J.R.R. Tolkien Collection (The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Four Volume Set) Review

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J.R.R. Tolkien Collection (The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Four Volume Set) ReviewThere have been innumerable depictions of JRR Tolkien's works in various media, but I feel that few would have met with the Professor's approval. The JRR Tolkien Collection created by BBC Radio is a rare exception. The radio dramatizations of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the shorter works (Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wootton Major,and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil) collected in Tales From the Perilous Realm have all been collected in this beautiful box set of 21 CDs with 20 hours of material. As a bonus the very fine JRR Tolkien: An Audio Portrait, which contains some of Tolkien's own interviews, has been included as well.
I just received this set for Christmas and I've just begun to enjoy them by dipping into the various CDs and listening to small bits and pieces. I anticipate many happy hours with them through the coming years. The acting and presentation is superbly done, and the listener recognizes that the production had to have been put together by people who were not only familiar with but deeply admiring of Tolkien's works.
I suppose what I like most about these radio dramatizations is that of necessity the listener must use his or her own imagination, and thus each person's experience of them will be almost as deeply individual as it is when actually reading the stories. In my opinion that's the best and indeed the only way to really appreciate Tolkien, and I think the Professor himself would agree.J.R.R. Tolkien Collection (The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Four Volume Set) Overview

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The Ring of Allaire Review

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The Ring of Allaire ReviewWith master magician Blais dead, murdered by the evil wizard Nimir, bumbling apprentice Tristan was all that was left to carry on Blais' last quest - to find and awaken the princess of Allaire and thus save all of Calandra, or to fail and doom the kingdom to eternal winter. Tristan felt ill equipped to rescue the princess, especially after hundreds of heroes and wizards, all better trained than he, had died in the attempt. But Tristan loved his master too much to do nothing less than his very best so he started with the basics that the others discounted. The first thing that Tristan had to recover was the legendary warhorse of Esdragon, Valadan, who had disappeared long ago. Then he had to persuade the Heir to the Throne, Polassar, that his was not a fool's errand, but a true chance at victory to save the kingdom. After he had gathered his companions, then Tristan had to find the location of the sleeping princess, somehow awaken her, find the tenth ring that was needed for the princess to use her powers, fight off jealous wizards, Nimir's Ice Hounds, and whatever other complications came along the way....
The Ring of Allaire is in many ways a simple fantasy tale retold, but in other ways it is new, fresh and fun. There are also plenty of little surprises to keep the reader guessing, even though some things seem obvious to the reader before it is revealed in the book. But, Dexter's characters are delightful and so fun to get to know and to travel with. I love that Tristan tries really hard and sometimes succeeds and sometimes doesn't, but he always tries. He seems like such a normal person and it is refreshing for the nice, normal guy to get ahead for once, instead of the brave, dashing hero. A fast, fun read that kicks of a delightful trilogy - I highly recommend all of Dexter's books!The Ring of Allaire Overview

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The Flame Weaver Review

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The Flame Weaver ReviewEven from the very first page, The Flame Weaver pulls you in. The prologue sets the tone for how the author expresses detail, but it also foreshadows the action that is yet to come.
The story's main character, Kazen, grows over the course of this book. Confident without being overbearing, intelligent without being too perfect, you want to root for him and his friends as they proceed along their quest. And their quest is hectic indeed.
One of Elicker's greatest abilities is the way she paints the scenery and actions with her words. It's very intriguing, and it draws you in. Luckily, the world she creates is an ideal home for your imagination.
I am anxiously awaiting a sequel to this story. While it ends perfectly, there are hints that more can be told. Hopefully I don't have to wait too long!The Flame Weaver OverviewGood and evil, quarrelsome lovers loathly joined since the beginning of time. The never-ending push and pull of these two forces have always been in perfect balance. But when a scheming wizard with an insatiable appetite for power foolishly opens a gate to the shadow-world, the lands are flooded in darkness, and hordes of terrible demons are unleashed upon the innocent. Kingdom after kingdom falls to the icy shadow, muffling the cries of the dying as it presses ever westward, its advance slowed only by the tall peaks of the Pale Mountains, which separate the eastern lands from the west. On the far side of the mountains, where the light still shines, people muddle through their everyday lives oblivious to the approaching doom. But as the darkness grows nearer, a young man named Kazen is awakened to a secret past. With the help of his uncle, a powerful wizard, Kazen discovers a magic within him he never knew he had. A rare conjurer of fire, Kazen learns he may be the only one able to turn back the tide of darkness. But time is running out, for once the living shadow passes over the mountains, its evil will be unstoppable. Joined by a small band of brave companions, Kazen sets out on a desperate quest across demon-infested lands. But no creature born of light can enter the darkness unscathed. The shadow knows their fears, and before the end their courage will be tested as they are forced to face the ghostly fiends of darkness.

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The Lord of the Rings Poster Collection: Six Paintings by Alan Lee (No. 1) Review

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The Lord of the Rings Poster Collection: Six Paintings by Alan Lee (No. 1) ReviewHaving never owned any of Alan Lee's LOTR artwork before, I bought this collection on the advice I had found in many places online. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.
It is true what is said about Lee's visual mastery of Tolkien's words. The images are often much like what I pictured from the books . . . even Gollum.
My only issue was with the scenes chosen to be depicted in the collection. Three of the six are from Mordor (Gates of Mordor, Gorbag & Shagrat, and from the foot of Mount Doom), the artwork of which is not at all bad, but it is repetitive, when there is so much more. I'm most anticipatory to find Lee's depiction of the Ents somewhere. ^_^
The paper quality is good & thick, and the posters come in a glossy protective folder with information on the artist, text bits that were the basis for the paintings, etc.The Lord of the Rings Poster Collection: Six Paintings by Alan Lee (No. 1) Overview

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The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings (4 Volume Box Set) Review

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The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings (4 Volume Box Set) ReviewThis review is for regular size paperback only, as far as the books themselves, of course they're classics. Unfortunately Amazon links their reviews to multiple versions of the same product (meaning you can write a review for an audio book and that same review show up on a paperback edition of the same title. It's really bad for music reviews, let me tell you!).
If you should by this edition of HOBBIT/LOTR really depends on what you what for your money. I first purchased trade paperback editions of THE LORD OF THE RINGS back in the early to mid nineties. They're nice and more portable than, perhaps, other editions of the book if you looking for some quick reading on the beach/airport/wherever and they're economical.
However, these editions tend of have more misprints, are not as sturdy as other editions of Tolkien's classic texts, and the maps are just hell to look at. As any regular size paperback they are not as hardy as other, better found bound books.
The oversize paperback editions are better, but overall the books do not hold up as well or are durable as hard back editions. If you do want to read the stories though without having to worry about the shape the books are in then the regular paperbacks would be the way to go, as (for me anyway) I want to keep the nicer editions in relatively clean condition.
Given Tolkien's status of one of the world's most popular writers, I would recommend picking up nicer editions of these works anyway, as you can get them at reasonable prices and they are much better purchases than the paperback box sets. The only real drawback is there is no general uniformity between the editions of THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS that I recommend, if that is important to you.
Douglas A. Anderson's THE ANNOTATED HOBBIT, is the definitive text of THE HOBBIT, has numerous textual annotations and examines in complete detail all the different revisions Tolkien made to the work in the subsequent decades after its initial publication in 1937.
For THE LORD OF THE RINGS, the most accurate text is the 50th Anniversay edition prepared by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. I have the one volume oversize paperback edition of LOTR and am quite pleased with it.
The only way I would recommend purchasing the boxset of these books is if they published The Annotated Hobbit and the 50th Annivesary LOTR text as a uniform set as those are the definitive versions, and personally I'd prefer to see all four volumes hardbound. I don't think I've seen a hardbound version box set of all four works, though there are plenty to be had of LOTR.
In summary, unless you are wanting cheap editions of these books, you will be better served by purchasing other editions of Tolkien's books
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As that was only in regards to these actual editions of Tolkien's work and not reviews of the books themselves, I am also including my separate reviews I have written for Amazon of THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Also included is an abandoned review I wrote for THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING all the way back in early 2000 but was never posted on Amazon, explaining how Tolkien's life work of THE LORD OF THE RINGS is NOT a trilogy but rather three parts of one work divided up for publishing purposes
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THE HOBBIT Review - Inferior to THE LORD OF THE RINGS? I think not! No, just different!, April 7, 2000
The biggest problem with this novel is perception. Tolkien wrote this story for children; to be more specific, this was written for HIS children. There were several stories like this, but it was this, The Hobbit, that was his master achievement in children's literature.
The Lord of the Rings ( a single epic, NOT a trilogy) was written to cash in on The Hobbit's success. Tolkien wanted to get on with the more serious work of his mythology, and ultimately that is what happened with The Lord of the Rings. It became attached to his mythology, and became as important to him as The Silmarillion.
So delineation is required if you want to read this. Do not go in with the thought that The Hobbit is a "precursor" or any such nonsense to The Lord of the Rings. Think of it like you would think of any other children's classics: children's classics. If you take it on The L. R.'s terms, this is a failure, primary because it is not written to be like that. But, on the flipside, The L. R. is as much a failure in children's fiction. It is not children's fiction, it is epic fantasy, and one should not equate it with children's fiction. That is EXACTLY what people try to do with The Hobbit. They try to put it in the same type of genre or playing field as The L. R. They are both masterpieces, and I love them both dearly. But one is for children, the other with adults.
Of course, Tolkien is part of the problem. How many books do you know that is a children's book and has an adult sequel? Not very many. The Hobbit, scarcely 300 pages, was written and published in the children's market. He then talked to his publishers, and they wanted a sequel. So he began "the new Hobbit", as C. S. (Jack) Lewis so aptly put it. He was preoccupied with his mythology, and the sequel was drawn into it. So we have two works, spanning two different genres, and as far as surface connections go its little more than prequel/sequel. Instead of looking at The Hobbit as a prequel, a precursor to his ADULT masterpiece, an inferiour version, think of as his CHILDREN'S masterpiece. The Hobbit is top of the class in children's fiction, one of the few contenders against such other great children's works as Narnia and Wrinkle in Time. The Lord of the Rings, likewise, is THE crowning masterpiece of the fantasy genre, of which its influence is incalculable to that fantasy market. Both are as important as the other, just in different fields.
I haven't talked about The Silmarillion much. I have already reviewed it, so I won't go real in-depth here. But the same thing happened with it. People, expecting another Lord of the Rings, were inevitably disappointed with the Biblical style of the published version. If Tolkien wrote that book out in narrative form as he did Lord of the Rings, it would be ten times longer than Lord of the Rings. The biggest problem with Tolkien is people have to many preconceptions that are incorrect.
So, basically, in conclusion, think of it like this:
1. The Hobbit - Children's masterpiece. He scores big with this one.
2. The Lord of the Rings - a single fantasy, not a trilogy. (Tolkien was always quick to point that out). The Crowning achievement of modern fantasy.
3. The Silmarillion - the Bible of Middle-earth. Much more for students of his work than the causal reader.
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The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
***** Despite vehement critical hostility, Tolkien is among our most important writers because the way he handles Myth, 26 Sep 2007
Over the past several decades, THE LORD OF THE RINGS has sold millions of copies and is commonly regarded as one of the most influential fantasy novels ever published. Many first time readers have began their trek into Middle-earth with Frodo and the Company of the Ring in recent years. What they will encounter there has been loved by millions of readers before them, and if they allow themselves to respond to Tolkien and his Myth will doubtless become a loyal and ardent fan of Tolkien and those furry-footed hobbits. What's also notable about THE LORD OF THE RINGS is, for a book as long as it is, many of its readers reread the novel many times over. Yet despite its enduring popularity, Tolkien is often held in complete disregard by the literary establishment.
The real question is why? In the literary climate that is characterized by modernism and post-modernism where the twentieth and twenty first century is a wasteland why does a "series" of fantasy novels become one of the most beloved works in modern times?
It's because the power of myth over the human imagination works wonders, creating a longing and a hunger that, Tolkien argues, is met by the Christian religion. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis are the flip-sides of the same coin, with Lewis giving us accounts of the longing and Tolkien providing the books that would create that longing. And what about the longing? It's that longing for Myth, that love for those beauties which Tolkien shows us in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. It's that longing that sets man apart from all other creatures in the universe: a craving for beauty and for joy. The German word for this longing is "senhsucht". In a time characterized by fast-food, cell-phones, materialism, superficiality, the account of a Hobbit working against all odds in a mythic landscape so captures the human imagination (and this is NOT hype) that an entire genre is created. It is because of how Tolkien so masterfully handles Myth that he has been so highly treasured by such a large fan base.
Still, there are a few things to consider when reading Tolkien nowadays. Looking over the reviews, it proved rather shocking to me that people have been complaining that, although it was original when it was published, much of what Tolkien has done has become cliche and that other writers are much better working with these cliches and making them more exciting than Tolkien. They complain about his "endless descriptions" of the natural world, very detailed accounts of geography and not enough "characterization." The characters are unrealistic: the "human drama" required by the book's very nature is beyond Tolkien's scope as a writer. THE FELLOWSHIP...Read more›The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings (4 Volume Box Set) Overview

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The Lord of the Rings - Part I - The Fellowship of the Ring Review

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The Lord of the Rings - Part I - The Fellowship of the Ring ReviewMost people coming to this review already have a good idea what the story is all about from either other readers or people who have seen the movies made from this three part story. This is not a trilogy the three-part story so you can buy the individual books but it might be prudent to buy all three at the same time or a combined volume.
The reason I say buy the complete "Lord of the Rings" now is that you will just be picking up speed and getting everything straight in your mind and you will come to the end of this volume. Talk about a cliffhanger. This animal leaves you with several.
Even though the adventure takes place six years after the adventures in Tolkien's "the Hobbit or There and Back Again", the writing style is also a little more in-depth.
I am not going to paraphrase the story. J.R.R. Tolkien himself tells you what you need to know in the prolog.
Many people have read things into this story thinking it was maybe an allegory of things like the bomb; but Tolkien says himself that this is not an allegory.
Tolkien creates a rich world in which you the reader will feel you are part of the adventure. If you've only seen the movies than you've only seen a synopsis and you will not be disappointed in this book.The Lord of the Rings - Part I - The Fellowship of the Ring Overview

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Chandos Ring Book Two: I Hear Strange Cries at Jupiter Review

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Chandos Ring Book Two: I Hear Strange Cries at Jupiter ReviewHello! Just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed this book! I am studding English literature at the university and I received volume one of Chandos Ring as a gift. And I was happy to found volume two here on Amazon. It is an absolutely amazing book full of fresh ideas on modern society and the Western world. It cant be read quickly because each sentence has a very deep sence...
As for the poetry part, it surprised me by its language and a choice of the expressions. It is an exciting science fiction and philosopical poem telling a story about the future of this race of people outside of the Earth... Now I am wondering if there is already the following of the story - volumes three or four?Chandos Ring Book Two: I Hear Strange Cries at Jupiter Overview

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The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King Review

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The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King ReviewWhat is more important in a book than the characters or the storyline of action and adventure? In Lord of the Rings the Return of the King, Tolkien creates an immense variety of important and interesting characters. These characters form a fascinating story that wouldn't be the same without them. Some of my favorite characters are Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. These characters are the heroes, but what would the story be without villains for the heroes to battle? Among the ranks of these villains are the Dark Lord Sauron, his puppets Saruman the wise, the Nazgul, as well as the many Orcs and Uruk- Hai that are their slaves. These characters are of many races. For example Legolas is an elf and Gimli is a Dwarf.
Tolkien creates a mystical story that demands to be read over and over again. This book, which is the third book in the Lord of The Rings trilogy, is quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read. When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote this book in nineteen fifty- six, the thirst of readers for fantasy was extraordinarily great. This trilogy provided a quench of this extraordinary thirst for fantasy. This masterfully written book which is in my opinion the centerpiece of J.R.R. Tolkien's career, is probably his all-time best.The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King Overview

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The Ring of Allaire (Wizard's Destiny) Review

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The Ring of Allaire (Wizard's Destiny) ReviewI have been in love with this series for over twenty years. For more than ten years of that time, it's been out of print. I don't know that I would read it today with the same eyes I did as a teen, but I still remember the liking and empathy I had for Tristan and his companions. I'm still impressed with the twist in how Tristan finds Valadan. The city of magicians is still wondrous, despite the many others I've read about since I discovered the flavors of this one.
This is a book which takes fairy tale and epic fantasy, and twines them into one. As such, there will be familiar archetypes, but also new twists. There are shades of The Last Unicorn in Valadan's tale, while still being unique and different. Allaire's plight reminds the reader of Sleeping Beauty, but it's not the same tale at all. And, of course, Tristan calls to mind every orphaned hero since Arthur.The Ring of Allaire (Wizard's Destiny) OverviewTristan is a teenaged wizard with dark hair and green eyes--but he's no Harry Potter. No cozy boarding school for Tristan either--he's been home-schooled by the old wizard who discovered him as an abandoned infant under an apple tree on Midwinter's Night. There's no one to tell Tristan who he is or what abilities may be his. If not for Thomas, his smart-ass cat familiar, he'd be utterly lost. One ordinary afternoon, Tristan returns home to find that his master has vanished, leaving his unprepared apprentice to take up the entwined quests for the legendary warhorse Valadan and the lost princess Allaire of the Nine Rings. He'd be no one's first choice, but Tristan's the only one left to assemble the essentials of the quest--a wizard, the Warhorse, the heir to Calandra's throne--infiltrate Nimir's fortress of Darkenkeep, and steal Allaire from beneath the Winter King's icicled nose. In their hundreds, the other wizards have tried--and died. Tristan's training is exemplary. His will is indomitable. His confidence, however, is nonexistent, and his magic is flawed and unreliable. The fate of his world depends on him--whether he thinks himself equal to the task or not.

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The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings (Pb)) Review

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The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings (Pb)) ReviewI am not one who usually buys books-on-tape (or CD as in this case) but I have long wanted to obtain the Lord of the Rings so as to hear this incredible story over and over. After having read it several times, my book is in tatters and so I searched for an unabridged audio recording. Many of those that I have seen claim to be "unabridged" but the fact is that they are not complete! They give parts of the books in full but leave out many sections or chapters. This set by Rob Inglis is COMPLETE!!! It is very well read with no drastic voicing of characters. Characters are easily distinguished and thoroughly enjoyable. This set is not full of sound effects and music, so if you are looking for that this is not for you. However, I personally prefer the fact that this is not an over-production and is rather quite focussed on what I wanted in the first place, the characters and the story. Inglis does a marvelous job and I am very happy with this set. Again, not to harp on it but, this is a "complete" package well worth the money!!!The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings (Pb)) Overview

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The Sword (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 1) Review

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The Sword (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 1) Review_The Sword_ is the first of a high-fantasy trilogy and is little more than a prologue for whatever follows. What I mean by that is this: in terms of actual plot development, very little happens here. Each paperback in this trilogy is about 400 pages long (1200 total), so this could easily have been a 2-book saga with little to no impact on its quality.
As for the story itself ... There are some books you can read when you're tired, some you can't, and some that just make you tired. At its best, this book falls into the first category; at its worst, in the third. The writing is clear but rough and unremarkable (much more telling than showing, especially where character emotions are concerned, not one clever simile or metaphor), while the plot is uneven and filled with numerous, extended chase and fight sequences that create a sense of deja vu. (Other reviews here describe the plot, so I won't, except to express complete disappointment with the climax, in which the hero saves the day not through his own talents but through, not just one, but two instances of deus ex machina.) Two sub-plot threads are interspersed with the main one; however, the female protagonists in those receive so little stage-time that one can only hope their actions will actually mean something later in the trilogy.
The book's one strength is its ability to keep you wanting to know what happens next, which is certainly a literary virtue. However, few to none of the other ones (style, plausibility, insight, etc.) are present here. I strongly recommend _A Game of Thrones_ by George Martin or _The Briar King_ by Greg Keyes instead of this (though this one does contain a lesser degree of sexual content, if not violence, than those very fine tales). That said, if you're looking for a fantasy book to distract yourself during a long plane ride, this one would probably work. 2-1/2 disappointed stars.The Sword (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 1) Overview

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The Changelings (War of the Fae: Book 1) Review

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The Changelings (War of the Fae: Book 1) Review(From my blog, Word Vagabond: Supporting Independent and Small Press Authors)
Things are not going well for Jayne Sparks. High school's never really been a dream, and now her mother's creepy new boyfriend is causing problems for her at home. When her geeky best friend Tony pulls a gun on the school bully, running away with him to Miami actually seems like the most sensible option. But joining a group of other runaways for a secret research project will change her life beyond all recognition, and might even cost her the person she cares for most.
I liked the main character of this book from the very beginning. She has a fierce, strong personality, but a good heart. I couldn't help but be on her side. She also swears- a lot- but I found that amusing rather than annoying. Tony is an awesome character, too. The friendship between them is genuine, touching and funny. I love that they can have such a strong relationship without it being in any way romantic.
The pacing and suspense in this book are perfect. There's enough description to immerse the reader in the adventure, but not enough to get bogged down in. The minor characters they encountered were fascinating and really well drawn. Unfortunately, it's impossible to go into detail without spoiling the plot, and this is a plot that's too good to spoil!
I was intrigued by the other main characters, though we didn't get to know them very well in this book. I look forward to learning more about them in the next few books. I liked the way the character of Jared was used to create conflict within the group to add to the conflict from without.
This was an extremely fun, exciting, and original book. I couldn't put it down, and I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of the series!The Changelings (War of the Fae: Book 1) OverviewJayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?

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Chandos Ring: Death Star Earth Review

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Chandos Ring: Death Star Earth ReviewI received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.
Let's start with brass tacks. This book is a strict hybrid of epic poetry and western philosophy. The first two thirds of the book are a series of philosophic essays, in prose, which establish some of the author's rather remarkable views. The language of these essays is powerful, epic; just as is the language in his poetry. The ideas which this extremely thundering language clothes are sometimes incoherent, sometimes revolutionary. To an experienced student of philosophy, none of them are truly original; but the way they are expressed, which reads something like a manifesto, will catch your eye (or offend, or confuse).
The second two thirds is a poem, which is sort of the other side of the coin to the story the author is trying to tell. The author expressed to me that his intention was to "elevate" the American language. This plan, this desire, can be seen between the lines at every moment of his poetry. There's something frightfully monolithic about the whole thing --- if Mark Chandos's poetry was a physical object, it would be the Monolith in 2012: A Space Odyssey. In practice, though, I'm afraid it's not actually good poetry. It's disorganized in its use of metaphor, and employs a stream-of-consciousness structure (which is to say, little or no structure at all). The voices in the poem respond to questions which are never asked in the poem, and one is forced to guess who is being spoken to, when; and what certain words, which are used in a completely nonstandard way, mean. If one reads this poetry carefully, attempting to parse every word, even a deep lover of poetry can't stay in the ring for more than a page and a half.
But because of the intensely epic subject --- nothing short of the creation of a new human thing, and the extension of human life into space (and beyond the confines of the mortal body) --- the poem, and the author's voice, can be gripping. I confess that the rare moments of drama in the poem, in which characters went through conflicts and were juxtaposed with each other, had my heart racing. And the questions that this book raises had me thinking --- although ultimately, as a result of that thought, I rejected the book's main premise.
Here are the people to whom I recommend this book, in descending order of the strength of the recommendation.
1) Students of western philosophy who are just coming to appreciate poetry. This is a perfect book for you.
2) Seekers of literary curiosities. The style, tone, and structure of this book are strictly original.
3) People interested in epic poetry, especially epic poetry written in the last 20 years or so. You may find something you can respond to.
4) Spiritual seekers and concerned Christians, because of the author's rather original views on Christ and the nature of the spirit.
All others should probably stay away. This book demands a great deal of effort, and returns to the average reader comparatively little reward.
OH! And I decided to share a particularly emblematic bit of the poetry, because a picture is worth a thousand words. Taste it for yourself.
~~~~
Show me one perfect monster.
And not just a man.
I see you sprint with good or evil,
why do you quickly tire, winded?
I would that you were hot or cold.
The righteous men keep no gift I need.
I do not need mimes.
As a child, I knew at once
this god does not favor good men,
does not number good or evil men,
does not turn his neck for evil men,
counts both good and evil, mere beginners.
Human monsters are broken and lame,
then self-destruct;
human righteous are fat and healthy,
then help themselves.
The West cannot make one dangerous monster.
Till I arrive at the hunt.
(copyright 2011 Mark Chandos)Chandos Ring: Death Star Earth Overview

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Lord of the Rings Part III, Return of the King Review

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Lord of the Rings Part III, Return of the King Review"Return of the King" is the worthy climax to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, the fantasy that created the genre as we know it today. Now, as the blockbuster movie adaptation is over, many readers are checking out the dramatic story that ends Tolkien's masterpiece and life's work.
Gandalf has ridden to the city of Gondor with Pippin (partly to keep him out of trouble), where the forces of Mordor are attacking. There is upheaval in the city itself, as the steward of Gondor is going nuts. Merry pledges his service to King Theoden of Rohan, not knowing what is ahead for the king and his relatives. And Aragorn is seeking out allies to fight Sauron on a military scale, even if they can't defeat him unless the Ring is destroyed. His search will take him to tribes of forest-dwellers, to Gondor -- and even to summon an army of the dead.
In Mordor, the unconscious Frodo has been captured by Sauron's orcs, and taken to the fortress of Cirith Ungol. Sam is desperate to free his friend, but knows that he can't take on an army, and that Frodo would want him to finish the quest. Sam manages to free Frodo from captivity, but they must still brave more dangers before they can come to Mount Doom, the only place where the Ring can be destroyed. As they travel Sam sees Frodo slipping further and further into the Ring's grasp. Will Frodo be able to destroy the Ring?
Usually, the climax of an epic adventure is a disappointment. "Return of the King" succeeds in almost every way, wrapping up each individual storyline, one by one. The ending has a feeling of finality; this is one story that could never have a sequel; Tolkien shows that in a war like this, there is no true "happy ending." Even if the good guys win, there will still be scarring, and death, and haunting memories of what once happened. And even if a person survives, he will never be the same.
This is the grimmest of the three books in this trilogy. Frodo and Sam are stuck in the vividly horrific Mordor, while the city of Minas Tirith is on the verge of completely crumbling. Tolkien does a phenomenal job of exploring the madness, despair, rage and sorrow that accompany a war, and the way it can affect even the idyllic Shire. And he doesn't forget the slow period of healing that follows -- for people, for civilizations, and even for nature.
Though a section of the book near the end descends into near-biblical prose, which changes post-Gondor, Tolkien does not waver in his ability to evoke emotion. One of the most touching scenes in the book is when Sam finds Frodo naked, unconscious and being beaten by an orc. Others include Merry's farewell to Theoden, Eowyn's slaying of the Witch-King, and of course the bittersweet final scene.
Speaking of Frodo, this trilogy's hero is almost unrecognizable in parts of this book. The bright, naive young hobbit of the first book has been worn down to a pale shadow of himself. As he grows increasingly attached to the Ring, we even see him doing what seems unimaginable: threatening Sam with a dagger. Sam has come a long way from the shy young hobbit who couldn't say a word around the High Elves -- now he's attacking orcs and carrying Frodo to Mount Doom.
And the supporting characters are not neglected either, with the younger hobbits being exposed to the horrors of war, Aragorn breaking fully into his role as the future king of Gondor, and passionate war-maiden Eowyn affecting the war as nobody else could. Some much-loved characters are lost, and others will be permanently changed.
The story doesn't really end on the last page; for more background, especially on Aragorn and Arwen, readers should also read the appendices at the end of the book. Another good addition is "The End of the Third Age," in which the unpublished epilogue of this book can be found. Though this is probably not canonical, it nicely concludes the story and is a heartwarming look at what happens in the years following "Return of the King."
It's difficult, once the story has finished, to accept that one has to say goodbye to Middle-Earth and its enchanting inhabitants. But as Gandalf says, "I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."Lord of the Rings Part III, Return of the King Overview

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The Return Of The King - Being The Third Part Of The Lord Of The Rings (The Lord of the Rings, 3) Review

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The Return Of The King - Being The Third Part Of The Lord Of The Rings (The Lord of the Rings, 3) ReviewProbably considered my favorite in Tolkien's writings, Return of the King is great. Many suspenseful events end in utter triumph and inspire the reader the whole time. I think the biblical parallels can't be missed either. It does a great job tying up some details from The Hobbit, Fellowship of the Ring, and Two Towers. Wonderful conclusion to a classic work of fiction that makes the reader look for the reality to match it. I think the fingers can definitely point to the truths in the Bible to help you find to truth in this fantasy created by J R R TolkienThe Return Of The King - Being The Third Part Of The Lord Of The Rings (The Lord of the Rings, 3) Overview

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The Lord of the Rings 1st (first) edition Text Only Review

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The Lord of the Rings 1st (first) edition Text Only ReviewAs a long time Lord of the Rings fan,.... I have had the paper back set for years... I saw this set and immediately ordered it... To start with, the presentation of the set is excellent... The three books are delivered in a cardboard case that is covered in Allan Lee`s art work... The books themselves are 8x10.5 inches in size and are hefty in weight.. There is nothing like sitting and reading a book that has some weight to it... maybe just me, but reading a hardback over a paperback is the difference between night and day even if the words are identical. The type face is excellent and the artwork through out is images from Allen Lee.If you are reading this review, you are most likely already a Tolkien fan, so to review the book itself can be set aside as this set of books has probably been the most reviewed books in history. (save for he Bible of course). This set has a quality that is far above some of the other sets out there. I personally give this set 10 out of 10 and it has a special spot on my bookself.. Enjoy!!!The Lord of the Rings 1st (first) edition Text Only Overview

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The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, Part 2) Publisher: Mariner Books Review

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The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, Part 2) Publisher: Mariner Books ReviewThis is the second volume in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. It follows The Fellowship of the Ring and is followed by The Return of the King.
In this part of the story, the original fellowship of nine travelers is fragmented. Some seek Mordor and the forlorn hope of destroying the one ring in the volcanic fires that produced it. Others are taken captive, and pursued by would-be rescuers. As the travelers disperse, readers become acquainted with the lands and peoples of Middle Earth. We meet the independent horsemen of Rohan, the foul orcs of Mordor, the proud men of Gondor, and the shades of past oath-breakers, eager for redemption. The schemes of wizards, stewards and wraiths become more clear. The tension builds.
The middle book of the trilogy covers a lot of ground, both geographically and in character development. The characters gather their strength for war with the forces of evil. Tolkien gives his characters distinct strengths which complement the abilities of their companions. There is a growing sense that each will have a part to play in the coming conflict--a unique and indispensable part.
If you have already read volume one of the trilogy, you are going to read volume two. No choice, really.The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, Part 2) Publisher: Mariner Books Overview

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Book One Review

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Book One ReviewThis is, as other reviewers have said, the only unabridged BOT version of this classic book. Rob Inglis does a great job reading.
But: If you plan on downloading CDs onto your MP3 player, keep reading.
The book is broken into 48 CDs (all 3 books (16 CDs per book)). And each CD is broken up into 3 min tracks (about 275 tracks per disc).
And no freaking consistent organization.
Each CD has a completely (ugh!!!) different way of titling the tracks.
So, my Ipod now has 800+ 3 minute LOTR tracks . . . in no particular order!!!
There's no way I can listen to the book in chronological order. Instead my Ipod shuffles randomly between tracks, changing every 3 minutes.
It's a disaster.
But I love this book. So, I'm listening anyway.
It's the equivalent of cutting the book into 800 pieces, throwing them in the air, and then reading them: William S. Burroughs, please meet J.R.R. Tolkien.The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Book One Overview

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Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One: The Legends of Aman (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 10) Review

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Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One: The Legends of Aman (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 10) Review. . .plus cultural information!
This book, the first of two in the "History of Middle-Earth" series dealing with later textual developments in "The Silmarillion" provides a great deal of information on how Tolkien's philosophical and theological development influenced the later aspects of this work. (As the reader should remember, Tolkien worked on these legends for more than 50 years.)
However, one of my greatest delights in "Morgoth's Ring" was a lengthy essay detailing aspects of Elven culture, including information on courting, betrothal, marriage, and child-rearing. Also included is a discussion of the judgement of the Valar concerning the remarriage of Finwe of the Noldor.
Throughout, the volume demonstrates that Tolkien wished to truly create a complete culture, not merely a history.
A worthy addition to this series.Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One: The Legends of Aman (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 10) Overview

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Rackham's Color Illustrations for Wagner's "Ring" Review

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Rackham's Color Illustrations for Wagner's "Ring" ReviewThese are fantastic illustrations.
C.S. Lewis stumbled upon these Arthur Rackham paintings for Richard Wagner's, "Der Ring Des Nibelungen". Lewis writes in "Suprised By Joy" how the pictures inspired a Mythical sensation of 'Northerness' in his young mind.
As a child, 16-years ago, I discovered the same books and Arthur Rackham illustrations at the local library. I was enchanted! They led me explore the worlds of Wagnerian Opera.
I'm really glad the pictures are now reproduced in this paperback book. Pure Magic!
If you're new to Arthur Rackham's illustrations, these are PERFECT to start with.
"Yo-Jo-To-Ho!!!" -Die WalkurieRackham's Color Illustrations for Wagner's "Ring" Overview

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