Opinions for what book(s) to get next...

[Dúnedain]

Ok, I am just looking for some book opinions to figure out what I should get next.

I currently own:

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales


So, where should I go from here? Should I go with the HoME series, Letters, or what?

I am currently leaning towards the HoME series, but I am not sure. :(

[Valandil]

I guess at this point, you've got the basics covered and it becomes "interest-driven". Kinda like you just got your bachelor's degree - and now, welcome to grad school and thesis research! :)

I only recently (this past spring) read "Unfinished Tales". I went to the "Letters" next - and I recently got "Peoples of Middle-Earth" - and have mostly read the sections of highest interest.

I had previously read Tolkien's biography... that may be another good option.

Cheers! :cool:

[Dúnedain]

Yeah I hear ya, I was just looking at the books that are included in the HoME series. It appears that from their titles I can read them out of order and won't suffer from missing something as I would if I were to read LotR's out of order, right?

[Valandil]

I think (hope) that's right. PoME is the 12th of 12.:D

OK... smarter people... help us out here!!

[Elf Girl]

I'd go with the Letters, or if you're a poetry type the Lays of Beleriand (HoME 3) is nice...

[brownjenkins]

the books of lost tales 1&2 wouldn't be bad to read while the silmarillion is still fresh in your mind... both are fairly short and give an excellent view on how tolkien's ideas changed and developed over the years

[cassiopeia]

I would say the Letters next. As for which HoME books, I suppose it depends whether you like the Silmarillion or the LOTR better. If you like the LOTR, The History of Middle-earth books are excellent; or for more information about Elves and the Valar The Book of Lost Tales, parts 1 and 2 are interesting reads. PoME's good too; lots of information on the different races, and a bit of the LOTR sequel Tolkien started.

[Ulmo]

In (my) order of most useful/interesting (generally) - Letters, 10-12, 4-5, 1-2, 3, 6-9.

[Keith K]

My advice would be to eschew all of the before mentioned books and invest your money in The Atlas of Middle Earth. I cannot recall the author/geographer's name but most bookstores carry it. In it you will discover many items of interest which will help you to better visualize the events in the books. After that I would recommend the HoME series if you want to delve deeper into Tolkien. They are very informative but oftentimes come out a bit "over the top" and somewhat incoherent. (That is to be expected since they represent a vast, and ever evolving subject matter). As to the order, I think Cassiopeia offers good advice. For myself, I read each one in the order in which it was published and at the time of publication. While not perfect, there is a method to HoME.

[zinnite]

Karen Wynn Fonstad is the author/cartographer behind the Atlas of ME. I highly suggest it, as it is my favorite non-Tolkien Middle earth book (of course, I am a bit biased in favor of it since one of my degees is in geography ;) ). Anyway, it's pretty awesome.

Also the Book of Lost Tales 1 & 2 is a good read, and pretty "easy" compared to some of the other stuff.

[Sheeana]

Yeah, the atlas is good, but it's more of reference, than reading material... so I'd go with Letters. Read Letters, and THEN start on HoME. The latter HoMEs are generally considered in some respects to be more canon than the Sil, so that's probably your next port of call. Unless you want to do how Tolkien crafted his world, in which case, you'll want to read them in order...

[Keith K]

Originally posted by Sheeana
Yeah, the atlas is good, but it's more of reference, than reading material...
The more tools employed, the deeper the understanding... :)

[Dúnedain]

I think I may just pick up the Atlas cuz I know everytime I read LotR's I always find myself flipping to the maps :D

[Elf Girl]

My first HoME book was Morgoth's Ring... I just got it for Laws and Customs, which was good, but then I was stranded in some remote vacation spot with it and read the rest. I really liked it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it for the first HoME book. It's a difficult read, and kind of off-putting.

[Attalus]

I read HoME in the order that they were published. It really does help, as there are back-references. That said, I would recommend Tom Shippey's two books on JRRT, The Road to Middle-Earth and J.R.R. Tolkien: The Author of the Century. They are quite insightful, and are by Tolkien's successor in one of the Philology chairs that he held. Also, as others have posted, Carpenter's and Fonstead's books. If you can get it, either Tree and Leaf and Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics both have the crucial and influential essay "On Fairy-Stories," which is the best place that JRRT explained his thoughts about fantasy, bar the Letters.

[Melko Belcha]

I always read stuff in published order, and I advise reading the HoME in that order. Every book gives referrences to a book that came before it, so as not to get confused or miss something I say read them in order.

Between Letters and HoME, I would read Letters after the HoME or after Vol. 11, that way you have an idea of where Tolkien is at in his writtings that he talks about in his letters.

[Valandil]

If you haven't bought something yet, here's another suggestion:

I found the Entmoot site from another - a bunch of articles at a place called Suite 101. Here's a link:

http://www.suite101.com/articles.cfm/tolkien/1-20

There are almost 140 essays - the first 130 or so written by a guy named Michael Martinez, who seems to know his stuff (not to slam the newer author, who is still "finding his voice" I think). All kinds of topics, so you can look around and get all kinds of info and opinion. Plus, the benefit of zero financial outlay... :)

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I'm gonna go with the crowd and say: Get Letters. It's a spectacular insight into the man behind the myth, and the making of the myth itself. :)

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Valandil
If you haven't bought something yet, here's another suggestion:

I found the Entmoot site from another - a bunch of articles at a place called Suite 101. Here's a link:

http://www.suite101.com/articles.cfm/tolkien/1-20

There are almost 140 essays - the first 130 or so written by a guy named Michael Martinez, who seems to know his stuff (not to slam the newer author, who is still "finding his voice" I think). All kinds of topics, so you can look around and get all kinds of info and opinion. Plus, the benefit of zero financial outlay... :) Yep, Michael Martinez is a member of Entmoot. He also has a site called Xenite.org- SF-Fandom with some great forums where I moderate. Btw, MM no longer posts his essays at Suite 101. He posted the link here at Entmoot where he has them now. I will try to find it and come back and edit this post.

EDITED- I don't have the link, but it is MERP.COM

[Dúnedain]

I think I am going to forego "Letters" until I read all of his works, especially the one's that interest me the most. I think I am gonna get that Map book and get the first few from HoME and go on through the HoME series :D

Thanks for the insight everyone :P

P.S. Good to see ya SGH :D

[Sister Golden Hair]

Have I told you lately... that you should read Morgoth's Ring nomatter what HoMe books you read or don't read?:D

[Keith K]

Originally posted by Dúnedain
I think I am gonna get that Map book

Keith K always gives good advice! (well, er, ok...mostly gives good advice) :D

[Elf Girl]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Have I told you lately... that you should read Morgoth's Ring nomatter what HoMe books you read or don't read?:D
I agree. Morgoth's Ring is awesome. Especially LACE.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Elf Girl
I agree. Morgoth's Ring is awesome. Especially LACE. Especially the Athrabeth.:)

[Beor]

Well, I havent read through the BOLT 2 yet, but I'd say read BOLT 1, and head through the HOME first (or the books youve got again), just because its going good for me that way

[Falagar]

BoLT 2! Will only say: The fall of Gondolin.

[Dúnedain]

Question about one of the book's from HoME that was mentioned. "Morgoth's Ring", did I miss something here? Why is it called Morgoth's Ring? Is there another ring that was out there or are they somehow interluding that Sauron's Ring was in a technical sense Morgoth's Ring because Sauron was his Minion...:confused:

[Valandil]

Maybe they're all gonna make us read the book... :)

[Melko Belcha]

Morgoth's Ring is Arda. His evil was put into it at creation. I don't remember all the details, but it is explained in the book, but it comes down to is his Ring is Arda.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Dúnedain
Question about one of the book's from HoME that was mentioned. "Morgoth's Ring", did I miss something here? Why is it called Morgoth's Ring? Is there another ring that was out there or are they somehow interluding that Sauron's Ring was in a technical sense Morgoth's Ring because Sauron was his Minion...:confused:
It refers (as far as I know) to the powers Morgoth put into the earth (a kind of "Morgoth-element", that marres all things), but can't remember exactly what the ring refers to, have to check the book.

[Keith K]

It is called his "ring" because he put the great part of his innate strength into it just as Sauron put his innate strength into the One Ring.

[Attalus]

Yep, it says that "Arda is Morgoth's Ring."

[Valandil]

So now we don't gotta read it? :p

[Artanis]

The most beloved parts of Morgoth's Ring is the Athrabeth, the Laws & Customs of the Eldar, and Myths transformed. That's why you have to read it.

[Artanis]

BTW, I started my HoME readings with the pieces I just mentioned, and then read The Shibboleth in HoME 12, and then HoME 3: The Lays of Beleriand, and continued to read the books in more or less arbitrary order, and just recently BolT 1 and 2. I regret it! I should have started with BoLT first, the old mythology. It is not only very beautifully written, but it is very interesting to see the development of the mythology.

[Fat middle]

I think you should reconsider your decission. Letters would be my advice. It's a book that not only gives you information about the works but also about the author and the meaning of the books.

Besides, it's easier to be read than the HOME series.

[Beor]

THE BoLT is really good, it is really amazing to see such great work take form, adn I definitely recomend it (even though I am still plunging through it), as both a great book, and a learning experience, if you feel like writing something yourself one day. :)

[Elf Girl]

I would say, read HoME from first to last if you care how it was created. I, frankly, don't, and care only about ME as it was when he wrote LotR. So I read whatever interests me.

[Dúnedain]

Another question.

Do any books in the HoME series discuss the other wars going on during the War of the Ring, such as those in Mirkwood and in the North with King Dain and King Brand?

I noticed that one of the HoME books is title The War of the Ring, but I am not sure if that stuff is included in it...

If this isn't included in any HoME series books, anyone know where it is recorded, besides the very little in the LotR Appendices...

[Attalus]

Hmm, The War of the Ring and Sauron Defeated both touch on those matters, as does "The Hunt for the Ring" in Unfinished Tales. Nowhere do I remember a comprhensive account.

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by Attalus
as does "The Hunt for the Ring" in Unfinished Tales. Nowhere do I remember a comprhensive account.

Figures, lol, that's one of a few chapters in UT I haven't read yet :D