( T ) Books

The Children of Hurin: Deluxe Edition

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 275 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The first complete book by J.R.R. Tolkien in three decades -- since the publication of The Silmarillion in 1977 -- The Children of Hurin reunites fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, Eagles and Orcs. Presented for the first time as a complete, standalone story, this stirring narrative will appeal to casual fans and expert readers alike, returning them to the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien.

The Children of Hurin, begun in 1918, was one of three 'Great Tales' J.R.R. Tolkien worked on throughout his life, though he never realized his ambition to see it published. Though familiar to many fans from extracts and references within other Tolkien books, it has long been assumed that the story would forever remain an unfinished tale. Now reconstructed by Christopher Tolkien, painstakingly editing together the complete work from his father's many drafts, this book is the culmination of a tireless thirty-year endeavor by him to bring J.R.R.Tolkien's vast body of unpublished work to a wide audience.

Having drawn the distinctive maps for the original The Lord of the Rings more than 50 years ago, Christopher has also created a detailed new map for this book. In addition, it will include a jacket and color paintings by Alan Lee, illustrator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Centenary Edition and Academy Award-winning designer of the film trilogy.

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1631 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

UNabr CD read by Rob Inglis is EXCELLENT!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Rob Inglis is, in my opinion, one of the best readers out there, and I think he's perfect for "The Hobbit" and the complete "Lord of the Rings." He sings what needs singing, very well, which is relatively unusual. I have thoroughly enjoyed the creation he has wrought!!

Really Good MUST READ 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed this book I could never put it down. It's a good childrens book full of excitment. It's all about a group of dwarves going to kill a dragon who stole all their money and destroyed their town.

Excellent book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is fantastic. I have to read it at least once a year. It is very entertaining, very fun and never gets old. Each time I pick up the book to read it it feels and reads as fresh as it did the first time. Great book for all ages and the best place to start if you are interested in "The Lord of the Rings" or learning more about Middle Earth. I'd recommend this book to everyone and it makes for a wonderful present for any and all occasions.

Editorial Review:

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien"s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth tells of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The (Barrons Book Notes)

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1242 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great books but too descriptive 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The best books set I've gotten thus far. However too descriptive, it makes me sleepy since I'm suspension and adventure story lover. I know it has adventure and fantasy but again, too descriptive, just like Frankenstein.

Good Book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Good Book to read in an airplane or bus or train, to kill time. However, it is easy to lose its own original binding shape after a few readings.

"The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings", book set by J.R.R. Tolkien 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The classic and age old story of good vs. evil told in a way that captures the imagination from the first book to the last. Books to gather enjoyment and wisdom from as the tale unfolds: "The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater..." - Haldir, Elf of Lothlorien ("The Fellowship of the Ring")

Editorial Review:

Plot synopsis of this classic is made meaningful with analysis and quotes by noted literary critics, summaries of the work's main themes and characters, a sketch of the author's life and times, a bibliography, suggested test questions, and ideas for essays and term papers.

The Silmarillion: Giftpack

J.R.R. Tolkien

List Price: $82.65 By: HarperCollins Audio Amazon Marketplace: 3 new & used starting at $17.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 664 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Middle Earth Bible 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is pretty much the Bible of the world of Middle Earth. It isn't written so much as a story as some of Tolkien's other works, but it has a nearly-documentary style, as if everything in it is real (and it is, for all the detail that goes into the story). Here comes history and mythology, all romantically tied together in ultimate fantasy along with all the proper notest that would attend any other historical work. There is not a lot of detail in the stories, but that does not make them any less wonderful. This is a chance to see thoughts and possibilities and so many other characters that fit into the Lord of the Rings universe. I don't think this is necessary to appreciating Lord of the Rings, but it's still a delightful and worthy addition if one can handle the way it is presented as more history than literature.

Must read 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wasn't my intention, but I read Tolkien's books, in this order, LOTR, Hobbit, Turin, and Silmarillion. I think it has worked out quite well reading them in reverse chonologic order.

The Silmarlillion is a fantastic backdrop and foundation to the entire world Tolkien has created. A Masterpiece.

Editorial Review:

These tales tell of the rebellion of Feanor and his kindred against the gods, and of the war, hopeless, despite great heroism, against the great enemy.

Tales from the Perilous Realm

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The definitive collection of Tolkien's classic "fairie" tales,
in the vein of The Hobbit, illustrated by Oscar winner Alan Lee

Never before published in a single volume, Tolkien's four novellas
(Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wootton Major, and
Roverandom) and one book of poems (The Adventures of Tom Bombadil)
are gathered together for the first time, in a fully illustrated volume. This
new, definitive collection of works -- which had appeared separately, in various
formats, between 1949 and 1998 -- comes with a brand-new foreword
and endmatter, and with a series of detailed pencil illustrations by Alan
Lee, in the style of his other award-winning Tolkien work, most recently in
The Children of Húrin.

The book is the perfect opportunity for fans of Middle-earth to enjoy
some of Tolkien's often overlooked yet most creative storytelling. With
dragons and sand sorcerers, sea monsters and hobbits, knights and
dwarves, this collection contains all the classic elements for Tolkien buffs
of all ages.

The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 171 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very nice edition to have 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This review is only about the `50th anniversary edition' and not about the master work of J.R.R.Tolkien.

I don't see any issues with the quality of the book. Like few other reviewers mentioned, the folded map is glued together and you need to take little care while viewing it for the first time without damage. That is not an issue or a reason to give this excellent edition a poor rating. Most of the deluxe editions won't be friendly to read due to unusual size and weight. People buy them because they adore the content and feel proud to have them in their bookshelves. I find this book very comfortable to read also. The paper quality is awesome, very smooth and silky and gives a very nice feeling when you read.

The UK edition of this book from Harper Collins appears to be of superior quality but the price is 150% more then this US edition. I personally like the US edition more due to the more flexible paper used which enables a better reading. Also UK edition don't' come with maps and also no red color font used.

If you want to experience reading `Lord of the Rings' never like before, then don't think again, go for this edition even if you already have other editions with you.

Editorial Review:

The Fellowship of the Ring, part one of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterpiece, first 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.

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition: or There and Back Again

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For Adults Too 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

"A classic. Some consider it a children's book, but it's certainly no more so than the Harry Potter series."
-- Glenn G. Thater, Author of 'Harbinger of Doom'

Editorial Review:

Marking 70 years since publication, the definitive edition of JRR Tolkien's first book, sporting a facsimile of his original cover design and complete with fold-out maps and his own drawings and paintings. Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services -- as a burglar -- on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon. Bilbo's life is never to be the same again. Seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale, 'The Hobbit'. Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the world, and its hero, Bilbo Baggins, has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals: Alice, Pooh, Toad!

Tolkien Calendar 2009

J. R. R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The World Of The Silmarillion 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

In 2009 Tolkien lovers will enjoy this calendar depicting scenes from The Silmarillion. The illustrator is Ted Nasmith, who originally created the pictures included here for the illustrated edition of The Silmarillion published a few years ago. Even though these pictures are not, strictly speaking, new, they are nevertheless very beautiful and will add much to any room in which they are displayed. Nasmith is especially adept at depicting moonlight and seascapes, and there are several such scenes included here, including my favorite, February's "By Moonlight in Nelodoreth Forest." US and Canadian holidays and Christian, Jewish, and Muslim holy days are marked, along with moon phases. Also noted are JRR Tolkien's birth and death dates and the original publication dates for his major works, including 2007's The Children of Hurin.

The past of Middle Earth 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Out of all the esteemed artists who have created images of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, Ted Nasmith is probably in the top five somewhere.

Heck, he'd probably be higher on the list if it weren't for John Howe and Alan Lee, because his paintings of Middle Earth are lushly detailed, and rich with light and colour. And the "Tolkien Calendar 2009" has some of his lovelier pictures that were created for the illustrated "Silmarillion," full of ice and fire, light and shadow, and loads of orcs, Elves and ancient humans.

The cover obviously is a gorgeous picture of the Elves' white ships from Valinor, sailing into the bay of a white-and-gold city against a mountain. I don't know if that's supposed to be Valinor or not, but the whites and golds against the stone and grass is truly striking.

And inside, there are some far less pretty pictures -- though they're no less striking. We have a sky filled with smoke and flames as those same Valinor ships are burned, a winding phalanx marching across a snow-covered plain, a misty purplish forest where orcs are ambushed by an army of Men, and a woman weeping by a hillside covered in skulls, skeletons, half-rotted corpses, and rusted swords, shields and helmets. Lots of vultures and crows as well.

But it's not all doom'n'gloom in these pictures -- one picture shows a haunting forest with a shining river, while another has a river rushing out of three cavelike gates under a mountain. And there's a brief glimpse of the legendary Elf Luthien -- though you can't see much of her because she's wearing a big cloak -- riding a gigantic dog underneath a pale sun.

And the last three are the prettiest -- one has three figures congregating at a frozen waterfall, surrounded by the ruins of a burned forest. Another has a somber row of men walking alongside a river to a small bridge. And the last has Tuor on the side of a stormy sea with swans flying over him, and with dark clouds forming over a distant cliffside castle.

Ted Nasmith really outdid himself when he created these illustrations for a special illustrated edition of the "Silmarillion," and his love for Tolkien's original book is evident in every image he created. It just drips from the pages. There's no shying away from the darker facets of Tolkien's tales (Fire! Skulls! Swords! Battles!), but he doesn't let us forget that Middle-Earth is also a place of surpassing beauty.

This is partly conveyed by all the colours: blue skies, purple or blue mists, grey overhanging clouds, blindingly white snow, shockingly orange flames a bloody haze over the "Hill of the Slain," and a purplish sky over the escaping Luthien. And he makes great use of light and shadow -- there's always a dark edge to the more sinister pictures, and loads of warm light when there's a lack of overhanging doom. It really makes you feel what's going on.

But the best thing is the intricate, delicate details that Nasmith puts into it -- the individual boards on the White Ships, the stars above Luthien, the moss on river rocks, a series of waterfalls (seriously, every other picture seems to have a waterfall!), and the bare rafters of a ruined citadel. You can tell by looking how much love and attention was put into making them that good.

Ted Nasmith's "Tolkien Calendar 2009" gives us a few glimpses into the "Silmarillion," and fills these images with plenty of detail, shadow, light, and vibrant colour. Definitely a good way to spend the year.

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 127 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unfinished Tales

J.R.R. Tolkien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not Free SF Reader 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Unfinished tales is a hodge-podge of stuff. There are bits and pieces
of lots of things, and it is not all fiction. You get notes, backstory,
comments, the odd essay type piece of writing, and other stuff. You
really want to be a pretty hardcore Tolkien type to want to buy this,
rather than borrow to flip through. A lot of people will find it very
dull.

fast shipping, but damaged goods 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

i was very happy with the turnaround on shipping, considering i elected to have the book shipped with amazon's free supersaver option. unfortunately, the (hardcover) book arrived with the upper right corners of both the front and back covers smooshed, as if someone dropped it from a considerable height. it is not bad enough to warrant all the hassle of trying to obtain a replacement, yet it is disappointing nonetheless.

therefore, the three start rating is for the condition in which the book arrived. as for the content--well, it's tolkien. and as much as I loved The Silmarillion (I daresay it is my favorite book of all time), I can't imagine that i will not thoroughly enjoy it as well.

Editorial Review:

A collection of fantasy short stories from the author of LORD OF THE RINGS, which are set in Middle Earth, from the time of the Elder Days to the end of the War of the Ring. Includes stories which feature Gandalf, the Riders of Rohan, the Five Wizards, the Palantiri, the legend of Amroth, and the halycon days of Numenor.