What to do with these gift cards...
 

Well, I'm really a sort of laid-back LotR superfreak -- my level of admiration and love for the trilogy is mind-numbing, but my knowledge of the world and history of Middle-Earth is...well, much greater than most people's, to be certain, but not as extensive as I'd like. And I've got about $60 in gift cards for bookstores, so...

Could somebody go through the other Tolkien-made Middle Earth books? Like the Silmarillion, and what, two or three others? I know you can't really summarize the plot of things like that, but if you could give me an idea of what's in them, that would be nice, too. All the stores are in Tolkien-hyperdrive around here, so I may actually be able to find what I'm looking for...

Thanks in advance.

Silmarillion: A must read, the history of the first age

The Unfinished Tales: The Silm does not have much actual narration in it; The Unfinished Tales contains some of the stories in narrative form. Its got some other tales that do not appear in other books as well. My personal favorite story from this book is the story of Tuor and his journey to Gondolin

The History of Middle Earth: If you think you know everything there is to know about Tolkien you are wrong. There are 12 volumes and they are a very heavy read (I'm reading them now and can bairly get through book 2) and contains a great deal of info about Middle Earth.

If you still want to know more about Tolkien you can pick up the letters of Tolkien, Tolkien answers some of the questions that come up during your study of Middle Earth (I don't own this book, but I borrow it from a friend of mine every now and then). I hear the Atlas of Middle Earth is a real nice book also. Its got alot of maps and traces the journey of Frodo and the rest of the fellowship. You can always read Sir Gwain and the Green Knight or The Tales of Tom Bombadillo also. Read the Silmarillion first, then the Unfinished Tales. After that just pick a book and read it. I don't know the names of each individual book in the History of Middle Earth series but on page 4 or 5 of Books 2 there is a post titled HoME question that I started. In it there is a list of the names of each of the 12 books.

[ February 17, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]

Thank you very much!

Atlas of ME is also a good one! Can I spend your gift cards? LOL!!!! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Well, I'm glad I found this thread! I wondering pretty well the same thing! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Hah! MY gift cards!

I think a few of my adult friends have copies of the atlas...

I would say, The Silmalarion, Unfinished Tales and the History of Middle Earth.

When I get enough money, I'm buying HoME.

I wish I had a few friends to give me gift cards to a book store. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]