Lord Of The Rings

Rating:
Summary: WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Review: I had bought a Lord of the Rings Leatherette Collector's Edition (the red one) before I bought this edition. When I got the Leatherette, there were NUMEROUS PROBLEMS(a page was not alligned with the others, 2 pages were bent, AND the print was horrible; faded, blurred). THIS book BLOWS the red one OUT OF THE WATER! The leather is gorgeous! It's not the cheap, ripable type. By the way, the color of the book is grayish-black-blue, but it still looks beautiful! It's VERY sturdy and tough. It's not terribly heavy. The foil stamping looks wonderful. It adds A LOT to the cover of the book! The gilded pages are so shiny that you can see your own reflection! The pages are thick, and not the cheap blinding, shiny kind used in textbooks as in the red one. I DEFINETLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ONE WHO LOVES THE MOVIES (WHICH ARE AWESOME AND VEEERY WELL MADE) AND IS A TRUE FAN OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN!

Rating:
Summary: The greatest world of fantasy ever imagined!
Review: Each of the books that make up this trilogy is a masterpiece. This can be lost somewhat in the hype of the movies based on these fantasy tales. As good as the movies all were, the three books should be read in their entirety as well in order to form an appreciation for the absolutely wonderful world that Tolkien created. Even if you are not a fan of the fantasy genre, there is something so captivating in each of these books. This group of books would definitely be included in my list of "desert-island" books. It's probably a good idea for people to read the book "The Hobbit" before beginning this trilogy. This little book introduces the reader to the wonderful world of Hobbits. This trilogy has everything - adventure, romance, war, deception, and a whole world of wonderful creatures! I could go on and on about this, but you need to read this for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: A Binding Worthy Of Its Contents
Review: For its 50th anniversary The Lord of the Rings has at last been produced in an edition worthy of the beauty of its contents. For the first time, J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece has received the treatment due to its classic status: leather binding, gilded edges, fine paper, everything the finest literary works should be accorded but are rarely given.

J.R.R. Tolkien was never very happy with the publishing treatment given to The Lord of the Rings. He was obliged to leave out the pages of the dwarf history found in the Chamber of Mazarbul in Moria when the publishing technology of the mid 1950s wasn't able to accomodate his painstaking production. He was never pleased with the arbitrary division of the book into three volumes, and much of the artwork, particularly that of the first American paperback editions, pained him deeply. Now at last we can feel that he would pick up this edition and smile.

For this edition Tolkien's son Christopher has carefully prepared the text so as to eliminate many typographical and other errors which had crept in over the years. Noted Tolkien scholars Wayne Hammond, Christina Scull, and Douglas Anderson have contributed forewards to explain some of the history of these revisions. This edition will truly become the Standard Edition of The Lord of the Rings.

This edition of The Lord of the Rings is worthy to be read in Middle earth itself. As I hold it in my hands, I can imagine reading it sitting by an open round window in Bag End, or in the Hall of Fire in Rivendell, or on a flet in Lothlorien or a tower in Minas Tirith. Any edition of The Lord of the Rings will introduce you to Tolkien's world. Only this one will do so in a manner worthy of the genius of its creator.

Rating:
Summary: Anniversary Edition: US vs. UK deluxe versions
Review: Houghton Mifflin has produced a slightly larger book in leather, a covering that extends to the slipcase; the leather has a faint marbled appearance and a brushed feel. The paper is good quality too, with an appealing translucency that sits well with the gilded edges (although when the book is closed, the gold looks a little cheap compared with the pale finish on the available HarperCollins India paper edition). The boards, however, both for the slipcase and book seem a little thin, which betrays the sense of quality, and once the gilded pages have had a cursory ruffle, it's a surprise to find the book needs squeezing back in the slipcase, which then bows out in response, giving the item a bloated appearance. Should you wish to remove the book, a good shake is required to free it.

Like other customers, it took me more than one attempt to acquire a good copy, by this I mean one where the signatures had been correctly centred between the boards, and where the leather had been firmly - if not tidily - affixed to the inside of the slipcase. Nevertheless, the manufacturer still seemed unable to correctly centralise the slipcase labels in their embossed frames. This would have been a nice detail if executed well.

Where the US edition shines, however, is in the inclusion of the two large-scale fold out maps, laid in at either end of the book. These are exceptional, and unavailable in the UK deluxe edition of this release.

What, the UK edition doesn't have fold out maps? At twice the price? Well, it does, but they are not the large-scale affairs that graced the original releases and which are represented in the US edition in question; the ones HarperCollins have laid in throughout the text of their deluxe edition fold out horizontally only, which is to say they are scaled down. I presume that this design choice is made to tie in with the format of the fold out Thror's Map in the matching deluxe Hobbit, but still, it seems a wasted opportunity.

Indeed, it is easy to see what the UK edition does not have: i.e., leather, big maps, two tone print, and gilding, but a cursory glance at the design and build of HarperCollins' deluxe edition quickly reveals its superior quality. For a start, the boards used for both book and slipcase are thickera and sturdier, and the uncovered slipcase innards are constructed from a sympathetic base material: here it is a closely matched, light grey board. Similar care has been taken in the UK edition's old fashioned presentation: the case has a gently curved front for effortless book removal, and a circular window reveals part of the book's front design, completing it with its own embossed motif. Although not leather, the selection of fine quality coverings cannot be faulted: the mottled grey paper perfectly complements the textured maroon quarter-binding and matching slipcase (in turn, the grey backing is also used on the deluxe Hobbit, going equally well with green).

Crucially, however, the execution of the design is spot on, something sorely lacking in the US edition: the folds of the covering within the slipcase are deep and symmetrical, which is even more impressive considering the curved front, and the embossing is firmly pressed in, lending depth and texture. Basically, everything you expect from the manufacture of such an expensive book is delivered in the UK edition; from the engineering of the slipcase window, to the squareness of every available edge, care with the details shines through.

With Amazon's discounts, both books are fair value, but as the UK edition reflects a £100 price tag rather than a $100 one, you inevitably end up with a better product, and one that just begs to be matched with its equally exemplary green counterpart.


Rating:
Summary: Quality and Efficiency
Review: I chose the "free" Super Saver shipping. It shipped the next day and it was estimated to arrive in approx. 10 working days. It showed up in 3 and the book was in perfect condition. The book is beautiful and well worth 63.00. Thank You

Rating:
Summary: LOTR 50th Anniversary Edition Book
Review: I have bought this edition book though I think it's a bit expensive. But...when I received the book, I felt like getting the Red Book of West March. Now the book has attracted me as once the One Ring did to Isildur, even Frodo. IT IS MY PRECIOUSSSS!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Simply Beautiful
Review: I recomend this copy to every LOTR fan who can afford to buy it. I knew for the type of money I was shelling out it would be a good copy, but it even surpassed my high expectations.

The thing I enjoy most is the feel. The outside is a soft smooth leather that is a pleasure to hold. The pages are a super fine paper that feels perfectly smooth yet doesn't allow the ink to smear one tiny bit. If you read as much as I do you know the pleasure of holding and leafing through an expensive book as opposed to one that used cheap, rough, highly acidic paper.

The other great thing is the look. The gold leaf is very thick and vibrant and doesn't flake off in your hand. On some books the gold leaf can have a washed out look. Not the case here. The gold lettering on the spine and on the cover are also well done.

Last but definitely not least is the text. The print is the perfect size, not too small and not too big. The fold out maps are also beautifully done in red and black ink, be extra careful when unfolding them the first time to not rip it.

If you love LOTR you owe yourself the joy of having a book of a physical quality that matches the quality of the words J. R. R. Tolkein gave to us. It's worth the price.

Rating:
Summary: A Handsome Book!
Review: No need to review the story here. If you're willing to spend this amount of money on the book you are most likely familiar with the story. Over the years I've obtained several hardback and paperback copies of this story. While I've used the paperbacks for reading and not cared if they suffered damage I do get upset when the hardbacks end up falling apart. You know the type of hardback book I mean. The pages are loosely glued to the spine and sit uneven. When you read the book many of the pages become loose and fall out. The spine becomes cracked or split even though you do nothing more than open and shut the cover. Well if you want a nice hardback edition of the entire LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy you will want to purchase this book.

I was impressed with the leather cover and the gilded pages. The price here at Amazon.com is at least 30% cheaper than anywhere else I've checked. I have a copy of the 50th anniversary hardback edition of THE HOBBIT and it is no where near as nice as this edition. I was surprised to find so many reviewers, here at Amazon.com, that found faults with this edition. I'm sure they may be right but I'm pretty sure some of them are nitpicking. If you can find a better edition out there then by all means buy it. If you're not that big a fan of THE LORD OF THE RINGS than there are plenty of cheaper editions to choose from. However, if you're a real fan and want a nice hardback edition that will stay with you a lifetime than this is the edition for you. My only problem is that I probably won't be able to read it for another decade. I'd love to leave it on the table next to my armchair but I can't. With a kitten that scratches everything it can find and kids that turn anything into a drink coaster, I think I'll wait until the kids are grown and the cat is old to leave this book out and read it. When I do read this edition I'm sure I'll be glad I purchased this edition when I had the chance. After all, how often does a 50th anniversary edition come along?

Rating:
Summary: Hail Tolkien!
Review: This is a wonderful book indeed! It has a very nice looking cover, two large-format fold-out maps (painted in black and red ink), a ribbon place marker, awesome-looking golden page edges, and an attractive slipcase. It is the finest edition of the Lord of the Rings! Also, as you know, it is the collectible 50th Anniversary Edition, which makes it a "must have" for any Tolkien fan.

This edition is a way better than Leatherette Collector's Edition (the Red Book), for it is more complete and the print quality is much better. So if you are thinking about buying the Lord of the Rings for your home collection - get this one and you WILL enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: A little disappointed with quality
Review: Well, I guess I should have paid more attention to the negative reviews of the quality of this book. First, though, a word about shipping. It seems to be a crap shoot when you order a large heavy book from Amazon whether it will arrive undamaged or not. My copy escaped from it's shrinkwrapped moorings and ended up with a bruised corner. Heavy books like this really need a double cardboard base and double shrinkwrapping to survive. I wish Amazon would get the word out to their workers. I guess I can live with the small bruise to the back corner of the slipcase box (the book itself is undamaged), but it is annoying.

On to the book itself... 1. As others have said, the color is not blue at all, but dark green/gray. Amazon shows a picture of a clearly blue book - maybe there were two versions? In any event, not that big a deal. 2. I'm not sure the binding is real leather at all. It sort of feels like it (though more sued-like than leather), and sort of smells like it, but it's so darn thin I can't believe it is real leather. I'll have to check with HMC... 3. The gilt edges seem cheap to me. All the pages were stuck together as well, though they came apart after a little riffling. And the gold does come off - in dust form - though hopefully that was just the gold sticking the pages together. 4. The body of the text is not centered on the page: it is up too high by a 3/8 inch, and not exactly square with the page either. The problem with this is that it _constantly_ annoying while reading. 5. I wish the maps were in pockets instead of being bound into the book. You can't possibly look at them and read the book at the same time without damaging them.

All in all, perhaps the only reason to buy this book is that the text is supposed to have many corrections and be more true to Tolkien's intent. If so, great, but I can't vouch for that.