the weapons and armor and etc. I would like to advise though if you have the fellowship of the ring extended edition it sort of is the same idea except this has just a tiny bit more.If you are looking to buy this I would reccomend it. I bought it as a paperback and I really don't think it matters at all (hardc\paperc). So if you buy it I hope you enjoy it!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Each title in this beguiling collection contains 20 full-color postcards of paintings inspired by Tolkien¹s magical world ‹ designed so that the cards can either be removed and used or enjoyed as a picture book. ... Read more

Book Description

A rare recording featuring Tolkien himself reading exciting selections and singing enchanting songs from the awesome trilogy of books whose literary light will never fade away. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A NICE ADDITION TO YOUR TOLKIEN COLLECTION
Well, I can't really add too much to what I said about the other Tolkien stuff here, however, this is quite a nice little collection.

MASTERFULL..GREAT ADVENTURE..
I have never read a more incredible story about fantasy, every page has more adventure and is all perfectly filled with power.Tolkien knows how to make us feel in harmony and in darkness too, this story goes from the most beauty and peacefull to the last places of doom and shadows. A must read story that will always remain among the fantasy classics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The game that dominates my day
It is great! But only if you are a collecter as well as a boardgame fan. Upgrades are quite expensive.

Get the box game!
This game rocks! Don't bother getting the book by itself when for a few more bucks you can get a boatload of miniatures. The game is easy as pie to learn and a lot of fun. As for the guy who can't paint the miniatures - most of you have a bit more patience than that! I painted all mine up in a week, that was half the fun. Go to your nearest Hobby store and check out all the new miniatures that are out, get the game while you are there.

Better than Chainmail
This is a much cleaner game system than Chainmail. It is also a better deal. I'd pick up the box set if possible. The plastic miniatures in the box are of a higher quality than the Chainmail figures and the metal figures for Fellowship of the Ring are an order of magnitude higher in quality than the poor Chainmail figures and at a much more reasonable price at that.

Extraordinary Value
What a bargain!

This is NOT role-playing in Middle Earth - this is the rules for fighting skirmish wargames with the heroes and villains of the Fellowship of the Ring.

If you've already got a collection of suitable models to represent the Fellowship, plus a few orcs, elves and, of course, the Nazgul - just add this book and you can recreate the skirmishes of Book 1 of the Lord of the Rings.

If, on the other hand, you haven't got any models - then don't bother with this book - track down the boxed game from Games Workshop. It's about twice the price but it comes with loads of orcs and elves and men of Gondor - all in superb detail and no comparison to the stupid paper cut-outs at the back of this book!

1st class battle game system from the Masters of the genre!
It must be really difficult to capture the feel of Middle Earth and the tension of the Fellowship of the Ring, when the licence limits you to what's in the film... but somehow Games Workshop have managed to do just that!

Beautifully presented, this is a neat, scenario-driven miniatures-based set of rules for the father of all fantasy books - the Lord of the Rings.

If there's one criticism I would make of this product, it's of the 'cardboard counters' tacked on. When GW make such wonderful, evocative models, I can't see any point in providing these pale 'wraiths'.

My recommendation - only buy this if you want a second copy of the rule book to accompany the one you get in the boxed set! ... Read more

Reviews (271)

Childhood Fantasies
These books captured my imagination like no other books ever have. Tolkien's vision is astounding. His ability to use words to paint such an enormous and vivid picture is without equal. I cannot get enough of Middle Earth. Although these are fantasy novels, everything is so real. There is no way I can do justice to Tolkien's masterpeice with these few words. Middle Earth is a place where childhood dreams, nightmares, and fantasies all come true in bright, vivid colors.

Startling, like lightning from a clear sky.
I've just finished reading the Lord Of The Rings for the second time. My first reading of it was about three years ago. Amazingly, (and I think this says something of the quality of the story itself) I would say I enjoyed it even more this second time around. It is so sweeping and wide that it still thrills, never losing any of its unpredictablity even if one is already familiar with the ending. Tolkien's Middle Earth is so immense, such an entire "sub-creation" (as the author himself referred to it)... complete with its own creatures, history, languages, and breathtaking landscapes... I believe it is without parallel in fantasy literature of any era. This book is myth, rather than allegory. By that I mean that there is not really meant to be any strict one-to-one correspondence to specifically theological, political, or psychological aspects of our own "real" world. No-one in Middle-Earth is named Mr. Worldly-Wiseman or Mr. Evangelist or Mr. Charity. No, here we meet people and things like Tom Bombadil, Gollum or Treebeard... hobbits, elves, dwarves, ents, orcs and yes, even Men. And yet, as with great allegorical works all of these characters gravitate to one of two poles or extremes that can be seen as "good" or "evil". The Lord of The Rings is truly about a grandiose struggle between the FORCES of good and evil. In Chapter 2 of Book 2 we read that "Good and ill have not changed... nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men." An interesting thing about the book is how Tolkien's brand of "dualism" very subtly points to the reality that ultimate Good or Evil is something yet greater (or beyond) any of the characters that try to perpetrate either of them. This is most clear in a statement by Gandalf in Book 3 during "The Last Debate" where he says "Other evils there are that may come; for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule." If Sauron (who throughout the book appears as the evil to be reckoned with) is "but a servant or emissary"... then we must consider the question... an emissary of what? Or whom? And similarly,