RPGDot Network    
   

 
 
ShadowFlare
Display full image
Pic of the moment
More
pics from the gallery
 
 
Site Navigation

Main
   News
   Forums

Games
   Games Database
   Top 100
   Release List
   Support Files

Features
   Reviews
   Previews
   Interviews
   Editorials
   Diaries
   Misc

Download
   Gallery
   Music
   Screenshots
   Videos

Miscellaneous
   Staff Members
   Privacy Statement

FAQ
Members
Usergroups
Books of Lord of the Rings
  View previous topic :: View next topic
RPGDot Forums > Books & Movies

Author Thread
XeroX
The MasterCopy
The MasterCopy




Joined: 13 Dec 2001
Posts: 7125
Location: The Netherlands
Books of Lord of the Rings
   

Does anybody know howmany books about Lord of the rings have been written?
I know it are a lott more then only the 3 real parts, there are also missing stories and history books.
_________________
The original RED poster (retired now)
=Moderator of The SportsFans Club=
=member of The NFG + Shadows + WWW + PC=

To join the Sportfans PM me
www.feyenoord.com
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:30 pm
 View user's profile
EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Arch-villain




Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
   

The History One (Simal-something)
The Hobbit
Fellowship of the Rings
The Two Towers
Return of the King

Unfinished Tales

Recently released is a book of short stories set in Middle Earth by some of today's 'Best' fantasy authors. I'm interested in picking it up if I can find it again. I think it's called Dreams of MIddle Earth or something.
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi

"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"

=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word=
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:03 pm
 View user's profile
Neo_Genesis
The Assassin
The Assassin




Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 3050
Location: The Netherlands
   

well, first there were (fromt eh three 'real' parts) 6 parts, not 3.

that's why you see every book is split up in 2 books.
_________________
Always wondering how it would be...
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:05 pm
 View user's profile
Secret Agent Lawanda
The last thing you see...
The last thing you see...




Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts: 1041
Location: World of Darkness (LA)
   

quote:
Originally posted by EverythingXen
The History One (Simal-something)

The Silmarillion
_________________
-=Professional Secret Agent=-
Moderator of The Anime and Manga Fan Club
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:09 pm
 View user's profile
Ekim
Eagle's Shadow
Eagle's Shadow




Joined: 27 May 2002
Posts: 2365
Location: Montreal, Canada
   

quote:
Originally posted by Neo_Genesis
well, first there were (fromt eh three 'real' parts) 6 parts, not 3.

that's why you see every book is split up in 2 books.

Hmm... I don't want to contradict you as this is the first time I have heard that and I'm unsure if I missed something (and maybe I did). But originally Tolkien had designed the whole Lord of the Rings (which tells the story of the War of the Ring) to be only one book, not 3 or 6 in fact. But because of World War II there was a shortage of paper and so Tolkien was forced by his publisher to make the thing into 3 parts that could be published seperately so that they could use less paper at a time. And that is why most of the "big" fans of Tolkien will never refer to LotR as a trilogy, because it was not originally intended to be one.

If Tolkien's idea was originally to write 6 books, I've never heard about it myself. But I guess it could be possible.

Back on topic (sort of), I'm not sure if you could count it as a book in itself, but the Appendixes were not included with the first editions of the book, and was completed later. I'm not sure if it was published on its own at some point, or if it was always included with the RotK as soon as it was available though.
_________________
=Proud Father of a new gamer GIRL!=
=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Worshiper of the Written Word=
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:41 pm
 View user's profile
Hexy
High Emperor
High Emperor




Joined: 28 Jun 2002
Posts: 621
   

Then we have the books with songs/poems and tales about Middle Earth:

Tales from Middle Earth
The World of the Ring
The Book of lost Tales 1 and 2
_________________
Like some bold seer in a trance;
Seeing all his own mischance
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:56 pm
 View user's profile
Danicek
The Old One
The Old One




Joined: 15 Dec 2001
Posts: 5922
Location: Czech Republic
   

And then we have a lot books about books about Middle Earth and about their author :].
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 8:12 pm
 View user's profile
XeroX
The MasterCopy
The MasterCopy




Joined: 13 Dec 2001
Posts: 7125
Location: The Netherlands
   

I know there are
12 parts of History of Middle Earth
The lost Road and other Writings

The Lays of Beleriand
The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion, Part Two, the Legends of Beleriand)
In Volumes Ten and Eleven of The History of Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien recounts from the original texts the evolution of his father's work on The Silmarillion, the legendary history of the Elder Days or First Age, from the completion of The Lord of the Rings in 1949 until J.R.R. Tolkien's death. In volume ten, Morgoth's Ring, the narrative was taken only as far as the natural dividing point in the work, when Morgoth destroyed the Trees of Light and fled from Valinor bearing the stolen Silmarils. In The War of the Jewels, the story returns to Middle-earth and the ruinous conflict of the High Elves and the Men who were their allies with the power of the Dark Lord. With the publication in this book of all J.R.R. Tolkien's later narrative writing concerned with the last centuries of the First Age, the long history of The Silmarillion, from its beginnings in The Book of Lost Tales, is completed; the enigmatic state of the work at his death can now be understood. A chief element in The War of the Jewels is a major story of Middle-earth, now published for the first time - a continuation of the great "saga" of Turin Turambar and his sister Nienor, the children of Hurin the Steadfast. This is the tale of the disaster that overtook the forest people of Brethil when Hurin came among them after his release from long years of captivity in Angband, the fortress of Morgoth. The uncompleted text of the Grey Annals, the primary record of the War of the Jewels, is given in full; the geography of Beleriand is studied in detail, with redrawings of the final state of the map; and a long essay on the names and relations of all the peoples of Middle-earth shows more clearly than any writing yetpublished the close connection between language and history in Tolkien's world. The text also provides new information, including some knowledge of the divine powers, the Valar.

The Silmarillion

How good are these books?
_________________
The original RED poster (retired now)
=Moderator of The SportsFans Club=
=member of The NFG + Shadows + WWW + PC=

To join the Sportfans PM me
www.feyenoord.com
Post Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:35 pm
 View user's profile
vaticide
Put food in here
Put food in here




Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Posts: 1122
Location: One step behind a toddler bent on destruction.
   

I've read The Tolkein Reader and The Silmarillion in addition to The Hobbit and the core books.

The Tolkein Reader contains a couple stories involving Tom Bombadil. Other than that it is essays of his about various subjects such as Beowulf and the Fantasy genre being a worthwhile genre rather than the 2nd rate status it often gets. It is pretty short, if you can stay awake through some of the more academic parts, it can be read in a day.

The Silmarillion is a collection of stories covering the genesis of Middle Earth to the backgrounds of various characters in the core books and stories and names only mentioned in them. You get to learn a lot more about Gandalf and Sauron. It is a hard read at times, being very much like bibilcal text, but there are some true gems of stories in it as well. Pick it up if you are serious about learning more of the background of Middle Earth, but only if you are very serious about it. Not for the light reader, and obviously not necessary to enjoy the core books.

-vaticide
Post Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:11 am
 View user's profile
Remus
Overgrown Cat
Overgrown Cat




Joined: 03 Jul 2002
Posts: 1657
Location: Fish bowl
   

quote:
Originally posted by vaticide
... It is a hard read at times, being very much like bibilcal text, but there are some true gems of stories in it as well. Pick it up if you are serious about learning more of the background of Middle Earth, but only if you are very serious about it. Not for the light reader, and obviously not necessary to enjoy the core books.

-vaticide


I have to agree. There are also many interpretive articles written by knowledgeable tolkien followers, fans, professors of language and literature, explaining almost everything about Middle Earth (calendar, language, geography, etc) in plain language. These articles certainly more easy to read and very helpful in understanding the core books. Even then it's too much to handle, last year i collect dozen of those articles from online sources but never finish them. I think i threw them away at the end.

You can track down those articles through several Tolkien sites, TheOneRing.net, and Google.
_________________
Post Wed Dec 03, 2003 8:13 am
 View user's profile
Namirrha
Noble Knight
Noble Knight




Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 218
Location: Utah County, Utah.
   

I liked the Silmarillion a lot, but it could be slow going at times. Similar to a history book.
_________________
Give me the shadows, shield me from the light, and I shall let nothing pass in the darkness of the night.
Post Wed Dec 03, 2003 9:39 pm
 View user's profile
XeroX
The MasterCopy
The MasterCopy




Joined: 13 Dec 2001
Posts: 7125
Location: The Netherlands
   

I think the Silmarillion is even more expensive then the Lord of the rings.
I think i will wait with buying that one, first the Hobbit.
_________________
The original RED poster (retired now)
=Moderator of The SportsFans Club=
=member of The NFG + Shadows + WWW + PC=

To join the Sportfans PM me
www.feyenoord.com
Post Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:02 pm
 View user's profile
vaticide
Put food in here
Put food in here




Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Posts: 1122
Location: One step behind a toddler bent on destruction.
   

XeroX: You can probably find it at a used book store for a good price, it has been out a long time and a lot of editions have been made. My copy was pretty battered, but readable, and I got it for around 1/4 the price of the book new. Then after I bought and read it I found my dad owns the 1st US Edition hardback version of it.

Also, definately read the Hobbit first. Read the Silmarillion last, especially if you haven't read Lord of the Rings or seen the movies.

-vaticide
Post Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:10 am
 View user's profile
Toaster
Bread Alert
Bread Alert




Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 5475
Location: Sweden
   

After reading the Silmarillion it felt like the LotR books was only a small, event in the history of middle-earth, all three books were covered in the last two pages of the Silmarillion.

BTW, was Silmarillion written before the Hobbit and the LotR books?
_________________

Tabbrowser Extensions
DictionarySearch
Post Thu Dec 04, 2003 8:33 am
 View user's profile
XeroX
The MasterCopy
The MasterCopy




Joined: 13 Dec 2001
Posts: 7125
Location: The Netherlands
   

I'm going to buy a english hardcover version of the hobbit.

I want to find this version: ('73 USA edition)


This one looks nice ('97 USA edition):


This looks a little better ('97 UK Edition)

_________________
The original RED poster (retired now)
=Moderator of The SportsFans Club=
=member of The NFG + Shadows + WWW + PC=

To join the Sportfans PM me
www.feyenoord.com
Post Thu Dec 04, 2003 10:58 am
 View user's profile


Goto page 1, 2  Next
All times are GMT.
The time now is Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:52 pm



Powered by phpBB © 2001 phpBB Group
 
 
 
All original content of this site is copyrighted by RPGWatch. Copying or reproducing of any part of this site is strictly prohibited. Taking anything from this site without authorisation will be considered stealing and we'll be forced to visit you and jump on your legs until you give it back.