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Title: The Book of Lost Tales 2 (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 2) by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0-345-37522-X Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 22 April, 1992 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (20 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The History of middle earth's second chapter.
Comment: The Book of Lost Tales 2 starts off right where the first book finished. The different tales in this book prove to be a great summary of the history of middle earth. The commentaries that the tales have are done by Christopher Tolkien. These commentaries, combined with the notes that also are in the tales, make understanding this book much easier than one would think after taking a quick glance through the tales. Overall this book was wonderful. It was difficult to read at times but it is a great book for all Tolkein fans. I would highly reccomend this for anybody who is interested in the mystical, wonderful world of Tolkein's Middle Earth.
Rating: 5
Summary: Entertaining, Informative, But A Hard Read
Comment: In my opinion, this book is better than the first installment. The stories were easier to read despite the exhaustive notes and comments on the complexity of the story, its variations, and notes by Tolkien. I think, however, that Christopher Tolkien did an excellent job in organizing and describing the thoughts and process that went into the development of each story.
The layout is similar to volume 1 where Christopher Tolkien will make a very short comment before the story begins and then there are notes and more comments afterward. I highly recommend the commentary section for serious Lord of the Rings fans who are interested in the creative and development process of each storyline. It is in this section that Christopher Tolkien discusses his father's notes on each story, the chronology of the development, and any related poems JRR Tolkien may have written. Christopher Tolkien also tries to address and resolve contradictory issues that arise with each version, such as the geography of a key location or name change and why it differs with each version of the story. In some cases, he is able to do that, but in other cases, he is unable to due to lack of information.
There were some stories, I think, that were better than the versions in The Silmarillion, like the Fall of Gondolin, and some that were not as good, such as Tinuviel and Beren. For example, the version of the Fall of Gondolin, in this book, goes into detail about Tuor's journey to the Sea, Ulmo's visitation, and his journey to Gondolin. Some of the scenes contain fuller accounts in The Silmarillion but the Lost Tales version is much better because Tolkien paints, in great detail, the places through which Tuor travels, the ensuing siege and capture of Gondolin, and the flight of the Noldoli. It is a richer account, in my opinion.
I highly recommend this version but keep in mind that it is still a hard read and it will sometimes take patience and discipline to hold your attention to the subject matter.
Rating: 5
Summary: More from the Master
Comment: This book picks up where the first left off, opening with the tale of Tinuviel. It then carries you through the original conceptions Turin (Turambar and the Foaloke), and then on to Tuor (the fall of Gondolin). After these stories it gets a little harder to follow as the notes that Christopher uses become much more mish-mashed.
The tale of Tinuviel is interesting because this is one that goes through many different changes.
the basic story is there but it was written at the time when the silmarills were just becoming an important part of the whole mythology. Another surprising change is that Beren, who in the Silmarillion becomes the first Man to wed an Elf is here concieved of as an elf himself. That might throw Aragorn's long lineage out of whack! Also the necomancer (a.k.a. Sauron) is here a giant cat (Tevildo lord of the cats) with his own castle.
In Turambar and the Foaloke there are relativly few changes, most of them being changes of wording and name changes. Tis is one of the most sorrowful stories that I have ever read, though it is also one of me favorite. The only thing better than reading this is picking up a copy of Unfinished Tales and reading the final version that he worked on.
The most interesting and in my view rewarding tale in here is the fall of Gonddolin. I say this because this is the only place where you can find a finished version. The version in the Silmarillion though excellent was really written to be an oral piece, therefore being much shortened. The reason it was chosen as the official published version is because it was also revised to fit in Middle-Earth's history. If you read Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin in the Unfinished Tales you will find the most beautiful rendering, but sadly it stands uncomplete with Tuor just reaching the gates of Gondolin. But if you read the original story you get to see where it was going, and also you read what is one of the most fantastical battle scenes that I have ever read.(Even better than Peter Jackson's amazing rendering of the Battle of Pelenor Fields in the movie version of Return of the King).
The book then moves on to The Nauglafring, a dwarven necklace which encasing the silmaril that Beren and Tinuviel took from Morgoth, that brings about the ruin of the Realm of Doriath.
We are then brought to the Tale of Earendel who was the first Elf to be alowed to enter after he reached the sacred realm of Valinor.This and the next chapter, The History of Eriol or AElfwine, mostly consist of notes of how the stories were to be written, but they were abandoned shortly after this. Incedently, Eriol was originally concieved as having written The Book of Lost Tales.
All in all this is an excellent book if your interested in learning the history behind the Silmarillion and parts of Unfinished Tales.
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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: 29 August, 1994 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Shaping of Middle-Earth (The History of Middle-Earth - Volume 4) by Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345400437 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 30 October, 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 Christopher Tolkien ISBN: 0345406850 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 30 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345325818 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 January, 1985 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Unfinished Tales: The Lost Lore of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien ISBN: 0345357116 Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: 12 August, 1988 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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