Name: Vojtech's review of The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Item: The Fellowship of the Ring
Rating: 5
Author: Vojtech

J.R.R. Tolkien

After discovering the true nature of the One Ring, Bilbo Baggins entrusts it to the care of his young cousin, Frodo, who is charged with bringing about its destruction and thus foiling the plans of the Dark Lord.

Being the First Part of the Lord of the Rings

The Fellowship of the Ring

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 into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins is faced with an immense task, as the elderly Bilbo entrusts the ring to his care. Frodo must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
--back cover

Being the first part of The Lord of the Rings

cedar winslow

It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish

There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey. 

Big fan of the life lessons coming out of this series.

Jess

“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.”

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,” said Gimli.

“Maybe,” said Elrond, “but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who had not seen nightfall.”

Elise Thompson 

They did little but eat and drink and rest, and walk among the trees; and it was enough.

All three parts of the epic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers & The Return of the King – available as one download, featuring the definitive edition of the text, hyperlinked footnotes and page references, and 3 maps including a detailed map of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Petar Toushkov

Then he went to revive himself with a belated cup of tea.

He almost welcomed the coming of the night, for then the world seemed less pale and empty.

Tolkien's invention of strange people, curious incidents, miraculous doings, is poured out into this second volume of his trilogy. As the story goes on the world of the Rings grows more vast and mysterious and crowded with curious figures.

Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings

The Two Towers

anne

"Ich halte Wache, und wenn du ganz nah bei mir bist und ich den Arm um dich lege, dann kann niemand kommen und an dir herumfummeln, ohne das dein Sam es merkt."

"Dann schlafe, Herr Frodo! Leg den Kopf in meinen Schoß!"

Alan Lee

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure, The Lord of the Rings. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power - the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring - the ring that rules them all - which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. The text of this edition has been fully corrected and revised in collaboration with Christopher Tolkien and is accompanied by nineteen watercolour paintings from Alan Lee.

Sam, soweit er sich erinnern konnte, schlief die ganze Nacht fest wie ein Brett, sofern Bretter fest schlafen können.

For the first time ever, a very special edition of the classic masterpiece, with the complete text and illustrated throughout by the author himself.

The Lord of the Rings

fira

‘Your staff,’ he said to Gandalf. ‘Forgive me, but that too must be left at the doors.’ 

‘Foolishness!’ said Gandalf. 'Prudence is one thing, but discourtesy is another. I am old. If I may not lean on my stick as I go, then I will sit out here, until it pleases Théoden to hobble out himself to speak with me.’

After losing Gandalf and being divided from their other companions during an Orc attack, Frodo and Sam continue towards Mordor, Land of the Enemy, to destroy the Ring, accompanied only by a mysterious figure that follows them.

Book Wyrm

Pippin wants to put his furry feet in Theoden's bearded mouth- This will teach you for spying on my notes!

The beginning of Gimli and Legolas travel buddies

Hobbits fall asleep during the Simple Ents role call of the dead

The Return of the King

I had completely forgotten about Bregalad/Quickbeam. 

Pavonini

Vojtech

liiiisten…. i WANTED to love this book. I listened to the first half on audiobook and got so bored at the halfway mark i couldn’t pick it back up so i had to check out the physical book and I dragged myself through it, the last 100 pages brought me back in but i just think the hobbit is about all the world building i can take

Large print hardback edition of the first volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure, The Lord of the Rings, complete with fold-out map. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power -- the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring -- the ring that rules them all -- which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. Now available in large print and impossible to describe in a few words, JRR Tolkien's great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.

The Lord of the Rings, Part 1

I was happy that I finally came to read it. It felt more like a warmup for the next two books, as especially the second half of the book dragged on for me personally. Nevertheless I enjoyed it.

Marc Emmanuel

The third volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob; but Frodo is still alive—now in the foul hands of the Orcs. And all the while the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom. “A triumphant close . . . a grand piece of work, grand in both conception and execution. An astonishing imaginative tour de force.” – Daily Telegraph Includes the complete appendices and index for The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings

"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil." Well, I'm glad you feel that way Gandalf, because I'm definitely weeping! Ugh, I knew this was going to fuck me up and I STILL reread it. Will no doubt finish my tandem rewatch of the trilogy and sob some more. Especially since the last time I encountered this story I did not have the background regarding the author's war time experience and that context just makes the whole thing ache a little more. 

It features such a poignant portrait of a person who came back from strife he felt a duty to defend against, to find that after loss and trama and injury, he can't rejoin his life as he did before, even if the evil was defeated. And now for more Kleenex! 😭

Having the three volumes fresh in my mind makes me marvel at how strong an impact the ending had, because so much of the action of the second and third books doesn't involve Frodo at all, and yet it's his fate that turns on the waterworks.

 The time of Merry with the Rohirrim and Pippin with Gondor are perhaps the most captivating sections of the whole series for me. 

 For a while there it starts to feel like Aragorn's series, and then any bit with Eowyn happens and I want more of her! Between the books and recent rewatch of Two Towers my main question about the almost thing with her and Aragorn is whether she actually wanted him, or wanted to BE him? Ride to glory, be a warrior and king. All the gender(role) feels.

I am grateful to the films for giving Arwen a more prominent part, as she feels a bit too tacked on to the end as a love interest in the books. 

While we're on the subject of things done differently, the emphasis on bloodlines and rightful kings doesn't do much for this modern reader, though when it comes to questionable content, the use of slur-adjacent physical descriptors associated with certain ethnic groups being attributed exclusively and repeatedly to various mosters/villains is at least as big a racist red flag. Too easy to picture passages being coopted for skeevy white supremacist motives, even if that was in no way Tolkien's intention. Objects being used for good or evil and the tendency to corrupt (rings, palantir) is a running theme in the series. I suppose books run the same risk, though the interpreter of the text has at least as much power as the book itself. Take care what messages you take away. 

"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil." Well, I'm glad you feel that way Gandalf, because I'm definitely weeping! Ugh, I knew this was going to fuck me up and I STILL reread it. Will no doubt finish my tandem rewatch of the trilogy and sob some more. Especially since the last time I encountered this story I did not have the background regarding the author's war time experience and that context just makes the whole thing ache a little more. 

It features such a poignant portrait of a person who came back from strife he felt a duty to defend against, to find that after loss and trama and injury, he can't rejoin his life as he did before, even if the evil was defeated. And now for more Kleenex! 😭

Having the three volumes fresh in my mind makes me marvel at how strong an impact the ending had, because so much of the action of the second and third books doesn't involve Frodo at all, and yet it's his fate that turns on the waterworks.

 The time of Merry with the Rohirrim and Pippin with Gondor are perhaps the most captivating sections of the whole series for me. 

 For a while there it starts to feel like Aragorn's series, and then any bit with Eowyn happens and I want more of her! Between the books and recent rewatch of Two Towers my main question about the almost thing with her and Aragorn is whether she actually wanted him, or wanted to BE him? Ride to glory, be a warrior and king. All the gender(role) feels.

I am grateful to the films for giving Arwen a more prominent part, as she feels a bit too tacked on to the end as a love interest in the books. 

While we're on the subject of things done differently, the emphasis on bloodlines and rightful kings doesn't do much for this modern reader, though when it comes to questionable content, the use of slur-adjacent physical descriptors associated with certain ethnic groups being attributed exclusively and repeatedly to various mosters/villains is at least as big a racist red flag. Too easy to picture passages being coopted for skeevy white supremacist motives, even if that was in no way Tolkien's intention. Objects being used for good or evil and the tendency to corrupt (rings, palantir) is a running theme in the series. I suppose books run the same risk, though the interpreter of the text has at least as much power as the book itself. Take care what messages you take away. 

This feels like home. The world building throughout this book is beautiful and it's easy to feel like you're there walking with the group - I wish I was!

The friendship between the fellowship is so heartwarming, especially SAM. Honestly Frodo doesn't deserve Sam as a friend, I'm really not a fan of Frodo as a character. Was waiting the whole first part for the introduction of Strider...was not disappointed. There were so many parts of this book that just made me so happy.

This is a long story and very lengthy book for sure and not sure how I felt about there being no clear ending as the trilogy follows on through each book. 

This is a real story. This is what all good stories and books now were shaped by.

This feels like home. The world building throughout this book is beautiful and it's easy to feel like you're there walking with the group - I wish I was!

The friendship between the fellowship is so heartwarming, especially SAM. Honestly Frodo doesn't deserve Sam as a friend, I'm really not a fan of Frodo as a character. Was waiting the whole first part for the introduction of Strider...was not disappointed. There were so many parts of this book that just made me so happy.

This is a long story and very lengthy book for sure and not sure how I felt about there being no clear ending as the trilogy follows on through each book. 

This is a real story. This is what all good stories and books now were shaped by.

Derek

Kinda like naruto in the sense that it has really good, exceptional peaks and the rest is bland and repetitive. I hope the next parts fare better.

The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS
 
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 into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. 
--back cover

Bilge Ince

I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

Home is behind, the world ahead,
and there are many paths to tread
through shadows to the edge of night,
until the stars are all alight

The two towers. part two

Seren Johnston

THE BOOK OF THE CENTURY

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure The Lord of the Rings.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil dominion.

~from the back cover

five stars for the song of eärendil's rhyme scheme alone

Tuck

I thought that this book was good when I read it 

Lexy 

'The Return of the King' is the third part of Tolkien's epic adventure 'The Lord of the Rings'. The Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures as the quest continues.

Michael Klepacki

Finally finished the entire book, including the appendices. The first half of Appendix A nearly turned me off, but I’m so glad I pushed through as the world-building is  fascinating. 

Fellowship is still my favorite of the three (I re-read it many times as a kid, but never revisited Two Towers and I don’t believe I ever fully finished RotK), but I’m so glad to have finally completed the whole series. It is, of course, masterful. This, amazingly, might actually take my number two slot from Two Towers. Not that the ranking really matters, of course—it’s a beautiful tale all the way through.

Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin - alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. JRR Tolkien's great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.

Wynter

At last, I am making my way through The Lord of the Rings. Obviously, The Two Towers is only a part of a complex story that shouldn't be judged on its own, but man, Tolkien was a wordy fella. What a cliffhanger though!

IN LITTLE over ten year, J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy "The Lord of the Rings" has passed from the discovery of a small cult to become one of the treasured and most widely read novels of an entire generation.
The Fellowship of the Ring - first of the three books that comprise the complete story - tells of the fateful power of the One Ring, and begins the magnificent tale of war and adventure which is continued in The Two Towers and reaches its mighty climax in The Return of the King.
--back cover

Elisabetta

NO SPOILERS

Being one of the most important fantasy classics in literature, and feeling redrawn to fantasy novels recently, I felt I had to read it and I don't regret it.

The Fellowship of the Ring is, of course, a masterpiece. The world building is exceptional, as it is the psychological depth of the characters. Tolkien was a genius and I have not seen in more recent fantasy stories a world that was created with such details and care, as if the writer was describing, while writing, a real world and not one which was invented. I underline this aspect because I read the novel in eBook format, so the access to the drawn map was not easy but thanks to his capacity of describing the places and their placement in the world, it was easy to follow all the movements of the fellowship as it travels towards Mordor.

As the style is concern, it is necessary to remember that it is a novel which was written 70 years ago: the writing style is redundant and slow, and this is a reason why I employed a month to read it (and I am quite ashamed to admit it). Another reason may be that I read it in the Italian translation (my native language), and I fear that it "got lost in the translation": during the translating process it may have lost some of its original magic and beauty and I would be interested to read it in its original language in the future.

Clearly, I wouldn't suggest this novel to someone who is not interested in fantasy or classic literature, but if it is the case than it is a story that cannot miss in the "reading collection" of a passionate reader. Even if the films have already been watched (as, I think, is the case for most people), I strongly believe that it does not ruin the emotion of reading this incredible adventure: not only there are some differences in the plot (although minor differences), but the style is so different from the modern narrative style employed in the film making, that the book can nonetheless be enjoyed also if the story is already known (as, I think, is the case for any story: spoilers are not that impactful if a story is well narrated).

I can't wait to read The Two Towers!

The second volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. “Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century. The book presents us with the richest profusion of new lands and creatures, from the beauty of Lothlórien to the horror of Mordor.” – Sunday Telegraph

Cheri Fuller

Micah and I enjoyed listening to this together.

Lily Trambley

First half? Great, second half? Annoying to get through. I detest Frodo as a character, sorry not sorry.. it also bothers me how Sam talks to him, but writing is obviously incredible

Bri Billaney

Little 15 year old loved this book series, and I know there's so much hype around it, but I haven't read it since the first time I read it, but maybe it's due for a re-read. The atmosphere and fantasy of this world that Tolkien created is astonishing and I love it in so many ways.

Continuing the story of The Hobbit, this three-volume paperback boxed set of Tolkien's epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, features exclusive covers from Peter Jackson's award-winning film trilogy, the definitive text, and a detailed map of Middle-earth.

A-Format Boxed Set

Gavin

Anti-modern, stilted, and it inspired millions of pages of awful work, but hey it's grand. A glorious mess (or, a glorious mess draped over an impressive classical edifice, the linguistics.) : a devout Catholic tries to write a mythic prehistory of Earth... with its own pagan pantheon, where a cool man with a shiny gem on his face is also a giant ball of carbon dioxide.

People don't seem to realise that it's a mess. Maybe all fiction is, when you know it intimately enough.

Is this hate-reading? I don't think so, I wouldn't get goosebumps at this if it was:

   There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Fellowship of the Ring

Beau

There's little one can say to sum up the folklore genius which is Tolkien. Few can create such vast, believable worlds and societies than this gatekeeper of high fantasy. Frodo's journey is riddled with underlying philosophies and struggles that, to this day, make up the fabric of modern society.

For any lover of literature, reading through Tolkien's epic of Middle Earth is an absolute must. To list the names of those such writings influenced would be foolish. Rather, pick up this book and begin to imagine just how much work would have gone into producing such a beautiful piece of writing.

As a note to lovers of the movies: do please read this book. The level of detail it chases after isn't intimidating - but rather, enticing. Things that simply couldn't have occurred in the film adaption live among the pages of this novel - and that alone demands your attention.

En la adormecida e idílica Comarca, un joven hobbit recibe un encargo: custodiar el Anillo Único y emprender el viaje para su destrucción en la Grieta del Destino. Acompañado por magos, hombres, elfos y enanos, atravesará la Tierra Media y se internará en las sombras de Mordor, perseguido siempre por las huestes de Sauron, el Señor Oscuro, dispuesto a recuperar su creación para establecer el dominio definitivo del Mal.
--back cover

La comunidad del anillo

Fernanda Zambrano La Torre

Contrario a lo que pensé, me ha encantado. Y no porque pensara que era una mala historia, todo lo contrario, amo las películas del mundo de Tolkien y siempre me ha fascinado la Tierra Media, es solo que cuando traté de leer este mismo libro hace algunos años me pareció bastante denso y pesado, e incluso El Hobbit, que leí hace mucho, no me terminó de convencer. Pero me ha pasado todo lo contrario al darle una oportunidad ahora.
Mi consejo para los que quieran empezar a leer esta saga es que tengan en cuenta esto, no es una lectura ligera, los libros son bastante largos y la narrativa es lenta.
Y es en parte esta razón por la que no he terminado por darle 5 estrellitas. Tolkien tiene un estilo único y poético, describe las cosas con la intensión de que te quedes maravillado con cada pequeña cosa que existe en el mundo, y en cierta forma es bastante mágico; pero, aveces llega a ser un poco cansino leer tantas descripciones.
Es cierto que las primeras 200 páginas podrías sentirlas un poco lentas, pero después de eso todo se pone interesante y no puedes dejar de leer esperando saber qué va a suceder, aún cuando, como yo, ya has visto las películas.

The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS 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 into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. “A unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning.” – New York Times

Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings

A classic, cant go wrong with it. Can read it over and over again. 

Tijana

Sade A

Like all books of this magnitude, Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring is defintely one every reviewer probably ponders on how to do justice to after reading. It's no easy feat i must tell you, but here i am trying to do justice to this classic.

  
    "Now at last we must take a hard road, a road unforseen. There lies our hope, if hope it to be. To walk into peril - to Modor. We must send the Ring to the Fire"
  


Although Fellowship of the Ring presents an ambitous writing with second to none world building by a very talented author, i will say that the movie makes you appreciate this book 100% (Yes Peter Jackson takes some artistic liberties but after reading this book, i'm actually in awe that someone could extract parts from this book and still make it seem whole). Been able to visualise Moria, Mirkwood, Isingard, Orcs amongst other things makes your reading experience ten times better in my opinion. 

Similarly, unlike most classics, Fellowship of the ring is surprisingly easy to understand. There aren't unnecessarily tedious words for you to sift through. 
That being said, a huge amount of this book requires patience. Honestly for some reason i expected everything to move fast, fast, fast (shrug* blame the movie) but this plot takes time to cook. If you go in with this mindset i guarantee, you won't find it as tiring as i initially did.
 
  
    However it may prove, one must tread the path that needs chooses
  


In conclusion, leave all your pre-conceptions of this book behind. Leave what you watched in the movie behind (although it was beyond enjoyable to compare the book and movie version to see all the differences) and enjoy this fantastic gem of literature Tolkien has blessed the literary world with.

 
  
    "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin- to the bitter end..."

A sumptuous new one-volume edition of Tolkien's classic masterpiece that is fully illustrated in watercolour throughout by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Well over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world, and occasional collectors' editions become prized and valuable items of publishing. With the epic trilogy now an acclaimed, award-winning and billion-dollar success, images of the characters and landscapes have become iconic to a whole new generation of readers. Much of the look of these movies is based on Alan Lee's paintings, giving this sumptuous new edition of Tolkien's great work new relevance for the ever-growing number of fans.

Arun Khanna

J.R.R Tolkien was a genius. Period. The world he created, with poems, songs, and languages is absolutely captivating and an inspiration to all world-builders, directly or indirectly.

There are so many aspects of the series that you could write books on, the battle descriptions, the allegorical representations of the ring, the languages, etc. Of all these things, one of the most interesting to me is the choice of Frodo as the main protagonist. I remember the first time I read these books as a child puzzling over the choice of the ring-bearer. He is less charismatic than Sam, seemingly less brave than Merry, and not as humorous as Pippin. (view spoiler)[ In fact, the ending of the book essentially tells us that I wasn't alone -- while all the other hobbits are rewarded and loved by their community, Frodo never won as much honor (digression: I also found the choice of the ending fascinating, it seemed very anti-climactic at first, but I think Tolkien is trying to tap into the fact that Mordor wasn't the only source of evil in the world). In the end, he is seen as a killjoy who just stops the other hobbits from killing the bad guys. Tolkien describes the view of the hobbits in the shire best as "Sam was pained to notice how little honour he had in his own country. Few people knew or wanted to know about his deeds and adventures; their admiration and respect were given mostly to Mr. Meriadoc and Mr. Peregrin and (if Sam had known it) to himself" (hide spoiler)] In fact, it's hard to find another hero in fantasy who is as possesses less charisma than him. The reason I believe Tolkien made him the protagonist is that Tolkien wanted to show us a style of leadership that isn't commonly displayed. He is not the first to draw his sword, to lead a charge in battle, or to win a popular election. However, he is wise and he understands when to use force and more importantly, when not to. The other three hobbits all understand this and he is respected and loved by them.

One thing I disliked was Tolkien's obsession with bloodlines. I'm completely sympathetic to Boromir's question to his father, "Why, they ask, cannot the Stewards be kings after 1,000 years." Aragorn would have been an obviously competent king, but so would have Faramir. In fact, just the whole hierarchy of races Elves > Men > Dwarves > Hobbits that he implied throughout the series struck me as bizarre instead of allowing characters to stand out on their own merits. But I guess I can understand it somewhat from the culture of social Darwinism that no doubt Tolkien was brought up in.

This single volume edition of J.R.R Tolkien's trilogy is illustrated with reproductions of 50 original Alan Lee paintings. He has also illustrated Faeries, Merlin Dreams and The Mabinogion.

Emma Jones

Rachel Kanyid

As per usual, the fourth time through t'was amazing. Always finding new things.

Yeah, cool cool cool. I just think I liked the movies more.

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Vojtech &The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Vojtech &
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien