The Complete Guide to Middle-earth : Tolkien's World from A to Z

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Summary: Geographic, character, and metaphysical names explained!
Review: As the editorial review says, this is essentially a dictionary for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion. It does also include data from some of Tolkien's other writings. A very useful appendix explains dates given during the First Age, based upon the inclusion of events predating the Years of the Sun, such as the Spring of Arda. This book will be a valued reference for those fascinated by the events of Middle-Earth and the Changes of the World. It may leave you desiring even more information, but that is what you will find in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, as well as in such reference material as Karen Wynn Fonstad's revised Atlas of Middle-Earth. You will surely enjoy the answers provided and the new searches begun by reading this guidebook.

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Summary: Helpful Guide for those who seek answers
Review: Robert Foster has done a great job indeed for this is truly "The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth!" Literary includes ALL names (characters, regions, mountains, rivers & etc.) that are found in the Silmarillion, the Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings!

Now, I would like to address to all Tolkien fans who struggle with finding the meanings and origins of the unknown names - get this book and your problem will be solved! You will find history and explanations of every term that Tolkien used. For example, who was Elendil? According to the book, ELENDIL - Dunadan of Numenor, son of Amandil of Andunie and the leader of the Faithful, the noblest of the Dunedain to survive the fall of Numenor. And so on...

As you can see the book is very useful and it is organized like a dictionary, so there is no problem in fining the necessary information.