The first book in the Lord of the rings trilogy. In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power, the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil dominion. Tells of the fateful power of the one ring. All the members of the fellowship, hobbits, elves and wizards, are plunged into a clash between good and evil
The Lord of the Rings Series
An epic fantasy series that follows the journey of Frodo and his companions as they seek to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth. The story is filled with adventure, friendship, and the battle between good and evil.
Recommended Reading Order
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- 449 pages
- 16 hours of reading
This is the second book in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. It tells the epic story of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring and involves Gandalf the Wizard, Merry, Pippin and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf and Strider.
The Lord of the Rings 3. The Return of the King
- 432 pages
- 16 hours of reading
The armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads ever wider. Men, dwarves, elves and ents unite forces to do battle against the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring.
Related books
Unfinished tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
- 512 pages
- 18 hours of reading
An extraordinary discovery is waiting for you on these pages. Mythic lore and forgotten legends unearthed by Christopher Tolkien from his father's archives unveil never-before-told stories of the three ages of ancient Middle-earth. THE FIRST AGE Young lord Turin fled from Morgoth’s forces, wandering in disguise as an outlaw until he could avenge his people against the evil that had razed his home. But Turin lived under the curse of a hateful dragon—and the lord’s secret identity hid more than he knew. THE SECOND AGE Prince Aldarion’s heart belonged to Erendis, but his passion lay with the ocean, and the great ships that sailed beyond the sight of the land. But no man could serve two mistresses—and no mortal’s love could withstand the lure of the sea. THE THIRD AGE The great warrior Isildur escaped with the One Ring, cut from the Dark Lord Sauron’s hand, to hide it from Evil’s grasp. But Isildur would learn the burden of a ringbearer—and of its temptation and despair.
Beren and Lúthien
- 297 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts, this epic tale of Beren and Lúthien is presented as a continuous and standalone story, reuniting fans with the rich landscape and creatures of Middle-earth. Central to the evolution of The Silmarillion, this narrative was crafted by Tolkien in 1917, shortly after his return from the battle of the Somme. The story revolves around the love between Beren, a mortal man, and Lúthien, an immortal Elf, whose union is threatened by her father's fierce opposition. He imposes an impossible task on Beren, which sets the stage for their heroic quest to steal a Silmaril from Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings. Christopher Tolkien endeavors to extract this tale from the larger work in which it was originally embedded, showcasing its evolution through various drafts. By presenting the original form alongside later prose and verse passages, he illustrates how the narrative transformed over time. This compilation reveals lost aspects of the story, enhancing the reader's understanding of its depth and significance within the broader mythology of Middle-earth.
The Fall of Gondolin
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar.
Tales from the Perilous Realm
- 432 pages
- 16 hours of reading
This is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit, fully corrected and reset for this edition and all beautifully illustrated in pencil by the award-winning artist, Alan Lee.
"The great tale of The children of Húrin, set during the legendary time before the Lord of the Rings. Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwells in the vast fortress of Angband in the North; and within the shadow of the fear of Angband, and the war waged by Morgoth against the Elves, the fates of Túrin and his sister Nienor will be tragically entwined. Their brief and passionate lives are dominated by the elemental hatred that Morgoth bears them as the children of Húrin, the man who dared to defy him to his face. Against them Morgoth sends his most formidable servant, Glaurung, a powerful spirit in the form of a huge wingless dragon of fire, in an attempt to fulfil the curse of Morgoth and destroy the children of Húrin."--Cover verso.
The Fall of Numenor
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Guided by the Dark Lord Sauron, the Elves of Eregion forge the Rings of Power. Yet in secret he has begun building the Barad-dûr in Mordor, and here, in the fires of Mount Doom, he makes the One Ring. Seeking to rule Middle-earth, Sauron begins to wage terrible war upon them.On the island-kingdom of Númenor, the Men of the West become mighty, building great ships to increase their influence throughout Middle-earth. But as their power grows, the seed of their downfall is sown. Only by uniting in alliance with the Elves can they hope to overcome Sauron.
The Hobbit
Or There and Back Again
"The Hobbit" is the prelude to "The Lord of the Rings" series, and should be read before "The Fellowship of the Ring".
Designed to take fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings deeper into the myths and legends of Middle-earth.
Before The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the earliest myths and legends of Middle-earth and Valinor were laid down in The Book of Lost Tales, written by J.R.R. Tolkien between 1916 and 1920, and compiled by Christopher Tolkien for publication in 1983. The Book of Lost Tales stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor, for the Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. Embedded in English legend, they are set in the narrative frame of a great westward voyage over the Ocean by a mariner named Eriol to the lonely Isle where the Elves dwelt; from them he learned their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse. In the Tales are found the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of the geography and cosmology of Tolkien's invented world. This first volume in Christopher Tolkien's epic History of Middle-earth series is the perfect gateway for anyone wanting to tread deeper into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's world and discover the evolution of the Middle-earth stories.
