Speaking of books..... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 07-03-2002, 10:24 AM

Summer is a good time to catch up on extra reading. I'm always looking for new titles and ideas. There's at least two threads up now asking for advice on particular titles.

I want to pose a more general question. What are your favorite books about Tolkien's life, his writings, the film adaptations of his books, or related fantasy artwork? It could be an older volume, or something that's come out in the last year because of all the hype with the movie.

Thought it might be fun to hear what others have read and keep that in mind when I go barrelling into the Barrow-downs book shop or to my neighborhood bookstore.

Also, a related question, has anyone read Michael Martinez's book Visualising Middle-earth? What is that about? Did you find it helpful?

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

**lindil** · 07-03-2002, 10:34 AM

i have a fond spot for Koch's master of middle-Earth.

it has a whole chapter on aragorn and interesting discussions of the free peoples and the nature of Evil, and a good overview of JRRT's shorter peices.

***Mithadan*** · 07-03-2002, 10:55 AM

If you want to focus on Middle Earth, I recommend 'Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator' edited by Hofstetter with loads of commentary about Tolkien's life.

I don't have 'Visualizing..' but have read many of MM's Suite 101 essays...enough to know that I don't really want his book.

I have heard good things about 'Author of the Century' but have not read it.

Non-Tolkien? I very much enjoyed David Brin's two Uplift Trilogies. The first consists of 'Sundiver', 'Startide Rising' and 'The Uplift War'. Very creative writing.

Kuruharan · 07-03-2002, 11:43 AM

I have a passion for maps, so my favorite Middle earth resource is Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth. She took all the geographic and regional material in the works and produced this delighful book.

I'm always taking it out and going through it whenever I'm reading, since the maps in the books themselves are rather small.

Aldagrim Proudfoot · 07-03-2002, 02:09 PM

I got that for Christmas. It's very good and very extensive. It even has maps of Valinor.

Tigerlily Gamgee · 07-03-2002, 09:17 PM

There is more "looking" then reading to do in The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring, but the reading that is there is very interesting. I read every word in it when my power went out for nine hours (of course, that only took about an hour), and there are very interesting details about developing the sets, costumes and special effects for the film.

Tigerlily Gamgee · 07-03-2002, 09:19 PM

OH yeah, The Hobbit Companion is also interesting, though it isn't really about Hobbits, it's more about creation of names in Middle Earth.

07-03-2002, 10:24 AM	#1
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Speaking of books..... Summer is a good time to catch up on extra reading. I'm always looking for new titles and ideas. There's at least two threads up now asking for advice on particular titles. I want to pose a more general question. What are your favorite books about Tolkien's life, his writings, the film adaptations of his books, or related fantasy artwork? It could be an older volume, or something that's come out in the last year because of all the hype with the movie. Thought it might be fun to hear what others have read and keep that in mind when I go barrelling into the Barrow-downs book shop or to my neighborhood bookstore. Also, a related question, has anyone read Michael Martinez's book Visualising Middle-earth? What is that about? Did you find it helpful? sharon, the 7th age hobbit __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

07-03-2002, 10:34 AM	#2
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	i have a fond spot for Koch's master of middle-Earth. it has a whole chapter on aragorn and interesting discussions of the free peoples and the nature of Evil, and a good overview of JRRT's shorter peices. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.

07-03-2002, 10:55 AM	#3
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,391	If you want to focus on Middle Earth, I recommend 'Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator' edited by Hofstetter with loads of commentary about Tolkien's life. I don't have 'Visualizing..' but have read many of MM's Suite 101 essays...enough to know that I don't really want his book. I have heard good things about 'Author of the Century' but have not read it. Non-Tolkien? I very much enjoyed David Brin's two Uplift Trilogies. The first consists of 'Sundiver', 'Startide Rising' and 'The Uplift War'. Very creative writing. __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.

07-03-2002, 11:43 AM	#4
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,593	I have a passion for maps, so my favorite Middle earth resource is Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth. She took all the geographic and regional material in the works and produced this delighful book. I'm always taking it out and going through it whenever I'm reading, since the maps in the books themselves are rather small. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

07-03-2002, 02:09 PM	#5
Aldagrim Proudfoot Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 328	I got that for Christmas. It's very good and very extensive. It even has maps of Valinor. __________________ I do not suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!

07-03-2002, 09:17 PM	#6
Tigerlily Gamgee Hostess of Spirits Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Meduseld Posts: 1,055	There is more "looking" then reading to do in The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring, but the reading that is there is very interesting. I read every word in it when my power went out for nine hours (of course, that only took about an hour), and there are very interesting details about developing the sets, costumes and special effects for the film. __________________ ~ ExerciseJunky.com (Hobbits fitness of choice!)~ ~Lady of Rohan: An Eowyn Fansite ~ ~The NEW/OLD Barrow Downs Photo Page~

07-03-2002, 09:19 PM	#7
Tigerlily Gamgee Hostess of Spirits Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Meduseld Posts: 1,055	OH yeah, The Hobbit Companion is also interesting, though it isn't really about Hobbits, it's more about creation of names in Middle Earth. __________________ ~ ExerciseJunky.com (Hobbits fitness of choice!)~ ~Lady of Rohan: An Eowyn Fansite ~ ~The NEW/OLD Barrow Downs Photo Page~