I want to thank you guys! This topic prompted me to purchase UT a couple of months ago. I finished it, and even reviewed it for Amazon.com. (Would any BDers care to offer a few helpful votes for 'ol Knight's review?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...153920-0323903 I wrote it under the name "Dave". It would help a fellow BDer make a top 1000 reviewer rank, and I've written mostly LotR-related reviews! You have to have an account with Amazon.com, but it's free)
So my favorite story would probably be the behind-the-scenes stuff relating to the events in the books. I liked the story of Erendis and Aldarion, except that it had a rotten ending, having Aldarion be a jerk, and Erendis turn into a feminazi. It was still great to find out about Numenor!
I liked learning about the wizards, and the stuff right before Helm's Deep was fought.
Thanks again, you guys!