| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Ottis413
Joined: 01 Oct 2005
Posts: 292
Location: West Virginia, USA
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject: Expanding my library. Advice? |
 |
|
I just got through reading the ‘Ringers’ post, witch got me wondering just how many Tolkien related DVDs and books are out there?
I see references to ‘People of Middle Earth’ a lot here, tho I’ve never seen it for sale. (I need to find it, it sounds really good) Since joining up here, I’ve realized just how lacking my library is, a lot of the books referred to in various posts I’ve never heard of.
So, I’m looking for recommendations for additions to my library. Here’s what I’ve got.
(Google gave me so many answers I wouldn't know where to begin, and I live up in the styx and it’s about a two and a half hour drive to the nearest half decent book store.)
Books:
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings (of course) Complete Second Edition.
The Book of Lost Tales part one.
The Lost Road 5.
The Magical Worlds of the Lord of the Rings. By David Colbert
Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards, by Michael N. Stanton.
I have the Sim somewhere, but I can’t find it, prob got loaned out and not returned.
There’s a list of Tolkien’s books in the front of LotR, so I know what I lack there.
The Tolkien Reader, my sister borrowed that one, I need to get it back. (she lives about five hours from me)
DVDs;
The Peter Jackson movies, both versions.
Master of the Rings, Guide to the World of the Rings. This was made before the PJ movies, and has clips of an interview with JRRT (His accent is so thick I can’t hardly understand what he’s saying.)
So, since I'm on a very limited budget here, what would be the best for my buck?
_________________
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse, Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
Pink Floyd, Comfortably numb
**********************************************************
OSA Nazgul#8. The little Nagzul wot cud spall (Don't call me the redneck Nazgul, I prefer the term 'Appalachian Nazgul') |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Alassante
Virtual Village Mod
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Posts: 20
Location: Hitchhiking to Rivendell
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The People of Middle Earth is actually part of HoME - History of Middle Earth series. There are twelve books. People of Middle Earth is #12. The other ones I like (but I prefer elves and these are very elf centric). These are mostly based on the Silmarillion.
Vol 3 - Lays of Beleriand (beautiful!)
Vol 5 - Lost Road and Other Writings (also has info about Numenor)
Vol 10 - Morgoth's Ring
Vol 11 - War of Jewels
Vol 12 - People of Middle Earth is about all races. Probably most helpful to majority of people.
Vol 6-9 are about the Lord of the Rings. I don't like these as much as the others. I haven't looked at Vol 4. Vol 1-2 are the books of Lost Tales. Pretty interesting. I haven't had time to read any of these cover to cover since I have gotten them all in the last six months.
Unfinished Tales is great too. It has the History of Celeborn and Galadriel and The Fall of Gondolin and others. I like it.
Buy the Silmarillion. Its tough to read at first but facinating about the origins of Middle Earth.
I don't have a ton of the books like others do. Alot of the books are available in mass market paperbacks on Amazon for like $7 or $20 for hardback. Also half.com and buy.com has alot of them.
If I could only buy 2 or 3, I would buy PoME and Silmarillion, possibly UT.
_________________
Nagzul #2 - The Nazgul of Shmoove
Crucio! Because stupidity should be painful!
http://alikat7.livejournal.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alatariel
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 23
Location: wearing raincoats, standing solo, in the sun
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have heard good things about the Histories of Middle Earth. It is a five volume paperback box set. Amazon sells it for around $22. I don't own it, but the folks around here have highly recommended it. And, if you use the link to Amazon on this site, you'll be helping out OSA - which is always a plus 
I think there is a Book of Lost Tales II as well. I only own the first and another called "Unfinished Tales" which contains a lot of background information on the Istari, the history of Galadriel and Celeborn (though, there is debate on canonical this is since Tolkien tended to contradict himself on there history).
Hope this helps! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ottis413
Joined: 01 Oct 2005
Posts: 292
Location: West Virginia, USA
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Now I know what to tell my 'ol lady what I want for christmas, we'll prob do most of the buying on-line so I'll be sure to use the links from OSA.
Now, what about DVDs??
_________________
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse, Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
Pink Floyd, Comfortably numb
**********************************************************
OSA Nazgul#8. The little Nagzul wot cud spall (Don't call me the redneck Nazgul, I prefer the term 'Appalachian Nazgul') |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alatariel
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 23
Location: wearing raincoats, standing solo, in the sun
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Alassante - I think we posted at the same time 
I didn't know the History of Middle Earth had so many volumes! I heard PoME was excellent for the elf fan. I'll definitely have to check that out...
Ottis - I only own the PJ LOTR extended dvds. I don't know much about other dvds though...would be interested to find out myself...
Unfinished Tales contains information on the Kings of Numenor too, so if that's your kind thing, you might enjoy that volume. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rhapsody
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 1153
Location: Maglor's Lap
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here is the complete list of the HOME parts
The Book of Lost Tales 1 (HOME 1)
The Book of Lost Tales 2 (HOME 2)
The Lays of Beleriand (HOME 3)
The Shaping of Middle-earth (HOME 4)
The Lost Road and Other Writings (HOME 5)
The Return of the Shadow (HOME 6)
The Treason of Isengard (HOME 7)
The War of the Ring (HOME 8 )
Sauron Defeated (HOME 9)
Morgoth's Ring (HOME 10)
The War of the Jewels (HOME 11)
The Peoples of Middle-earth (HOME 12)
The History of Middle Earth Index
Most consulted are HOME 1,2,3, 5,9,10,11 and 12. 
What I am missing is The Letters of Tolkien. And another great source is the Atlas of Tolkien's Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonnstad. I use it quite frequently.
_________________
I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere...
Maglor's bard & Celegorm's play pal
Nazgul #5 in charge anything liquid or edible things
Icon made by Carnage in c minor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rhapsody
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 1153
Location: Maglor's Lap
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Alatariel wrote: | Alassante - I think we posted at the same time
I didn't know the History of Middle Earth had so many volumes! I heard PoME was excellent for the elf fan. I'll definitely have to check that out...
Ottis - I only own the PJ LOTR extended dvds. I don't know much about other dvds though...would be interested to find out myself...
Unfinished Tales contains information on the Kings of Numenor too, so if that's your kind thing, you might enjoy that volume. |
Info on the kings of Numenor can be found elsewhere, for Nimloth's Grace... The Lost Road and other writings & Sauron defeated were the parts I couldn't go without, besides the Silmarillion. 
_________________
I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere...
Maglor's bard & Celegorm's play pal
Nazgul #5 in charge anything liquid or edible things
Icon made by Carnage in c minor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sulriel
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Imladris (or maybe Texas ...)
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Morgoths' Ring is the one that really set the hook in me. It has a lot of really gritty stuff about the Big Picture. - ...talks about how all of Arda *is* 'Morgoth's Ring', explains how he put his essence in the very world itself so that he could control it (and all things that are of the world) - and that is how, even though he is banished to the void - his Will still has influnce in the world and on the peoples of the world. Tolkien says that there will always be those who rise up through the ages, and this is the will that drives them and empowers them. We will never be rid of Morgoth's influence because there is a bit of him continuing on in each of us.
- heavy, but overall great stuff - very thought provoking on a lot of levels.
I agree with whoever suggested Peoples of Middle-earth, it's my second fav, also the War of the Jewels.
***oops, almost forgot Lost Road. another great one. - it touches on a lot of issues that are generally considered AU. - reincarnation, teim-travel, airplanes, guns, battleships - also has some writings that tie the legends of Middle-earth into our actual historical legends.
_________________
"May it be a light to you in dark places." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ottis413
Joined: 01 Oct 2005
Posts: 292
Location: West Virginia, USA
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks people,   I know what to do with at least part of my tax return now (wouldn't want to do anything booring like pay bills)
_________________
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse, Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
Pink Floyd, Comfortably numb
**********************************************************
OSA Nazgul#8. The little Nagzul wot cud spall (Don't call me the redneck Nazgul, I prefer the term 'Appalachian Nazgul') |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LadyofRohan
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 35
Location: The Plains of Rohan...er...Kansas
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
Great minds must think alike, I was just wondering about asking this group that very question.
I have drooled over HoME at the bookstore many times but was just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information...
Do you guys think its best to read UT before tackling HoME? And do you think there is a certain order they should be read or aquired in? (Speaking as a devout PHLF who will likely skip the elves the first time through and scour for the ponies...too hard to keep the elves straight!)
Roh
_________________
"Reality is for people who can't handle Middle Earth." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ghettoelleth
Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 1804
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| LadyofRohan wrote: | Great minds must think alike, I was just wondering about asking this group that very question.
I have drooled over HoME at the bookstore many times but was just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information...
Do you guys think its best to read UT before tackling HoME? And do you think there is a certain order they should be read or aquired in? (Speaking as a devout PHLF who will likely skip the elves the first time through and scour for the ponies...too hard to keep the elves straight!)
Roh |
Oh boy, Lady, you think its hard to keep the elves straight, get into the deep history of the line of Numenor, The house of Beor alone made me want to smack myself in the head with a brick. UT has a wonderful tale of Cirion and Eorl, one of my favorite stories though I'm a huge PEF. The order you obtain the HoME and other books is best if you go by what you write most about. HoME 6-9 and UT are best for the PHF and HoME 6-9 and the Hobbit for the PHobbitF, The War of the Jewel Trilogy, HoME 10-12 and the Sil for the PEF, although, I recommend anyone seriously writing Tolkien fic read the Sil. The thing about HoME is, it gives you a much broader canvas on which to paint your tale. Though some really strict writers consider it cheating, you can find a basis for just about anything in HoME. I know people who quantify the canoness of the books, which is just dopey cuz unless your channeling Tolkien... 
I agree Sulriel, Morgoth's Ring, the good ole Eau de Bauglir #10, is really good stuff too.
_________________
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can not confirm their validity." Abraham Lincoln |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rhapsody
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 1153
Location: Maglor's Lap
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ghettoelleth wrote: | The thing about HoME is, it gives you a much broader canvas on which to paint your tale. Though some really strict writers consider it cheating, you can find a basis for just about anything in HoME. I know people who quantify the canoness of the books, which is just dopey cuz unless your channeling Tolkien...
|
There is this really good eassay Michael Martinez wrote about it:
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Canon
His conclusion:
The neatness of one's canon is all too easily disturbed by the rowdy intrusion of someone else's canon. That is most likely why there will never be a single, accepted universal Tolkien canon. Never mind the fact that there could never be such a thing. If we all agreed on one canon for anything, too many people would have to admit to being wrong about something. All the ambiguity with which we have laced Tolkien's words would vanish in a puff of reality. All the fun would be taken out of the debates, and we'd have nothing left to argue over, except whose fault it was for bringing us to such a pass.
I personally like the debates about it because they always broaden my horizon, or give me more bunnies to explore
_________________
I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere...
Maglor's bard & Celegorm's play pal
Nazgul #5 in charge anything liquid or edible things
Icon made by Carnage in c minor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LadyofRohan
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 35
Location: The Plains of Rohan...er...Kansas
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ghettoelleth wrote: |
Oh boy, Lady, you think its hard to keep the elves straight, get into the deep history of the line of Numenor, The house of Beor alone made me want to smack myself in the head with a brick. |
No crap. When I first started getting into Tolkein I heard mention of HoME I thought "Well, that wouldn't be a bad book to have, " and when I checked at the local bookstore I was floored to find it was twelve freaking volumes! That was the first time I really got the depth of what Tolkein had created.
You all amaze me with your grip of this stuff.
So anyway, Christmas money this year is earmarked, now if I can figure out how to do the Amazon thing from here so OSA gets the credit....
Roh
_________________
"Reality is for people who can't handle Middle Earth." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vilwarin
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 227
Location: Annúminas
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am planning to buy the Lord of the Rings as a one volume hardcover edition, but there are several editions. What do you recommend?
~Vil
_________________
***Pervy Halbarad fancier*** |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rhapsody
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 1153
Location: Maglor's Lap
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Vilwarin wrote: | I am planning to buy the Lord of the Rings as a one volume hardcover edition, but there are several editions. What do you recommend?
~Vil |
We have the one with drawings from Alan Lee. Very beautiful.
_________________
I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere...
Maglor's bard & Celegorm's play pal
Nazgul #5 in charge anything liquid or edible things
Icon made by Carnage in c minor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Live Journal Feed
