The Book of Lost Tales 1 (History of Middle-Earth #1)

ANNOTATION
The first trade paperback edition of the second volume in Tolkien's Book of Lost Tales series.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Book of Lost Tales was the first major work of imagination by J.R.R. Tolkien, begun in 1916-1917 when he was twenty-five years old and left incomplete several years later. It stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor, for the Lost Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. Embedded in English legend and English association, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriel (or AElfwine) to Tol Eressea, the Lonely Isle, where Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse. In the Tales are found the earliest accounts and original ideas of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs, and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of Nargothrond and Gondolin; of the geography and cosmography of the invented world.

The Book of Lost Tales will be published in two volumes; this first part contains the Tales of Valinor; and the second will include Beren and Luthien, Turin and the Dragon, and the only full narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin. Each tale is followed by a commentary in the form of a short essay, together with the texts of associated poems; and each volume contains extensive information on names and vocabulary in the earliest Elvish languages. Further books in this series are planned to extend the history of Middle-earth as it was refined and enlarged in later years, and will include the Long Lays of Beleriand, the Ambarkanta or Shape of the World, the Lhammas or Account of Tongues, annals, maps, and many other unpublished writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Houghton Mifflin is proud to present a full-color, large-format, guide to the characters, cultures, and locations of J.R.R. Tolkien's extraordinary creation Middle-earth, as depicted in the movie The Fellowship of the Ring - the first of three blockbuster films from New Line Cinema.
Filled with stunning imagery and with a thorough, informative narrative text, The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion will provide the reader with a rich feast of detail and information. Featuring exclusive photos of Frodo, Gandalf, the Ringwraiths, elves, and all the other main characters and creatures of the first film, the book also includes breathtaking pictures of Hobbiton, Rivendell, and Moria.

The first of a projected three-book series that no Tolkien fan, from novice to expert, should be without, The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion contains a special eight-page gatefold of large-format images unique to this book.

The Complete Tolkien Companion

FROM THE PUBLISHER
"The Complete Tolkien Companion is an indispensable guide for all those who journey to J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. It explains, translates, and links every single reference - names, dates, places, facts, weapons, Elvish writing systems, even food and drink - that is found in Tolkien's works, from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, to The Silmarillion, and many other posthumously published works. Presented in alphabetical order for quick and easy reference, it brings the remarkable genius of Tolkien and the unforgettable world and wonder of Middle Earth to life with focus and accuracy." First published in 1976, this edition has been fully revised and updated for a new century of Tolkien lovers. Come and explore the magical lands, legends, histories, languages, and peoples of Middle Earth!

SYNOPSIS
Tyler updated the 1976 original in 1978 after The Silmarillion was published, and has waited these 20 years and more to produce another edition because the stream of new books refused to diminish. Now, 14 volumes later, he has incorporated the actually quite small number of new names and other references. The lack of an index is mitigated by the extensive cross-references. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth

ANNOTATION
All of Tolkien's invented languages spoken by hobbits elves and men of Middle earth. A dictionary of fourteen languages and an English/Elvish glossary.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
This is the book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dicitonary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all the runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien the linguist.

SYNOPSIS
This is the book on all of Tolkien's invented languages, spoken by hobbits, elves, and men of Middle-earth -- a dicitonary of fourteen languages, an English-Elvish glossary, all the runes and alphabets, and material on Tolkien the linguist.

The Return of the King Movie Tie-in 2003

FROM THE PUBLISHER
As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob -- but Frodo is still alive, now in the foul hands of the Orcs. And all the while, the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom.

The Lord of The Rings: Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic

Barnes and Noble Review
Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis pens this intriguing, behind-the-scenes guide to everything you wanted to know about his creepy character, Gollum. Illustrated with over 100 photos and drawings, this in-depth book is divided into 13 chapters and discusses how Serkis developed the character (including its gravelly voice), how the makeup artists developed Gollum's look, and how the film's creators put Gollum on the big screen. Serkis' book stands at over 100 informative pages, all punctuated with sidebars, short descriptions from various crew members (including director Peter Jackson and several digital media specialists), shots of computer imaging, and more. With such an entertaining guide providing a wealth of info on LOTR's most intriguing character, fans will surely consider this a "preciousss" addition to LOTR collections.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Film-making history was made when, in The Two Towers, an actor's performance and digital animation were seamlessly integrated to create the world's first totally lifelike computer-generated character. Now Andy Serkis tells his own story about how a three-week commission to provide a voiceover for Gollum grew into a five-year commitment to breathe life and soul into The Lord of the Rings' most challenging creation. sFully illustrated with more than one hundred exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and drawings, and with contributions from the many designers and animators who brought Gollum to life, this book examines the transition to the big screen of one of literature's most unforgettable creatures. As the filming takes him from London to Wellington, and from the Misty Mountains to Mount Doom, Andy Serkis explains the methods - and the madness - behind the most amazing five years in this actor's life.

Tolkien Bestiary

ANNOTATION
Presents illustrated definitions in alphabetical order of all the imaginary beasts, monsters, races, nations, duties, fauna, and flora of the worlds of middle-earth and the Undying Lands. Also includes a map and a chronology of all the ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Here is the comprehensive reference guide for the millions of fans of the Hobbit and the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. All of the imaginary beasts, monsters, fauna, and flora of J.R.R. Tolkien's lush fantasy worlds of the Middle-Earth and the Undying Lands are presented in more that 100 black-and-white illustrations and 36 full color paintings. A Chronology of all the historical ages, a general index, genealogies of the races of men, maps, and a special index referring to Tolkien's original works are also included.

SYNOPSIS
A comprehensive reference guide to the history, creatures, races, flora, and fauna of J. R. R. Tolkien's imaginary worlds features more than a hundred black-and-white drawings and thirty-six full-color paintings by eleven of Europe's best fantasy artists.

The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare: An Illustrated Guide to the Battles, Armies and Armor of Middle-Earth

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Lavishly illustrated with 1,000 photos, paintings, maps, sculptures and sketches, most appearing here for the first time, Weapons and Warfare is an indispensable chronicle of The Lord of the Rings' many creatures, warriors, armies and battlegrounds. From the graceful and proficient Elves to the horrendous war machines of the Dark Lord, each culture's approach to warfare is explained -- how they fought, why they were fighting, what armor they wore and what weapons they used against their enemies. Now you can get as close to a marauding Orc as you could ever wish, without suffering the consequences! Treating the filmmakers' notes, designs and props as a true archive, Weapons and Warfare describes in detail every major conflict depicted in the film trilogy -- from The Last Alliance of Elves and Men to the climactic Battle of the Pelennor Fields -- each accompanied by a battle diagram from the films' chief designers. Armed with a wealth of fascinating facts and unique imagery, and with an exclusive foreword by Christopher Lee and an introduction by the Academy Award winner Richard Taylor, Weapons and Warfare promises to be the most striking companion to The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy published to date.

Myth and Magic: the Art of John Howe

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Artists the world over have endeavored to capture the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle–earth: the passion and heroism of the characters, the heart–stopping drama of the action, the mythic grandeur of Middle–earth itself. Few have succeeded. Pre–eminent among those who have is John Howe. Now, in Myth and Magic, which features 250 of his paintings and sketches, we are offered a splendid gallery of his work, including all the Tolkien pieces as well as a selection of his other fantasy paintings. From the beloved picture of “Smaug” that adorns The Hobbit to the spectacular images that appear on best–selling novels, this collection will delight both Tolkien fans and all who have been captivated by one of the finest fantasy artists in the world.

SYNOPSIS
John Howe is one of the foremost fantasy artists working today, known especially for his remarkable renderings of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle–earth and as the conceptual artist for the film Lord of the Rings. Now, for the first time, 250 of Howe’s paintings and sketches have been collected in one volume.

Finding God in the Lord of the Rings

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Recently named the number-one piece of twentieth century literature, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is more than a great story. It's a much-needed reminder that, like J. R. R. Tolkien's hobbits, we Christians are all on an epic quest. In examining the Christian themes in the trilogy, authors Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware find that truth and fiction are not as far apart as they seem. And that although Tolkien never intended for these books to present the gospel, when read in the light of Scripture they offer a rich tapestry of redemption, values, and faith against all odds from which we may learn much.

SYNOPSIS
Recently named the number-one piece of twentieth century literature, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is more than a great story. It's a much-needed reminder that, like J. R. R. Tolkien's hobbits, we Christians are all on an epic quest. In examining the Christian themes in the trilogy, authors Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware find that truth and fiction are not as far apart as they seem. And that although Tolkien never intended for these books to present the gospel, when read in the light of Scripture they offer a rich tapestry of redemption, values, and faith against all odds from which we may learn much.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly
Bruner, v-p for Focus on the Family's Resource Group, and co-author Ware say that they have written this book "to help fans of The Lord of the Rings discover how the rich fabric of Tolkien's fantasy world enhances a Christian understanding of our real world." They assume that readers will already be familiar with the entire trilogy. Each chapter explores a theme found in Tolkien's series, illustrates it from the story and then shows how this theme can also be found in the Bible. Most of the themes illustrated here that our small individual stories are part of a larger story that gives them more meaning, that we are called to undertake challenging missions beyond our comfort zones or that evil powers are actively scheming in the world will already have been obvious to Christian readers with the intelligence needed to read through the entire trilogy. Readers already familiar with the trilogy will find a few gems of insight, especially the epilogue on Tolkien's literary theory. But it seems much more likely that this book will appeal to those who, having seen the movie, are deciding whether to read the books for the first time. (Nov.) Forecast: Timed to coincide with the release of New Line Cinema's movie The Lord of the Rings, this guide will find an audience, but probably a different one from that which the authors envisioned. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA - Kat Kan
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy is enjoying even more popularity because of the publicity surrounding the motion picture trilogy, the first part of which premiered in late 2001. Given the hostility and suspicion with which some Christians view fantasy literature featuring wizards and magic, the reading public needs to remember that Tolkien was a staunch Christian. Although Bruner and Ware provide that reminder through this book, it probably will not convince the most hardheaded critics. Nevertheless the book does an admirable job of showing how Tolkien's beliefs informed his writing. Writing in a series of reflections, the authors take the reader through the trilogy with their goal being "to explore the inference of [Tolkien's] imagination, an imagination that could not help but reflect Christian themes. [It is] in this context that Tolkien described his fantasy as a fundamentally religious work growing out of his own faith journey." In the chapter "Deceptive Appearances," for example, the authors compare the first appearance of Strider and people's reactions to him with the story of David, the unassuming shepherd boy destined to be King of Israel, and with Jesus Christ. In "Unwitting Instrument," Gollum's final attack upon Frodo to regain the One Ring, only to fall into the Cracks of Doom and be destroyed, is said to illustrate how evil is used to serve God's own purposes. Each chapter quotes from Tolkien and from the Bible to reinforce the authors' message. Non-Christian readers can ignore this book, but it should be helpful for Christian teens and parents who need reassurance about their reading. ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy

FROM THE PUBLISHER
The official inside story on the making of the award-winning movie trilogy
The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy is a lavishly illustrated, behind-the-scenes, definitive account of the creation of an epic film experience. Hailed by critics worldwide, part one of the movie trilogy was a box-office smash, one of the most successful films of the decade. Peter Jackson's "fierce, imaginative movie takes high-flying risks and inspires with its power and scale," wrote Newsweek. "In every way this is moviemaking on a grand scale," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle, while Time proclaimed the "grandeur, moral heft and emotional depth" of the film, which received thirteen Academy Award(R) nominations. Including more than 300 photographs from all three films, most unique to this book, and exclusive interviews with all the cast and crew, Brian Sibley's fascinating book takes every fan inside the process of adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork for the screen. For the first time in history, three major movies were made at the same time, a triumphant and monumental undertaking that took the world by storm. Here can be found details about the hundreds of dedicated artists, craftspeople and cast and crew members who labored for years -- adding authenticity at every stage -- to bring one of the greatest stories ever told to an eager film audience. Sibley takes us inside the process of filmmaking to show us how the magic is made -- from the director, writers and actors to wardrobe, makeup, miniatures, music and digital special effects, it's all here.