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Title: The Book of Lost Tales 1 (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0-345-37521-1 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: June, 1992 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.32 (34 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great stuff!
Comment: This had been a great book to read! I find it fascinating, particularily the laborous accounts of the Gates of Morn, Door of Night, Valinor, and the Gods (Valar). This book however, is best read after the Silmarillion, because it is more "primitive" in design, and it often contradicts the official version, because it is the earliest stage in Tolkien's work. Regardless, This book is filled with information for the curious mind eager to delve deeper into the tales, information and detail that the Silmarillion sadly neglected. Read it now!
Rating: 3
Summary: For Tolkein fans...wonderful!
Comment: It takes great strength of mind to be able to stick through this book, but if you're a true Tolkien fan, you'll love every minute of it. The Book of Lost Tales Part I tells the story of Eriol, a great mariner who finds his way to the lost island of Tol Eressëa, The Lonely Isle, where dwell a lost tribe of Elves. He finds himself in the company of Lindo and Vairë, who grant him shelter. He becomes a part of their lives, eagerly drinking in the stories they have to tell him of the origin of the world, and the ancient times, of Valinor, the origin of evil, the great works and deeds of the gods, and the creation of the world as it exists now.
For readers of the Silmarillion, many of the stories are familiar. They are told, however, in greater detail than that which is set down in the Silmarillion, and contain several interesting literary differences. (Nearly all of which are expounded on by Christopher Tolkien, who is, of course, the son of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.) Some are as small as name changes, some are opposing details about the events surrounding a character. (Such as Dwarves were originally an evil race by nature, and Beren was an ELF!)
Christopher Tolkien pored through the scribbles and snatches that his father composed in his lifetime, and somehow managed to put it all together in this published form. He even offers commentary on each tale once it is finished. I often found that these commentaries are of little interest; I enjoyed the tales themselves more. Still, there are unique facts to be gleaned, such as such-and-such a page containing differences between this tale and that that Tolkien wrote, and a few interesting facts about his father.
The book contains the very beginning of Middle-Earth, as told to Eriol by Lindo. The Music of the Ainur, he learns of, and the coming of the gods down to Valinor. He learns of the dark deeds of Melko, the coming of the Elves, the darkening of Valinor, the creation of the sun and moon, the flight of the Noldili. The book ends with a tale told by an Elf named Gilfanon about the travail of the Noldili, who fled Valinor after the theft of Melko. Following the end of tales is an index on names, the etymologies, the development of names, etc.
Reading this book really gives you a feeling for how much work and effort went into the creation of the books we all enjoy, The Lord of the Rings. But little do we realize that there was a good three thousand years of history prior to that story - and Tolkien wrote it all.
If you have an enthusiasm for the works of Tolkien, the tales prior to the Rings trilogy, and the history of Middle-Earth, than you should read this book if you can. I'd recommend reading the Silmarillion first, even if you have already read it once; Christopher Tolkien compares the two many, many times. Also be forewarned that this book can be a little dry and long-winded. But for true Tolkien aficionados, it's worth every minute.
Rating: 5
Summary: For the Tolkien Scholar
Comment: This book is excellent! Christopher Tolkien has done an amazing amount of work gathering, and sorting his father's unpublished works on the beginning of Middle-Earth. His comentaries on each story make them easier to understand and enjoy.
However, this book is not for everyone. Just because you like the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit doesn' t mean you will like this book. It is not light reading and requires some patience and concentration.
But for the serious Tolkien fan it is a treasure you won't want to miss out on. The epic poems are fantastic especially when you consider that he was writing a lot of this in his early 20's. A really excellent book.
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Title: The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345325818 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: November, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Lays of Beleriand (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 3) by J. R. R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345388186 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: October, 1994 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Shaping of Middle-Earth (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 4) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345400437 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: December, 1995 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Lost Road and Other Writings (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 5) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345406850 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: November, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth by J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345357116 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: September, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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