[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Sauron the White

... JRRT's ... personal note to potential customers ... in the LOTR Ballantine editions following the Ace Books debacle. Perhaps someone owning an old paperback can print that admonishment for us.

Here it is, straight from the Foreword to my 1973 Ballantine's edition. The most important sentence ("This paperback edition...") is also printed on the back of each of the separate books. This paragraph is no longer included in the Foreword of new editions and certainly bears repeating under these circumstances.

I hope that those who have read The Lord of the Rings with pleasure will not think me ungrateful: to please readers was my main object, and to be assured of this has been a great reward. Nonetheless, for all its defects of omission and inclusion, it was the product of long labour, and like a simple-minded hobbit I feel that it is, while I am still alive, my property in justice unaffected by copyright laws. It seems to me a grave discourtesy, to say no more, to issue my book without even a polite note informing me of the project: dealings one might expect of Saruman in his decay rather than from the defenders of the West. However that may be, this paperback edition and no other has been published with my consent and co-operation. Those who approve of courtesy (at least) to living authors whill purchase it and no other. And if the many kind readers who have encouraged me with their letters will add to their courtesy by referring friends or enquirers to Ballantine Books, I shall be very grateful. To them, and to all who have been pleased by this book, especially those Across the Water for whom it is intended, I dedicate this edition.

May I add an official word on behalf of the Downs administration: We do not condone any illegal downloading of films and books and will remove all links and references to them from this forum. Thank you!