Books!!! Where are they??!!! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

02-09-2002, 07:25 AM

Hiya. My first message here. My dilemma is this: I've read the Ring Trio, Silm, and that is all. What percent of ME fun am I missing, that with me not getting hold of Unfinished Tales, and the rest of the 12? And what sites offer the sale of these other books?

Aralaithiel · 02-09-2002, 08:14 AM

I got Unfinished Tales, and Lost tales I & II from amazon.com. UT will fill in the "gaps" so to speak from The Silmarillion and LotR. Hope this helps! And...welcome to the Downs! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 02-09-2002, 09:10 AM

Our site (www.barrowdowns.com) has a book store (www.barrowdowns.com/store-front.asp). If you don't find the book you want listed, use the SEARCH feature.

Maltagaerion · 02-09-2002, 09:47 AM

Did you read 'The Hobbit'? I didn't see that book listed among the books you've read. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

If not go out and get it!!

Elrian · 02-09-2002, 06:38 PM

The Hobbit and Unfinished Tales would be the next 2 to get. Then begin the Histories of Middle Earth.

02-10-2002, 08:04 AM

Oh yes, The Hobbit of course! How could I've missed that? i appreciate the help... now for the other question... How much am I missing out on Middle Earth now that I (still) don't have the Unfinished Tales?
And is this normal for a newbie? I mean, if I'm not re-reading the books, I engage in geek speak with not-so-interested friends of mine, then the rest of my waking hours is spent well ' dreaming ' of Middle Earth... I suppose this is THE road to enlightenment? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Ithilwen · 02-10-2002, 03:13 PM

If you enjoyed the Silmarillion, then Unfinished Tales is a "must-read", in my opinion. The version of the tale of Turin resented in UT is superior to that given in the Silmarillion, and you'll also get lots of info on the Second and Third Ages that appears nowhere else. Really, the book's only drawback is that most of the tales and essays are (as you would expect from the title) unfinished - would that Tolkien had had the longevity of one of his Elves, so that he could have finished more of his material!

Beren87 · 02-20-2002, 12:08 PM

Actually, as a newbie, I would say that you are at a very good start. I did not read The Sim. till quite a while after the LotR. I would say, to get a real view of Tolkien, you should pick up the Biography by Humphrey Carpenter too.

Bruce MacCulloch · 02-20-2002, 12:16 PM

One of the best books to read for an insight into the inner workings of Tolkien's mind is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien.

Calencoire · 07-02-2002, 06:23 PM

Well, since you read LOTR and the Sil, you've got a lot of it. UT and most of the other ones get into every single detail ( well, I guess there still are a few unclearities) But for me, I like to learn everything that I can!

Belin · 07-03-2002, 01:26 AM

Though it's not Middle-Earth, I also find "On Fairy-Stories" very helpful. For me, it's nice to have some idea of the theory underlying this stuff.

--Belin Ibaimendi... thinking she really ought to get started on HoME....

Guinevere · 07-03-2002, 02:38 AM

I agree. I`ve just recently read Tolkien`s famous essay "On Fairy-Stories" and found it quite an eye-opener. (It`s in "Tree and Leaf",Harper Collins, London)

Thanks for all the advice given above, I can also use it, since I`ve only read the Hobbit, LotR and am just now nearly through the Silmarillion.

Suilad, Guinevere

02-09-2002, 07:25 AM	#1
carlithiel Guest Posts: n/a	Books!!! Where are they??!!! Hiya. My first message here. My dilemma is this: I've read the Ring Trio, Silm, and that is all. What percent of ME fun am I missing, that with me not getting hold of Unfinished Tales, and the rest of the 12? And what sites offer the sale of these other books?

02-09-2002, 08:14 AM	#2
Aralaithiel Ghost Eldaran Queen Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A remote mountain in Valinor Posts: 353	I got Unfinished Tales, and Lost tales I & II from amazon.com. UT will fill in the "gaps" so to speak from The Silmarillion and LotR. Hope this helps! And...welcome to the Downs! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ A lelyat, wen! (Quenya Elvish for "You go, girl!"

02-09-2002, 09:10 AM	#3
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Our site (www.barrowdowns.com) has a book store (www.barrowdowns.com/store-front.asp). If you don't find the book you want listed, use the SEARCH feature. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

02-09-2002, 09:47 AM	#4
Maltagaerion Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 60	Did you read 'The Hobbit'? I didn't see that book listed among the books you've read. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] If not go out and get it!! __________________ Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks

02-09-2002, 06:38 PM	#5
Elrian Eldar Spirit of Truth Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Land of the FREE, Home of the BRAVE Posts: 794	The Hobbit and Unfinished Tales would be the next 2 to get. Then begin the Histories of Middle Earth. __________________ ~Call me a relic, call me what you will. Say I'm old fashioned , say I'm over the hill. That old whine ain't got no soul. I'll stick to Old Toby and a Hobbit hole.~

02-10-2002, 08:04 AM	#6
Carlithiel Guest Posts: n/a	Oh yes, The Hobbit of course! How could I've missed that? i appreciate the help... now for the other question... How much am I missing out on Middle Earth now that I (still) don't have the Unfinished Tales? And is this normal for a newbie? I mean, if I'm not re-reading the books, I engage in geek speak with not-so-interested friends of mine, then the rest of my waking hours is spent well ' dreaming ' of Middle Earth... I suppose this is THE road to enlightenment? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

02-10-2002, 03:13 PM	#7
Ithilwen Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: western Arda Posts: 41	If you enjoyed the Silmarillion, then Unfinished Tales is a "must-read", in my opinion. The version of the tale of Turin resented in UT is superior to that given in the Silmarillion, and you'll also get lots of info on the Second and Third Ages that appears nowhere else. Really, the book's only drawback is that most of the tales and essays are (as you would expect from the title) unfinished - would that Tolkien had had the longevity of one of his Elves, so that he could have finished more of his material! __________________ And thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes: one in the airs of heaven, and one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the deep waters.

02-20-2002, 12:08 PM	#8
Beren87 Master of the Secret Fire Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Between fire and ice, death and life Posts: 2,241	Actually, as a newbie, I would say that you are at a very good start. I did not read The Sim. till quite a while after the LotR. I would say, to get a real view of Tolkien, you should pick up the Biography by Humphrey Carpenter too.

02-20-2002, 12:16 PM	#9
Bruce MacCulloch Dead Man of Dunharrow Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 651	One of the best books to read for an insight into the inner workings of Tolkien's mind is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien. __________________ `A blunderbuss, was it?' said he, scratching his head. `I thought it was horseflies!'

07-02-2002, 06:23 PM	#10
Calencoire Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 89	Well, since you read LOTR and the Sil, you've got a lot of it. UT and most of the other ones get into every single detail ( well, I guess there still are a few unclearities) But for me, I like to learn everything that I can! __________________ Where there is life, there is hope

07-03-2002, 01:26 AM	#11
Belin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: all the wide unfriendly pathways of the world Posts: 330	Though it's not Middle-Earth, I also find "On Fairy-Stories" very helpful. For me, it's nice to have some idea of the theory underlying this stuff. --Belin Ibaimendi... thinking she really ought to get started on HoME.... __________________ "I hate dignity," cried Scraps, kicking a pebble high in the air and then trying to catch it as it fell. "Half the fools and all the wise folks are dignified, and I'm neither the one nor the other." --L. Frank Baum

07-03-2002, 02:38 AM	#12
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	I agree. I`ve just recently read Tolkien`s famous essay "On Fairy-Stories" and found it quite an eye-opener. (It`s in "Tree and Leaf",Harper Collins, London) Thanks for all the advice given above, I can also use it, since I`ve only read the Hobbit, LotR and am just now nearly through the Silmarillion. Suilad, Guinevere __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat!