The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth

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Summary: Brilliant concordance to Tolkien¿s work
Review: This detailed guide was compiled to assist readers of The Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion by placing historical events, characters and places in the context of Tolkien's vast cosmology. As such it is an indispensable concordance for the serious fan of Tolkien's world. The history of Middle Earth and Aman was woven together with great attention to detail so that all the stories fit together in perfect cohesion. The main body of the work has alphabetical entries from "Abyss" to "Zirak-Zigil", while Appendix A is a chronology of the First Age from the creation of Eä to the birth of Elrond and Elros, and Appendix B contains genealogical tables like that of the first house of the Edain, the lines of Isildur and Anarion, the descent of the Peredhil, the house of Hurin and the Rohirrim. Many of the Elvish entries have translations of their meaning, e.g. Aragorn = "Royal Tree". The treatment of languages, like variations and different shades of meaning, is quite detailed and interesting. Important races, places and characters have extensive commentary devoted to them but there are also many single line entries. This comprehensive reference work makes one appreciate Tolkien's achievement all the more. I recommend it to all who are seriously interested in his brilliant creation that has come to life again at the beginning of our third millennium with the release of the excellent Lord Of The Rings movie trilogy. I would also like to recommend David Day's book "A Tolkien Bestiary" which contains maps, chronologies and wonderful illustrations. These two titles together are all you need to have a complete reference to Aman and Middle Earth.

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Summary: Comprehensive and user-friendly
Review: I loved this book. As cliche as it sounds, this encyclopeadia of Tolkien's world is an essential guide to both new-comers and devotees alike. For every name, every place, and every concept that is mentioned in the novels, there is a listing and extensive explanation. I was able to cross-reference my way to the very beginnings of the Ainur and the development of Middle-earth to unravel some nagging questions that had always confused me.
The guide includes language origins, alternate references, geographic descriptions and family lineage charts. A wonderful piece to have by your side as you delve into a new reading hobby (or encounter a stumper with fellow fans.) HIGHLY worth the money.

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Summary: Only five stars? This book should get MORE!
Review: How can a real Tolkien 'Ringer' or even a beginner read Tolkien without this book? Every name, thing, place, etc. in the books. Background information. Explanations. Trivia. Etc. Etc. I keep my copy with me as I read. It helps keeps characters straight in your mind and expands on what you have just read in whatever Tolkien book you may be reading. Fills in gaps that make the reading much more fun! A must have!

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Summary: Answeres to your Middle-Earth questions lay in this book...
Review: Let me preface this review by saying that I have an earlier publication of this book (c. 1985). I do not know if there have been any additions, subtractions, or updates in general to the text but this book is a wealth of knowledge. If you have a question from exactly what Sauron is; to what different names Aragorn is known by throughout the world; to Elrond's lineage nearly all the way back to the beginning of the world, you will find the answers here. Sometimes I'll leaf through my dingy old book just to try and find something I haven't read before or refresh my memory on an silly little fact. In no way have things been skewed from the original text by Tolkien. The definitions contained are merely distilled in a way similar to that of an encyclopedia. Finally, concerning the front cover artwork... I agree with other reviewers here: the portrayal of the character's is not how I imagine them. But in defense of the cover, it is by Greg $ Tim Hildebrant, a premier fantasy art team for decades... If they had painted Smaug conversing with Bilbo nearly everyone would love it.

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Summary: A must have
Review: I really liked this book, because if you see the movie and then read the book description of the characters and places you can see all the mistakes that the movie had. I am not criticizing the movie, because I think it's great, but this book will guide you through Middle Earth. If you are planning to read "The Hobbit","The Lord of the Rings",or other book by Tolkien,you really should read this book before.

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Summary: An indispensable guide
Review: I began with purchasing the Illustrated Encyclopedia..., by David Day, and was astounded at how many mistakes it had. As a reviewer has coined it, "Unreliable Eye Candy". So I returned it and purchased this less attractive, but wholly higher quality guide to the wonderful world of Middle-earth. Encyclopedia-style, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth lays out everything that you could possibly be confused about with eloquent definitions and accurate information. I could nit-pick about the art on the cover - Aragorn looks like a French musketeer (I never have been a fan of the Brothers Hildebrandt.) I thought this after buying it. Then a guest came over and commented on "the stupid cover", before quickly becoming enthralled in the pages and asking to borrow it.

However, a particular reviewer seems to think that the author of this book is re-writing Middle-earth, and "morphing Middle-Earth": to this reviewer, who shall rename nameless *cough cough*, I say, "Ignorance is as Ignorance does". This book covers everything from the letters of Tengwar to the Noldor to the Lamps of the Valar and beyond.

In conclusion; don't buy the more visually appealing "Illustrated Encyclopedia" by David Day. Get this one. I believe Tolkien would be proud.

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Summary: DREAM ON! Tolkien is the ONLY author for Middle Earth...
Review: I haven't read this book, but judging from the idiotic cover picture, and from what people say, I would think this is nothing more than a dictionary to middle earth. Does it include how to speak and translate the Elvish (or the Tengwar-the Elvish form of writing-, or the Cirth-used by most-, etc) language? NO! Does it include J R R Tolkien's amazingly detailed maps? NO! You could merely find out about characters in the MIDDLE EARTH BOOKS!
And what baboon would forget what an Ent is? I would hope that some of you would suggest books with J R R Tolkien's maps, and how to learn Elvish (mwahahaha... think of the possabilities), because that's what I want. I am being critical and calling people baboons of my own free will to insult. I wish the guy made a book like that before he died :'(, cuz I don't want some amatuer writing _HIS_ Middle Earth books, morfing Middle Earth, and trying to draw _HIS_ maps! I definitely don't want middle earth morfed, like how some authors added on to Star Wars, probably changing the attitudes, making up hub-bub and calling it "Tatooin" language.

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Summary: Can't praise this book enough!
Review: If you love Tolkien, you'll get a lot of use out of this book. After a point, the sheer number of characters and places can become overwhelming -- especially when so many have several names.

'Guide' is a godsend, and is always right by my side every time I pick up Lord of the Rings. It's an invaluable companion book that covers everything from Arda to the Silmarillion. The descriptions are thorough; at times an entire histroy is given. Reference pages are noted. I had started taking notes, which was a real nuisance. This book makes that unnecessary.

In the trilogy, there are a few passages that hint at a great mystery. Impatient as I am, Mr. Foster's 'Guide' explains the pre-LotR history clearly without giving away *too* much.

Though it's a reference book, you can spend hours (no joke, I've done it!) going from one entry to another, as many are tied together in the story. For example, I looked up 'Palantir' and from there went to Saruman, Orthanc and maybe a dozen other entries.

What a fun book to get lost in!

I can't say enough about this book. It's absolutely fantastic, and if you love Tolkien's magnificent saga, you need the 'Guide'!

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Summary: The only complete and accurate encyclopedia
Review: In an age when readers habitually turn to the Web for reference guides, it's useful to remember that the =only= complete and accurate encyclopedia of Tolkien's legendarium as published through =The Silmarillion= is a book, and to have it reprinted in this new edition. This is the first trade paperback of Foster's classic guide. Its page references have always been to the Ballantine paperbacks; new typesettings of =LotR= have given this edition three sets of page references, making it a bit hard to use. A cross-reference table to the old hardcovers is retained, but newer typesettings of the hardcovers are not mentioned. Or I think not: unless I missed it, the book doesn't actually say what editions the new page references are to. Still, Foster remains the most essential book about Tolkien's world by someone other than Tolkien himself.

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Summary: Exceptional reference to a convoluted history
Review: All entries are clear and concise, and they list the language from which the word comes (if it's not from the Common language) and the page numbers of the specific Tolkien books that reference the word.

Abbreviations are explained near the front of the book... and anyone who doesn't understand that "q.v." (quod vide--"which see" in Latin) is a common publishing abbreviation for "this word is cross-referenced in this very book" can surely figure it out from the context in which it appears.

I highly recommend using this book as a reference while you're reading The Silmarillion, the Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth, or even The Lord of The Rings, although reading it during LotR might indeed ruin some surprises if you haven't read it before. Btw (by the way), it makes the appendices at the end of LotR easier to digest.