The Lord of the Rings

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J. R. R. Tolkien

Fantasy & Science Fiction

Jul 31, 2018

Appearing in three separate volumes between July 1954 and October 1955, The Lord of the Rings constitutes a single linear narrative that was segmented for publishing convenience rather than by authorial intent. Tolkien’s hero, Frodo, is the adoptive heir of Bilbo Baggins, protagonist of The Hobbit. The narrative traverses many milieus and social strata, from the simplicity of the Hobbit Shire to the ethereal elegance of the Elvish pavilions at Rivendell, from the martial court of Gondor to the evil precincts of Sauron’s Mordor (infused with the author’s philological wizardry, the names of places and characters offer delights of their own). Contrasting camaraderie with selfishness, megalomania with humility, and tradition with destruction, the story maintains a dialectical tension throughout a series of rousing adventures, keeping the longed-for triumph of good hanging by a thread over a literal abyss of fire. Books in Tolkien’s mold have emerged from the usual mix of commercial and aesthetic motives, but the breadth and depth of his trilogy’s conception remains unmatched: The Lord of the Rings exists like a mountain transported from another dimension, cloaked in preexisting fauna and flora, with exotic and familiar forms of feeling animating its every crevice, cave, and peak.

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Tony Rovere

Apr 3, 2019

Anything by Tolkien is worth the time

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kyle

Jul 10, 2019

a fun and epic journey.

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Jeff Russell

Aug 5, 2019

My all-time favorite. LOTR is so detailed. Tolkien taps into myths and meta-heroes in such a powerful, enjoyable way. Be patient through the slow parts, you will be rewarded.

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Jarrod D Tembreull

Sep 12, 2019

One of the best books ever written and one that essentially sparked and created a genre. The depth of world-building with languages and multiple histories is incredible

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