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Summary: The Completion of the Epic Trilogy
Review: "The Return of the King" completes "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy that began with "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers." J.R.R. Tolkien took Arthurian legends and Norse mythology and recreated the realm of high fantasy in the 1950s that continues to be popular today.
That Tolkien was able to forge a bond with "Fellowship" then split up the characters was a masterful stroke. In "Return" we follow Pippin and Gandalf to Minas Tirith, where Pippin becomes part of the tower guard for Denethor, the Steward of Gondor and father of Boromir and Faramir. Merry, left behind in Rohan, bonds with King Theoden, and later secretly rides to battle with the mysterious Dernhelm. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take with paths of the dead to recruit an army that must fulfill its destiny to become free of a curse. We also get the sub-stories of Eowyn and Faramir. And Frodo and Sam don't even appear until the second half of the book!
What I liked about "Return" is that Tolkien continued to raise the stakes and throw obstacles in the way of his characters. Merry and Eowyn pay a price during their encounter with the ringwraithes. Frodo gets stabbed, stung and bitten. Yet, each character gets to be a hero in a believable way. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are already larger than life heroes, so the hobbits are really the source of humanity in the story, the observers who rise above their stature and perform great acts of bravery. That Tolkien could show growth in so many characters, and even in Aragorn as he gradually accepts his destiny as the king of his people, was remarkable.
The book is filled with excellent detail about the lands and history of the peoples, and I found myself glad that there were handy maps in the back for reference.
After the climax, there are another fifty or so pages as the characters make their way homeward and Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin must retake the Shire from the thugs who have assumed control. This would be unheard of in a book today, since the main action has been completed, but Tolkien is going completing the journey by having the characters return as champions. In the "Scouring of the Shire" chapter, we see how much the hobbits have truly grown, as they must wage a campaign without their other friends to help them. Finally, "The Grey Havens" draws our story to a close.
The appendices are also worthy of perusal, as they are filled with historical details of the world of legend, when Isildur battled Sauron, etc. as well as what happended to the principle characters after Frodo returned to the Shire. By reading these pieces, one glimpses the amazing scope that a writer can undertake to create a world filled with fascinating stories, rich history, multi-dimensional characters, and sweeping landscapes.
This series is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Finally got my full attention
Review: At long last I read the final volume all the way through on my third stab at the trilogy. I've just always run out of gas after the first 1000 or so pages so it made sense to just start with this one and give it the attention it deserves (especially after seeing the film). I was suprised at how much I enjoyed the journey of the hobbits back to the Shire to kick some hindquarters as toughened warriors. Also, this was the first time for me that a book (or movie) took the time to delve into the feelings of the protagonists as their heroic climax passes and they fade back into to normal life. I found it useful in my own life.
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Summary: A Great Read
Review: Brilliant. Awe-inspiring. Masterfully written.J.R.R. Tolkien creates another world--indeed, another culture and language--in what many consider the greatest novel of the 20th Century, "The Lord of the Rings." A sweeping, all-encompassing tale of a make-believe world, LOTR is the product of an imagination that may never be equalled again. THE RETURN OF THE KING, being the third and final installment of this novel, takes the reader on a magical journey as the Third Age of Middle-earth comes to its dramatic conclusion, as the Fellowship of the Ring confronts for the final time the Dark Lord and his evil minions. The battle is waged on the Pelennor Fields outside of Minas Tirith in Gondor--a battle that is costly, harrowing, intense. . .exhilarating. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam continue their journey into the heart of Darkness itself--the inhospitable, deadly land of Mordor--to continue Frodo's quest to destroy the One Ring in the blazing inferno of Mt. Doom. And as Tolkien pulls all of the wonderful components of his epic story together, one man steps forward to claim the throne of Gondor. . .to bring healing to the war-ravaged lands of Middle-earth. THE RETURN OF THE KING is the pinnacle of storytelling, but in my opinion is the weakest of the trilogy, as Tolkien creates a powerful climax then lingers for almost one hundred pages wrapping up his story. This is augmented by the actions of Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin upon their return to the Shire; the sudden "machismo" of these Hobbits as they confront the corruption of their homeland is inconsistent with the inherent vulnerability of the characters as depicted through the books. Despite my slight misgivings, THE RETURN OF THE KING is a marvelous book--an exceptional read. Having read this epic several times, it's always a bit sad to come to the end, to say goodbye to such wonderful characters. Highly recommended.
--D. Mikels
Rating: 
Summary: It's okay to read once, but...
Review: Definitely too much description. Tolkien wrote an epic classic, but he did "describe the color of the landscape," for 20 pages. I enjoyed reading it once, but I could not read it more than that. Buy it and read it, it's good. Or a better idea is to get it from the library.
Rating:
Summary: Pales in comparison to its predecessors, but still good...
Review: Let's face it, "The Return of the King" is easily the worst of the trilogy (as far as the books go), but that doesn't stop it from being an beaitifully written and exciting conclusion. It's probably the hardest and all the chapters are really huge, so its only for dedicated readers. I loved this book, except for Chapter Eight of Book Six, "The Scouring of the Shire." But then, very few people do like that particular bit.
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Summary: You're missing out if you have not read this book!!
Review: Lord of the Rings reads like one very long book that the reader finds themselves unable to put down. It goes without saying that you must read "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" before you read this one. This, the third segment, is the climax to what the other two stories built up. This was astonishingly real for a book about wizards, hobbits and elves and I loved it. It is the only book that I have ever found myself crying when it was over. It was a sad sort of ending, (I won't spoil it), but it wasn't because of that. These vivid characters whom I had come to know and love for the months that it took me to go through "The Hobbit" and the other Lord of the Rings books were abandoning me. They would go on with their lives and have glorious new adventures of which I could not be a part of...I miss Sam most of all. The afterward of this book is a gem as well, since you can learn to read and write in Elvish and in runes, and find out histories and afterwards behind the epic. This is a must read for anybody. You are missing out if you do not read this. (And I might add that if you haven't, you are among a shrinking number of people, since the series continues only to grow in popularity.)
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Summary: "The Lord of the Ring - Return of the the King"
Review: LOTR III: The Return of the Kings, like the other works of Tolkien on Middle-Earth, is very time-consuming and yet truly worth your time. If you have the time I would advise you to read this.
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Summary: One of the Greatest Books Ever Written
Review: The beautiful conclusion of the entire trilogy is realized here. This novel is satisfying on many levels and has a complexity and vision that is missing from many of it's imitators.
Please be aware though that there is a difference in the pacing of the novel from the films. I read the novel before I saw the film, and it is possible that seeing the film first may distract some readers. This novel is written at a leisurley place, it is not a quick read, but it is a doorway into the authors imagination and philosophy. Definitely worth the trip.
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Summary: Toliken's Masterpiece
Review: The Lord of the Ring The Return of the King The Random House, 1955, 494, $7.99
J.R.R. Tolkin ISBN 0-345-33973-8 It is being hailed as the greatest fantasy epic of are time. The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King is the last book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The main characters are Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf. Pippin, Sam , Merry , and Frodo are hobbits. Legolas is an Elf, Gimli is a Dwarf, Aragorn is a Man, and Gandalf is a Wizard. My favorite part of the book is Pelennor Fields. Frodo is taken to the tower of Cirth Ungol and is saved by Sam. Then they move closer the fires of Mount Doom. While Frodo and Sam are moving towards Mt. Doom the rest of the fellowship is creating a war a a diversion. Will they trick Sauron or will he get the Ring? To find out read this book.
I liked this book because my favorite genre has always been fantasies. I feel that the book is well written and has unforgettable characters. The book is special because of it settings. I'm recommending it because it is one of my favorite books of all time. I would rate the book five out of five stars. Any type of person would like this book. Drew O., Grade 6
Bales Intermediate, Friendswood , Texas
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Summary: A great, triumphant conclusion!
Review: The mighty fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings comes to it's final conclusion in The Return of the King, a once-again stroll through brilliance and imaginative flair. Author J.R.R. Tolkien has definitely created something genuine. Though it's a little saddening that the last part of this fantastic story is once again diseased by it's predecessor's problems. The Return of the King starts out with the wizard Gandalf as he rides to Minas Tirith, captital of Gondor (with Pippin in hand), to seek it's leader. Meanwhile, Aragorn and King Theoden march triumphantly into battle against the forces of Mordor along with Legolas, Gimli and Merry. The reunited six members of the Fellowship, joined by Eoywn, Eomer and Faramir, face off in a final war against the Dark Lord Sauron's forces. In the dark depths of the tower of Cirith Ungol, Frodo has been captured by Orcs after the climactic battle against the spider Shelob, leaving Sam with the Ring. Gollum has slinked away, and Sam must brave through Mordor to fulfil his master's duties. But when Frodo escapes, both of the hobbits enter Mordor to finally finish the dreadful deed of having the evil One Ring destroyed. Plot-wise, The Return of the King beats out both first and second parts of the story. Battles and fights in the final installment just steal your heart away, one coming from Merry defeating a deadly foe. However, the first part of the book easily suffers from the problems of The Two Towers and Fellowship of the Ring: Tolkien constantly tells of nothing that is crucial to the story, and unessessary dialogue. Indeed it doesn't hurt the book's main story, but it doesn't add to it either. The characters, however, save this novel a great deal. One thing Tolkien succeeds mostly is his character creations. They are all likable and completely entertaining in originality and depth. With new characters and of course, Middle-Earth's wonderful landscapes, this is a triumphant end to the story. The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest novels ever created, and The Return of the King fits with it perfectly.
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