Rating: 
Summary: spellbinding fiction in a badly bound package -
Review: As a work of literature it is hard to argue that this must be one of the greatest books of the 20th century. A classic "good will always triumph over evil" tale that is exceedingly well thought through. The plot might be a little tricky to follow for youngeer readers, ( tip: keep a note pad to remember who everyone is) but the story is spellbinding. I gave it four stars because although the literature is worth five plus, the quality of this boxed set is woefully inadequate. The bindings will not last the first read and the print is way to small for such a large work. Frankly it's a piece of junk and not worth the money I had hoped that this would be a special addition to my library but instead i will give it to my 14 year old daughter in the hope that she will read it before it disintegrates. I will keep looking for something of higher quality for my bookshelves.
Rating: 
Summary: The Millenium Edition
Review: This story is by far one of my favorites. I read it several times a year, so you might be suprised that I am rating it with only 2 stars! The reason it received such a low rating from me is the binding of the book, and the poor quality of the printing would not last through one of my readings. I had to send it back. I have the paperback edition and have for years, and it has held up through a lot. I was looking for something to last even longer - this was not the right choice. I was expecting much more from the Millenium edition, but I guess I should have learned not to place so much on the millenium hype. I DO recommend reading LOTR, it WILL change the way you daydream for years... but find a version that will last with those years, because you wil want to return to this story...
Rating: 
Summary: The Greatest Work of Fiction Ever Published
Review: Short of religious holy books I can think of no book ever published that has had such a profound effect on so many people. Spanning language, culture, and time, the Lord of the Rings embodies what is both evil and good, what it is to experience the journey of life, and to recognize the worth in living as a good person. That's all it is. Simple and direct. Far from preachy, Tolkien's masterpiece blooms with vivid imagery and complex characters all alive in a world so detailed that you'd swear he was recounting history. There are hundreds of reviews here and I'm sure many people will say things more nobly than i shall but the true magic of these books is in the way it transforms people who read it. Though I cannot begin to understand how it happens, The Lord of the Rings seems to make its readers more aware of the value of virtue. It can sleep inside of you for years or change your life by the end of the first book. What it will do for you individually I cannot guess though I know it is always for the better.
Rating:
Summary: The Lord of the Rings (Millennium Edition)
Review: How can you go wrong? This is the Lord of the Epics. A classic tale of Good versus Evil. The Lord of the Rings is THE essential Fantasy lovers read. A Classic! Likewise the Millennium Edition has been returned to it's ORIGINAL six volume set and they've added a seventh Reference volume! This is a must for any serious Tolkien afficianado! A Timeless Classic encased in it's original splendid glory!
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece of Fantasy
Review: The Lord of The Rings is by far the most extensive, complex, and rewarding book I have ever read. It has all the qualities which make it a great story: characters, plot, dialogue...It is also prophetic, poetic, romantic...I started reading it a little over a year ago and I'm abou to finish it. To say that I liked it wouldn't do justice to the work. It has been such an envolving ride, I mean I felt captivated by the world of Middle-Earth and everything in it. There are not enough words to describe the feeling that one gets while reading this book. I hope everyone that reads it enjoys it as much as I have.
Rating:
Summary: The three-volume 1988 text is the most accurate
Review: Sometimes called the "Douglas Anderson" edition, the 1987/1988 three-volume printing of The Lord of the Rings incorporates the final corrections Tolkien made to the book. No previous edition includes all the corrections. Unfortunately, Houghton Mifflin's book production quality has declined through the years and these books are as liable to fall apart with normal usage as not. But any reader who wants the most accurate representation of Tolkien's masterpiece needs this edition. Not even the Alan Lee illustrated Centenniel edition incorporates the final textual changes. The value of owning the "most faithful text" really depends on whether you want to know if a Silmaril was Luthien's bride-price or bride-piece (the former is the correct term, though many editions say bride-price). When I am in doubt about what Tolkien actually intended to say for any Second Edition passage, I turn to the Douglas Anderson printing. It is a necessary tool for any Tolkien researcher.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Edition?
Review: I gave this book 3 stars because I am undecided on its quality. The story is undeniably fantastic, but Scott Truesdell's review of the October 1988 edition worries me. I have seen this set in my school library, and I was quite satisfied with it. The binding did not strike me as faulty, and the artistry on the cover was quite satisfying. True, the map is awkward to unfold, but anyone with enough patience and reverence will manage just fine. I have experience with just this situation, for the map in my collector's edition has the same problem, and though it did rip a little, I can open the map as often as I need. About the ink splattered throughout, I can only hope that Mr. Truesdell was unlucky in his particular case. I plan to buy this particular edition, and I thank Mr. Truesdell for his warning, but I hope that it will not deter everyone from buying what I expect to be a good purchase. I, for one, am heading back to the library to check the points that he despised, possibly saving myself the disappointment he experienced. I will write again when I form a conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: The Lord Of The Rings } Fellowship/Towers/Rtn Of King !
Review: When Gandalf the Wizard discovered that Frodo's Magic Ring was in fact the One Ring, Ruler of all the Rings of Power, Frodo with his servant, Samwise and kinsman, Meriadoc and Peregrin with companions Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, Boromir, Son of the lord of Gondor, Legolas, Son of the Elven-King of Mirkwood and Gimli, Son of Gloin of the Lonely Mountain. They must travel to the Cracks of Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring to stop the evil Dark Lord, Sauron. Pursued by the servants of Mordor The Nazgul they must trust and rely on one another. This Book is for older readers as it is 3 large book for 1 story. It is a powerful and gripping tale !!
Rating: 
Summary: This Edition is a Disgrace!
Review: This is not a critique of Tolkien's work; rather it is a condemnation of Houghton Mifflin's hardcover boxed set. Thirty years after first reading "The Lord of the Rings" I decided to read it again. Besides the engrossing and detailed story, I had a renewed interest in the technical aspects of Tolkien's craft and his use of the English language. I am not disappointed and I am enjoying the reading immensely.I bought the Hardcover Boxed edition published October, 1988, by Houghton Mifflin Co (Trd); ISBN: 0395489326 ; because I wanted a high quality, permanent copy with good typesetting and larger print. When I received this particular edition I was shocked at the extremely poor quality of print and generally poor quality of every aspect of the presentation. In two of the volumes the maps are incorrectly bound so that they are impossible to unfold. It is not even possible to cut the map out of the book because important parts of the middle of it have been sewn up in the binding. But the damning point of this edition is the printed page. Every single page has both drop outs and extra ink everywhere. The printing weight varies from page to page, at times fading to a medium gray, at other times a dense bold face. I am not exaggerating when I proclaim that most paperbacks are printed more carefully and more clearly than this. Buy the books, read them and enjoy them. But benefit from my misfortune and stay far far away from this edition.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: Probably the most profound piece of fantasy literature written in the 20th century, J.R.R Tolkien's masterpiece is the foundation of modern fantasy writing. This book is a moving, living account of a world that never was, making Middle Earth so real that one cannot help having the feeling that all else is just a dream. The characters are varied and lively and the scenes portrayed are quite breathtaking, while the action is either fast-paced or profound. Anyone who has ever enjoyed curling up with a good fantasy novel, will not only curl up but eat sleep and breathe with this text.
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